The luck of the Irish....

Hello home, here's a thought....

I never really understood or believed in the phrase "the luck of the Irish" because I thought I wasn't an exceptionally lucky person. I'm not talking about having ones health luck or having a normal, pleasant childhood luck. I mean silver spoon luck. Always winning raffles and picking up the huge bingo jackpot on that one annual excursion to the Goleen community hall. I can still remember that one girl in primary school who always won the Easter egg or over sized teddy in the raffle at the end of each term. Every year, the same old thing, never giving anyone else a chance. Always that one girl, Ashling. Lucky cow. Then I'd hear that phrase again..."the luck of the Irish.." A bit general really eh? I mean I know a couple of "lucky" people but certainly not a nation of them, not 4 million of them. Not even that relatively small group of Irish rugby men have been very lucky recently, rather bloody unfortunate actually. And where did the saying originate from? Maybe it started flying around during those 800 years of slavery and persecution. Yeah, sometimes you just have to thank your lucky stars, don't you?....right....bullshit.

That's what I used to think when I thought of that phrase. Now, being an Irish person in a very foreign land I think I've figured out what it really means. In New Zealand, a country full of tourists, kiwi's seem to have it programmed into their heads to ask everyone where they have come from, whether they want to or not. "Where are you from?....Canada?...oh lovely.....Germany?..that's interesting.....England?...hmmm.... IRELAND??? I love Ireland? What part are you from? I love your accent. I'm part Irish you know, my grandfathers grandfathers, cousin once removed was from there....." They actually light up and are mad to talk to a genuine article. Their eyes dancing to the rhythm of my Cork tune. I've actually been picked up off my feet when I told someone (not a mental patient) that I was Irish. I love it. And these memories give me strength when someone mistakes me for an English person, or says"but I thought Ireland is part of the U.K..." Breath.

I know that it is simply a figure of speech, not to be taken literally, but I like to think now maybe there is something to it. When you can travel to the other side of the world and being Irish allows you to feel as welcome and as at home as you do in your own country then you have to feel pretty damn lucky....

Now if we could just win some rugby matches then I'll surely burst with good auld country pride.

So, the plans have changed......again.

Yeah, so we've done the Russell thing and we're going slightly grey from the boredom and randomness. I came to New Zealand for the awe inspiring scenery and extreme fun, not for the yawn inspiring wee local tourist towns. The weekend was very busy but from our side of the bar it wasn't exactly fun. We tried to make up for our lousy weekend shift by going out two nights ago, but unfortunately a lot of the boats had left and had apparently left the weirdo's after them. Another random night in Russell.
To my shock and dismay, New Zealand yachties do in fact JUST drink rum and coke. What are ye? women?....have a beer!!!! I think it's definitely an elitist thing though...ooh I drink rum, I'm a sailor, ooh. Also, they are actually animals. Smashing tables etc. I have a new found tolerance for the people who shop in my beloved Matthews. They're just rude. At least they know how to have a proper drink and not make a fricken show of themselves. That said the boats did look fantastic and I do hope to get out sailing soon.
Before we hit the road I do want to make the most of the good weather and beautiful scenery here, so the plan for our 2nd day off tomorrow is to pick up a disposable bbq and head to the stunning white sands of Long Beach about a 15 minute walk from here. As for tonight we're gonna live it up in Paihia, the life and soul of The Bay of Islands. We are gonna try something new though just to mix it up a little. We're gonna try out this thing called a "budget"??? I'm being unbelievably the opposite of tight...which would be loose I guess. I'm Eddie Hobb's wet dream. Sorry for the vulgarity but I think that sums up my fiduciary problems best. So penny pinching to the extreme from now on.
So that's about it for now. Hopefully when I check in again we'll be our way to get a car and do some proper exploring (getting very lost). I'll write again soon. I'm trying to upload some photos. There's not many, well not many relative to the amount of photos I have taken. I'm just going to put up enough for you all to get a taste of life out here. As you would imagine the main star of most of these pictures is my friend, Mr. Beer. Bye for now, Steph.x

The many wonders of teeny tiny Russell...

