A WEEK IN PICTURES

So, here’s what I’ve been up to in the last week or so, in a mixture of pictures and words since I’m feeling lazy:

I’ve been skating (inline) twice now and have learnt how to fall, how to go forward, how to try and go backwards, how to stop with the heel brake, how to stop by turning, and how to stop by hitting a wall.

We went to Wellington Cup Day, and here’s the dress in action:

Kiwi and I went away camping for a long weekend, from Thursday to Sunday, to Mount Maunganui:

Lil’ man Simba has been sick recently. He’s been jabbed a couple of times with needles, fluids and mange treatment, and fed antibiotics and he’s much better now (although in this photo I look like the sick one and he looks dandy):

Work is busy. I’ve got some focus groups to sit in on after work this week, and a promotional event at a mall on Saturday and a few other events and such over the next few weeks too. I’m learning something new every day. In fact I’m learning lots of new things every day – it’s good to be constantly challenged, I guess I’d forgotten what that felt like.

As well as skating, I’ve signed up for a dressmaking course with my friend Chelsea – I met her when a friend bought her to our house party and she’s a very lovely gal. I’ve always wanted to do a dressmaking course – inspired by my mum who used to make ball gowns with her friend. I need to remember and re-learn skills which mum once taught me, and I’ve lost. What with skating and dressmaking I need a lottery win, to buy a sewing machine and some inline skates. No point in learning things to not keep them up; use it or lose it and all that malarky. I should also be joining Wellington Community Choir, but missed the first week due to leaving work early for a vets appointment and having to return to work after to finish bits off! And this week I have a focus group to sit in on, so will have to see. Plus I’m feeling a bit on the shy side – I’d prefer to go along with someone. I need to man up!

One thing I haven’t had time for recently is movies! I need to catch up on some films while I still can. I’ve entered a few prize draws for some free movie passes so fingers crossed for those, every little helps. Got to start saving for a trip home for my best friend’s wedding next summer! I’m Maid of Honour so attendance is obligitory and expensive But she’s my BFF so I don’t mind!

And on that note, Kiwi’s bugging me for attention. Byeee x

GUESS WHO’S A KIWI GIRL NOW?

Oh yes, I came home a week ago to find an email from Immigration, telling me my visa application status had been updated. So I checked the Immigration website and discovered my residency application had been accepted! Thank you very much INZ, it was nice doing business with you. Except I was a *teensy* bit annoyed to have paid nearly $500 for a work visa which was therefore only valid for about 3 weeks. Nice timing INZ, can’t help but think that was deliberate manoeuvre… I hadn’t even been informed that my application had been allocated to a Case Officer, so finding out it was accepted was surprising if not confusing. No interview, no further tests, no checking up on my references? It seems too easy. Good thing they never found out that Kiwi was a mail-a-bride and now I’ve got my residency I’m going to skip off into the Australian sunset without him… ahem.|

Jokes. Now I have until July to pay the $300 migrant levy and get my passport stamped. I’m thinking I’ll be waiting till nearer July, having a spare $300 is a distant dream right now… On the plus side, now I’m a resident I can do things like apply to move my pension over here, get a credit card, buy on hire purchase, do all the credit spending sprees I know I shouldn’t and get myself into debt… Oh stop frowning Dad, I’m not serious. Much.

Although people have said “congratulations, now you’re a Kiwi”, I’m really not. Even when I receive citizenship I’ll still always feel English. I’ll never consider myself Kiwi – and that’s no reflection on my intent to stay in New Zealand permanently, or on my thoughts about New Zealand. There are huge differences in what it means to be English and what it is to be a New Zealander and I don’t fit in the New Zealander box – I’m proud to be English, since leaving England I realise how much my ‘Englishness’ is a part of who I am – sometimes to the extent that NZ’ers don’t ‘get’ me but that’s just people I don’t know well enough. The humour is different, the food is different, the television commercials are different – not in a bad way, I just love what I know and gre up with, and I miss silly things like decent biscuits and get irritated by things like adverts with jingles. Jingles should have remained in the 1950-1990s. The UK has moved on and so should NZ. I can’t drive past Mitre 10 or Briscoes without singing in my head “you’re better off at Mitre 10″ or “Briscoes, you’ll never buy better”… GAH!

