MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

Ho Ho Ho HO!!!

Wishing you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year...!!

My sweetie brought me a teddy from the Teddy Factory he did (we had a major issuse trying to get presents for each other - i mean for starters we havent known each other that long...and Simon always threw tanties when I wanted time to myself to go shopping...doesnt help sharing my car, and him living with me temporary while his parents are away on holiday and waiting to move into their new house in the new year!) - But we had looked at these teddy's the other day....and had a day with mum while I let him go out shopping with my car to get presents. He had it gift wrapped at the Mall so that I didnt see it or anything.

I got him a teeshirt - which he knew about and some board shorts...and a matchbox car - a Transam Firebird (since he owns one and is meant to be restoring it - it has travelled with him from the UK). Simon also got me undies (which i had picked out). And mum got me a couple of teeshirts that I had picked out. I also got presents from Simon's family which I wasnt expecting at all - a large photo frame, some scrapbooking paper and chocolate....Simon also had a stash of present from his family as well as from his family back home in the UK.

We spoilt mum rotten slightly with a teeshirt she had shown us she liked (I know the style of tops she likes..) and a massage pillow and a new memory card for her camera and a memory card reader and lastly a framed photo of us together outside my work from my work's xmas party. I really want to get a new food process but we will have a look at the boxing day sales..!

My nephews got matchbox cars too - and my nieces got clothes, I got meggan a DIY art kit. And for Michael's Birthday we got him a Magic set (he had a magician at his kindy on his last day and he LOVED it). Even Abby got presents - she got a rawhide xmas cracker from Aunty Sue next door..! We gave her a calander which I hunted down all over for - it has siamese cats on it. Which is the breed of cats she breeds.  

We had Lunch at my aunty's house where I got a few more bits and pieces...smellies and stuff like that. My step mum and dad had given me a fondant set as just spoilt me over with fudge and candy like always..! It was a lovely day all in all.



Happy 5th Birthday Michael!!!

Happy 5th Birthday to my Nephew Michael...!!!

I cant believe your now going to be at school next year..!! You have grown up so much, and you blow me away everyday with your learning and the things you say and do...!

Also....

Happy Birthday Dave Hibberd...!!! Simon's dad also has his birthday on Xmas Day too along with my nephew. Hope you have a great day, and so sorry we cant be there to celebrate with you, no doubt we will get there when you all come back to Auckland and move into your new house..!!

Christmas Goodie Bags

I cant believe how fast the year has gone or what things I have done this year...!! Its almost Christmas - in like ohhhh TWO HOURS and mum decided as a last minute thing to go with the kids presents to make some goodie bags with lollies and stuff in them. We also made a couple of my younger cousin - just not with the toppers on them.

They contain:

• Chocolate Marshmallow Santas
• Christmas Tree Shape Marshmellows
• Lollipops
• Christmas Fruit Flavoured Jelly Beans.

I topped these little bags off with a bit of My Minds Eye paper in festive colours and made a little embellishment for on them. A quick fun and easy idea for the young ones....or older..!

Christmas Cards and Gift Tags

Me and Simon got cracking into make some Xmas Cards, getting a bit late to send them out, but then we dont really get many anymore like we use too in the past.

I brought some embellishments from Spotlight for on them, I wasnt overly impressed that there wasnt much out in terms of Xmas stuff like there use to be a few years ago. I hate how you have something visualized in your head and just cant find the things for it - or you find them AFTER your alternative made your project....!

These stars had little circles on top of them to make them look like ornaments I guess but we cut them off and glued them onto the centre of the cards - this was a bit of a mission as they have alot of glitter on them and wouldnt stick down with most glues and tapes I tried, we eventaully tried modge podge and had to use the heat gun to set them. I then had to track down bling to go on the cards, I ran out of star brads and couldnt find them anywhere in the size or colour i needed - I found gold stars in the size i wanted...I found silver stars in a bigger size, spotlight had none at all, infact they seemed to have them all on clearance and at that i couldnt find any in their clearance lots. So I ended up getting some Karen Foster brads with rhinestones in them and changed all my cards around (so these photos are a little out of date, they show them with the original brad I had used for the first few cards - I ended up taking all these brads off and replacing them with the new ones I got - because I only had a few of these stars left in my supply.) I got a Cuttlebug Embossing folder with snowflakes on it to do the background and inked over the paper after I had embossed it.

 

We also made some matching Gift Tags to go on our presents (my tree colour has been for a few years running now Blue and Silver and I ALWAYS wrap our present to match this colour too).

