Palmy through JBs lens

So I'm in Palmerston North this weekend for a CAMA Hui (Community Access Media Alliance Conference), yes work in the weekend but its fun meeting and getting to know all the other Access Station people.  I can say that they are all lovely and friendly people, and we are having a good time chatting and discussing stuff that we find is going well or brainstorming things that we struggle with and generally having a blast getting to know each other.  When I turned up ystdy turns out most of them know who I am from the videos we do on Facebook and Twitter, which did mean I didn't get told everyone's names but atlst they all were super welcoming.  Lol Jo from Planet FM (Auckland) was positive we had met before cos she has seen so many of the videos that she felt like she knew me already :)

I have found the time to wander round Palmy like a tourist with the main purpose to take pics and my aim with the wandering was to see the city as a newbie, not as someone who only comes here to shop and doesn't pay attention to the beautiful stuff around the place.  As per normal when a steeple can be seen in the distance my feet inevitably take me there, and I am never disappointed with the church under the steeple, though sometimes I am disappointed that the camera won't take a photo that does it justice.  Anyhow, below are photos from around Palmy, things that have captured my interest or intrigued me, or just made me stop and go woah cool :) some have captions/explanations, some don't, and yes I know that they are even grouped by location but tough, I am sure you will survive hehe.  

And here they are in no particular order....

Mum if you had just stayed at BNZ you coulda got yourself a camper :p lol

We went to Shed 23 last night for a meet and greet, it had a room with heaps of instruments that are to be played not just looked at.  Turns out I'm still horribly unmusical but I had fun, and many laughs :)

This is the street outside the hotel I'm staying at, so cool

If you saw this on the street, would you hopscotch it or just walk past?  I hopscotched both, of course :)

A very cool lady's toilet sign

This sign made me think of you Aunty Robyn :) no frogs were parked here though :( lol

Just liked this randomly placed small tree lol

An update in pictures

So this is an update for the past couple weeks or so, but in pictures, cos I can :)

Recently went to Otane and this gorgeous old church is on the way, had to stop of course and take some pics 

This is it not in black and white, love the red door

A nice old building on Otane, not much else there to be honest

Smudge and Hoot enjoying the sun on Te Mata while I went for a walk

Me and my boy heading off to Mangakino to see parents new place

My boy found a good location to keep an eye on everything easily 

We are a cosy team at work, and very quiet sometimes lol

Cat prints and a ball print on my new concrete path, I must be loved :) 

My new friend Felix who is hanging out in my bdrm under the cool cubby dad made by knocking out most the old linen cupboard to give my room more room

Have started on decorations for my beary Christmas tree, they are felt bears if you are wondering

My first ever egg apron, am very happy with how awesome it turned out, its for Samara for when she gets her chickens, the pockets are for eggs :)

Just a random thing I made with a frame dad built me, just gotta figure out where to hang it now

Hastings certainly knows how to turn it on in sunny weather

Do love that this is my home, its just so pretty sometimes

Visiting and touristing in Raglan

I spent the wknd in Raglan with my Aunty Kay and Uncle Terry which was super cool, and as I hadn't been there for ages (Easter doesn't count as I wasn't there long that day) they took me sightseeing which was cool.  The surf was playing its part and being all wavey which I miss with the ocean over here, cos the ocean over here is often real boring and calm.  On the Saturday Raglan was showing off in the nice sunshine, and it didn't even matter that the wind was a tad chilly cos it was so pretty. 

On Monday morning while I waiting for Aunty Kay to finish at the physio I went for a wander and did my touristy thing like I did in the UK, the weather helped by being wet and cold lol.  I got rather drenched but it was still pretty, and I rewarded myself with a salted caramel hot chocolate num num :)

I also got to chill with Smoko and Lucy (she used to be called Marilyn but me and her agreed that she will be called Lucy when she becomes a Hastings kitty hehe).  Think Smoko is also keen to become a Hastings kitty but I wasn't sure how they would cope with the warmer climate over here so I left them behind this trip.  Maybe next time I will bring them back with me hehe.

It was a fantastic wknd with lots of chilling and catching up done, just what I was needing I think :)

Saturdays sightseeing

Mondays meandering

34 of the most awesome things I have done....

Since I have been alive for 34 years now I thought I would list 34 of the most awesome things I have done.  Not everything awesome I have done is listed, cos come on we all know I have done way more than 34 in my amazing life so far :) 

Listed in alphabetical order, here you go:

Acquired 1 of the best bears ever

Backpacked Scotland, Ireland, Wales and England

Been to India

Bet Duynie in a Math Exam

Bet the twins in cross country

Bet mum in WI sewing section of Arts and Crafts Festival

Bought a house

Built a bark garden

Can still undo and redo dad’s shirt buttons if he’s not paying attention

Climbed the Eiffel Tower (stairs not elevator)

Discovered ‘Hart of Dixie’

Earned Gold D of E and Queens Guide Awards

Explored Singapore and Malaysia with mum

Finished Oxfam 100km Trailwalker

Flown in a biplane

Held a 6 weeks old baby without dropping it (cheers for that one Dons :p)

Lived in Scotland

Make pretty damn good GF bread

Paid off 2 student loans

Ran 3 half marathons

Ran round a castle, including to top of highest turret

Road tripped South Island with Brudda

Road tripped top of North Island with Brudda

Skydived (twice)

Studied for and gained a double degree and 2 diplomas

Summited Mt Taranaki

Visited every hut on Mt Taranaki in the space of one month

Was a Guide Leader for over 5 years

Watched Edinburgh Military Tattoo live

Went running while it was snowing

Went Snowdog hunting in Brighton

Won the Avis Griffin trophy at the Franklyn A&P Show

Won mum heaps of chocolate

Won Young Achievers Award for Community Service