A little me time

Isn't it funny how memories can sneak up on you?

Triggered by something innocuous like a smell, a taste on in this case a song.

Today I visited the biggest waterfall in the north island, alone, after a really challenging uphill trail run. Leaping over trees and over streams. One of these memories snuck up on me. A memory that provokes such strong feelings I had almost blocked it out. And then, with one song. I was back at uni, in vivid detail, to one of the moments that shaped where and who I am today.

During my first year of uni I badly hurt my back. I prolapsed three discs with moderate to severe compression on my spinal cord in two places. I was in constant pain. Sometimes easier, sometimes worse, but always there. 

I would wake up in the mornings with no use in my right leg. Pins and needles, more like daggers in my groin, worst of all the soul destroying buttock ache. Along with the constant feeling of discomfort, like I was in a poorly fitting chair constantly.

It limited my ability to live, significantly. The pain when I sat for to long, stood for to long, walked even short distances was terrible. Worse than that though, and worse than the reliance on painkillers and limitations to my sport participation or the fact I had to quit my only love, rugby, was the fear.

The fear of doing something that would provoke the pain. Although I kept playing the clown with my friends and family. Convincing them that it wasn't that bad. Inside I was terrified of angering my pain. Scared to do basic activities Incase my pain would flare up. With the pain, and fear of pain, I felt my back was really holding me back, keeping me down.

No one would or could help me. I visited the GP, The Physio, the Pain clinic, A+E. No one was interested. Just take some pills. Your a young guy, you'll be fine. The horror story I could tell you about my trip to A+E I will save for another day.

Very soon, over the months, I remember developing a weird kind of relationship with my back. Like it was a separate being. With its own agenda. Like I had to try and keep it happy and in return he/it would let me do some of the things I wanted to, let me live my life the way I wanted. But like a nagging partner it always tried to find ways to put me down. To make me feel useless and that I should just go to bed and hide myself in my football manager game.

Then one day I was walking down through the grounds, I think I was heading down to watch the rugby team train, my back and legs started to ache again. I'd maybe walked 100 meters. I walked a little further and it got worse. I was scared to even walk back as the pain would get worse. I remember breaking down. Maybe I should just lie down. I don't want to upset it.

Then the song came on.

Although when I listen to it now it's clearly not about pain, it's not even 100% relevant in places. But when this song came on, especially the first half, it described exactly how I felt. Specifically how I felt about my relationship with my back pain. It conveyed some of the anger, frustration and fear I felt and how many people feel when they are stuck in a bad relationship.

I felt great, a wave of warmth came over me. Mingled with a phone conversation I'd just had with my mum and dad, who have always taught me never to give up. If you want something, and your willing to work for it, and work hard, you can achieve anything. Don't give up, work harder.

I wiped away the tears and ran. The pain was searing but I didn't care. I felt good. I felt free.

I decided in that moment I'd rather live in fifth gear for as long as I can and take the consequences than sit around in second gear for the rest of my life. Muddling through was not what I wanted.

So I ran and I felt good.

After twenty minuets I could hardly walk, but I felt good.

I studied hard, I went swimming, I went to the gym. I picked my battles and rested appropriately. Then, slowly, my pain started to subside. I was in charge now. I picked when I wanted to be active, rather than my back deciding when I wasn't going to be.

This chain of events led me to set up the UEA touch rugby team. To strive to get a good job, that I loved. To run courses and to save enough to travel.

Now here I am. Stood on the top of a waterfall with the most beautiful view in the world. I have great friends and the most amazing loving family. I walked into the water, as the cool water engulfed my feet, ln the most perfect moment that same song, the song I heard all those years ago came on. 

I waded through the water to the brink of the falls. I could see for miles. I see the rainbows dancing in the mist and feel the cool spray on my face. 

Surley this doesn't happen in real life?

But for me, for a few minuets life was perfect. How could this one song change my mood so much? And what are the chances of hearing it, at this perfect moment, out of all the songs?

