Seriously?

Ok, so you know I have a flatmate at the moment, right? I have slowly learnt over the past few years that just because people are different to me doesn't make them odd.... or does it? I've been VERY patient over the past 6 weeks but am counting down until the 3 months flatting period is up so I can have my place back to myself again. Young male flatmate is ok but a little strange... for two reasons.

Reason number 1
Three weeks ago on a Monday morning I was up and getting ready for work. I was in my room, door open, sorting an outfit for the day when I heard my name called. It was Young Male Flatmate. Now, keep in mind that YMF had had a few drinks the night before. The conversation went something like this:
YMF: 'Danielle! The most amazing thing has happened!'
Me: 'Oh really, what's that?'
YMF: I woke up this morning and I can see better than ever! I ran outside and my eyesight is perfect. I turned on the tv and can see perfectly. It's a medical marvel!!'
Me: 'That's awesome....... Are you sure you didn't fall asleep with your contact lenses in?'
YMF: 'Oh yeah, that's probably it.'
There's me with a smile plastered on my face while inside I'm thinking 'Are you serious??!'


Reason number 2
After being away house sitting for a few days I come home and YMF is in the kitchen so I stop in for a general chat. During this YMF tells me he has worked out why he has been getting indigestion lately. The conversation went something like this:
YMF: 'So you know how I told you I was getting really bad indigestion?'
Me: Thinking umm... no. 'Yes.'
YMF: 'Well I worked out what's giving it to me.'
Me: 'That's great. What was it?'
YMF: 'Well, I bought some protein powder off the internet to help with my gym sessions and to try and bulk up and the indigestion started after taking this for a couple of days so I figured it was something to do with that.'
Me: 'Oh yes.'
YMF: 'So I read the packaging carefully to see what ingrediants were in it and realised it's actually for livestock.'
Me: Nervous giggle. Trying to keep a straight face. Screaming in my head ARE YOU SERIOUS??!

That and he hasn't found the vacuum cleaner yet. Or changed the sheets on his bed... that belong to me... ewwwwwww!

A Year On

A year on from the devastating February earthquake which took people's lives and livelihoods. These pictures taken on the corner of Colombo and Kilmore Streets, looking North along Colombo towards Bealey Avenue show the extent of the damage and the result of the clean up.
It's been a long 12 months.

Meanwhile....

While we were all henning around Akaroa, a sweet little girl in Queenstown was getting ready to turn 1. Little Hazel had her first birthday on 7th February. Nana and Grandad Bartlett flew down on Sunday til Tuesday to join in the celebrations.
Hazel started walking just after returning back to Queenstown after Christmas and is racing around everywhere - according to our roving reporter and her completely smitten Nana, Trish.
Thanks for the photos Mum xx

Happy birthday Hazey Lou. XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Claire's Amazing Henny Race

Teams:
Team Champs - Amelia (driver), Claire, Ann
Team Lil' Black - Danielle (driver) Sandra, Renee
Team Silver Fox - Averil (driver), Julie, Kathryn, Sarah

Aim:
Claire's team to get her to all stations before the other teams.
For each team that beats her she must do a shot of wine
If no cars beat her she can bank credits OR nominate others to drink

Rules:
You must get photographic evidence of all dares being performed.
If you do not get a photo while performning the task, you will have to
do it again.

Challenge 1:
Throughout the day you must get your photo taken with the male equivalent of
each of the Spice Girls (Sporty, Scary, Ginger, Posh, Baby)

Dares: (to be completed throughout the day)
Take off your bra while fully clothed
Convince a stranger that you are foreign
Ask someone for a cigarette, when they give you one tell them 'No thanks, I don't smoke'.
Convince a man that you used to be a bloke
Walk around with your skirt hooked up in your knickers for 10 minutes
Convince a stranger to buy you a drink
Kiss a man in uniform on the cheek
Approach a stranger and convince them know them and reminisce about old times

Clue 1: Where is Scott's favourite weekend hang out?
Answer: Mitre 10, Beckenham
2 cars beat Claire = 2 shots of wine
Challenge 2: Sing your favourite song (American Pie) and busk for enough money
for your lunch.

