As Fi Bows to Peer Pressure

I shall not be going to the UK as I am now literally terrified of planes. Actually terrified. My greatfully sarcastic thanks to all who convinced me that going to a plane movie less than a month before I leave was a good idea.

I have just been invited to take part in a student vs. politicians debate on the day I leave NZ. I won’t be able to as I will be checking in and saying goodbye at the time but it begs the question - am I a student or a politician or both?

This is not helping me feel any less cow-like.

Currently, my life is rather surreal, rather like this here cow with antlers standing on a pole (thanks to Wikipedia).

Yip that definitely sums up my life at the moment. For lots of reasons, many of which I shall detail below:

1) I am 22. I remember holding a friend’s newborn son when I was 7. At the weekend I got to go to the Hastings and see these friends (which was a lovely trip by the way). Friend’s son is now 15 and a half and tall with a completely different hair colour. He is the stereotypical 15 (or 16) year-old boy, but still loads of fun. He makes me feel very old.

2) Said friend’s son took a photo of me with “the guys” for his youth group treasure hunt. I was a special treasure because I worked for Peter Dunne and am therefore a celebrity (these are his words). I am the least glamourous “celebrity” I know.

3) Friend, who also happens to be a Fiona, saw my lovely election photo in the Dom Post last year. The one with me in my hat. She showed it to her friends. How delightful!

4) My boss comes back in 2 days after 3 months leave. I can’t remember what it’s like to have a proper senior researcher boss.

5) I’m not Christina Aguilera or Rahcel Weisz, although I’ll give points to anyone that can come up with anything we have in common.

6) This weekend is my last weekend in my lovely wonderful flat with my fantastically ferpect flatmates.

7) I’ve sold my bookshelf, bedside table, bed and various clothes (and THAT hat). There’s not very much left.

7) I leave NZ in 27 days, and frankly, I’m not entirely sure how to feel about that. Yes I am very excited but I am also rather freaked out and becoming more so by the day.

I definitely feel like a cow with antlers standing on a pole.

My dear friend Kathy is amazing at designing and making clothes. She’s just started her own business, based in Dunedin, and now has her own website. Wow!!!

Go and take a look :o)

Yay for Kathy and Battlecry Clothing!

I like Sideswipe in the NZ Herald because they usually capture odd bits of life. Today’s first section was particularly good and I’ve reproduced it for your enjoyment (what a delightful turn of phrase). I particularly like 3 & 6.

How not to start your next police report (from the August Police Association newsletter)

1. It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.

2. The names contained in this report have been changed to protect the innocent.

3. The mayor then made an illegal left-hand turn on to State Highway 1, at which point I opened fire.

4. Before I get into the details, I’ve got a few “shout-outs” for my homeys in the command staff.

5. It was so dark and wet that night you could almost eat the mist. The radio call penetrated the eerie silence with such a piercing intensity that, for a moment, I was sure I’d lost my mind.

6. Got call. Responded. Arrested bad guy.

7. Mye pertnar an eye wher on petrol wen we seen a man actin’ suspishushly.

8. The suspect first tried to assault me by repeatedly slamming his face into my fist.

9. A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away …

I have no excuse for being slack and not updating my blog for weeks on end. I had a fantastic excuse for last week, which involved falling down stairs, trips to the doctor and almost endless DVD watching as I struggled to move, but not any excuse for the nothingness of the previous 2 weeks. I’m bad (I need a chorus here . . . “she’s bad she’s bad”). But excuses are necessary in any eventuality (I’ve always wanted to say that) so here’s mine: undead pirate monkeys stole my keyboard.

Moving on . . .

Time passes too quickly and I have been awful at keeping up with anyone. In some ways it’s that I am quite busy, and in other ways it’s that I’m just a little scared that if spend lots of time with the people I love spending time with here (and that’s all of you and others), that I’ll miss you more than I can bear when I leave and I don’t like missing people so I thought I’d solve the whole problem by being awfully busy and not having time to do lots of hanging out stuff with people. Stupidest thought sequence I’ve ever had!

It’s 42 days until I leave NZ for good, and the impending doom feeling has changed my mind about being busy and therefore avoiding missing people. So I have 42 days to spend time with as many friends as possible for as long as possible. If you live in Wellington, let’s do something, name a time and a place. If you live in Palmy, I’ll be coming through on my way to the Hawke’s Bay on 19/20 August and I’d love to drop by and see you. If you live anywhere else, call me and we’ll see what we can sort out.

And in final news about me me me (very selfish talking here), I’m currently about $11000 over budget for the coming year and although this doesn’t take into account my last few payments and selling everything (well almost) I own, it’s still a very scary amount. If you’re a praying sort of person, could you pray that I’ll be able to trust God to handle the money situation for me?