I realise how lucky I am in life. I feel I have gone full circle with this song and I can move on. From the lowest to the highest.

I'm so happy.

This is the song

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=8pIm3GQUWdM

I didn't realise my friend Jana had gone to a lower view point and had seen me. She snapped the above photos.

Who Farted?

Rotarua is a pretty cool place. 

However due to the hot mud pools and the sulphur in the air you cannot escape the pungent smell of eggy fart.

We arrived in the pouring rain to this geothermal hub and went straight to the museum. We went to learn all about how he shifting of tectonic plates creat friction and therefore heat leading to several geysers, hot springs and boiling mud pools.

The museum was pretty cool. Due to the rain we decided to treat ourselves to a couple of nights indoors! We stayed at this charming ramshackle hostel which was very homley. We spent the afternoon playing whirlpool in the hot spa pool. Jana cooked us a delicious chicken and apricot curry. And I wished Makoto a very happy birthday with a cake, candles and everything!

Today we went for a tour of the Maori thermal village and saw plenty more thermal pools and geysers. We also jumped a gate at the back of he park to explore more geysers and saw a couple of Kiwi birds.

We had big plans for st Patricks day! We were going to have dinner and watch lord of the rings before heading out to the club in town. Unfortunately I ate too much ice cream and fell asleep during the movie and missed the chance to go!

Surfing is not as cool as it looks

I got my shiny red surfboard. Whacked on some suncream and I was away.

This experiance takes me right back to that blustery day in Essouara. The day I thought I could windsurf.

For the first twenty minuets I got raped by the sea.

I was physically smashed by each breaking wave. My board flying away and my body being knocked up, down, backwards and under, often at the same time!

Eventually, through pure persistence rather than any strength or skill I got past the breakers and had a little lie down on the board before surfing in.

The waves were so big. I could catch them but they were so fast and aggressive I could only really get to my knees at best.

After an hour and a half of being boshed, I sauntered out of the sea and back to the campsite. With snot streaming out of both nostrils, salt water in my sinus', board rash on the front and sunburn on my back; I'm certainly not the stereotypical surfer dude. Especially as I had developed incredibly painful blisters on the tips of my nipples. Leftie's tip was white and twice his normal size!

Hot water beach

We got going early doors yesterday. After nipping back to Auckland to buy a tent, as we got scammed on gumtree, because the tent we bought didn't have a waterproof fly.

Shortly after our purchase of  a 'classic cross breeze 3' we hit the road. What a beautiful road it was too! We drove through open farmland onto a coastal road where we literally had the waves lapping at our tyre's, we were that close. We then snaked through inland mountains, valleys and rivers along the narrow unsealed road. If it wasn't an automatic car it would have been the perfect drive!

We arrived at hot water beach at around 7pm. Just enough time for Joe and I to chuck our lovley new pink rugby ball around before the tide went out to reveal the hot springs.

We made good progress finding the sub terrainian hot vents. Unfortunately the water was a bit too hot and sent us hopping and howling into the sea! The hot springs were 60 degrees plus!

With pink and scolded feet we hobbled back up to our campsite, played some cards, and went to sleep.

Today we headed back down to the beach. This time armed with shovels! We found a hot spot without too much trouble. Our morning went like this: dig, dig, dig, brilliant we've nearly got a pool to sit in, sea comes in and washes it all away again. Bugger. Repeat.

Eventually after a lot of hard work... We gave up on our hole and stole someone else's! We also met some people Joe knew from Auckland who joined us in the pool. We were also joined by two women from Brighton who had been helping us dig.

The big road trip begins!

We have a car! We have a tent! And most importantly we have the expectation that something will go wrong and so will be ready to deal with it when it does!

The first thing to note is that Joe is truly the single worst navigator of all time.

