Moments of Inspiration

Here's a little something I had on my mind last night...

I don't know about anyone else but come 11-11.30pm I suddenly wake up, get inspired, get active and feel like dancing! (as some of my ex flatmates may already know). Ok so maybe the dancing comes from listening to my new Spacifix cd, which I highly recommend, but I come alive no matter what I'm doing.

Well I've turned to good old pen and paper to write this since I'm already in bed and the computer is too far away. The last week I've felt inspired to write but I've been a little too lazy (and didn't really want to write this but I'm going to anyway!)

So......

Half the time when I write it's just updates or me being the silly little 22 year old I am at times, but I've had so much on my mind recently I have to write it down or my brain will explode. (Nice thought really). Before I start waffling again here goes...

Lately I've had some sleepness nights, tossing and turning with my mind going full bull, I know why....kind of. So after praying and reading a book by Joyce Meyer "When God, when?", I've come to the conclusion I need to have patience. Simple really, just patience. HAHA! It is so not easy to have patience. When I want something, I want it now. When I want to be somewhere, I want to be there now. When I don't understand things, I want to know the answer and why now. It is unbelievably hard to just sit still while the world goes around (watching everyone else get what they want) and wait for Gods timing.

Something else I read in the book was that lack of patience leadsto/breeds frustration. This is so true! I have been getting highly frustrated recently with different things in life, but I've got to find patience. If I don't, I know I'll do or say things I shouldn't and it would mean I wasn't doing it in Gods perfect timing and I'd be rushing things. Ultimately I wouldn't be getting the best for me, just a small portion of what I could have the full portion of.

So as much as I'd love to be elsewhere and have certain things, here I am in Invercargill learning patience and waiting...

A slightly less confused, Brooke

Parachute 07

Well I haven't posted anything in a little while so thought it was time for a bit of an update. I've been busyish with work and more holidays. I love summer time and all the breaks I get it! But my hoildays have come to an end with Parachute over. Parachute was awesome once again! I would post some pics from it, but sadly I took no photos! Was having too much fun to be bothered carrying around a camera, but now I'm regretting it.

The trip started off with a 3 hour sleep in Wyndham, then a very squished drive to Dunedin airport at 4.30am with 5 boys and me in the car. Then being told we'd missed our flight by 3 minutes. 3 minutes!!! We couldn't believe it! Noone had boarded yet, the plane was still sitting there, but the captain had signed something so we couldn't be added to the list. Luckily the manager was nice and we ended up paying only $63 for a new flight, phew!! It meant i had some time to go visit Bibs though which I was so grateful for. We arrived in Auckland where Jared C picked us up and we drove to Cambridge. We went kayaking on lake there through all these glowworms, it was gorgeous! I felt like jumping into the water for a swim it was so warm but resisted. The next day we got to Parachute early and sat at the gate waiting to get it. Before I'd even got in I'd seen a a couple of groups of people I knew already, which was going to be the start of my "running" into people trend. Parachute itself was fantastic. Awesome music, saw lots of friends I hadn't seen in a while (sorry to those of you I didn't get to see as much as I wanted but I will see you again soon!), and it was hot hot hot! I missed some spots with my sunblock and managed to go rosy red in places, woopsie! I ended up spending far too much money at Manna but I NEEDED to get the cds, books and t-shirt haha. Also sponsored a wee girl from Rwanda, Liliane, she's adorable! There was motorcross and other things there which were entertaining to watch. I really enjoyed listening to Joyce Meyer too. Probably the most memorable performance, was on the Sunday night listening to Dave Dobbyn, who I'm not a great fan of, but thought why not, he's so well known. Anyway, after he cranked out Loyal it started to spit, then it bucketed down! Dave had to get moved back on the stage, the crowds started numerous chants, dancing and pushing upwards just to keep warm. It was hilarious! It was like one massive group hug. Roxy, Josh, Adam and I stuck it out until the music stopped then ran as quickly as possible back to our tents. By then we couldn't get any wetter so stood under the showers fully clothed trying to warm up. The rain meant the tent Roxy, Mary and I were in got flooded! So we had to bail to one of the boys tent for the night. I think that the rain just made the whole weekend, dancing in the rain definitely took place! Parachute wrapped up on the Monday even though we all wanted it to carry on. Spent the night in Hamilton and then got home Tues afternoon. I must say travelling with the 4 Rabbidge boys and Jimmy was such a laugh! I got home in one piece so thanks guys for the great company and laughs! Parachute left me with a sore back, feet, sunburn and mossie bites but it was worth it all! And I'll be back again next year for more good times.

Now I'm back to reality and working, apart from today and tomorrow which I get off because of Waitangi and Anniverary day, yay :D Tha's about it from the life of Brooke, until next time, Cya later (alligator)!

