[travel bug...]

Most amazing and potentially life changing experiences, I believe, cannot really be described to someone who was not there.  Not in such a way that they would understand intricately the emotions, the smells, the sounds, the thoughts. 

The tale of a travel bug can be summed up in a few short words, and after this left to the readers imagination.

Morocco, and more specifically, Marrakech is a world like no other.  Even the people that live there say so...  They said things like to me 'Marrakech, huh?', with a knowing smile on their faces.  They said 'So, how do you find Marrakech?"  My reply?  'Yeah.'  They looked at me with interest.  They have seen it before - tourists overwhelmed and overcome by the busy-ness of a cacoon of craziness.  

The day My Guy and I arrived in Marrakech, it reached 46 degrees celcius.  It was as if I had stepped into a rather large furnace - complete with sweat and dust.  Sweat and dust in every. single. orifice.  This traveller was not built for heat - no siree.  

When leaving the safety of the airport, I was quickly struck by the realisation that I had stepped off a cliff, and there was nothing for it but to hope Morocco would save me.  The heat was oppressive, but not only that -  I was assaulted by an insult of noise, of smells, of people. 

 And all the time a smile on my face.  What have I done.  Where am I? 

The traffic consists not only of cars, trucks and buses - you know, the usual methods of transport.  We also lurched violently past donkeys and horses with carriages and trailers. We danced past pushbikes and small motorbikes with whole families on them, or bags of flour so big the driver couldn't see over the top.  There are no markings on the roads, and yet there is no beeping save for the friendly toot which says 'look out, I'm about to pull in front of you so don't hit me.'

The buildings are large and yet the faded teracotta colours mean they blend into the background.  They are unassuming - no one separate from another, or more obvious.  Actually it's the people that stand out. They are the ones that catch your eye, that beckon you to look a little harder.

My Guy and I sat quietly in the backseat of our taxi (pre-booked - we'd been warned about local taxi drivers' tricks...).  There were no words to speak, as we reached silently across the seat and touched little fingers.  Just enough to remind us that we were here, together - that we would always have this moment.

[monday memorandum...]

I've never really needed a diary.  I mean, I've always had one - you know, to look like a lady.  Now I have a diary and it actually has things written in it.  I'm also using google calendar (amazing) to keep a track of my oh-so-demanding schedule.  I feel like a movie star.

To that end, ten tidbits to make a snapshot of life lately.

: :  My new contract for work is so good.  I'm back with the babies, and although some things are done quite differently and I'm not convinced it's me plus babies forever, it suits me just nicely for now.

: :  I love instagram.  My only gripe is that I wish more people everyone used it.  That is the only gripe.  And I am a griper, so that's saying something.

(Note:  All photos in this post taken and edited on instagram and completely unrelated to the content of the post).

Big as lion.

: :  We moved house to a bigger place (same amount of people but the house is about three times bigger.)  It's nice, and feels a little more permanent perhaps.  I still miss lots of things about the old place, and turns out I'm not a person who copes with change well.  Fact.

: :  My Mum is coming to England to visit (and trip around Europe like jet-setter) in under two months. I can't wait to show her around.  It will be so weird seeing someone from home here.  It's like two worlds which can't collide, colliding.

Patriotism at the local pub

: :  I read a newspaper article about a new plane being patented which can do London to Sydney in four hours.  Does that change the world or what?!

: :  My Guy has this great job which means he travels a bit.  It's funny because we came to London from New Zealand to travel together and now he goes away for work.  Guess where his next contract is?  Australia.  No lies.  Ironic huh?

: :  Yesterday we got home from what I think is the craziest four days of my life.  We went to Marrakech, Morocco.  A man tried to buy me from Morgan for 5000 camels.  Pretty good deal I reckon.  Wonder what a camel goes for these days?

: :  I decided to see my new blog situation as a blessing in disguise, and I like my new blog design and idea but somehow I can't find my voice for it.  I'm trying to write for me, but I don't know what I want to hear.

