Kinda feel like I wasted a fair amount of my holiday driving to and from Auckland. Feel all weird and tired and kinda sick from having been in a car for 9 hours.
Friday:
Drove up. Was pretty uneventful and I slept a fair amount of it. Was in car with Aunts and Uncle. Picked my Mum up at the airport and worried about the drive back with 5 people in a 5 seater car. Yikes. Finished 2 books on the drive.
I was also dropped rather uncerimoniously off at a bus stop to figure out the way to Michaela's house. Wasn't actually that bad and while the bus was late the bus driver was very friendly and told me about how he used to work in Upper Hutt for Repco. Michaela welcomed me with a huge hug and felt completely safe. Walked to her place and saw much wonderful costuming and tried on a corset. Lovely! I do want to make my own, but she might be making me one too...
Michaela made me beautiful vegetarian food. Delicious. Looked at many fabulous costuming books. I quite want to have a victorian Jacket. I love the assymetry and the fitting! I'm also quite keen for a natural form ball "dress", but doubt I will actually go to the effort of making one and also doubt that costume stores will have them. Boo!!
Saturday
Woke up surprisingly early on my own but fell asleep again. Did get up and say Hi to Michaela's Mum as she was up for work. She was also totally welcoming and said I could stay longer. No time though!
Eventually got up properly, but only had time for a shower and breakfast, "South Island Cheese Rolls". Yummy! Caught the Bus to meet Jexia, Otiarstil and Bub in town. We'd hoped for time to look at fabric, but I was too slow for that.
Met them at Britomart. Their Bub, who is just shy of 11 months is a total honey. Plus totally friendly of strangers too! I lugged him around so much that my arms were achey the next day. Had lunch all together at a local food court and chatted in thai to a food court attendee. Michaela eventually left me in J&O's capable care and went in search of a photocopier.
We went and spent much time at Borders. I bought Furuba 6,7 and 8 and Ranma 31 and the Ranma movie on DVD. Yay! Was %15 percent off the lot. Still ended up just under $100. Boo. Also, we spent so long there we thought we didn't think we'd have time to visit other shops before they closed. Why you so spread out Auckland?? So we caught the train to their place.
I'd offered to get dinner, but we couldn't really agree on anywhere, or else they were taking pity on me after my spree at Borders, so Jexia offered to make Nachos! I at least got the ingredients. Sooo Yummy! If she offers you nachos, take them!! In return I tried to get Bub to stand. Alot. He was stubborn though and refused. Unfair!
He did do one totally cute thing though. I was being silly and dancing in the lounge for his amusement and he determinedly crawled to my feet and clinged to me and reached up to be picked up! By me! I'd only met him that day! We danced and he did not want to be put down. If you want a good work out, forget gym or running, try dancing with a laughing baby. Awesome.
Finished night with brainstorming mad idea's for Otiarstil's CV. Ended up thinking desert island treasure as the best.
Sunday
Caught bus into town to catch bus to family reunion. Was annoyed by daylight savings as meant lost an hour of time with J, O and Bub. As arrived in town it poured down. Tried to figure out how to get there on my own. Didn't succeed and got very wet. After a bit of that, went into the train station and got help from ticketeer. Caught bus and realised I probably hadn't needed to catch 2 buses after all! Gah!
Nevermind. I walked about 30min in the rain due to getting off the bus a bit early. Good thing all my bags have plastic linings. Arrived at the reunion looking like a drowned rat. Not that my mother even noticed. Later on when I was putting on my stuff again to leave she asked me why my jacket was wet!!
The reunion itself was pretty non-exciting. Mostly aimed at Dad's generation I think. They were all cousins. Hardly any of their kids were there. Dad was pretty cut he was missing it. Still on his was back from the Sudan. I did find someone who was married into the family who had gone to school with Beau. NZ=tiny!
Went and stayed with friends of uncle and aunt. They were watching Australian Rugby league that night. Mum cooked a wonderful thai feast. They had a lovely house and an amazing garden. Weirdest thing. They are both teachers and knew that I was on holiday and She asked me if I was still at school. When I said "Yes, I'm a highschool teacher", she was shocked! "You're too young!". Did not want to believe that I'm 25. I think I'm flattered.
Monday
Drove back and just spent a chunk of time checking blogs, reading email and writing this beast. Please comment about how you missed me. I know it isn't true, but I like to hear it anyway.
Point of Fashion:Variation on a Theme
Current Obsession:Having a bath and sleeping in my own bed!