Happy Trails To You, Until We Meet Again

As I sit down to write this weeks blog, I have a lot to think about.  Not just of the past weekend, but of the past year and what the experience has meant to me. 

I know right away that the things I've tried, the people I've met and the scenery that I have been surrounded by has truly changed me for the better.

I've become more easy going and learned that life doesn't always fall apart when there are 'no plans'.  When I first got here my signature sayings were "so what's the plan?" and "do we have a plan?" which drove everyone nuts. That being said, I still believe that 'Wanaka time' is very inconvenient and being on time is a good characteristic to have. I think if anything Georgie will agree with me.

For me plans were the one thing in my life that was organized and 'unchangeable'. After moving to New Zealand I quickly saw my life change in every aspect and to be honest it was really hard at first.  My support group of family and friends were timezones away, I had quit my job that I had worked so hard for and all of the sudden I was living with my long distance boyfriend and his family.  In a matter of a weekend, I had no idea of who I was or how the girl I have always been would survive. 

As time went on I was able to accept change and let part of 'the girl I have always been' go.  Its true when they say change is good and it was something that I needed. If anything I've learned that exiting your comfort zone can be scary, but there is another part of you beyond it. 

In saying that, bungy jumping was probably the craziest thing that I did while living in New Zealand.  For the life of me I will never forget the panic as I stood at the top of the bridge and looked down thinking "Oh fuck I actually have to do this". It was way beyond my comfort zone and although I will never do it again, I can say that I bungy jumped at AJ Hackets in Queenstown where it was invented. I can also say that I puked on the way home.

Of course there were less scary things that I got to try that were just as effective as bungy jumping.  I joined the touch team and broke my finger. I played cricket and found it was nothing like baseball. I learned how to drive a stick shift on the wrong side of the road, but I'm pretty sure that scared the life out of Teddy and I failed miserably.  Before I attempted each one, I was nervous, hated the idea and had no interest in partaking.  I soon realized that having a negative attitude wasn't going to do much for helping me to fit in with these new people.  So I put my athletic awkwardness aside, picked up that damn rugby ball and went out for the fun of it on Monday nights. Much as I hated admitting it to Campbell, it was actually a lot of fun.

I found that as I tried things with the group that I became more and more accepted as a friend instead of just 'Campbell's Canadian girlfriend'. In friendship, you get what you give. As friendships grew, so did the laughs and the amount of time we spent together. I'm not a camper, but some of my favourite weekends have been spent in the middle of nowhere with a bunch of us compiling our food together, then drinking and laughing the weekend away.  Cluden has been the home of these adventures and I will really miss the late night drinking games and singing sessions.  Whenever I hear the song "Wagon Wheel" I will think of those times and the people that I shared them with.

Campbell and I spent yesterday looking through all the pictures that we have taken over the past 12 months.  Events like the Cromwell Races, the Highlanders game, a Tweed and Tartin Game Hunters Feast and most recently Pips's 30th Birthday Party certainly highlight us at our best. However there were many more weekends that had us playing Monopoly until the wee hours of the night or getting on the piss at the rugby grounds that were just as fun and hilarious. I learned it doesn't matter what you're doing or the cost of the adventure, it's who's accompany you that makes the memory.

Of course this year wasn't just about meeting new people. It was also an opportunity to learn more about the key person in my life and where he came from. Meeting and living with Stu, Sue and Callum has been a great opportunity to see how Campbell grew up and its been interesting to see similarities or differences between my household and his. They have been very welcoming to me and their support in our move to Canada has been greatly appreciated. It has been an amazing experience for our relationship and I certainly have no regrets in taking the plunge in moving to New Zealand.

Sitting at the kitchen table, I know that this is my last post from New Zealand.

Goodbyes over the past few days have been hard, but as most people have said "its only goodbye for now". I do believe that's true. I've sat around many kitchen tables and talked about the next time we'll all see each other. May it will be a parents birthday, a friends wedding or a babies birth; I have made lasting friendships that I know will always be there to turn to.

I thank each and everyone of you for this experience. Cheers for now my good mates.

Spice Up Your Life

Colors of the world
Spice up your life
Every boy and every girl
Spice up your life
People of the world
Spice up your life, aahh

 Well we certainly spiced up our Saturday night when we attended Pip's 30th birthday party last weekend dressed as the Backstreet Boys and Spice Girls.  The wool shed had beats boppin' and leopard print for Africa... oh and a lot of fake tan!! Everyone looked awesome and we had a blast.  Although the blast ended in the morning when our exotic outfits channeled those of transvestites and a friend said to me "Funny isn't it Jenna, you go to bed as Baby Spice and wake up as Scary"!! I then looked in the mirror at my gloppy glitter and solo surviving fake eyelash - scary was an understatement.