First summer picnic

: :  Is there anyone who doesn't like carrots?  I think there are few people who love them (like would choose them over a cupcake or a sausage roll...  What?  Sausage rolls are delicious) but I don't know anyone who can't eat them, or bear them being on their plate.

: :  I am about to start season two of Downton Abbey, and I'm watching Call the Midwife on demand on BBC.  I think I was meant to be born in the 1950s.

So that's that.  Ten less things for me to write in my diary.  Whew.

[summer reads]

Linking up with Mrs. Readalot for this months book club.

This months topic is a sort 'recommended reads for the season.'  It is (supposedly) summer here in England, although this week hasn't felt much like summer!  Summer in New Zealand makes me think of light reading, chick flicks, comedies, but in Britain it feels like anything could go with this winter like weather!  So I thought I'd share my updated list of what is on my kindle wishlist.

(Also here are some of my previous book reviews - some got lost in 'the great blog disaster of 2012')

(Note, you can't 'click to look inside from here but if you follow the link to the amazon page I've given you, you can click to look inside there!)


Bel Ami is about to become a movie, and I always like books turned into movies for interests sake.  The book was written in 1885 by a writer who later was committed to an asylum and died.  Interesting somehow, although the story itself may be a little scandalous for my taste.

The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel is also a movie but looks like a fun and light read for summer days in Morocco (where I'm going in a few weeks!)  Both the book and the movie boast some great reviews for a funny yet heartwarming story.

Mrs. Readalot herself has been reading this series.  I have seen the first television season of 'A Game of Thrones' and I loved it.  My Guy has the second season for us to watch but I'm pretty keen to get into the book series too.  It's already on my kindle waiting for me!

This may not interest everybody (anybody) but it is on my kindle wishlist so here it is!  Oxford Handbook of Neonatology.  I'm currently working in a neonatal (newborn baby) unit so this is interesting to me even if it isn't to you!

When I was younger I saw this man - Elie Wiesel - on Oprah.  An amazing man who survived Auschwitz as a child and wrote a book about it.  I cried when I saw him on Oprah and have had a morbid (yet respectful) fascination with Auschwitz and the other camps since then.  I suspect I may bawl in 'Night' too.

(Sidenote:  Have you seen 'The boy in the striped pyjamas?'  Terrible, awesome film.)

This book 'Three Weeks to say Goodbye' is interesting to me because it is about a couple that adopt a child, and then have to fight to keep her when the bilogical father decides he wants her back.  I'm interested in adoption in general, and stories like this do actually happen.  The law is vague and biased.

'Lone Wolf' is the only book on my list of recommended reads that I can actually recommend (the only one I've read!).  If you like Jodi Picoult, you'll like this.  I was feeling a bit tired of her same old moral/ethical/courtroom buzz, but this is fresh and new.  Try it, I think you'll like it.

Also interestingly, Jodi Picoult has written a book for young adults with her teenage daughter, called 'Between the Lines' which is available for pre-order now.  I'll read it out of interest, to see how a collaboration goes down!

I'll be posting reviews as I read these books, so check my 'hot reads' page for more info at a later date.  What are you going to be reading this summer/winter?!

geeksville... and proud...

See my other posts about our trip to Vancouver and Whistler here.

On our final day in Vancouver, we had a little extra time to kill, so in true geek fashion we headed to the local botanical gardens.  If you can't handle nerdiness, hit your escape key now (do people still use escape keys?)  If you want to see gorgeous plant life, and colours you couldn't make up in your wildest imagination - then hang in there.

 To add to the geek theme, we wore matching jackets.  Die hard geeks.

Heading into spring, all the flowers were in bloom, and there was every colour imaginable (and more.)

I felt like I appreciated the imagination and creativity of a God who wants us to enjoy life!

I revelled in the deliciousness that was around me...  (romantic gag)

I stopped a while to smell the... uh... red ones.

Hope you enjoyed this journey into dweebsville with me.

Thus ends the trilogy that was our trip to Canada - country of awesomeness.


* Originally written for www.kendylsplace.com

[technology...]

Dear future techological me,

I know it may seem 'olden days' to you, but smart phones are currently the 'in thing'.  We don't have communication devices implanted in our brains yet so we have to make do with carrying something around.  

