Four Months Ago

Hello hello!!

The marshmallows lasted me approx. 3 weeks. My friend M sent them to me for my birthday. Angel. I was very good, I promise! Haha. They came at just the right time, needed some cheering up! I'm currently in Whanganui (look me up on google maps!), south-west bay of North Island, for three weeks. I'm working in exchange for accommodation, but there's no schedule – apart from the weekends – so I'm just drifting around during the week waiting around until I'm needed. Bit annoying really. I'm housekeeping at the weekends, but Monday-Friday I guess I'm a bit of everything: reception, laundry, gardener... I thought the hostel would be busier right now. I know it's winter, but assumed there'd be more long-termers, but as my friend Sarah says, there's no jobs so why would they stay?

I haven't written in four months and for that I apologise. I've started writing plenty of times and then, weirdly, gotten writers block or distracted. Weirdly, because this is my life I'm talking about! I believe when I last wrote, I was leaving Wellington to go to Napier, to go and live in a prison – working in exchange for accommodation like I am at the moment. So let me backtrack to 4 months almost today (12^th April) when I took my bus journey up north.

I'd been out the night before, another Friday drinks Meet-up group event, where we all had to “dress smart”. I wore my interview dress, safety-pinned together at the v because it's actually fairly cleavage-y. At home, I wear long sleeved tops under it, but as I was going out, I went without. The night was fun. We had drinks and some dinner in the crafty tavern as usual, and then we moved onto a club. It was the same one where I'd learnt to line dance on Wednesday. I made a few friends that night, a shame really as I knew I was leaving the next day. Around midnight, I realised I had to leave. My bus was at 7am, and I still had to finish packing my bag. I went to the bathroom, camera in hand so I didn't lose it, and then got some water from the bar. On the way back to my friends, I realised my camera was missing. It had only been about 5 minutes since I'd been in there, surely it'd still be in the same place – on top of the toilet roll dispenser. Hygenic. Hmm. But no. Nowhere. I was tipsy, so I'm going to blame myself for it all. I asked at the bar, friends helped me look and ask people. But someone must've taken it. All I was thankful for, was that I'd uploaded my recent pictures only a few days before. But the loss was hard. I'd bought it for myself as a Christmas present, £130 give or take a few pounds. About $250. No wonder someone just nabbed it.

Next morning, I got lazy. I walked to the bottom of the hill from the hostel with all my stuff and then hailed a cab. I had planned to go to the Taranaki street stop as it was closer, but decided on the one at Bunny street – the main stop. On arrival at 6.35am, I checked my bus confirmation email again. Not 7am. 7.30am. I was almost an hour early, and, instead of getting in the way of other buses leaving before mine, I went into the closest, warmest place available to wait: McDonald's. I did get breakfast in there. A 6 hour bus journey ahead of me, I'd packed a lunch. But when I'd left the hostel, I was too early for the provided free breakfast. At least this is my excuse. Finding no empty tables, I sat with a girl my age. Megan, a student in Wellington, was heading to Hastings, the town before Napier (by 15-20 miles). A buddy for the bus. I'd had that with my friend P on a few weeks before, but it was fun to know I knew someone on the same bus going the same way. We both got seats right at the front to ourselves the whole way. We did chat a bit, but then I fell asleep and she was on her computer. I have met up with Megan twice since then. Once in Napier and once in Wellington. She was in London for almost a month in that time too; her girlfriend also lives over there.

Upon arrival in Napier, I was met by my new boss at the bus station with a bright blue car (with it's own eyelashes over the lights). Marion, was Scottish! I was so surprised! From Strathaven, she has now lived in NZ for over 30 years and is now officially a citizen (as of July). Marion drove us the long way back to the prison, showing me her favourite vegan café – one I still haven't managed to visit – and the sex shop that, at the time, was selling legal highs. Just in case I was interested.

Upon arrival to the prison, I met Magie, a Chinese girl who had been at the prison for almost a year. The prison is more of a long-term accommodation/working place to me now. I'm still in touch with one person that was only there for a week – Facebook is amazing like that – but everyone else, they were there at least three weeks of the same time I was. I met Nalendra too. He's from Sri Lanka but is studying in Napier and is part of the technical genius behind the websites we had. My room in the prison was the Conjugal Unit, and for the first few hours, because everyone was working, I stayed in my room and watched TV on my laptop. I didn't socialise that first night. I was exhausted from lack of sleep, ate my leftovers from lunch from dinner and went to bed early. Next day, I met Sarah from Canada. She was boisterous and loud and her accent took a bit of getting used to. It was the same with Nalendra, he spoke quietly at first but I understood more as time went on.

