Scooter

A public holiday, a birthday, February 6th is all good here. Amazingly I had planned something, pre-booked no less. Up and off we went. Onto the 9am ferry to Waiheke Island were two bright yellow scooters awaited us. That may be a stretch. We joined the queue at the hire place to sign the various forms and then had our trial run to make sure we weren't lunatics about to be let loose on the roads of Waiheke. It was rather exciting. I had one of those grins of wonder. Personally it was the right balance of control and adventure. Neither of us have rode/ridden (oh dear which one is it) scooters so it's about time really.

I must say the car drivers are incredibly courteous and patient. Plus they seem to factor in that the lunatic on the scooter may be completely incapable of actually managing the upcoming corner and will need all the road and maybe a bit of the other side as well thank you. (For the record this only happened once but I did find the corners a challenge at times). 

The other point to note is that Adam didn't realise the scooters would be bright yellow when he decided on his birthday outfit for the day. 

There was lunch at Cable Bay and a glass of wine but it was less about the wine and more about the scooters. That must be a first. 

Ready to roll - ride that is

Palm Beach

Official Birthday Photo

Back home, now safely not in charge of scooter, it is time for a drink 

Did I mention

The birthday month has been joyous and as my previous post have listed I got up to loads. I do like to extend the celebration as much as possible. We headed away from work early on the Friday and booked into the Langham past the streaming girls. Yes indeed, we were staying at the same hotel as One Direction. Not a wise move, it was like Disney without the mouse. Girls everywhere, running, rather excited. I did get the pool to myself and some lovely spa time, then a fabulous massage and facial that was a treat from Adam.

My fave picture from the Zoo trip on the Saturday

Room service beckoned so I had to cut short my chat with Harry from One Direction (though at the time I thought it was a young lad who had nothing better to do than to lie in the post massage lounge area). I was a bit shocked when watching the news on Saturday night to realise who I had been chatting to, heh ho, I digress. This is all about me and my fabulous birthday.
Off to The Civic we headed to see Wicked. Lovely chat with some great ladies from Christ Church, serious conversation about emergency exits and then fun chat about the surprise they had for their two daughters who though that Wicked was the highlight of their trip to Auckland -  One Direction tickets had been purchased as a surprise. Those girls were far to excited to know I was staying in the same hotel - there was no escape.

The cheetahs at Africa Night adventure

Wicked was very good, a great story, fantastic sets, great singers, the music a tad loud I'm afraid, sound no quite right as at times the voices were obscured. Just the fact that I noticed this and made a mental note was funny and had me thinking of my Dad and my brother - who if they had been there would probably spoken to someone and got it sorted out. It didn't detract too much and the music was very good.
Now on previous vists a post show drink in the bar is called for, we repeated this but with a difference. Standing at the bar as the place was still swarming with girls and young ladies who really should be in bed. I didn't mind so much, it was entertaining to watch. What I did object too was the lack of manners and downright rudeness displayed by some of these people. The way they spoke to the bar staff was disgusting, but then some people not there for One Direction were also becoming irritated and taking it out on the bar staff. Maybe it's working in the service industry but my heart went out the very hard working and professional staff there that night.
We timed breakfast just right as a queue built up (accompanied by more bad behaviour) and my Disney memories came back - where was Mickey. The breakfast at the Langham is very good and the service brilliant as ever it was just a different experience with the hoards. It was also school holidays and the Langham is a very good hotel to stay at.

Our wonderfully cheesy photo from the Skyline ride

Headed back to our humble abode for a Saturday afternoon we picked up old movies. Watching 'Some like it hot' and then 'The towering inferno', all rather marvellous thank you very much.
We headed to the Zoo on Sunday, I mean why not. I wasn't supposed to find out - but another surprise Adam had for me was to return to the zoo the following week for a special "Africa Night' experience.
My birthday day arrived and I opened cards and presents and felt very good, and then made a random decision to head to Roturua. There was much contemplating as what to do, my dodgy arm had put me off quite a few things, windy weather put me off others and our plan to head to Waiheke Island for the day was hampered by the fact that you have to book 24 hours in advance. I felt the need to Luge.

