Holidays soon...and Mid Point

Yep, by now Beth, Jo, and Nicola should be just about in NZ. I will be joining them for three weeks of fun-filled travelling and all the amusement you can have on long car journies packed with people!

Before then, I have a week and a half of work left at Audit NZ, and frankly lots of work to do. However, I have to most laid-back 'boss' ever who truly demonstrates the meaning of 'work-life balance', and if I don't manage to get it done he will shrug and say 'who's that Russian?'. The Russian being 'Toughski Shitski'. Another inappropriate comment that keeps me sane, and will make me sad to finish working with him soon.

In a break for the normal routine I was sent up the Tauranga office last week, and then to the Auckland office, to do some resourcing stuff (as I do). Was good to see the places. The TRG office is slightly out of town, so I didn't get to explore much (plus, working pretty hard I didn't have much time spare anyway) so one of my colleagues gave me a little tour of the place and Mount Manganui before dropping me at the airport. I got the smallest plane I have ever been in to fly between TRG and AKL - probably 20 people, 1 row each side. No hostess, just the pilot and co pilot who say hi and play you a pre-recorded flight safety announcement. I took a sneaky shot of two with my camera (didn't want to appear too much like a tourist!), which will probably appear on FB at some point.

In a big surprise to me, I quite liked AKL! Had been psyching myself up for hating it (huge, overcrowded, dirty etc etc) but being as I was hotelled right smack downtown, with taxis paid for, it wasn't a problem for me.

Had an amazing day conference by New Wine NZ at my Church a couple of weeks ago. I accidentally (yer really, I can't read the signs) ended up in the workshop on prophesy. NOT where I wanted to be. Especially as the blurb said we would be trying some. Oh man. It was an extremely small group as well, most people probably being naturally rather reticent. All Christians of course. Was great though. Was very sound background into what the Bible says about prophesy, when it is appropriate or not, 'am I just making it up in my own head?' etc. Very interesting. Then we just prayed for each other and if we felt prompted to say anything (positive, should always be an encouragement/positive, not a judgement) then we did at the end. Really glad I ended up there!

Headed out to yet another cooler than school bar in Wellington in the wee hours of Saturday. Called 'Good Luck', it was a great place and just really cool but unpretentious. I already know how much I'm going to miss it here.

I'm starting to think about the future past NZ now, as next Monday will be half-way through my year away. Obviously, I'm having thoughts about staying longer, wondering if it is a sensible idea to come back to the UK if I'll just want to pack up and come back here again in 12 months time...and how much I miss my friends back in Hove and the UK (got to say UK, as Ieuan and Mary (and baby Erin) are in Wales...). Ho, and indeed, hum. I think I'm coming back. I mean, I've got a return ticket, a sister to see, and a wonderful wedding to go to (and hopefully help plan for...?!).

It's a strange time. I am leaving a job I have very much enjoyed, so to go on holiday with fantastic friends, and then who knows what? Slightly unsettling.