Happy Hallowe'en to all! Particularly to Mom who is going through withdrawal - there's no one around to bitch about all the crap she puts up everywhere so it's lost it's festivity for her I fear. Damn shame that is...

Hallowe'en isn't nearly as big here as at home. People still have this notion they have to be scary and absolutely no one decorates for the occassion. They'll learn... soon enough it will be pushed in their innocent little consuming faces until they have no choice but to relish in the commercialism of every season. But until then they just have to suffer with Christmas music being played and Christmas trees in shop windows for 3 full months! But that's just my view.....

Nothing new this week. Monday was Labour Day here so it was great to have the extra day off from both jobs. Just putting my nose to the grind for the next month to build up a bit of cash and enjoy my last bit of time in Chch. Ian left this week and it was a bit of a wake up call for me to realize I really only have a matter of weeks left here! It's going to be hard to leave!

Okay must try to email some of you now.......

I really am crap at this, I know. But good news... I survived my 7-day stint!! It was a good week and really busy, but luckily Sophie was around for the first few days and could keep me posted on life beyond the gate, and then Ian came back from Aus and was able to assure me civilization was continuing as usual. I was supposed to be on duty until Sat morning but Friday not (With Eric covering for me) I got to go the whole 500m down the road to have a drink with Nick & Roz (just back from a week of tramping), Ian and Paul & Tam (former Foley managers who have come back to live at the hostel while the get themselves established).

I met them all down there after cashing up and walked in just laughing hysterically at myself - being springtime, I spent the entire walk down to the pub staring at the trees and gardens amazed by the growth. It felt like a new world! The day before when I had taken the recycling down to the curb I felt like I was going to get shocked like a dog crossing an electric fence if I went over the property lines! No illness, blizzard or anything has kept me confined to a small area for an extended period!

So since then I've been catching up on my courses in rinsing about. Paul, Tam, Ian & I have been coffeeing, shopping and doing generally not a whole lot the past few days. Clive, an Irish friend, and his gf Ruth came back for the weekend and was great to see them, although it's been quiet around the hostel lately since we lost Glen. He was ususally the instigator of all evil happenings...

And that's been my life... am making plans for the next 2 months... the remainder of my NZ time... another month working (hopefully) 2 jobs with a little road trip to visit Clive & Ruth in Westport and catch up with Gemma & Colm at the same time and then have about 3 weeks on the North Island before leaving. coming too quickly!!! Ahhhhhhhh!!!