Yep a happy birthday

Adam thought I was crazy and he, poor soul, did have to drive, but boy it was great. We've done the Luge at Queenstown a few times and think it's great fun. I have heard on more than one occasion that the Roturua Luge is better. The staff there took great pride in telling us so, and yes I must say it is. It was a weekday, out of school holidays, a bit windy and overcast. Perfect. Not a lot of people but enough and such a scream. I did scream, I think I took off at one point, Adam definitely did. We had a 5 ride ticket. Fantastic.

Rotoura Museum

We did take in a bit of the thermal terrain with the walkway near the Lake (yes more on that to follow, I will complete the 41 walk challenge). Then a frantic search for a supermarket to buy birthday cake and the drive home. Have i mentioned how wonderful Adam is that he drives these long journeys with no word of complaint. Marvellous.

Cake and candles and the day is complete.

Cake and candles

I returned to work to be greeted by a wonderful surprise from the staff. I am an incredibly fortunate charge nurse and was very touched. They had decorated my office window and door with notes and signs. There was cake and then more cake. Plus I got a few more presents - fantastic.

My Surprise

The Africa Night was the following sunday and was fabulous. You meet and feed the animals, the elephant, then the giraffe, who you can't touch, then we saw the cheetahs - mesmerising, then the hippos, the scariest and deadliest, can't believe we could still feed them. Finally the rhino. A South African themed dinner followed by a presentation and then a fund-raising auction. A totally different and interesting evening out.

Getting close to the rhino on Africa Night

A parcel arrived the other day from wonderful Emma so the birthday month carried on.

Life, the universe and everything

The reference to the joy of being 42 is lost on many folks (am I too old or too British not really sure). Either way this birthday has been a delight and today saw a joyous parcel of wonder arrive. So time to collate the presents:

Potcards and tasty badge in the parcel from Em 

These are just fantastic

More from Emma.......

And it's signed

From Adam

True words in the package from Emma

And there are stickers

From Lizzie

From Sharon, this bag is huge and gorgeous

Some cards

More cards

More of the parcel of wonder from Emma

Birthday Girl

Birthday Weekend of  Joy

The Langham

Having the pool to myself

Massage and facial

One Direction moment

Bubbly

Room service

Crowds singing and screaming (OK not for me, but that's not the point)

Wicked

More bubbly

People watching

Martini

Lay in 

Reading in bed

Big breakfast

Some like in Hot

Towering Inferno

Beef Stew

Red wine

Breakfast on the step

Zoo

Ponsonby

Movies (Two Guns)

Steak dinner at Herne Bay Local

Lovely wine

Cards

Presents

Phone calls

Rotorua road trip

Luge fun (so so much fun)

Roast beef roll

Jelly Belly shop

Thermal sights

Lakeside walk

Adam driving and the radio on

Neighbours visiting

Bubbly

Cake and candles

Books, movies or walks

Well the lists of 'things' from birthdays past have to a certain extent inspired but I haven't done really well to be honest. On the eve if my birthday I thought maybe a theme challenge rather than a list of things that I may or may not do. Over a coffee in the city we discuss the options, 41 books, 41 movies or 41 walks. To be honest my money was on the 41 cakes idea but in the end we decided on 41 walks. I stepped up to the August break challenge so this is a step forward - in many ways. In seemed a healthier option. 41 walks in the coming year, but for now....its time for feijoa sparkling wine from the Lothlorien winery.

Hurrah I'm 40 at last

Will have trouble putting into words the totally amazing, wonderful and truly fantastic time I had turning 40. This photo will have to do for starters.

Kings Canyon walk, originally uploaded by KTandCoffee.

40 Things

My birthday has been and gone, not one photo of me taken, but I did get one of all the great cards I had. It was a quite day with a musical ending, but I had been working on my list. Yes some are repeats of those not quite managed last year. So I roll towards 40 full of hope and good intentions and plans for a birthday trip. So here we go, 40 things for my 40th year on the planet.

