Diagnosed by my Mum...

Since I arrived in Wales 2 months ago, I have had a lot of trouble focusing, working, and sleeping. My mind is going a million miles an hour about this that and the other, and everything in between. At first I thought I was just tired, but things didn't change even when I worked hard at getting enough sleep. I went to the Doctor, who annoyingly told me I was anxious so I couldn't sleep, and tired so I couldn't focus. She prescribed me sleeping tablets, and said if that didn't fix everything then to come back and she would put me on anti-depressants. Even though I wasn't depressed, she was convinced I was anxious about something.

Not impressed - I'm not anxious! I just can't stop thinking! I'm thinking about all these new and exciting things that are happening in my life, and are going to be happening in the future! Then Mum pointed out something really obvious. I am super excited. Overexcited even. As in the hyperactive type child kind. At 23, that's me :D ... I'm currently working with more exercise, healthy diet, check lists, chamomile/peppermint/licorice root sleeping tea, relaxing hot showers, light reading, calming music, and relaxation tracks before bed. 70% of the time it works, the other 30% I am up til 3am tossing and turning. But 70% is an improvement yes?! Still struggling a bit during the day, but hey, lets just hope I grow out of it!

Today, as I was walking along the beach looking at some terrace houses and thinking "Wow! Look! I'm in Wales! Look! Those are British houses! I'm here, in Wales! Look! Wow!" (I'm not kidding, 2 months in and I am still that buzzy about just being here), it occurred to me that I should have seen this coming. I have always been fairly overwhelmed by the fact that human beings even exist, that I am even alive, so of course moving 20,000kms away from home and starting a new life was going to send my thoughts into overdrive. We can clearly conclude I think waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay too much. If anyone knows how to slow my brain down so it can actually focus on something please let me know! In the mean time, here's a picture I think depicts me fairly well...

MESSAGE FOR THOSE CRAFTY TYPES

http://www.wardroberefashion.net/

Especially for Nikki....

And also - I booked a one way ticket to London last night... I leave Saturday 12th September.

Career-ize

Hey guys! I am just in Rotorua for the weekend so thought it was about time for an update for all my friendy friends.

I got my final semester marks back - they're okay, but not great. B, B+, B+, and an A. That gives me my BSc though, so I am happy! I am working in Hamilton at Convex Plastics, which is an amazing innovative company that manufactures blown films for plastic bags, packaging, and banners. I am a Lab Tech there, but am involved in a really really exciting project on biodegradable stuff - my specialty :D It is awesome to be asked for my opinion and knowledge on various things, and people are so encouraging of my creativity. I can't wait to get back from the U.K. and get into a job with a company like Convex - forward thinking and innovative. The big boss has even said he is happy for me to use Convex time to work on my own personal engineering invention I want to look into! I am really happy there, and really excited about my career.

In January sometime I will be heading down to Wellington to live with my brother Gareth, his fiancee Juliet, her sister Nikki (of Tales of the Red Headed Devil Child fame), and the Devil Child herself. I am very very excited!! Apparently I get to live in the dining room as the new house they found is only a three bedroom. No worries though, now that I have finished study there will be a noticeable absence of the massive green desk and the huge bookshelf of texts, so my belongings will be able to fit into the small room. Just trying to find a job down there now, so if anyone knows any companies that might want a girl with a degree in materials and process engineering and environmental technology, give me a yell. I am hoping to get something in the environmental side of things, like water treatment or landfill design, just because it is an industry I won't be doing my Masters so it will be good to get a taste of it. Mmmmmm, wastewater.

I have attended several Rotary meetings as part of the Ambassadorial Scholarship I have. My sponsor club in Rotorua (Rotorua Sunrise) is really exciting, I got to do a little introductory speech to them and that was cool. I also went to the Hamilton East club, and the Te Puke club. Everyone has been so so welcoming - I spoke at the Te Puke club and I almost cried when I was thanking them for the scholarship - I am so overwhelmed and happy that I have been given this amazing opportunity, I can't describe how grateful I am towards the Rotary Foundation. All the money I will be getting is from Rotary members, normal people, funding ME! to travel and study! I really hope I make Rotary proud.

