On This Day

So I didn't go up the coast over to the Wairarapa. But I did walk around in the sun, and partake in that typical German tradition of having icecream in cold weather. The sun was shining and it was a glorious day. The Gelato just added to it.

It is a little scary though to think that this time last year I was well settled in Germany. In fact I was getting ready for a short excursion to Copenhagen with some friends from New Zealand. Such good times, I remember drunkingly stumbling through the rain sodded streets of Copenhagen, obscenities falling from our mouths as we managed to find our way home from the greatest Irish bar, having left partaken in a couple too many drinks with the Spanish covers band. It was a momentous time.

So much has happened though in a space of a year, and those events have seen me grow and change. It hardly seems like me who was in Germany those many months ago, let alone travelling through Europe to Berlin, Amsterdam, Barcelona, Dublin, Dresden, and of all things the University Games in Koblenz. They were great times, brilliant memories, and leave me with no regrets.

Even now I wouldn't change anything. I gave my whole self to everything on that exchange, and given myself to everything since. I've learnt that it's the best way really - every experience was brilliant, every moment divine, all because I held nothing back.

And that's the one thing I would say to anyone who ever asks: when you hold nothing back, the worst that can happen is you learn about yourself through pain and discomfort, but the best that can happen is that you get absolutely everything from everything you do, from everyone you meet and even more. There's far more to gain than there ever is to lose. And that's something I'll treasure and won't change.


And on this day, I finished my German Language Classes and took this photo out in Klein Flottbeck. It still makes me smile.

Transatlantacism

It's amazing what a good night's sleep can do. That and the stunning weather we've been blessed with this weekend. It makes the completion of the first Profs assessment worthwhile.

I think I might head back out to Martinborough, or maybe Eastbourne in a bit. It might be nice to walk round the bays again in this glorious weather.

The Irony

Those that know me well know how my mind tends to work. For want of a better description I operate on memories built on sounds, turn of phrases, senses, and images. As anyone who has talked to me can attest, my train of thought can progress through many stations along the line to my final destination, changing tracks based on one or many of these senses.

So with the recall of memory, one simple thing can trigger a flood. This can be a great thing for exams, for trivia, and for storing large amounts of information. It does not, however, bode well for times like these when it becomes so incredibly apparent how thin my emotional thread really, truly is right now.

It's quite simple really, I should not be watching movies like The Holiday.

Relishing My Geekdom

This last weekend gone by I was in Martinborough with some law friends, actually the Vis Moot team I'm coaching for next year, and we had an awesome time just chilling and generally being law geeks.

I ended up having a long and intense discussion about the nature of Intellectual Property, and the problems with copyright. It was very refreshing having people with different ideas than my own, and that we were more than happy to share and discuss all of this. We also had discussions on a number of other things such as law students and the growing conservative numbers, opposed to the liberals we normally foster at Vic. All in all, it was a great time, relishing my inner geek.

It got me thinking some more on the possibility of doing a Masters. No idea what it would necessarily be in, as it was pointed out to me over the weekend that although I'm working in IP, my expertise seems to be International Sales Contracts, Conflicts of Law, Arbitration, Bill of Rights, and Human Rights. God knows how that all fits together. But there's a possibility of something coming out of that.

But all intellectual discussion aside, we did go to Palliser Bay and see the seal colonies, as well as heading to Waiohine Gorge. It was amazing fun. And most refreshing and relaxing.

Drop of a Hat

Sometimes there's nothing better than just mucking about with friends, and good friends where conversation just seamlessly flows from one thread to the next. Throw in a board game and a couple of beers, and you've got the recipe for a night of release.

It sounds weird, but there's something to the unbridled laughter friends can bring. Therapeutic might be one word.

I seriously have some of the best friends.

A Tale of Two Cities

For those not up with the play as of yet, I'm no longer doing the long distance thing - and no, it's not because there's no distance any more, it's because the thing is no longer there. Hard to hear that you'll never get more than just a piece of someone's heart, and that they don't think they can give any more. Heartbreaking in fact.

But it's probably infinitely harder to admit something like that, come to grips with it, and then know what it'll do to someone. So you have my upmost respect, and understanding.

I'm just moving on, learning from it all, and feeling pretty good now really. Two days of moping is enough for the moment.

Crushed.

So this is what it feels like.

So, Auckland huh?

Work decided to send me up to Auckland short notice. It was an eye opening experience, as in I learnt alot about myself. Dealing with some dodgy requests from a Partner will do that to you - thank heavens for Ethics and Professional Responsibility at law school. At the very least my ass is covered.

But it was a good time, and it made me realise how much I like Wellington, but how ready I am to move on if an opportunity arises. It's kind of scary how simple it was for me to just pick up and go on short notice. I didn't feel out of place at all, and managed to find a routine pretty quick. Excellent. Bring on the States.