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!

Stormy Weather...

Okay- so we've had some wild weather in NZ over the past few days. In Nelson it was mostly very high winds.

Watch a tree fall here in Nelson- narrowly missing a car http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PtCzlZogjZQ Scary!!!

In Nelson our biggest problem is that our water supply has been affected. We're supposed to be reducing consumption 70-80% over the next few days. I believe this is due to damage to a pipeline.

Other parts of the country have had flooding, there was a state of emergency over in Marlborough, a woman died in a flood attempting to cross a stream, house roofs have blown off, etc. Check out some photos and articles here. There are photos of both Nelson and Blenheim here and a bit more commentary: http://www.stuff.co.nz/4637457a11.html
http://www.stuff.co.nz/0a28070.html

A big Brrrrr... And a shopping frenzy

We've had a very unpleasant July, weather wise. Nelson's far above its average rainfall. It's been a struggle to try and get clothes washed - as there just hasn't been much drying time.

Oh a brighter note, I've finally replaced the camera that George the flat cat knocked on the floor. After HOURS of research and checking out the feel of cameras at the shops, I went for the Fuji s5800. Its a big fellow- but has 10x zoom and what looks to be great photo quality from test shots so far. I'll post some photos, one of these days.

Today I FINALLY purchased a pair of hiking boots from Kathmandu after 2 years of living in NZ without any. I saw these ones, tried them on- and love them! They're light and pink too. YAY.

I seem to be on the recovery from my cold. I felt the worst on Monday- but now its better.

An update on the housing situation. Since I've moved in 3 months ago- we 1) had to have a new post box installed because NZ Post refused to walk part way up the driveway 2) had to have the gas bottles relocated from the back yard because the gas company found it too dangerous to come there and 3) most recently- the rubbish collection company we were using have decided to stop doing our street because it is too difficult to navigate. (We'll go back to using the city now.) This house has been here for how many years- and these changes have happened in a couple of months. My flattie said I must be good luck. :) It's a skinny street, all right!

That's it for now, folks. Brr. As I sit in my puffer jacket with the little gas heater on, dreaming of central heating- but also looking forward to summer!

Mid July...

I've passed my law class. Yay.

And just this week I started Taxation. This class seems much better so far than law was... I got actual booklets with all of the readings, and the learning guide, how to use the website etc. Plus we're going to be getting weekly updates from the professor. I also received confirmation of enrolment. With my law class, I hadn't received anything when the course started- I had to email for my student number. I had to spend over $80 on printer cartridges printing out all of the various assignments and readings- and there were 2 communications from the prof- both on the assignments. With tax he has lots of practise questions, and the week one readings were more economic oriented than tax oriented- starting with economic principles- including a bit of a reading from Adam Smiths Wealth of Nations! So far, A + to this class.

I'm still camera shopping, having not yet replaced my Lumix that was knocked on the floor by naughty George the flatmates cat.

In NZ news, one of the recent items of discussion has been whether they should allow use of medicial marijuana. Also grocery prices are the highest ever, a newspaper has recently reported. Petrol has recently dropped 4 cents though, I think that puts us at 212.9?

I'm a month into running again, although only 1-3 times per week. It's finally starting to feel good- instead of painful. I think it will be easier as the days start to get longer.