So this weekend, I had a garage sale at my house in Hamilton. Jenna came round with a carload of her stuff, and we spent from 6:15am to after lunch sunbathing outside the garage and selling things. Then we sorted out the stuff left over - big ticket items we are going to put on trademe, and all clothes and shoes that didn't sell we boxed and are going to take to Habitat for Humanity. So check out my trademe listings, they will be up in a few days. Then I drove to Rotoma for Johny's birthday. He would have been 23 today. His death is still so raw, I am dealing with it a small bit at a time. I miss him a lot - just knowing I will never get to see his goofy smile again is really hard. Some other day I will tell you things I remember about him, but not right now.

Now - it is time for me to go grocery shopping with my dad. We are going to buy lunch supplies for the week. I get to work at Scion tomorrow, for Convex. I worked at Scion last summer, so will be cool to be back in the lab with all the guys there.

Til next time!!

xx

freeeeeeeeee!!

I HAVE HANDED IN MY ASSIGNMENT ON MALEIC ANHYDRIDE! TAKE THAT!

I am not expecting a good grade, but it was 39 pages of goodness pumped out in a week, so I gotta be pleased with that! I got it in at 4:53pm, 7 minutes before the deadline. Awesome effort I think :D

So now it is the weekend, and I have to do some knitting for Jenna's birthday on Thursday. I don't think she is a blog-follower, but just incase she is, I won't say what I am knitting her. I still owe her flatmate a pair of fingerless gloves for her 21st last year. Basically, I suck. On Saturday night Caleb and I are thinking of going to a social that our dance club is putting on. We went to dancing last night after missing 2 weeks, and we were out of practice! We picked up the new steps the class had learnt easily enough, but our technique was less than good. We've decided that as long as we practice, we can miss every 2nd or 3rd dance class, because we can pick up the steps so quickly. So we might go along this weekend to have a practice and watch some more talented dancers and just have something fun to do on a Saturday night that doesn't involve getting trashed and going clubbing.

The other crazy thing that's happened is that I have had my due dates confirmed for my research project. And they're extremely close. October 15th is my presentation date, and October 31st is when I have to hand in the written report. So I have to get the practical stuff done ASAP - I am going up to Clariant in Auckland in 2 weeks (22nd September) to do all my injection moulding, which means I have to do all my extruding next week. And there's still that 30page literature review I need to do.... I think I'll be needing hypermode.

Lastly, I want to prove how domesticated I am. After the week in Wellington with my favourite family flat, I decided I had to send them some chocolates... And then I decided I should make something. I didn't quite know what to make that would post well, but ended up choosing a non-cook option. See... see...

These are chocolate Oreo's, dipped in melted energy chocolate, and covered in hundreds and thousands.

I conveniently dropped some water in the chocolate when I had just melted a little bit... I couldn't let it go to waste... Please note the awesome apron made for me by the lovely Nikki.

And then I wrapped everything up all nicely, and did some other wrapping at the same time. Wrappity Wrap Wrap. It is also worth noting that there is 3-4 little packages nicely wrapped up inside that big one. I am the master wrapper.

Blogging every day, in every way...

It is 12:32am and I am still up working on this assignment! I am exhausted so I am going to bed.

I think I just wanted to blog about this so I felt good about doing so much work.

SOMEONE COMMENT DAMMIT!!!

Where Have I Been?

Good Evening!

I am currently abstaining from assignments and watching Batman Begins instead. It is rather entertaining, although watching Katie Holmes play a character I define as Maggie Gyllenhal is not so great. And I have a lot of work to do. Meh, it's only 9pm... Many ad breaks to go.

Today marks the last day of my University holidays, sadly. There are now only 6 weeks of school until I get down to some serious study for exams. I am SO over Uni, it is just a matter of holding on until I graduate. I think I can manage a few C's this semester :D

So I've had a week in Wellington with my brother, Jute, Nikki, Tobin, and Hannah. It was really awesome - we didn't do much, just hung out, did some study, went out for lunch... For once, I really do feel like I have had a break, although I am very stressed about the weeks ahead. I always say that! This semester has been the hardest of my whole 3 years at University though, and it always gets harder in the second half. Apologies for the whinging!

