THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME A WOMAN HAS BEEN MAD AT HER MEAL -
HOT CHOCOLATE IS LOVE AND ALWAYS WILL BE -
Hollie and I retreated for some royal treating in Kingsland to new eatery, Elisabeth. My fairy floss hot chocolate was special as it tasted of rose and melted as the liquid chocolate was poured atop the floss. The drink was exquisitely delicious and I loved it the instant I clapped eyes and lips on it. That was not enough fooding - so Best Ugly Bagels was next and they make a mean bagel! I wanted the chickaboom bagel of free range chicken, mayo, yogurt, curry, spring onion, rocket and toasted almonds so I took it and bit it down and it was WILD.
Later that night, met with Hinsan, Brendan, Aldrin and Hazel for Bright Night at Viaduct Harbour. We were promised a light festival rivalling Sydney's 'Vivid' by the newspapers, in what insinuated that the Harbour Bridge would be rainbowed. It was a dismal flop! The only lights outlined the Viaduct as they flickered and they were hardly shining. Maybe I'm a lighting snob but I wanted to be charmed by the display. In short, it was hopelessly flawed but all of us had far too great a time anyways.
The Lighthouse, a house of light gifted to the city of Auckland by Barfoot and Thompson - is a psychedelic art 'piece' by Michael Parekowhai. The house of interior designer insanity, cannot be entered but you can view the steel sculpture of Capt James Cook and neon light clusters.
Lalele ice cream ambushed my appetite; the tub was piled high with a sweet serenity of strawberry, coconut and lavender and it is one of the most magical ice creams of all. The LED dancers, Vospertron Troupe danced into the night around the wharf, twinkling as they went and dazzled the kids but nothing else from Bright Night was newsworthy. Unless, I missed a big part of what made it wonderful!
In a contest of cookies, Moustache takes the win by a lap and mine was oohey and oh-s0-gooey! Shame, the same can't be said for the very bland Whittakers hot chocolate. The drizzle of grainy, watery cocoa granules in my mug was a massive disappointment but the chocolate blocks? Don't I just ADORE them!
Helen, Georgina and I drove down to Rotorua together for my introductory, live experience of rugby but there was SO... MUCH ... RAIN!!! We hadn't prepped for this as it hadn't been forecast whatsoever. The harder it would drizzle, the more I would GRIZZLE as we took a shuttle to the stadium a couple of hours early. It was more of a muddy field than the grand and spacious stadium I'd envisioned and there was no shelter for the paupers who couldn't fork out the prices for allocated seating.
We were rapidly soaked in the numbing rain but despite 6 hours of that, I found the rugby super compelling. It was cool that we had 2 matches for the price of one, starting off with the women teams. I had to sit on the 'wooohooo' sign we'd been given so my tushie wouldn't get drenched through as I celebrated how hilarious our situation was. Our English women's team proved why they are NUMBER 1 in the world and have earned their stripes when they rightfully beat the 2nd best female team - NZ.
The entertainment brought the party atmosphere as we were dancing from our seats; I loved the Maori band and their gospel-style singing. The haka is what sets the Maoris apart from other kiwis and this was more impressive through the steam rising from the muddy field. It will never stop being sexy to me.
Lion eejits turned up after the first game, stood right at the fence blocking the views of all behind and rudely glared at us when we spoke up but they were moved by security eventually. The first half of British Lions vs Maori All Blacks was more neck and neck but the Lions slayed 32-10 as they could do no wrong on the field. Little girls next to us began jeering and booing Lions but then relented and would cheer their opposition too. Many left before the game was over when the result was clear and the winners were blatant. Trying to catch a shuttle back was crazy so we opted to walk the 40 mins back as we were already wringing wet.
I THOUGHT THIS DAY COULDN'T GET ANY BETTER -
West side Story: The Musical was exactly how I imagined it would be - incredibly entertaining, beautiful and heartbreaking in equal measure. The talent onstage of those singing and dancing blew us away; the actor playing the lead role of Tony in particular gave us goosies from the first note he sang. Anita was another stand out performer who was sensational in every moment.