Simon wanted to make a Xmas Card for his Aunt in England - it was designed to make her jealous he said she use to make them, infact he went into this whole thing about how when she gets the card she will probably ask me to start making cards for her...sadly we never sent this card off, he liked it to much that he didnt want to give it...his whole vision for it was another one like the one he made for his mum's birthday the other week - that whle front room sort of feel with a xmas tree, window, photo frames. Simon was actually busy changing light fittings in my scrapbook room while I was making this card so he was partly relying on me to do a good job and i was relying on him to tell me what colours and stuff he wanted, we did eventualy make it together - for example we had a tree drawing contest and mine sadly didnt make the cut, his tree did. Competitive arent we?? He wanted this card to be bigger than your adverage size card also....perhaps another reason why we havent sent it off cause we dont have anything to put it into!

Lastly is a card Simon made all by himself with no input from me, or me really knowing about it, he had attacked my stash...and was playing with the hot glue gun too.

My Graduation!!

Well today I walked down with all the other graduates at the Aotea Centre into the Auditorium, where I walked up onto the stage, was capped on my shoulder by the vice chancellor of Auckland University of Technology and I was handed over my DIPLOMA IN HOSPITALITY MANAGEMENT!!

I look back at the last 2.5 yrs - I think of how my programmed leader Kate Payne said because I suffered from depression in the first few weeks of my life at AUT that I would crash and burn, and become a train wreck, that she strongly adviced I drop out there and then. Then a few weeks or so later saying how I had to pick one of the other - Work or University - a silly thing to say given I had to be working in order to actually get my Diploma it was one of the clauses in it that you had to have 300hrs work experience...! I proved her wrong ever damn time I handed in an assignment, sure I had a few extensions and a few special passes - I suffered a few deaths during my time at University, I had alot of stress I changed employers halfway through, I lost a job due to the recession and I got a new job - which Kate Payne CLEARLY was not happy with me working at the Langham in her whole little stint of trying to tell them I was wearing their uniform around University - to make things easier at work I agreed that yes I did when I hadnt...just so happened to be wearing profession clothes similar to their uniform during my training - and stated I was aware of the policies to make it all go away. (Im sorry but the only relationship you were distroying was the one YOU lacked with me and everyone else for that fact....not me distroying the University's relationship with my place of employment!! Pure jealousy there.)

I had a case of being done for abuse to another student, when really this girl was just as abusive towards me - and look where she is now.....she dropped out not long after that semester...!! She wasnt even serious or interested in Hospitality..! She was working in CLOTHING RETAIL!

And when the light at the end of the tunnel arrived finally in sight I came to a very bumpy part in my joruney where my amazing programme leader made just one last stack at me and penalising me for one of HER students copying MY assignment that i handed in before they did....perhaps he wouldnt have needed to ask for help had his lecturer done a more better job at being open, understanding and helpful towards students esp those with english as a second language and in a very intense paper which involved alot of components. I lost my A+ I had riding on that assignments and over all paper grade with thanks to my PL....it was sad to hear my lecturer was not aware of what had happened...and that none of really have been told what happened fully and just what was copied...if anything was copied at that...!! I doubt it very much so....I dont think someone like that I put my blood, sweat and tears into that report - and did really well on it...

Well you know what?? I made it...I graduated and NO ONE was going to stop me....there was no way I would give up no matter how many people doubted I would make it, I had double if not triple the support and close relationships formed from people who really saw my talents.

So hear I am - a Graduate from AUT University...it wasnt easy...but I made it! AND I deserve it! Not only that, but I did it for my SON...who I love and miss with all my heart, he gave up his life to give me a second chance, for me to be able to do this.....he was who kept me going in those dark moments when I just wanted to give up. He was who inspired me....not only that but I did it for myself and for the advancement of my career.

RIP Ajith Perera

I want to pass on my condolences to Ajith Perera's family during this time for their loss of a wonderful husband, father, lecturer and friend. It saddens me deeply to hear of his sudden passing.

In 2009 I competed for the first time in the Auckland Regional Culinary Fare, Ajith was present with pupils from Whitireia Polytechnic where he taught as a lecturer - he watched me as I competed in the class of Innovative Table Setting against 3 of his students, where I had one of his co workers as a judge. When I had completed and was packing up my table setting after allowing everyone to take photos and what not, he was the one who came up to me and congratulated me on getting Gold....i thought he was just pulling my leg and told me to go check the result board - he was right. I had won Gold, and came in just as second place. He was so impressed with my table setting. I had written a blog about that day - and Ajith actually found my blog and read it, he informed me of this at the Nationals the following month, I was a little embarassed but also touched that my blog has been discovered while obviously searching for the Auckland Regional Culinary Fare 2009.

