Six Days
Trip Start
Mar 10, 2007
1
91
188
Trip End
Jan 08, 2008
Auckland,
New Zealand
Monday, August 6, 2007
Monday was fine, I wasn't even tired from my late night on the boat and I floated through my day at work as the trade was steady but not overbearing - my favourite kind as I am never short of things to do, but neither am I harried for my $12NZ an hour. The evening was mundane enough, spent as it was, lounging in front of the TV and wondering, along with all the other couch potatoes (I include myself) at the magical computer qhich inevitably solves a crime just at the right moment in modern dectective shows. It seems that there are no more Morse codes to be had...
Tuesday was spent reading, as the weather was dismal and I didn't feel like going outside just to become akin to a drowned rat. I had actually promised myself that I would start a series of climbing lessons to get into shape for my rapidly approaching trip, but it was impossible for me to do so because each lesson costs $100NZ. Although this only equates to about £35, it is too much on my current budget, so I read.
We had Big Wednesday at work the next day, which half made up for my climbing disappointment, as I went home with $20NZ in tips from the two old Irish gents who frequent the pub and tell us to keep the change from a $20NZ bill, whatever it is, and which is very generous of them considering that all we have to do for it is keep their glasses topped up.
I failed to join a gym after work, despite having promised myself that I would in leiu of the climbing let down. I do not enjoy going to the gym but it is a means to an end, and can be counted in weeks and as a promise of all the fun things that will be easier if I go, so I will. I have also determined to ask Gav at work if he will devise an intensive 5 week programme for me because in the real world he is a Personal Trainer, although shamefully, it has taken me over a month to work this out.
Thursday was slightly dead on reception but there were some interesting stories on the news websites which kept me mildly entertained for the better part of the day. One truly bizarre story was that of the parents who have been fighting a battle with the courts for the right to name their child '4real.' Disallowed on the grounds that a name cannot begin with a digit, they have instead called him 'Superman.' The sentiment behind their choice is admirable - they decided on the name after seeing their son in a scan and realising that he was "for real," but I think that it is unfair of parents to adopt such an outlandish name for their children - there are other names that would equally signify such a miraculous understanding of what the son in the womb meant. After reading this article I skimmed the internet for articles on naming children, as the idea had caught at me, and came across an interesting thesis on the power of names, both as an individuating medium and as a collective identity. It was very interesting, as apparently, studies have shown how a name can actually help to form a character and inform how the child grows. For instance, it has been shown (according to arious articles that I read) that girls named with exceptionally feminine names, such as Lucy or Rose, tend to exhibit more girlish characterisics than other girls with interchangeable or less feminine names. I did not start work until ten o'clock and was quite annoyed at the fact, because it meant that although I was up until 4am I had done no more work than if I had been on the day shift.
Friday was equally dead at work, but I amused myself by having a virtual interview with the RAF, and finding out what kind of person the Army considered me to be - the internet can be so useful sometimes (I was playing on the website for a few hours, a good distraction), then it was back into the pub though I was allowed to finish at three because I was working in the morning, and I had to wash my clothes when I got back to the hostel, so I still didn't get to bed until 4.30! The highlight of the night was recieving an $8.50 tip off a bloke who I am almost sure thought he only gave me $25 instead of $30, but he had gone before I could ask, so never mind!
I was actually reasonably with it on Saturday, despite my tiny amounts of sleep, and had a relatively relaxed day at work as I was working with Geordie Ant. The only tense moment came when someone asked for a Bloody Mary and he was nowhere to be seen. I may as well point out that I have no idea how to make a Bloody Mary, though I had said to the customer that they could have one, thinking that Ant could make it for me. Luckily, Geoff rang just after I had said yes, and told me what to do, so I managed to produce it, though I don't know how good it was... She didn't ask for another one!!
After that, as steady trade meant I could get all of my jobs done and serve and still have time for a little bit of a chat with the two ex-geordies who came in and couldn't believe that both the staff wroking behind the bar were actually form the North East of England. A rapidly shrinking world we live in! I ended up staying until about six thirty as the number of customers picked up in the early evening because Dylan was playing a gig in town. Afterwards I went out to see a friend and cooked a proper meal for a change. Surprisingly I even enjoyed it.
I do hope I am not becoming hopelessly domesticated...