Clue 2: Where was Claire and Scott's first date?
Answer: Becks Southern Ale House, Colombo Street, Beckenham
2 cars beat Claire = 2 shots of wine
Challenge 3: Using the gun and 3 plastic ducks provided shoot and hit all three ducks. For every miss you must do a shot of wine.

Clue 3: Where did Claire and Scott meet?
Answer: Richard Hampton's 50th Birthday party, Westfield Ave, Templeton
2 cars beat Claire = 2 shots of wine
Challenge 4: Using the large Scrabble tiles provided spell out the location for lunch.

Answer: Raspberry Cafe, Tai Tapu
2 cars beat Claire = 2 shots of wine

After the hilarity of The Amazing Henny Race, we had a lovely lunch at the Raspberry Cafe in Tai Tapu. If you haven't already been there, and get the chance, go! The food is delicious and the setting is peaceful. I fully recommend it. The desserts are to die for too. I had some of Averil's and Kathryn's and some of Renee's. If you don't BUY the dessert yourself then I figure you don't get the calories sticking to your hips, right?

After lunch we headed to our final location: Akaroa. We hired a little cottage for the night which slept all 11 of us comfortably. It was like staying at Nana's house. As soon as I walked in I could smell the familiar aroma of old furniture and camphor. After a well deserved drink for the drivers, and a big cheers to Amelia for driving nice and slow to allow the other cars to beat her, and LOTS of oohing and ahhing over the quaintness of the cottage, we were ready for Claire's next task.

Task: To bake the Sand Art Marriage Brownie for afternoon tea. All ingrediants resembled a trait important for a happy, long lasting marriage, layered in a jar. Claire's job was to empty the contents of the jar into a bowl and mix, then add love (melted butter), fertility (eggs), and 1 teaspoon of tenderness (vanilla essence) and bake for half an hour.

While the Marriage brownie was baking we played some games.
Now, knowing Claire as I do, I had a sneaking suspicion that after the Brides Quiz at Averil's Henny Claire would have gone home and asked Scott lots of questions about his favourite things in preparation for her own Henny quiz. SO being the mean fair bridesmaid that I am I decided her quiz would be a little different. I found some random multi choice questions on the internet which I used. Every incorrect answer had a penalty of a shot of wine. By the end of the quiz Claire was rosy cheeked and fuzzy headed.

Then it was brownie time. It was DELICIOUS!! Made even more delicious by the addition of Dairy Whip. It must have been good - it all went!
After a few more funny and fun games courtesy of Averil, we got ready and headed down to Vangioni's for dinner - Claire completing one of her dares on the way by hooking her skirt in her knickers for the walk there. Hilarious.



Dinner was nice - although some of us were still full from all the food throughout the day - but the waiter was somewhat annoying. He was a cute little French guy who, when Claire went to ask if she could have a photo taken with him (man in uniform) he said he was on his dinner break and asked if he had interrupted her when she was having dinner. Well, EXCUSE me. Not impressed. Luckily we had all finished anyway so we got up and walked out. What a prat.
Next stop was the local hotel for a few drinks. Hmmm.... it was a mixed group of people. One woman fell off her bar stool. (Not someone from our posh group). One guy looked like he was looking for a fight - male or female. So we had a couple of drinks and, after Claire had completed a few more of her dares, decided to call it a night. Home for a cup of tea and in bed by midnight! It had been a great but long day.

The next morning everyone felt good - no hangovers. So after a few cups of tea we got ready, did a quick clean of the house and left for breakfast in Akaroa and a look through the shops before heading back to Christchurch.
A great weekend. Everyone said they had an awesome time. Mission successfully completed.

*Ahem*..... Your Attention Please

You are looking at (reading the blog of) the newest Intimo Senior Consultant! Yes, that's right - I have reached my goal of Senior Consultant which means I get 60% discount on all my kit additions now, instead of 40%. AND I get a $150 dollar Intimo voucher to use at my leisure. I am VERY chuffed with myself. All my hard work and determination has paid off over the past 5 months. But this is just the start. My next goal is Team Leader for which I have to sponsor 3 ladies to start my 'team'. This one's more of a long term goal. So, if you know of anyone who is looking for part time or full time work, a great support network of ladies, and discounted lingerie, then send them my way!

I can not believe it is the end of January already. I hope the rest of the year doesn't go quite as fast as this first month.

