The Unknown...

I begin this blog with a tale of my experiences last night in Auckland City.

While leisurely walking up Queen St with my dear friend Roshni, we were stumbled upon by a lady. I will not include ethinicity or other details because they seem irrelevent. Having been one of those poor people that stood on the streets and gave out leaflets in the English winter, I know how it feels to try and get peoples attention. I offered her our attention, she asked us if we knew Jesus Christ. At this point, I will usually stand for a minute or two, hear them out then say thanks and walk on. However when I replied in wit, "No not personally!", She told us we didn't know anything. At this point, I laughed. I handed her leaflet back and said "I am sorry I do not wish to be patronised by people who think I know nothing." I can tell you now, she did not look like an educated woman. However she believed in Jesus Christ. So apparently, she knew everything. Roshni and I shortly walked off and ignored her.

Why is it that what is naturally unknown in our world, has had answers established to try and explain it. Why is it people cannot live without knowing? Are humans really that insecure and narrow minded? I have no problem with religion. My view is that people believe what they want to believe. Personally I enjoy taking elements of a few religions in particular, and leave the rest to my own imagination rather than being influenced by someone else. Really this blog is a little rant and rave.

When approached by that woman, I responded with an open-mind. But to instantly be shot down for who I am and what I stand for, defeats the point. Why is it we cannot simply have faith in ourselves and the people around us? Why do some individuals try and influence people so much, surely if it is a great religious path, demonstrate and show it rather than forcing it down peoples throats.

The unknown seems like such a threat to some people. But we live it everyday. Many people plan their lives to the minute, but either the weather or their mood may change. There are so many elements in this world that offer change that we cannot plan yet simply live the mysterious, unknown and take it with open mind and heart. By having faith it allows us to deal with life the ups and the downs.



Who knows what will happen in years to come, all in all though... anything can happen. Be true to yourself and have faith in what you believe, don't push it upon other people, allow their imaginations to run wild too.

Take a trip...

When does life sort itself out? Does it ever? Or do we continue to cascade through our day to day activities in hope there will be light at the end of the tunnel? I guess even influencial people such as Bob Marley, who chose NOT to stay grounded to real life, still had issues! Do we ever get away?

The last three months I have had the opportunity to leave the city and escape to an empty, slightly creepy yet peaceful home in the country. Blessed with beautiful views of the native bush, during the day this house is revitalising. I love to sit and watch the wildlife and weather, I should get the rocking chair just to complete my nana image!



However far, travelling out of the norm does wonders for the spirit. I only have to drive an hour north to arrive at this glorious spot. Literally a home away from home but without the lingering stress clouds that seem to hover over my house in the city.

Yesterday, I took a drive out to Omaha beach. In winter, it is deserted but still utterly stunning. Mum and I would take regular trips to walk along the beach, however while on my own, I enjoy sitting and watching the waves, the colours in the water and how they change as the shadows of clouds pass by over head. There is something about that beach that captures me. Like leaving life behind for a while.




Mother nature never ceases to amaze me. I've come to notice the smallest elements in our environment, probably with maturity, but essentially with the priviledge and enthusiasm to travel. I have been to a fair few countries in my time. There is only one continent I have not set foot in. There is only one ocean I have not swam in (or dipped my feet!). Each country a totally different experience. Albeit most of these travels were thanks to my parents and their passion. Their reasons to travel were to see the sights and cultures.

Travel leads us to unique adventures that cement in our memory. The experiences we obtain inspire our minds and feed our hunger for knowledge of the unknown. The longer we stay and live in our reclusive worlds, the larger the unknown. We don't know what we don't know. Yes I phrased that right! Never knowing what we're missing until we step out and find it.

Simply a five minute drive down unknown streets in the city to that of a 25 hour plane flight, can unlock the boundaries our minds are set in when contending with the daily norm.



Try it. Be random. Go somewhere daring and learn more about where you are in place and time.

Sick days...

Sick days... time to cacoon yourself in the duvet, watch soppy romantic comedies, drink lemsips and have a box of tissues within an arms reach.

I have done exactly that for the last three days. I hate it! Like my Mum, I dislike being sick and feeling incapable of doing anything! It all started on Sunday night, when I felt like someone had hit me around the head with a brick. It wasn't a pleasant experience as I was driving home from the supermarket! I sat on the sofa clutching my head assuming it must be from the lack of sleep. Admittedly I did go out on Friday night, and had a maximum of two hours kip. As my head spun, I knew it must be karma!



