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November 21 Pigalina is Going For CitizenshipEarlier this year I thought I would finally go ahead and apply for New Zealand citizenship. I've been living here for almost 13 years after all. My main reason for doing so was to avoid buying a $25 year-long visa any time I want to go to Australia. When I called to get my application form the man informed me that there was a $400 fee and the processing could take 2 years! I decided I would rather just buy the visas, I don't go to Australia that much. Anyway, Mummy Pigalina, fearing New Zealand civil war and deciding that she may one day want to live in the beautiful sunshine of our larger island cousin, decided that she and Daddy Pigalina would apply for citizenship and offered to pay for me and my sister too. Easy peasy, fill out a form, attend a ceremony and get a native tree and a certificate. Then I am free to come and go from here as I please. The form however is rather large and rather intrusive. In order to decide if I "ordinarily reside" in NZ I have to list any time spent out of the country, each address I have had and the dates and any jobs or benefits received and the dates. This is actually quite a big task! I have had many jobs and the dates are not well documented. They want to know your eye colour and height, if you have ever been overpaid while on a beneift or had to pay a tax bill. This will mean a long time on the phone to the tax department because I honestly can't remember. They would also like to know about any fines you have had - this includes speeding so I have to look back through the mists of time to try and remember the date of a speeding ticket about 9 years ago (though luckily the photo was sent for at the time to determine who was driving so I should be able to put the exact date). My favourite questions on the form are numbers 20.6a and 20.7: "Are you or have you ever been associated with a terrorist organisation or involved in acts of terrorism?" "Are you or have you been involved in a war crime or a crime against humanity?" Both have nice little tick boxes next to them so any terrorists and war criminals can tick "yes" and then post in their forms. After filling out my lovely 11 page form and sending in two passport photos and $400 (of mum's money) I have to sit back for up to 18 months and in the meantime I will be asked to provide a huge wealth of original personal documents including old passports. It's a good job I am a hoarder. Then I have to attend a ceremony (there is no getting out of it) and say an affirmation of allegiance. What a faff. My native tree better be a goodie. January 11 No Book For PigalinaI was in the fabulous shopping metropolis known as South Dunedin today waiting to have some tyres fitted on my car. Whilst strolling past the many, many second hand shops I noticed a copy of The Queen and I by the fabulous Sue Townsend. It was only $4! I went inside to pay and the man swiped my card and then - "Invalid Transaction". They didn't take credit cards and that was all I had on me (makes a difference to how I used to be). I told the man I would go and get some money out and would be back.
As credit cards start charging interest straight away for any cash you get out I didn't want to have to use an ATM and get out $20 when I only needed $4. I also needed to top up my cellphone so I trotted along to the post shop. After waiting in line with bogans and a stinky lady it was finally my turn. I asked for a Vodafone recharge and $4. The lady set up the order and I swiped my card. "Invalid Transaction".
"Oh, can I not get cash out on credit?" I asked.
"No you just can't use credit to pay for Vodafone, not at the Post Shop." What? What a stupid rule that is, usually it is the other way around, you can pay for whatever you like but no cash out. So, I trotted off down the street to the bookshop, even further from the second hand shop where I wanted to make my purchase. I approached the counter and asked: "Can I get cash out and Vodafone recharges from here using credit?" The lady kind of looked at me. I continued, "because other places won't let me." She kind of edged away fom me and muttered that the man would serve me. (I suppose I was looking quite menacing in my pink hoodie). So she repeated to him what I had asked and he swiped my card. "Invalid Transaction".
"You can't get cash out with credit" He informed me. Didn't I just ask that to save the embarassment? By now I was getting annoyed (it doesn't take much) so I took my phone top up and left. Bah! I went back to the tyre shop and read Cosmo which told me about the hottest looks for 2005.
Now I know why South Dunedin is full of morons, nobody can buy a book without hassle.
Also today was my reading and sorting test, it was easy, shame I don't want the job. January 02 Tonight We're Gonna Party Like It's Two Thou Sand 'n' SevenThis New Years Eve was a quiet but fun one. Mr Pigalina and I spent it at my parents with my two cousins, my aunty and uncle. We played Cluedo and Buzz Jungle Party. That's Buzz Junior, for children, yet still the forty year olds in the group had some issues with how to play. The countdown passed without too much cheering and no images of partying masses. Mum and Dad have a new TV and, farcically, it took seven minutes for them to get the TV back onto a channel and it was 00.06am by the time that we finally managed to see Meatloaf belting out a tune.
