Graduating

I've just arrived back in Auckland after 7 weeks in Waiouru, a tropical holiday park in the centre of NZ... more like a desolate desert at altitude with no shortage of tussocks. Overall I had a great time, it was a fantastic group of people and I'm already missing it in a way. Graduation day consisted of a formal parade followed by a dinner and then the 'pinning of the pips' which is where I became a 2nd Lieutenant. My Grandma and Gareth made it to the big day and Grandma pinned on my pips which was pretty special.


Here's a few images that captured the day. I hope to get some more warry photos of us actually out in the training area all cammed up on here soon. Click on the photos for a big view in a new window. Thanks to all my family for the support, letters and gifts you gave me throughout my stint in Waiouru.

Christmas and all that craziness....

Firstly, I say the obligatory "Merry Christmas" to all my friends and whanau who have tuned into my blog over the year (as scarce as it has been). This will be my last post before I head off to kaikoura for a New Years family reunion then straight to Waiouru for the NZ Army TF Commissioning course. It'll be tough and I'm hoping my body doesn't pack out because its always a possibility with the injuries I've had this year. It's going to be wild and I'm looking forward to the challenge.

I leave you with this thought from Bono (thanks to Uncle Steve):

“a child born in straw poverty, in shit and straw … a child …the poetry … unknowable love, unknowable power, describes itself as the most vulnerable… love , needs to find form, intimacy needs to be whispered. To me it makes sense. It’s actually logical. It’s pure logic. Love has to become an action or something concrete. It would have to happen. There must be an incarnation. Love must be made flesh.”

Photos and stories will be rampant at the end of february when I return.

Peace.

swimming in circles

After a few injuries setting me back in my running ambitions I decided to take up swimming and a couple of weeks ago I thought the Auckland harbour swim would be a great little challenge. I didn't think it was such a great idea as I got into the water at Stanley bay but I gave it a go anyway! I swam in large zigzags across the harbour (it was meant to be straight but i was slightly disorientated) along with 1200 other swimmers. Great event which I would love to do again, perhaps swimming a bit more direct to the shore. I just got sent a charming photo of me running up with finishing ramp, I was swaying like a drunken sailor after jumping out of the water!

Pinnacles

I've heard about this tramp so many times and being the tramper I am it was criminal to not do it so on Sunday of labour weekend I latched onto a group going down from Auckland and did it. Apart from all the Aucklanders everywhere it was beautiful. It was incredibly windy up the top, we were clinging to the rocks to stay on - all good fun. In my view it was a bit of a tame tramp - short distance with wide tracks and lush hut facilities. If you're not much of a tramper or bushlover then its a great little excursion. A couple images courtesy of Mark Hoyle:

Can't plug this enough

If you haven't seen the dvd: invisible children then I would recommend you watch it before anything else - It'll open up your heart and mind to the real stories of thousands of kids in Uganda. I have cried everytime I've seen it and I'm not a movie crying kind of girl (honest).

If you can't borrow it then get it here.

a bit of rock hugging... and climbing

Saturday I hitched a ride with a few friends down to Wharepapa South for some climbing. I'm new to the rock climbing scene as I'm usually at indoor walls so it was fun to learn the ropes, haha im sorry, of setting up a climb outside. We climbed a few crags at Froggatt Edge and Bayleys Road. I'm busting to get back there and learn how to lead climb.

Ruapehu magic

Thursday 0530 alarm buzzes, we drove down to the Mountain in anticipation as the sun rose to reveal the clearest blue sky yet this winter. Richard and I arrived at the end of the Bruce road at the base of the Whakapapa ski field around 11am. We changed into our gears feeling the heat of the sun would prevent the need for jackets and gloves... The air was so crisp and we began heading up the ski slopes with our crampons on tightly (possibly too tight after rubbing raw ankles!) and the snow began to melt as our sweat dripped down heavy after reaching the top of... the first lift!



















To cut a long story short after 4 hours we scrambled over the rim of the crater, taking a slightly steeper route than the norm but in good spirits as we took in the most beautiful view and moon-walked across the thick snow inside the crater. We enjoyed a chilled speights and cook up for lunch by the crater lake and boarded down just in time to catch a stunning sunset with Mt Taranaki in the background. It had to be one of the best days of my life, magnificent mountains and the weather was perfecto :) I'm considering climbing Mt Taranaki next, once I've recovered some sleep after a chilly night in my car. If you have done Taranaki have you got any tips for the amateur walker like me?

diamonds

I just watched the music video to a kanye west tune I've got on cd and its pretty powerful - watch Diamonds from Sierra Leone on youtube . Its on a similar theme to the film that came out last year - Blood Diamond. If you haven't seen that movie it's a must, great acting and so real it will cut you.

I haven't been blogging much lately. Not that I haven't had stuff to blog on because I've been having a pretty adventurous life lately... lots of fun in the snow and up mountains. I will post some more photos soon. Peace out.

Deep South Travels

It's taken some time I know but I've finally got the photos form my South Island trip uploaded. 2 weeks ago my brother and I drove down all the way to Wanaka (and Dunedin) via National Park, Wellington, Blenheim and Christchurch. It was really nice spending some bro-sis time together after a few years and we discovered a new passion together - wine tasting. Here's a few photos featuring a glistening reflective Lake Wanaka and the surrounding peaks. If you've never visited Wanaka it is a MUST!

Click my flickr badge on the right side for more photos. We couldn't resist a jump off the Kawerau Bridge in Queenstown so we took the plunge and bungy jumped with a water touch, it was freakin' awesome, Nathanael let out the loudest man-scream I've ever heard and I didn't want the jump to finish it was that good!

bed appreciation

I want to post a big shout out of thanks: "THANKS" to all the wonderful friends who gifted money , time and muscle to the making and moving of my bed. Special mention to the builders and designers - Dave & Cam. It was a gift from a number of friends for my 22nd birthday and I love it! In fact I sleep on it every night I love it that much. Photo will follow as soon as I find where I packed my camera in my room shift this weekend. My new bedroom has a fireplace, thats gold on a cold winter night. There will be plenty of marshmallows to be had, roasted to perfection - beat that McCains.

I read a quote this morning:

"I was born not knowing and have had only a little time to change that here and there."

It's by Richard Feynman who I know nothing about but I like his quote. The more I learn in this thing called life the more I realise I don't know. I think thats a healthy frame of mind, as soon as I think I know rather a lot I'm walking a dangerous line to arrogant ignorance and I don't fancy that. I'm back to study now. One exam to go and then its time to enjoy the winter break.