Happy Birthday, Mara :-)

It's been a bit more than a week since my birthday party but I did want to write about it nonetheless and thank everybody who was there for making it such an unforgettable day =D Each and every one of you contributed in their own special way and I am grateful for the busy helpers I had and the wonderful friends I have!

Matt, Ngahuia (one of the girls from the hostel) and I had spent the night before the party in the kitchen preparing the fish, making salads, baking pies and banana bread and brownies and my birthday cake. Only took us about six hours and we finally finished just before midnight.

Nevertheless it was "early rise and shine" for the three of us the next morning. Ngahuia had once again happily volunteered to help with further party preparation (sucks when you live in the same place and don't have your own transport *ggg*). We had good fun from the start blowing up balloons in the car along the way.

After spending some more hours cleaning and cooking and Ngahuia and Matt almost setting the fish on fire it was time for the guests to arrive. I was really happy to see Matt's sisters had made it all the way up here to celebrate with us! We all had a really jolly time and the few of us who stayed overnight played games until the early morning hours while Matt and his sister's fiancé spent some bro-time together going rock-fishing.

Here's some pictures of a really awesome day =D

I'm getting angry

I've been a Community Support Worker for almost 3 months mostly cleaning for elderly people who - due to their health - can't accomplish certain household chores on their own anymore. Almost every time I visit a new client to relief for their normal cleaner I get praises over praises after I've done my work. It's little things like "Oh, the floor has actually been mopped this time." or "You even used the toilet brush to clean the toilet." or "Your cloths are actually dirty when you've cleaned the house."...

One of those clients I was only meant to see a couple times actually called up my boss and asked if I could stay permanently. And I've had a few others who were toying with the idea. What on earth is wrong with some people over here? The work ethics are SHOCKING! I feel sorry for a lot of my clients who so much depend on their Support Worker to help them around the house and yet nobody really seems to care.

Just the other day I went to a house where the normal cleaner had been only a week ago. Then why do I ask you were there spider webs allover the place? Why was the toilet stained as and why the mirrors filthy? If you're not prepared to get on the floor and do some - yes dirty - work THEN FIND ANOTHER JOB!

You gotta love New Zealand!

Just today one of my Home Support clients was talking about Guavas and how yummy they were. I've never actually had one - only as a flavour in yoghurts. So the old lady said she was going to make me a small glass of Guava jam next week. How sweet :-)

Well... now guess what... When I came home from work I saw a friend of mine rounding up one of the trees outside the hostel and putting fruits into a bag. We actually have a Guava tree right outside!!! There are so many ripe fruits and since barely anybody knows about the tree heaps of them have been falling to the ground and eaten by the birds. What a waste...

Curiously I tried one and OHHHH let me tell you, what a delicious treat! So upstairs I went to get a bag for myself *heehee* That will be a nutrious pudding after dinner tonight :-) According to Wikipedia one single Guava has FOUR TIMES the amount of vitamin C of an orange!!!

Oh and here is some more great news: My car passed its WoF (Warrant of Fitness) today *woohoo* So I don't need to worry about how to get to work during the next half year. Thanks to the nice Scottish auto technician who looked the other way here and there :-)

Good things will happen to those who believe

It's been a bit quiet again here lately. It wasn't that I didn't have anything to say or that nothing had happened. On the contrary. My life at the moment is full of constant adventures, battles, happy moments and lots of questions. But sometimes sorting through the mass of information in your head isn't that easy.

Today I'll start by saying thank you for all those wonderful birthday wishes in the past week. I am grateful for all my friends out there no matter how many thousands of kilometers away they might be. Thank you for your constant love and support and also for all those wonderful pictures I received for my birthday photo wall. I just picked it up today (it wasn't meant to be ready until next week which would have sucked because my party is on Saturday but hey - hence my title for this post =D

I put the poster on my bedroom wall for now and I can't tell you how much warmer the room already looks and feels! Some of you who have sent me pictures won't find them on the poster simply because I received them too late. But nevertheless they've been put onto the wall as well and on Saturday - for the big party - you guys can all join me and celebrate with me :-)

Speaking of birthdays - being 30 doesn't actually feel as bad as I thought it would be. I had a wonderful day last Friday with Matt. It was a beautiful sunny day - very surprising considering it's already winter and has been raining heaps and heaps and heaps in the last few weeks. So we made the most of the day and went to the beach :-)

This one is towards Whangarei Heads and we stopped to watch some anglers off the wharf. I've got some more pictures of beautiful Ocean Beach just have to upload them these days. Speaking of fish - yep, we even did go fishing that night. Tried a new spot out towards Mimiwhangata. It took us an hour to walk to the rocks. Over paddocks we went passing horses and sheep, climbing steep trecks and along cliffs where left and right there was nothing but abyss.

But the view in the end was worth the effort! Check this out...

Unfortunately it wasn't a very successful night. One Trevally (turned into live bait), a snapper, 2 kahawai and an eel. Would have been a lot more but not long after sunset a shark was attracted by our berley and munched it all. Luckily it buggered off after it had eaten but it was quite a show to watch!

At least we do have enough fish to live on for a while. Saturday is the day for "my" big snapper. The 20-pounder Matt caught a few weeks ago is finally being smoked. We'll also make some raw fish and I'll do some baking for the party. Lots of preparation but it's going to be so much fun =D I've never hosted a big party like that - but then you only turn 30 once =D

Prior to my big day I must admit I had been in some kind of early midlife crisis. You know how when you grow up you always have a picture of yourself in mind about when you are older? Well, that picture barely ever turns out to be reality. My life has taken some unexpected turns in the last few years and I guess I just had to accept that some things just didn't turn out the way they were planned or meant to be. Who would have thought that at 30 I'd be living in a hostel, facing constant money problems, changing my career I always thought was THE only right one for me...

And yet looking back I wouldn't change a thing. I am actually happy where I am :-) After years of moaning I finally have a job that I actually enjoy. I've got a man by my side I know I can count on. Friends who make me cry with laughter and a family on three different continents.

Life hasn't always been easy. But that's what makes life so wonderfully exciting. And eventually, finally, everything is slowly falling into place. Bit by bit. Good things will happen to those who believe. You just have to keep your mind and your eyes open. And be happy about little things.

One thing that made me smile today? Got the break lights fixed on my car for a lot less than I thought it would cost PLUS found a mechanic who will not be too picky when it comes to warranting my car as long as it's safe :-) So when the school holidays are over I should still be able to get to work and back without having to walk 60 kilometers daily *yay*