It has started...

It is upon us! While New Zealanders normally downplay their excitement, our rivalries and the honour of this competition in our back yard - today is seemingly different.

Today, there is a buzz.

Everyone is talking about it.

Everyone is hyped.

Everyone is watching...

The Rugby World Cup is here - the teams, the commentators, and the flags adorning cars nation-wide (especially, it seems, in South Auckland. The Tongan population is out in force - red and white is EVERYWHERE!)

The Viaduct is already packed for Opening Night, and it's only 1:00pm...

Really, the word is WOW!

I'm excited, and I can't wait to get amongst it!! There will be waka, a haka, fireworks and a national Black Out of the best kind - the Kiwi kind!

GO THE ALL BLACKS!!!!

The 30 Day Photography Challenge

I found this on a friend's page on Facebook and wanted to share. I'm going to do it through my facebook page so my friends and family can see, and I encourage everyone to do it...

It will be good to look back at, over time

1. A picture of yourself with 10 facts
2. A picture of you and the person you have been closest with the longest
3. A picture of the cast from your favorite show
4. A picture of your favorite night
5. A picture of your favorite memory
6. A picture of a person you'd love to trade places with for a day
7. A picture of your most treasured item
8. A picture that makes you laugh
9. A picture of the person who has gotten you through the most
10. A picture of the person you do the silliest things with
11. A picture of something you hate
12. A picture of something you love
13. A picture of your favorite band or artist
14. A picture of someone you could never imagine your life without
15. A picture of something you want to do before you die
16. A picture of someone who inspires you
17. A picture of something that has made a huge impact on your life recently
18. A picture of your biggest insecurity
19. A picture and a letter
20. A picture of somewhere you'd love to travel
21. A picture of something you wish you could forget
22. A picture of something you wish you were better at
23. A picture of your favorite book
24. A picture of something you wish you could change
25. A picture of your favorite day
26. A picture of something that means a lot to you
27. A picture of yourself and a family member
28. A picture of something you're afraid of
29. A picture that can always make you smile
30. A picture of someone you miss

--
Having completed this, I thought I would share a few of them :)

Poppa

This morning I heard people talking on the radio about what you would say to someone if you knew it was the last chance you had... You played it over "Somewhere Over The Rainbow"... I had to stop what I was doing, just sit there and listen, because Nana passed away last Wednesday, and that song was played at her funeral this Monday gone. So this is what I'd say to my Poppa, who is still with us, but grieving so much for his wife of 54 years...

Poppa, you are the strongest man. You may not see it, but with everything you, Nana and our family have gone through together, you have stood your ground and held us together as we crumbled. We are here for you now. I promised Nana that we would take care of you, help you cry and remember whenever you need. We're a part of her and you, and we love you.

I hope people realise the importance of grandparents, and take some time out to tell them you love them; appreciate all their funny ways, their stories and memories. Because once they're gone, a chapter of your history closes. Cherish every moment...

Nana Ash

When I was first told of your illness, Nana, I thought "this is just your turn to be doted on". After my cousins, then Poppa, and Aunty Jan, you took care of everyone with no fuss, no drama. Just love, kindness, compassion, and patience. This was just your turn for us to return the favour.

The first time I saw you after you had been diagnosed, I thought you looked normal, healthy, just yourself. No sign or symptoms of the cancer growing inside you. We acted like a normal family, ate chocolate and joked with each other - no worries, mate.

Then we visited you at home, with Poppa fussing over tea and visitors; a constant flow as everyone wanted to see you, be beside you, hug you and tell you how much of a trooper you are. Stay strong, Josie, it may be terminal but you got a lot left in the tank.

After a few visits, I thought I could see a change in you. We knew you were in pain, we know you too well. You kept such a brave face on for us, but we could tell this thing was hurting you, and there was nothing we could do to take that away. We didnt know the extent of this thing, we had no clue how to deal with it. You stayed strong, but in your eyes there was a change.

And then we found the shadows, the tumors in your brain. All the while I thought you'd be OK, but I didnt know exactly what that OK would be...

We had a party, you showed up and we had such a nice time. There was our family, our banter, our silly conversations. Aunty Jan made eclaires, Poppa tried his best to steal them, give us a laugh. You sat in the corner with a headscarf on, watching over your family, not yourself - you havent been for a while. This will pass, we thought, and you'll be back to your old self. We were so thankful you made the effort that night.

You went up to the beach, to go home for a little while. I thought to visit you, but none of us expected what came next to come so soon. Your insides were so damaged from all this cancer, they started to give up. In hospital, you wanted no more drugs. In the middle of the night, you left us.

It feels surreal now. You were so lively, so alive, you did have so much life left in you. And now all I hope is that you made it down onto the sand, to be by the water.

Our strong matriarch, I miss you.

We love you, always will.

It's so quiet when it snows...

