Xtend Barre

Last week I wrote about my newly-found body positivity! And promptly had a relapse that night – two steps forward, one step back. Now I want to talk about the exercise that is (partly) responsible for that positivity: Xtend Barre!

From Misfit to Fitbit

Last year I wrote a review of my Misfit, which is a fitness tracker on the cheaper end of the scale. About 6 months, the watch battery went flat, and it didn’t take well to being replaced. I said in the original post I was trying the Misfit because I didn’t want to splash out for a more expensive tracker when I didn’t know if I would use it – so when it came time to replace the Misfit, I dove in and bought the Fitbit Alta (in fabulous purple of course!)

65 Hour Week: Studying Part Time while Working Full Time

My study set up – writing an essay on a sunny winter’s day last August.

I went back to University, long distance part time last year. This is my second semester and I have 5 to go – I will be finished by the end of 2019. That’s a loooong way away. Luckily (or not, depending how you look at it) none of the papers I need or could take are offered over the summer semester, so at least I get that off. I take two papers a semester, which equates to about 25 hours study a week – on top of my 40 hour a week job. Although it’s a bit of a struggle/juggle at times, it’s certainly taught me how to prioritize my time and I have great timetabling skills!

I’m studying Social Policy, so although (for me) the study is both interesting and relevant, it can be very draining – fancy reading just how disadvantaged some children are in New Zealand for a couple of hours, then try to write about it in a way that’s professional, academic, and most definitely doesn’t include swear words? As a result, I try to include a lot of points in my week to wind down, have some quiet time, and have sometime for myself, my relationships and my hobbies. There’s no point putting all this work in and then burning out.

#realtalk: Body Positivity

OK I haven’t updated here for a while, but I promise to more in the coming months. Today I wanted to write about a realisation I had last night:

I don’t hate my body any more. In fact, some days I actually like it.

The Ultimate Sandwich

Last week I made quite frankly spectacular sandwiches for lunch. I tend to have a cooked lunch, because often a sandwich is unappealing, bland, slightly soggy and not very filling.

This sandwich was nothing like that.

Home Sweet Home

It’s been one month since we arrive back in the Capital, and think I can say we are well and truly settled. We both have jobs now, and have a beautiful one bed flat in Kelburn, right near the Cable Car. Check out the view from our deck (left) and the view of Wellington during our easy commute (a 15 minute walk down into the city – more of a 25 minutes walk home though!).

The boxes that we send off mid-April are meant to arrive in Auckland this weekend, but the tracker says the ship is still off the coast of China, so we’ll see about that. I dug out my sewing machine from the back of a cupboard at my parents house and have been getting my eye back in with a half finished pencil skirt and some underwear (details to follow!). I’ve also been getting back into the swing of running and making my lunch Monday through Thursday – I made fantastic (if I do say so myself) sandwiches last week, so that’s coming up too.

There’s some big news as well – I’m going back to University! I am cross crediting what I can of my Victoria papers to Massey, and going to complete a BA in Social Policy – maybe with a minor in Economics (I have just started work at The Treasury after all – check out the view from my desk below!)

The Canary is go!

And…home

After three months of notice at work, 4 leaving do’s, a week of packing, 5 visits to the charity shop, and 23 hours on two different planes R and I have arrived in Auckland New Zealand. Well, we actually arrived Friday night, but have been very busy being jet lagged, then sick, then buying a car (it’s a bright yellow Suzuki Swift. I’m calling it the Canary, it’s adorable)

We’re in Auckland until Friday, when we drive home (for me) down to Wellington where R has a job (thus the need to buy a car!). I’m really very glad I don’t have to get on a mother plane for the foreseeable future – I always forget how awful those long haul flights are. 

Once we’re in Wellington and have somewhere to live blogging should pick back up again – I don’t currently have a sewing machine (although I made a beautiful pair of high waisted blue velvet underwear before I left my UK machine with Ange). I also don’t own any kitchen items or furniture etc., so this may become a bit of a home decor blog in the short term while I get my head around things like buying a couch and putting together a living room. Although I know I want a drinks trolley, preferably in glass and gold! 

I’ll make sure to take plenty of photos on Friday, the road trip from Auckland to Wellington really is spectacular, it’s the best way to see the country.

A Weekend in York

Last weekend, we went to York! We took the train up on the Saturday morning, and came back Sunday afternoon.

So many people had told me I should go to York before I leave, and I now have to pass on that advice. York is absolutely stunning! It’s a fantastic walled city with a beautiful Cathedral – my photo’s don’t do it justice. The walls are amazing – you can walk all the way around the city on elevated walks with places for archers to protect the city. It also has several very good pubs, and some very lovely cocktails at the Grand Hotel. In particular I can highly recommend the Strawberry Cheesecake Martini – cheesecake and alcohol, what more can a girl ask for?

It’s a very easy weekend excursion from London, without having to deal with airports and security. Have a look at my photos, but make sure to google it too – these aren’t as good as they might have been!

Moving Time

So, it is officially less than a month before we fly away from London for life in Wellington.

AHHHHhhhhhh.

On May 5th, after 2+ years for me and 10+ years for R, we fly back to New Zealand. We have a week in Auckland with R’s family and friends before heading down to Wellington to start our new life. R has a job which starts on the 16th – which is fantastic – but currently I will be unemployed. And living with my parents. Dealing with my second winter in a row. Talk about stressful!

There are a couple of things still left to do – the boxes get picked up on Monday, so we’ll be saying goodbye to the computer, xbox, books, pasta machine etc for up to three months, which is quite a long time! We also need to finish up financial stuff – cancel the Sky subscription, move out, close down bank accounts. We have to say goodbye for now to the friends and family we have here – including Ange, who’s only been here for 6 months, and R’s 3-y-o niece. I’ll probably cry a lot. It’s different moving this time – when I moved to London it was always only temporary – there was always an end date on my visa. Moving back is permanent.

I am looking forward to going home – I haven’t seen my best friend in over two years, and I miss my family. I also miss New Zealand’s significantly cheaper rent, and a city in which buying a house is not a complete pipe dream.

There are lots of other exciting things to look forward to – R’s buying a car while we’re in Auckland, so we can road trip down to Wellington, and go on lots of little day trips. We’re planning to do the Otago Rail Trail in October-ish – ride a bike at a leisurely pace for three or four days while enjoying LOTR-type spectacular scenery.

In the meantime, we’re trying to see as much on London as possible – Royal Albert Hall tomorrow, Cambridge next weekend, York last weekend – and I’m trying to get fit before we leave. After all, the best way to see the beautiful New Zealand countryside is to be in it – which means tramping, long walks, and camping. I ran 5km in March, but I haven’t really done anything since, so it’s time to kick it up a notch!

All my lovely books are packed into a box – anyone want an ikea bookcase?