I sadly got Silver at the Nationals that year, I was put off completed with my work by his fellow co worker who was judging me in the Regionals and one of their student's family (this student is now one of my co workers ironically) - and he knew in his heart of hearts that my table setting was worthy of Gold. He saw it as a winner and gold status over what I got.

I was so over the moon seeing him last year at the Auckland Regionals, he was again unimpressed at what went down with the judging of my table setting, knew it was worthy of Gold, but again I battled with his fellow co worker from the year before as judge and she clearly had taken a personal disliking to me, and had kicked up a debate in the judges lounge. Infact so many people were shocked that I had lost out on getting Gold because of her - they all knew it was worthy of Gold, but they had to make her happy. Nationals was too easy, there wasnt much of a Competition to fight against and Ajith was thrown over the moon and so proud that I won and got Gold for my table setting.

He has always been a fan of my work, and stood by me and been such an inspiration - hearing of his passing has left a massive hole in my heart. I am bound by these memories, and while I cant imagine what it will be like next year at the Culinary Comps without him I know I have the ability if I pick to enter that he will be watching over me proud of what I do. I regret not getting any photos together with him, or of him on his own from the times I have in his company at the Comps. I am so greatful to have known you and met you Ajith.

RIP Ajith Perera.

Happy Birthday Sue Hibberd! (Birthday Card Included)

So its Simon's Mum's Birthday today and together we made a card for her - I think this was to show off my talents and Sue's sister and cousin use to make cards....Simon wanted to create a photo frame, he wanted the card to look like a wall, took alot of playing around with paper and cutting up paper - I really do hate it how i have to attack full 12x12 sheets of paper for a little tiny sliver of paper...but sadly I had no scraps of some of these papers...I had a stash of paper scraps you see but I just dont really find the use for them, I keep them for I hope one day I will use them but so far I havent really done so to be honest.

The Birthday Card - Dave (Simon's dad) said it was very professional looking.

We got Sue some goodies from the English food stores, alot of her favourites from back home that she loves. We had dinner out at a restaurant that serves really large burgers, for me it was a hard time as I work in the industry and I wasnt impressed with the service from them. I hardly go out for meals at restaurants because I find it so strange having someone do my job on me, so this time I had to really try my hardest to be a "normal" person and distant myself from my heavy involvement in Hospitality. It was so hard but I managed it. Had a little bitch about it later when I got home...

A family photo.

My HUGE burger

AND I managed to fit Dessert in too! Ok I shared it with Simon I wasnt THAT greedy!

Masculine 25th Disco Birthday Card.

Simon's best mate Niel back home in England is a big Disco lover, he loves the 80s also - and Simon really wanted to make him a card for his 25th birthday. I googled ideas for one, and I found an Image of Disco Stu from the Simpsons somewhere in my search - he had an iPod in his hand, which we had a little giggle over as I believe both boys have iphones and ipods and stuff like that. So we printed the image out to use on the card. I tried my best to sort of create a disco dance floor look to the card.

Another combined effort - so far that is three cards we have made together...!

Details on the card.

My Trip to Christchurch.

 Well I had such a blast in Christchurch, was my 3rd time going down there, and Im happy to have been able to see a little bit more of the city that I havent seen my last two times I have been down. My first time down was with Rob in 2004, due to his work commitments we only spent one day there, it was a flying visit pretty much and we only went as far as around the airport to the Antartic Centre and to Orana Wildlife Park before flying back home later that night. I was swooning and in love and on a buzz from my first time being on a plane...and seeing snow for the first time in my life...even if it was in a controlled room (its ok Robbie took me to see REAL snow a few years later...).

My second trip to Christchurch was in 2008 the week before I started University I believe it was, I stayed out in Rolleston with a friend and her family out on their farmed that owned - Anne Brignall  and her husband John took me to a gorgous little cafe in Govt. Bay and to Lyttleton (i was on a mission to track down Rob, only little did I know he had written the wrong number down on the address he had given me....) - I got to see a few little towns towards Rolleston and actually spent most of my time there sleeping, I think Anne had made her house nice and cosy warm..it was the middle of winter - but the snow didnt come until JUST after I left!! Anne had just moved back to Australia prior to my return to Christchurch - I was a little sad that I didnt get to catch up with her again.

