Oh blog I have neglected you yet again. And to be honest I am only typing now as I am waiting for the Trademe table I have been stalking all weekend to come up to its final time which is just before midnight on a Sunday - thank goodness I am working from home in the morning!

Well, I just don't know where to begin and where I left off. So much (and to be honest so little) has happened in the last few weeks. Work, well, goes on. It is a job. It pays the bills. In terms of earth shattering career, it ain't that at all. I am lucky to work. I have a v nice boss who is very flexible. My colleagues are great. The project is interesting (although the targets are unachievable but hey ho!). Aside from my impotent rage that I am forced to take such a massive amount of annual leave at Christmas as mandatory (and it is far more than anyone else I know in NZ!) things are ok. It is more the fact that it really has dawned on me that this isn't at all what I want to be doing in life. If I am still in the charity sector in 10 years time I will see myself as a career failure haha that's a bit dramatic but the thought gives me the heebeejeebies. I'm very dissolusioned with the whole thing. Absolutely nothing to do with NZ I should add now, it just has helped clarify for me what I want to be doing. And in a good way if we hadn't moved here I would have felt obligated to keep going in the sector in the UK and never would have given myself the opportunity to get out. New Zealand has really helped me see things in a very different perspective. I feel like I can DO things again and I'm not stuck in paralysis. I admit I have struggled taking a step down in terms of seniority and still continue to do so, but the fact that I've taken some positive steps forward to change this personally feels much better now. I can just suck it up and keep my head down, get the work done and get on with things.

I am 32. I would like to start a family soon. What options therefore are open to someone with those choices (and yes lucky me that I can make such choices but dammit I work hard for a living and my hubby and I have worked like dogs to be where we are today, so I can make choices so take your tall poppy syndrome and stick it :p) ANYWAY

So I am going back to uni. I am so excited! I am going to do a course I nearly did 5 years ago but chickened out of. I am going to do a Graduate Diploma in Earth Science, converting my degree to a geology degree. I'm going to study part time, distance learning at Massey which won't be easy but will be so worthwhile. Since moving here I've rekindled my love of being outside and the landscape is so fascinating I just want to study it further. The compulsion I felt all those years ago as a student wanting to specialise in geology has caught up with me again and it feels like such the right thing to do. I like the thought of going into the renewable energy/geothermal sector or possibly into enginnering. Who knows what the future holds? But if I don't do it soon it will be too late. I don't want to hear any guff about being young etc etc. Study takes time and effort and employers are ageist and sexist - I don't care what legislation you put there that tries to change that. It's sadly basic human nature and I'm in a race against the clock to get the studying done that I need to. So off we go!

how is NZ you all ask?! Well it is pretty darned cool. I am just slowly settling in and started to umpire netbal again a couple of weeks ago which was scary! but the extra money is really handy and it is nice having something else to do after work. I've  joined an indoor netball team (which is not the same as outdoor so that will be interesting!) - with one of the guys from work - his hubby is a top netball umpire as well as player so he's going to help get me meeting the right people here. I badly need to make my own friends and have my own interests. Oh Gen, I hear my mum saying, it all takes time you must be less impatient!! And I am trying mum I promise, but you do have to put yourself out there to meet new people - they won't come to you!

We went to the Coromandel last weekend to meet D's aunt and uncle who have a house in Matarangi by the beach. It was just AMAZING - and can you believe such a short distance from Auckland? Everyone literally has their own boat. You just drive it up to the water's edge and off you go for the day. Fabulous! I just love the lifestyle here. I ran for an hour today, longest yet. Still unsure of the Kerikeri race and how I'll do but I can but give it a go! I was pleased to do the hour today as it was fine and I could probably have gone on longer. The weather is warming up and it is getting so much more sunnier. It is one of the most beautiful cities in Auckland when the sun shines :)

Mum arrives next week for a visit too! Now that the house is slowly getting sorted out we feel much better....ooh and our stuff ARRIVED! I have a washing machine!!!! It has been going nonstop to wash everything from the boat, but oh! how nice to snuggle into our duvet and sheets and pillows! Just our clothes need to arrive now that should be next week hopefully. Although I am tubby at the moment and need to shed some pounds before they get here eek! Also much more relaxed now we have bought mum a bed. there is a trademe bargain sitting in the spare room now, a nice new queen bed, simple and no frills but seems very comfy. It's a relief that - I had visions of D and I being on the airbed and I can't cope with that right now!!!

So I am going to leave it there y'all but here is a pic from last weekend for you - the doggie soaking up the rays on the beach. Here's to many more days like those ones - thanks so much to Les and Janice for putting us up they were fab :)