Olympics & Spectacles

I've been rather silent of late. It feels all my time has gone to being a student and learning all of the exciting, fabulous taxation laws of New Zealand. The first assignment has now been submitted and I'm giving myself a week off from self study! Like Casb it is supposed to take 12-15 hours per week. But there are only 2 assignments over a number of months instead of one per week, so I can pace myself.

I did get to watch a little of the Olympics. It was great to see a rowing race with a kiwi and a Canadian medalling. From the NZ side, Kudos to Mahe Drysdale on his bronze medal. He was super ill and still managed to do so well. I was delighted to see the Canadian equestrian team do so well- ya Ian Miller! :) Too bad Big Ben wasn't still around.

I went for an eye test last week. I knew it was time, plus my sunglasses that I brought from Canada broke so I need some news ones. Guess how much the ones I picked are.... Drumroll please for $950 odd dollars. Yikes!! I was used to paying about $600-700 for a pair of glasses in Canada because I shelled out at the optometrists office. My last sunnies were more in the realm of $200- as they weren't from a fancy optometrist, weren't properly fitted and were pretty much bare bones. But my sunnies use in NZ is much higher than in Canada - everyone has them here- you need them. Somehow that extra couple of hundred bucks from the glasses price just doesn't sit well with me. I was somewhat limited in my frame selection. The bigger the glasses, the harder it gets for the frames to support a perscription like mine. Doh. But I've decided these are going to last and since they're stronger I'll use them plenty for driving and the like, as well as out on the water- so paid the bit extra for the anti glare/skinny frames. But I still hurt... They should be ready to pick up next week sometime.

The Bachelor, and dinner funnies

Okay, with How to Look Good Naked, and Project Runway, and the Bachelor, Friday evenings have been the perfect time to stay home and watch TV. My favourite- the Bachelor- finished on Friday- and I was pleased with Andy's choice of Tessa. After a bit of wikipedia research I learned we are a full 2 Bachelor seasons behind America. This one aired back there about 1 1/2 years ago. I also learned Andy and Tessa didn't last too long. It was only a TV show, but they were real people. I'm disappointed. I guess I'm the typical girl/ chick flick fan, who was looking to see the happy ending that didn't happen. Better luck next time.

We dined out at the Indian Cafe for some scrumptious butter chicken tonight. The Indian Cafe was visited by Prime Minister Helen Clark about a month ago when she was in town. They were displaying a framed note from Prime Minister Helen Clark that she had a nice dinner. It looked like it was written on a napkin. :)

A few photos

Sunday I took a break from my studies and went for a run to the beach. It was so lovely I came back later and took some photos. Here are a few...

Thoughts...

Well, Nelson has come out the other side of the storm. Our water level is back to normal which means its okay to do washing again. And this weekend the sun is back shining in the typical Nelson way- so very blue without a cloud in the sky. I've really missed these days over the past month + of rain. I'm finally caught up on my washing!! (Remembering that we don't have a clothes dryer and hang to dry- with the short days of winter).

A friend once commented that my blog is rather impersonal in nature. This time, I'm going to make a personal comment. I've come to realize how much work life balance impacts on my personal level of happiness. At my past job in Canada, a great deal of overtime was expected. I've worked at 4 different jobs in NZ- some have been very much 830-5 and some have required more work to get the job done. Month end and work of late have been quite busy to the degree that although I love Nelson, I haven't been enjoying it as much as I would under an 830-5 job. The problem has been exacerbated by the fact that I'm taking a law paper which I am supposed to be putting 12 hours of study per week into. It is definitely a heavier work load than the previous law paper I sat. I'm mentally tired and have decided that doing accounting at work and tax at home takes the same mental effort. Some young girls dream of one day getting married and having a family. I think my dream was a little different. I set off to University - and I dreamed that when I came out the other side I would have a job I could put everything into. I've had that as an accountant, and realized my dream has changed. I don't want that any more, at all- at least NOT as an accountant. I've enjoyed academia - in fact if money would have allowed I would have enjoyed studying at a deeper level economics or constitutional law or something similiar. Maybe I would like to go back to that again one day, but for now- I can't wait for my tax paper to be complete so I have more time to enjoy living life in lovely Nelson, New Zealand... If all goes well- only another 3 months.

I've found Monday night pilates so far to be a great thing for someone who sits at a desk all day. Right now, I'm taking a brief break from my tax assignment to write this- and I think to go for a bit of a run- before returning to the studies. It's a technical assignment. Wish me luck!