It all started with a can of whipped cream

As it has now been almost a month since I last blogged, I feel I should make up for it and write a decent length blog about the past month!

I have now been at the Mousetrap for almost 5 weeks, although it really doesn't feel like it. There have been drunken times, whipped cream times, dancing times, tequila times, tickling times, laughing times and painful blister times.

It all started with a night out for Rhonda's leaving and from there on in, my alcohol and food intake have increased 10 fold. I found this most depressing when at the weekend I could not fit into a pair of recently bought trousers - does my bum look big in this would have been my chosen phrase if I could have got them done up!

Over the past month I have also managed to surpass myself in what Amrit describes as me being 'Tragic'. I went on a road trip with Chris and Scott to the west coast and Cape Reinga for a couple of days on my time off work. On my days off (which are now few & far between), I like to do things in and around the Bay. I am in one of the most beautiful areas of the country and am settling far too quickly into a routine and need to start appreciating where I am a little more. So after cleaning, we jumped into Naboo, our orange spaceship rental van, nickname: the passion wagon (my choice), along with several cd's of my choosing - the boys had no idea what they were in for!!!!

We headed first to Hokianga west coast accompanied by a select choice of Lady Gaga, Boyzone, Dizzee Rascal, Britney Spears and Blue. I was incredibly impressed that 2 boys in their mid 20's actually tolerated this. I got the front seat and appointed myself DJ so there really wasn't much choice in the matter! After a couple of stops we made it to Tane Mahuta and another Kauri forest which we had a couple of short walks through and then headed up to Doubtless Bay where we camped by the beach for the night. Arriving in darkness was interesting and the boys got the van set up and made a start on dinner - note to self: travel with boys who cook and make your bed more often!

Having finished off dinner, boys sufficiently impressed that I ate more than them, we settled in for the night to watch a film. Being absolutely shattered, I fell asleep within about 15minutes and apparently snored the whole way through the film. Why they didn't push me or throw something at me I don't know! Sleeping was interesting and during the night I managed to push Scott completely out of bed, not give Chris room to breathe and ended up with most of the bed to myself! I had warned the boys this would happen but I don't think they believed me. I did give them permission to push me out the way if I took over the bed so really they can't complain because they could have moved me, although apparently I am a dead weight when I sleep.

So after a very broken nights sleep we headed up north to Cape Reinga and Ninety Mile beach, which isn't actually 90 miles, its about 64. We made a food stop in Kaitia and then made it to the lighthouse over many a gravel road. Having experienced gale force winds at the Cape, we headed slowly back to Paihia and to Al Frescos for burger meal deals, these are almost as awesome as the pancakes they serve for breakfast!

And thus was the end of our road trip. I think the boys were pleased they were not sharing the van with me for another night and could actually get some sleep.

Unfortunately the next few days were rather rainy and crappy so we couldn't do much except play Monopoly where I apparently was making ridiculous offers for property. I don't think asking for a couple of properties plus some cash for one property is unreasonable!

I have finally managed to get myself a second job, waitressing in a Chinese restaurant, which for some reason my darling younger brother finds hilarious! The people are lovely and although they don't speak much English, I can feel my Mandarin is going to have to improve muchly over the next few months.

Since being here and settling in, my travel plans have changed dramatically over the past few days. My flights home have been changed, my Fiji flights have been changed, I have 2 jobs and am not planning anything for after Christmas yet......although I am quite fancying Tahiti for my birthday, I figure if I have to be by myself then I may aswell be somewhere awesomely awesome!

All I know is right now life is sweet as.