Monday 14^th was my first day at work. But it wasn't only my first day, it was also Nick's. Nick, who is from Yorkshire, had accepted the job the week before, but as he'd already paid a week in advance at the hostel in Napier, he'd opted to stay there instead. We trained with Magie as she pretended to be curious customers – it was a quiet day – and showed us how to use the audio devices. I was given all the login information for the social media – Facebook, twitter, etc., - and Marion also told me that, as well as receptionist, I would act as tour guide for schools coming in, and my first one would be in three weeks. Scary! At ODE, I'd never been given the chance to be a birthday party guide – the only time you take groups around. So this, to me, was exciting! I had a lot to learn.

Next day, I had all sorts of duties. I was to give 3 hours a day, six days a week in exchange for accommodation and free, unlimited wifi. That day, I folded laundry, I made slop and volunteered myself and Nick to dress up for a TV show that night. My slop was so 'good' that Marion took some home for dinner. So we dressed ourselves up in white costumes, painted our faces white with black eyes and lips. It was a Taiwanese programme, showing the top ten visitor attractions in New Zealand. And we were one of them. The presenter was to be locked up, thrown around, screamed at and scared. Nick was to talk to him through a wall where two cells are together, and I was to scare him. I hid under a blanket in cell 19, one of the solitary cells made up with chains of the walls and dark paint on the walls. When he came in, he was chained up, the camera crew came in, and the guard, Ian, left him there. He spotted me and I slowly came towards him, attacked him and tried to bite him before they yelled cut. I was nominated scariest person of the night. The guy thought I was an actress. I knew at once I was going to enjoy living at the prison.

Nick, Magie and I

For the first few weeks, I just explored, baked – Nick's birthday – and tried looking for a job. I'd been to the local “spa” with Sarah and Nick on his birthday as well. What is the point of an absolutely freezing cold swimming pool? I only stayed in the cold part 10 minutes with Sarah before I had to go and sit in the jacuzzi to warm up. There was another warm pool, but it was fairly crowded!

We had a cat at the prison called Basil. She is apparently a ghost cat. She was apparently brought to the prison with a prisoner of the same name. A man who had half of his face melted in a house fire. Anyway, she was brought here and after he died, never left. Or so the stories say. Old prisoners have come back to see the place and are surprised she's still here!

Basil

My first tour wasn't as bad as I thought. I memorised a lot of the information, but kept a sheet of paper in my pocket with names of particular prisoners and their stories. Some of the Maori spelling was hard to remember at first. For example there's Keriopa Te Rau, who killed a German missionary called Karl Volkner after a group of missionaries killed his family. Believing that Volkner was the last to see his family alive, after he hung the man, he ate his eyeballs as he believed they contained the souls of his children. He was then known as the eye-eater and was hung at Napier towards the end of the 19^th century. He was recently been exonerated of all crimes. Only over 100 years too late!

The tours were fun. I'd do the tour – maybe 45 minutes – and then games. I'd start off with wink murder before the tour and then finish with a scavenger hunt with clues and lollies as prizes. We'd finish with finger printing and dressing up as prisoners. I'd dress up for each tour, the white bloody lab coat or the orange jump suit, and would make myself scarier for older or adult groups.

Dressing up for an adult ghost tour

I'd told Marion that I'd stay for at least two months. I applied to a ton of jobs on SEEK, not hearing back from many. I did phone interviews for Kathmandu, not expecting to hear back. Only then, I did. I went in for a formal interview with Donna, who was in charge of both the Hastings and Napier stores. She called up Magie as a reference the next day. I would want Magie to be my reference forever. She was brilliant. I'd also left my number with a local Italian restaurant who were looking for part-time staff. I went for an interview with the owner, Tony, and, after asking me a few questions about myself, he told me on the spot I had the job.

Around that time, my friend Daniel (from wine tasting) came for a visit. He was at the hostel in town two or three nights, but I really only saw him once. After doing my hours at the prison, we went for a coffee. He was carrying his mug of coffee from the hostel, which I found hilarious. We walked around for a bit and talked, but it wasn't the same as when we'd spent that entire day together at Blenheim. I bumped into him twice again, before and after my interview at Tony's, but although I offered, he never visited at the prison.

Soon enough, it was May. I started to work at Kathmandu three days a week, and worked three nights at the restaurant, plus eighteen hours a week at the prison. I didn't have a lot of spare time, mostly evenings. Sarah left in May for Australia. She was there before NZ and friends, a boyfriend and the possibility of a paid job over there. We had a leaving do for her and I made a massive chocolate cake – my first of many.