This head spinning, progressed into other cold symptoms, and I knew then...I was not going to make it through winter without getting sick! *bummer*. As my co-teacher had pulled her back at the weekend, I felt mortified to tell her that I was also feeling sick! We planned our attack at 7am on Monday morning and sent in all our planning for a reliever at school. Feeling helpless, I sat at home feeling sorry for myself.

Three days have passed, each day feeling slightly better, yet not completely kicking the cold off. However sorry for myself I have felt, the last few days have been suprisingly productive, with many things scattered with importance, I sat down and sorted out getting a plumber to go to my parents house to fix the water, before they arrive home, I paid my parents bills, I organised repayments on my student loan... and many more silly things that seem to build up!

However nice it has been to actually take time to recover and get over this sickness, I have really disliked being away from normality. And it makes me appreciate how strangely great a routine and a normal day really is. Oddly enough, I miss the children at school and I miss being in the classroom! Maybe sick days have made me mad...

I want to thank my co-teacher with how supportive yet firm she has been this week, telling me to stay home if I don't feel good and generally being awesome. Thank you!

Warm Fuzzies

My original idea...had been taken by a friend with obviously similar ideas to me!

I guess the Aboriginies thought they had come up with a pretty great idea when they designed the boomerang; throw something and it comes back to you and hopefully kills something yummy on the way? I wish more things in life would work like a boomerang.

What prompted me to write this blog was the idea of thoughts and gestures that give you warm fuzzies when they are recieved and returned. Recently I have recieved parcels from my parents in England. I guess we have a mutual understanding of how exciting it is to get a parcel from half way around the world, even if you spent most of your life there! Strangely enough in my parcels I have had a range of things from Marks and Spencer underwear to proper Cadbury chocolate! I love these gestures of kindness, they give me warm fuzzies. With a lack of money, there are limited things I can do to return my thoughts and warm fuzzies! So I sent my parents a card to show my appreciation for my lovely parcels. It was great to feel like I had returned a small gesture!

Friends have commented that the relationship I have with my parents is pretty cool. And I would have to agree. In some ways, I think I have moving abroad with them to thank. Pretty much depending on each other for social and emotional support until we were truely starting to settle into the country. It was hard, just like any parents I want to slam doors in their faces and have a tanty in front of them sometimes. But the relationship I have with them, is unique. We dragged each other through some tough times, yet I am glad. They know me for me... not a front I put on. They know all about what I get up to! They comment and tell me 'You're a little bugger!'... The last few months that they have been back in England has actually gone quite fast. I trust they have enjoyed their time in England with family and friends. Looking after the house and partially looking after a bunch of sheep hasn't been greatly desirable! They will be coming to the end of their three month trip soon and I look forward to their return to the land of the long white cloud, essentially just so I can have a good home cooked dinner, a free bottle of wine and listen to my parents telling me what I should and shouldn't be doing!

My sister once told me, "If it is true, it will come back to you". If it's meant to be in your life, although it may depart for a while, like a boomerang it will return! Just make sure you catch it! I reckon, that saying applies to all relationships. :)

Q! Que?! What!? Q!

I am going to start this blog with a Question, what is the purpose of a question? Does it allow us to be nosey? Ask too much? If we don't ask one, does that mean we don't care or that we are rude? A question is a way of pin pointing what we want to know, right? Unless of course it is a rhetorical question!

As a child and throughout school, there was a constant murmur from the teacher, exaggerating the use of the 'Who, what, where, why, when, how?' and whether we had answered it in our writing. I hear myself asking the children in my class, because face it, judging by the pictures and three words, you have no idea what they are trying to explain! I guess when you're an adult or a child writing stories, narratives or reports, those six questions guide our understanding of what the author is trying to explain. Our understanding and knowledge is based on the author knowing what is going to unfold in their writing.

Have you ever sat and wondered about your own life, where you're going, what you're planning to do, who you might find yourself with in years to come? These are questions I pose to myself on a daily basis because what I don't know, I don't know. As far as we are aware, we have no author writing the story of our lives prior to us living it. Imagine the alterations that could have been made! Ditched a few pages of our lives, or skip a few chapters! It is hard to come to terms with the fact that we lack hind sight and the answers to all our questions. Never really knowing.

After living with a dear friend of the family, I began to look at things a little differently. We often sat down in the evenings and talked about positives and negatives from our day. But what I really used to enjoy was a set of cards that Cheryl had, known as 'self-care' cards...sounds random but I think women appreciate them a little more! Basically they are cards with different pictures and sayings which help reflect on things alternatively! One that often came up for me was-

"Peace- Let there be peace in not knowing all the answers."

Now, I think of that saying and reflect on all the pressing issues and questions swirling around in my head. There are some questions that will be answered immediately. Some that should not be answered, simply experienced.