Third time round, I had a whole week on my hands, and I was staying with my lovely friend Tracy and on a mission of many things, I had two other friends I wanted to catch up with my good friend Kerri West...we are like sister me and her haha and Debra Buckland. I also had Tracy's Baby Shower I was hosting for her....

I spent my first day in Christchurch feeling a little shy, and I think Malakye was feeling much the same way, however by the end of the day he had thawed out to start liking me, and then it was time for Tracy's older kids Lilith and Brodie. I think me and tracy spent the whole day just lying back on the couch doing nothing due to not having a car lol - nice one Shane for losing  your car key and leaving us with one car instead of two!

Second day I did the school drop off with Tracy and then went food shopping. Debra came out and picked me up and took me over to Kerri's house - together we went over to see Kerri's partner at work....and we had a look at a mall, I brought a few stamps sets and ribbons on sale at Warehouse Stationary - and a cheeseburger and fries from Maccas which I shared with Kerri's daughter Jayda. I was meant to get a tattoo done but Simon didnt like the idea of this...and I didnt find a design for what i wanted...and there just wasnt much time to get it done in. I went with Kerri and picked up her kids from school before I was dropped off to Debra's for dinner....and her kids shared some things with me before she dropped me back off at Tracy's. I seriously had this full on day with kids..! Was like I was in mummy mode! Tracy's pregnancy was making me clucky - esp when I got to feel Karlanie kicking around in her tummy and hiccuping too!

The following two days were spent pretty much bumming around not doing much at all. School pick up and drop off. A little walk through the town centre....a bit of shopping...a bit of pampering to tracy's cravings...!  And with a whole week on my hands,you would think I would be busting out all sorts for it. Decorations, food, games....but nope I just wanted really thinking much...I wanted to involve Tracy as much as possible after it was her baby shower, I had no idea who or how many guests were coming, and for some reason I just couldnt think of what to make for food let alone what games to do. I really should have done some shopping up in auckland for supplies and decorations, Rangiora is very small and trying to find things is hard, I ended up going to a little place with Tracy's husband Shane to get Balloons for the shower. And a baby bingo game which I wasnt overly happy with now that I look back at it all. Think the only thing I liked the best was my baby bottle filled with M&Ms....then my pin the sperm on the egg...followed by dressing the baby blind folded. I felt like a terrible host!! The nearest party supply shop was in the CBD area....and we didnt really have much money together or transport. BUT this was my first time hosting a babt shower after all, it rained on the day...I had all these big ideas in my head when we first started planning it but none of it really happened, and there werent many guests which was a bit sad for Tracy. But she got some gifts, she had some laughs and it was something special for her....it was of course her first baby shower and last baby she was having..!

I gifted Tracy the nappy cake i had on my side station at the comps and added in a little all in one outfit to it with the same colour theme of the cake. I think the big thing that was effecting my consintration towards the baby shower was having a new boyfriend and Simon was not handling it at all, he was on the phone to me ALOT...as well as texting me alot...slight rude...when we werent texting or calling we were on skype, and my poor laptop kept on over heating and dying on me, so our skype calls were always cut off alot.

I was guttered I didnt get to feel an aftershocks - Murphy's law this happened AFTER I left.....my last day in Christchurch after the baby shower was spent driving all around Christchurch. Being shown the damage from the Quake, and taking photos where and when I could. We covered many parts of the city including the CBD. I am so greatful to finally have been able to have seen the Cathedral, Avon River and the Trams. They were something I know Rob wanted to have shown me at some stage.

My last day was a bit sad, dropping the kids off at school and daycare - I gave them all big hugs goodbye. I went with Tracy to her neighbour's house who was pregnant with twin girls due around the same time as her for a cup of tea before heading off to the airport. We had a big dramatic goodbye with fake tears and crying...but it really nice, and I am really happy that me and Tracy have managed to get a good friendship going - it was a little rough a few years ago after my miscarraige, she was my pregnancy buddy and I couldnt handle that she was able to carry on through - but I love Malakye to bits...! And this little part of me always thinks abou my beautiful son and think what he would be like if he had lived. Im really lucky that the friends I made while I was pregnant for that very short time and have kids that were born when my baby would been born are so amazing and I get on so well with their kids.

Farewell Christchurch - until another day!!! Kia Kaha and Keep Strong...!!