1. Crack this running lark (I really do want to be able to run)
2. Go to Austrailia (more than once, given I had a trip planned for 2 days after my birthday)
3. Poster of the Petra trip (or maybe Morocco one) - after the success and pleasure of the Rome poster
4. Phohi river trip
5. Scuba day
6. Write a gratitude journal over the year
7. Writer more letters (more than what for goodness sake, I seem to know the post office staff very well)
8. Go horse riding along a beach (yet to decide which beach)
9. Do some groovy artwork with some kids (I have a few to choose from and some visiting this year)
10. Help Adam build his summer temple
11. Have my Oscar Party this year (for sure this time!!)
12. Finish the 365 mug shot project
13. Get onto that weekend massage course
14. Act as a wonderous host (2 planned visits this year - I'm up for more - anyone wanting to visit NZ)
15. Ski again in the South Island (maybe take a lesson this time and hope to get into my trousers this time)
16. Dentist thing really has to be done
17. Take the train (vague and interesting)
18. Walk the Tongariro Crossing
19. Find good boots
20. Make my own bath bomb
21. Cuddle a Koala bear
22. Get myself to a festival
23. Make rainbow drawers
24. Revamp the unit thingy in the garage
25. Do the full on Rotorua experience
26. Walk on an active volcano
27. Have a voucher frenzy
28. Embrace the World Cup
29. Plant more wild flowers
30. Spend lazy days at the beach this summer
31. But while doing number 30 try this body boarding marlarcky
32. Plan smashin 40th birthday trip
33. Lay in a hammock
34. Make a will
35. Make eating at the table a habit
36. Make Adams birthday a special event
37. Meet up with those folk I went to school with that live really not that far from me
38. Breathe well
39. Bake the epic super rainbow cake
40. Feed the birds

Have I?

Well while feeling contemplative and wonder some on the eve on my birthday I feel a list would be better. I made a list last year, 39 things to do before my birthday, so should I reflect and assess my progress. Should I worry about what I haven't achieved, who should judge? The only thing I can say really is I thought I'd get a lot more done. So do I save them and roll them over for tomorrows list? This year has done my head in to be honest. I've been away from home long enough so it doesn't feel like and adventure anymore. I've questioned a lot and not got a lot of answers. Forgive my terrible English, I'm a disgrace to my education, I know.

I have kept true to number 30 and while it has taken 363 days before I was creative and thoughtful in my writing, it has been an interesting exercise. The journal in itself is delightful, from the wonderful Kikki.K,  and it has travelled with me everywhere and I do get behind missing a day or two and while trying to catchup with events scare myself over my poor memory I've enjoyed the experience. The daily countdown of days till my year was up may have a negative effect on me facing this years birthday, so I'll be trying something different come the 15th. I realise how lucky I am to be alive, too look forward to my birthday, to have another birthday, there are those out there, my age who don't have that privilege and it's kind of done me in a bit thinking about that.

While I long to be a free spirit and a crazy hippy soul, there will always be the list maker in me. It may be a notebook thing, but this is a confession to be sure. I keep a list of all the post I send and all the post I receive. I love post, I mean really love getting post. I'm an Internet addict for sure, but real letters, so very lovely. I am  blessed by great friends who write to me, so I hope I have returned enough joy in the post.

This was number 33 in my list last year, so just to make sure, I counted. I've sent at least 64 postcards, Jan tops the list in case you're wondering, she got 6 of them, with Lesley and Dr Wray coming in a close second at 5 each. I've sent 17 parcels, that's ridiculous, but the Grains are the winners there, with Mum coming in close behind. I'm not so strong on letters, only 22, with Sally getting most of those. I splash cards about fairly freely, no clear winners in this section, but Jane, Dad and Jayne C all on three each. Now who get the most, so totaling cards, letters, parcels etc altogether whose address do I write the most. The Grains win again, with my mum/sis  and Jane all getting into double figures. A common number of items was 7 - that's not even once a month. I thought I was good. Em, I feel bad, you'll be the one person I know who will read and comment on this and only 7 bits of post in a year, you've sent me such great parcels, your turn will come. Clearly I must try harder next year.

