Cricket world cup fever hit NZ big Style!! The opening cermony was in Hagley park which is a ten minute walk from my house so off we went there. It was pretty epic. Shapeshifter played who were wicked I got to get my dance on which was nice for a thursday night! The prime minister was there and so was the mayor. it was a big event for Christchurch to be holding as just before the major earthquakes 4 years ago they were about to host the Rugby World Cup. So its fitting that now the city repair is well under way that we got to have the opening cermony here. It was all quite emotional, and the Mayor was really good she mad such a good speech about the strength of the folk of Chch and about turning disaster into oppourtunity and everything she said hit the nail on the head. The people here have had such a hard time the past 4 years, losing people, losing their homes, losing their entire city but never losing their spirit. I can honestly say living in a place thats went through so much together is amazing. The community spirit here just gets me everytime. Its such a friendly place. So I was loving the speechs as I beleived every word said. It was a cool opening cermony with tons of national dancing from the teams playing the world cup and some singers. Then after shapeshifter there was a wicked firework display. it was such a good night!

Me and Jordan figured while we were having games played basically in our backyard we should go and support England so we got tickets for England vs Scotland. Obviously I'm not a cricket fan, never have been, never will be, dont understand it but I would definitely go to a game again it was epic. On the day Jordan actually had to pull a sickie which was funny as the mission to get into the Oval without anyone from his work seeing him accidentally! We got to the Oval anyways, I got myself a catch a million orange t shirt where if you catch the ball with one hand you are in for winning a share of a million dollars! Nice! We both had them on as we need money to travel if anyone fancies donating... :) We started off quiet getting 4 beers to share, then it went to 8 beers to share, then Jordan locked my card out but luckily I have 2 diff cards for the same account so it was all fine, then eventually as the day went on you could only buy 2 drinks at once then 1 at a time? Seriously! Obviously England vs Scotland was a drunken game . We were plastered. I dont remember watching any of the cricket to be fair. We made friends with a lovely kiwi mam and son, she was feeding us Pikelets (scotch pancakes) and homemade boysenberry Jam and cream! OMG what a legend they were amazing and we hadnt brought food as Jordan had made us a huge fry up for breakfast. SO we were drunk and happy. And England won which was wicked. There was even a streaker. Thats a 100% sucess rate for me seeing streakers at sporting events in NZ now as there was at England vs All Blacks too!! Half the security chasing the streaker were laughing it was so good it really made the crowd happy too we went wild!! So we ended up in bed at 8pm that night then we got up at about 11 for eggs on toast as we figured we should eat something as we both had work in the morning!! That was a hungover day for sure for me!! totally worth it though!

One sunday me, Jordan, Dan and Andy went and watched some cricket on the big screens in the park which was cool too. Teg who I worked on the farm with in Margs and his gf Jade came too as they have just moved to NZ so it was so nice seeing him there!!! Such a happy occasion to see him after so long hes such a lovely lad! I dont know if I mentioned this earlier but I also bumped in to Sam from the farm in Chch one night too we ended up getting messy as then we partied even harder the next night!! he's such a legend he never changes. Drinks like a machine and mad as a hatter!! Love my farmer boys!!

So it was finally time for me to leave Fletchers which was pretty sad as I had been there for like 6 month and the crack in the office was just top quality!! I was pretty close to all the EQC boys as thats where I sat and they are some naughty boys for sure! Roger who was like my gay best friend who wasnt gay made me a giant penis cake... seriously! I suppose when you work in the construction industry you have to deal with a lot of bad language and filth!! They loved me though, I was so sad leaving I was almost in tears. such a good group of people in there and the EQC boys were all kiwis and aussies they were awesome to work with. So it was definitely the saddest I've been leaving a job since I left home! It felt sadder as I have a good group of girlfriends there too and I absolutely have fallen in love with Christchurch its so raw right now you just dont know whats going to happen there and its so exciting to live somehwere like that, I love how so many people from overseas are here to help rebuild the city too everyone has totally pulled together over this disaster and I'm so grateful to have been a part of it. It makes you see the bigger picture. So many people moaning about the most simple things everyday and these people lost literally everything and some people 4 years on still dont have homes. Wise up people - just think about whats going on everywhere else in the world. Maybe have a bit of empathy over self pity.