Though it was a rather fun night, it was not as we had planned. The whole night had been planned out before Christmas. We were to have a barbeque and then boogie the night away at the disco bar to The Jackson 5. Imagine our suprise when the hosts of the barbeque went away on holiday the day before this planned shindig. We were told to fear not because camping was on the cards. There were four problems with this idea though:
1 - The Pigalina's do not camp, we require proper toileting facilities.
2 - Shaun is dreadfully allergic to pollen so a night upon grass would see his eyes swell shut and his nose turn into a river.
3 - The organizers had not selected a location.
Most of all though, number 4 - None of us owns a tent.
After that little revelation plan 2 was thrown out of the window.
It was then that Mum rang to say that my family was down from Christchurch and we decided to spend the night with them. We decided that we would meet up with the others in town for the countdown.
People, who may or may not be named Murray and Shaun, were supposed to text us when they got to town. No text came and, as we were highly engrossed in Jungle Party, we decided that they must have stayed at home so we gave town a miss. However it seems that they did go to town and did indeed dance the night away. All knowledge of my telling them to text us has been denied yet sitting in the sent items on my phone are two messages reading: "My aunty is down so we having tea at mums text us when you get to town :)" and "Tee hee text us when you get to town." I shall forgive them, eventually. After they admit that they must learn to read properly.
The 1st was also mine and Mr Pigalina's 4th wedding anniversary, aww, we are old. Well that was how the year began. The first two months are already pretty much mapped out for me too. I have about two weeks of work then I am off to The Big Day Out (woot) and turning 25. Then February sees a trip to Australia and unemployment as of the end of the month. Yes, I must look for a job again. My favourite. So who knows what I will be doing for the rest of 2007? Hopefully something exciting (dream on Pigalina, dream on).
November 21 Ahhh ahhh uuuuuuhhh uuuh I'm stil al-liiive (Not dead, just busy).This season I are have mostly been a mixture of very busy and very lazy. Assignments are due, work has been calling me in early, and I have had a variety of social occasions to attend. Saturday, which was supposed to be a day of study, was spent getting distracted by YouTube. Lovely, lovely YouTube.
This week I am going to the hospital for the cinematic experience that it my oesophagus. More than anything it gives me a few hours off work which has been very demanding on my time of late. Fingers and toes are crossed that they will actually find something wrong and do not just label me with “irritable bowel syndrome” which the doctor confessed is just what they say when they have exhausted all options.
I also really must get onto writing some more movie reviews as I have watched a few lately, including some shockers, such as Benchwarmers.
Mr Pigalina's birthday has been, and yet he still has had no birthday present because I have no idea where it has got to. According to the email I received he should be enjoying his gift right now and lavishing me with love and praise about how awesome it is. Alas, I fear it has fallen victim to New Zealand customs who seem to like releasing international parcels in batches. For all I know it has been sitting in Auckland for a week. And there I was thinking that the internet can save me from the horror that is other people doing their Christmas shopping. I may still have to venture out into the living hell where car parks evaporate; people seem to walk slowly in front of me or into me; trolleys get left blocking aisles; the supermarket gets crowded for those ESSENTIAL strawberries and after dinner mints; and damn santa hats and stupid snowmen (in the summer) pop up out of nowhere. Eek the cat, I was hoping that I could stay away but so far my experience with internet shopping has made me look like a stinge. "Oh yeah, I did get you something for your birthday.....honest."
Yes, so Mr Pigalina's birthday, and the Pigalina family traditional birthday week that accompanies it, work, study and general laziness has seen me out of action blogwise lately. I will endevour to write again soon, after I have finished this chunk of assignments. So, after that rather lovely insight into my life at the moment I will get back to writing about plot structures and which categories certain stories fall into. Woot. October 02 Filling You InI know that everything I do is so incredibly fascinating and when I don't update you on my happenings then you all get bit anxious. Well, fear not, I am now not overwhelmingly busy and can have a little natter.
I am doing correspondence study and (as usual) left doing some of my assignments to the last minute. It was not entirely my fault though as important matters often crop up to take me away from my studies. Such as Prison Break marathons. After a week of late nights I managed to get them in on time, with a little help from the same day courier run from work. Hurrah!
