Sydney

Sunday 20th - Thursday 24th August 2017

Sunday
I'm not gonna lie... I shed a few tears on the plane! It has been a lot harder than I thought it would be leaving the Langton family and I really don't feel ready to leave New Zealand yet, especially as the weather is just starting to get nicer! However, the in flight meal cheered me up as it was delicious! I'll definitely fly emirates again, they're way fancier than Jetstar! I got through customs so quickly, e passport makes everything so much easier for sure! It was so good seeing Kirsten at arrivals, it's literally feels like years since we last saw each other even though it's only half a year! She dropped me off at Rachel and Kay's house, Wade and Mary's friends who have very kindly let me stay at their place in Redfern, but not before having a good catch up! Rachel and Kay seem awesome!

Monday
So I could say that I had the best day ever in Sydney seeing the sights, however that was definitely not the case! I facetimed Mary and Emily in the morning (don't think that helped the whole feeling homesick for New Zealand thing!) Mary said that the boys didn't have very good drop offs which of course made me feel even worse!

I didn't really have much of a plan for today, other than go and see Sydney Opera house, so I popped that in my maps and decided to walk into the city and then go to a few places I see on the way. Turns out there's not masses of touristy stuff to do in the city for free! I did grab the most delicious brunch though!

Following this I finally got to the Opera house and I have to say, I was mildly disappointed! I don't think the cloudy weather helped, but it actually looked pretty ugly up close! However, after a short stroll through the botanical gardens I saw it as it is in pictures and I have to say it looks so much better from further away.

I then wandered round the city aimlessly, as I had no idea where to go or what to do! Travelling by

yourself does get a bit boring some times, especially after 7 months of pretty much always being with someone else!

Tuesday

Today was heaps better as I chilled with Kirsten all day! Although, saying that, I almost didn't as I panic got on the wrong train! But it was all good I got the express train from the next station! Even though I had leftover dominoes for breakfast, I couldn't resist Kirsten's offer of a free maccas from where she works! After that it was time for the hour and a half drive to the blue mountains. We went to the 'scenic world' where they have a cable car and cliff train and things which was pretty cool! The cliff train is the steepest in the world! It was such a fun day and lovely spending time with Kirsten - even if we did get stuck in peak hour traffic for ages on the way home!

Wednesday 

Had a leisurely day today, made my way down to Bondi beach but then realised I never put my bikini on or brought it with me so that was silly! I was gonna do the bondi to coogee  walk but i just decided I didn't want to in the end! To be honst everywhere kinda looks he same as the Jurassic coast back home, just better weather! I sat and watched the surfers for a while before a lady asked me to film a Facebook live video for her. I thought why the hell not, I'm not doing anything really! So I did it for her, she's a dancer/ self help person or something and yeah it was definitely interesting! 

After this unusual occurrence, I headed back to redfern to FaceTime my favourite boys! Cillian orettt much spent the whole time crying and telling me to come back  and Darragh keeps saying how much he missed me! Not gonna lie made my heart break a wee bit! They're just too cute! I then headed back out and had a wander around before deciding to just go back and chill for a bit. When rachel and Kay came hom, we went straight out to happy d's which is the most amazing dumplings place! Nothing better than dumplings and beer! We then went to another pub and got chicken wings too for a second dinner!

Thursday

Thursday has come around all too soon and it was time to leave Sydney! If anything it's made me even more excited to come back and travel around Australia more thoroughly, especially if I can meet up with friends! However, I was very excited today as I got a message from Emma saying she managed to get her visa sorted and she was headed to Sydney eh opera house! So after picking my bag and doing a wash I met up with her in Hyde Park for a wee bit, before quickly heading back to pack my washing. Mitch came and dropped us off at the airport which was so lovely of him, we didn't really see all that much of him! It took ages for my check in to open, and then finally I got through and I got pulled over for a full body scan and my bag was pulled over! Honestly he first time this has ever happened. I chilled with Emma in the airport before her flight left, and then I was on my own for an hour and a bit! So I decided to bug my fav family again and forced them to stay on FaceTime with me until my flight was boarding... they love it! 

Return to Queenstown: Part 3

Tuesday 2nd May 2017

Today is the day. The big day. The day I never thought would happen. It was time to bungy jump.

I woke up early thanks to a million different alarms going off. So I went and grabbed breakfast earlier than planned. Waiting around is the worst part!

Just before 10 we headed off to the station to check in. We entered in our details on an iPad and then got weighed before they wrote our weight on one hand and what we were doing and what bus we are on on the other hand. It's a pretty good way to make sure everyone does what they've paid for!

After twenty minutes of waiting, it was finally time to board the bus to get to the Kawarau bridge. Surprisingly, I wasn't as nervous as I expected and I was also a little excited.

Yeah that feeling didn't last long! We went straight to the jump area and I made sure I was one of the first ones as I feel like the waiting would make me even more nervy! About 4 people jumped before it was time for me to get the kit on. I was pretty calm, even though I was freaking out on the inside. I hopped from the side to the very front of the ledge, with the help of one of the guys. He then points to two cameras to smile at and, as you can tell by obscured false smile smeared on my face I was freaking out big time!

