Finally got a job

Relief! I start on Tuesday working full-time in an administrative capacity for the NZ Police, with their Crime Unit. Should make for a very interesting change in working environment! The job will last until the end of March, with a small possibility of being extended. The call from the recruitment agency couldn't have come at a better time. I had been starting to think I'd have to leave Wellington and look elsewhere for work. But this should work out well. I hope to save a reasonable amount of money during the next month and a half so I can move on and travel again sometime in April. May at the latest. The cooler weather will be getting underway and my room in the flat isn't the warmest!

Yes, I finally moved in last Sunday evening. It's not the fanciest or nicest of accommodations, but it will suffice...provided this streak of cold, damp weather passes. I've been freezing the last couple of days - I don't think there's been sun since I moved in! It's been damp and windy, heavy rainfalls off and on... And the windows in my room are lousy at keeping out the cold air. The curtains actually move from the current. Thank goodness for space heaters, extra blankets, and socks! Still, I know I shouldn't complain - it could be wintertime in NS for me. Instead, it's summertime in NZ.

My room

The living room

The kitchen/dining area

Rebecca, Susanna & Kirsty

Now let's see...what new experiences have I gotten up to since the last post that I should share? Ah yes, I went to my first NZ horse race - the Tauherenikau races at the Wairarapa Racing Club - in honour of my Uncle Fred who keeps telling me that horse racing is big here and that NZ thoroughbreds are an enviable breed. Rebecca, Kirsty, Susanna and I caught the train from Wellington into Featherston Friday morning. It was a holiday here - Waitangi Day - so none of them had to work. I almost felt like a little kid walking through the grounds. Bright, warm sunshine. Musical sounds drifting from an old fashioned band playing in the shade. Smells wafting from the food vendors: coffee, hot dogs, ice cream, wood-fired pizzas... A man on stilts delicately picking his way through the crowds. Numerous teenage hoochy-mamas parading around on the grass in their barely-there slips of dresses. (Hear the record screech - wha?)

The four of us decided to make a bet on the first race - get into the action. I forked over a whopping $2 and bet a "place" on No.3-Beaucoup. With a "place", if my horse finished in first, second, or third, I'd win. None of our horses won that race. Susanna and Kirsty placed a few more bets on the races that followed, experimenting with the different types of bets. I was biding my time. As I perused the race book, amusing myself with the unique names given to the horses, I spied a particular race taking place later in the afternoon, with a horse running in it whose name jumped out at me. I was sure it was a sign: the horse, Our Fred, was running in a harness race. My Uncle Fred used to harness race. See? An omen! So I went up to the betting window and made a $2 place bet on No.2-Our Fred. And I waited. The race time was almost upon us. I had a good feeling about this!! My three friends beside me chatted away, but I blocked them out - I was determined to watch this race. I wanted to concentrate once Our Fred was on the track. To mentally transmit good thoughts and encouragement. The race time marked in the book came and went but, finally, the race started. All senses alert, I scanned the track, looking for No.2. Ah, there he is! But wait... Something's not right here. There are no harnesses or carts. And Our Fred's name wasn't listed on the electronic board. It clearly reflected the name Twoeezy beside the No.2 slot. What was doing on? Is this your race, the girls asked. I was confused. I don't know, I responded. I flipped through the book again. I couldn't have missed the race. I had been sitting here waiting for it. How - ? What - ? I decided to go ask at one of the betting windows. The operator took my ticket and scanned it in. Didn't win, she told me, crumpling up my ticket. My hand shot out - oh, I want that! Can you at least tell me where it placed, I asked. She punched a few keys and, handing me back the wrinkled ticket, said the horse didn't place. I shook my head. Then to her, I said, I don't know how I missed the race. Wasn't here, she replied, it was at another track. Wha? Yes, friends and family, in my ignorance of racing, not knowing how to properly read the race book, I placed a bet on a horse running in a race somewhere else. Well, Our Fred sure didn't turn out to be a good omen after all, but I'm sure Uncle Fred will enjoy the story all the same!!

The NZ International Sevens descended on Wellington last weekend as well - rugby. Teams from around the world arrive to play 7 on 7, two halves per game, each half 7 minutes long. But the NZI Sevens is about more than just rugby - it's about costumes. NZ seems to celebrate in pure Halloween-style for these games. And many of the costumes put ours to shame! Check out this photo gallery I found: http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominionpost/765594a29607.html

I can't quite explain the delight and merriment I felt one day as I walked into town and saw a dozen smurfs walking down the other side of the road. White smurf hats, white leggings, white shoes, and Smurf-blue body paint covering every other visible patch of skin. Wish I'd had my camera on me!

As for this past week, I went to see Slumdog Millionaire. Very good movie, even though it reveals a hard and difficult way of life. Very far removed from any reality I have experienced, or ever will. And the story was told in a unique way, very well done. I also managed to get myself to a conditioning and stretch class. Ahhhh...finally. A bit of yoga, a bit of pilates. My body was quite happy.

Trish and Kelly had me over for dinner Wednesday night. (I think they would have been happy to have me stay with them after all.) And following dinner, Trish and I made our way to the Botanical Gardens to watch a Film by Starlight, part of the summer city festival. The movie this week was more like a documentary: Standing in the Shadows of Motown, about some Detroit musicians called The Funk Brothers who basically worked with most of the big motown names and had a hand in hundreds of huge motown songs we all know and love. It was pretty good.

My mom's birthday was Thursday (HAPPY BIRTHDAY AGAIN, MUM!). And wandering through town running errands that day I spied a familiar face - Andrea, one of the girls I spent Christmas with in Queenstown. We decided to go for coffee - a smoothie for me, thanks - and to meet up again the following day. It was great to see her and catch up.

Anyway, I'm off to a non-Valentine's party tonight. We're supposed to dress up in Baywatch style...although with it being a bit on the cool side I'm not sure how many red bathing suits and short shorts we'll actually see. I think Rebecca and I will at least stuff our bras in true Pamela Anderson style. Maybe I'll wear my red Canada Day shirt (thanks, Shelagh!)

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY - OR NOT! It all depends on who you are! :O)

Holly