Following complaints of "I need a book to read maps from." I went and bought him an expensive map book. He continued to use his phone to give me directions like "you want to turn right down that street we just passed." And my favourite, "continue straight," "Joe it's a T junction," "yeah, continue straight."

Anyway we finally navigated down the twists and turns of Lorne Kare road to Kare Kare Beach. What a spectacular beach it is.

An elegant clear water stream trickling through the black volcanic sand around the feet of sheer igneous mountains of all shapes and sizes. From here a short walk of the expansive beach takes us to the wild surf. Waves crashing in from all directions creating climactic white crashes where two or even three different wave directions meet.

After a play in the surf and an explore of the foothills we took a strole down the beach and as we couldn't find the registered campsite; we set up camp on top of the highest grassy knol around, for spectacular views of the sunset and out to sea.

The only thing better than the view in the early evening was when I awoke at around 4am and saw the glorious white shine of the moon filling the evening sky, reflecting off the water to glimmer magically off the thrashing waves. The sky a deep purple and the millions of stars bursting forth with light like diamonds.

We awoke to a similarly fantastic morning and set off to a near by waterfall to clean up before back to the car to drive to the start point of our hike.

We hiked part of the Hillary trail today, hopping across streams and cool infinity pools of water at the top of a waterfall before scaling down to enjoy the six tier kite kite waterfall. A short trip down to Piha after our trek aloud us to find, absoloulty nothing! Piha has one shop. So after a sneaky shower at the campsite there we drove down to Anawhata beach. A staggeringly beautiful spot. 

Again we couldn't find the campsite we were aiming for so we nipped back to Piha to camp there.

Auckland

The days following our Waihiki island trip were great. I met Chris my childhood next door neighbour for a walk to mission bay. We sampled some of the 'world famous in new zealand' lemonade and had some chips down on the front.

Later that day I went to play Ultimate Frisbee with Kat. It was really, really fun. Unfortunately I did smash a small girl square in the face from about two meters away; I think she'll be ok, I heard black eyes were all the rage anyway!

Kat also got a far more spectacular smack in the face, accompanied by a nose bleed! It really wasn't her day as we finished early as she sprained her ankle.

Friday night brought with it more than its fair share of drunken debauchery! I met Chris for his leaving drinks. All that I remember from the night is that I had a good time. I received a text at 5am from someone called Katie. Katie simply told me that she had never seen someone doing such crazy dancing and that I was very funny.

Saturday I was of course a shell of a man. My only productivity came from going for a walk, then Shopping with Joe. We spent sooo much time In this random TJ Hughes style shop and ended up buying some pretty trendy matchin pyjamas. 

Sunday and my final full day in Auckland I bought a car. My mechanic roommate Tomas and his girlfriend Sabrina came to help me pick a good one. Tomas, with his limited English was very funny. He would be looking at a car and then simply walk off muttering "no good, next car." He also had some great chat with a woman trying to sell us a car, he kept pointing out all the (many) flaws politely as she tried to flog me what was evidently a piece of shit!

I finally bought a Shiny silver Nissan Pulsar! Very exciting!

After the car market Joe and I visited the Pacific island festival. It was really good fun with lots of live music and some fantastic food.

Once that all closed down I dropped Joe back and chilled at Mt Eden for a bit while I waited for Kat to get home so I could come over.

Auckland

The days following our Waihiki island trip were great. I met Chris my childhood next door neighbour for a walk to mission bay. We sampled some of the 'world famous in new zealand' lemonade and had some chips down on the front.

Later that day I went to play Ultimate Frisbee with Kat. It was really, really fun. Unfortunately I did smash a small girl square in the face from about two meters away; I think she'll be ok, I heard black eyes were all the rage anyway!

Kat also got a far more spectacular smack in the face, accompanied by a nose bleed! It really wasn't her day as we finished early as she sprained her ankle.

