I get to live here!!!

DATA ENTRY IS NOT WHAT GIVES ME THE GREATEST JOY IN LIFE - 

But a girl's gotta earn a crust .. at least for a month or so! I began temping with an agency and was allocated my first assignment, for a third party company that deals with claims and I am there to lodge the work accident claims. 

The next day, work wore me out to the extent that as I took my pizza out of the oven, after placing it on the side I steadied the BOILING baking tray with my bare right hand - instead of the oven-gloved leftie. OUCH!!! That was not all of my exhausted insanity, after running down to a corner store to top up my HOP card, I mistook my neighbour's home with my own and actually could have consequently been arrested for attempting to break and enter.. using my key in the lock of their front door.  No joke. 

I LOVE THIS NERDY ASTRONOMY STUFF - 

Life was cold and grey before I knew the Honeycomb Magnum; we were acquainted on my visit in the rain to Stardome for The Christmas Sky, a presenter-led show at the Planetarium. I was seated next to an obnoxious teen who spoke up to ask where the TROPICANA constellation is; she was confusing that with a brand of OJ. 

The show was focused on how the night sky would have looked back in 6BC and that the shining star the Wise Men saw (as explained in The Bible), was most likely 2 planets in alignment according to extensive research. This was followed up with a projection of how the Auckland evening sky currently was, with the constellations we may be able to spot like: Orion, Canis Major, Taurus etc, all of which are upside down in the Southern Hemisphere.

We were shown how to locate the Southern Cross and the brightest star in this part of the world - Alpha Centauri which is also the closest star to us at 4 lightyears away which we were told is in fact, alarmingly near. I was fascinated to learn of star clusters, in particular The Jewel Box which appears to me like a spectacular portal to an enchanted island. The Southern Cross contains some of the most effulgent, twinkling stars in the Milky Way Galaxy. 

The Santa laser show was like a psychedelic nightmare on acid but it was still one of the highlights of my week. It was magical to make believe we were flying like Rudolph on Santa's sleigh to deliver presents to the world's children. 

THERE IS BEAUTY TO BE FOUND EVERYWHERE YOU TURN - 

I think I've become an excellent walker whilst residing on this continent; stretching my legs out to Teal Gardens, where the water is indeed the truest teal throughout Mechanics Bay and the fresh air is purifying. At Fred Ambler lookout, I had a gem of a view out to the port and beyond; I could have sat on the bench for hours just chilling and observing. 

At Dove Myer Robinson Park, a stick pricked my big toe and pierced the skin so badly that it instantly bled profusely. Knowing that I am accident prone, I keep a stash of plasters to hand and was able to patch it up once I hobbled to a seat. Other than my TOEtally disagreeable calamity, I was happy to be in the gardens amongst some of Mother Nature's finest work in the magic land of fun that I'm hopelessly in love with. The fairy tree with immense limbs was itching to be climbed but my injury prevented this, so I simply stared with fascination at others who got to. 

Sitting by the 'dock' of the bay in the sun by Judges Bay (a manmade swimming hole sorta) culminated in sweltering as there was little shade for the pasty Brit. The most stunning country I've ever lived in was admired until a moron decided to leapfrog directly above my head. It freaked me out massively as I was convinced he'd kick me in the cranium!! I got straight up and left which made one of moron man's mates feel terrible 'Sorry about him. Oh she's leaving now. Name (MORON!), say sorry!' Moron didn't. The moron fool needs protecting from his very stupid, MORONIC self. N.B. Never before has moron or variations of it been used so many times in just one paragraph. 

FOLLOWING A TRAIL OF CHOCOLATE IS SURE TO LEAD TO A RIANNE MONTIGUE - 

I was snacky, so set out to do what makes me happiest: DESSERT. I found my happy place at Chocolate Boutique Cafe on a plate of black forest cheesecake with whipped cream and choccie gelato for one of my classic, solo sweetie dates. I contemplated asking the chef to marry me for it was INSANE BALLS, joyously so. This cute little place has a Stars Hollow look and feel about it; it will change my life.

THE PRETTIEST SIGHT BY NIGHT - 

Can be found down Franklin Road, in what is now a famed tradition running 19 consecutive years here. The residents of this suburb of Ponsonby illuminate their homes in the single most SPARKLY display of fairy lights I've seen down one street. My passion for twinkle lights was unbridled with this Christmassy spectacle and shall never dim. 

Home owners go all out jazzing up their homes; each keeping up with The Jones' in the glory! One house couldn't compete with the ridiculously unbelievable illuminations; instead decking their halls with a string of neon blue, phosphorescent wording of 'ditto' with an arrow to the home on the left *chuckle*. 

Didn't I love it? I salute all who participated and went to such extremes to amaze the crowds. The buskers added to the tidings of comfort and joy. I was particularly touched by a visually impaired, young girl using her cane to create a beat and keep time - her voice was beautifully impressive. 

APPARENTLY THE RAIN HAS A VENDETTA AGAINST HOLLIE AND I - 

While waiting to meet Hollie, I was accosted outside Britomart by a Big Mac gobbler chatterbox for close to half an hour on the astro grass! Eventuaaaaally when I was not giving him anything back, he went on his merry way to stake his next unsuspecting 'victim.' I'm a magnet for the friendly freakos, I tell thee. 

Before long, Hollie and I were cursing the weather as a gorgeous afternoon soured in the blink of an eye to a really rainy evening. We sucked it up for sometime as we ate from the food trucks and joked how whenever we meet up the elements conspire against us. The Taco Loco chicken taco was a DUD to my taste and cold within minutes. Another truck warmed me momentarily with a cone of chips with aioli sauce **which I STILL cannot pronounce*

The pine scent of the trees in the Christmas forest is still lingering up my nostrils. We took part in the kid's scavenger hunt to stay dry, while we were able to. It became abundantly clear that the outdoor movie - Home Alone (one of my alltime faves to see at this time of year) was a wash out and my once white, sodden flats can attest to that. There was no way we wished to sit on wet grass and become even more drenched - OUR evening would have been a whole lot jollier had it not deigned to show up. 

Retreating to Miann was an inspired idea, where I let the silky, rich, hazelnut praline, Valrhona hot chocolate have its wicked way with me. How can a girlie resist? ;) Although I'd already hit my sugar quota for the night, another pud proceeded to disappear down my gullet! This festive petit gateaux - a chocolatey affair with a lime centre, orangey top and a coconut coating at the bottom shall absolutely plump my butt. My figure is done for!!!