It is always interesting to me when I hear people are following my blog.  On the weekend Kirsten, a fantastic kiwi gal I met here, told me that she decided to face her fears by putting the 'Eh Before Nay' and took the horse ride of her lifetime.  She literally put the 'nay' into it.  So proud of you Kirsten and thank you for sharing your story. 

In other news, the boys are playing super well and I'm happy to report that the bearded man beast scored a try last weekend and the red fringe is GONE! Thank god. I was worried I'd be leaving for home with that lasting vision in my head. I kid. I kid.

Speaking of being homeward bound, this is my last of work.  Friday we're having people around to our house for "goodbye for now" drinks.  It will be a good gathering with a bitter sweet end.  Although I am looking forward to seeing my friends and family back home, there are a lot of good people and lasting friendships that I have made here in New Zealand.  I have been feeling torn as of late, but know in my heart that goodbyes don't mean forever.

As The # Of Weeks Wind Down

“Blues are Poos” the cheering from a pack of 'clever' thirty something men that stood behind us at the Highlanders game versus the Blues.

I decided to go full out for my first Highlanders experience; a new Highlanders beanie, Uggs and my jacket. Warm, fuzzy and puffy. But I was not alone as Chrissy, Toby and Campbell all dawned the same fashion of “look warm, be warm”!

Our night began with quite possibly the cheapest, yet still tasty meal that I have ever had.  We agreed on takeaways from a Chinese fish and chip joint that was the size of a shoe box and even smelt like one. I ordered a chicken burger & chips and Campbell got a hamburger, chips and a fish stick. Our meal cost $10. I thought oh hell, for $10 that will be through me before we get to the game.  Happy to report it wasn’t and it was an excellent base for my beer.

During the game, we stood with the rowdy crowd in the legendary area called “The Terrace”.  Where the only warnings I received were “watch for flying beer bottles and people pissing on you”!

Even though we lost it was such an awesome experience.  We even bumped into the All Blacks coach along our travels, but apparently Toby knows him better than we do. As the four of us were walking in, he looks over to this gentleman and says "Graham" with a friendly nod. We were like jeeze high roller, we should have played the Canadian tourist card and got our photo taken with him. 

After the game we headed home and cracked open some wine just in time to see Billy & Kate get hitched.  Never mind what the bride was wearing, was anyone else paying attention to all those hats in the crowd? Imagine getting the invite to the wedding of the century and then getting there to have some lady wearing a massive hat with half a bird of feathers blocking your view. Not cool.

That Thursday was the rugby seasons first evening game.  It was awesome seeing the boys play under the bright lights while sipping away on our hot chocolates.  The crowd of 250+ was roaring as they scored try after try. Such a great night.

I experienced my first "hunting weekend" in a relationship as Campbell spent the next weekend away with the boys duck shooting.  Maybe a payback for making him watch the royal wedding.  As they headed into the middle of nowhere to do whatever men do on those kind of trips (?), me and the gals headed to a cooking demonstration at the Bendigo Homestead that included a lot of red wine. The main dish was a duck tarine.  If you know me at all, you'll know that I'm a chicken/pork/beef kind of gal and a bird fresh from the pond just isn't falling under one of those categories. I did try it... and washed it down with a very large glass of wine. Its a good thing the boys only got 2 ducks, because I sure wont be making a duck dinner anytime soon.

The next day Georgie, Macy and I had a girls day filled with ice chocolates from the Tarras Store and chicken nachos for dinner. All done in the comfort of our track pants. Such a great day and the kind I'll miss once I'm home. 

Last weekend had us back in Tarras for the Game Keepers Supper. Dressed in tweed and tartin and looking like characters out of a Sherlock Holmes movie, we drank mulled wine (among other things) and ate rabbit, duck and plenty of fish. Well someone at that sort of stuff.  Georgie and I thought we had the perfect plan by bringing "wild cow" meatballs to the pot luck dinner to ensure us picky people had something to eat.  However, being the young drunk table they had us go last for food and there were no meat balls left. So we filled up on salads and bread in hopes that would make a solid base for whatever antics the evening would bring. As desserts came out, we had a brainwave idea to stash some in the car for later.  Well later came around 4am after a guts full of gin & tonic and as I jumped into the back seat I forgot about the desserts and ended up with cake all over me.  Good thing I'm coming home to summer and wont require that suit jacket immediately!

