Aidan & Karen’s Travels

We’ve become pretty rubbish at updating the blog and I am sad to say that I think that we have become immersed in wqorking all the time - the days of bumming around doing very little seem long gone!

Some important news is that Karen had an operation on her wrist this week - seemed to go pretty well and fingers crossed it might be the end of the saga. But then again who knows…Other than that things have been pretty quiet for us. I am working hard at the moment and enjoying it although I seem to be drowning in marking at the moment. We’ve got a weekend in the Coromandel coming up and we are going to try and sort out another weekend in Waikeke. Then I’m off for a road trip around the South Island which will be awesome - just a shame that KAren isn’t coming with me.

Hopefully next time I write something in it will be of a bit more interest!

I’ve been back at school for a week and a half now and things are going well - it’s amazing how quickly you get back into the swing of things. I’ve got a parent’s evening next week but unfortunately it clashes with The Shins gig that we are going to see. It is amazing that we  don’t do that much through the week but as soon as something is planned sure enough anothe rthing happens on that very same day!

We went to see ‘Knocked Up’ last night. It was very good - it had a bit more substance than most ‘gross out’ comedies. As Karen said most people would see something they would recognise in the film. Worth seeing though.

We did the typical Kiwi experience at the weekend - went to see the All Blacks play. It was against Australia as well. I was quite surprised by how quiet the crowd was - I was expecting Armageddon. However, things warmed up a bit in the second half (I’m not sure whether it was the rugby improving or the booze kicking in that had the desired effect). The onlyt downside to the night was the terrible weather - torrential rain and a thumder and lighning storm as well. We were partially covered by the adjoining terrace but the people around us weren’t so lucky. The All Blacks won in the end - and now it is all guns blazing for the world cup. I hope they win it - the nationwide depression will be too much to deal with.

Arghh! My winter hols are over already an dback to school tomorrow. Nevermind i had an absolutely awesome time and got to see a bit more of NZ which was great. The Coromandel was a beautiful part of NZ as was north of Auckland around Whangerei. Unfortunately, when Karen and I visited Whangerei the weather was awful (althoug two days after we left storms hit that part of Nz and caused havoc). It was great to get out of Auckland for a bit though. When the weather is raining all the time the scenery of Nz is just like the lake District. Makes you a little bit homesick really.

Our friend Stuart (wo we met on the Trans-Sib train) came to stay from Adelaide for a few days. It was great to see him and we reminisced about the train trip - more of a counselling session for him though. Went to watch the rugby last night (NZ v. South Africa) it’ll be absolutely mental when the world cup starts. I hope the All Blacks win it or else i think tehwhole country will go into mourning.

Put the champagne on ice, bring on the dancing girls because it is that time again - HOLIDAYS! I am so happy that I have two weeks off to do nothing. No students to teach, and I was going to say no marking but I have got a stack of marking that would choke a dozen donkeys. I can’t go on about it too much as Karen isn’t on holiday and it is a bit of a killer that for the first time in six months we won’t be off travelling together. We are planning some weekends out an about thouhg which we are both looking forward to.

Went to Wagamamas last night and have to say was pretty rubbish - the $5 noodles at the Asian foodcourt were much nicer. What can I say, Karen and I have inexpensive habits. On a positive side I’ve just found out that Ryan Adams is coming over to play in Auckland - I’ll be dragging KAren along to that one (kicking and screaming). How do i break the news that his music is a) country and b) ‘that depressing crap that you listen to’ (her words). I think I will just keep it on the q.t. She might think it is Bryan Adams - of the summer of ‘69.

It’s 7.10 in the morning and it is pouring down with rain and I am inside my classroom - which is a prefab - trying to plough my way through year 11 creative writing. I thought we had come over here for the good life! Actually bar the weather and the marking things are going really well. I am ounting down the days until my holidays - not having a half term has been a nightmare. Not that I am getting any sympathy from KAren (or probably anyone else who is reading this and isn’t a teacher).

I am planning to head off to the Coromandel with a buddy of mine from school so that should be good - I love a good road trip and recently it has felt that we have become workers rather than tourists so it is time to even the balance. Other than that it has been pretty quiet on the Auckland front.

KAren and I are of to see The Shins in August which I am really looking forward to. I am tempted to get tickets to see Burt Bacharach who is playing in the next few weeks but I’m not sure whether he weill be worth the (expensive) price of the ticket. Bob Dylan is coming as well but again the price is ridiculous - apparently it costs loads to get them out here so they bump up the ticket prices, sounds like they are trampelling on the small man again.

Oh well, best get back to prep for the day - year 10s first thing (woohoo!) and then the rest…I’ll just keep telling myself it is the last week, it is the last week, it is the last week!

We were sad to say goodbye to Newcastle yesterday - all very emotional. I have decided that this has to be a trip of a lifetime because I am not sure that I can cope with all these goodbyes again. However, as my Mum said the first step of the trip is over and the what lies ahead is an adventure.

Also, thanks to everybody who attended our party. We had a great time and that was all to do with the people there. I have memories that are seared into my brain - mostly to do with the karaoke. I suspect that a lot of people released the inner demons through the karaoke, I am thinking especially of my brother,Tim, who is Grimsby’s answer to Eminem. There is a photo somewhere of my other brother, Dermot, and me looking on in terror as Tim let fly on the mic with a cracking version ‘Jump Around’. I think Simon Cowell may be giving him a call.

Anyway, got to say even more goodbyes before finally getting on the plane for Moscow on Monday (thank God BA posponed their strike or else we would be in all kinds of trouble). Will the torture of saying goodbye ever end?