A fortnight to go, one week of work left.

Felt like it was time to write another entry.

Have half-achieved several things this week, I have got quotes for dentists and dry cleaners, but haven't made an appointment yet. Similarly I brought the odd thing to take yesterday, but haven't got everything, and probably not the most important things.

Last week was OK, just a little jaded from working the weird hours.

On Friday my Grandmother came up from Huntly, so we did several jobs, that she needed to do (shopping and visiting her sister). It was nice to spend some time with her (although tiring). That night we had tea with my sister and brother-in-law, afterwards mum & Nana went home and I just hung with them.

Saturday was mainly spent shopping for Japan with mum. That was nice too. I went to tea with one of my friends (from childhood) to a Japanese restaurant. I had in fact been to the same restaurant for lunch with another friend on Thursday. Anyway, both times I was impressed with the food and the price (and the company :)LOL. On Thursday lunch I had Udon noodle soup with sushi, for $10, and Saturday tea I had soup, salad, 5x sushi, tempura (lightly battered veges) rice stuck to prawns and a bowl of rice etc - for $21. I was impressed.

Just trying to knock off some jobs to be done this afternoon, and attempting to catch up with people.

Goodbye comfort zone...

I thought I would add a quick entry, as last night I was lying awake in bed, fretting about the journey.

Lately I have been a little stressed sorting out stuff, and have been thinking to myself "Is it really worth it?" Of course I remind myself it is, and think of how I had thought the same thing about my Australia trip.

I like to think of myself as someone who doesn't live within my comfort zone. I think if I did, I would never do anything. I guess I would be still living in Matira, hiding away from the world (- but then I would have had to learn to to kill sheep etc... so I wouldn't exactly be in my comfort zone... but I digress) Something I thought about last night was the fact that I had kinda got comfortable at Gilmours and hence why it has taken so long to get to Japan, but at the same time I have not moved to something "more comfortable" because I knew that if I did, I wouldn't leave.

The long weekend was nice. The weather was good, and I finished reading 2 books, climbed a hill (hence the photo), and had a little kayak in the surf. Didn't get to go to Rabbit Island (in the photo it is to the right of the mountain (Mt Maunganui) the "middle" island, not the one really far out) though, which was a disappointment, as it will be another year before I get the chance to.

On the way home we had tea with some of our old family friends. I had been nervous as their son had died in Japan about 6 years ago, so I wasn't sure how they would feel about me going to Japan. Afterwards I felt that they were encouraging and "giving their blessing" so that has made me feel a lot more comfortable about it all.

It is just over 3 weeks until I leave. Thats a daunting thought. I'm glad that I am finally feeling that I am doing something with my life [again] - using my potential. On a related note, having suffered ailments lately (namely gout, and having been put on medication for it permanently) I remember that I aren't getting younger. I recall as a child my father telling me that if I didn't have my heart operation (that I had when I was six) my body would have been worn out by the time I was 30. Naturally I have been reminded of that fact, with 26 looming, and 30 not too far behind it. I guess I am worried that I have wasted my youth (on education!) and all my dreams of becoming various things are going to be so much harder. That and the feeling my body is starting to fall apart (gout, grey hairs etc)

"... got my ticket - I'm ready to fly..."

I assume thats how the song goes...

This week has been a big one. Finally settled on some travel insurance, brought my ticket (and the insurance) and got some vaccinations.

Pretty soon I will be heading off to Papamoa for the weekend, If I was on to it, I would have already left - but sleep and afternoon television conspired against me.

Having most of the day to do stuff this last week has been good, yet counter-productive - false security plus finishing work at 2.30am makes me lethagic until I go to work again at 4pm.

Anyway not much else to add. Looking forward to Kayaking this weekend!

"I'm leaving - on a jet plane..."

I wanted to save that title up until closer to the time, might change it.

Not a lot to report, made a little progress towards leaving - have booked an appointment with the travel doctor for Thursday, and have hunted the odd thing down. I need to focus on looking into travel insurance though as that is the thing with a deadline.

Have tidied my room this weekend, and little else. Spent Friday being a cat taxi - Jess, my sister's cat (formerly our family cat until Suzanne and Bevan "adopted" her) went to the vet and had her teeth cleaned, a microchip installed, and a vaccination. She was a little groggy when we picked her up, however wasn't so scared of the car trip as she was on the way there.

This evening went to Huntly and picked up a bed from my Nana's, to take to the house at Papamoa.

This weekend is Labour weekend - four and a half days off for me! not sure how to spend them- I was keen for a "North Island road trip" up the Coromandel Penninsula to the top, around the east cape, and down to Hastings to go to Splash planet. However it would probably cost me $200 in fuel, so I will probably just go to Papamoa and vege. However on the good side of that is, if I go to Papamoa, I can finally kayak out to Rabbit Island (off the main beach at Mt Maunganui). Something I have wanted to do since I was a kid.