Friday night brought with it more than its fair share of drunken debauchery! I met Chris for his leaving drinks. All that I remember from the night is that I had a good time. I received a text at 5am from someone called Katie. Katie simply told me that she had never seen someone doing such crazy dancing and that I was very funny.

Saturday I was of course a shell of a man. My only productivity came from going for a walk, then Shopping with Joe. We spent sooo much time In this random TJ Hughes style shop and ended up buying some pretty trendy matchin pyjamas. 

Sunday and my final full day in Auckland I bought a car. My mechanic roommate Tomas and his girlfriend Sabrina came to help me pick a good one. Tomas, with his limited English was very funny. He would be looking at a car and then simply walk off muttering "no good, next car." He also had some great chat with a woman trying to sell us a car, he kept pointing out all the (many) flaws politely as she tried to flog me what was evidently a piece of shit!

I finally bought a Shiny silver Nissan Pulsar! Very exciting!

After the car market Joe and I visited the Pacific island festival. It was really good fun with lots of live music and some fantastic food.

Once that all closed down I dropped Joe back and chilled at Mt Eden for a bit while I waited for Kat to get home so I could come over.

Waihiki island

Today Joe, Charlie and I rented some mountain bikes and hopped on the ferry to Waiheki island.

And what an Island it is!

We zoomed around the roads and bike paths cross country and down along spectacular bays. As I was chief leader and navigator, it wasn't long before we hit obsticles!

Trying to follow the 'bike path' up to a view point. Very curious that this root was listed on the biking map seeing as it involved about a million steps!

Once we had scaled the summit of the beautiful cliff face we hopped back on the saddles. Here I had a bit of trouble also. On trying to turn a sharp corner a made a super slow motion fall off my bike to the delight of Joe, finding it hilarious that my head was less that 3cm from a big pile of animal poo. He got his comeuppance shortly after with a hilarious tumble of his own. Just when we were up and running I tried to jump a ditch on the bike and this time slow motion fell straight over the handle bars and flipped over. I was then stuck straddling the handlebars like a wear spooning position. Charlie had to try and de-tangle me as Joe was laughing too hard.

We peddled through the rain and stopped for lunch under cover of a children's playground.

Shortly after lunch the sun came out to reveal glorious blue skies. We found a rope swing on a golden sandy beach. We all had a go, including Charlie who took a lot of cajoling. Joe and I also tried to do some matrix wall running to very limited success.

On the way back to the ferry terminal we stopped at a charming little winery for a while to sample what New Zealand has to offer. Before enjoying a spectacular sunset on the beach.

Back to Auckland

Yesterday was the last day of the tour. After a beautiful and fun hike through the forest past riverbanks, mangroves, waterfalls, and thick woodland with Norman we got back in the bus for a long trip back to Auckland. 

The long delays due to roadworks and accidents didn't dampen our spirits. I fact it spurred us on. We were singing songs and playing games the whole way back!

That evening I hit the hay pretty hard for a busy day today.

Today I ran the coast to coast walk....twice!

I did the 16km one way walk taking in mount Eden and one tree hill during the afternoon. It was good fun but a bit too far! My legs were giving out, on the way back, I just had to keep trudging on! I can barely walk this evening but I did meet Jana in the kitchen and I think she's pretty keen to join our road trip.

More of the Bay

I didn't get off to a flying start this morning!

I set my alarm nice and early so I could enjoy the sunrise. Long story short I slept straight through it along with the five minuet long alarms set to try and rouse me from slumber.

When I finally did get up the skyline was still beautiful.

The trip continued to be taken from a dream as I enjoyed a steaming bowl of porridge in the golden morning sunlight looking out to sea.

Once my porridge was well digested we went for a snorkel and a hunt for sea Urchens to eat. There were soooooo many fish, it was fantastic. All different colours and sizes! The best thing was the captain, who had come in with us, showed me if I craked the spikey Urchens open the fish would eat the animals innerds. So I spent about an hour diving down under water and feeding all of the crazy coloured fish. My best customer by far was a unicorn fish -I doubt that is the breeds real name but it did have a spike on its head-.

