Friday, December 31, 2010

2010 - The Year That Was

Yep! Time for this AGAIN! For the third (fourth?) time!

1. Where were you when 2010 began?
At my house, with some family friends who had come over for dinner.

2. What did you do in 2010 that you’d never done before?
Decided to apply for TColl, something I was convinced I’d never do. It was a very last minute decision, so much so that I was surprised that my application and referee reports were even received in time, let alone that I was accepted, but everything fell into place and I’m now most of the way through it. Such is life, I suppose.
Oh! I was also in a major earthquake! Although I guess that’s kind of something that happened to me, as opposed to something I did! It was definitely memorable though! It happened in September and we’re still having aftershocks!

3. Did you keep your new years’ resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I didn’t really make any for this year, and I don’t think I’ll be making any for 2011, either. I have a few things I’d like to do, or finish, but overall, resolutions aren’t really my thing. My 101 in 1001 kind of takes the place of them, although those are mostly long-term things, not just things to do in the next year.

4. Go to any concerts this year?
Yes, I went to a big free one called Band Together, which was put on as a result of the earthquake. Looking forward to one in February too – Brooke Fraser YAY!!

5. Will you be looking for a new job in 2011?
Yes! I’ll be a qualified primary school teacher by the end of the year!

6. Did you drink a lot of alcohol in 2010?
As usual, no, not really. Although maybe a little more than last year.

7. Did you go on any vacations? If so, where?
Yup, to the West Coast for a few days in January, to visit Brooke.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Getting accepted into TColl, and also learning to how to actually teach! When I found out that my first placement would be with Year 8s (12/13 year olds), I was really nervous, but I ended up rather enjoying it…and, strangely enough, I kind of miss them! Perhaps once I have a bit of REAL experience I’d like to teach this age group! I like the thought of being able to have a really strong, positive influence on kids that age.

9. If you could go back in time to any moment of 2010 and change something, what would it be?
I wish I had taken more time to enjoy my first placement and not worried so much about about having to do everything exactly right and ticking all of college’s boxes. I think I wasted a lot of time stressing panicking about things that weren’t that important anyway, which made me miss out on practical skills I could have learned.
I also would have been a bit more sensitive to how stressed everyone in my “TColl Bubble” was at the end of last semester with 13 assignments in 4 weeks. I snapped at a few friends I wish I hadn’t snapped at, and did some things I wish I hadn’t done.
I also wish I’d been more attentive to friends NOT in the “TColl Bubble”, and managed my time better so I wasn’t effectively ignoring people who are really important to me in favour of frantically trying to do assignments! Argh! THREE things I’d go back and change. Oh dear.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
No, nothing major, and to be really honest, even if I had, I probably wouldn’t post about it here.

11. What was the best thing you bought?
I’m struggling to think of one specific Best Thing for this year. The Best Thing I GOT was an iPod Touch, but that was a birthday present, and not something I bought.

12. Whose behaviour merited celebration?
I have to mention K., from this post! I wish I could be a fly on the wall in his life in a few years.

13. Whose behaviour made you appalled and depressed?
Quite a few people actually. My association with one particular theatre company came to a bit of an unfortunate end in the middle of the year. It’s kind of sad, I really miss teaching drama to kids who actually WANT to learn it, and the *friends* I made while I was there, but overall I’m glad to have left. The environment and “vibe” of the place was changing, and not for the better.

14. Where did most of your money go?
Things which are not exciting.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
The fact that I have the kind of friends who do THIS. Awesome. Love it. Also about teaching. Sometimes. Other times that was something I got really, really, really WORRIED about!

16. What song will always remind you of 2010?
Need You Now – Lady Antebellum
Stuck Like Glue – Sugarland
Bulletproof – La Roux

17. Compared to this time last year, are you happier or sadder?
Definitely happier. Also immeasurably more stressed, but still happier.
ii. thinner or fatter?
The same.
iii. richer or poorer?
Poorer. Boooo.

