Salt of the Earth

Current music:  The Naked and Famous What's hot: - Heat pumps  - An efficient and effective State Sector  - The Royal family  - Cooking programmes What's not: - The price of food  - The price of petrol

On 6 July 2009 we flew off on our eight week fun filled European adventure. We’d saved for two years and spent a lot of time planning and preparing for the trip of a lifetime. Mike and I enjoyed it immensely. Where we went: - Singapore - UK - London, Bath, Marloes Sands, Hartington, Ambleside, Chillingham, Edinburgh, Loch Ness, Loch Lomond, Glasgow - Belgium - Brugge - Netherlands - Rotterdam, Dan Haag, Amsterdam, Arnhem - Germany - Essen, Berlin, Munich - Czech Republic - Prague - Switzerland - Zurich - France - Avignon, Bordeaux, Paris How much it cost: Total cost $33,668.54 - Flights, insurance, hire car and Eu-Rail pass = $10,930.95 - Tours etc = $968.40 - Singapore and London accommodation = $1,403.50 - Other accommodation = approx. $7,800 - Meals, shopping, bus/metro and activities = approx. $12,565 What we ate: In my travel diary I kept a list of what we ate for dinner each night. Below is how it reads, notes in italics added June...

On 22nd January 2010 we adopted Sancho, a four-year-old part Burmese cat, from the SPCA. We've decided his full name is: Sancho Panza Trouble Nutbar Hodgkinson.... we really do love him to bits though. He's very playful and talkative, and great company.

Travel and holidays: New Plymouth, relaxing over New Years New Plymouth to visit family Melbourne to visit family Singapore, UK, Belgium, Netherlands, Germany, Czech Republic, Switzerland and France New Plymouth for Emily's first birthday Levin and Palmerston North to visit family New Plymouth for Christmas Happenings: Eight-week fun-filled European adventure Bought our first home New job Goals: Really, our only goal for 2009 was to do our overseas trip, but we've accomplished so much more. I certainly didn't expect us to buy a house this year as I thought we wouldn't have enough for a deposit. My goals for 2010 are: To become a great PA To settle into our new house Maybe climb Mt Taranaki? ...we'll have to see about that one as I'd like to go with Mike and he might not be able to go this year. Make extra repayments on our mortgage to pay off an additional $20,000 It's been a great year, but I'm not sad to see it come to a close. We'v...

Travel and holidays: New Plymouth and Raglan for Christmas and New Years 07-08 New Plymouth for mum's birthday New Plymouth for Dave's birthday New Plymouth for Chris and Jo's wedding, 1 March 08 New Plymouth for birthdays and Mothers day Martinborough for a break New Plymouth to see my new niece, Emily: Auckland for Seether concert Melbourne to see my other new niece, Charlotte: New Plymouth - after Christmas Happenings: Started planning Europe trip Became an aunty to Emily Olivia and Charlotte Rose Election - new Government means work was busy Milli and James had baby number 2: Zia Goals: Climb Mt Taranaki in March/April 2009 Europe trip Aug/Sept/Oct 2009 We're well underway with planning our trip to Europe. Countries include: UK, France, Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Czech Republic, Switzerland plus a stopover in Singapore. We also may visit Sweden, Denmark and Italy, but that will depend on time and budget. Climbing Mt Taranaki isn't going to happen...

Current Music: Pink Floyd What's hot: - Morocco - Saving money - Knitting - Recycling - Flat slipper-like shoes What's not: - The economy - Killing whales

Sitting here reflecting on life I realise I have all I ever wanted... except maybe a kitten... but that's just not practical right now! I wanted a husband, someone to travel the world with -- tick. I wanted a camera -- tick. I wanted to be happy -- tick. I wanted to travel -- tick. I wanted to be in love and be loved -- tick. I wanted to be a success -- tick. Success is different things for different people - for me it's having a good job and just being a decent, contributing member of society. Things aren't all perfect, I've certainly had my ups and downs over the last six months... but I can't really complain. ... except I don't have a kitten... and some chickens... and we don't own a house yet - but they are things to look forward to, eh?

Current Music: Staind God, it's my happening again... go back and read my very first post:- " I've had an interesting but tiring start to 2006. I'm in an in between space. My thoughts are in disarray. I need to bring some order to this confusion." Replace the '2006' with '2008' and you have my thoughts... Does this happen to me at the beginning of every year? "Just try to understand this isn't what I planned This ride's out of my hands So now I'm forced to be something I can not be If only I could make you see" - 'Tonight' , Staind

Travel and holidays: January - Napier, Palmerston North, Castlepoint for Christmas and New Years March - Martinborough with Jotham and Anna April - New Plymouth, Levin, Foxton over Easter April - Nelson & Takaka for our Wedding Anniversary May - New Plymouth for Mothers day, Olivia's 1st birthday and to see Dad after ankle op June - Brisbane & Melbourne July - Taupo for Solnet conference July - New Plymouth for Dad's birthday October - New Plymouth with Jotham and Anna to swap cars November - Manfeild and Palmerston North Happenings: Flickr exhibition New camera Prince Andrew visit to Lake Pounui, photo on cover of Open Space magazine New job at Treasury Lots of travelling... lots of plans for the future - including more travel.

Highlights and major happenings: Two Wisdom teeth out- March Photography night classes 'Photo of the Week' - MetVUW - July Photo in Southland calendar and on chocolate box - November Jury duty - October Babies born: Ben, Olivia, Xavier Skiing - August South Island trip (January 06) Christmas - Hawke's Bay (December 06) Glass negatives - processed and gifted to Puke Ariki Taupo/Rotorua trip - July 2006 wasn't a bad year... it had its up and downs, pros and cons - as does everything. Here's a little about my 2006. I had two wisdom teeth out in March. Man, that was traumatic. I had a local anesthetic and lay back to watch Shrek 2 on the tv my dentist has attached to the roof. It didn't really help much... partly because he and his assistant stood over me and blocked my view. One of my teeth was partially submerged and he had to dig it out and once removed I had to have a couple of stitches. The other tooth wasn't so bad but overall not something I want t...