Sarah's (Canada) leaving do and the chocolate cake!

While doing the social media for the prison, I'd added lots of Napier businesses to follow on Facebook and twitter. One of them was the local theatre, and on seeing that they had a competition, I entered under my own name – and won! I won four tickets to see a comedy show just a few days after Sarah left. Magie couldn't make it, Nalendra and Ireka were busy, so Nick, Bonnie (Marion's daughter), her husband and I all went. I have to say, NZ comedian's aren't very funny. After being to a lot of the free events at least year's Edinburgh Fringe festival, I'd seen bad comedians before. This guy only became funny when he got someone else on stage to be him!

Nalendra's wife Ireka arrived at the beginning of May. Quiet at first, she soon got used to us! She had the same degree as Nalendra – another brain with computers – so she does the technical side of things in the office too. Ireka is a great cook. Everything she makes is fresh, served up with masses of rice. It always smells good and I said more than once I wanted her recipes. I don't think she has any, she just does it all from scratch! Magie also left, and I was sad to see her go. She'd gotten a job in Queenstown, with a shop who could sponsor her to extend her visa. I made Magie the chocolate cake again, it's a good recipe!!

All this time, we had a cleaner called Taijin. He was from South Korea and seemed to hate us. He was nice at first, we'd say hello in the corridors and if we were cooking together in the kitchen. But he never came into the TV room to clean. That was, apart from the kitchen, our only social space where the visitors couldn't come in. All of our rooms had to be locked with a chain on the inside between the hours of 9-5. Visitors are curious creatures, and tried to force themselves into my room on more than one occasion. Sarah used to get me to lock her in her room at night, so she could sleep in without being disturbed – and then would call the office when she wanted out! We also only had one shower, in a building in the front yard, which gave us only 5 minutes of hot water. Again, we could only use shower before 9 and after 5 as otherwise visitors could get in. And that would be embarrassing! Taijin tried to get in and clean once when I was in, I had to yell “occupied!” at the top of my voice. Taijin, after I'd been there a few weeks, started to get angry with the world. His room and mine had a wall in common, so I could hear him in his room. He used to bang and yell, slam his door, move furniture around... at 2am. A few weeks of this and Magie gave him a warning. He tried moving his things into one of the suicide watch cells, but soon moved back. We think he must've been haunted! He left soon after the warning. One day he said he was going to leave, and then left in the middle of the night. Creepy.

After that, we had a few cleaners, but nobody stayed for very long. In the end we all started to pitch in with the duties. Our next newbie was Sarah. Another Sarah! Complicated? At least they weren't staying at the same time. This Sarah is from the USA and has become a really great friend to me. We've had lots of long talks, discussions, adventures and fun together over the past few months. We both count ourselves as great matchmakers too!

Just after she arrived, I found out from my Dad that my Grandpa died. I didn't really know Grandpa Pip, the grandparent who cared more about his second family than his first. I remember meeting him maybe once a year as a child, our last meeting being probably around ten years ago. I remember spending a day at the seaside with him, his wife Avis and her granddaughter who was the same age as me when I was seven. The next time we spent time together was when I was 12, where Avis, Grandpa Pip and I had driven 100 miles to go and check out a second hand clarinet – of which he went halves with me. I didn't really know him, but I still respected him. In the past eight years or so, my grandpa, who never wanted to be called grandpa, only “Pip”, started deteriorating and eventually forgot his entire family. To not know him very well yet still miss him is an odd feeling. My dad told me via Skype. I could see how upset he was and it made me more upset to realise I couldn't be there for him in person or attend the funeral. My little sister made it down though.

The next day, I received an email from F in Sweden. I'd written him a letter a few weeks before and it had only just gotten to him. I'd asked if he still wanted to meet up half way when I'd come home. It was still a long way off, but I'm full of travel ideas all the time now, so I had suggested it to him again. We said we would in January when we were together, but I guess my being in New Zealand and he in Sweden was too far to imagine a future together. We had six weeks together in Edinburgh before I left, short but sweet I guess. When he wrote, he said that I was imagining a future that probably wouldn't happen. So much for meeting for a coffee when I'm back then. When I left, I guess I supposed myself still half in a sort of relationship with him instead of single, so to be suddenly completely available was a strange concept to me. I admit, I did cry over the loss, as I knew we'd not be keeping in touch as we'd promised. Will he be my friend again when I go home? I don't know. Sarah and Nick were really supportive, I'm really happy to count them both as good friends.