18. What do you wish you’d done more of?
Things other than assignments!

19. What do you wish you’d done less of?
Procrastinating!

20. How did you spend Christmas?
With my family, and Merrilyn’s family!

22. Did you fall in love in 2010?
Nope.

23. What was the biggest change for you in 2010?
I can now see how I’m going to be spending some of the rest of my life! I also met some amazing people who I now can’t imagine NOT knowing! <3
Also, appearance-wise, in late November, I got an extremely drastic haircut, which I love. Going from waist-length hair to hair that’s not even shoulder length was a pretty big change. It SO was not one I intended to make, but since getting it done in November, I can honestly say that I can count the number of “bad hair days” I’ve had on one hand! I think my hair likes to be short. I don’t think I’ll grow it out again in the forseeable future.

24. What were your favourite TV programmes?
I hardly watched ANY TV this year!

25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
I don’t hate them, but there are a few people who were in my life this time last year who are now out of it. This doesn’t happen to me very often, once I make friends I tend to keep them, at least in some capacity, for ages, until we drift apart naturally, so it feels very strange to “break things off”. I don’t miss them though.

26. What was the best book you read?
Um….I can’t think of one! Uh oh…

27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Sugarland. Jenny, I hope you’re impressed! ;)

28. What did you want and get?
An iPod Touch 4G…and an awesome haircut!

29. What did you want and not get?
Slightly better grades.

30. What was your favourite film of this year?
The only one I can think of off the top of my head is Made In Dagenham, which is the last one I saw. I liked it, but IDK if it’s my FAVOURITE film.

31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I was 23, and one of my lovely friends from TColl hosted afternoon tea for me at her house. It was slightly strange, sitting in a room full of women who (with the exception of one who I went to primary school with, and rediscovered at the beginning of this year) I didn’t even KNOW on my last birthday! SO much has changed in a year. I mean, of course I have all my “old” friends too, I’m just surprised by how many new ones I’ve made since starting this course, and how I already feel like I know them so well that I can’t imagine not knowing them! Life is funny sometimes.

32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
GAAHHH I hate questions like this! I don’t KNOWWWWW!

33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2010?
I am slowly discovering a personal fashion concept which is still *me*, but which is also appropriate for the classroom. It involves having to wear a lot of pants. Oh dear. That doesn’t sound so good. I’m not normally pants-less (!?), I just naturally gravitate towards skirts/dresses, which aren’t always suitable for junior classrooms, when you might be sitting on the floor or on very low chairs for quite a bit of the day.

34. What kept you sane?
Sane!?!??!! What’s SANE!!!?? I swear this this the LEAST sane year of my whole life! :O

35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Clearly not in a sexual or romantic way, but Annie Lennox. She is an exceptional individual, IMO. I really admire people who do things simply because they are right, and not as a result of any outside or religious influences telling them they ought to.

36. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
Some believe in destiny, and some believe in fate
I believe that happiness is something we create
You best believe that I’m not gonna wait
‘Cause there’s gotta be something more
– Something More – Sugarland

37. Who did you miss?
Nobody I can think of, really. Brooke, a bit, but I talk to her nearly every day!

38. Who was the best new person you met?
SO many people!!! The people I met at TColl are part of the reason I’m so glad I applied! TColl friends, if any of you have stumbled upon this (Even though I know most of you have already seen this on FB, lol!), I’m so glad I met you.

39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2010.
Sometimes last minute decisions can be among the best you ever make.

40. What are your plans for 2011?
Finish this course, and then most likely try to find a REAL teaching job, although secretly, I’d STILL like to pursue something I was thinking about (privately, I never blogged about it) at the beginning of this year, before TColl came along and sidetracked my life. We shall see. It’s still on my mind.
Although. Having just said that TColl sidetracked this idea, I don’t know whether it really has or not. Indirectly, it might help me.

Sunday, December 26, 2010

The Post Christmas Post!

So I REALLY need to think of a new title for this post. I have also had “The Post-Christmas Post” after Christmas 2008 and 2009! LOL!

