Nettles goes to someones leaving do that she doesnt really know that well

Hello, well it was a busy weekend, last one that is, ended up going to a leaving do of 2 Robs, Rob from Leeds Uni (UK) and Rob from somewhere in the state (US). I briefly knew Rob (UK) but didn't know the other guy, but there were lots of random people there that I knew so it turned out to be a great night.

Put a video on of a guy who did beat box stuff, I don't know what the proper word is for this but if you see the video you'll see what I mean.



Simon gets over here next week so things will get more interesting as we get up to stuff together and also start looking for a flat. More moving, possibly buying a scooter and then setting up shop somewhere warm!

NZ Update

I think its time for an update, and I'm in the mood for typing and daubling on about crap. I've been here almost 4 months. Its gone quite slowly to be honest. Its autumn here and its starting to feel cold. At home I suffer with in the cold confides of my cave, NZ houses are not warm, insultated or have any heating. It gets pretty chilly in my room at night (think Antarctic temperatures, well we're sorta close to it anyway) and hence I spend a lot of time in bed with the laptop on my lap and the electric blanket on (like right now)! As I type my hands are getting cold and I have to keep putting them under the covers to defrost. OK maybe I am just a wuss, a European used to her creature comforts, like central heating which I always used to get told off from my parents for having the radiator on the highest setting....but then I didn't have an electric blanket.....you see theres just no way to win.

Since I got here I have had some really testing times. Do I want to be doing this PhD? Do I think I can last 3 years? I felt a little odd being the non-geologist, studying for a geology PhD in a geology department full of geologists. I know nothing about rocks. I still don't. My problem is I have no inate interest in them. Sure they look pretty, can be rare, even millions of years old. But the truth is I like bugs much more. Its a good job that my fossils/rocks were once bugs. It stops the mind block with rocks right there. Starting here hasn't been easy. I've missed my family immensely, going out for lunch and the cinema and shopping with my mum, going to the pub with my dad, visiting my brother and going for walks in the countryside. I miss my friends from work and elsewhere. You lose all that when you decide to move to the other side of the world. I've felt completely isolated, to the point of insanity, and then I've had to tell myself why I am here and that if it gets bad I can always go home. I don't know if anyone reading this has ever upped ship and left everything they had behind, for a purpose, but it aint been easy. However, in the space of these few months, I have learnt a lot about myself. That I like my own company, but given the choice I am more social than I thought. I can make friends, and a lot of them are a mixture of Kiwis and ex-pats. I've also made a few enemies. There have been a few guys that have been a little obvious in what they want from 'friendship'. That annoyed me, I'm not a blow up doll.

Its been challenging here, but I've been able to explore a lot about myself than I thought, and although I have been weak and vulnerable, I am sure that this is all a good life building experience and at least I can say I gave it a go, even if it all goes to pot! I hope it doesn't. I'm growing to like Wellington, but its so not Manchester. I must stop making comparisons. When I get up in the morning I have a lovely view of the sea, and when I walk home the southern sky is lit with a million stars. I've passed my motorcycle proficiency test, something I wouldnt have the guts to do back home. But no-one knows me here so I don't care. I'm anonymous, a daft Mancunian with a strange sense of style, a bad haircut and some bright red trainers. What more do I need to survive but my wits, tea and a good man.

Yeah where is that man of mine? I seem to have left him behind somewhere in the UK. Can someone please find him and ship him over on the next plane. Best to sedate him though, he behaves better that way!!!!!!!

Netty

Keg Night (Nettles gets pissed again)

First I need to explain what a keg night is. Its when some clever students manage to blag several kegs of free beer (in some weird sort of exchange that I don't really understand what they get from it, but who cares FREE BEER!).
So, we have this party in someones HUGE flat with a cool sound system (well it was pretty loud) and lots of random people (see pictures with descriptions). I can't be bothered to write much more in detail as its the night after the keg party, it was a good mix of people although I did feel a bit old and the English accent seems to attract a lot of attention, so you get to answer 'where abouts in England are you from?' a million times, and in the end I started to tell people was from Hawaii and Dave who is also English (pictured, decided he would randonly be from Venezuela). Much more fun. I wish Jenny was there to add to the confusion with the Canadian accent and Asian looks, that would have been fun to play around with.

This is Chris at the start of the night (MSc Geology student) doing a fine Thunderbirds impression. THUNDERBIRDS ARE GO !!!!!!!!!!!
The next piccie is Lou (NZ), Mark (UK/NZ), Marianne (Denmark) and Dave (UK) and it looks like after several beers. Its nice to have a good mixture of people from all over the place.

This is a random girl I met in the bathroom. Dont know her name. There was this weird face painting thing going on. Din't really get it. But lots of people with painted faces and other bits. Amusing.

Mari and me! Mari's leaving soon, to finish her BSc in Denmark. She will be greatly missed, a top gal, with a great sense of humour, and always up for a good time. I will miss her a lot!

Nettles and Jules Go to Rugby and then Get Wasted

Seeing as NZ is a big rugby playing country, it was difficult for me to say no when asked if I wanted to go and see The Hurricanes (Wellingtons rugby team), some of the team players are All Blacks ones so how could I resist. In the cold but bustling stadium the atmosphere was great, we got ourselves comfy with wine (cos were classy) and chips (cos we're not really classy and they smelt too good) and watched the game. Its wasn't that exciting but we did have lots of fun and there was a cool mexican wave going around that I had to video (might take a while to download but good fun).



MEXICAN WAVE VIDEO

After serveral servings of champange (cos we're classy chicks), we got wasted in a bar by the waterfront, I say 'a bar' because I dont remember the name, all I remember is Jules being chatted up by a guy with a classic line: "Are you alright there, can I get you drink, perhaps water or a coke?". Hahaha I pissed myself (not literally you know what I mean, that would have been serious binge drinking). The photo you see above is Jules playing on the swings in a park on the way to the taxi rank, because well we couldn't resist. It was nice to let my hair down and have just plain silly fun with someone and it was just what I needed (just without the expenditure, an expensive night out!).