60th Birthday Card

My mum asked me to make a birthday card for one of her co workers who is turning 60 - Im proud to say not only did I bust this one out within a few hours of my having to be at the airport and amoung all my packing - I am very proud of this...I also have to add in the fact that Simon helped me create it also - he has some good ideas and is a great help with my creativity block...I wonder what things are to become of us together, I love that he has accepted my hobby so well!!

Not an overly great photo and no detailed shots due to time limits got to be at the airport to fly out to Christchurch - so its taken on Simon's iPhone...

My Hospital Visit

I was meant to be getting ready to go over to my step sister's house to celebrate my step mother's 60th birthday...however I collapsed in the shower while I was getting ready. I had started to feel a little light headed, and brillaint me deciced to save water and time and share the shower with Simon....this actually worked out to be a good idea and a life saver I tell you, had I been on my own that door would of been locked more than likely..!

I dont really remember much - I remember as much as telling Simon I felt faint, and then blacking out - I can remember him talking to me, and him dragging me out of the shower and onto the bathroom floor - my hands and fingers started to bend right back, I believe I was having a panic attack or some sort I am not fully sure, I was finding it really hard to breath, and poor Simon we have only known each other a couple of days now...had a little freak out but knew he had to do something, I told him to call my mum (he was going to call an Ambulance) - my cellphone is set up to have free calling to my home number. I of course couldnt dial the number or hold the phone, so I had to tell Simon what he needed to push (simple process of hitting the last dialed number).

Simon managed to get me across the hallway to his room, dry me off, get me dressed, my bags all packed, himself a coffee, me some chocolate and somehow got me down stairs and my shoes on and me into the car....the plan was to go to the step sister's house for medical advice with my step mum being a Radiologist and my step sister also working at a hospital with Diabetes. However this ended up being a waste of time as no one really cared, after I had told them what happened and that I was coming....so it was a rush to get me to the hospital.

There was fear I was having a stroke - and I was seen to pretty fast because of this. I had my blood pressure monitored and an ECG done on my heart, all came back clear...though my heart rate kept on dropping and the alarms kept on sounding everytime I went into another episode of collapsing. Simon by this stage annouced he loved me, and was crying. My mum arrived after a while as I asked for her to come to the hospital, Simon doesnt know anything about me and mum would be the best person to talk to.

The dignose from this whole episode is that I have Postural Hypotension - Low Blood Pressure. When I am exposed to great heat such as is the case with a hot shower and no ventilation - so basically I have to be more careful when changing positions, I have to have a high intake of fluids, and to keep my body temperature cool, not stand in one position for too long, as the blood can pool in the blood vessels thush causing fainting episodes. When I get up from sitting down or lying down, even from squatting and bending over to pick something up I have to be careful and that I allow my body to adjust to the changes.

Im so greatful and thankful that FINALLY I know have an answer for my fainting and dizzy spells I expereince multiple times a day. Greatful that it is nothing serious (seriously for a while I swear I got it into my head that I had a tumour or cancer or something bad like that). The positive thing about having this is that I am at a low risk of a heart attack or stroke!

FEAR NOT!! I have been cleared to be able to fly still on Monday to Christchurch..!!

PS. If your wondering why I am laughing in that first photo its because the nurse told us that we needed to update our facebook status and put a photo up - and she had told Simon to distract me while she put an IV line into my hand.

Young Love...

So Ive been pretty cut up about what happened with Luke's last few days in NZ - but I have met a lovely guy (ironically also English) - and we are forming a nice little friendship together - ok I lied...we have umm slightly gotten together in a relationship...I said to go slow...but he pretty said I was his girlfriend so go figure. If it takes my mind off what happened last week then so be it!!

I have no shame in saying I met him online, in this day and age, it seems to be a big thing meeting people online forming friendships and in some cases meeting them in real life - there IS a danger to it....but Ive been meeting people offline for a few years now or so...since I was 18 when I first met Rob, and so far no major creeps have come alone, only a couple which I made the best call on never EVER seeing them again, talking to them again and stuff. But so far all the people Ive met have been wonderful. Ive had a few friendships form that sadly have gone south since meeting in person, I knew a few of them have been because of other people they know having influences of them and telling them bullshit lies about me when they have never met me in person let alone probably even had a real conversation with me..!! But hey cant dwell on that I guess if people want to listen to gossip and rumours and believe it without finding out the truth then so be it...their loss not mine.