After the fish frenzy I got warm again as I had opted out of the wetsuit resulting in me shivering like a jack hammer! No place better to warm up than on the shores of a deserted golden beach!

We had a bit of a hike, played some touch before swimming back to the boat. Here Hendrick, Ryan, Norman and I had a shot of sea urchin guts.

I spent the rest of the day in the life boat reading my new book, life of pi.

We got back to land at around 3pm and Norman and I enjoyed a fun game of tennis until it was time for dinner.

That evening we had a few drinks -a few meaning I lost count- and a bloody good boogie. We had silly wigs out, Rhianon got on Karioke and good times where had by all.

Bay of Islands

After meeting with my new tour group last night we rose early this morning to drive up to Pahia, the gateway to the bay of Islands. 

We made three pretty cool stops on the way up to Pahia. We stopped at an old community jail for some classic picks in the stocks and also with the hugest tree ever!

The next stop was by goat island for some snorkeling. Although bloody freezing this was pretty cool as I got to dive down in the crevasse between coral beds and see some pretty huge fish. Hendrick our tour leader had brought a rugby ball so it was great to get that back in my hands as well!

Our final stop was by a spectacular waterfall. The surroundings were so lush and green with the drop was simply perfect.

And then we arrived in the small town of Pahia, and to 'The Rock'. The rock was to be our home for the next 24 hours. A perfect old fashioned tug boat. The inside completely wooden with fishing rods and sea memorabilia adorning the walls and charming rafters. Complete with a pool table, which was an interesting choice for out at sea exploring and bar.

After we Haad made ourselves at home and played a game of very wobbly pool the paintball gun came out!

A rubber duck was tied to the back of the boat and we all had a good go at shooting at it. Amazing fun and a good team builder.

With the excitement of the shooting my mischievous side came out. No sooner had we stopped motoring had I corrupted Norman a German chap in my group and we jumped from the top deck into the sea! A great idea, until we climbed back aboard to a furious captain!

We got our wrists well and truly slapped but were still allowed to do a bit of fishing.

The best thing about fishing was Rhiannon, a welsh girl who caught one of the first fish. She made it clear she liked the idea of having a photo with her fish. Until she actually saw it and became terrified of the slimy active little bugger. Her face was a picture when Louis, a crew member, tried to get her to kiss it!

I got two hooks, but only one of which was a fish! The other was very exciting! It was clearly a big one as it was moving around an aweful lot. It looked like Norman had got an equally sized bite. We wrestled and pulled, only to find out we had hooked one another! 

After a spot of fishing we had a beautiful BBQ dinner as the sun set over these little volcanic patches of paradise.

After the sun went down was when the magic really started though. We took kiacks out into the tranquil bay. At first I didn't understand what was happening. With every sweep of the person in front of me's blade the water seemed to change colour, a vibrant greeny blue glow. I thought it must just be a trick of the star light reflecting off the water so I spent my time looking up at the stars with Rhianonn and the other girls on the trip. 

As the surroundings got darker the paddle strokes got harder to explain. The water was glowing, but surely it can't be, but then the guide explaned. Living in the water are billions of single celled organisms that absorb the light in the day time to give it off at night when movement occurs.

Tonight was the single most magical night of my life.

I plunged my hand in the water, the bright green/turquoise light shone vividly around my hand. As I moved my fingers the glow came lighting up my palm like magical cool flames. A sweep of the arm and the rich glow would linger just long enough to light the gentle ripples of the oceans surface. As I was enjoying this natural light show my attention was taken by the rich dark purple sky. A shooting star streaking overhead burning out amongst the diamond like lights shining down out of heaven onto me.

I'm not by any means an emotional person but I could not fail to understand the majesty all around me.  

I paddled back to the boat slowly, enjoying and memorising this staggering experiance and praying never to forget theses solitary moments I had just spent with the world.

