the ocean

the ocean
Paraparaumu beach

The comings and goings of a hard working kiwi whose just moved home

December 30, 2008

lack of sunshine

 I have a serious lack of sunshine going on here. i just had a four day weekend, and i have decided that it is OK to sleep 12 hours.  the sun doesn't rise till 11 am  anyway,  well I did on Saturday. 
 today the cold spell hit , its -34 and my motivation has gone to hell.
 I looked outside today and saw it was light.  and sat back down at my desk, 

 I had this brilliant idea to check the tire pressure, ( you know its related to temperature) and check the oil.  and watching TV  and taking a nap is  way more appealing. it s only 11 f in the garage, relitively warm when it is -35 outside. 

 the exhange rate has gone to hell on me the euro is at 1.42 when it was 1.25 2 weeks ago , the Brit pound is ok at 1 .45.,  aparently there is lots of  good sales in UK right now. I hear some shoping   coming.  I still have 12 days to go.
 i need some sunshine!!  i am so ready for  Vacation

December 27, 2008

Christmas Alaska style

Most people know that I do not have any family in Fairbanks. so for Christmas I rely on the goodness of friends, so for Christmas eve I was invited to  D 's place,. got to help decorate a small Christmas tree with all the adornments from his family of 30 years. No one seemed to remember the details of the decorations, they had made as kids or maybe they just didn't was tot say. 
 anyway it was fun.
 a leisurely sleep in on Christmas day,( what get out of bed early when i don't have to  - never) and i went out to Matt, Amy, and Charlotte's in North pole.  No I didn't take the camera. to eat smoked turkey and and pumpkin pie.  A cashmere scarf and some Baileys to my name  and i am quite happy.

  The other day  I had this wonderful idea of posting on Travel advisor to check the status of safety in Greece. and the locals say go to Greece and have a good time. Protests are always magnified in the media and are localised.  this made me feel alot happier.  Thanks travel advisor.  booked some accommodation in London at my favourite hostel in Piccadilly.   I need to start packing,.....

December 22, 2008

Sunshine or lack therof

 I went shopping yesterday to get some stuff for my trip, you know like a waist bag for the passport etc, and sunglasses. i 'll need those in Seattle assuming i remember what sun is. i think i saw some yesterday.
 I went dancing down the spur last night,  got to dance with K quite a bit as his other half was dealing family that were stuck in Seattle  and other bad weather things. meanwhile i have a friend who was trying to leave here and go  through Seattle. I don't know if anyone was successful yet.
 i don't leave till the 10th of January.some of my Friends just tell me to go to Greece , and jut be careful , while others say that Italy is much better, i will make a decision my new year to  change tickets.
We start gaining daylight tomorrow.  yeah !

December 17, 2008

Thoughts of winter



Well not sure what i have done all week, it's still dark when I go to work as well as when I come home.
Got my hair cut on Saturday, just a bob that is supposed to curl under, but you kow it only does that the day that you go to the hairdresser. But lots of positive comments from people.

And i went for a swim today at the local pool , i thought it would be crowded but it was nice and empty only 3 of us in the pool. Yes I have been eating too much Christmas stuff, and this will catch up with me sooner rather than later.

I try not to read to much about Greece, there was nothing in the news today so all is much calmer. Malta looks to be an interesting placwe that s close and meets the back up criteria. it was 61 ( 16 c) degrees in Malta today. and it s the middle of winter. I keep on thinking of more security things to remeber, yes i still would rather go to Greece.
3 weeks and 3 days to go.

December 10, 2008

Back up Plan

well I have this wonderful plan of going to Greece in about a month, but not sure if you have read the news lately that there are horrible riots there the last few days. and i am not sure that they will go away. anyway just in case i am formulating a back up plan.
Now this vacation is supposed to be somewhere warm and with lots old stuff, so how about Malta, lots good war time stuff and and knights of St John to keep me happy. then there is the Canary islands.
Greece in the middle of riots is not my idea of a good time specially when I travel by myself.
I have a month to play with right now tickets to Greece on the 13 of January.

December 9, 2008

Photo with Sarah


Sarah Came into work on Friday, (Fairbanks Convention and Visitors Bureau) to sign some stuff about more pipe lines. with lots of media , and someone asked if she would do a group photo when she was done.
so here it is, my photo with Sarah
Some of the people I work with From left Karen ,Liz ,( being silly) Yuki, me, Chris, Julia, Ashley, Anna, Sarah P, and Jamal
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December 8, 2008

Snow

Well It snowed a whole lotsa last night , so,after geting home at 11 30
I thought i would go out and take photos I have better camera than i did last year for the
same photos so here is my fense and the snow, almost individual snow flakes. nad reflection of the snow on the tree. Cool picture if you ask me.

Then there is the bread that I made for thanksgiving.
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December 6, 2008

mothers Garden


its winter , and we need some colour, , and mother has just sent me pictures of her garden.- her roses, so i think they are pritty cool
she did actually tell me wha they were all called but well .... does it matter.
the colur is just wonderfull
photos by Barbara ( mother )
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December 4, 2008

Virus'

Virus are nasty guys, .. guess what i ran into last Thursday. yup I couldn't get to open any programmes , but sometimes you realize immediately that something is beyond your skills and so Friday morning took the computer to computer works. they are worth there wait in gold .. well worth the money. They removed the virus and the totally reinstalled windows. ( it was a bad virus) and gave me a few new things that i didn't have before software that is.
so i got the computer back today and have spent the evening restoring all that i could in other programmes , printer drivers, Picasa. and Quick books. I have a few hiccups to deal with and i 'll be back functioning.
my computer is lots faster as well.
So that 's why i havent posted this week.

Other wise life is dark, the sun rises late and sets early. My christmas shoping is done and mailed.