Big Day, Big News... (and Big Hassle's!)
Trip Start
Mar 15, 2006
1
24
42
Trip End
May 30, 2007
Christchurch,
New Zealand
Monday, June 12, 2006
Last Thursday I turned 25. Woohoo.
To do it on the other side of the world, that's a little strange. But it ended up kinda fun, and got extended into the previous night too which was cool. I had the family contingent there in the form of my Uncle, and it turned out I got the friends contingent too, with some wicked videos sent over by e-mail. (Hmmm, now can I write that without putting an example up to embarrass them?? I'll think about it...)
We had been in Christchurch for a couple of days, and since Peter was heading back home on my actual birthday, he took me out the night before for a celebration meal
01. Birthday drinks
. We went to a funky restaurant on Oxford Terrace, by the River Avon of all places (they like to think this is New Zealand's 'British' town). Since we are in the home of it I had to try the NZ lamb, which turned out to be fantastic, perhaps the best I've had, sooo tender. (Sorry Mum.)I spent most of my actual birthday trying to sort things out. Moved back to hostel life, happily got my insurance money back for the work on my tooth, and attempted to get in touch with the Australian Embassy. I also had a nice birthday lunch, hit a couple of galleries, read some birthday e-mails, phoned home and said farewell to Pete. After all that I went out for more birthday drinks in the evening with an Italian fella called Frederico from my dorm. Phew.
So that's the 'Big Day', now for the 'Big News'...
The reason I was trying to get in touch (rather unsuccessfully) with the Australian Embassy, is I have decided to extend the trip!! I have actually been considering it since before I left home, when I found out I would be hitting India in their 'Extreme' humidity season. Being from chilly England 'n all, I figured this might not be too clever. So the idea now, if it works out, will be to stop in Australia for 6 months and hopefully get some work to fund it all.
Though I'm sad that I won't be seeing you guys back home so soon, I'm definitely excited about the full year out and hopeful of a whole lot of very different experiences that come with living in a place for a decent amount of time
02. Birthday meal
. There's also the added bonus that my brother has decided he wants a bit of this adventure life too, and will be coming out to join me for a few of those months.OK, so its now 'Big Hassle' time. I rather underestimated the ease changing my tourist visa into a working holiday one. Somewhere along the line I had gotten the impression that I would be able to sort it out here in Christchurch in a day or two, and happily sail off to Oz as planned, new documents in hand. How wrong I was. Since I have to be outside of the country if and when my visa gets granted, it means I am now stuck here twiddling my thumbs!
Christchurch is a nice place don't get me wrong, but I've now been here nearly a week and it could be double that or more before I find out. What the hell am I going to to do with myself? I am fast running out of ideas. The couple of ideas I did have were fast put to rest this morning, when I awoke to a thick covering of snow outside and weather warnings on the TV. Winter has definitely arrived... and this as I here about a heatwave back home. Oh, and I have to get up in the early hours if I want to watch England in the World Cup. All fun and games here then.
Hmmm, I thought about the video thing... Sorry guys. Entertainment here.
Comments
Have you forgotten something rather important???!
That all sounds wicked about staying out longer however i do have one concern and this is going to sound very selfish now...... You going to be back for my wedding????? I really hope you are planning to bge back for that. Only 363 days to go, woohoo!!!!!!
What d'you think?!
Of course I haven't forgotten. Not gonna miss that. Besides my Round The World ticket will run out mid-March so I have to be back. I'll be there with bells on!