angel_a

So on top of the Earthquake happening on Saturday, and wondering if family and friends were okay. Plus having work be absolutely mental, I also got a text message from my sister that one of my favourite Uncle's had passed away.

Uncle Denny was actually my mothers great uncle through marriage. As it is through maori families I was told as a nipper that he was my uncle and that's what I called him. There is a photo that I have of him and me when I was just one year old and it was my birthday. It has me trying to grab his bottle of beer, and he is just cracking up laughing. Uncle Denny (Dennis) always always always had this cheeky grin on his face. He always had time for you, and no matter what crap you wanted to talk about he would always listen. Sometimes he would offer advice, and other times he would just give you a hug.

I would stay with Uncle Denny and Aunty Buff (Bertha) when mum or dad would want some alone time. Or if Dad was in the Hospital in Dargaville, because they only live 5 minutes up the road, so my mum and i would stay there..

Uncle Denny was fun and funny. He had lots of stories to tell, he was an advid rugby player, a hard worker, and drove trucks until he couldn't. On a sunday you would find him in his favourite pub. He would always be good to pass out the window a packet of salt and vinegar chips and a bottle of rasberry fizzy.

He had a special way about him, and he had lots and lots of "favourites", but you never ever felt slighted, if you were with him, he gave you his full attention.

A few years ago, he suffered from a stroke, and after that he was unable to communicate like he used too. At times you would see the frustration in his eyes that he wasn't able to talk to you like the way he used too. In saying that, he never ever stopped laughing, until September 4th at 8.30am.

I will never forget him, and I would like to think that he is somewhere sitting with my Dad and Mum, his brothers and sisters, and they are sitting 'round having a jug or four and talking shite, and having a bloody good time.

Arohanui Uncle, you will be greatly missed.

Well actually I do.  I will probably be back when my friend G's baby is born and then again for Wellington Armageddon! lol

I will definately be going back to Wellington Zoo sometime in the future.  I really enjoyed the experience, and will probably go back for one of the other animal experiences.  More than likely the cheeta or lion one.  As you can generally get to find the Giraffe's during one of the talks. 

I had a lovely but shore time in Wellington, it was nice to get away from Auckland.  Thankfully the weather held out for me for most of the day yesterday, while I was out and about walking around.

So I head back to Auckland.  *sad face*

 So this morning I got up and went to see the Red Panda's at Wellington Zoo.  ZOMG!!!!  They are soooo damn cute, and it was so much fun.  They crawled and walked all over my lap, thankfully they did not scent mark me.  Whew!  But I got to feed and pat them.  And got some good photos.  Even on my phone camera.  Plus I took a recording of them too.  So that will be uploaded at some time. :)

I got to see a keysha_chan  at the Zoo.  Yay.  Plus I also got to see giffydoll and also jenni_talula 
it has been a long day, so now it's a quick shower then out to catch a bus to Brooklyn to see my friend G for dinner.

*head desk* I forgot to buy dessert!!!!!  Argh, I am sure that she will for give me. *fingers crossed*

 So I am currently on the internets at the Auckland Domestic Airport, waiting for my flight to Wellington to depart

It is a funny thing to be doing really, because people can go past and see what I am typing.  It's right in the middle of the concourse, right outside of Wishbone.  So not much with the privacy

But that's okay because I am going to WELLINGTON!!!!!!!!


Tomorrow I shall sleep in then get ready to go to the Wellington Zoo (which by the way I have no idea where it is), and have my Red Panda Experience.  I am hoping that the weather is not shite like it is currently in Auckland.  Hopefully I will get to see a keysha_chan in her natural environment.  :DDDDDDD   After that I shall wander and buy some baby clothes as my best friend G who lives with her partner and child has told me that she is pregnant again.  \o/  I will be having dinner with her at 7pm.   So I have time for maybe a visit to the Beehive and the House of Representatives.

Then it's another sleep in and I wing my way back home on Tuesday at lunch time.

Yep a quick visit, but it's all because I got two nights free accommodation.

www.grabone.co.nz/auckland/high-tea-stamford-plaza-  Go here to get a two for one hightea.  Trust me I went there for my birthday last year, and it was oh so divine!!!!!!!

Just got confirmation, I get to go to a RED PANDA experience at Wellington Zoo!  Yes it costs some money, but I believe it is money well spent!!  Whoot!!

Also won tickets off ZM for the movie screening of Scott Pilgrim vs THE WORLD.  Should be hilarious!!!

So I have some free accommodation that I must use before the end of August and September....Because I hate when things like this are given to us (perks of the job) and then I don't get to use it.

Anyway I will be in Wellington from the 29th to the 31st of August.  I arrive in at 10pm Sunday night and leave at lunch time on Tuesday.

I will be staying at the Travelodge Wellington.  I am hoping to do a Red Panda encounter on Monday, and catch up with a friend hopefully on Monday late afternoon.  I will also be trying to check out Shaherazade as well.

Then the following weekend.  The 5-7 September, I will be in Christchurch.  I will be flying in on Sunday night at 8.55pm, and leaving Tuesday 1.35pm.

I will be staying at the Hotel Grand Chancellor.  My plans are to check out Kutwells, Hands Craft Store, Lapco (if it's not closed already) and S. mentioned that there is another store that offers wool for $6/per metre.

Those that are Scadians on my friends list, please tell me where this new place is where you can get wool for $6/per metre?

So if anyone would like to hang, have dinner or come wandering on my shopping spree (not much of a spree, more like a look see) tell me!

Just to put it out there, I have created a new journal called annadewilde for all my SCA projects, especially for my attempts at dance reconstruction.

I had a really lovely time last night. 

I finished work around 5pm.  Drove straight home and started to try and get ready for Bea's b'day party that was at The Falls in Henderson last night.  http://www.thefalls.co.nz/

It was steampunk/victorian.  So I pulled together bit's n peices to create a look.  It came out looking pretty good. :)  It has me hankering now to make a Hunting outfit.  Similar to this http://img3.photographersdirect.com/img/262/wm/pd1845492.jpg or http://www.19thcenturypost.com/1871%20Fashion%20plate%20Riding%20habit,%20hat%20and%20veil.jpg 
but with a lot less skirt. :)

The dinner and company were great, and then it was 10.45pm and I was like OH NOEEEESSSS, I have to leave, I start work at 8.30am tomorrow.

So I dropped M back home and was in bed by Midnight.

I am now feeling wrecked and my eyes are feeling gritty.  Glad that tomorrow is my day off.

As a bit of silliness I gave Bea an action figure of Giles from Buffy the Vampire Slayer - saying that every woman needs a man like him in their lives.  Poor Giles was twisted into various different positions throughout the evening. :P