I am having a little break before I begin my next lot - on Wednesday, unless we are watching more Prison Break.
I thought I could handle working 40 hours a week and taking two papers. I feel I may have been a little optimistic.
I have my appointment already for my camera-into-belly expedition. 22nd November. I will have to find my Roland Rat toy out, I cannot go to hospital without him. It would be fun to be able to video it too, just so I can have a good old look at what I look like on the inside. I will ask if they will let me.
That's about all that is happening really. Mr Pigalina and I went away last weekend to Invercargill (aka The arsehole of the world as Mick Jagger once dubbed it). It was rather fun, except we got bitten by a lot of sandflys when we went to Porpoise Bay.
I have also watched a couple of movies, I haven't reviewed one for ages, naughty Pigalina. I will do so right now! August 20 Snow Fun Being Scared of HeightsThis week I am telling myself how big and brave I am. "Little mate, you are so brave" I tell myself. "You went on a roller coaster...twice!" I declare. "You even opened your eyes on the pirate ship, albeit briefly." Why such powerful affirmations you ask? Why am I telling myself that I am not a weiner? Well, we are off to the skifield this weekend.
I have been many a time and I have tried both skiing and snowboarding but I have never managed to advance beyond the level of a flailing beginner. Why? Because I am TERRIFIED of the ski-lift, and heights in general. This is why I spent last year's trip sliding down a hill by the car park on a plastic sheet with my friend E-Boo (who is not scared of the lift and used to do cross country skiing).
This year I am more determined because I now have my own snowboard. This may seem a stupid purchase for one such as myself, who shakes and whimpers on the ski-lift and once (I have only been on twice) cried a little. However it was a super bargain (plus it is peach and has a fish on it, how could I pass it up?) So you see, so that it is not a waste of money, I must bring myself to master the lift. Mr Pigalina helped me to get onto the roller coasters and he will help me with the lifts. (He better *shakes fist* (I can't believe I just wrote one of those action things)). One fabulous time that I went on the ski-lift I was with my Dad and Raft. I asked them to tell me when we reached the top so that I could open my eyes and get off. Alas, they didn't tell me and the ground came up underneath me and I fell off the lift. "We thought you would open your eyes when we got to the top." How am I supposed to know when we are at the top when I have my eyes closed?
I went to try on some snowboard boots to rent for the weekend and alas, they do not have a women's size 10, so I have to wear men's size 9. How embarrasing, such giant feet. (Mr Pigalina said that if I tell people I can't think it is that embarassing). My big feet have been with me since birth. It was one of the first things my Dad thought when he saw me. "Rabbit feet" may have been bandied about. I have to get on the ski-lift without freaking out otherwise I will have the humiliation of that, giant feet and a useless board to contend with!
August 12 My Poor BrainAh poor me, beavering away studying in the evenings and at the weekends. Goodness, when will I learn? I mean I had to spend half of my Saturday doing puzzles and looking at Where's Wally? in Hollywood. Mentally taxing.
My two Children's Literature papers are great! They are really interesting and quite fun. The assignments will get harder than "Locate as many activity books as you can...solve the puzzles and enjoy them." I am putting off the harder ones for now though - procrastination being my middle name and my motto being "Why do today that which can be put off until tomorrow"? (Also known as "Hard work pays off later but procrastination pays off now.")
Anyway, enough blog, Wally must be found. And the Wizard.
July 02 Busy Bee, Busy MeI haven't written on here for quite a while. I have just been so busy! I will try to do better, I have a lot of movies to review including World's Fastest Indian, Plan 9 from Outer Space, Waiting and Superman Returns (Hint, it will be getting 5/5).
Yes, so I have been busy watching movies, working and I always seem to have my weeknights booked out in advance, not necessarily with things I want to do.
I have also just enrolled in Diploma in Children's Literature, to further my aim to die highly enducated in interesting, but mostly unusable,areas. So it looks like I will be getting even busier. Mr Pigalina asked when I will do my studies, will I do it one night a week? "I was thinking one hour a night while you are cooking tea" I replied. His face hinted to me that this may not be happening.
