End of an Era

Hello readers. Happy New Year!

Today was my official last day at work. I've worked a ODE for just over 21 months, so it's been a fairly long time to me. Well, more like yesterday was my last paid day and today was my last day of volunteering. I've unfortunately lost one of my work shirts so will be charged for it but today I had to hand back my uniform, name badge, locker key and security fob. It feels a bit weird but I'm sure I'll get used to it. I have left jobs before, after all. 

Last night, some of Front of House (my old department) and I went to Hemma for a few drinks. About ten people came, and some got a bit tipsy rather quickly. My friend, KH, especially. But she's hilarious when she does so. She has an accent and she's easier to persuade at that point to say sentences in her full accent, which she makes us repeat. And we all do. I'll miss the quirks of the people in my department. Miss the craic, the early morning rants, the funny anecdotes, the impossible questions and the best quotes from the public. I brought them creme eggs today as a thank you for putting up with my bullshit for the last 21 months. They were very well received.

On Friday, I'll be having a leaving party. My friend V came up with some ideas for it, and I thank her for that, as instead of looking upon the night with sadness of leaving people, I'm looking at it as a fun night out. I've asked everyone to dress up (fancy dress) as a stereotypical place of somewhere that they'd love to go. My examples were Japanese Geisha, American Cowboy, Canadian Mountie... People are actually dressing up like I've asked, I can't wait to see what everyone'll be. The plan is to go to a pub... then to Karaoke. I've checked with the club we'll be in and they're happy to accept us in fancy dress. They've got a deal on. It's £5 for 2 hours of karaoke in a private room including a free beer and entry to the club after. I'm anticipating 20 people so they've given me the largest room!

My friend C just came round and took away four bags of store cupboard essentials. I told my flatmates 3 months ago to help me eat my food. I refuse to put it all into storage for whoever knows how long only for it to go off in the meantime. I see no point in that. So - she took my tins of chopped tomatoes, my pasta sauces, curry sauces, pasta, popcorn, cous-cous and most of my herbs and spices. All of those things had gone from flat to flat with me in Edinburgh, some things being in all 3 flats. It was time to do a chuck and I'm glad C was a willing recipient. I still have a ton of baking essentials and mugs if anyone is willing to take them?

I have made the list for my suitcase about 7 times. The suitcase which still hasn't arrived. It's supposed to arrive to my work. As in, the job I just left. Handy. So far I have a pile of things in the small suitcase I have, but keep on having to take things back out as I need them. My bigger suitcase is full of books and other bric a brac for the charity shop, where I intend to go tomorrow. I may have to make several trips. My sisters are taking most of my bigger things: desk, bike, a storage cube, big cushions, etc. But everything else will be going into limited space storage of my friend M. I have begun packing but it's mostly sorting things out. Keep, charity, store, chuck. 

Two weeks tomorrow, I leave the country. Tuesday 4th February. As I've said before, my flight is 42 hours in total, including stops. With C no longer coming, what am I supposed to do for all of that time? I have looked at Emirates 'in flight entertainment', so I think I'll be alright movie wise but still... 30+ hours of TV? Nobody can do that! I can only take 7kg of hand luggage so once there's a spare set of clothes in there (change in Dubai), there's only so much weight that can be put in there! I plan to engage my fellow passengers in games of scrabble, cards and, if I can, cribbage. That is if they don't take away my scoring pins for "weapons". For the first time in ages, I'll have time to read a whole book cover to cover - so please, someone, give me recommendations. Nothing too dark or sad, nothing to do with plane crashes or people getting lost when they adventure by themselves and no non-fiction. 

I have a plan for the first 9 or so days in New Zealand. First four: a hostel. I have to get my bearings and get used to the time difference (+13 hours at the moment due to daylight savings). While keeping my jetlag at bay, I need to get a mobile phone and sim card, I need to open a bank account and somehow transfer my needed funds over with fees I don't even want to think about at the moment, I have to find a supermarket which sells my oat milk... and at the same time I want to explore Christchurch. Next five: five or so days, anyway. I will be working on a farm about 4km outside Christchurch. They asked the other day how long I intended on staying - and I said as long as they need me. My friend P from ODE lands in Ch-ch on March 11th. We plan to travel around South Island for two weeks before she heads to North Island to see her family. I hope we're in Dunedin (Edinburgh's twin city) for St Paddy's Day. We don't really have a plan. But that's all I've got so far. I have a list of about 20 things I want to do in South Island alone, let's hope I can manage to do it all!!

The Veg Garden of Deb & Glenn, my first Wwoof placement-to-be

I am scared about the trip. Excited, yes, but there are people here who I will miss terribly. My friends, my family and my special friend F. Skype will be my friend for the next few months. I am going to get back into writing letters. I love getting mail, especially letters full of adventures from my friends so I hope nobody will mind when these scribbles from me arrive. I will send postcards too and update on here as much as I can. I plan to take a picture a day of my trip, which will be posted onto fb but I'll put my favourites on here.

Leaving on a Jet plane: 14.5 days...