On Sarah's first or second night at the prison, she was also offered a spot on the scare team. To dress up and hide in dark corners and scare the visitors coming around at night. I was official photographer so didn't dress up. I made a competition via Facebook for two people to come and join in with the scare team a few weeks before, and that was pretty successful, so I was happy to join in again in that capacity. The first group were a bunch of school girls who got so freaked out, but other adult groups really didn't get into it. I had a blogger and her partner come around that night too, they didn't seem to get into it either. On tour nights, those of us not involved hide in the TV room, watching a move with the lights off. The screams of the tour are creepy at first but then, as you know what they're seeing, it just becomes the norm!

Sarah (USA) dressed up for a scare tour

Next came Dawn. Dawn is from Singapore and, I don't think, had really ever experienced the cold before coming here! In Kathmandu, I had a great staff discount. At first, I was given ten vouchers to give to friends and family. Unfortunately, Dawn wasn't around for that, so towards the end of my job in June, I would get her to give me things she wanted and then I would get them with my discount, we'd have a coffee and then head back up to the prison together.

Our first big adventure came in June after I'd been working 17 days in a row with no break from any of my three jobs, and then the night before I'd had heartburn all night and had been kept awake by it. I blame my intolerance – it would be so easy just to drink a glass of milk, but no! I tried everything and passed out around 5am. Next day I was in two minds of whether to go. I'd told Nick that if it was a horrible day, I wanted my day off to be spent curled up somewhere warm, watching a marathon of game of thrones. I, however, felt much better after my shower. The heartburn was still there, but I wasn't going to let it spoil my day. One of the ladies at Kathmandu had given me some suggestions on where to go.

We set off around 11, just Nick, Sarah and I. Our destination: the longest place name in the world!Dawn was working until 12. First we visited the farmer's market in Napier. The main was on Saturdays, but as this was Sunday, it was just a small portion plus other people selling their wares. I got a large bag of mandarins for $5 and Sarah and I both got a bag of cinnamon donuts. Our plan was to go along the road towards Cape Kidnapper's. There's a small beach there as well as a small organic café where we had breakfast. We'd planned to go and visit some vineyards, but on driving back along the road towards Hastings, we were sad to see that most of them were closed. We visited the end of the farmers market in Hastings. I got some venison sausage and a fruit smoothie, which almost cured my heartburn.

Sarah on the first beach near Cape Kidnappers

We went back to Napier to pick up Dawn, and soon we were on our way again. The fab four! Our next stop was the centre of Hastings. We posed with the signs on shop windows, sat on fake sheep and played on the train tracks – which in Hastings go straight through a pond! We decided we'd stop by Havelock North on our way down to the longest name: to the honey factory we went! We had a look at bees, dressed up as bees and tasted honey. I bought some fancy blue blossom honey – there were at least ten types to choose from!

Dawn, me and Sarah trying to be bees!

On our way at last to the longest name! Taumatawhakatangihangakoauauotamateapokaiwhenuakitanatahu!
I was navigator in the front. We took the main road towards the southernmost part of Hawkes Bay and then turned off towards the sea, down and up and round hills that all looked like Hobbiton, through dark forests, to, finally – the longest name! It's a hill, but we didn't climb it. We didn't really know where to start, and since it was coming up to dusk didn't want to chance it. The main attraction is the sign itself. So we took our photos with it, sitting on the sign, jumping near it, waving our arms! I had to use Sarah's chair to climb up onto the sign, not very good at hauling myself up! Afterwards, we went to the nearest beach and watched part of the sunset before hopping back in the car and heading home. I sat in the back and quickly fell asleep! I woke up in Havelock North, completely forgetting that we said we'd stop in this Irish/English pub on the way home: The Rose and Shamrock. We had mulled wines in front of the fire. It's a great pub, reminded me of home straight away. Dark wood seats and tables, big fire, friendly staff. We shared a food platter and chatted away before heading home. I call it home and really it is. It is the only place, thus far, that I have spent longer than 12 days. I actually spent just under three months there.

Sarah and I in Hastings (train track through the pond!)

Dawn, me and Nick on the longest name sign!!

Beach time!

Beachy beach time!

