Last Day at Work

work, work, work.
chocolate cake, speeches.
Patted the printery cat farewell.
then I walked off into the sunset



at least that's how I remember it.

One Month's Notice

In case you haven't heard, Chris has not renewed his contract. So we will be returning to Dunedin soon-ish. Won't that be...cold - I mean, cool. I mean FREEZING.

I've given my one month's notice at work and I've been told I may keep my uniforms.
I did feel obliged to say, "No, no, I should leave them for someone else" - Even though I was secretly hoping to keep at least one - as having a Hawaiian shirt on hand solves all my party costume requirements forever.

My generosity was met with laughter and I was told my shirts wouldn't fit anyone else. Ever. While I would like to think this is because I am 'slender' I think it's probably I am considered "child sized" if you know what I mean...

Situations Vacant

So, you want to live and work on a beautiful tropical island like me? Then check the Pacific Jobs website...

Cool Again

I thought working for 7 hours in 30 degrees was hot, but last week peaked at a staggering 34 degrees. (Inside where I work, I mean, not just outside in the sun). I think I only managed to survive the entire day as it happened to be pay day. (Old fashioned pay packets here, folks).

But the searing heat is in the past. The aircon was fixed this week, praise be. Work is now a mild, I might even say, chilly, 24 degrees. Long may it continue.

Working Hard or hardly Working?

Well at last, I am a lady in uniform and I can feel like a real local in my Pareu (flowery) shirt, my CI News work shirt having been altered now fits perfectly. How I chuckled and dished out many Magnum PI quips when we first arrived and Chris was presented with a Hawaiian style shirt for a work shirt... I should have known karma would give to back to me. The bonus with my shirt is it's also handy camouflage should I ever require it, see below.

Picture 1: All Unformed up and working studiously at my CI News desk (can you see my feet tucked under the desk - I'm wearing jandals. And sometimes, sometimes I even kick off the J's and go barefoot. Ahhh the good life) Picture 2: Where am I? Where am I? Work shirt / Camo gear.

Spoke too Soon

The air con at work conked out again. Poot!

Meet the Crew

The new uniforms at work have been delivered. Here is a photo of the CI news team in their lovely new shirts. Mine didn't fit :( but it's being fixed.

Permitted

Just heard yesterday that my work permit has been permitted, so I am now an official member of the CI news team. No, not as a journo, I'm the Graphics Assistant. That means creating the supermarket and other shops ad layouts etc.

Happy Dance

I have been offered the job I applied for at the CI newspaper. Yay! Of course, assuming my work permit goes through, it means no more long lazy afternoons sipping G&Ts out on the deck while the palms trees sway overhead, but six months of being retired and I am ready for a new challenge.

& No, I won't have to wear a Hawaiian shirt - CI news is one of the few places that doesn't have a uniform. Sorry to disappoint.

Catch-Up

I may be coming back out of my "retirement" as I have dusted off my CV and have applied for a job with one of the local newspapers. The job involves assisting with their website and creating graphics for adverts. So, please cross your fingers for me. Speaking of websites, I am helping the Cook Islands Library, where I volunteer, create their own Blog. Check it out HERE.

On the home front, Chris has just completed his diving PADI course. On his last dive they saw Eagle Rays and reef Sharks. Eeepp!

End of Year Xmas Function

The big CITC staff Xmas do was held tonight. The theme was a “Night at the Oscars”. The best part of the night was the skits - lots of men in drag, and some well thought out dance routines. The admin/pharmacy team won. They acted out some recent movies, and Chris was Lucy Lui from Charlie’s Angels. But with his long black wig I thought he looked more like Yoko Ono.Pictured: Giant polystyrene Oscar statues and red carpet lead staff into the party.

Compulsory Fun – Part 2

Well it rained. But still, fun times were had all round. Chris scored a bullseye in the darts challenge and had to climb a tree to find a stuffed toy. Other challenges included canoe paddling, cycling, puzzle making, flag building and drinking Raro’s famous—or is that infamous—“Noni” juice, which is a reported cure-all tonic. It has a fearsome reputation for being vile tasting.

Chris’s team came 2nd overall in the race. They are pictured here building their flagpole.

If that wasn’t enough excitement for one weekend, Chris is currently off on the Marine Research boat having a close up view of the whales.

Compulsory Fun - Part 1

This afternoon after work Chris has to attend a team building exercise. Him and the other 200 or so people that work for CITC. The event is meant to be like the Amazing Race where teams compete in quirky challenges. I get to tag along to take photos, so hopefully I shall have something interesting to report back here.
The weather today, if you can believe it, is actually overcast and drizzling and a “cool” 20 degrees. But that’s probably a good thing as they think the “race” will take 4 to 5 hours & I don’t think I could last just being outside for that long on a normal day let alone imagine how tough it would be for the competitors. We shall see.

Free Show

This Saturday past an entertaining show of dance and drums was put on in the carpark of CITC where Chris works to launch a new cultural dance DVD.

He works hard for the money

Chris was put straight to work. His new workplace is in the CITC department store located in the main township of Avarua.

His uniform consists of: shorts, sandals and a Hawaiian shirt. All the staff have matching Hawaiian shirts – each one handmade.