Cheers To A Good Friend

I am a few weeks behind on my blog and have a lot to catch you up on, but I have decided to talk about a great friend today. 

On the weekend I got the news that my wonderful friend Aaron Whalen had passed away.  A character of such humour and honesty, always looking for a good time and putting smiles on faces every time he walked through a door.

Over the years Aaron has been the life of many parties, but I will always remember the first time I met him.  I was 15 on a road tour that led us to the hunting camp.  I walked in to see this guy singing along with the fish above the doorway saying "take me to the river, drop put me in the water"! Did I mention that he was naked?

There are so many Aaron stories that we all know and love. From biking down the hunting camp stairs to cannonballing on the hood of his truck at Havelock, the laughs are endless. 

I was fortunate enough to spend some time with Lindsey and Aaron during their recent trip to New Zealand.  I had never met Lindsey before, but our friendship quickly grew over a few gin and sodas and I knew instantly that she was perfect for Aaron.

We spent the weekend camping in the middle of nowhere, but I'm sure the laughter of 12 people echoed from miles away.   Aaron was in true Whalen form and landed the catch phrase of the weekend. 

Sitting around the fire, our New Zealand friends were trying to explain a drinking game. The game starts off when one person says "ship came into the harbour carrying" and you say the topic.  Each person in the circle has to list a brand within that topic.  Well at one point it was 'makeup' and when it came to Aarons turn he yelled out "Whalen all over your face"! It was hilarious and had the entire group in stitches.

We all have our own Aaron story that we will turn to on days like today when we are sad.  A story full of laughs, quick wit and a cowboy hat to boot.  He was a great friend and will be missed by many.  Until we meet again, cheers to you my friend xxoo

Easter Weekend and the Shananigans That Happened

If you're wondering who the Harry Hazard is in the pic next to me, Campbell can't shave until he scores a try!

Lovely....

So Easter in New Zealand means a four day weekend, which I'm sure is how Jesus would have intended it. There was no church, but I'm pretty sure I had some holly wine and prayed to god on Monday when my hangover set in.

The weather was beautiful and had us in sunnys (sunglasses) the entire weekend. Friday, Campbell and I decide to be a super couple and try out a new walking track. An amazing opportunity to check out the changing colours of the Autumn leaves, all the while getting a little exercise in on our food full weekend. We landed at the track at the same time as a couple and their three daughters.  That poor father. Every hill they hit, the youngest one had to stop, get off her bike and suckered him into pushing the bike up the hill. Talk about being wrapped around someones finger.  Good luck when she 16!

Saturday was the Whitehorse Cup, unfortunately the boys did not win.  It was a great game and Campbell played very well.  Although I believe he had a high tackle in there somewhere and pretty much clotheslined a guy. I guess it's understandable saying he's 6/3.   I'll let it slide, but the ref sure didn't!

Sunday was SUNNY and the perfect day for a Sunday Session. A few of us gathered at Georgie & Huddy's with whatever booze we could scrounge up without being able to buy booze on Easter Sunday.  Whole lot of beer and Kaluha with milk.  Damn good day.  After a lot of laughs and peace of mind, we were all in bed by 10pm. Such rock stars haha

Monday was ANZAC Day, which to us is Remembrance Day. Campbell and I put our headaches aside, got all dressed up and attended the 9:30am ceremony.  Funny enough, NZ poppies are different then ours - I'll post a pic for you guys.  We had to laugh afterwards; during the prayer songs there was one woman's high pitched voice that overwhelmed the entire crowd.  You know the one, she's always at church or weddings and thinks she can sing really well. Someone should tell her she can't.

I'm so stoked for this weekend as Campbell has arranged for us to meet up with Toby & Chrissy and attend the Highlanders game in Dunedin.  Basically like attending a Leaf game. I'm super pumped for a live sports event.  Woo Woo Watch Out!!

Catch up with you next week xoxo J

This Week's Edition

When I see advertisements promoting the show 'Sister Wives' where a bunch of redneck women are all married to and popping out children with the same mediocre guy, I realize the days of quality TV like 'Friends' and 'Seinfeld' are gone.  

However, tonight I experienced what felt like an episode from that show as I had dinner with Campbell and three of his friends.  I couldn’t help but imagine the media uproar if the roles were reversed and the plot was changed to one woman and four men. 

Somehow she would have to seem interested in four different people’s day, their sports views of the week, what they wanted for dinner, the TV program they wanted to watch before going to bed and remembering what kind of beer needed to be stocked in which fridge. All this while managing to stay attracted to them.  The poor woman wouldn’t have to fake a headache. She’d have a constant one! haha 

I could see it being a clever sitcom before quickly turning into the latest version of CSI.