Christmas time was upon us. In NZ right now, it's winter, and what's winter without Christmas? So, exactly six months after normal Christmas, we would have our own - 25^th June. We were going to do a potluck Christmas, and I miraculously had the day off from all jobs. The day before, we'd had the arrival of Mark. Another Yorkshire lad (like Nick). In fact, I think they've worked out, that as the crow flies, they live 20 or so miles apart at home! Small world. Mark has also become a good friend, and he reminds me a lot of my friend Paul from home. When he arrived, I thought he was just another visitor til we were introduced. I told him about Christmas the next day, and told him it was potluck, and we'd all be cooking a dish. I think I half forced him into contributing (snacks and dips). Another Yorkshire guy that doesn't cook, I thought, ha!

Christmas was great. I'd spent the day exploring one of the roads at the top of the hill and had a really old graveyard and the botanical gardens. A good day exploring, so much that I was a bit late starting cooking! Nalendra was working and we thought we'd probably have to start without him, but in the end, our cooking times varied and we did all end up eating together. I made two roast chickens. It was cheaper to buy two than get one really. Besides, leftovers are always welcome! I was so stuffed. Sarah made eggnog. Mine was with oat milk, and with oat milk, didn't really come out a nice colour – more like a light beige! But it tasted good! Thick, creamy, and the first time I've ever liked whisky! Some Scot I am! We had eggnog, mojitos (also made by Sarah) and huge plates of food. I'd gotten Christmas films for the occasion.

Sarah preparing eggs

Mark helping out

Christmas dinner!!!

Sarah, me, Mark, Ireka, Nalendra, Nick and Dawn

During June, I'd decided I was going to go back down to Wellington, try and get a job and stay there to save up money. I had a skype viewing for a flat and had paid a deposit. Nick was also leaving – but to Christchurch. He has a cousin there and his flatmate was leaving, so Nick moved into his old room. So Nick and I, who started together almost three months before, were also leaving at the same time. I was sad to leave, I hadn't expected to make such good friends during that last month.

The beginning of July was birthdays galore. First it was Nalendra's birthday, and then Dawn's (or Dawny as I now call her). I made cake for Nalendra, but he never got any of it as he was always working, oops! On his actual birthday, we went to see the new Transformers movie. On our return, we saw that Nalendra and Ireka had made a birthday feast, so, at nearly 11pm, we had a second dinner.

Nalendra and his birthday spread!

For Dawn's, we went to Havelock North, back to the Irish/English pub for it. It was also the pub's birthday and a big quiz night, so although we didn't win anything (Sarah won a raffle prize though), we got two cakes! The four of us had been to a quiz in our local bar in Napier before and came top 5. Nick and I had been previously with one of the temporary cleaners, Micaela, and came almost last. We knew going in that none of us would be good at NZ politics and history! We always had the same name: Jail House Rock!

Quizzing in Napier

Dawn and her cake!

Mark, Nick, me, Sarah and Dawn in Havelock North

For this night only, I cheated. I ate cake that most likely had things in it which would make me ill, but amazingly, I felt fine. When I was up at the bar, I found out that birthday people in the pub get free cake! Not a slice, but a whole small cake! So, after we'd eaten dinner, I told the bar staff and during a break of the quiz, we sung happy birthday to Dawn and she got her free cake! We also got anniversary cake from the bar!

Next was Nick's leaving do, and then Mark's birthday coincided with my leaving day. I had my leaving party on a Monday so that Nick could still be here and also so anyone from the restaurant could go as it was closed on Mondays. Only prison people came. Marion plus her daughter Bonnie and her husband came along too, plus our little gang: me, Nick, Sarah, Mark and Dawn. Nalendra was working again and Ireka usually went with him. Any new person to the prison, ever since we had Sarah's leaving do there, were introduced to Thai Express. Great Asian food on the cheap – what's not to love?

Nick and the sunrise

Ireka, Dawn, Nalendra, Nick, Mark, Me, Sarah, Marion

That week, we also played hide and seek in the dark! I was last to be found and must've sat outside for half an hour. I was glad it was a dry night! Freaky but fun! On Nick's last day, we all got up for the sunrise. We'd found the wall key the day before. People used to go up there to watch the hangings at the prison, paying 1 shilling for the privilege. Those who watched down on the ground would pay 2 shillings! The view from the top of the wall is pretty good! I'm glad we did it as a group, as I would never have managed to get up and done it alone.

I was sad to leave Napier and my “conjugal unit”, but I was looking forward to my next adventure: Wellington for a long period of time. So, on the Monday, Sarah and Mark drove down with me to the bus station. But not before I'd gotten up early especially to make Mark's birthday cake – one I would never get a slice of!

I'll write about Wellington during the next few days, this blog is long enough!! Thanks for reading, let me know what you think! xx