Events

Wow I haven't updated this thing in ages - sorry everyone! The last fortnight I've just been extremely busy helping run retreats in schools, more meetings, more visits to schools and generally not being anywhere near a computer to be honest.

So I leave in 11 days, something I'm very sad about and for several different reasons. I've loved every bit of my time spent out here; working in the schools, getting to know the kids, building up relationships, learning about the cultures, having a routine of doing particular things that it becomes the norm to me, meeting new people, hanging out with folk, seeing different parts of the country, and so on and so forth....

At the moment I'm planning the Spring Festival which is this Saturday. I'm in charge of the thing so I've got loads to do with the organising, delegation of tasks, rental of equipment, etc etc. Weather permitting we'll have a BBQ so hopefully the nice spring sun will stay a bit longer.

At the weekend I headed to Hamilton with Cam and his family to go to two weddings at the Cathedral. It was a great day and night - you know me - up dancing and having a rare time. Even decided to dress up for the occasion :P

Then on Sunday Bishop Pat was doing a talk for our youth group, so headed along to that, then went to a particular Catholic Mass to film it for my dissertation (and had to introduce myself to the congregation at the beginning), and then after that, Cam and I headed to my last Theology on Tap night who had a dutch priest talking about podcasting and all sorts - he was very entertaining, and it was nice to see a priest in his clericals for a change (NZ priests tend to wear their normal clothes out and about). So a very good weekend was had by all.

I'm beginning to mentally prepare myself for my departure, and have decided that I'll have my farewell with Cam's mates next Wed, and my Logos farewell next Friday, and have also requested that no one comes to the airport on the Saturday cause I'm terrible at goodbyes. I'll stay with Cam on the Friday night, spend some time with his family, and then head to the airport as my flight isn't until midnight.

I'm also really happy that Dan will be coming to get me at Heathrow airport when I arrive back (thanks again Dan!). It's going to be good seeing a friendly face, and will be great having a big catch up. I'm actually really enthusiastic about getting back and starting back at uni, now that I have an idea what my dissertation will be on. Life is good, I'm a very lucky and blessed girl!

Not sure when my next update will be, but I'll probably get one in before I leave the country.

Lots of love, God Bless xx

Good morning all! I hope you're all doing well!

I've been having a rare time in Qtown - still absolutely loving it, enjoying my time with Alex and the Cameron Family of Cameron Place. It's so amazing how many people you meet in life, or really, the potential for the amount of people you could meet if took the time to speak to a stranger. In this scenario, where everyone seems to be travelling, everyone is on their own journey through life, everyone has their own unique story as to how and why they are or are doing what they do. I've always been conscious of people you pass by on the street, or sit next to on the bus etc, that you'll never meet them again; that that person has flickered into and out of your life is a short glimpse. Quite extraordinary really. My time here has been spent getting to know so many new people, and it's really opened my eyes up to a deeper sense of 'life'. I don't know why I'm going on one of my rambles, I suppose I want to document exactly how I'm feeling, what I've been experiencing, and my reflection on it. Back home, you don't go on the tube and start talking to a random stranger, they'd think something was wrong with you, but over here it's the norm. I suppose everyone is searching and exploring life, and life becomes more meaningful when you can share it with others, or meet others that want to see and do what you want to do. These past few days spent in Qtown have been great, and I've met so many different, unique and interesting people - it really makes a difference being able to chat to people and find out about their travels and inspirations and journey.

Last night Alex and I went round to one of the ski patroller's houses and had a few beers and watched the guys play ping pong. We watched a DVD of the ski patrollers working in the states last year and then looked through his photos of living in India. It was so fascinating to see what other people have done with their lives, some people just want to get out there and just 'do', and I admire that so much, it's fantastic!

Anyway, now to properly update you of what I've been doing. The past couple of days have been spent going into town, sitting in wee cafes drinking bowls of latte, and doing uni work. Drinking beer, and yesterday I went boarding up Coronet Peak for the day. Alex had spare boots that fitted great, and I borrowed my mate Kate's board, money well saved! I really need to get my own board gear, works out so much cheaper in the end! So yeah, it hasn't snowed up the mountain in ages, so it's really quite compact and icy, which is bad conditions.. As soon as I hear that scraping sound on ice my confidence drops and the ride becomes more cautious than fun. Working at my 360 turns though which was good. Alex was working at the First Aid centre, so when I was thirsty I dropped in there for some water, and managed to grab a cheese toastie too (saving the pennies mummy dearest). After boarding we headed home, got beer, fish and chips, got ready and headed out for ping pong, then to a pub with all Alex's work mates. It was a really good night, and the only dosh I spent was on doner meat and chips at the end of the night - pretty good! There was a band playing in the pub last night, and when live music is on, I usually gravitate towards them, somehow I ended up playing tambourine for one of their songs, that was a laugh! I think Alex got some photos so I'll get them up at some point. I've actually got loads of photos to put up but I can't find Ailie's memory card reader. So after the awesome grub, we headed home, and then I sat up with the Cam Fam til the wee hours sitting by the fire and chatting about astrology and travelling and trying to steal Jen's hat cause she has some awesome hats!

