New Zealand

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

Yesterday's entry was all happy happy happy. That's how I was feeling so it made sense.

Then at the end of the day I reached down under my desk, lifted up my jacket, to find a laptop bag that was no longer there. I was confused at first; I thought I had maybe left it somewhere else, maybe in the car or under a chair in the other room. But I had went into the bag at lunch time to skype Mark, so it was only logical that it would still be there. None the less, after the skype call, I put my laptop into my drawer in my desk (I have no idea why), and that's where it remained.

Inside my laptop bag then, was my 30gb ipod with thousands of songs, and my purse with all my cards and memories and photos and holy medals. Luckily though, my main bank/visa card, I kept in my pocket (again I don't know why - but it's a good thing I did!)

So I hunted up and down, several times, looking in places I know for sure it wouldn't be.. Like the toilets and kitchen haha... But no. The bag's been stolen. I'm pure gutted. I narrowed it down to a 2 hour slot that it could have been possible for someone to take it, but I think it must have been someone who knew I had a laptop, cause my desk is quite big, and the bag was well placed at the back of it's wee area under my jacket. I was on the computer til 2pm and by 4pm I was out the front doing the gardening.

Anyway.. I've spoke to Fr Kev, the priest in charge, who thinks it would have been someone who knows the Logos centre, and I told Helen my boss, and I reported it to the police. I tried calling up my insurance company but they're not open til Monday morning so I'll have to wait to make a claim.

I'm just so annoyed that someone would/could come into a Catholic centre to steal something.

As I lay tossing and turning last night in bed though, I thought about the story where Jesus asks the apostles to 'leave everything' and 'follow' Him. I thought how difficult it would have been to just detach yourself, and it made me realise how much I attach myself to material possessions. It does hurt, but I know it won't hurt for long.. I often see things as little tests from God, and yesterday's incident makes me question myself and question how much I value and attach myself to things, that, in the end don't matter as much as what we originally perceive them to be. So, if this is a test, I will spend my day trying to look at the positives, and being happy for the things that actually mean something - friends, family, being alive, actually being able to be happy and smile and rejoice for everything else we can't put a price on.

..Easier said than done, but there we go!
Have a nice weekend everyone, I'm going to town with Cameron, then I think I may be staying at his families house in a wee farming town of Pukehohe to watch the All Black's play Oz tonight.. I'm sure it'll be great

God bless, lots of love x

Todayyyyyyyy was my first day of Logos Youth Work. I prefer to call it Catchesis (teaching the faith). I spent 6 hours with two young girls, explaining and teaching them the sacraments of Baptism, Reconciliation, Confirmation and Confession. It was awesomeeee. I've did Confirmation Catechesis with the kids at my parish back home in London, but this was very last minute, and it was an intense teaching time. The girls were so responsive, asking loads of questions, and genuinely enjoying everything they were learning. I took them across the street to a Catholic Mass, well that was the intention, but the priest was late and instead we had a 'Liturgy of the Word with Communion.' Then we went for lunch, and then I took them down to Auckland Cathedral (gorgeous Church) which gave them a better insight into the symbols and importance of the sacraments. The day just went so well, I'm so chuffed. And like, I felt I was on fire telling them all this awesome stuff about Jesus... I love Catechesis, it's really my call I feel. And some thanks goes to my parish priest back in Kingston, Fr Vincent, who had the first faith and trust in me to do the Catechesis at St Raphael's. So thank's Father (whether you're reading this or not haha). I evennnn through in a bit of Angel talk - they had no idea about Angels, so woo hoo for that!

You can probably tell I'm on a high right now eh? Me happy lady :D

I've also been to a couple of talks by Fr Dominique, he's just amazing! I was at one on Sunday before Mass, and then one last night (Monday). There's one on tonight but I'm still at work writing up a report from the Sacramental program. My boss has let me take the day off tomorrow to go to his final talk on the dimensions of the human person - all very philosophical based. He's a very blessed teacher.

So yeah, I'll finish this report then head home. Today has been an awesome day, thanks be to God!

Speak soon, God Bless, love ye's 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

I've not long woken up - had a bit of a lie in which was good and a change from my usual 6.30am start. I've got the house to myself for the weekend as Amie, Hannah's friend, left for Wellington last night, and Hannah and Leon have been up north on a wee holiday. I'm glad to say I took charge of the heater that was in Amie's room and put it in mine ( thanks Amie :P )

It's pretty rainy today so I'm not sure of what to do. I've got a whole day and night to kill, so I'll either head into Auckland city centre, or go into Henderson town centre (which is a 5 min bus ride). It's one of those Greenock days were the rain just drips and drips and doesn't stop; I don't know if I want to be walking in the city in that. There's a wee Christian book shop I've spotted in Henderson that I'd like to take a gander in, so maybe I'll head there.

I've also downloaded the Pope's new encyclical onto my laptop, so I'll need to start reading that, sounds quite interesting.