Anyway, rambling over. Yay for residency, my life is complete Except for maybe a proposal from a certain Mr Kiwi wanting a Mrs Kiwi. *Dreaming*.

80’s ROLLBACK

Remember the joys of Fisher Price rollerskates? Just velcro the strap over your trainers and off you go? If you don’t, you either weren’t born in the 80s or you should take your parents to family therapy to discuss your issues of childhood deprivation. Fisher Price skates were an institution – like Kellog’s bicycle spokes and clackers.

Tonight, I am going rollerskating! I have since graduated from strap on skates to rollerboots, but it still feels quite nostalgic. I’ve signed up for a term of ‘rollerfit’ classes. Who knows where it goes from here – maybe I’ll become one of those roller derby chicks. Though I doubt it – I’m too much of a pansy for that kind of behaviour. If some hard-nut lady came at me at speed, on wheels, with a mean look on her face, I’d run (roll) away.

But yay, rollerskates!

CUP DAY DRESS

The photos are hideous – I have applied a metaphorical paper bag to my face, but here’s the dress I’ll be wearing to cup day! Thrifted from Recycle Boutique for $50more than it should cost second hand.00

HOT HOT HOUSE

I am in bed and it’s not even 8pm yet. Recovering from last night’s house warming party. The photo says it all really – there was much drinking and much dancing. DJ Kiwi had put together a chilled out playlist for the party, and me being me I gatecrashed it with my choice of pop chart shit, featuring the likes of Beyonce, Rihanna, Lady Gaga, Jay-Z and sad to say it but Jason DeRulo and Miley Cyrus too… It wasn’t the civilised house warming party you’d expect from us grown ups – there were drunken antics, lethal dance moves, and a bit of school-kid romance too -  as in “my friend fancies you, do you fancy him?” (for the record, I’m thinking that yet again, Kiwi and I have hosted a party at which a couple has been introduced – first were Cat Woman and Wetsuit Man. Or at least here’s hoping, I love some romance.) All in all, it was the house party from back in the days when you’re parents went away for a night. Luckily no complaints were made by the neighbours (who live in the house below us)- we had invited them, but they didn’t come over. The stereo didn’t get turned off until past 2am so I hope they were out last night, for their sanity…

And Wellington didn’t let us down – for a short time the skies cleared to blue and it didn’t rain so we managed to have our barbecue, plus being able to go out on the deck meant more room in the lounge for dancing

So, if you’re reading this and you came along last night, thank you for a great night. Special thanks to those who trekked to Brooklyn all the way from the Hutt, especially the sober driver… I feel like it was both a house warming and a welcome to our world. I’ve been in NZ for just over a year, but it’s only now that I feel a part of it. I’m looking forward to lots more good times. Bring on Cup Day next week!

LAZY SUMMER’S DAYZ

Hello there, it’s a beautiful Saturday in Wellington – grey skies, mist, rain, gale force winds, you know, usual perfect mid-summer’s day. Think I’ll go put my bikini on and make the most of this tanning weather… Or I’ll stay inside in my jumper, scarf, socks and slippers, under my fleecy blanket and try to warm up my extremities. Seriously, rain in Summer isn’t unusual, but winter temperatures and weather warnings are pretty unfortunate when it’s a long weekend and I should be making the most of time outdoors (Wellington Anniversary on Monday is a public holiday for the city, yay!). We had plans for a house warming barbecue tomorrow. We’ll still have the house warming, but sounds like we’ll literally be warming the house – heaters will be on and we’ll be cooking indoors instead of out on the deck, for fear of being blown over the fencing and into next year (them winds are strong).

The past two weeks have been busy at work – lots of deadlines looming. I’ve got fun things to do like upload content into a new website, breaking the CMS in the process… woops. And proofread documents in twelve different languages that I don’t even speak. Don’t ask me why or how, I’m pretty surprised at my efforts – and even more surprised at the kinds of mistakes that get past the translators who are also reviewing the documents. Things I’ve learnt this week – don’t work with children, animals or translators if you’re looking for the easy life.