Zani, Theresa and I decided it would be dope to proceed into the city to 'harass' the mourning rugby fans and to be crazy with Lions supporters after the All Blacks annihilated British Lions on their first test match. I found a Lion flag ditched at a bus stop and I was stupidly stubborn refusing to throw it - instead I waved it with pride as we asked many randoms in cool outfits for photos with us.
I HATE THAT THIS HAPPENED TO ME -
As a last adieu with Erin, we went to Al's Deli for fries and injectable donuts. I doNUT understand how any human could NOT enjoy a lemon meringue syringe donut. Irony is, only a couple of hours later, a syringe was in ME. Spending an hour or so with Erin was *the* bright spot on what was an otherwise scary and sad day.
For over a week I'd been having horrible abdominal pain on my right side and was freaked about a rash that appeared on my arm for several hours a couple of nights prior - so I decided to check myself into A & E (which happens to be practically across the road from where I reside) as the pain had radiated all the way down to my hip. After having my pulse and temperature measured, I was rushed by an orderly onto the Monitoring Ward by the transport mode of - hospital bed. This seemed a bit unnecessary as I was able to walk but I went with it. I was seen straight away but had expected to wait a couple of hours and then walk out after 30 minutes or so of being seen. That was not to be.
A nurse came in and drew the curtain, warned me of the astronomical costs and then ordered me to remove all my top clothes. That's when the nightmare began for me as I've always dreaded a doctor seeing my naked parts and no less than FOUR separate docs had to unflinchingly cast their eyes upon my bare, upper body over the course of my hospitalisation. I was mortified inside but just tried to take my mind off what was happening and as I was imprisoned, I let them go about their doctorly business.
CAN'T SAY I'M WILD ABOUT HAVING BLOOD DRAWN -
Nursie placed approx 8 suction pads below my chest so that I could be hooked up to an ECG machine and I kept getting tangled in the web of wires but at least I was now robed. Hearing it beep and boop freaked me out, especially when the beeps quickened frantically.. I waved down one of the nurses when left alone as TOO MUCH Greys Anatomy viewing made me fear the worst. I was calmed.
Another doctor came by to inform me that my heart rate and temperature were too high :( they wanted to run lots of tests. First, came the vampiric act of drawing my blood and then I was connected to an IV of morphine - SO goooooooddd .. and all my sanity went out the window. *Pat on the back* for how well I dealt with Doc taking my blood; she was hesitant to take a vein from my arm as it was faint and I'd clued her in on how it's mostly taken from my wrist artery as my veins generally collapse. However, she spotted one vein that she felt WOULD do the job and she successfully managed to bleed me dry and I did NOT pass out. It didn't even register that she'd placed a plastic cannula in the hole which attached me to the drugs. Though, it did make me feel sick to turn and catch a look at my blood leaking down the tube and the crimson patch on the floor where it had spilt *grimace and shudder*
AN ANNOUNCEMENT: HOSPITALISATION SUCKS!!!!!!!!! -
I had many a physical examination and prodding to my abdomen over the course of my hospital stay. Afterwards, had an ultrasound and was interrogated with personal questions.. by this point, I was bored and frightened and extremely ANXIOUS. My housemate Jason came to sit with me at 11pm (3 hours after I'd gotten there) and Milika joined the 'party' half an hour later; it was sweet of them to care. I should also point out that I had an injured prisoner just next 'door', beside my curtained cubicle and I was beginning to wave to other patients as they were wheeled past.
Crushed up codeine came next, followed right up by my chest x-ray .. before which, I exclaimed to all and sundry 'My body is MUSICAL!!' - no doubt because of the beeps from the machine I then had to be disconnected from. A short while after my insides had been captured, I was told that my blood sugar was high and urged to give a urine sample.