This year was a little bit quieter than others, since we didn’t actually see any of our extended family on the day itself. In the evening we went to have dinner with Merrilyn’s family, who we’ve known since I was 3 and she was 4. Which is 20 years. Which is am impressive feat since we’re only 23 now!


Right now I am rediscovering my love for this fabulous movie…


Hope you all had (or are still having, if you’re THAT far behind NZ!) a great Christmas!

Friday, December 24, 2010

Cupcakes!

Just a cute photo today, of some mini Christmas cupcakes my friend Merrilyn made me! I’ve known her since she was 4 and I was 3!


BTW, yes, there WAS a fifth cupcake sitting on top in this little basket, but…I ate it.

Thursday, December 23, 2010

Spreydon Baptist Church's Christmas Grotto!

Met up with Lorraine today to exchange Christmas presents…and to go on a bit of an adventure!
Lorraine had visited Spreydon Baptist Church’s Christmas Grotto before, and I had heard about it, but never been.

To say that I have been missing out was a huge understatement. This place is AWESOME. Christchurch people, if you have not been to see this, GO. Today. Or at least before 9:30pm tomorrow night. Photo time!

Mini Christmas village. We decided it kind of reminded us of a scene from A Christmas Carol.
Crazy ladies. We thought the one with red shoes was Lorraine…
…and this brown-haired one was me!
Holly Square!
Huskies which were weirdly life-like!
Polar bears on the back of Santa’s sleigh. Cute!
Countdown to Christmas!
Santa!
St. Nicholas! This display was accompanied by a story explaining this history behind him, but it was too difficult to photograph.
Live turtles!
Reindeer! Up behind this was a huge waterfall somehow created using their baptismal font. I am kicking myself for not taking a better photo of THAT!
More reindeer and wildlife. You can kind of see the waterfall in this photo.
Angel bears.
Shepherds…and LOTS of cute sheepies!
Not the greatest ever photo of us. But not too bad for my having taken it at arms length, in semi-dark, without being able to see the screen!
Wow. That was an EPIC post. Apologies to anybody with slow internet whose computers have taken forever to load this, but I just HAD to share these, cos I think they’re awesome.

Wednesday, December 22, 2010

In which Holly maks new friends. Of the particularly LARGE variety!

People who have been reading this blog for awhile probably already know that I am rather horse-phobic. I’ve only ever ridden a horse a couple of times in my life and never fallen off, but the phobia stems from having known someone as a child who was kicked and killed by his family’s horse. Argh. Yeah. Holly is not such a fan.

Although. Today I was in town and saw one of the coolest things ever. A vintage tram being pulled by 3 HUGE Clydesdale horses.  Seriously. They were huge. Biggest feet EVER, and their shoulders were well above my head! The man in charge was letting people take photos of them/with them, so I decided that since they were supervised, and attached to each other and the tram, they were safe enough to go and pat.

Bad things did not happen! The world did not end! I did not suffer bodily harm! I still don’t think I’ll ever take my friends up on their offer of a horse trekking expedition, but the Giant Horses…not actually very scary afterall. Even sort of endearing…maybe.

Sadly no pictures of me with the horses, since I took these on my phone and was by myself, but I was there, I promise!

Tuesday, December 21, 2010

Google Friends and Ninjas!

Something new I’m testing out on my sidebar (down below my profile and "Pathological Picture Taker" banner). I have no clue if this will work, since I use WordPress and not Blogger, but HOPEFULLY, if somebody clicks this link, they will be allowed to "Follow Me" through their Blogspot profile! Any helpful guinea pigs would be greatly appreciated!

Also! In other news, so this post isn’t completely boring, here is a present I bought for a friend yesterday! Greatest thing ever. Right? And BTW yes it is made by the same company that makes Gin and Titonic.
I love Fred & Friends…and no they’re not paying me to say this!

Monday, December 20, 2010

Things you do not want to hear your mother say at 11:59pm!

“Holly! Can you come here and help me put this large stick insect into this box so I can take it outside!?”