So Im looking forward to seeing how things go with Simon...thats his name *giggles* - he is finding it hard that I am off to Christchurch next week for a whole week, but in all honest this trip was planned way back in September BEFORE the earthquake hit, and I have had my tickets booked for about a month now or so.

Could this be love?? Something serious....I wonder....only time will tell.

Masquerade Ball Masks

I made some thank you gifts for my lecturers at University with chocolate coconut clusters, rocky road clusters and cranberry almond and yoghurt clusters in them. Silly me didnt take any photos of the finished product before I gave them out!!

I have one lecturer who I know loves Masks, one day she told me how much she loved them after looking at one of my assignments I had done for her on events and I decided to make her one. I had made one a year ago for my work's xmas party. I asked my lecture to pick a colour to go with pink (I know how much she LOVES the colour pink) and asked her to pick from feathers, butterflies and bling....she of course said she wanted them all....she sadly wasnt in at Uni when I came to deliver it but she loves it.

So this is the second mask I have made now.

The last few Days with Luke in NZ.

So the last few days with having Luke here have been interesting.

Thursday we went out shopping during the day time, Luke got himself some new shorts. My god he is really fussy with clothes!! I learnt I think lol what was "camp" and what wasnt...I learnt that well I just shouldnt even remotely attempt buying him any clothes at all...! Im so use to just going out and buying a tee shirt or shirt for Rob and having him LOVE....but Luke...whoa no...haha he is very much different. The more I think about it, Im reminded of the time I went out shopping with my best friend Shannon for his 18th, I found all these great clothes and an amazing outfit for his 18th bday party.....now that he does Drag...I think his taste has changed also....Shopping for Gay guys is really hard!!!

We went out clubbing later that night with one of my mates from high school - we went to the Gibson and saw Justin Sane djing there (he is there almost every Thursday night Djing in a regular spot) - I was having such an amazing time - Luke and Sela found it slightly funny that I got breath tested on our way in, and it came up as a Failed Reading....being sober driver with my two passengers drinking I explained to the officer that there would be alcohol on their breath which they would be breathing into the air that would have been picked up when I spoke into their breath tester - see now I had prepared for a day like this back when I was first studying Hospitality at Tech...! They came back with another test where I blew into it which came up with a Pass reading..my theory was correct....I work in the Hospitality Industry and I have my LCQ and its not something I want to lose, and I know the law very well...! Sela decided she wanted to go into the city to a gay bar that is there - I have been there once before and it wasnt a good experience and I knew from the start it was a bad idea - I was happy and not to mention safe at the Gibson where I knew people there and it was more controlled. But no these two had other plans. The night was going good until a run in with a guy at the nightclub....that turnt things really bad and sour. To the point that we broke out into an argument, Luke's camera was stolen, his credit card went missing and I basically two frienships that I had for 9-10yrs went down the drain......all because of what pig headed guy. I have been beating myself up about this non stop now.

Friday's plans were to go to the Sky Tower and to the Musuem for a Maori Cultural Expereince, but sadly Luke ended up sleeping the whole day, recovering from the night before hand, he was literally out cold. This night was to be followed by a BBQ and Fireworks in celebration of Luke's 21st the following week and in celebration of my niece Meggan's 8th birthday from Monday. I went out with mum to get fireworks and stuff for the BBQ leaving Luke alone at home - sadly little did I know he had decided he would leave early and had booked himself a hotel for Saturday night meaning I wouldnt be taking him to the airport on sunday for his flight out. It was somber all night during the BBQ, he was spending time with my nieces and nephews lighting fire works and drinking. We spent a bit of time at my neighbours house having a drink, and taking her some left overs (one of her pedigree cats was having kittens).

The plans for Saturday were to go to the Zoo with the kids.....but because we didnt go to the Sky Tower on Friday, we ended up going to the Sky Tower on Saturday instead, I hate how quiet Luke was during the whole thing, I hated how my cards declined and I couldnt afford to pay for my trip up or anything else. What should of been an exciting and happy time, just wasnt. I killed me deep inside what happened Thursday night, I was beating myself up about it all - it killed me Luke's Camera was stolen....killed me he would put in any form of report to the police or anything....it killed me even more inside dropping him off at the Hotel and seeing him just wanting to wave good bye to me in the car...no hug nothing....I didnt really get to say good bye to him. While he promised he would be back I knew then that some unforgiveable stuff had happened that changed our friendship for good. I cried the whole way home from the hotel.