On a sunny Sunday afternoon, this place head towards winter alarmingly fast. You see things change - the clothes get darker, the boots come on; the food gets hotter; people stay indoors. No midday sun floods through my windows anymore, the sun is too low in the sky today.

And all i can think of is how much I miss my other home.

The landscape in the winter here is not desirable. We have no snow-capped mountains in this city, no frozen rivers, no crisp sunny days that makes everything resemble heaven - glowing and white...

On the days where it is cold enough to see your breath, and feel your face prickle with the cold, a bus can roar past and the moment has gone. Even on the coldest days in Salzburg, in the quiet mountain air you could appreciate these moments, as small as they are.

The people here dont greet you as you walk down the street, they keep their heads down and stay in their own world. I miss "Grüß Gott!" from shop owners and the smiles from people you dont know.

We wont be having any impromptu snow fights this year, or midnight walks in the falling snow. It's so quiet when it snows...

One year on...

I'm finding it hard to believe, as I sit at work on our last day before Christmas holidays, to look back to where I was a year ago.

Anna, Kylea and I were just leaving Roma, having spent five days drinking latte and eating lots of panini and pizza, exploring the historic sights of the city, fearing for our lives with crazy Italian drivers, taking a million photos, and laughing at the funny little cleaner obsessed with the toilet in our hostel.

We were on our way to Paris, to see Robert and stay in his family home in Beauvais and drink his family wine, before driving to the beautiful city and spending a glorious Christmas day roaming the city. Walking for miles to the Arc de Triomphe, down the Champs-Élysées and Charles V Avenue, seeing cars worth more than everything i'll ever earn - Ferrari's lined up next to Bently's and Porsche's, outside the Four Seasons Hotel... We strolled along the Seine to the Eifel Tower, climbed the stairs to the second tier and filmed a video for our missing American...

This year has gone by so quickly, its hard to even think about all that I've achieved and all that has happened since I got home on Feb 25th 2009... My stepsister got married, university kept me on my toes, I helped all four of my netball teams to semifinal or finals, gave a boy a second chance and found him to be the love of my life, my family fell apart and later reconciled, and I graduated.

How life goes on... :)

Melbourne with Emma

To Tash:

i've been in Melbourne, Australia with my best friend Em... photos are up on FB so you can have a look at what we got up to ;)

I go back to Melbourne (4 hours by plane) on wednesday with my mom for the Grand Prix. This will be fun except im gonna need my space and in our apartment there are 10 people staying so i dont think ill get much

probably will end up toddling off and taking lots of photographs

OHH! i got a new car! i cant remember if i told you- maybe i showed you it?

but its Awesome!!! i love it, it drives so well and makes a nice sexy rumble... havent come up with a name for him yet, but it has to be something gangster cos my numberplate is "EWS" which is what my gangsta friends say hahaha... if my car was a girl, i'd call her Shaniquah! But, its not, so im still name searching

my friend just got a new puppy so im going to have a play now (its so cute- pics are on FB too!)

anyway- more about my last trip to melbourne-- it was awesome, and hot and sunny! we went to fashion week (no pink, you'd be happy to know) and it was really cool- we even saw "Miss J" from Americas next top model sitting in the front row (we were in row three- great seats!) and one of the designers dresses kept riding up, and you could see the models g-strings, and he was making all these amused and disgusted faces, and immitated them pulling down their skirts

it made us laugh, anyway

We went to Lonsdale St in the city, which is the Greek Precinct, and turns out! Its Greek independence day on March 25th, so they had this huge festival! Em and i had Souvlaki (soooooo gooooood!) and then were so full we got desert to take home with us, and ended up spending saturday night gorging ourselves with greek sweets and lollies while watching movies like "Just My Luck" and "Home Alone 2"... so much fun...

We went shopping for 7 hours on Friday, and while that may sound extreme, it was totally worth it and i subsequently have zero money left

i rediscovered my love of Sportsgirl, and tried on about $2000 worth of clothes! And loved every piece, and wanted to get them all, but ended up getting a dress, blazer and nailpolish (that was an afterthought, but still a very cool colour!) i also got some platform sandals which are great and i guess i can wear them in winter too- its getting colder here which blows

I missed most of summer and when i did get back it rained a lot!

Anyway! I totally have a postcard for you, I am getting on to sending it but its coming from NZ rather than Australia, but thats only cos im a lame ass and wrote it on the plane coming home

aaaanywhooo, i need to go food shopping with mom, the only reason being i need some toiletries stuff and i figure if i go with her i dont need to buy it myself

its called smart thinking...

anyway my dearest!! keep an eye on your post box, ill talk to you soon, i hope you enjoyed your latest installment of Zoe's life, and i send lots of cuddles and kisses and well wishes!!

PS if you havent seen Slumdog Millionaire yet- SEE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! i love that film!!!

xoxoxo