Thoughts

I'm bored, and I feel like talking, but everyones in bed or out. So I decided that blogging is a way of talking, in a unconventional way, but "talking" none the less. Is it ok to be annoyed, annoyed for no reason in particular, just annoyed? So guess I'm annoyed, but I'm not sure why! Everyone's in my good books so I can't narrow it down, oh well! In other news, I brought a queen size bed today ahhh bliss. Gone are the days of a hard single bed...well actually I don't get the bed til Tuesday but then it will be gone, yus! My search for a car has also been unsuccessful, quite frustrating. Why isn't it just as simple as picking the colour you want and the style you want then buy it? None of this, how big is the engine, is it auto or manual, how many kms has it done, what year, warrant or reg, coupe or sedan. Then there's AA checks, or trying to find someone who knows thing or two about cars to check it out. Ahhhh too much for my wee head! As you can see I've been having car issues. The ones I like (by looking on trademe) are in the north island, the ones I think are good, others say are "mud", and I haven't found anyone yet who knows things about cars who is willing to help me out. Maybe I'm just really picky? Who knows! But not having a car is restricting my independence. It's not quite the same as in Dunedin where you can walk most places. Well I can still walk (yes my legs still function), but it would take me ages! Well not much else on my mind really, works fine, 3 day week next week, yus! Parachute is next weekend and I can't wait! I miss friends so much so can't wait to see some of them. And I'm hoping for hot weather again, rain todays just not cutting it. Oh and I found out the first stage of becoming a chartered accountant for me starts on March 13, with the big PCE1 exam eeeek!! It's so soon but I don't get my materials until a month before it, so I just have to sit and wait for now. So I'll be studying like you students in Dunedin still for a wee while. Well I guess I'm going to have an early night for a change.

Nuh night, from a now cheered up (for again no particular reason lol) Brooke :)

From the top to the bottom

Well where do I start!

I've been on a huge roadtrip from the deep south, Invercargill and somehow ended up doing the touristy thing in Cape Reinga. Travelling up included meeting the lovely Brown family, staying with Nic in Welly (& starting my trend of actually having breakfast every morning....I'm a shocker for not having breakie) and Roxy and I got let loose in Auckland, there are some amazingly expensive shops! After spending 3 days in a car and being on a ferry, I finally reached Kaitaia with Rach, Jo and Roxy. Spent 3 whole days in Kaitaia with 20+ of us squeezing in the Reeves house. What a mish! There were people sprawled everywhere, both inside and outside. Thanks to the Reeves for "lending" the house to us all. Time in Kaitaia included games of poker to 4am in the morning, swimming at amazing beaches, a trip to Cape Reinga, petanque with plums and lemons, sunbathing, delicious meals and great company. Least I not forget massive sand dunes and body boards! I managed a turn by myself, and caned myself by falling off and tumbling down the hill, not sure when I was going to stop. It hurt but I survived! Then I hauled myself up the hill again and with 3 boards and Jess, both Daves, Jared, Joe, and I, we pulled off what I have been told looked hilarious and spectacular, a tandem race. Achieved by 1 person lying down and the other sitting on their toosh haha. Hope I wasn't too heavy Joe! We all looked black afterwards apparently, and sand covering your teeth is really tasty ;). I must also say the weather in Kaitaia was beautiful and we had spectacular views from the holiday house in Taipa. Also spent New Years in Taipa, followed by more poker and a big cooked breakie, thanks to the cooks! So at this point Roxy and I had no idea how we were getting down to Wellington, but Dave Pom and little red Betsy came to the rescue!

So Dave Pom, Dave Hawkes, Roxy and I left Kaitaia on the 3rd, and travelled down to Dan Joes in Matamata for the night. Another game of 500 was played (I don't think I've ever played so many card games in my life!) and then more goodbyes to Joe, Jacq and Dan. Then we headed down to Hastings. On the way down we stopped in Taupo for lunch, and when the boys went to the loo, Roxy and I boosted to this cute shop I'd spotted. Hehe the only time I had a chance to shop because Dave P blocked me from shops every other time. In 5 mins I'd spent $170 and the boys thought we'd got lost and had gone looking for us lol. Woops, sorry boys! Then Roxy and Dave P bungy jumped! Backwards too, I'm so proud of both of you! Then we carried on down to Hastings. I was pleasantly surprised at both the size and how pretty Napier was. So after staying at Dave Poms family home we woke up on the 5th to wish Roxy a fantastic 21st! It started with the boys singing in harmony Happy Birthday, then straight out of bed and off to Napier for spas and saunas. Mmm yes it was as good as it sounds! Pancakes and icecream were up next, then a 5 hour drive down to Wellington. Again the weather was gorgeous in Napier/Hastings. Stopped in Palmy on the way down, then said goodbye to the boys in Wellington. Little Betsy you did so well, even if we were totally packed, had no leg space, and creeped up the hills, we still love you!