That was the worst bit for me, I thought it would be the being upside down for such a long time (that really freaks me out hence why I didnt do a bigger bungy!). Those few seconds when I looked down at all the open space in front of me. My mind knew I was attached to a rope, I could feel the weight of it tugging me forward but for a split second I panicked. Why the hell was I paying to jump of a perfectly stable bridge 43m above a river? But then the guy counted down and I knew that if I hesitated it would not only make it worse for me in the moment, but would be a little embarrassing in the video. So I jumped.

In my head I was going to do a majestic, graceful dive and it would look amazing. In reality that didn't happen. Instead of going head first as planned, I just panicked and jumped/ stepped off which meant I was going feet first. This is exactly what I didn't want to happen as it jerks you up again harder to make you go upside down, hence my frantic flappy bird demeanour (I was trying to get myself to be upside down before the cord got strung out).

But honestly after the initial completely all consuming terror all I felt was bliss. Those 2 seconds of free fall and then the bounces after wards made me feel weightless. Made me feel free. Made me feel happy. There's something about an adrenaline rush that you can't compare. And it was so different to my skydive, a totally different feeling but both completely incredible. Unless you've done it you won't know!

L

It was a little struggle to try and grab the stick that the guys on the boat were waving at me, mainly because I was slightly deliriously happy. And as soon as I slumped onto the boat I couldn't believe t was over. All that fear for a minute of full adrenaline fuelled bliss. I could not stop smiling.

I then made my way out of the boat and watched Kieran do his jump. Obviously he did his more gracefully than me, not that that is hard, but he did end up with super blood shot eyes... serves him right for doing it hungover haha!

We had an hour to kill before getting the bus back to Queenstown, so we had a look round the shop,I bought my video and went and had a cute cousin photo in our matching t shirts with the bridge in the background because we're cute like that.

As soon as we got on the bus, feelings of hunger and exhaustion hit me all at once. We went to fat badger to grab a slice of pizza and then I got a milkshake and cookie from cookie time... treating myself!

We then just crashed out for a bit, Kieran slept and I binged watched Grey's (shock). I kinda wish I'd napped though as I still felt super over tired. We had to make the most of the free meal again, and his time it was chicken wings and baked potatoes... yum! Or so we thought! When we got there it was a really bland veggie savoury rice that had next to no flavour. So that was a disappointment.

On the upside, I got given loads of free drinks vouchers for loco, mainly for a rum punch that was pretty good! So, although we didn't stay out too late, I basically had a free night so win win! I'm sad to be leaving Queenstown again tomorrow, but I'm sure I'll be back whether that's before I leave New Zealand or way way way in the future.

If I hadn't have done it I wouldn't have regretted it. Not one bit. But that is because I would not have known what I have missed out on. Over the past couple of months I have done so many things since leaving England in January that I would never have dreamed I would do. I am simultaneous proud of myself and overly grateful for all these opportunities.

Return to Queenstown: Part 1

Saturday 29th - Sunday 30th April 2017

I originally had decided to get an intercity bus to Queenstown, but luckily two other Au Pairs, Sabrina and Fabienne, were driving through Queenstown on the days I planned on travelling so I got a lift with them. It was so much nicer than getting the bus for sure! We stopped off at the clay cliffs in Omarama, they are pretty spectacular. I'm pretty sure you could go anywhere in New Zealand and have your mind blown by its sheer beauty.

After leaving Omarama, it was another few hours before we arrived in Queenstown. On the way there we passed the Kawarau bridge bungy... it looks higher than I remember it and I tried not to think about doing it on Tuesday!!

When we finally arrived in Queenstown it honestly felt like I was returning home. The mountains, lakes and streets all feel so familiar now and make me feel so happy! I checked in to Nomads hostel, it's on church street which is right in the centre of the town. We're in a 6 bed ensure with a balcony over looking mountains and Lake Wakatipu, so absolute luxury compared to some of the other hostels! Plus Kieran gets discount as he worked for Nomads so it was pretty cheap which is also a winner! I was pretty stoked to see Kieran, as it will be the first time I've seen any of my family since leaving for New Zealand. However, he was sound asleep when I got there! (Don't know why I was surprised!)

As I didn't want to disturb him, I went and had a wander around Queenstown, defamiliarising myself with everything that's there. I do love it here! After half an hour or so, Kieran messaged saying he head woken up, which, for both of us, only meant one thing... Fergburger!

It's pretty cold here in Queenstown, so we decided against sitting by the lake as previously planned and went back to the kitchen in Nomads to stay warm! As we walked in I noticed Kirstine! Both Kirstine and Lotte have one last night in Queenstown, so it worked out amazingly! It was so lovely to see them again, especially as I didn't think I would!

So after this we got a few bottle of wine to pre drink before heading out. Unfortunately, I peaked early... way early and got kicked out of the bar for being too drunk oops (sorry Nana and Popa). But still it was so worth it I had a great night!

Sunday however was another story, I was so hungover I only managed to make it out of bed twice to get food. Oops.