Good grief, it's been ages!! One and a half years to be precise! That's how long it's been since I've blogged. This blog started out as a means for a bunch of friends to keep in touch when we all left Singapore and headed off for brighter, greener shores. Since then, it's developed into more of a means to document different points in my life.

The past year and a half has been extremely interesting to say the least and I'll do my best to give you a quick summary.

In June 08, Mel and I moved out of Marg's place on Thingy Street and back into Irma's place. Irma's an elderly lady I boarded with when I first moved to Tauranga. Stayed there for a bit and then moved out thinking I was going to be moving to Auckland and then to Wellington soon. That didn't happen..there were work dramas and I ended up pretty much living out of my suitcase and friend's houses till September!! It was a most unsettling period, I can tell you that much! What was meant to be a month or 2 in Auckland turned into six! That was interesting too..I stayed at a hostel for working people. If I'd known that I was going to be there for longer than a month or two, I would have moved into a flat. But oh well..the hostel was interesting...met a couple of characters like the Scottish chap from down the hallway who kept trying to chat me up..the lady a few doors down from one of the boys who used to get drunk and collapse all over the show. The first time she did that, she chose to collapse just outside my neighbour's room. I heard the thud, went out to investigate and was shocked out of my wits to find a pale, practically white-faced woman lying facedown on the floor! It was 11.3o and I'd been watching a movie on my laptop. I called the hostel manager in a panic and he came up. Together we lifted her and carried her back to her room. She was NOT light!

Last Christmas was interesting as well. An old friend visited NZ and we went on a trip down to the south island. Let's just say that the trip didn't turn out anything close to what I had envisioned it to be like. Instead of sticking around and letting my holiday (I hadn't had a break since that April, work had been crazy, life had been so uncertain - the last thing I needed was the holiday I had so carefully planned being ruined!) fall to pieces, I upped and left. Best thing I ever did! I had a wonderful time making my way back to Christchurch from Queenstown and staying at a B&B on the way back - and one owned by an author no less!

In Christchurch I met up with Leila, hung out and read a lot and met a couple of interesting people at the backpackers.

In March, Manavi and Anthony turned up (my sister and brother-in-law) and I had a week-long break in Wellington with them. It was lovely, we had a great time and we both cried when we parted.

I moved to Wellington soon after, met a lovely lovely man - we were introduced to each other by a mutual friend and we hit it off almost immediately! Things have certainly progressed since then and we're in the process of buying a house together now!

In the past couple of days, I've started religously reading blogs that belong to Craft Goddesses! I've been away for so long that I've kind of lost track of blog protocol and so I'm not sure if I can mention them here! I will check that up and get back to you on that one! But for now, let me just say that I'm bowled over by their talent and dedication to the art of craft and I'm also inspired to do a little crafting of my own (I especially want to make stuff for the new house, to make it a cosy home!) So at lunchtime, I walked over to Trade Aid and bought a little printing block of my own! It's a peacock and I thought that was very apt since it's India's national bird! Then later in the evening, as I walked around waiting for Ewan to get out of a meeting, I bought a half metre piece of cloth..it's so so so pretty I wouldn't mind a blouse out of it..and a mini funnel in bright, cheery red which will be so handy when I make my next bottle of freshly squeezed juice (which I've been doing rather regularly off late...ok twice in total, but that's regular for someone who's never done it before!)

In the new house, we will grow our own veges, bake our own dessert and biscuits, squeeze fruits and make bottles of fresh juice and I might even attempt pickles and preserves!

In terms of crafting, I have decided to start with Xmas pressies this year - everyone who gets a Xmas pressie from me will receive it in wrapping that will be specially handmade by yours truly! A small start, I know, especially when I view the fruits of the Crafts Goddesses labour, but baby steps, I say, baby steps!

And now, I bid you adieu! I'm glad to be back in blogosphere and I intend to post much more often than I have! I will even try to revamp my site and get my techno-savvy other half to show me how to upload pics if I can't figure it out myself.

Watch this space!! Nite!  ¶ 8:57 pm