Sheraton Rarotonga

Here is a ground shot of the Sheraton ruins in Rarotonga, Cook Islands. As you can see, it was remarkably complete and in great shape considering it's been sitting empty for 16 years. The dirt road up to Wigmores' Waterfall, runs along the east side of this property.

When I last went to Rarotonga (January '98) I drove past these ruins, they felt decidedly 'creepy'. Friends of mine went there in November last year, they commented about the same thing.

Apparently there are rumours of mafia involvement in the development and a $150 million dollar debt to the Italian Government. I'm not sure how much of this is true.

According to the news, a blessing had been made on the site, and contstruction was due to restart again. The financial issues regarding this project have been solved.

Some couple's photo album of the Cook Islands, its really nice.

Johari Window

I'm not totally sure how these work, but I saw it on Ayannali's blog and I thought i'd try it.

My Johari Window

So fill it in for me? Please?

You scored as Bondage. Your turn on is bondage... all out. You don't have a specific part of kinky sex that turns you on more than any other... everything working together turns you on. And why shouldn't it? Sex isn't sex without all the trimmings. Bondage 92% Biting 83% Chains/Handcuffs 75% Whips 75% Blood 42% Blind Folds 17% What's Your Kinky Turn On? created with QuizFarm.com

LOL @

The amount of people who do search engine searches for 'Meat Spin'!!

Do they realise they're searching for a gay sex vid?!

Update on the Brazilian situation...

I went and had my 3rd wax done the other day. Its virtually pain free now, and my hair has thinned dramatically. I won't be long till I can leave it longer than a month between waxes. I love it. I've never regretted starting them. Its so much easier than shaving, and much more effective. Not many people are that much of a contortionist to be able to shave easily. Plus I don't have the horrible prickly regrowth or the insane itch anymore!

I thoroughly recommend it to all women! Just don't try doing it yourself, it takes 2 pairs of hands to pull the skin tight enough to do it without causing bruising and bleeding. Find a waxer who you feel comfortable with.

My hair

On Tuesday I got like 2-3 inches cut off my hair because it was so damaged both from colouring and using the straightening iron on it. So now its in great condition, just fucking short. Well...not really that short, just shorter than it was lol.

Today I was in a pharmacy where my friend's mother works. I was chatting to her and she mentioned that they had some of their colours at half price. I bought one and put it in. The results are blinding! Its a bright copper colour. I love it! Its so different. I know it will only stay this bright for a week or two before it fades, but its all good!

Billy

Fantom

The 'F' Word.

I was talking to a friend of mine the other day and was telling him that Nicole had used the F word that day. We were getting the car which had been sitting in the sun. She said 'the car is fucking hot'. She was right lol. I had a really hard time not laughing. Even though I swear at times, she has never really picked up on it. So as we drove off we had a talk about inappropriate words for children to say.

This got me thinking about the first ever time she used that word. She must have been around 2 years old. We were in the supermarket, she was riding in the trolley and packing a tantrum about something. We were in the cereal isle and it was empty apart from a young guy who was stacking shelves. He looked at her, which set her off even more and she started yelling at this poor guy 'YOU FUCK, YOU FUCK, YOU FUCK'. The guy didn't know what to say or do.

The Whale Rider Movie

Some answers for Michelle!

The whale rider was set and filmed in the small town of Whangara. Whangara is 29kms north of Gisbourne, on the East Coast of the North Island.

I've never been to this place, but if its like the beach that I frequent...the water is freezing in the winter and at night, but quite nice during the day in summer. Plus the air temperature drops some at night, even in the summer.

This is a graph showing the sea temperatures there.

The hongi is the Maori welcome expressed by the rubbing or touching of noses, something akin to the Western custom of kissing someone by way of greeting.

The literal meaning of "hongi" is the "sharing of breath."

I'm sorry I took so long in answering these for you, I had a nasty case of laziness. (I think I caught it from Chaz..:P) I hope this helps!

