Daddy Issues

It's the awkward time in the year again when we celebrate half of the reason why we even exist today, Father's Day.

Yes it's awkward for me because you could say I do not have the greatest relationship with my father. It will be the brief text saying "happy fathers day, hope you have a good day x" and the reply will be "thanks".

I understand that we should appreciate our parents, but it is hard to do so when one parent just does not know anything about you, it's difficult.

It was not always like this, I use to be Daddy's little girl. There are pictures of me sitting on his lap all smiling and happy or building a sandcastle together. I look at these and wonder how did we ever drift so far apart.

So now my little rant is over I will get back to drinking my wine and I will appreciate all the amazing people I have in my life. 

Mt Cook Photo Diary

A Depressing Thought

My mum and I are very close, I share everything with her and she is my rock. On our weekly talks she told me that she went to the doctors, the outcome was that she is mildly depressed. So now my mother and I share another thing in common.

The thought that my mother is depressed deeply troubles me, I know she is stressed from her job but I have never seen her as depressed. When I told her now we have something else in common I don't think she realised how sad I really am.

This troubles me as I have always been very close to my mum, and if we can't see this in each other makes me realise how serious this all is. I wish I was with my mum right now so we could just talk about everything.

My mum must have told my sister, as she posted the picture above on my Facebook page.

I hope my mother starts to change some of her lifestyle habits so she will be happy and healthy again, because my mum is my rock without her I don't know where I would be right now.

I don't know how to handle the fact that my mum is now mildly depressed.

A Sisters Birthday

So today it is my older sisters birthday, and unfortunately I am not with her to celebrate her birthday like she was for mine although I will be seeing her in two days time when I visit home for Easter.

So since I am not with her today I thought I would give her a dedication on my page.

My sister and I have a very strong bond after all we have been through together and I can imagine it will only get stronger as the years go on. Some days she drives me crazy and other days she is the only one who understands what I am going through, and through it all I know she will always be there for me and I for her that's the great thing about a sisters bond it's unbreakable.

So Happy 23rd Birthday to my amazing, smart and beautiful sister I can't wait to see you in two days time.

My summer in a nutshell

This post has been a long time coming now, but with unforeseen circumstances it meant the delay in this post. However I am here to give you a list of my highs and lows for summer, as summer is now officially over in the southern hemisphere and autumn is slowly making itself known here in Auckland.
So here we go:

The Highs

• Having four months off Uni to enjoy the summer months was spectacular and possibly a very rare occurrence so I tried to soak up as much of it as I could.
• I turned 21 this summer!
• My birthday wish came true, that was for my family to spend my birthday in Auckland with me and half of my family surprised me by coming up which was AMAZING!
• Moving house and meeting my amazing new flat mates who are from all over the world, so I now have even more connections for when I travel.
• I read an inspirational book that has changed my life.
• I have become a more healthier person and do regular exercise which has resulted in me losing weight.
• It was my first summer away from home and I managed to support myself (with some help from my mother now and then) by working hard, and I feel I am a more independent person because of it.
• I only got sun burnt twice which is a new record.
• Going home for Christmas was a major high point as I miss them dearly.
• Getting to know all the locals who come into work was an unexpected bonus.
• My childhood friend came up to see me for a weekend, it was a great weekend.

The Lows

• Working for a majority of the summer meant I didn't get out as much as I would have liked.
• Spending New Years alone was a buzz kill night, and having to work the next morning made me feel even more lonely.
• Moving out of my old apartment was sad as I loved the place and I miss my old flat mate at times.
• Catching the worst flu right at the end of summer was not fun! (that is why this is being posted late)
• Getting sun burnt is never fun!
• Realising that I do not own a bikini because I am unsure about my body.
• Did not save as much money as I was hoping to. 

For my first summer in Auckland I would say it was a pretty successful one. Of course like anything there are low points but I'm becoming a more positive person and focusing on the positives in life and embracing what surrounds me.
I have to say that I am grateful for the amazing summer I had, but I am looking forward to some cooler months that are ahead as well.
So goodbye summer and hello autumn!

21st Birthday Weekend

So a couple of weekends ago I turned the big 21! but deciding to be different I didn't throw a big shin dig (otherwise known as a party) instead my sister, mum and her partner came up and surprised me in Auckland for the weekend. My nana and grandad I knew were coming up but what a shock it was to see my sister standing outside my apartment building and later that night to turn around and see my mum, it was the nest 21st present ever! 