NB: Picture is not of our stick insect. Standing on a ladder with a box in one hand and a hearth brush in the other was not the most suitable situation for taking photos! Yikes!

Sunday, December 19, 2010

"It looks like they blended a My Little Pony!"

For the last couple of days, Brooke has been in Christchurch visiting. Although I text/chat/FB her most days, we only actually see each other every few months. Boooo.

On Thursday, she and I did some last minute Christmas shopping. I went to Borders to try to find Gin and Titonic for a friend, but, sadly, they had sold out! I was extremely disappointed, since it would have been perfect for her, lol! I KNEW I should have bought it as soon as I saw it! (Lindy you better not be reading!!) I have since located it in another shop in town! It is now wrapped and under my Christmas tree! Success!

While I was doing that, Brooke was trying to find a suitably ridiculous magazine as part of a present for Jenny. As her “real” gift, she has bought her a magazine subscription, but the actual card for it hadn’t arrived yet…so the search was on in Borders for the silliest magazine we could find! We considered hunting and fishing and “naturalists” options, but eventually settled on a copy of New Dawn Magazine, which, to put it mildly, was one of the most ridiculous, implausible and generally bizarre things I have ever read.


It is truly so outrageous that I’m not even going to TRY and describe it, but if you’re interested, and want to totally scramble your brain, click on the magazine cover and visit their site. Good grief. o.O
When Jenny finished work, we went to have dinner, and I had the purple slushy featured below, which, according to Brooke, looked like “they blended a ‘My Little Pony’!” As soon as she said that I took a photo, stating “I am SO blogging this!”. Yes. My life is sad.

The other photo is of the lovely Brooke, modelling the pink bag I gave her…and the ribbon from the giftbox. Yep. My friends are just as fantastic as I am! Jenny had a giant bow on her head too, but she’s Not A Blogger (anymore!), so I am Not Allowed to post pics of her! Teehee!


After dinner, we tried to find something to do for the evening. We wanted to go and see A Very Merry Scriptless, but it was sold out, so we decided on a movie instead. We saw Made in Dagenham, which I initially wasn’t sure I was going to like, but then I saw the poster and noticed the director was Nigel Cole, who also directed Calendar Girls, which I LOVE, so I thought “How bad can it be?” It wasn’t bad at all. Not my favourite movie ever, but I liked it.


Friday’s weather was crappy, so we decided movie day might be our best bet, and ended up watching a 1957 movie called Desk Set (which was hilarious not only because it was supposed to be, but also because it was somewhat dated!) and Under the Tuscan Sun…which…was different to what I expected, and kind of bugged me a bit…but that is a blog for another day!

Right. This blog has gotten rather long…and rather image-heavy. But. With no photos of us! AGAIN! Boo. The three of us have not been in a photo together for nearly a year, and this was near the top of our To Do List for this time…but do you think we did it? Not so much. Oops.

Saturday, December 18, 2010

Wednesday, December 15, 2010

Angels

 
Saw these in the Christchurch Cathedral on Monday, and thought they were pretty cool. I took this photo on my cellphone, which is why it’s a bit blurry, but there are better pictures HERE and HERE if you’re interested.

They’re 2.5 metres tall/long and 3 metres wide, and are going to be an annual Christmas display, apparently.

I suppose I should answer!

I just realised I never actually posted about the answer to THIS post!
1. Since taking up drama when I was eleven years old, I have appeared in over 50 pantomimes and childrens theatre productions.
2. During one of my very first driving lessons, a pheasant (a very large bird about the size of a turkey) ran onto the road in front of the car. I was so surprised to see it that I almost had an accident.
3. Less than one year after the death of Steve Irwin, I went swimming with stingray.
Quite a few people seemed to think #2 was the lie, including Brooke, who should be very bummed cos she knows me in person and has SURELY heard this story before and STILL got it wrong! HA!
#1 was the lie.