This was maybe the funniest part of my torment, as when my bladder finally felt full (since I wasn't allowed to eat or drink one thing) and because I was handed 4 pots, in my morphined state, my logic was that I had to fill every container. I supplied them with THREE pots full to the brim, only to have the nurse remark 'you're the only person to ever give me 3. I only needed ONE!' Then why did you pass me 4 without an in depth explanation?!! Turns out, I was also outrageously dehydrated which is why they gave me a further 2 bags of fluids through drip with saline and all that .. but this did nowt to satisfy or quench my thirst. I was gasping to sip down some liquid h2o but my requests were refused.
THE FACE OF DISTRESS -
When it got to 2.30am and my roomies were still by my side, I shooed them out as I'd wanted to try and get some shut eye. Milika tucked me in with blankets as I was cold by then. I lay there for almost an hour, when a male, UN McDreamy-like doctor, disturbed my resting to examine my limbs but he caught me in a moment where I was weeping and frightened out of my mind. This is when I was finally assured that everything serious and sinister had been ruled out and that all he could conclude was that I had a severe, abdominal muscle sprain or tear which seems accurate as it DID feel like it was ripping apart inside. He wrapped my knuckles for my sugar consumption and admonished me to drastically reduce this or I'm at high risk of Diabetes.
Not long after, I was wheeled onto a ward with the elderly, who all sounded like death itself.. so I was maybe exposed to infectious diseases. Sleep was out of the question with the Jurassic snores, grunts and struggles for breath. The cannula in my arm began to hurt severly and it was all rather hellish when my drip was changed for more fluids .. and I wanted nothing more than to leave or run away :( I kept pleading with them to let me go home because I lived so close by and wanted to be in my own bed but they point blank TOLD me there was no chance I was going anyplace until my heart rate had decreased and my body was re-hydrated.
Before I was discharged the next morning around 11am (when I had demanded to be out early so I could get to work - I was also forbidden from working) breakfast and more drugs were served. I only managed a spoonful of porridge and yogurt purely to get the handful of tablets down (WHO KNOWS WHAT THEY GAVE ME!).. I was out of there after a final once over and prescription pick up. I was woozy and out of it for the next 48 hours and unable to be at work but at least I wasn't up with the angels. Thank you to everyone who expressed concern and compassion towards me after my stint in the emergency room.
West side Story: The Musical was exactly how I imagined it would be - incredibly entertaining, beautiful and heartbreaking in equal measure. The talent onstage of those singing and dancing blew us away; the actor playing the lead role of Tony in particular gave us goosies from the first note he sang. Anita was another stand out performer who was sensational in every moment.
Zani, Theresa and I decided it would be dope to proceed into the city to 'harass' the mourning rugby fans and to be crazy with Lions supporters after the All Blacks annihilated British Lions on their first test match. I found a Lion flag ditched at a bus stop and I was stupidly stubborn refusing to throw it - instead I waved it with pride as we asked many randoms in cool outfits for photos with us.
As a last adieu with Erin, we went to Al's Deli for fries and injectable donuts. I doNUT understand how any human could NOT enjoy a lemon meringue syringe donut. Irony is, only a couple of hours later, a syringe was in ME. Spending an hour or so with Erin was *the* bright spot on what was an otherwise scary and sad day.
For over a week I'd been having horrible abdominal pain on my right side and was freaked about a rash that appeared on my arm for several hours a couple of nights prior - so I decided to check myself into A & E (which happens to be practically across the road from where I reside) as the pain had radiated all the way down to my hip. After having my pulse and temperature measured, I was rushed by an orderly onto the Monitoring Ward by the transport mode of - hospital bed. This seemed a bit unnecessary as I was able to walk but I went with it. I was seen straight away but had expected to wait a couple of hours and then walk out after 30 minutes or so of being seen. That was not to be.
A nurse came in and drew the curtain, warned me of the astronomical costs and then ordered me to remove all my top clothes. That's when the nightmare began for me as I've always dreaded a doctor seeing my naked parts and no less than FOUR separate docs had to unflinchingly cast their eyes upon my bare, upper body over the course of my hospitalisation. I was mortified inside but just tried to take my mind off what was happening and as I was imprisoned, I let them go about their doctorly business.