Before my last day I went out with the girls from work it was so good, we went to Mexico a cool hip new mexican restarant! there was me, Sarah Irish, Laura, Donna, Marie, Sara, Joanne and Anthea it was so good to all just go out the girls have some good food and a few drinks. Most of us then went to stranges lane for a few i ended up getting a bit messy it was lush! Frenchie came too which was cool. We ended up getting home pretty late and I was so drunk I couldnt go to bed until the room stopped spinning! Bad times!! So on my last day I was very hungover and luckily we had all that penis cake to eat and tons of other stuff, I got a lovely card off everyone too with some lovely words in it!!

So I finished work on the thursday so I could sort crap out on the friday so I started chucking stuff out and packing as me and Jordan had booked a week of travels. So i started packing stuff, then went and met him for lunch at Caffine Laboratory which was lovely. I've been meaning to go there for ages!! We tried to go a few weeks ago after we'd been to the theatre when I won tickets but they werent serving beer any more so we went to institution we met Nina (henrys ex) for a few drinks as she was back working at the issac theatre which was cool! Its so pretty it has the biggest dome in the southern hemisphere too its beautiful! it was so cool seeing Nina we went to Institution for a good few and got quite merry then staggered home!!

So me and Jordan had booked to go to Invercargil, Stewart Island, Queenstown, Milford Sound for a week. So super early saturday morning we got the bus to Invercargil, everyone kept asking why we were going there - its the arse end of nz, not much going on there at all. But we were flying to Stewart Island from there so we had to get there basically. It was a ten hour bus... that was fun. not. We arrived about 6pm it was raining so it looked worse than it usually does I think. We decided to get a Hells Pizza and watch movies in the room so thats what we did. This room was the best room I've probably ever had in a hostel a big huge bed that was sooo comfortable!! it was amazing. I was so happy in that room!! In the morning we got to the airport a bit late - standard. But we made it anyways. The plane was so cute and small. It had space for 9 passengers - one was sitting next to the pilot!! It was soo good. Raining when we left Invercargil and pretty nice when we got to Stewart Island. The views from the plane were wicked. We arrive and our bags however have not made it probably because we were late! haha the guy says they will arrive at our hoste around 2pm which is nice! Stewart Island rocks Its all pretty beaches and forest basically! Such a cool island, it has just 381 residents which i think is so cool. To be honest though they were quite weird.. but thats island folk for you I suppose. We did a hike that day to Dead Mans Beach which was gorgeous. It was such a nice walk! the views were pretty epic.

We did the pub quiz that night we joined a few locals who were just mad to be honest - a little touched maybe. The old bloke told me he loved living on the island but he lived very south, he said he didnt live in the city here... hold on mate a pub, post office and a shop does not make a city... oh dear. As if this island was isolated enough he says only 3 people live more south than him in the world because of how far down his house was on the island. Mental. It was a little to isolated for me. i like the country life but thats soo small for sure!! You cant even buy clothes there... you literally have to ferry or fly to invercargil for anything thats not in the pub, post office, forest or the teeny food shop. Islands in cambodia have more than this place seriously haha. it was gorgeous though dont get me wrong!

So Jordan was meant to be cage diving with sharks here too, so he had booked and paid for it. He rang the guy a few days before hand to tell him he wanted a stewart island pick and he was such a d*** about it, like oh i might not be going there on monday. On his website it says you can have a pick up here if you tell him about it prior the the dive. Which he did. So he tells him to Email him the crack as he isnt in the office. So he emails him and gets no response and he keeps calling him, leaving him voicemails and texting as he is now going in the morning but apparently wont be. We get told in the pub he is known for leaving people in the lurch like that what a dickhead. There is two companies that cage dive there and he chose the cheaper one but obviously had he known he was so bad at customer service he would have booked the other one. I decide to call him off my phone and get through straight away - total proof he is actually just ignoring Jordan. so I get all northern and arsey on the phone with him and get it sorted so he is getting picked up here in the morning. what a dickhead. He ends up charging him an extra $180 though so it ended up being more expensive than the expensive company! go figure. What an absolute con man!! Shame on him. But Jordan did get to see the sharks which is the main thing but so frustrating and rude!!