I have been in A LOT of pantomimes and childrens shows. So many that I think I actually have lost count, but certainly nowhere near 50! As Jenny pointed out, for me to have done 50 shows between the ages of 11 and 23, I would have to have done 4 a year, which is definitely very high. I would LOVE to do four a year, if I had the time, which, sadly for me, I don’t. Perhaps it should be my goal to do 50 shows before I’m 30 though! That might be do-able. Just. Hmmm…

Yep. The pheasant story was true. Disappointingly, there isn’t a great deal more to it than what I’ve already explained. I was just driving along the road in a semi-rural part of Christchurch when suddenly a ginormous bird runs out of a paddock and across the road in front of the car! I didn’t know what it was initially, since I hadn’t seen a pheasant before, but mum was with me and was equally surprised! I was SO pleased I didn’t hit it, or crash the car into the ditch! Now, whenever I drive along that road, I always look out and see if I can see it. I never have. Boo.

The stingray story as also true, and there also isn’t very much more to it that I haven’t said already. But there is a photo, and a blog entry about it HERE, if you’re super curious and feel like scrolling through the single longest blog post in the history of the world!

Tuesday, December 14, 2010

Why is it...?



That seeing “my name” on Christmas themed items NEVER gets old…even after 23 years! I took this picture on my phone in the middle of Kmart. Seriously. I need a life. *giggle*

Sunday, December 12, 2010

Santa Daddy 2010

If you’ve been reading this blog for awhile, you’ll probably remember the 2008 and 2009 editions of this now annual event; which featured Santa arriving in a gold Audi convertible and police car, respectively.

This year it was a racing car! I don’t know who it belonged to, but I thought it was pretty darn cool when it turned up in our driveway!


Unfortunately since the awesome  car only fitted two people in it, I ended up RUNNING down the hill as quickly as I could so that I could take photos of them arriving. I also didn’t dress up, thus no photos of me “helping” him this year. Besides, we had a magician/entertainer there who had a very loud mic allowing him to be heard over the wind, so he helped instead.

However, I was there! I made sure mum took a photo to add to my “Holly & Santa” collection!


BTW, my semi-new-and-short hair was wet/damp in this photo, usually it’s not so flat!

Friday, December 10, 2010

Pantos? Pheasant? Stingray?

I haven’t done one of these in awhile, and have finally managed to think of three things which could all be equally likely, so…
1. Since taking up drama when I was eleven years old, I have appeared in over 50 pantomimes and childrens theatre productions.
2. During one of my very first driving lessons, a pheasant (a very large bird about the size of a turkey) ran onto the road in front of the car. I was so surprised to see it that I almost had an accident.
3. Less than one year after the death of Steve Irwin, I went swimming with stingray.
Two are true, one is a lie. Any guesses?

P.S: Yes, the theatre photo is actually of me, though the stingray and pheasant are ones I found on Google Images.

Wednesday, December 8, 2010

A Year of FB Statuses

Haha it was not until reading this that I realised just how odd I really am sometimes! Not sure why an FB meme is accompanied by a Twitter bird logo, but nevermind.

Bonus points for anyone who can tell me what any of these statuses are related to!

Monday, December 6, 2010

Story of my Life

Today in Borders I saw the Coolest Thing Ever.
A journal that runs for 100 years. That could quite literally be one’s ENTIRE LIFE. Imagine that. Your WHOLE LIFE. In one ginormous 4 inch thick book. If your parents/you were diligent to keep up with it.

I LOVE the thought of this, and if it hadn’t been $120NZD I would have bought it on the spot.

Later in the day I had lunch with Jenny and when I went to show her this awesome and amazing discovery she was…not so impressed. She didn’t think it was anywhere near as cool as I do. Humbug.

Of course I can think of several pitfalls involved in this, such as how tremendously thick and impractical it would be if you constantly stuck photos and post-it notes etc into it on every page, and how it would be a massive waste of money to buy it and abandon it after a year or two, but still, I am fascinated with the thought of the potential this thing has, and how it would be a pretty darn cool baby gift…

I think I am in love. Oh ginormous epic journal, how I wish you were mine.

Saturday, December 4, 2010

Christmas Meme

For the last two years I’ve done this on the 2nd of December…so I’m slightly behind this year! Oh noes!