April 07 Pigalina Has Neglected YouI have a new job, as I have already told you. I now get to have WEEKENDS! It is so fantastic, I will actually have a Saturday where I get to do things with my friends and family; one that I haven't had to book at least 2 weeks in advance.
However, as much fun as this may be, I have very little Internet time. I don't get home until after 6pm and then there is tea to think of, unless you want poor Mr Pigalina to live on Fish Burgers and Nachos (his culinary specialities, which by the way are very yum, especially the fish burgers). Then it is usually time for Coronation Street or something else equally as engaging which leaves me no blog time.
This is terrible but I will endevour to keep it up to date.
My new job is in an office, yet we only have INTRAnet, the poo kind of network that tricks you into thinking you can go looking at what The Backstreet Boys are up to lately or checking your email for hilarious chain letters. Alas no, you can only look at a select few sites pre-approved by the IT team.
I have had an interesting first week, the morning seems to drag but the afternoon zips by pretty fast. Which is good, it used to be the other way around. I now work in a large organisation which sends parcels. I will say no more, lest I say something naughty on here which will end in a smacked bottom.
Did you notice that my profile no longer reads "Salesperson"? Oh happy day.
February 16 The Library, My Nemesis.The library, why does it hate me so? I suppose it is because we used to be such good friends, the disloyalty that I showed it has caused it to resent me.
Dunedin Public Library and I used to be great mates. In fact my love of the library can be traced back to my first library love - Bedworth Public Library. It was here that I learnt of Adrian Mole (I copied the audio book and listened to it for hours). I would make a trip to the library every Saturday morning (in those days £1 could get you a Smash Hits magazine, a Mars Bar AND 2 or 3 books from the library's sale section. Good times. (What a nerd)).
I used to go to the Dunedin library once a week with my Dad. Anyway, DPL annoyed me a while ago by making you pay to get books out. You had to pay for the best-sellers (and still do). The whole point of a library was so poor people could still read. Anyway, the thing that really got to me was they made the time you could have books out a lot less and bumped up the prices of fines. For this I refused to go, choosing instead to read my extensive collection of books at home.
My heart thawed this week however when I had some time to kill. My hours at work have been slashed which is annoying yet still rather fab as it means I have time to do things like go to the library. I had some books in mind and, to my joy and suprise, they actually had them. I picked up Q magazine December 2003 (the only one that I have not read since I began my collection in 1999) and the three volumes of The Diary of Samuel Pepys. Well well, so far so good. However, when I went to the self-issue machine (I prefer this then my selection of books cannot be mocked) it said that I couldn't issue any books and had to go to the counter. I thought that maybe my card had been made inactive and trotted over.
Alas, I was informed that I couldn't have any books as my fines had exceeded the maximum limit. They stood at $23.50. WHAT?! I looked on the screen and was horrified to see that I had $4.50 fines on four books, plus fines on two others. Of the six I had read 1 and a half. Damnation. It turns out that I had not been to the library in 2 years, coinciding with my boycott over the fines and rental time issue. (I note that it seems to be back to how it was, at least rental time-wise. I hope I did not imagine it).
I had to get my books held aside until the next day as I had no money to pay $3.50 and thus be allowed books again. So, yesterday I went and picked up my books, all was fine, I loved the library again.
Today I had yet more time to waste in town so I got my laptop out and got one of the DVDs off the library shelf. I was merrily watching when to my horror my computer informed me it was going to hibernate and promptly shut down. Where was my warning? Of course I had left my laptop powercord at home and the damn DVD was trapped inside. The cursed library was probably chuckling at my misfortune. I had to pay $4 and rent the DVD. Grr, the library did it on purpose.
January 19 Happy Birthday PigalinaIt is my birthday tomorrow. I will be 24.
I am starting to feel old, when I was younger and I thought of the future 18 was going to be great, never mind 24! I would have a kick ass job and would be driving my flying car (admittedly the flying car dream was in the 80s, by the time the 90s rolled around and we were no closer that dream withered away).
24, one year more and I'll be 1/4 of a century. Nobody goes "Pwoar! 24 eh?" about girls, not unless the person doing the pwoaring is over 50.
Anyway, enough of the feeling old, I will be enjoying a Lost marathon and Singstar 80s party this Saturday in celebration of my ageing. We had a bit of a party last weekend too but alas no batteries in the camera. Hopefully there will be some embarrassing antics that I can put up soon :) |
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