For the next two weeks we are starting work at 4pm and finishing at 2.30am (rather than 12.30pm & 11pm respectively). It should be interesting, I like that idea as then I get more time to do Japan stuff during the day. They are throwing in a couple of free feeds too - which is all good (that was something I insisted on...)

I need to stop wasting time playing computer games on the computer - I have been so good in the past year - barely touched my games, until a couple of weeks ago when I reinstalled Jedi Knight II: Jedi Outcast. Nearly clocked it, so hopefully not a temptation for much longer.

The final countdown

As one of the members of the band 48May said - here in Hamilton we like our classic 80's hits - and subsequently played "The final countdown". Anyway - enough of the promotion (I went to school with at least 2 of the band members - whether they remember me is a different story...)

There is a reason for the title - the countdown has been initiated - I am leaving (apparently) on the 15th of November. I received an email last night to that effect. All of a sudden I have gone from being in limbo-land, to being in focused-no time to waste-land.

The weekend just been was pretty cool. Friday was spent getting verified copies and sending away my police check. Late afternoon on Saturday I went down to Rotorua (full of surprises) met up with Rebecca, had a quick tea (in record time apparently) and went to the murder mystery evening. I ended up being the murderer (I didn't know that I did it) - I think they don't like Hamiltonians or something - kidding - if that was the case perhaps I should have been the victim?

After a delicious breakfast on Sunday I went to church, then went and watched a bit of Bathurst at Rebecca's friends' place.

I left at about 2/2.30 and headed back home. I decided to stop at Tirau and visit the Castle - as I have stopped several times, but it has always been closed when I have driven through. This time I actually made it. It is quite interesting - mainly toys and dolls etc, but entertained me enough for my $8. I thought it could have been a little more "Castle-like" however they are building a staircase up one of the towers, so I think it will just improve as time goes on. I read some of the clippings they had there - about the building of it. Apparently the man was quite unwell, and promised his wife that he would build her a castle before he died (which he thought was sooner rather than later). Quite romantic.

So where to from here? stuff to sort out - vaccinations, travel insurance, luggage, finishing work etc - a party (the date is a bit hazy at this stage) saying good-bye to friends and family (especially my Grandfather - that is going to be the hardest - he is the one that is most likely not going to be here when I return, or not remember me when I return).

Almost to the final countdown...

Finally today my Police check came. As expected I have a completely clean record.

Tomorrow I will get some verified copies of it, and send the original to Australia. I was going to head to Papamoa tonight with my parents, however decided that I needed to do some jobs here that would require the phone and internet (due to not getting much done these days before work). I would have liked to have gone to Papamoa, as it would've been a nice relaxing break.

This week was OK. Just stressed from being in limbo land Japan-wise. Waiting for the police check to come through etc. The sands are flowing through the hourglass, and so are the days of my life. Want to finish work ASAP.

This weekend I'm going to Rotorua for a murder mystery night. Should be cool.

"Resumed" or "Socialism in the morning, capitalism in the afternoon..."

Just a short ramble.
Almost lost (or thought I had lost) this site on Thursday night - after writing my last entry, as I put my idea into fruition (grammar?) and created another blog, but as it used this address http://nzguyvsworld.blogspot.com - when you would go to look at it, it would come up with the new page, and not this blog. Got it sorted in the end though.

Friday was busy. Got up and had a shower and quick unhealthy breakfast before rushing to work for a union vs. management meeting. I am basically the support person for the delegate. It is kind of ironic considering my general accountant/economist attitudes that I am part of the union, however I'm a little jaded from past employment relationships, so I am going to cover myself this time. That, and the fact I think we deserve more pay.

Following that I went to Mum & Dad's work and folded invoices for them, and put them in envelopes (hence the capitalism).

Went home and completed the required visa form for the company I am going to Japan with. The Japanese government is very picky about how it is filled out, so I did it several times to get a perfect copy.

After tea I went to a friends place where they had a bonfire, for a gathering because another friend was up from New Plymouth. It was cool, the temperature was fantastic - lately it has been weird - hotter than usual for Spring, except for a week ago, when it was really freezing.

Today was our Church's fair (basically a big garage sale). It was ok - I didn't really look at the stuff - it didn't really interest me, mainly because I am disappearing to Japan and mum doesn't want me to clog up the house with more junk... I helped cook the sausages. That was OK.

I have also resurrected something from the past... a website based on an assignment that I created to finish my degree. Back in 2001 (back in the day) I did a paper called E-Marketing - it was the last paper I did to complete my Bachelor of Business. We had to create a website, so I decided to base mine on the hobby enterprise that I had been operating while studying - selling sheep manure. Check it out at http://thomanure.blogspot.com