So that was a huge update!
All my muscles are sore from boarding, always a good thing. Not sure what the plan is for tonight, but tomorrow we're driving to Wanaka and staying there for 2 days an hopefully getting a day of boarding in up at Cardrona. Should be fun!
Then I'm getting a 5 hour bus ride to Dunedin on Wednesday morning, do a tiny bit of sight-seeing there, then flying back to Auckland on Wednesday night (booooooo!!!) I'm going to miss Queenstown and all my new chums.... But I know I'll be back one day

Speak soon, love ye's, Gb xx

Tomorrow I'm off to Queenstown for 9 days!

Can't wait!

I really feel like I need some time away from work just to get my head around everything that's been going on in my life recently. A week of snowboarding should do just the trick.

I'll update again when I'm there!

Gb xx

Hi everyone!!

My apologies first for a very very late update, I've sort of abandoned my wee blog recently due to a topsy turvy past couple of weeks. Many things have happened, many life changing things for the better I feel.

I've been really busy working too. On Friday I helped out at St Doms girls school where there was 12 baptisms and 16 confirmations, it was really awesome!

I've stopped taking my laptop into work since my bag got stolen, so I've not been online much to update or add any photos-but I will try to put some online later.

On Saturday Cameron and I took the ferry over to the Island of Waiheke. We had a great day, sun was shining-it was like a Scottish summer-and we had fish and chips on the beach!

I'm now half way through my trip, 6 weeks in and 6 to go. This makes me extremely sad as you can imagine as I love it out here, but I'm hoping to come back for an annual Catholic Youth event in January, God willing.

I've been making lots of really good friends too, and last Sunday I went to the monthly Theology on Tap session with the Bishop talking about the priesthood. BTW, Theo on Tap is a Theo sort of discussion held in pub, was a good night and I got to meet some other priests from the diocese.

I've started doing some reading for my masters, there's a module I'm doing which I'll write an essay on this pastoral placement, use Logos for my experience, so trying to get some reading started which is good. Also started thinking about ideas for my dissertation, but I'll keep stewing over that.

On Monday I'm flying down to Queenstown to go snowboarding for 8 days! I'm really looking forward to it and it'll be great to hang out with my Greenockian friend Alex, she's letting me crash on her couch and have a discount on the mountain. Awesome!

Yesterday I headed to Pukekohe to stay over with Cameron and his family. He lives about an hour away on the train in a rural town surrounded by fields, it's really quite a nice wee place. He made some awesome french toast with nutella, syrup, banana and bacon, so filling but so good! Then I made a Thai green curry for him and his parents. His mum finished hers and Cam's leftovers, I was well chuffed! (Although Lindy, it wasn't quite perfect, it needed another 30 mins to simmer but I had to just serve, bad!) Today we got up and drove to the Tyburn Monastery which is nestled in farm land overlooking rolling hills, absolutely gorgeous.

Got the train back to Auckland and headed to work were we had a staff meeting, and then celebrated Fr Kev's 26th year of ordination, it was really nice to be gathered around the table. We sang one Maori Mary Hymn, and a few tears came to my eyes, it was so lovely to be part of it and experience such a community of friends and love.

I've just finished reading some more papers for uni, tomorrow I'm at school all day and at a meeting tomorrow night, and then on Friday I'm hopefully going along to a Confirmation Mass with the Bishop and Fr Kev. Should be a great experience.

So I think that's a good enough update for now-I will try to get the photos up soon!!

Love and miss you all, thanks for the prayers, God bless xx

So much for my touristy way to spend the day. The rain hasn't stopped pouring and I don't have waterproof trousers or footwear. So instead I've stayed in and ate noodles:

Anddddd what else have I done? Booked my Queenstown flights!

It took a while to find some cheap ones, but I managed to find some offers which is lucky. The return flight was a bit more pricey so I'm departing Dunedin instead (the most southerly city and full of Scots, of New Zealand). That means I'll need to get a coach from Queenstown to Dunedin but it shouldn't be too much bother - quite like megabus, and it means I'll get to see some more of the country.

I'm really really looking forward to it 'cause Queenstown is my favourite place in NZ. I'll be crashing at my mate Alex's for the time, and she's maybe taking me on a wee jaunt around. It'll be good to hang out with her cause she's from Greenock too I'm really excited now; I love having wee things to look forward to! And the last time I was snowboarding for this time last year in NZ.

Weeeeee.. I'm gony go find some online episodes of The Simpsons or something, byeee xx

Hey everyone, I'm currently in Surfer's Paradise (Gold Coast). We've been here for the last 3 days, but the weather's been rubbish up until today - it's blue skies and sunnnnnny sunnnnny weather. So.... The first night we stayed in a wee rubbish hostel hotel in the town centre which was basically just bunk beds. After that we checked into a 4* apartment with an amazing view, and huge rooms! It's been great. We've wandered around town, went to Byron Bay 2 days ago which was great - lots of little hippy shops (my sort of stuff) and today we're going to lounge on the beach. I'm all packed up and leaving for Sydney tonight and meeting my diocese tomorrow morning. Yesterday we went snorkling and scuba diving - very scary at first, but pretty cool at the same time! I'm facing my fears!

So this is just a short update to say I'm alive and safe and well and having a great time.
Here's a wee photo for ye's :D

And by the way, I am now Cheryl Johnston BA (Hons) Theology! I got a 2:1 for my degree!!!!!!! Woooo Hoooo! So if you want to give me lots of money and presents, please feel free!

Next stop - Sydney WORLD YOUTH DAYYYYY!

God Bless xx