What would I do if I feared nothing? What would I change? Would I fulfill my dreams? Do I even know what my dreams are anymore? How would life be different if I risked everything I have to do One Thing I'm not even sure I want to do...? ...what if I find that that One Thing was not what I expected it to be? ...that it will not satisfy or fulfill my dreams? I guess then at least I will know. Will I have lost anything? Or will I have gained an experience? I can only learn and grow. Simpsons quote: Bart: You make me sick, Homer. You're the one who told me I could do anything if I just put my mind to it! Homer: Well, now that you're a little bit older, I can tell you that's a crock! No matter how good you are at something, there's always about a million people better than you. Bart: Gotcha. Can't win, don't try.

Current Music: Seether Life is short. Live it to the fullest. I may not really live my life to the fullest and theres plenty of things I will be happy not to try, but I sure do want to do more in my life than just work. I want to travel - everywhere. I want to try new things. I'm not a sporty person, so some of these things are a challenge for me. List of interesting things I've done: Snorkelling on the Great Barrier Reef Horse trekking in Wairarapa Jet boating in Queenstown Luge in Queenstown and Rotorua Kayaking in Bay of Islands Skiing in Queenstown - Coronet Peak & The Remarkables Things I want to do: Paragliding Sky diving ...I'm sure theres more, I just can't think of what they are right now.

Current Music: Massive Attack Everyone is having babies at the moment... ok, well not everyone, but certainly a good number of my friends. Assumption would say its just my age. The average age for first time mothers has raised from 23.9 in 1962 to 30.7 in 2005 (in New Zealand). I'm currently 27 and don't really have any desire to start a family and, as much as everyone is telling me 'its only a matter of time', I just don't see it. My friend Sara had her beautiful baby, Olivia Caitlin, on 12 May. Isn't she gorgeous. I'm so very happy for her, I know this is something she has been wanting for so long and she totally suits being a mother. As for me, I keep saying "I'll wait 5 years and see how I go..." but I've already been saying that for the past 2 years. I wonder when/if things will change and what the process is that takes place to make me feel different.

"Your name of Melanie creates an intense desire for association with people and new experiences, many of which have been rather bitter. This name has given you a gregarious personality and a quick-thinking, creative, and versatile nature, but one that is unstable emotionally. You desire change and travel and would enjoy opportunities that allowed you to be creative and to act independently, rather than to conform to system and routine. However, this name does not allow you to complete your undertakings, as farther fields always look greener. Although you may appear confident and positive, you actually lack confidence and feel self-conscious at times. This name spoils patience and depth of thought, and weakens your stand in matters of principle. You are too open to suggestion, and thus you could become involved in detrimental associations which could lead you into by-paths of thrill-seeking or emotional indulgence. " "Your first name of Mel has given you a quic...

Sincere flattery will get you everywhere.

Current Music: Nine Inch Nails Occasionally we all do some mad things that no one can quite explain. Occasionally we all dream so hard that we start living out our dreams. Occasionally we all laugh so much that we start to cry. Occasionally we fall over. Occasionally we do something wrong. Occasionally we find someone who looks up to us. Occasionally we look down at others. Occasionally we do something right. Occasionally dealing with the consequences of our actions takes more courage and strength than we think we have. The occasional happenings of life lead us to think differently, change our outlook and hopefully teach us something. You can’t always be on top. You can’t always know the consequences. We only hope we still have good friends and good fortune. Rest assured you have good friends.

I'm feeling extremely tired. I don't want to be at work - but I am. ...I wish I could go back to bed. I'm feeling very unmotivated. I don't want to do any work - but I will. ...I wish I could go back to bed. I'm not really concentrating on anything. But there's a lot of thoughts going round in my head. Life is far too distracting, to focus on such petties as work. I really can't concentrate on anything. Oh please let me go back to bed.

Now you will feel no rain, for each of you will be the shelter for each other. Now you will feel no cold, for each of you will be the warmth for the other. Now there will be no loneliness, for each of you will be a companion to the other. Now you are two persons, but there is only one life before you. May beauty surround you both in the journey ahead and through all the years. May happiness be your companion and your days together be good and long upon the earth. Treat yourselves and each other with respect, and remind yourselves often of what brought you together. Give the highest priority to the tenderness, gentleness and kindness that your connection deserves. When frustration, difficulties and fear assail your relationship - as they threaten all relationships at one time or another - remember to focus on what is right between you, not only the part which seems wrong. In this way, you can ride out the storms when clouds hide the face of the s...

So yesterday we had a pizza party for Mike's 25th birthday. It basically involved buying heaps of different toppings and some pizza bases. We had it at lunch time and about 9 friends filled our little house. Then you get everyone to make their own pizza. It's interactive and interesting to see what people put on their pizza. I also got Mike a cake... A local band, Fat Freddy's Drop, were playing for free at the Petone street festival so that evening we went and checked it out. There were heaps of people and we lost track of where some of our friends went. Afterwards we went to the beach and watched the stars while waiting for the traffic to clear. Then we headed back to our place with a couple of friends and had another pizza. It was a great day.

Current Music: The Killers Went to the X*air Games today at the Wellington waterfront. It was pretty impressive to see the skateboarders, inline skaters and BMXers on the 1/2 pipe. The flips, the height, the falling of bodies out of the air. It was cool. Thank the gods for long weekends.