Fortunately I had backed up all of Luke's memory card up so all his photos from Monday-Wednesday are on my laptop, it is just the photos from our night our clubbing we lost - there were some amazing ones...even some of Justin Sane...but then there were photos of THAT guy....all through them, he just wouldnt get out...infact there were time where he would take Luke's Camera off me...I wish we had not have of gone to that Club...and I stood my ground. I wish I had been more stronger....after all I was sober driver....I called the shots being in the clear mind of thoughts. I knew the history and what that club was known for and why people go there for...I know how there is no control over alcohol in half the night clubs in the CBD.....you never see people eating anything at them....there is no host responsibility going on at them and the Security guards dont do anything all....!

But what I can I do now?? I cant undo what has happened.... :o(

Rotorua/Taupo Road Trip with Luke

ROTORUA:

The plan was to get up early as possible to make our way down to Rotorua so that we could spend some time seeing things and doing stuff....haha only sleep got the better of us after having a late night. Force of habit maybe? Luke is always on at me about late I am up...(not my fault to talk to him I have to stay up late to catch him online and awake not to mention all his midnight prank calls he would make..!!). We arrive around 2ish I think in Rotorua - we stopped off at some Geothermal activity for Luke to take some  photos before we headed to the iSite to get information on how to get to our motel. Turns out it was in a different direction! We checked into our motel for the night and Luke decided he wanted to go out kayking on Lake Rotorua. The kaykas at the motel hadnt been used in a LONG time..they were covered in spiders and I was screaming my head off at them....I HATE spiders, I have a huge fear of them, and I refuse to kill them also, superstition about it being bad luck.

I havent been kayking since about 1999 when I was at camp, and I still remember that day I started to drift away from my class and out to see a bit...oops...I also have a slight fear of water and cant remember how to swimming fully - thankfully though Lake Rotorua is only about knee/waist high in depth. We went what seemed like half way out into the lake. It was so calm and peaceful....Luke had brought his camera with us so we took some photos of us in the kayka - there were a few self timer shots up on the little dingy/warf. Not an easy thing to do getting photos of us together when no one lese is around! Luke took heaps of photos of our Motel room, i love that we have the same sort of love of traveling and taking photos of just everything, the meals we eat, where we stay, of the roads and stuff.....NZ has alot of hills and grass and sheep and cows...but its such an awesome site to see away from the hussle and bussle of the CBD thats for sure. I love how clean it is in the country areas compared to the congestion and rubbish and tagging you can find in Auckland's CBD. It always saddens me seeing that. The traffic jams....ugh.

After our kayaking experience we drove to Hell's Gate for a mud pool experience and a look around the park. Luke kindly paid for me to go in, fortunately I came armed with as many discount vouchers are possible for activities as well as getting a good discount on the motel (love my corporate discount i get from working for a hotel!!). It was so amazing seeing all this geothermal activity, the smells, the temperatures and different effects it had on the earth - we even got to see the only hot water waterfal in NZ - after taking heaps of photos and a few videos, we ended the tour with a bit of carving. Luke finished his before me, I say he had an easier design, but for me it was a slight challenge due to being left handed. I kindaly asked for the guy who was leading it if he could stain our designs which he did - sadly due to MAF restrictions Luke wasnt able to take his carving with him, so I have kept it safe for him. It was an interesting expereince the mud bath, getting use to the tempuratures of both the muddy water and to the hot water - between each session you have to have a cold shower to climax your body again to its correct tempurature, they also only allow you to be in the mudbaths for a set time due to the temperature dangers. I must say my skin is feel so much better after this experience - a very expensive one but well worth it.

After Hell's Gate I let Luke drive back to the motel, where we got changed and then headed back into the centre of Rotorua, to have dinner - shocked at how everything was closed at 5pm...! We were torn between Thai and Indian for dinner, Luke loves his food spicey and I like mine mild, we both love Thai and Indian....and both restaurants were right next to each others. The Thai place was pretty busy and the Indian was well empty so I went to Indian purely based on there being no one there. We had really good service and the food was great, they asked us how hot we wanted our curries, we had an endless supplies of Poppadoms which I am now addicted too I think (instead of naan bread) - I love how after they brought our meals out that asked if they were to our liking, if they needed to be more hot/mild - mine was just perfect that was until i tried a bit of Luke's which was VERY hot, and well it was all over from then for my enjoying my dish..i ended up taking it as left overs as i couldnt finish it all, however I ended up not even finishing it all in the end. It sat in the backseat of the car from the moment we left the next morning to go to Taupo until we got back to Auckland!