And this week, mine broke.

The only picture I have of technology.  We love it, but we don't photograph it.  Weird.

I never realised how much I used it (or maybe I was in denial) until I didn't have one anymore.  My battery went funny (so technical) and the phone wouldn't charge.  I had to use my housemates old little phone - it has a black and white screen and doesn't even take photos...  I had no contacts, no way of finding out how many calories in an all day breakfast panini, no way to tell how long my bus would be, or whether the tube was even running.  What a saddo.

Don't get me wrong - I wouldn't be without a smart phone now - I don't know how people do it without them.  Paper maps?  Books?  Asking for directions?  Fooey.

What a sad and tragic life I live, when all my comings and goings, my communication with friends and family are all entwined into a rectangular device which holds my life in the palm of its... well, whatever they have instead of hands... gigabytes?  For that one day I actually felt lost.  I didn't know what to do with my hands.  I brought a magazine so I would have something to do on the bus on my way home.

So future technological me, when they try to implant something into your brain, remember this lesson. Life is still for living.  Technology is meant to help us make our lives easier and free-er, not live it for us.  Put down your phone (or power off your in-brain communication device) and have a sit down dinner with your family.  Use a paper map.  Listen to the radio.  Read a real book.  Smile at a stranger.  Be present.  

Love, awkard limbs when something isn't in my hand me.

when it snows...

If I thought Vancouver was amazing, and beautiful - I was doubly impressed with Whistler.  One of the best places I've been, ever.  I got to spend my 29th birthday there, by myself looking around the town and appreciating every part of it.  

Come with me through your computer screen...

Whistler was the home of the winter olympics in 2010.  There are some super cool structures left over, not to mention cute cafes and shops.

We headed up the mountain for a spot of snow...

It snowed while we were up there - see the shape of the snowflake on my arm?  It looks like a real snowflake shape.  Cool beans.

(Feel free to avoid looking at my frodo fingers.)

Me and My Guy looking like total tourists in amongst all the die hard skiing fans on the last weekend of ski season.

I got trapped under the gate on my way up the hill...  You should really stay clear to avoid injury...

Farewell, sweet Whistler.  It was fun while it lasted.

See you again soon.

*Originally written for www.kendylsplace.com

there are some places...

Oh Canada.

Canada is quite similar to New Zealand, so going there felt strangely familiar somehow.  My Guy and I went for a five day trip, to Vancouver and Whistler.  And it was cool.  So cool.

I think I'll do a three part series - a trilogy of sorts.

Part one : Vancouver city.

We were in Vancouver for a day, then travelled up to Whistler for three days, and back to Vancouver for the final day.  It rained the whole time we were in Vancouver - I was a little nervous to take the real camera out, so it's iphone pics (not my best work) mixed with real ones.

Airports are always so cool to me...  I love people watching and the thrill of going somewhere new.

 Flying, on the other hand, is less awesome every time I do it.

 Lost luggage (for a while) - also not cool at all.

Next morning I do some planning.  My Guy is at a training day and I have some sights to see! 

 Such as...  

  Granville Island markets for awesome sights (and purchases)...

 Including places to charge up your electric vehicle...

 And grape flavoured apples (why, oh why?!).

After some lunch and a look around, I headed back on the aquabus to the mainland. 

I walked back in the rain (with my new umbrella), along pretty streets lined with pink flowers.

And my favourite flower - the tulip.

Once we'd been to Whistler (post on that to come...), we drove this beast back to Vancouver - on the wrong side of the road.  Well, we drove on the right side but it was the wrong side.  Get it?  Sweet crumbs alive, I must have looked like a child driving this thing.

 We stopped off along the way for some sights and history lessons.

(This photo is probably wildly inappropriate, culturally speaking.)

There is some of the most amazing, peaceful scenery in Canada....  Just breathtaking.

Also Vancouver cityscapes.

Vancouver delivered, oh yes it did.

Stay tuned for Part two : Whistler!

*  Originally written for www.kendylsplace.com