The past few days I've just been in the office doing this and that. Nothing too exciting or strenuous, but more relaxed as it's still school holz, and will be for another week. I suppose I should make the most of it before the hard work starts. Yesterday, Cameron came picked me up from work and we headed first to 'Woolworths' (the shopping market), and then to his friend's house. He had arranged a wee get-together with his friends so I could meet some more good folk. And good folk they were, I felt right at home. One of the girls, Rebecca, is doing a degree in Theology and is a teacher, one of the guys has travelled through Europe, staying with various retreat centre's and Catholic communities. We just sat about loads of Catholic/theology/faith stuff, and I was a happy girl. The gang at the Logos centre are still quite young and predominantly into youth work (obv), but no one is really into Theology, so it's been a little difficult trying to 'be myself' as it were. They're more 'liberal' whereas I'm more 'traditional/orthodox', so you can imagine my glee last night, when I found like-minded folk

On Sunday I'm going to see a Theologian and Philosopher by the name of Fr Dominic Faure, from the Community of St. John, who was handpicked by Mother Teresa herself, to do the spiritual formation of all the sisters and nuns of her order. He travels all over, and he's in Auckland this week doing lots of talks. Cameron's arranged for a couple of his friends to pick me up tomorrow (Sunday) and take me with them, which is a really nice thing to do cause I don't even know these folk. And then, I've been invited on Monday night to have dinner (at the same place I had dinner last night) and talks with Fr. Dominic. It's going to be good!

I spent some time looking at flight prices for Queenstown, and my boss thinks I should take some extra time to see the place down south, so I'll be going for 9 or 10 days which should be awesome. And Alex, my mate who's living and working at the ski resort said I can hopefully get a free pass! Yaassss! So flights are around £150 which is still a bit pricey for my budget, so I'll keep looking. I can't wait to see the rest of the country, I miss the experience of last year, of jumping in a van and exploring and sight-seeing, so hopefully next month I'll get to do that a wee bit!

Anyways, this is a long enough update. If anyone's on Skype, add me: cheryl.johnston. (remember the dots).

I think I may head to the city and brave the wet weather. I am a tourist after-all!

Here's a few pictures from the last few days:

Some of the youth using my laptop to watch youtube (there comps are blocked)

Henderson train station (I leave for work at this one)

A nice wrap the Vinnies lady bought me cause I was doing contracts for her.

One of my colleague's neice's, Loretta

Cameron and Pink Pather (you wouldn't think this guy will be an ordained priest next year!)

Lupe, Jo and Maddie posing. They've been renivating the old chapel.

That's me at my desk!

And that's yer lot!
Speak soon, Gb love ya's xx

I've been uploading the photos from my cameras and putting them on my photo album site:
http://public.fotki.com/vexred9irl

Today I had a Chilli Beef and Cheese Pie, and Sushi, they were gooooood!

x

Photo update ahoy!

Today I went to the mall, checkout out the Vodafone shop, but no luck with using my iphone with their sim. Rubbish. It's been on and off raining today, and it sounds awesome cause we have metal roofs.

Hannah (my host) has went to a wedding with her husband, so her friend Amie who's been staying over, and I, have been watching some films - Slumdog Millionaire and The Spirit, been good.

The one problem I'm having over here is that I'm falling asleep at like 6/7pm. Because it's winter, and the sun's going down sooner, my body clock is telling me it's bed time. It's not good. I'm fighting the tiredness but I just want sleep.

Anyway, here's my day, well not my day, more just the highlights!

Last year in New Zealand, we all went to this shop and loved it, its the equiv of a big cheap ASDA

New Zealand Beer!

There's so much Dairy Milk choice, and I love Pannacotta (Italian desert), and Jack D with coke (this bottle is the equiv of two drinks, works out at 1.50 UK!

The pound is 2.5 stronger than the NZ dollar, awesome!

Church tomorrow and another chilled out day, oh and I got socks! Woo! Oh, and Sensodyne and a new Colgate electric toothbrush on the cheapy cheap!

Gb x

The BBC iplayer website just told me I can't watch Holby City outside the UK. I am so gutted! That's 12 weeks worth! I need a volunteer to download them weekly (BBC site only holds one episode for 7 days) VOLUNTEERS PLEASE??

I'm a bit bored, I think I'll have another cuppa cause it's coldddd in the houses.

x

Today I packed up my bags and left my wee en suite room at the priests house. Headed to work with Fr Kev and had a sort of 'training day', but rather than your usual type of training, we headed to the beach! For a very good reason though! This week's 'prayer word' is 'water' - what it is, what it means, how it affects our lives. What better place to experience it than to go to the beach! Love it! So spent about an hour there, just chatting, then headed back to the office for lunch, then we gathered in a circle and spoke about our reflection from the last 3 months and what we felt and thought at the beach. It was really quite nice. We finished work at 4pm and then headed home.

So for the next 3 months I'm staying with Hannah and her husband, lovely folk, and they have broadband which always makes me happy, it's just a shame there's no wifi network in the area cause then I could use my phone, but alas. Tomorrow they're going to a wedding so I might head to one of the Westfield Mall's close by and buy some stuff (mother my dear, we forgot to get those spare socks!) And I want to speak to Vodafone and see if I can get a sim card for my phone (Vodafone have now released the iphone, just last week).

Anyways, bit of a boring update, we're having home cooked indian tonight and I'm hungryyyy..

Speak soon,
Gb Cx