I’ve had a really good couple of weekends too – the last couple of Friday nights I’ve been out and about, doing the things that 25 year olds are supposed to do, like having fun past midnight. Move along Nana, it’s time to reclaim my youth…or something. Last Friday I chanced going out to a ‘Tweet Up’ (an event organised through Twitter, where people who are on Twitter meet up and drink and stuff). I started off in Southern Cross, where the Tweet Up began, followed a few lovely people (@missannajane, @badtom, @NarelleNZ and @mcquillanator) to Scopa for some food, then ended up in Hooch with @NarelleNZ, @nickyblacker and @gregorybodnar. I had planned for a big night out dancing in Red Square again, but the stars didn’t align and the best laid plans blah blah whatever. Still, a good night was had just drinking, chatting and eating Tiramisu. And I’ve made plans with @nickyblacker and @gregorybodnar and the lovely Dayna from Songs in Blue to go rollerskating with them on Mondays. And I’m sure I’ll get Nicky and Dayna out on the town for some dancing soon enough.

Last night (the second Friday I speak of), I went out with Cat Woman and some of her friends. We went for dinner at Ban Mai Thai, which I’d recommend because the food was nice but I’d also recommend you don’t go on a Friday night as it’s really busy and you might find you wait for so long for the two waiters/resses to get your drinks and food to you that your food arrives lukewarm (luckily mine was hot – Cat Woman’s, not so much) but they made up for it when serving drinks – free vodka shots and generous free-pouring of spirits into not much mixer.  Anyway, after some nice Thai kai (that’s Maori for food and rhymes with Thai), we went on to Courtenay Place for drinks and found ourselves drinking $5 Margaritas in Shooters. Dangerous stuff, $5 cocktails. But since the barman spent 30 minutes making four drinks (no exaggeration), there wasn’t time to have more than two rounds… We then spent some time dancing like fools to bands in The Establishment and Kitty O’Shea’s and although I got me some dancing time in at Red Square too, I still don’t feel like I had enough of that place. I could spend all night there. And I plan to, just got to find someone with the inclination to stay there with me …

Today has been spent mostly in bed – didn’t wake up until 11am and didn’t get up and dressed until about 2pm. Had a lazy trip to the supermarket, a coffee and cake in The Cornerstore (a pub in Brooklyn), then back home to laze on the couch watching TV. I imagine it’ll be much of the same for the rest of the weekend – bar a trip to Recycled Boutique (a second-hand/vintage thrift shop) tomorrow to find me a new dress for Cup Day (more on that later), and no doubt I’ll go see a movie at Penthouse Cinema. But rainy days are best spent with the television, or a book, a couch, a blanket, and a Kiwi.

I’ve seen some good movies recently – since it’s been to wet to do anything but stay inside, I’m spending far too much money on films. We’ve been to see Sherlock Holmes, Creation, Up in the Air and finally Avatar in 3D. Which is incredibly pretty – go and see it, you won’t regret it. I’m sure I’ve seen more than that too but can’t remember what. As usual my days are blurring into each other and I can’t believe January is almost over. Not completely though – I still have Wellington Cup Day (little-Ascot, the races) to look forward to on Saturday 30 Jan, then Facebook says 31 January is global Eat Nandos Day so I think a house outing to celebrate eating chicken and chips and pretending it’s an old Mexican/South American (?) tradition is on the cards. Over the next couple of weeks I’m also planning to go see more movies – Precious, It’s Complicated, The Fantastic Mr Fox, and Paranormal Activity although Kiwi is too scared to see it with me. I’ll have to persuade him to ‘man up’ for a couple of hours so I can get my horror movie fix…

But first, the housewarming. Looking forward to it immensely, we’ve lived here for two months now and it’s about time we celebrated the fact. I’m loving this house, and our housemates. Even if one of them does have a habit of shitting on the kitchen floor in the middle of the night. Don’t worry, I’m talking about the cat. I don’t have disturbed housemates… much

Oh, and before I forget – here’s some of the delights our house have been chowing down on this week, courtesy of the boy’s spearguns:

Note the goldfish in the background, looking out onto a scene of fish-massacre…

No, that’s not that thing from Alien. That’s an Octopus. Freaky-deaky food.

CATCH OF THE DAY

Kiwi just got back from diving. I will eat my earlier words. And I’ll eat some crayfish too:

CALM BEFORE THE STORM

I’ve been back at work for a week now (well, a four day week, if you could call that a week). One of just five people in the office who didn’t take the past week as holiday. The office was pretty quiet (you could say it was silent), so it’s been a relaxing break-in back into the working frame of mind. The clients and suppliers hadn’t returned to work either, so even though I had (still have) a to-do list which is already epic for the beginning of the year, there wasn’t anything I could do about it. But I had a tender to finish off and send out, and a presentation to put together so I didn’t have to spend the week twiddling my thumbs.

