Monday, August 22, 2011

Twenty One

Turning Twenty One on Wednesday is slightly daunting. Age is always coming, but twenty one is the age when you are no longer a child anymore, you are now an adult. Strange how even one day can make a change, all due to a number.

Since I am leaving my twentieth year behind, I had best reflect on twenty new things I did in the past year:

  1. Became an aunty
  2. Went to Paihia, Russell, Keri-Keri and several other places in the Far North
  3. Went to Palmerston North, my mums city of birth
  4. Got my first car loan
  5. Started a Nanny Course
  6. Finished a Nanny Course
  7. Lasted in a job three years
  8. Quit my first real job
  9. Enrolled in University
  10. Handed in my first university assignment early
  11. Started teaching Early Childhood Education (LOVE IT)
  12. Learnt how to put on wiper blades
  13. Climbed Rangitoto
  14. I made my first piece of useable craft (coat hanger)
  15. I went to a golf driving range
  16. I started making a quilt (this list just reminded me about it)
  17. Watched the last Harry Potter movie Sad smile
  18. Started a canvas craft for another person
  19. Felt snow on my hand in Auckland
  20. Saw Tana Mahuta

This past year has been full of many fun times. My twenty first year, I have a feeling, is going to be just as awesome, with a cherry on top!

How Far Did I Run?

I made a goal, I didn’t complete it.

I did not run one thousand kilometres in one hundred days. I did, however, run over seven hundred more kilometres over the last three months than, than I have (basically, ever). I feel good. So good! Exercise really is a grand thing. I am going to continue to exercise, more than I was previously.

On Wednesday, I walked to work for the first time. The walk was around fifteen minutes each way and was a fabulous way to start and end the day. One of my work mates is moving into my brothers old room soon, so we will be able to walk to work together on the days we start at the same times.

So, how far did I run? I am not to sure. I started losing count, when I forgot to fill out the exercise journal I had started. Before losing count I was up to near six hundred kilometres.

Friday, August 5, 2011

What I did: 15-17 July

From the evening of Friday 15th July until the evening on Sunday 17th July, I spent the weekend in Paihia with my oldest friend and her mum. We arrived in Paihia around 7.30pm on the Friday and spent the evening catching up and having some girl time in the hotel room.

On Saturday we drove to Kerikeri and went to the Stone store, and then we went to the Parrot Zoo. (please excuse the photos, I forgot to take my camera so they were all taken on my iPhone)

Where we met this guy, he was amazing in person!
 
I held a bird for the first time. He pooped on my shoulder.
At the Parrot Zoo not only did I get to hold one bird, a second one climbed onto me when we where in the caged area feeding them. I was extremely nervous, now all I can think about is how awesome it was.

Next, we drove over to the Rainbow falls and on the way to get the car ferry over to Russell we went to Hururu falls.

Rainbow Falls

Hururu Falls
The car ferry to Russell was super quick which was disappointing as the area is so beautiful I would have loved to have gotten out and taken a load of pictures. Once at Russell we drove to the Flagstaff hill, which is where the flagstaff was chopped down by Hone Heke four times in protest to British Rule (Hone Heke was also the first Maori Chief to sign the Treaty of Wiatangi). Seeing a part of my countries history and the views were highlights of a highlight filled day.

Looking out towards Paihia

More view, I really like the cloud

The fifth flagstaff
After our fun filled day we went back to Paihia. On the Sunday we started by packing our stuff and packing the car and then we headed across the road for breakfast.

View from breakfast

View from breakfast
Instead of coming directly back to Auckland, we drove across to the west coast and did a scenic detour. We stopped at the most amazing bathrooms in Kawakawa, stopped for the views from the peninsula in Omapere and went to see one of the most ancient trees in New Zealand in the Waipoua Forest.

Kawakawa Bathrooms

Kawakawa Bathrooms

Kawakawa Bathrooms

Kawakawa Bathrooms

Kawakawa Bathrooms

Kawakawa Bathrooms

Omapere - looking across to the sand dunes

Omapere

Omapere - looking out to the Tasman Sea

Omapere
Waipoua Forest

Waipoua Forest - Tane Mahuta

Waipoua Forest - Tane Mahuta


Waipoua Forest - Tane Mahuta
Following our look at New Zealands most ancient Kauri we went to the Kauri Museum in Dargaville, a very cool place to visit.

After Dargaville we headed home and eventually arrived back at around 7.30pm. It was a fun packed 48 hours and I loved every second of it.