While he is doing the dive I do some hiking - I go to observation rock which has wicked views of the island. So pretty! I go to Ringa Ringa beach which looks awesome surf but its a no entry beach you cant even get on it never mind surf on it. And then I head to Loneakars Bay which is just wow. This whole island just gets better the more you investigate it. I walk along the beach its lovely getting my feet in the sea! I go back to meet Jordan and we do a bit more walking. Then we go get fish and chips from the van thing, they dont do curry or gravy... outraged is not the word. And its crinkle cut chips? WTF. The fish is amazing though!! That night we go to the wood next to our hostel kiwi spotting we think we may see one but not sure if its just tree bark... its to dark to see anything. So leave our shoes outside our room as theyre so muddy from the woods. Of course it rains all night so in the morning we are about to embark on a full day hike to Maori beach and our shoes are drenched oops.

So off we go on the hike in our vans, its also raining how lovely. We go for breakfast and buy picnic food from the shop. For the first 3 hours its raining heavily on and off and its also humid and sticky and not cold at all which is annoying weather for hiking or tramping as the kiwis call it. So we finally get to Maori beach which is in the national park on the island, its actual Maori Land so its quite cool we're allowed on there at all! Its a beautiful beach but its certainly not as good as others we already have seen on the island and its all grey weather. We have our picnic which we share with the sandflies... horrible little b******s. Sorry but they bit me to s***. I was just full of bites that itch soooo bad! they are the worst things you can be attacked off. We do see a bambi in the wood just behind the beach though which is very cool! it just stares at us then runs off and hides!! a baby deer!! ahh so cute!! On our way home it starts being all sunny so I end up getting burnt standard. We go to the pub for a beer as we both dont think we can make it up the bank to our hostel yet as its so steep like the worst steep bank on the island I think! We then head back for a nap and a shower before dinner.

Of course we forgot where we were again and the pub isnt serving at 9pm when we make it to the pub, the chippy is shut too. We manage to get the last pie and sausage roll thats been in the pub all day and a bag of crisps each - nice. We just get a bit pissed then stagger home of course my flip flop broke on the way there so I have just one shoe to walk home in so I get piggy backed most of the way home! even up most of the horrible steep bank! Its a good job Jordan was pissed or i dont think would have managed to carry me about for that long haha!! So in the morning we are booked on a speedboat to Ulva island some mad bird island so we need to be there for 10 to 9am so we wake up at about 8.30 after a traumatic night - I heard a cat in the room all night but I was sure it couldnt have got in our room as how could it? I just think its outside the room. And I also swear I hear a moutain parrot in the room at one point but again I dont think its possible. Then Jordan wakes me up like 'theres a cat in our room' so I dive under the covers and demand he removes it asap all while the cat jumps on the bed on me pretty much. I have flashbacks of the gili islands in Justines apartment! I hate cats!! so jordan lets it out and then discovers the french doors to our room are open... ah so thats how it got in and the parrot too. In the morning though Jordan is retching and telling me to look at what else is in the room. i think a dead mountain parrot and imagine feathers and blood everywhere. But no its a rat, with its eyes open!! dirty!! urgh!! lucky its not a bloody mess though. So we're now frantically packing, trying to avoid the rat and then we have to dump our bags at the post office/flight centre and then run for the speed boat we get there at 9.02 the skipper looks well annoyed. We have now missed breakfast after we missed dinner and this island has nothing but birds, beaches and trees... so hungry.