Nursie placed approx 8 suction pads below my chest so that I could be hooked up to an ECG machine and I kept getting tangled in the web of wires but at least I was now robed. Hearing it beep and boop freaked me out, especially when the beeps quickened frantically.. I waved down one of the nurses when left alone as TOO MUCH Greys Anatomy viewing made me fear the worst. I was calmed.
Another doctor came by to inform me that my heart rate and temperature were too high :( they wanted to run lots of tests. First, came the vampiric act of drawing my blood and then I was connected to an IV of morphine - SO goooooooddd .. and all my sanity went out the window. *Pat on the back* for how well I dealt with Doc taking my blood; she was hesitant to take a vein from my arm as it was faint and I'd clued her in on how it's mostly taken from my wrist artery as my veins generally collapse. However, she spotted one vein that she felt WOULD do the job and she successfully managed to bleed me dry and I did NOT pass out. It didn't even register that she'd placed a plastic cannula in the hole which attached me to the drugs. Though, it did make me feel sick to turn and catch a look at my blood leaking down the tube and the crimson patch on the floor where it had spilt *grimace and shudder*
I had many a physical examination and prodding to my abdomen over the course of my hospital stay. Afterwards, had an ultrasound and was interrogated with personal questions.. by this point, I was bored and frightened and extremely ANXIOUS. My housemate Jason came to sit with me at 11pm (3 hours after I'd gotten there) and Milika joined the 'party' half an hour later; it was sweet of them to care. I should also point out that I had an injured prisoner just next 'door', beside my curtained cubicle and I was beginning to wave to other patients as they were wheeled past.
Crushed up codeine came next, followed right up by my chest x-ray .. before which, I exclaimed to all and sundry 'My body is MUSICAL!!' - no doubt because of the beeps from the machine I then had to be disconnected from. A short while after my insides had been captured, I was told that my blood sugar was high and urged to give a urine sample.
This was maybe the funniest part of my torment, as when my bladder finally felt full (since I wasn't allowed to eat or drink one thing) and because I was handed 4 pots, in my morphined state, my logic was that I had to fill every container. I supplied them with THREE pots full to the brim, only to have the nurse remark 'you're the only person to ever give me 3. I only needed ONE!' Then why did you pass me 4 without an in depth explanation?!! Turns out, I was also outrageously dehydrated which is why they gave me a further 2 bags of fluids through drip with saline and all that .. but this did nowt to satisfy or quench my thirst. I was gasping to sip down some liquid h2o but my requests were refused.
When it got to 2.30am and my roomies were still by my side, I shooed them out as I'd wanted to try and get some shut eye. Milika tucked me in with blankets as I was cold by then. I lay there for almost an hour, when a male, UN McDreamy-like doctor, disturbed my resting to examine my limbs but he caught me in a moment where I was weeping and frightened out of my mind. This is when I was finally assured that everything serious and sinister had been ruled out and that all he could conclude was that I had a severe, abdominal muscle sprain or tear which seems accurate as it DID feel like it was ripping apart inside. He wrapped my knuckles for my sugar consumption and admonished me to drastically reduce this or I'm at high risk of Diabetes.
Not long after, I was wheeled onto a ward with the elderly, who all sounded like death itself.. so I was maybe exposed to infectious diseases. Sleep was out of the question with the Jurassic snores, grunts and struggles for breath. The cannula in my arm began to hurt severly and it was all rather hellish when my drip was changed for more fluids .. and I wanted nothing more than to leave or run away :( I kept pleading with them to let me go home because I lived so close by and wanted to be in my own bed but they point blank TOLD me there was no chance I was going anyplace until my heart rate had decreased and my body was re-hydrated.
Before I was discharged the next morning around 11am (when I had demanded to be out early so I could get to work - I was also forbidden from working) breakfast and more drugs were served. I only managed a spoonful of porridge and yogurt purely to get the handful of tablets down (WHO KNOWS WHAT THEY GAVE ME!).. I was out of there after a final once over and prescription pick up. I was woozy and out of it for the next 48 hours and unable to be at work but at least I wasn't up with the angels. Thank you to everyone who expressed concern and compassion towards me after my stint in the emergency room.