I got a hair cut. It has taken me a good 4 years to find a hair dresser that will do what I ask, and cut my fringe right. And she's in Wellington. Great. She is also Juliet's hairdresser so if any of you know my future sister-in-law, you'll know she often rocks a funky fringe, courtesy of Rosie at Zoar - Go there! This also means that I must return to Wellington to get another trim before I leave for Melbourne - oh, what a shame.

Mum and Dad came over today for Fathers Day and we went to Candyland. It was really disappointing - firstly, we'd missed the 2 shows they have on Sundays, the last being at 1pm. So all we got to see was the shop, which was about quarter full of products they don't even make themselves - Mayceys and RJ's and others. All of their chocolate was compound, yukky fatty stuff. Lastly, the entire building, inside and out, needed a thorough clean and perhaps a repaint. There are some awesome decorations there, but they are old and tired. It kind of made me want to buy the whole joint and do it up. I wish I was rich like Bruce Wayne.

Well, I think that is about all I can squirm up for now. I wish to stay up late and write a few assignments tonight but I am exhausted. Perhaps I will crash after Batman? Yes. I think so. Goodnight guys, perhaps next time I will be a more interesting blogger :D

Y'all want some news?

Kia Ora!

I am back! I am 22! I am still tired! My birthday was awesome - went out clubbing in wellington and wore this totally rocking top that my mum made, SO 80's! it is terrific. Then I spent the rest of the weekend and Monday in Wellington with Gareth, Juliet, Nikki, Tobin, Hannah, Chris, Stella, and ME! I got to see the wind turbine - so freaken awesome. I am heading down again on 28th August so will get to hang some more.

Unfortunately a friend of mine from high school, Deon Cowdrey, drowned on Saturday night 2nd August. Really gutted about that, and my heart really goes out to my friends that knew him better. He was definately a good guy. It hasn't really sunked in yet, perhaps because they haven't found the body yet. RIP Deon.

Uhh... now. Great news - Yesterday I got a huge scholarship to study overseas in 2010! It is awesome, I was concerned that I wasn't ready to study next year because I am feeling burnt out, but this way is perfect - I will take next year off to work in Melbourne, and then do one years study in the UK - perhaps Wales or Ireland, or England, or even European France!! SO EXCITING!!

So that's my news, good and bad. I am still sick at the moment, stupid cold has had me off uni for most of the week. I'm all blocked up and have a very sore head/eyes etc. BUT now I can focus on the rest of the semester without worrying about next year OR the year after - I WINNED!!

xx

I AM STRESSED

Hi guys - no news, I have been SO busy with school it's not funny. Tomorrow is my BIRTHDAY so I am taking the day off and heading to my brothers place in wellington, Stella is coming down too. Hopefully it will relax me and prepare me for the next 3 weeks, then it is semester break for 2 weeks :D ALTHOUGH i have a huge assignment to be done in that time. Hmmmm.... Last Semester at Uni, time for some fails??

xx

McUpdate

Hey everyone!

Just a quick blurb today. I have had a nice few days off - Saturday to Wednesday at my parents house visiting my cousin Anna from Australia who was staying at my Granmas. My Grandmother then fainted, and spent 3 nights in hospital - drama drama drama - was quite scary because it happened when Anna and I were in town with her, so I called the ambulance and got everything sorted out. Anyway, then Thursday I spent all day in the lab, before Friday I had my whole family + Anna (who is family) over for lunch at my house. Then we went and got professional photographs taken of our beautiful selves... yeah...

Then i have just spent the weekend chilling out, watching movies, getting ready for school tomorrow. Tomorrow is the start of a VERY busy semester which i am quite worried about, but i am sure i will be alright! have tightly scheduled in my class hours and I don't seem to have much room for exercising - which doesn't fit too well with my new "lose weight" plan. Which isn't so new after all, I am just trying to make it work... Anyway, we shall see.

So a friend and I are having new challenges each week - the following is NO TAKEAWAYS. Hmmmmm.....