Next week, everyone is back and I have lots of deadlines this month so it’ll be arse to the grind stone and back into ‘get shit done’ mode.

But first, this weekend has been my one year emigratiaversary! I have been in New Zealand for a whole year. I’ve spent the year with expectations of where I’ll be at this point – to begin with I thought I’d have moved into town, working for myself. By June I’d decided I would find a job – both because it was the only way we’d make it into town, and because working for myself wasn’t my cup of tea. Then by the beginning of October, with no jobs available, I was resigned to the fact I would still be living in the Hutt, working part time and waiting for something to come my way in 2010. But by the end of October I suddenly had a job offer, a flat in town and a work visa. So I made it, it took longer than I imagined it would have, but I still achieved what I wanted within my first year of living in New Zealand. And I haven’t had to compromise either, which was something I was prepared to do (like take an interim job, or move into a flatting situation which wasn’t ideal) – instead I’m exactly where I want to be. I’m not waiting for a better job to come along, it won’t get better than the job I have right now. And I’m not waiting until I can move in to a better flat. We have a nice home in an great location with awesome flatmates.

So I’ve got a lot to celebrate. And this weekend has been a great start to whatever the next year will bring. Friday night started off with a barbecue on the deck, drinking in the sun. Cat Woman and I put on our dancing shoes and headed out to Courtenay Place about 11pm. We did what was effectively a ‘bar dance’ – like a bar crawl but we danced instead of drank in every bar. We started off in Coyotes, and in no order that I can remember, went to Mish Mash, Tokyo Tea House, The Establishment, Maya, Red Square (my new favourite place for EPIC dancing to INCREDIBLE remixes of AWESOME songs), Electric Avenue and probably one or two more bars inbetween that I can’t think of. Kiwi, Wetsuit Man and some of their friends had also gone out drinking in town so we headed to JJ Murphy’s to meet them and dragged them with us back to Red Square for more dancing. We got to bed about half 3am. I was pretty sorry to be leaving Red Square, but I was out-voted by the rest of the household.

On Saturday, we had a lazy morning and headed to Upper Hutt for the afternoon. As Kiwi was in no state (hungover) to hold a conversation (or keep his eyes open), I left him at his parents and walked to Ascot Cinema for a coffee and to catch up with whoever was on shift. While I was there I saw Disney’s new movie The Princess and the Frog which was really good, then headed home to a mum-cooked chicken dinner. After dinner, I went round to Kiwi Girl’s house and ended up helping her, with her housemate, to decorate Little Red’s birthday cake at about 11pm… as you do. We did attempt to go out to 7’s Bar for a dance, but after arriving to a dead bar (hardly anyone was in there) and some horrendous music, we gave it about twenty minutes before the bar killed our dancing mood, and went home (well, I went back to Kiwi’s parent’s house where we were staying the night).

Today was Little Red’s birthday party in the Hutt (she was born the day we arrived in New Zealand), so we went along for party food, cake and watching excited kids running around like someone had injected them with sugar. Kiwi’s two-day hangover was still going strong so we left early to head back to Brooklyn. Kiwi’s 2-day hangover mysteriously disappeared when he got home and decided to go spearfishing with Wetsuit Man, so now I’m sat here waiting to see if he’ll bring anything home. He’s hoping to catch a crayfish… I won’t hold my breath

Sad that it’s Sunday night, but this week we’ve got some movies to look forward to. We’re going to see Creation at Penthouse Cinema on Tuesday and Avatar at Skycity on Wednesday, which we’re taking Kiwi’s Nanny to. Hopefully we’ll make it to a few of the Gardens Magic Concerts at the Botanical Gardens too which are happening every night for free, weather permitting. Tonight’s the opening night, and as it’s Wellington it’s windy and wet, although the concert hasn’t been cancelled so I guess we’ll just wrap up warm and head down. It’s payday on Friday too so I’m going out with Kiwi Girl and maybe will drop in to a Tweet Up. I’m hoping I’ll get back to Red Square again… Plus we’ve got a house-warming party to plan. It’s about time we had one, we just have to make it happen. This week’s going to go fast, it’s good to have plans