So now in Wellington I still had 4 days til I left! Stayed at Marys house for the night, then us 3 girls decided we'd do yet another roady. We hadn't been to the West Coast really so thought we'd jump in the car and see where we ended up for the night and eventually reach New Plymouth the day after. Well we got to Wanganui and were like no way we're staying here! Whoever told me it was a hole......I agree. So we just kept driving and ended up in New Plymouth. (Now I must say here, Roxy and I were ready to absolutely rip into Joe about New Plymouth but we were shocked, it's actually gorgeous there so we had to bite our tongues) We had nowhere to stay the night and wanted to pamper ourselves so after looking at some average motel, we drove past again the flashest hotel we could find and Roxy said jokingly that's where she wanted to stay. So we sent her in for a laugh to ask prices. Turns out for $68 each we could get a room with a super King bed, balcony with mountain and seas views, a spa, heated flooring etc etc. So we treated ourselves! It was fantastic! Joe came over and the 4 of us spent the evening playing poker with matchsticks in the white bath robes we got via room service. The end of the night resulted in me being thrown fully clothed into a hot spa with bubbles galore. Roxy and Joe........there will be pay back someday, somehow :P So we checked out in the morning and went to church, got a tour of New Plymouth, then met Joes family. All lots of fun! We spent the afternoon at the beach with the Morris family after requesting surfing lessons from Mr Naki himself. Roxy, then Mary went out and I was last up (thinking to myself this is going to be a laugh). Now this may come as a shock but it was my first time surfing AND I stood up on my 3rd wave! Then it turned out not to be a once off either and I caught quite a few more waves, and even got to the point where the I couldn't go any further on the wave. I was so stoked :) Thanks heaps Joe for the lesson! I may have found a hidden talent lol. Then we had a bbq and went to the festival of lights at the park. They were amazing and I'm gutted I forgot to take my camera :( Stayed the night at the Morris's then I woke up on the 8th to Roxy saying Happy Birthday and pulling me off the bed. I'm now 22 eeek! Had pancakes and strawberries, so yummy. Then it was time to head to Wellington again. Chris came over for food and a dvd that night and Chris I know you loved that pink halo :P.

Then the next day I had to pack, and say goodbye to Roxy and the North Island :(. It was an amazing trip, with such awesome company the whole trip, fantastic weather (apart from Wellington unfortunately!), great food and a good chance for me to try things I'd never done before. I'm so thankful for everyone, especially Roxy, for convincing me to come up. I feel like I've got to know so many people a whole lot better and I've found a love for the north island. Can't believe I just said that, I'll always be a southland girl and fan at heart though! To sum it up, I managed to get a tan, I've never played so much poker before, I laughed endlessly for hours, made new friends, have never spent so many hours in a car, and am starting to be able to pronounce Maori place names (yes I took a Maori paper last semester, but I sucked at place names lol) and I'd never seen black sand before this trip.

Now this is one long post and if you've made it this far down the post and reading this sentence, well done (you're either a true friend or really bored haha)! I probably would have given up by now.

It's 1.30am...zzzzz...Nuh night

Brooke

A Merry Little Christmas

Just a wee note to say Merry Christmas to everyone!

Hope Christmas time is treating you all well, and that you're going to stuff yourselves with yummy food (this is the one day of the year you're allowed to feel fat), and spend time with the ones you love! And don't forget the true meaning of Christmas, you should all know what I'm talking about, I hope. Christmas time is my favourite time of the year so enjoy it! Soak in any sun which is available. If you're where I am there might not be much, although lately I've seen beautiful sunny days and a few red people. I'll be seeing some of you very soon :D and I'm so excited! Miss you girls and boys!

Love, Me

Row row row your boat

gently down the Waihopai! Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily! We whipped the other team! Yes that's right, we smashed team KT, even with them attempting to sabotage us and cheating by running along the side of the river and getting in a good 20 metres ahead of us (twice!), we sailed past them. There was also, eggs, flour bombs, water bombs, rotten kiwifruit and a dead eel thrown by both teams and spectators. We got soaked, we got muddy and we stunk but it was awesome! Here's my team on the raft with chairs and the other team on the tyres.

In other news, I flew to Dunedin yesterday! A friend has his private plane licence so we clocked up a couple of hours flying there and back Sunday arvo. Good times! Apart from the fleeting 2 minutes where I felt like I was going to throw up. Someone needs the phone so can't write anymore....4 more days of work and counting...

Red

I'm bright red, I'm sneezing uncontrollably and I'm so happy :D Why, because I just played touch!! :D:D:D Yes I'm a touch fanatic as most of you know and I haven't played since the roadtrip! Felt soooo good, wasn't a great game......we got beaten, but I played touch, who cares :D. I did miss not having Joe on the opposing team though, the guy I was marking actually got past me for a try :P .

Other news....it's almost holidays! 6 working days, 8 whole days then 3 blissful weeks off :) And I'm going somewhere I've never been before, Kaitaia. Looking forward to sun and seeing friends. Tomorrow after work, I'll be dressed up as a cowgirl (along with 5 others), rafting down the Waihopai and getting flour bombs chucked at me, racing against another team. Will be interesting...the joys of getting involved in work team challenges! It's going to be awesome! Even the partners (the bosses at work) are coming along to watch haha. Go team SB!

That's about it for now,
Tootles!