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags?
Probably gift bags, but I like wrapping paper if it’s plain and has matching ribbons or bows. That’s pretty.

2. Real tree or Artificial?
Artificial. Mum and I are both allergic to real trees if they’re inside for too long.

3. When do you put up the tree?
No specific day, but this year it was December 1st, so maybe this will be our tradition from now on.

4. When do you take the tree down?
No specific day, some time after New Years.

5. Do you like eggnog?
Not really. I tried it for the first time last year backstage at the Christmas play I was in, and I wasn’t overly enthralled. I don’t mind it, but I don’t think I’d go out and deliberately purchase it.

6. Favorite gift received as a child?
Same answer as the two previous years: Probably Barbie, or a scooter. LOL!

7. Hardest person to buy for?
This year it seems to be EVERYBODY! I’m just having general EPIC FAIL at Christmas shopping this year! I have a grand total of two presents so far with a vague idea for another one, but nothing for anyone else. Tell me, what does one buy one’s parents, when they’re not “into” large gifts, and pretty much buy anything they really want/need for themselves anyway?

8. Easiest person to buy for?
Nobody this year; everybody’s hard! Oh! I just realised that I never blogged about last year’s answer! Yikes! I wonder if I have a photo of it. (It was your present, Jenny, lol!)

9. Do you have a nativity scene?
Nope.

10. Mail or email Christmas cards?
Neither. I don’t really “do” Christmas cards, which is slightly strange since making cards is kind of my “thing”.

11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received?
I’m not sure, but I suspect that toiletries and body lotion I turned out to be allergic to would probably be up there!

12. Favorite Christmas Movie?
Calendar Girls and Forrest Gump. I KNOW neither of them are actually Christmas movies, but I love them anyway, and they always seem to be on TV around this time of year!

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas?
November/December, although if I see something earlier in the year that I think would be ideal, I’ll get it then.

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present?
No, I think I’ve probably recycled wrapping paper though – I get that from my mother.

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas?
Dessert things, and chips. Unhealthy stuff. Nom nom nom.

16. Lights on the tree?
White lights. They don’t blink or do anything exciting though. :(

17. Favorite Christmas song?
Fairytale of New York – The Pogues. <3

18. Travel at Christmas or stay home?
In the past we’ve done both, but this year we’re staying home, I think.

19. Can you name all of Santa’s reindeer?
Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner and Blitzen! And Rudolph. (I totally saved this answer from last year!)

20. Angel on the tree top or a star?
A very tacky but awesome gold star.

21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning?
Christmas morning. Who opens them on Christmas Eve!? (EDIT: From reading various forums and blogs, lots of people, apparently!)

22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year?
People in car parks who dash in and steal OUR car park! Seriously. Who is that rude!? Also, Snoopy’s Christmas. That’s pretty annoying.

23. Favorite ornament theme or color?
Tree in living room: Red and gold.
Tree somewhere in the house: Used to hold all the Christmas cards people send us!
Tree in kitchen: Blue and silver.
Tree in my bedroom: Pink and purple.

24. Favorite memory of Christmas?
This isn’t a Christmas DAY memory, but up until a couple of years ago, I would be in various Christmas pantomimes that usually had their final night a few days before Christmas. That night was also the night of the company’s Christmas party. I have so many fun memories (and photos) of various disasters, bloopers and pranks that went on during those Christmas shows! This is one of them. Before the final night party of our 2005 panto, a friend and I decided to Christmas decorate the disability toilet in the theatre’s foyer. I have a hilariously funny video of the reactions of various people being told to go and look in the toilet, and then seeing what we had done. Yeah. I think this is my favourite. <- Same answer as the previous two years!

 

25. What do you want for Christmas this year?
I don’t know! I’m hopeless at answering this question!

PS: 3 months today since the earthquake, and yes, we are still having aftershocks, although they are MUCH less frequent now, we just had the first decent sized one in about a week (that I noticed). Brooke, I BET there’ll be one when you get here!