We spent the rest of the night in the motel watching TV about Britians worse Serial Killer...

TAUPO:

We had to get up early to head off to Taupo as Luke had a bungy jump to do - I had a special voucher that allowed him to do it for a cheaper price but on the conditions it was carried out by 11am..! It took us about an hour to get from Rotorua to Taupo. We arrive JUST before 11am and Luke was allowed to his jump for the special price. He purchased the package that also gave him photos and a DVD of his jump. His heart was pounding while he was waiting on the plateform, and I was waiting near by taking photos - however just as I got my cameras set up to start filming he jumped and I missed out on most of the whole thing! As well as not being able to get photos of him jumping....I only managed to get him rebounding! I was so proud of him, however I chicken out of doing it - that and I couldnt afford it. We were going to do a a jet boat ride but just didnt have the time or money.

We went to Pizza Hut for lunch, and stopped off at a couple of shops to get some items, a T Shirt of NZ for Luke, and I got him some NZ Stickers for in his travel diary as a Number Plate sign that had his name on it (my cheese early 21st present for him) - and just before driving back to Auckland we stopped off at an internet cafe to check emails and update facebook. Luke was able to upload his video to YouTube and Photos to Facebook of his bungy jump while we were at the place itself.

I feel a little stink that I didnt get to show Luke more of Taupo let alone Rotorua there were so many things I wanted to show and do with him, however this is the difference between us - Luke is into Adrenline Adventure things, Sky Dives, Jet Boating, White Water Rafting, Bungy Jumping....me Im more of the nature historical person, I love going to museums and animals parks, and parks that show off just the natural beauty of areas. I really wanted to show Luke the Maori Culture while he was here. I wanted to take him to the Desert Road and up to Mt Ruapehu - however somewhere along the way I took a wrong turn....and wasnt able to get there...money was getting short for me, and gas was getting low in the car.

We ended up heading back to Auckland. I let Luke sleep for half of the drive back, and then he took over driving the other half as my knee was starting to play up.

Auckland Road Trip with Luke

I decided to get to the airport slightly early, towards midnight to pick up Luke his flight was due in around 1am from Australia, and I had made a sign just for him - he was well aware I had made a sign as I told him, what he didnt know was what I had written on it. Luke thought it would say Cheeseburger because for some reason we keep calling each other food names, he started it one day randomly....Cheeseburger has been one of the most said names. HOWEVER no I decided to do something different and threw together a little sign that said "Blowing Rainbow Cloud" the reason behind this was because well we originally met online back in 2002 I think it was, on an MSN Group Luke created when he was a young boy, called Wicca Teen Family, it was through this group I met him and our friendship blossomed, eventually we became penpals not long after my parents seperated and just after me and Robbie broke up for the  first time. As our friendship grew we became like family, me calling him my little brother, him at times when we had fights and I told him where to go yelling at me YOU CANT LEAVE ME WE ARE FAMILY!!! FAMILY STICK TOGETHER!!! That was a silly little fight over something I cant quiet remember but Im sure Luke probably still has the emails from it - our second big fight we early this year when he was stressing over the whole volcanoe erupting and me with assignments.

Anyway - today there were no major plans, just drove around Auckland showing Luke nothing in particular, we went over to the Northshore and had a drink at one of the restaurants in Takapuna just down the road from where I use to work at GPK - that trip was so that he could see the Harbour Bridge, from here we drove through the city towards the Skytower then over to Mission Bay and Hernes Bay. We took alot of random photos up at the Memorial Park where the first Prime Minister of New Zealand is buried - made our way to Judges Bay somehow taking random turns and streets with no real direction or sense of where we were really wanting to go (my mum and dad use to go to this beach on dates) - this was all before heading back home and stopping off at the Fruit and Vege store to get a few more things for dinner.

Luke discovered Kumara (sweet potato) while we were there asking me what they were so I got some for him to try - he actaully loved them I believe. Dinner was corned beef - the REAL stuff not from the can that all my Pacific Islander friends love and the English seem to love too.... :s

All in all it was a brilliant day - just this whole surreal feeling of having Luke here, its like a dream and strangely weird at the same time that we have finally met after 9yrs of chatting away online to each other, in different time zones, chatting on webcam, texting and calling each other, sending the odd post card and letter and xmas card....and here is....right in front of me..! Tomorrow we are off to Rotorua and Taupo.