Though having just gone through the exercise of counting all this, I am more concerned about my mental health than ever before.

Yumptatious

Now my dear dear best friend is having a birthday and I've been thinking. In fact I even made notes earlier in the month when a lot of these thoughts came to me.

Style
Colour
Informed
Great cook
Great friend
Positive
Suportive
Creative
Open
Welcoming

This was the beginning of my thoughts.

I can stay at her house, read her books, fall asleep and then wake up and eat her food. I feel so much at home, so comfortable.

I randomly phone and natteraway for hours, stopping her mid stroke, but she stops or she tells me whats she's doing as she expertly balances the phone between her neck and ear. Despite the great distance between us, the joy of the internet, flickr, blogs and email I feel so close. I love SPT.

She still talks to me after I burped in her face.

We both like our toast slighty cold - with butter.

She needs to send me a list of music I should buy, she knows I need help in the music department, but she loves me anyway,

She took me to see Duran Duran on my actual birthday. Nothing I can write here will match that.

Happy Birthday Em

Happy Birthday Sharon

Sharon is one of my Best Friends, we met in May 1992 (oh dear lord) when we both embarked upon our career in nursing and today is her birthday. We instantly clicked, through odd converstations, politcial and ethical debates, drinking and eating, buying the same clothes!

I remember turning up to her door - I was collecting her for something, she opened the door and we both cracked up. we were both standing there in the same blue Fat Face T shirt! Other times we knew we had the same item - the purple jumper we brought in London. We were there as Sharon needed special scans when she was pregnant with Tom (blimey). We phoned each other about the coat in Millets that we knew we would both buy.

My memories and smiles are long but my photo collection limted as I've known her far longer than I've owned a digital camera. I don't even have photos of her wedding! What sort of friend am I. 

I do however remember being delighted, honoured and thrilled when she told me Ben and her were getting married and could I read at the wedding. I remmeber eating strawberries and drinking champagne while getting ready and most of all I remember helping her do up her stockings!

There have been a few trips together, not enough, but memorable, special and perfect. Our room of calm in Edninburgh, Disneyland Paris - is it twice? A happy place that we are both addicted to. The hotels, the characters, the hot chocolate.

I'm not so sure about Sharons's memories of the night Tom was born - but blimey I was exhausted. The swaying on the towel rail, the lack of food and water, the epidural (yes, Sharon not me!). But holding Tom in my arms so soon after he was born still brings smiles and tears of joy to my eyes, to make me such a special part of that show you the depth of our friendship.

There has been many a drunken night, a great boogie and murder mystery party and vomiting in the most peculiar places. 'Is it raining or are you throwing up?' Still has me cracked up. Sharon's ability to convince a taxi driver that I haven't been sick in his car has not diminshed as we've grown older. Though I'm not so sure Ben would clear up after me nowadays.

Christmas parties hold a very special place in our hearts. From the first (drinking red wine from the bottle under the table) to the last (oh dear lord we're organinsing it). There isn't a woman I would rather sit with, dance with, get drunk with and bitch with (all on the same night of course).

In the words of Edward Monkton:

THE FRIENDS can connect in a

mysterious way without even speaking

Perhaps they have AMAZING

MAGICAL POWERS

Perhaps they are both just

PECULIAR IN THE HEAD

Friendship can only be measured

in memories, laughter, peace and love

Stuart and Linda MacFarlane

Your friendship has been the sunlight

that has transformed my days

Pam Brown

I miss my friend so very very much. I wish we were together and we could have a drink, shop, dance, talk, moan, laugh, whatever really. It's hard to put into words how much a huge part of your life someone is and how stupid I feel for putting so much distance between us. I miss her support for all I do, an interest in whatever idea I come up with. I miss being able to bounce ideas, problems and issues off her. I miss working with her. We will always be best friends and I'm smiling because of all that has happened and that we have shared. I love her emails, letters and those random moments when we catch each other on skype.

Happy Birthday Sharon