A few weekends ago Claire and Scott had their Northern Engagement Party up at Hill Street in Warkworth. There must have been about 50 people there and it was so great catching up with everyone again. The weather was HOT and humid (not good for straightened hair!) but it was good to be able to use the backyard for the party.

Scott's Mum, Dad, and twin sister came up from Christchurch also for the party - and to have a look around before coming up again in April for the wedding.

More exciting news: I am graduating on the 10th February! Remember the little course I did in beauty skills last year at Aoraki Polytech? Well, I got a letter in the mail inviting me and 3 guests to my graduation ceremony. I have never graduated from anything before so am really excited about it. I don't get to don the cap and gown as it wasn't a diploma course BUT I still get to march up on stage and collect my certificate! Better wear sensible footwear as I would hate to trip and fall up the stairs!

I have rented out my spare room too for short term (3 months) just to try and help me get my head back above water after a busy and expensive few months. Setting up a home, starting a new business, and Christmas seem to have depleted my bank account somewhat.

A 23 year old called Craig is moving in tonight. He seems normal - which was an unwritten requirement.

Today at work I received a big bunch of flowers from my Intimo sponsor, Angela Cossey, to congratulate me on reaching senior consultant which was totally unexpected. If I had a dollar for everyone that came in to the office and said 'Oh, I see you got my flowers'.........

Perfect Perfection

You are cordially invited to the overview of the marriage of Eru Metcalfe to Averil Bartlett on 2nd January 2012 at 3pm in Ohoka, North Canterbury, New Zealand.

The day started out with a 5.2 earthquake at 5.45am. Claire, Averil, Kathryn, Renee and I had all stayed at Roxy Inn for Averil's last night of 'freedom' (I never really got this term - if you can't do on this night what you would normally do on any other night with the person you are bethrothed to, then perhaps marriage isn't for you? Anyway, I digress.) We had a lovely dinner together, some champagne (thanks Renee!) and were all in bed around 10pm. Claire and I shared her bed as Scott had been banished out to his parents for the night. Girls only! I think he probably thought he got the better deal - Sky TV and no females clucking on about wedding plans and false eyelashes. I would even go so far as to say that he probably started up some sort of motorised gardening equipment just to make sure his testosterone levels were in check! Again, I digress.
So, after being shaken awake, Claire and I got up to find Renee sitting at the table writing her bridesmaid speech. It was raining and cold. Uh-o. Not particularly what you want on the morning of your outdoor wedding. After a cup of tea we went back to bed for another hour or so before getting up again. Averil had slept well (excellent) and Claire was on breakfast and lunch duty - making sure the bride was well fed so she didn't faint from hunger on her way to meet her groom.

Kathryn and I left Averil in the capable hands of the hairdresser at about 10am to go home and make ourselves beautiful. The next time we would see Averil would be when she was walking down the isle at the ceremony. Exciting!!

Fast forward to 2.30pm and the rain had stopped. It was still slightly cooler than days previous but had definately warmed up. The sky was overcast - perfect photographing weather!

By 3pm all guests had assembled at the house where the ceremony was to take place. The house looked amazing. The gardens were beautiful. The guests all looked posh. Eru and his best man, twin brother Karati, looked delicious! Albeit a little nervous.

First to come down the side of the house, around the garden and up the aisle was flower girl Annabelle holding her Daddy's hand. Gorgeous. Then came bridesmaid Renee who looked stunning. Then the piece de resistance - Averil and Dad. Averil looked AMAZING. So beautiful and so happy. She took my breath away.
The ceremony was personal, friendly, and both bride and groom managed to hold it together during their vows. Perfect.

After mingling and photos around the grounds of the house we walked down the road to the Ohoka hall for the reception.
The vegetarian dinner was sensational. The speeches were heartfelt. The dancing was great. All the planning and decorating paid off and the hall was the perfect backdrop for a brilliant night.

Congratulations Mr & Mrs Metcalfe!!

Merry Christmas!

A very merry Christmas to everyone! I hope your day was filled with family, food, and festivity. With only 40 minutes left of Christmas day here in New Zealand we had a great day around at Roxy Inn. Annabelle and Hazel were suitably spoilt!

A brilliant day and now Mum and I are watching Die Hard on tv while Dad is snoring on the couch.