I think...

its an intrinsic part of the human psyche to want to be loved, wanted and needed.

It sounds like a General Hospital moment...

I hate being caught up in drama that isn't mine. Almost as much as I hate being lied to. I'd prefer to know 'everything' and go from there. Hurt or no hurt. At least I know what I'm dealing with...

My new addiction

Is Desperate Housewives. Everyone who knows me well knows that I rarely watch a lot of TV. Nicole has Disney Channel on a lot when she's around, and at night I usually like the peace and quiet or listen to music. Anyways I saw the first ever episode of Desperate Housewives back in July while staying in the Hamilton Airport Motel. I really enjoyed it, though didn't watch it regularly. Just an episode here and there.

A couple weeks ago I hired the DVD's of Season 1 and watched them all. Now I'm hooked!

Season 2 started here last week, but I'm downloading them, and are up to Episode 9 already!

Good Stuff!

Now I wanna watch the entire Season 1 of Lost. I got into that show about 3 episodes before the end of the season.

Why?

Why do when I talk to a certain person online I end up feeling like an idiot? Why do I always regret the things I say? Why can't I just keep it on a superficial level? Why can't I keep them at arms length? Why do I let this person get to me so much? Why do I care? I doubt they do. I doubt they even know their effect.

In the words of another person who has power 'fuck it'.

My Grandmother

My Grandmother lives next door to me. She had a servere stroke over 10 years ago now and can't use the left side of her body so is confined to a wheelchair. She's pretty independent really considering all her medical conditions etc. She lives alone, has carers every day to take shopping, do housework, and whatever else. I generally keep an eye on her, make sure shes taking her medications, is eating, that sort of thing. I also do things that it would be inappropriate for her carers to do such as her banking, tax return, specialist appointments etc.

Most people don't understand why I'm not her fulltime carer. Basically its that shes such a strong person and bulldozes people. Its a lot easier to get a new carer when she burns someone out, then a new granddaughter. Plus all she wants to do day in and day out is wander round shops. I hate it.

So today, once again I've had the conversation with her that goes something like this:

Nana: [sad guilt inducing voice] Toni's boy was sick so she wasn't able to come today, so I've been stuck in the house ALL day.
Me: Well, you know that a mum's first responsibility is always her children... You're alright for food etc?
Nana: Yes, I've got lots of [she starts naming stuff]
Me: That's good then, you'll be fine till tomorrow when Arlene comes.
Nana: If Toni is going to keep canceling I'll have to find someone else to do her days.
Me: For christs sake, her kid was sick...it happens. She's really reliable and she did two full weeks over Christmas when Arlene was away. It doesn't hurt you to spend one day at home.
Nana: I was listening to the radio this morning and the Warehouse is having a sale on tablecloths...
Me: I don't use tablecloths.
Nana: I need some new ones, you could take me this afternoon...
Me: I'm busy. Besides its not urgent nor important to go look at tablecloths.
Nana: You could take over Toni's days....
Me: We've talked about this before and you know I'm here for you if you need it or its an emergency. But I'm not prepared to wonder round the shops every day with you. Besides, we'd argue too much.
Nana: I only go shopping for things I need. Its not my fault that you're bossy...
Me: Riiiight... Anyways end of subject, its not happening.

Then I get off the phone feeling crappy...

Why am I so susceptible to other people's moods at the moment?

I don't like it.

Blah!

I'm in a mood. I'm on day 27 of my cycle...so I guess its to be expected. I feel like people are deliberately trying to upset me, that I'm insignificant and unimportant. Perhaps I'm just being sensitive or paranoid even. I don't know... In short, I FEEL LOW.