I grabbed my snorkel and took the plunge again. This time to have the cool flames dance off my entire body. Giving a blazing glow to light my path as I swam through the cool water out to a dark area not too far from the front of the boat. 

I could never tire of the beauty around me or the feeling of childlike happiness being so close to nature this evening had given me. Eventually I swam slowly back to the boat.

I arrived to a crowd, each with expectancy and marked joy spread over their features. As I climbed aboard, unfortunately, these looks changed to a variety of mirth, disappointment and confusion.

I Had not been missed on the boat. When someone had spotted my subtle glow in the distance, and the smooth repetition of my stroke, combined with the regular puffing of my snorkel exploding as I exhaled they had worked themselves into a frenzy! So disappointed they were to see me, most slumped back of to the fire place. 

They had mistaken me for a dolphin!

Final destination, well kinda...

Off I went, to my final country and home for the next twelve months. New Zealand.

In the style I have become accustomed to; I made this last trip incredibly hard for myself.

At the airport with an hour to spare, passport safe, all looking good.

"And where is your Visa sir?" The kindly pacific island woman asked... Shit.

In my excitement I had forgotten to actually read my visa confirmation email past the word confirmed in the second line. The rest said I had to log in online as a user and confirm and print the documents. I ran down the travelator like a 1990's gladiator! I think my gladiator name would be 'sunburn' or maybe 'catastrophe' I would pick one of them as I feel the obvious choice 'Dickhead' wouldn't get past the itv commissioning committee pre watershead.

It doesn't end there. I got to a computer. What's my username??? I have $2.39 on my mobile. A very rushed call to New Zealand immigration and a print fee that felt as good on my wallet as prison rape and off I go, checked in and ready to go!

The flight was at least un eventful. I waited a few hours at the other end, excited about the final leg of my trip for Cat who had kindly offered to pick me up. Unfortunately as 8:30 rolled around I realised my Australian sim was not working... Bugger. Hand in the pocket time again! I paid out for the pay phone and used all of 20 seconds of my 10 minuet minimum spend to find out Cat was just outside.

Cat, who I had spent Christmas and new year with picked me up and took me to her lovley home. I bonded with Brendon, her housemate straight away as he was off to get a kebab! I jumped in and had a munch before a well earned rest.

The next day I got a bus into the city, after Cat had gone for business in Dunidan. As I was checking in who do I see but Steine. The girl I had undercharged for her trip and ended up taking to a pool then BBQ on the Yarra river bank!

We had a strole along the quay before I left for another knowledge bomb at the Maritime museum. The museum was distinctly average until I found the museum tour, which I swiftly joined. I later found out it was a tour organised for a cruise ship! No wonder I was the youngest by 40 years!

Later that afternoon I met Joe. I say met Joe... He tried to make me jump but accidentally ran square into a glass wall, bouncing off like a startled fly, leaving me at first confused then laughing my tits off!

After we devoured an entire chicken I met my bay of Islands tour group for a beer or three.

Last days in Melbourne

After getting to bed at 6am on Saturday night/Sunday morning a relaxed day on Sunday was a necessity.

A huge group of us went to the park and had a BBQ, played some frisbee and generally had a good time.

In the evening Joe and I won my first ever game of beer pong! We took Charlie and James down!

Monday evening was also going well. Before as a leaving present I did two suicide shots with Billy and Clay (snort the salt, drink the tequila and squeeze the lemon in your eye). This was followed by going to bed to find my mattress had been robbed. 

I then hung out with Charlie for a little longer before joining my room mates Danni, Brendon and Amy for a four person cuddle!

Another highlight of my final night in Melbourne was striding across the bar to my ex-room mate and saying "that's a nice jumper Tom, where did you get it?" The cheeky bugger had stolen my only jumper and by chance had decided to wear it on my last night!

I took no shit and eventually got it back!