2009 IN REFLECTION

Turns out that when I have nothing to complain about (like the whinging pom I pretend I’m not but blatantly am) this blog doesn’t get updated so much as it should. I have a few things to reflect on now though, since that’s what you’re supposed to do when a new year rings in. I’m going to follow my usual new year’s resolutions – the age old lose a bit of weight (or at least don’t gain any), exercise more (could do with strengthening my back due to my posture resembling a 90 year old lady with 90 degree angle scoliosis), and stay my usual happy self this year (last year had too many low moods). I’ll keep keeping my blog up to date and for the sake of Kiwi, I’ll stop complaining so much (I don’t call it complaining – I call it being honest when commenting on things – I can’t help if these things don’t meet my expectations…). Anyway, the only other thing for me to sort out in 2010 is my social life. I’ve got to make the effort to get out and see people and make some good friendships instead of moping and whimpering about the friends I miss back home.

2009 has been interesting to say the least. It’s taught me how much friends and family mean to me, and it’s taught me things I never knew about myself which aren’t ideal to the dreamer me but I’ve come to accept them – things like I’m not the ‘worldly explorer’ I thought I was. My dreams of working for myself and traveling are actually nightmares. I need job security, I need to go to work Monday to Friday and have work mates to talk to – not sit secluded from people and the buzz of the city at home, procrastinating over how to bring in my next client or pay my next bill. I want to see the world, but I’ve learnt that I freak out in strange and unfamiliar places so backpacking would never be any fun. Seeing the world will just have to happen in parts, on annual leave. One thing I do know is I don’t ever want to uproot myself again, it’s been a long road back to normality and I’m almost there – I’ve got the home, the job, I just need the friendships and I can finally feel like I’ve settled in Wellington.

One thing I do know is that life in New Zealand will always be bittersweet – while becoming part of Kiwi’s family, I’m also feeling more and more distant from my own. My Nanny had a bad fall in September and although she’s physically recovered, the shock has affected her and there’s nothing like realizing how vulnerable your grandparents are – my Nanny was always like ‘Supergran’. She was always so young for her age, so fit and healthy, so talking to her on the phone when she’s not feeling her best leaves me feeling sad. In September I missed my Grandpa’s 80th birthday dinner where the whole family went for dinner at a carvery – the whole family except me. Although another person missing from the dinner was my Aunt. I’m missing her too – I idolized her when I was a kid – she was bohemian, a hippy, maybe a bit punk too. She wore long hippy skirts and thigh high black leather boots with fat heels and laces all the way up. She listened to The Levellers and had long, wild, curly hair. She bred rabbits, guinea pigs, cats and dogs and I wanted to be her when I grew up. I don’t know what’s going on in her life, but she seems to be cutting herself off from the family as she never turns up to any family visits, or sends cards or calls. I always thought me and her had a special relationship so I still send her a Christmas card every year, including this year, but I never hear back. I’m still going to send her a card every year though, she’s family. To my own Nephew, I’ll always be the Aunt who lives on the other side of the world – someone he knows about, but doesn’t really know who I am. If/when I have children, they won’t really know their grandparents as I’d want them to.

Yes, I’m getting ahead of myself but Christmas is a time for family so it’s no surprise these are the kind of things I’ve been thinking of. New Year for me is a time for friends too, so I felt pretty sad not to be spending it in Newcastle with my best friends. And although I will make new friends, there’s always the thoughts of the friendships I’m missing out on back home – there’s no one I’ll be as comfortable with or as close to as the girl I’ve grown up with since I was born. There’s no one quite like the girlfriends you’ve lived with and spent evenings on the couch under a blanket, picking apart relationships with boys. My friends from home completely ‘get’ me – I feel like a kid again trying to make new friends, it’s strange to have to wonder whether so and so likes you and should you meet up with them sometime.

So yeah, that’s my reflection time over…

On to other people’s news. The end of 2009 seems to have been a shitter for a few people so if someone you love died recently, if a loved one has a terminal illness, if your boyfriend decided he didn’t like it so wouldn’t put a ring on it, if your fiancee broke it off just before the wedding, if a medical condition you have got worse, if you got made redundant, (yes, these things all happened) then on your behalf I say FUCK YOU 2009, 2010 is going to kick your arse. x

WHAT’S THE SQUIZZ?