Its such a lovely island though we walk to west end beach, then boulder beach then we hit Sydney cove last which is just the most beautiful beach!! its so pretty!! The others were nice but this one is something else!! The island is so cool we see Tom Tit, Stewart Island Robin which is grey with a white chest, grey warblers, south island saddlebacks, tons of weka and a kaka (haha) no bloody kiwi though dammit!! such a shame!! We then chill out and eat my limited supply of scotch finger biscuits while we wait for the speedboat to take us back to civilisation (kind of). The speed boat is cool! So happy we went to the island! we then go to the pub and I get cheesy chips with gravy and a pint of lager. Happy days indeed!! We then do a final hike to bathing beach the closet beach to the 'city' I expect it to be crap as you dont have to walk far at all to get there like 10 mins. It turns out its the nicest beach we've seen the whole time here!! it is so lovely. white sand, the sea here is such a pretty colour anyways but its just lush, we then have a nap on the beach next to some sheltered rocks and we then go to watch the steward island movie which is all about the history of the island told by this dog called lola. She is a staffy and is lush and is in the theatre when we go in, I stroke her and she tries to bite my face - standard! She's ok though just a naugty staffy still a puppy really. The movie is so bad its excellent. It's really interesting and its in a cool theatre. Proper sweet in there. Well glad we went!!

Its then time for us to leave and catch our flight back to Invercargil... wahey. The flight back is class as its an amazing sunny day, we sit right behind the pilot and get wicked views its so cool. Im so happy we flew instead of ferried over. I am not a ferry person!! And the views from the plane were just wow!! Lucky our bags make it this time too!! We go to the irish bar for dinner its steak night so we get $5 steaks and mash and gravy! We get starters too so I cant hardly eat my main I just eat the steak pretty much, Jordan orders a large soup for his starter which is basically a main meal size so he has 2 mains haha what a greedy lump! hes so small too I have no idea where he puts it all!! We stagger back to the hostel unable to drink as we have ate so much. Story of our lives really.

The next day we head to Queenstown on the bus, we have done some miles on this trip!! We get there and check into our hostel the guys gives us our room for way cheaper! it turns out he auditioned to work at the maze when he first arrived but didnt get the job, he's lovely too and really chatty. He's funny as he tell me the weird american girl who interviewed him kept saying 'cool beans' absolute flashback!! We go for a wander round and then go to the maze as I think Jordan needs to experience it. The staff are nothing on me, Sophie or Stephen - absolute truth there too. It was dead as well which didnt surprise me. Its a shame as its such a fun actitivity! We were in there for ages playing like kids hiding from each other, attacking each other with yoga balls, and scaring each other inthe dark room!! It was so much fun going in there with Jordan as hes a massive, big kid just like me! We were in there over an hour just playing! Epic! We then went and got ready as we were going to the Onsen Hot pools. They are private spa pools, that have views of Coronet Peak and have retractable roof so you can be inside or outside! It's so nice there, we get the indulgence pack so we get champers, and ice cream and water too its so nice!! its a lush day so we have the roof open. So glad I finally got to go i always wanted to go when I lived there but earning crap $ an hour isnt going to pay for me to do that! After all the hiking we did in Stewart Island it was amazing to just relax in our own hot poo!! Absolute bliss!!

We got back to Queenstown and got ready and went to the cow for dinner, its the oldest building in QT. its actually the place me and Helen went on my first night In QT its soo lovely I at least got to eat real food there this time as last time I think we shared garlic bread. So we had that and then we went for a few drinks. We ended up in a invite only VIP opening night of a new Cuban Boutique Rum Bar. We just walked in and took advantage of the free drinks. It was pretty sweet! Such a cool bar too. Its where Powder room was which I loved when I was there so sad thats gone but glad its turned into something just as cool if not a way cooler bar! We then went to another few bars for a few rums and then headed home as we had a looong day ahead of us inthe morning.

We met Sophie and Sean (yey) for breakfast at 8am in Red Rock and then we got on the never ending bus to Milford Sound. First stop was Te Anau which we werent impressed with. My pics came out better than it looked I think for the first time ever. We then stopped at Mirror Lakes which were so pretty!! and actual mirrors!! So happy I got to see them on a good day!! Our bus driver was wicked and so informative about NZ history and nature so he kept us entertained. When you get in to Milford Sound its so pretty there is just waterfalls everywhere. It was dry when we were there, the driver said in a storm it is incredible! We got to the ferry terminal and got on our jucy cruise which was cool 1 hour 45 mins of cruising round the mountains and they sold $6 beer and we got a pita pit on board! it was so good seeing Sophie and Sean too I have missed those guys! definitely two of the best people I met in QT!! they leave NZ same day as me too so it's lucky we were there when we were as they were planning on doing Milford anyway so it worked out so perfect!! Us being tourists for the day was so much fun!!