My sister and I walked to the Auckland domain and ventured around the wintergarden pavilion and the museum on the friday before the rest of the clan arrived. On my actual birthday my family and I ferried across to Waiheke Island and spent the day walking around the hilly island trying to find a vineyard, which we everntually did, but I was worried my nana or grandad would have a heart attack, but they are still fit and strong. That night we went out for an amazing meal and later drinks (which ended with just me and my sister and a few shots)

I remember my mum asking me what I wanted for my birthday present and I said: " For everyone to come up to Auckland and we can all go to Waiheke Island" I was so happy that this actually happened, I love my mum, sister, nana and grandad so much they are my rocks and without them I don't know where I would be today. 

So remember to tell your family you love them as you only have one family so treasure them well! 

Reunion, of a sorts

 Top to bottom: Best rice ball in Christchurch, my sister all rugged up, a cloudless sky in Christchurch, going for a walk around Hagley Park, spending time with two of my best friends, braces are off, my mum, a book I found at my nana and grandad's, going through a car wash, catching up with friends, glow bands, Mt Hutt, the mountains which I grew up looking at.

I am now back at Uni after my four week break between semester's, and what a busy four weeks! I went down to the South Island for two weeks for the holidays, and it was nice to get away from the hustle and bustle of Auckland and to enjoy the open space and quiet. I also got to spend time with my friends and family which I was very thankful for and I finally got my braces off which I am very happy about and I can't seem to stop smiling. My first week I spent in Christchurch with my sister and I got to see all of my best friends which is very rare since we have all spread out throughout New Zealand, so it was a very good catchup. The second week I went to my hometown Methven and spent it with my mum and just relaxed and enjoyed the beautiful mountains, even though it was freezing. And then in my last weekend I went to Timaru and seen my Nana and Grandad, and ate too much food as per usual when I visit them. It made me realize how much I do miss them. Moving to a new city where I didn't know anyone has been tough, but I'm happy that I am doing it. I've been through some tough times in my life, but its made me who I am, so I know I can get through with living far away from my comfort zone.

Getting away for a couple of weeks gave me some more determination to keep going and studying what I love and to not give up. It was a trip worth taking!

Taking a Break!

Shot time after exams, the amazing burrito, iTunes visualizer, working on the play list, ticket and flights, Matt Corby's EP, my new postcard.

What a week! I am now officially on holidays since my last exam was on the 14th, so my friend Abby and I went to the student bar after our exam and celebrated with a few well deserved drinks, and the bar was filled with nearly every person studying the same degree so it was big celebration for the Communication students. But Abby and I weren't silly we decided to try out the new burrito place which is conveniently close to uni, I was expecting some small burrito but it was huge! The picture doesn't do it justice, I couldn't eat it all so I brought it home with me to eat after we went out drinking, and what made it even better is that it was only $10, so I have now found my go-to burrito place!

Since I am now in holiday mode and I don't have a job I am going back down to the South Island for a couple of weeks! And to make the trip even better my best friends are also going to be flying into Christchurch so the gang will be back together in Christchurch which is a very rare event for us, I can't wait! We are all going to this Ministry of Sound event on the 28th which will be an amazing event, and of course we are having pre-drinks so I have decided to make a playlist for this epic night! While I was playing around with iTunes I discovered it has a visualizer!! I have had iTunes for like 5 years now and I did not know it had this, it feels like I have a new gadget it's awesome!

While finding new music for this place my friend told me to check out a guy called Matt Corby, and all I can say is WOW! His voice is so different and it gives me little shivers when he sings, he is super good and his EP was a free download so of course I downloaded it! and it has been playing non-stop.

I also got another postcard from my mum over in the UK. She is flying back on the 23rd and to make it even better my sister, her boyfriend and I are surprising my mum, nana and grandad at the airport. They think that I am flying down on the 24th, but I am flying down on the 22nd so they won;t be expecting me and my sister has told them that she can't get time off work but she has! It is going to be so much when we see there faces, I can't wait!

My two weeks in the South Island is going to be crazy, busy, epic, exciting and I just can't wait to see my family and friends!