I love this city.

I've been here for just shy of four weeks now and I can safely say I LOVE this city. Sure, it's a bit too hot for my English genes and the accents are often far from desirable, but on the whole, the experience I've had here has been amazing and I am truly glad that I even made the short stint to come here before Christmas. I will be taking back many cherished memories.

Last night I went out and celebrated the engagement of two of the most awesome people in the world, on a beautiful night, in a beautiful setting.  Darling Harbour is quite the environment at night - add some intoxication, awesome friends, upbeat music, an upbeat crowd (much different from the aggro you'd expect from Aucklands similar settings), early morning munchies and SUPERMAN DAT HOEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE... the result is a-grade-mazing. Super happy for both of you!

I've also now received my first pay - something which was quite the delight. Expecting to be paid a lot less than you do is always a pleasure, especially when it's a considerable amount more. I've since been doing night shifts so I am eagerly awaiting this coming Thursday - hello Rhythm & Vines and a ticket home.

Speaking of tickets home. HOLY STEEP. I knew they would be expensive given the time of year and the time before I wanted to book but it is rather depressing to think I could not go back to New Zealand, spend another $100 and go off to Naples in February instead. Pah. Not to mention the acts I want to see at R&V are also playing here on New Years Day. In saying this, I want to see my parents, my dog (whom I REALLY miss) and all my friends. I don't plan on going back to New Zealand for a long time after this trip so I want to say some proper goodbyes and spend New Years with my close friends, it's just a shame it's going to burn a hole in my pocket. Thats the price you pay though I suppose!

At least when I come back I have an apartment to look forward to - Darling Harbour, rooftop pool, free gym, free internet and free laundry? Yes please.

I have between one and two weeks left here before I head back to New Zealand, I'm hesitant about it but I'm going to make sure I make the most out of it. Appreciate my parents cooking, catch up with friends, go on an epic road trip, get a bench and get involved on International Scrumpy Hands Day, enjoy New Zealand and most of all - cuddle my dog (it's rather astounding just how much I miss her)

After complaining about the cost of the ticket, I really look forward to spending a week or two in New Zealand. Mmmm. Home.

Basic Space

Wasn't too sure what to make the title so I just chose the song I was listening to (The xx - Basic Space), rather fitting considering what I'm about to write about. Bad thing is that I feel like somewhat of a douche for being so corny.

First day of work tomorrow and in just over 7 hours I'll be awake. It's definitely made so much sweeter better by the fact that I'll be working with who I came with. It will be hard, hot and tiring BUT. MONEY. MONEY. MONEY. One hours work at double time roughly equates to the price of a 10 day trans-Mongolian train ride? How can one deny such a thing?


I've had an extremely enjoyable time since I've been here, by far the most interesting. I've met many, many people - mostly Germans (who sport excellent drinking attitudes and some of the friendliest personalities ever btw). This Saturday it's all about the Goon Pong. Stoked.

I've had a few off moments where I've wanted to turn tail and go back to what I knew and what I was comfortable with. Slightly odd moving out of home and also to another country in the same step. However, I've now come to embrace it and realise just how damn awesome it really is. People, places, sights, and money for travel. It's all new and it's all pretty epic. I have also recently started to miss home, purely for the people who are back there. Who knows how it will be when I'm on the other side of the world, not just a few hours across the ditch.

They should all still be there when I return, I suppose it really is just something you eventually become accustomed to. I also really miss my dog. Shux.

Rather inconsistent blog coming to an end just about here, drunk Englishmen chanting in the road to end it off.

Harvest time

I'm making my second post from an Apple store in central Sydney. It's awesome. I also miss my macbook terribly. It's a rather odd atmosphere; thousands and thousands of dollars worth of Apple goods in a upmarket multi-floor building, with everybody blatantly here for the free internet. Can't complain really.

Anywho, moving along. Our original plan was to move to Sydney for six weeks to do some labouring, hopefully save a bit of money and generally get a feel for the place, with a side of sight-seeing.

Last Thursday we sat our Green Card's - a 6 hour session of being taught the basics of working in construction. Upon our 40 minute lunch break with our new Scottish friend Ewen, a cotton farmer overheard us discussing the rules of tax returns for Holiday Visas. What followed was effectively a potential offer for three months of cotton harvesting in Queensland. 12-15 hour days, extremely physical work and in the heat. However, 11-12kAU in pocket (after tax I might add) is definitely worth it.

We have now realised that we can do the same sort of work, but less intensively, in these coming weeks to Christmas. Who knows, perhaps we'll be picking Pears in Queensland or sorting through Strawberries (gawwwwwd yes) in NSW. No idea. Or perhaps writing another blog and talking tripe.

Today has been good so far  :D, should probably get off this macbook now as a salesperson has now approached me. To the museum I go.

Remembering home

Why I moved here. Ahem, or why my parents moved here and dragged me with them.

So, in exactly 6 days, 6 hours and 20 minutes, I shall be bidding farewell to New Zealand and starting my 3 hour journey across the ditch.

It's been roughly 3 and a half weeks since I booked a one way ticket to Sydney, something which I might add, was a rather hasty decision. I knew the four weeks would go incredibly quickly. I also knew I would most likely fritter away the first couple, ever watching the deadline get closer.

Did I do this? Well, yes and no, thankfully I've had the help of two great friends to motivate me when I was lacking it, coupled with the great help of two particularly awesome people who recently made the move across the ditch themselves. I have my 12 month visa, accommodation is all booked up, somewhat organised in the job department and I'm just in the process of completing what I need to take.

One huge thing I knew I wanted to do was sell, sell, sell. I needed to get rid of what I did not need and only be left with the basics. Off went the laptop (a downside of which is the fact I'm stuck here listening to Tina Turner on my Mother's computer, though I did ensure a hefty amount of music was placed on the iPod before departing), bike, shoes (/cut), basically everything besides my bed and chest of drawers.

This does make it all very exciting, however, I am much more excited for what lays beyond this year, the prospect of carrying most of my life around on my back, from Asia to Europe and everywhere in between that I can possibly afford. I want to WOOF, volunteer, explore and immerse myself in as many cultures as possible. I am going to Australia for one reason and one reason only; to save. The sooner I can jump abroad and start this adventure, the better. I've been itching to do it for years, spoken of many grand plans despite none of them ever coming to fruition, this one however, seems to be considerably more promising.

Anywho, it's probably about time I get to the main point of this post.

Although I can't really consider New Zealand my 'true' home, it's been mine for the majority of my life and I know I can often take it for granted, too often of dreaming of being on a junk boat in Ha Long Bay or hiring a bike and cycling along the Appian Way .I want to, and need to savour what New Zealand has to offer, as it really does have a tremendous amount on display. This is something I've been making sure I do in my few last weeks here. Beaches, beaches, beaches.

It had been roughly 5 years since I last went to Piha, yet I'm now about to go twice in the space of four days, not a bad effort for a North Shorian if I do say so myself. Lying on the black sand as the sun goes down? Why thank you, I shall indeed. It makes me realise how beautiful New Zealand really is and it shall remind me of what I can come back to.

I'll be back in a month and a half anyway, so I'm not sure why I'm getting all dramatic, I mean, I get to see some of my favourite artists, in Gisborne, with some of my best mates, on a beach, in Summer. Can't complain really can I? I'm sure it will tide me over for however long I'm eventually away for.

This took way too long, and as a result, I'm now 6 days, 5 hours and 50 minutes away from my flight, but that's all that much more exciting.