Perhaps this all partially because I'm trying to kick my 'addiction'? For many years I've been addicted to Coca-Cola. Yes, you read it correctly...I'm a caffeine/sugar addict. LOL. Sounds ridiculous doesn't it? But believe me, its all true. 24 hours without Coke results in me having the shakes and a pounding headache that isn't touched by paracetamol painkillers. I've been 6 days without it now. Its been hell. I don't remember going though these kinds of physical withdrawals when I gave up smoking many years ago.

My blood test results came back, they show I'm deficient in minerals and vitamins etc...so I have pills to take for a bit, but nothing much else. I have to repeat the tests in a month. I feel fine now, so its all gravy. Must of just been the heat, humidity and being run down.

My baby girl started Year 3 on Tuesday. That morning she managed to hold back tears when I dropped her off, but the flood gates opened when I picked her up. She cried all the way home and for about 45 minutes on and off after we got home. The rest of the week has gone well, she has been pretty tired, but seems to like her teacher and classmates.

Interestingly the school has chosen to separate Nicole and her friend Rebecca from their friend Shaydine. June 16th last year Shaydine's 4 and 2 year old brothers played with matches early one morning, set the house on fire and died in the fire. Shaydine and her mother were very lucky to be alive. It was all very tragic. After all that child has been though, I'm surprised the school has chosen to separate her from the 2 children she's closest to.

I want to go to the Demolition Derby at the Speedway tomorrow night. Its been rather wet, I don't know if it will be on.

You're "Suck"! You're secretly
bad-to-the-bone, aren't you? If you're not
open about it, dig deeper, sweetie. You've
got a real monster in you, and the only way
you're getting anywhere is if you let it out.
Don't be shy, that only holds back your true
nature.

Which Nine Inch Nails Song Are You? (Awesome pictures)

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Taken from Uncle's myspace! :)

RAVEN EYES

You have Raven

Eyes!
Positive Traits: Intellectual,

Wise, Experienced, Honest,

Trustworthy
Negative Traits:

Pompous, Condescending, Withdrawn,

Pessimistic, Depressed


Your eyes are the windows to your soul. What type of eyes do you have?
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The Hunter Hawker

Today the local Aviation Museum put on an air show. We had a very noisy jet doing loops and swoops and dropping nose first from great heights. Curiosity got the better of me and I called the Aviation Museum and asked them what the hell it was.

Its a Hunter Hawker.
A Hawker Hunter T75 was collected from Ardmore on the weekend of the 12th/13th March 2005. Surely the most beautiful jet fighter ever built, the Hunter was a massive success worldwide and its representation at our Museum is a great coup for the team who achieved it.

Our Hunter is ex-Singapore Air Force and we found it a bit tatty after its years of storage but in very sound condition.

Now safely on display in the Classic Flyers Museum, it looks very different after much TLC, and getting it back in the air is not out of the question. Such a venture would be expensive, but the addition of a two-seat Hunter to the NZ classic aviation scene is a strong pull. It will be carefully investigated, at the very least.

This aircraft was built as an FMk4 single seat fighter and was delivered to No26 (F) Squadron RAF on 23 May 1955. It was rebuilt by Hawker as a TMk8 two-seat trainer and delivered to 764 Sqn Fleet Air Arm at Yeovilton, England on 12 March 1959. Another visit back to the manufacturer saw it converted to a TMk75 for the Singapore Air Force who took charge of it in September 1970. It was retired in the mid-90s and brought to New Zealand as a private venture. Although it has the serial 500 on it, it was actually serial 516 in SAF service.

I'm feeling rather fragile...

Since yesterday I've had a bleeding nose on and off. I also have what looks like 2 black eyes and unusual bruises on my arms and legs. I went to the doctors today who sent me for blood tests and said that I might have to go to hospital depending on the results. As of 5pm they still hadn't gotten the results back.

I'm scared...

Billy's Present

Last night I was laying in bed nearly falling asleep when Billy jumped in my window and presented me with his 'catch' that he's cleverly hunted down. He dropped it onto my bare chest, I screamed and jumped out of bed. His catch was a rather large slug.