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Hoorah!

September 16, 2009 11:45 | Leave a Comment |

My car is all fixed!

fixed car

They even washed it for me so it’s all shiny.

I’m very pleased to know it’s fixed. My insurance company was so easy to work with. I did all the things they asked and they got it fixed super quick. No hassle at all. However, I don’t think it hurt at all that my dad knows the owner of the repair shop it got taken to.

I’m home, obviously…

We had to get up obscenely early to get the airport – as in 3am early. Bleugh. Definitely not a fan of early flights. Still the airport was busier than I thought it would be and it took us nearly half an hour to check in. Kim and I cut it extremely fine. We got to the front of the line at 5.30 which should’ve been the 90 minute cut-off. However, it apparently worked in our favour as we ended up sitting in premium economy. There really is more legroom!

As usual, Melbourne Airport turned on all its charms and made us wait about half an hour for our bags. For whatever reason, three luggage containers got left on the plane so we waited. And waited. And waited. Then we got the slowest taxi driver in Melbourne who just wouldn’t do the speed limit. He consistently sat 10ks under the limit and I wanted to strangle him.

Still, nice to be home. Being in my own bed was wonderful as was the first decent shower in a week. It was very weird to come home to a 30°C day when just a few days ago we’d been all rugged up for the snow.

So… things I learnt on this trip.

  1. I can’t ski. But I haven’t spent enough time doing it to totally dismiss it as an activity.
  2. New Zealand wines are great but their beer is apparently meh.
  3. Sliding down small snow covered slopes is awesome.
  4. The water in Methven makes me feel decidedly ill – too much chlorine.
  5. Single beds suck.
  6. A decent shower is a blessing.
  7. New Zealand really is a remarkably beautiful place.
  8. Jet-boating is awesome fun.
  9. As is a scenic helicopter flight.
  10. I can still scream.
  11. There really are a lot of sheep in New Zealand.
  12. Seeing rugby pitches everywhere fills me with joy.
  13. The guy who works at the ski shop was really cute.
  14. I missed my bike.
  15. Sharing a hotel suite with three people who cough all the time is extremely irritating.
  16. I like snow.
  17. Automatic Ford Mondeos are shit to drive.
Posted in: Blatherings, Travel | Tagged: , , ,

Housing situation – sorted!

May 26, 2009 10:43 | Leave a Comment |

The owner agreed to having two cats in the house so my friends can move in. It took a little persuading but we got there in the end. The rent is going up by a huge $10 a week but I think we can manage that.

I’m enormously relieved about this. I was trying very hard not to think about it and what I would do if she said no. Which was kinda stupid really. I could’ve ended up without a place to live. Actually, that’s not true. I did have another plan. Always with the plans these days – that’s so not me.

The love affair with my new bike continues. She’s filthy at the moment because it rained last night on the way home and the roads were still wet this morning. I thought about cleaning her last night but it seemed pointless considering it’s meant to rain again today. The shoes are continuing to be a challenge. I’ve discovered they’re incredibly slippery when the pedal is wet.

But I’m trying hard, clipping out early to make sure I can get my foot down safely. It’s the clipping back in that’s causing me some consternation at the moment. I swear to god I’m going to end up kicking some random cyclist because there have been more than a few times were my foot has gone flying when I’ve tried to click back in. I’m learning that’s better to get the bike moving by pedalling with the tip of my foot then blocking people because I’m messing about trying to clip back in. I really don’t want to cause an accident because of my inability to manage my shoes.

Apart from that, I’m really enjoying the riding. I didn’t expect it but the shoes do make a difference. My feet are in a better position so I’m riding better, although I think I’ve always had a neat riding style. The fatter tyres are great too. The ride isn’t as bumpy. I’m totally loving the STI gearing. I love not having to reach down to change gears and that all it takes a flick of my fingers (a firm flick but it’s still a flick).

I can see myself jumping on the bike to simply go for a ride, something I haven’t done in a long time.

Very glad I did it, even though it’s going to put a strain on my finances for the next year. (Because that’s so different from the last six months!) I have all these things planned, like a trip to Sydney at the end of June and the holiday in New Zealand in September. The money will come from somewhere. I’ll just have to spend less.

Posted in: Bike, Blatherings | Tagged: , , ,

Home

October 1, 2008 11:09 | 1 Comment |

Well, I’m home.

Yup… home. Sigh. I think I have either post-holiday blues or I’m just really fatigued. Contemplating buying a scanner today so I can scan all the pieces I picked up.

I did manage to get some sleep on the plane. The seat next to me was empty so I ended up using it to help me stretch out. I got about six hours of reasonable sleep which is pretty damn good considering my track record. We didn’t board until after midnight even though the flight was supposed to leave at 11.40. Yay for flat batteries. Unlike the trip out, there were crying kids on this flight and I can see why it drives some people crazy. My taxi driver didn’t pay attention to me when I said I wanted to go to Bell St and he nearly drove straight past the exit. Gah!

Anyhoo… I’m home. I’m doing a load of washing. Fresh, clean clothes were a treat to put on.

Posted in: Travel | Tagged: , ,