So I'm gonna try out Russell for a while. Russell is the much quieter, much emptier, slightly peculiar town across the bay from Paihia. In an effort to save a bit of money by not having expensive temptations (ie. surf shops, tours, bars, pubs, bars, pubs, more pubs....) myself and my friend have moved here and begun work in the local fawlty towers like hotel. I don't mean that in bad way, the people are lovely and I for one look forward to the bazil like antics. We've realised that word travels fast in a small town like Russell and are beginning to feel like a certain "yank" who once arrived in Ireland with hopes of buying a field. Hopefully we won't share the same fate as it didn't work out too well for him.
Once a year an unlikely Russell becomes the sailing centre of the country when it welcomes sailors from Auckland who finish here after a coastal race to the bay of Islands. An expected 250 boats are due to arrive here at about 10 pm here tonight. This large regatta is without doubt the biggest thing to happen in this area all year, though as you may have guessed that would not be hard. Despite being offered a place crewing or helming a boat in the dinghy regatta nearby I'll be surprised if I get a glimpse of a yacht as my soul belongs to the very busy hotel this weekend. I start work this afternoon at 4 pm and finish at 2 am. Sarah begins at 2 am when I finish and will work through the night until midday tomorrow. According to our boss the rowdy sailors will only be drinking only rum by the gallon and may become frisky when they see the pretty waitresses, "they've been at sea and will get excited when they get on land in search of girls and rum". Maybe the pacific sea air does different things to the mind than the Atlantic, or maybe my boss has never actually met a sailor (rich, sometimes rude, but generally not an animal) but I'm gonna take his word for it and prepare myself for the worst. I'm ready for a combination of Captain Jack Sparrow and Fr. Jack to walk through those hotel doors. Hehe, comedy at it's best.
Anyway, that's about it. I'll let you know how the weekend goes and try and have a rough estimate of how many innocent women were impregnated. Scoundrels of the sea. Bye for now.

I could watch the rain back home...thanks

I didn't spend 2k on a plane ticket to the southern hemisphere to watch the rain, but unfortunately today it seems like I did. And according to the forecast tomorrow won't be very different. It is torrential outside right now!!! I have yet to get a job. I'm allergic to the idea of it. Yuck, work. But I am becoming worried about the lack of budgeting I've been doing and at least when I start getting a pay cheque I can put that concern to the back of my mind. I'm getting annoyed with myself now that I haven't yet done any of the touristy stuff. After all I am a tourist. I haven't even gone swimming yet!!! That's so embarrassing!!! In fact I promise now to shake off the hangover that I know I'll have tomorrow, wriggle into my wetsuit which I dragged across the world and run down the street into the pacific. I've applied for a couple of sailing jobs here but nothing has come from them yet. I really have found it difficult to get an instructing job here, or any job on the water, tours and day sails for example. Despite my experience on the water and teaching I just can't get a look in. In my experience it's a lot easier to get coaching work back home. I've said it before and I'll say it again, I hate job searching!
I'm being ambitious and planning on waking up at 7.30 am tomorrow morning(Sunday) to watch the England v France match. If France insist on knocking every other deserving country out of the tournament (and other continental competitions) then the least they can do is take out England. I'm going to leave it there for now. When I post next time I'll fill you in on how the water was, what occupation has called to me and what is the best touristy thing to do in Northland. Bye for now, Steph.

Over a week now....

Right so, I'm here over a week now and am stilll very much alive. Mind you it was touch and go there for a while, turns out New Zealand hangovers are unfortunately just as bad as Irish hangovers. I'm now in Paihia after travelling up here from Auckland. The city was awesome, a fantastic harbour littered with sailing boats but I got itchy feet for the countryside and the beach. So, Paihia is a small little tourist town. I think maybe a little too touristy for my liking. It's pretty, nice scenery and wot not but I can't help feeling it's just not as special as I was hoping for. I'm sure that untouched, special town/village is just around the corner waiting for me and until I find it I think I'll keep wandering around a bit. I'm anxious to start working but I've decided not to sacrifice the dream by settling down somewhere only semi special. I want New Zealands version of Crookaven. It's not that much to ask is it? I don't think I'm setting my sights too high. This place is renowned for some of the most spectacular places in the world. I'm sure I'll find somewhere that the second I get there i'll feel it immedately.
However, I'm not made of money unfortunately. So if I don't find that perfect place soon I will head down to Wellington with a friend, where we hear there will be work available in a few weeks.
So that's about it for the moment. For now I am still alive, flaking through the money( which is not as enjoyable as it was at home where I have two parents to keep me fed and sheltered) and pretty much happy to be here. I'm dying to see a proper beach with a sweet surf (and a couple of sweet surfers on it) , then I think I'll know I'm here!!!!

Gonna head north...

Well, I arrived safe and sound in Auckland after a long and tiring journey. I've been here now two days, I think, still trying to wrap my head around the time. The original plan was to stay in Auckland and work for a good few months but I have had a slight change of heart. The updated plan now is to head north to the sun which seems to have abondoned Auckland for the most part. This place is plagued with sudden torrential downpours. Luckily I am used to this annoyance and remain unfazed. I have my mind focused on the upcoming Summer and so my new destination is the beach!
I think I have secured a job in the bay of Islands, specifically Paihia. The beaches are rumoured to be spectacular. Hopefully I'll be there soon and will post again from new home. Later.