Exciting week though, new classes, and on Saturday is the girls day out in Auckland - me, mum, jenna, her mum, her god mother, all going to Auckland to shop and then go to Cinderella on Ice !! Exciting! Then only the following weekend is Sarah's 21st, and then one more week until i fly to Wellington for my 22nd Birthday! HOORAH. Let's hope I have zero assignments then. I doubt it.

Oh I also made one and a half scarves - crochet - great to be back in to it :-)

Ok, gotta go, it's almost 10pm - my new bedtime. Hahaha

Right...

my eyes are like sandpaper

ahhhhhh.... here i am, smack bang in the middle of the last week of Uni. My life has gotten very crowded as of late, which is not so good. However, I am doing okay. I kinda feel like I have taken an exceptionally large bite of a big sandwich, and I've been steadily chewing it for a while, and now I'm just at that last bit just before you take a huge gulp to get it down - where it's kinda a bit too much to swallow but you still try it, because you know that it will all be over soon.

Yes, that's exactly how I feel.

So I found a new procrastination tool. Last night I stayed up until almost 2am at Stella's house with her brother Nolan. I was working on a tree project report and he was writing dialogue in Spanish to speak in his oral exam this week. He had some words to look up, and during his procrastination, he found an awesome website that has a digitised human face and shoulders, that reads out excerpts in several different languages. It is SO cool! SO entertaining! We spent a good hour or so writing things in - pick-up lines, robotic words, gangsta words, funny sounding words, even Beastie Boys lyrics! Oh, and the Fresh Prince theme song. Unfortunately I have forgotten the website. No more procrastination for me.

Have a test on Friday, as well as a presentation. ARGH.

Onwards and Upwards I say!! HooRAH!!

Sad Bad news.

Good Morning!

Oh poos. Now it is 12pm and am just finishing up checking my emails and checking out 1-day, bebo, and facebook. OH facebook, haven't checked that one!

Anyway, now I'm just heading into my last 2 weeks of semester - so many assignments, many tests, a few presentations... and then a couple of weeks off before my 1 exam. And then it's research research research before back to Uni for my final semester of my degree! :-) Hurray!!

In bad news, I have been neglecting my craftiness - no knitting, no crochet. Actually have written a few poems so I guess that's cool. Just Uni is getting SO busy! so so busy! but not in a bad way, I am okay, the stress is not at breaking point yet!

In gooder news (yes, gooder, like gouda cheese), Luke is coming to stay! Luke is one of my 2 best friends - Stella being the other, with several other close friends! anyway, Luke is moving to the gold coast to live with his parents for a while, and I haven't seen him in ages already, so it is actually quite sad. But he will be arriving not this wednesday but the following one, or thursday, and then I will drive him up to Auckland on the Saturday night and watch him fly out :'(

I am actually going to be quite gutted. But I will deal with that at the time.

Now. Some terrible news. In 2006 I lived at Orchard Park at the University of Waikato - Uni flats. My flatmate was a guy called Benjamin Urry - a 2nd-3rd year accountant from Gisbourne. He was one of most loveliest guys I have ever met - always smiling, always caring. We lived together the entire school year, and have had the odd coffee and christmas card since then, although have not really been close friends. On Tuesday last week his body was found in a river between Napier and Gisbourne. There is not much information yet, but it is said he slipped, fell into the river, and drowned. Because I haven't talked to Ben in awhile, and we weren't all chummy, I am sad, but I am not devastated. The real tragedy is that Ben himself now has no future. He had big plans; he had just started his career in Tauranga, and I don't think he had met anyone to marry yet. He was the kind of guy that everyone just counts on to be there, and he deserved happiness. I am so ANGRY that all of this got stolen from him! And of course, my heart goes out to his parents and brothers. How utterly horrible.

RIP Ben - although your life on Earth was cut short, I hope things are bitch'n where you are. xx

I wish...

This is me, officially not caring about University. You have dominated my life for so long, too long, and you plan on holding my full attention for years to come, you evil hussy! I NEED to be happy - to not have that niggly little voice at the back of my stomach, giving me nausea until ALL assignments are completed to A+ standard, ALL exams are A+ through, and ALL lab reports are A+ understood.

I want to be a B student, and I WANT TO LIKE IT!!

.....

who am I kidding? I'm screwed. I'm off to do an allnighter on a research Assignment. How surprising.