Enough with the vent, back to my travels…

The gypsy’s were in town a few weeks back and my inner hippie was super stoked. I walked down to the park and there were homes on wheels and trinket stands everywhere.  And no, not the camper vans our parents rent when they have a midlife crisis. These houses were old vans and buses, painted bright purple, smelling of incense and lined with everything they owned.  They we all happy, polite and very gracious with any purchase. Maybe they have the upper hand on us and have discovered a true appreciation for life.  I found a really cool couple in their 70's that made things out of forks and spoons.  I ended up buying a funky ring made out of a tea spoon... it's very artsy.  A friend of ours actually grew up this way and I was lucky enough to go with him & his girlfriend to the fair. He told me stories of how he grew up and I learned that when he was 5, he and his family travelled with the Gypsy's and his job was to shine shoes.  By the time he was 18 he had attended 13 schools.  Its very humbling to meet someone who grew up completely opposite to me, yet has become very successful in his own endeavours and is one of the nicest people I've ever met.  It's just a real eye opener and I wanted to share that with you all.

So Campbell and I had a visit with the Justice of the Peace this evening to confirm our "Common Law Union" for our Visa stuff. How very grown up of us!  On a  non serious note, on April Fools Day I told Campbell that we should just say "screw the Visa stuff" and get married that weekend in Queenstown. He just looked at me, quietly sat on the bed and almost fainted.  The look on his face was priceless when I said "APRIL FOOLS"!! Pure awesomeness!!


I'm happy to report that Campbell is ready to rock and roll this weekend and will be playing for the Whitehorse Cup. I have been fully warned that if they win, they'll be on a 3 day bender. Good thing its Easter and we have a four day weekend, although I'm not sure if Jesus would approve. 


I hop~hop~hope you all have a wonderful Easter! Don't worry calories don't count this weekend!!

Wizards, Skinnamarinkydinkydink & Skinnamarinkydoo

Bet that title grabbed your attention...

Wizards, no not like Harry Potter, a wizard is something I learned about while at a rugby game a few weekends ago. First you buy a bunch of canned alcohol ... think beer, think Smirnoff... then duct tape them together, like 10 of them, and carry them around to look like... a wand I guess? Sort of like a portable cooler, but without the ice. Ok maybe it was a pair of 21 year old boys and at the time I thought it was brilliantly awesome. Anyway, I took pictures. I wish I knew about this trick 7 years ago for May 24.

So most of you know that Campbell and I have been dealing with our Visa stuff lately and well lets just say it would be a whole lot easier if his name was Mohammed and he was a doctor.  I'm seriously thinking about buying a can of spray tan this weekend and having a go at him. The past few weeks I have been spinning my wheels to figure out what year I was in kindergarten, all my addresses since I was 18 and what year my father was born... which turns out isn't confirmed between documents.  Who would have thought my dad changing his age to get his license when he was 15 would affect his unborn child years later.  See, there's always something that's going to bite you in the ass.  If I ever have children I will use that as a scare tactic through their teens.

Speaking of children, I had a wonderful day with Macy last Wednesday. I was able to pull something from my own childhood memory and You Tubed the Elephant Show for her.  No, I didn't let the computer babysit, I actually put on "Skinnamarinkydinkydink" and sang with her.  Its weird, I remembered all the actions and sang along with Sharon, Lois and Bram.  Good times.  Thank god Macy was the only one there to watch.  She seemed to enjoy it.  I must share the link and dance moves with Georgie.

Ooh and dance moves. We had our best out over the weekend. I think I remember a bar top? I'd beg my mother for forgiveness and blame a bad crowd, but I'm pretty sure I've done that with her a time or two!

PS I have discovered a super awesome hangover killer. No advil, no chocolate milk, no home fries with gravy... I've started cooking like Betty Crocker on Sunday. Actually, pretty much kicking her ass and taking her name in vain. Homemade soup, sausage rolls, chicken drum sticks, etc.  Campbell has been getting the greatest lunches. He'll be devastated when we go back to sandwiches or better yet, when he has to start making his own lunch again.  Wives/long time girlfriends... I have a question for you.... when is a good time to stop making lunches? Why do we even start? It's true what they say... love is blind and only the dumb survive. Well maybe that's a few saying mixed up together, whatever. Are we that in love that we get up early, make them a hearty lunch while we take some salad that's fit for a rabbit?  I tell ya this, I would have been screwed being a women in the 1950's.