Aren't weekends supposed to be for resting? I'm exhausted and it's only Saturday afternoon!

Another action packed week in the life of me. Not really, but on Wednesday Scott, Pam & Beck landed back in Chch for a few days. We headed down to the "local" (the pub nearest the hostel that is really only visited by locals and away from the "strip") Harringtons. They brew their own really good beer there (no preservatives supposedly means no hangover) so we decided to sample. Made friends with the bartender who used to live in Alberta and was wary of a table full of Islanders! Also ate the most incredible nachos ever. Unreal.

Thursday night Scott & Greg (the Scotsmen) made us (Roz, Gemma & I - last of the long termers) a lovely dinner, which we decided to supplement with some Harringtons brew. Beck, Pam & Scott arrived after dinner as did Anne & Sol, friends of Gemma's and we had a such a pleasant evening just sitting around gabbing. Lots of laughs! Last night one of the customer service reps celebrated his last day by having us all to a pub for a few drinks. I knew I was becoming a local at Haringtons when the bartender, checking id's at the door knew me. He was confused by the fact that I was not just a travller and of all places, worked at J&G. (I'm still at the door place). Turns out he's a builder and knows the whole lot of them really well. Small town, feeling more like home every day!

So after a mere 5 hours there, I headed back to the hostel to meet up with the rest of our gang to enjoy Scott & Greg's last night out. It was a fab night that easily turned into a great morning. (Insert nod of understanding as to the incoherence of this post here). A few (and I only mean few) hours sleep and Gemma, Anne & I wandered the city this afternoon, shopping, eating and just Saturday-ing. Tonight will be quiet... I hope.

Really no exciting adventure stories, but, as I hope you're all coming to see, this is just normal life but in a different place. Well living in a hostel isn't exactly normal, but you get what I mean. I'm learning and experiencing new things every day, but most of that is about either doors and the building trade at work or people and new friends at home. I know about as much about Chch now as I did when I got here 6 weeks ago (6 weeks!!!) and that's totally cool. Some of you have said about how you find the whole idea of coming here scary. No way man. Once you're far enough away from home that you couldn't just pick up and visit on a whim, it doesn't matter how far away you are. Obviously (with effort) it's easy enough to keep in touch. In my eyes, I don't see much of a difference between living here or in Toronto distance-wise.

Okay there's a guy coughing and gagging at the computer next to me and I'm going to vomit if he does it one more time. I have to go.

Aren't weekends supposed to be for resting? I'm exhausted and it's only Saturday afternoon!

Another action packed week in the life of me. Not really, but on Wednesday Scott, Pam & Beck landed back in Chch for a few days. We headed down to the "local" (the pub nearest the hostel that is really only visited by locals and away from the "strip") Harringtons. They brew their own really good beer there (no preservatives supposedly means no hangover) so we decided to sample. Made friends with the bartender who used to live in Alberta and was wary of a table full of Islanders! Also ate the most incredible nachos ever. Unreal.

Thursday night Scott & Greg (the Scotsmen) made us (Roz, Gemma & I - last of the long termers) a lovely dinner, which we decided to supplement with some Harringtons brew. Beck, Pam & Scott arrived after dinner as did Anne & Sol, friends of Gemma's and we had a such a pleasant evening just sitting around gabbing. Lots of laughs! Last night one of the customer service reps celebrated his last day by having us all to a pub for a few drinks. I knew I was becoming a local at Haringtons when the bartender, checking id's at the door knew me. He was confused by the fact that I was not just a travller and of all places, worked at J&G. (I'm still at the door place). Turns out he's a builder and knows the whole lot of them really well. Small town, feeling more like home every day!

So after a mere 5 hours there, I headed back to the hostel to meet up with the rest of our gang to enjoy Scott & Greg's last night out. It was a fab night that easily turned into a great morning. (Insert nod of understanding as to the incoherence of this post here). A few (and I only mean few) hours sleep and Gemma, Anne & I wandered the city this afternoon, shopping, eating and just Saturday-ing. Tonight will be quiet... I hope.

Really no exciting adventure stories, but, as I hope you're all coming to see, this is just normal life but in a different place. Well living in a hostel isn't exactly normal, but you get what I mean. I'm learning and experiencing new things every day, but most of that is about either doors and the building trade at work or people and new friends at home. I know about as much about Chch now as I did when I got here 6 weeks ago (6 weeks!!!) and that's totally cool. Some of you have said about how you find the whole idea of coming here scary. No way man. Once you're far enough away from home that you couldn't just pick up and visit on a whim, it doesn't matter how far away you are. Obviously (with effort) it's easy enough to keep in touch. In my eyes, I don't see much of a difference between living here or in Toronto distance-wise.

Okay there's a guy coughing and gagging at the computer next to me and I'm going to vomit if he does it one more time. I have to go.

oh, and sorry for the complete lack of emails from my end. I'll catch up soon, I promise! Well, for those of you I like anyway.

No, other than a test drive, no adventures yet. Still waiting for insurance to come through. I've actually kind of forgotten that I bought a car. Man did that excitement fizzle out.

Mom thinks I should name her Lizzy, sister to Betty (they both come from Elizabeth). I haven't gotten enough of a feel for her yet to name her. She is a she though - station wagon, big ass, female.

Still at the door place. Learning heaps about doors and can do quite a bit of pricing now too. Lately I have even started observing the make of different doors. It's not as easy as you think. Really. Is it flush, 4, 6, 8 or 10 panel? Hollow or solid core? Smooth or woodgrain finish? What width? Standard height (1980mm)? What "furniture" (handle/hinges)? And then there's the reveals (jambs/frame). Don't even go there girlfriend.

The small office combined with factory and lack of women (only Cat & I to defend our gender) is so reminiscent of Irving! Great fun, but enough about work.

Saturday was a goodbye night for friends, visitng a few pubs... Sunday was a recovery day, starting with a late lunch in a pub watching footy (soccer) with a group of Brits and then lounging for the evening. Last night Gemma, Scott & I got a bit of culture (I've been so deprived after all the shows I saw in Auckland!) and we caught Goodbye Lenin (a really great German flick) at the arts centre. Tonight a coffee (chai tea latte for me, although Timothy's is still my fave) with Cat after work and a bit of apartment (flat) hunting (for her), a swim and an email session. Amazing how a day goes.

I don't know how clear I have been on my plans lately - Another 5/6 weeks in Chch (living at the hostel) before being invaded by Summerside pride. Mark (Ramsay) and Sarah (Denman - do I really have to list their parents names Deb?) and Sarah's British bloke Paul (guy/bf) are (last I've been told) arriving early July for a month or more of NZness. Exciting, yes. Even more exciting for you all, as this is a perfect opportunity to have my birthday present (June 27) hand delivered! How much easier can I make it?

Am I hearing a new Counting Crows song on the radio??? Please inform.

There are plans currently in the works for the hostel's annual "mid-winter feast" which falls on or around June 25 each year. Conveniently enough, I've re-named it Becky's B-day party. You're all invited. I've never had my b-day in mid winter before. Last year I got a bbq, this year I requested mittens.

Strange but true, these are the tales of my life.