We got back at like 9pm! Had a quick maccas burger then a quick change and off out we went. Straight to Yakitori for Sake Bombs as Jordan had never had one, the guy in the restaurant was so excited we wanted them and made us do a big table of them with some other people it was wicked!! We all had beer running down our faces. Ah the noise of everyone screaming 'sake bomb, sake bomb, sake bomb BOMB' and hitting the table. Its the most fun drinking experiece you can ever have I swear to buddha and let me tell you I have had more drinking experiences than George Best! It beats edward scrumpy hands for sure!!

we then went to Harrys for old times sake, the cowboys for a litre of beer!! Ah i love that place still playing the same songs as when I was there. We then went back to the cuban bar and had a bit of rum unfortunately it wasnt free that night. We ended up in Zephyr obviously as that is always our bar of choice, we got them to play dropkick murphys so we could irish dance for Sean!! SO much fun!! We were absolutely plastered playing pool terribly and then ending in Devil Burger. I got cheesy chips and garlic sauce I was one happy girl. Although Jordan made me order some s***e burger for us to share then he barely ate a bite I was so annoyed haha standard drunken food anger also known as hangry! We got to bed at 4 am and our bus left at 8.30 which we just made in time!! so funny! we werent that bad though i was expecting a serious hangover and there wasnt one!!

The bus stopped at Lake Tekapo on the way back for lunch so we got some wraps, cheese, ham and salad and had a little picnic on the lake front, there was a gorgeous chocolate labrador running round in the long grass having the best day ever and then we saw a rabbit... oh no! And then we saw the labrador chasing the rabbit for ages it was soo funny!! The rabbit looked so panicked hahaha. It survived too, i was concerned it was going to put me off my picnic but it was all ok in the end thank buddha. THen we got back on the bus and made it home!! my housemates tried to make me have a night of partying but I had none of it we went to thai container and we watched movies in bed as we were so tired!! its hard holidaying in new zealand!!

The next day I packed my s***, washed my s***, threw s*** out and tried to get sorted then me and Jord went for a walk into the city to the restart mall for a wander, we got a dimitris soulvaki OMG it was amazing. I couldnt eat it all although i really wanted to it was to die for. I had always heard good things about them and they are all true!! We then went for a last drink in Smash Palace before we got home again and I had emotional goodbyes with my housemates especially Frenchie who I will miss so much!! Then Me and Jordan got up at 4.45 and he took me to the airport, it was so horrible saying bye to him. Knowing I wont see him for the next 6-8 weeks is pretty sad! we've spent every day together since I moved to Chch pretty much apart from when he was back home for xmas! Sad times! But we have new adventures to come when he leaves NZ in may :)

I spent 8 hours in the airport waiting for my flight to auckland due to plane problems that was fun! not! I think it was a sign saying I shouldnt leave here. But unfortunately I dont think immigration would accept that for a reason of me over staying my visa... I got to auckland did a quick wander and got some sushi and went back to my hostel - where I had luckily being upgraded from a crap dorm room to a private double?! so random but so happy about this a I had to leave at 3.20 am for my bus to the airport! So I watched peep show in bed and ate my sushie had a early night!!

I'm now on the plane on route to Bangkok, I'm really looking forward to some holiday time now.Chilling on a island sounds just amazing right now!! And after asia I get to go home for 2 .5 weeks to see my mam, dad, sister and finally meet Zack!! i cannot wait to see him!! And I cant wait to see the girls. It will be nice to be home for a bit before I head away again. I think it'll be a long time until I'm back again afer this, as its just so expensive to go that far for a visit. Ends up putting me in a position where I cant see as much of places as I'm spending my cash going somewhere I lived my whole life. Kinda hard but true.

But anyways off to thailand I go for some sunshine time and when I arrive it will be paddys day night and I should be meeting rob at the airport so we can party hard although I will have been up for over 24 hours by this point! Hardcore living is the key!!

Much love NEW ZEALAND i love you with all my heart!! and see you homies soon xxxxxxxx