I'm home, it's good, but I'm away travelling again already

I've been back in New Zealand for over three months now, and it was completely bizarre how easily I fit straight back in as if I hadn't just been living on the other side of the world for nearly three years. Living back at my parents' place, catching rides in and out of the city, trawling through the job ads on Trademe, and going out to dinner with my friends. 

It's good to be back; good to spend a decent amount of time with everyone again; good to not have to worry about visas; good to be able to have access to a car and drive anywhere again. It's good to be able to say things like 'tiki tour,' 'jandals,' 'kumara,' 'ten' and 'pen'* again; and good to eat Whittakers chocolate and Tip Top boysenberry ice cream any time I want.

Hanging with these cuties while at home was a pretty good bonus

The End of the Adventure Looms

"If one dream should fall and break into a thousand pieces, never be afraid to pick one of those pieces up and begin again."

~Flavia Weedn

Why I could never be a marketing guru

Today I went to a job interview. Nothing unusual about that, except that it was for a door-to-door fund raising sales job. I thought I'd at least go along to an interview, maybe give it a go for a month - harassing people for money in their own home can't be that hard right? 

Surviving Long Haul Flights

Long haul flights are not exactly the most fun ever, no matter how many new movies are on the in-seat console or how cute the meals look in their multiple tiny plastic containers (or how cute the guy across the aisle from you is either). So I thought I might share a few of the flight and airport related tips I've picked up so far with it being fresh in my mind after my recent Ireland - New Zealand and back trip.

Plans after Ireland

My first post of a new year! Thought I'd do a run down of my plans (or dreams?) for when I leave Ireland. All too soon my one year visa for Ireland will be coming to an end - June 3rd 2015 - after which I will be let loose on the rest of Europe. So much to do! So much to see! Where to go first? Where to go next? How long can I stay? What if I miss something? How will I afford it?

There's still so much to see

This list on Buzzfeed is a brilliant collection of beautiful places in England and Wales that make great day trips from London.

Door to a new photo project

The photographer in me has gotten a bit obsessed with doors and gates...

Irish vs. Scottish - two of the coolest accents in the world

I'm pretty terrible at remembering, noting and describing accents but it's been so fun being surrounded by awesome accents and local dialogues while over here. I think it's hard when you are living somewhere to pick up fun or interesting things about them though as you get used to it pretty fast.

Homeward bound, briefly

Only three months to go before I'm back home in Christchurch - for a quick visit only! I'm honoured and excited to be bridesmaid at Anna and Garth's wedding on the 22nd November!

Some travel inspirations

Every now and then I come across a blog or see an ad or movie that tugs at the wanderlust strings in my heart so I thought I'd share some of them here.

Songs that made Scotland

A selection of the songs that made my time in Scotland so great. Mainly for my own memories as music is such a great way to bring back good times and it's amazing how easy it is to forget.

Festival time!

So with the weather on its way to warming up I’ve got summer music festivals on the brain again! People in the UK are so unbelievably spoilt for choice, and that’s without even counting all the ones over in Europe. This is the first time I’ve been faced with such a huge choice of festivals so I’ve been trying to plan ahead a little bit to see how I can get around and see as many as possible.

I've made one decision at least and have bought a ticket for 'T in the Park' in Scotland, over the weekend of the 12-14th July. Originally my friend Jamie and I were planning on going to Leeds festival, which is the same as it's sister festival Reading, both held on the bank holiday weekend in August (the artists play one festival, on Friday for example, then travel to the other to play on the Sunday, so both festivals have the same line up!). After discovering the line up for T in the Park though...easy decision haha. It's going to be so great!!!

www.tinthepark.com/line-up

Check out the amazing line up! I can't believe I'm going to see these bands, all in one place!!! Wooo!!!!!!!! Especially excited for Modest Mouse (one of my fav bands for ages), The Lumineers and Frank Turner, but there's so many others...I'm just about melting with excitement :D

Glastonbury is on this year (only on every second year) and it would have been awesome to go to that. Tickets went on sale in October last year and all 120,000 sold out in an hour so no chance there. I thought I might volunteer there through Oxfam, where you a few shifts of stewarding or wristbanding etc in exchange for your entrance ticket, but I took my time as usual and all the slots filled up pretty fast....Glasto was originally one of my can't miss things when coming to the UK, but I'm actually not too bothered. There's so many other, more accessible festivals, most of which I'm actually more interested in the line up for! Maybe I'll try for next time it rolls around...

I also wanted to go to Latitude festival as it's a lot smaller and sounds like it has a good laid back atmosphere. The two headliners are Modest Mouse (see above) and Bloc Party...I've just seen Bloc Party in London in February and it was one of the best gigs I've ever been to. So seeing two of my all time favourite bands at the one festival...!! Volunteer spots for this festival are also full though so I might think about just getting a day ticket...

There's loads and loads more festivals coming up and I would love to go to one or two at least! Will have to see how far the time/money etc etc compromises go...

Memory trigger music

Here is a small list of the music that will remind me of my time in London for years to come (putting it here mainly for my own benefit so I will actually remember the songs haha). Mainly all songs that were new to me and have been introduced to by friends and experiences over here, and have since been on high repeat. Or you know how songs and stuff sometimes just seem to follow you around? You hear it once then it's played at every party etc and the good vibes never go away...

• Toots & The Maytals, '54-46 was my number.' First heard - repeatedly - in Piccadilly Circus as the key song in a buskers' act (Jamaican dude doing the limbo, in the same spot all the time, doing the same act over an over again), then cemented when dancing around to it with workmates as it is in our "reggae" mix on the (preloaded) music box

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1sdXJiKsQrI

• Ed Solo & Deekline, 'King of the Bongo.'

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tAXcilE2xYg

• Bob Marley, 'Three Little Birds.' Of course everyone knows this but still..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LanCLS_hIo4

• Avalanche City, 'Sunsets.' So cool to hear this on a TV ad over here

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dpdbjg2yed0

• The Lumineers, 'Ho Hey.'

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zvCBSSwgtg4

• Alex Clare, 'Too Close.' First heard on the ad for Internet Explorer 10

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zP50Ewh31E4

• Imagine Dragons, 'On Top of the World.'

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g8PrTzLaLHc

• Jamie Woon (Burial remix), 'Wayfaring Stranger'

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v-oDrrtsJgs

Always

Thanks to Jess B ;)