Thu 5th Feb
Stayed at Just the Ducks Nuts (Tauranga): Rating 8/10
Got my hair done today. Finally! I wanted it dyed back to dark and the back cut (as the shape has grown out), however, I end up with far too much hair being cut off! Posted another 6 cards on the way into town, I’m wondering if the others will ever get there, over as month now since the first one was sent. Met Jill after hair and got sushi for lunch. Came back home and did very little all afternoon, read a bit more of the book then drifted into a spaced out doze for a few hours, think it’s the medication I’m on for the cold sores. Had a call from work today to say I’m not needed at work tomorrow night, as they’re shutting at 6 because it’s a bank holiday. Great, that means I’m working 7 hours this week, that won’t even cover my rent! We went out into town tonight as there are a lot of offers on drink on a Thursday. I went out with Jill and the others went out together. Walked home alone at about 1:30am probably not my smartest move ever, but I was a bit intoxicated! Got home and packed all my stuff as in my drunken wisdom I decided I didn’t want to be here anymore. Daz got horribly drunk tonight, although managed to entertain everyone else! He couldn’t remember most of the night, fortunately Evan had taken out his camera!!

Fri 6th Feb
Stayed at Just the Ducks Nuts (Tauranga): Rating 8/10
Today is Waitangi day. Yet another bank holiday, which means no work for Daz. We went to the Waitangi celebrations, which were over at the Mount (well, on the way to the Mount), but they weren’t so good, so we went to the beach. I didn’t go in the sea today, need to catch up on my tan a bit. Did the walk around the Mount today. Was longer than I expected, but I didn’t moan once. Plus I knew there was the possibility of a beer at the end of it and it had started with ice cream! We did go for a beer after the walk, then just sat around outside the hostel when we got home.

Sat 7th Feb
Stayed at Just the Ducks Nuts (Tauranga): Rating 8/10
Today all I did all day was eat and drink beer. Well, I did do some other things as well. Got up and ate breakfast, called Gran, Mum and Darren, then went for a long walk. Came back and had lunch, then headed to the beach. Whilst at the beach I had lunch again, Corndog and Chips. Stopped in Latitude for a beer on the way back (I am extremely sunburnt on my chest, which the barman kindly pointed out), then came back and had Snapper and Chips for tea (see what I mean about the food??) Went into town tonight with Jules and Nico as no one else wanted to go out. Got extremely drunk on beer as I’ve now discovered they sell pints in the cornerstone. Got a text to ask if I was out and met up with a guy. Had a long (drunken) chat and got in just after 3. Got a text as I got in, and ended up in a text conversation for an hour. I’m not going to repeat the contents of the conversation as they really are best left unsaid!!

Sun 8th Feb
Stayed at Just the Ducks Nuts (Tauranga): Rating 8/10
I worked all day today. Which on 3 ½ hours sleep is never a good thing. I managed OK though, and wasn’t even too hung-over. Finished work at 5 and did the shopping, by which point I was absolutely starving! Mike got here today, we assumed he was staying in the same place as us but weren’t sure (Daz’s friend from Paihia). I was in bed by 8:30, last night caught up with me eventually!

Mon 9th Feb
Stayed at Just the Ducks Nuts (Tauranga): Rating 8/10
I have come to the conclusion that I should write this thing weekly, or as and when. Reason being I am now filling in everyday from last Weds until today. On some days quite a bit happens, but most days are the same, plus we’re in the same place, so there’s nothing new to report!! Today I have managed to call Julie, go into town and respond to half the e-mails I’ve been sent and eat lunch. I have to work later, so won’t get anything else done today. I’ve also started thinking that I won’t want to go home to stay for good. Am thinking if I can find work perhaps I could travel around Europe, at least that way I’m not too far away if I need to go home, not like now where I can’t! went out to the Cornerstone this evening, met up with two women Daz met in Rotorua and had a few pints. Work was extremely boring, I sized the belts I was that bored! Had a text this afternoon, asking if I wanted to meet up this evening and he didn’t seem too happy when I told him I was busy, oh well, not my fault I’ve managed to find a life on the other side of the world is it? Read a load more of my book when I got home and that was about it.

Tue 10th Feb
Stayed at Just the Ducks Nuts (Tauranga): Rating 8/10
Got up at 7:30am as planned and found that everyone was still here as they were having a late start because of the rain last night. Turned out they didn’t go to work at all as it rained again this morning. Went down to chaos to go online and have a look at jobs (oh, rang Darren today too) and had lunch there. I got a really bad stomach today so came back and went to bed, but decided to get over myself and go to the cinema. Went to see Yes Man, it was really good! Back to the hostel to get dinner and that’s about it really.

Wed 11th Feb
Stayed at Just the Ducks Nuts (Tauranga): Rating 8/10
Daz went to work today, so I got some stuff done. Did my washing first thing and although the weather still doesn’t look too good, risked hanging it outside to dry. Tidied the room this morning as well as it had got a bit untidy. Went into town and spent pretty much all day in chaos with Patrick. Replied to everyone on Facebook, it looks like everyone goes on there at the same time. Sent a few messages to people I haven’t heard from for a bit on plenty of fish as well as replied to a few and blocked a few! I also finally managed to do my tax return, at long last! Didn’t do much else, read for a bit this afternoon (Daz came back from the orchard with ‘trench foot’), then sat outside chatting with Lee and Emma for a bit. Got a text tonight asking what I’m doing tomorrow night, (work), and am now expecting a text when I finish!

Thu 12th Feb
Stayed at Just the Ducks Nuts (Tauranga): Rating 8/10
Daz off again today, really bad rain in the early hours of this morning, so the orchards are too wet. Walked into town and went online (just for a change) and applied for a few jobs. Had a row with Darren, about money again, on MSN, but he also put the dog on the webcam which was good. Had a massive bowl of chips for lunch at the Crown and Badger, then walked back. Went over to the Mount for a swim, sea was really rough, it was great fun swimming in on the waves, although, surprisingly, I managed to injure myself on the first one I caught. I pulled a muscle in my leg, great. Went to work this evening and it was quite busy. I hit my target and made up quite a bit of Monday’s that I was behind on. Sent a text when I finished but no response, so went back home and had a beer, then bed. Not sure about the new book I’m reading, on chapter 3 and can’t seem to get into it, maybe I should just give up…..

Fri 13th Feb
Stayed at Just the Ducks Nuts (Tauranga): Rating 8/10
So far today I have met Rob’s girlfriend, driven to the shop sort out the battery in his van, been to the red cross and salvation army shops looking for a coat for Jill, been into town and been online to check my e-mail (where I spent a while chatting to Steve on Facebook and got another number on Plenty of Fish!) Had sushi for lunch with Jill, then came back to writer the last week or so of this up. I’ve been getting texts all afternoon asking what I’m up to, oh well, at least it keeps me entertained!!