Hmmm, the last time I updated this space it was 12 days before Christmas. Christmas and New Year have now been and gone (well, only just) so I’ll give you a quick squizz at what I’ve been up to before I upload a post I’ve written which reflects on 2009 in true New Year style – following the lead of every blog I read…

In the lead up to Christmas I enjoyed a Christmas lunch at work, complete with drinking bubbles all afternoon and Secret Santa present giving. Mine made my day, written on the wrapping paper was “Alex. We love you and we want you to stay. So be proud and be Kiwi.” Inside the wrapping paper was a New Zealand t-shirt with a silver fern on it, and a New Zealand silver fern flag. And I later found out that my “secret” Santa was the big boss – Boss Lady as I’ve referred to her previously. In a place where I’ve been feeling lonesome until recently, it was just nice to feel a part of it all really. I also went out for after work drinks and had some good craic with some of my work mates, things are definitely perking up.

For Christmas, Kiwi and I went back to Upper Hutt and stayed at his mum and Step-dad’s. His Aunt and Nana were also staying so we had a nice family Christmas – we over-ate and sat on our bums for the most part. I was spoilt in the present department by his (our) family which was awesomely good. I didn’t have a Christmas list, but if I had written one then everything I received would have featured on it. I got a camera, which I had picked out myself so no surprises there. But I also received a snuggly blanket, a Guess jewelry box, a picnic backpack (a bag with plates, cutlery, glasses, chopping board, bottle opener and blanket inside – a present for me and Kiwi), a pair of earrings, a phone/card holder handbag thing (not sure what to call it – it’s unique), chocolates, a teapot set which I have been eyeing up (complete with gold trim and roses – very chintz, very me) and a giant hamper of chocolates/biscuits/cakes, another joint present for me and Kiwi.

The Christmas holidays off work have been spent doing a lot of nothing. We took a house trip (with Cat Woman and Wetsuit Man) to Red Rocks, where Kiwi went spearfishing. He didn’t catch anything. I tried on Wetsuit Man’s wetsuit but couldn’t bring myself to actually get in the water because the coast at Red Rocks is thick with seaweed and is very rocky (surprising) so it’s hard to get into the water without the right gear – I didn’t have any socks/shoes for rock climbing and swimming in. We bought me a wetsuit and shoes yesterday though (yay for The Warehouse sale!), I just need some flippers and I can go snorkeling and see all the sting rays, octopus, eels, crayfish and sharks (small ones) that Kiwi sees when he’s spearfishing.

I’ve been to see a few movies while I’ve had the chance – New Moon, Zombieland, The Lovely Bones, The First Day of the Rest of My Life. The first two weren’t what they were hyped up to be. The latter was a french film with subtitles and was really nice. I want to see Away We Go, Creation and Avatar in 3D too before the holidays are over. Only four more days to go… Too many movies and not enough money is my problem at the moment. There’s a nice independent cinema in Brooklyn, just a few minutes drive from our house and I want to see EVERYTHING that’s on there. I miss working at a cinema and getting free movies – I have dabbled with the idea of a weekend job at this cinema but I quit my freelance writing so I could free up my spare time and in case of work commitments, it would be stupid to get another job! Kiwi better get rich quick so I can feed my film habit.

New Year was spent quietly. I cried because I wished I could spend it in Newcastle and felt homesick. After my chin stopped wibbling I drank and played card games with Kiwi, Wetsuit Man and Cat Woman. We went to Brooklyn Park to drink in the sun, play on the flying foxes and kick a ball about. We went home and ate and drank some more. I went to bed around 9pm, slept until the New Year countdown, watched the countdown on TV, then went back to bed. Hopefully next year I won’t feel so homesick and we’ll make some plans to be on a beach with a group of friends for New Year – there’s a music festival in Gisborne I’d like to go to. I didn’t feel like going out last night or spending it anywhere but at home. Party pooper? Me?… And that takes us into the present, New Year’s day, which I have so far spent reading an incredible biography of Jan Little – a deaf and blind woman who lived in the Amazonian jungle for twenty years with her husband and daughter who both died of an illness, leaving Jan on her own. She survived in the jungle for four months before she was found, alive. Amazing. I’ve also done some house cleaning (feng shui – out with the old, in with the new) and now I’m sat here eating leftover Christmas chocolates and updating you all on what I’ve been up to… Job done. x