a small slice of an update

At my job I am paid to write emails and read newspapers and look at books. I also spend lots of time packaging up books and making tea. I go home each day feeling like I have spent the whole day on a hobby; I sometimes feel like I am on holiday from university but then I remember that this is Real Life, well until June anyway.

I guess that old proverb about finding a job you love (etc etc) is true.

I think I'm back in the rhythm of full-time work, although I haven't worked such long hours for awhile. I get here at 8:30am each morning and tend to leave at 6 or 6:30pm, and usually eat my lunch while still writing emails. I'm not complaining – it just wears me out continually getting home after 7pm and still having to find time to make dinner, perhaps do some chores, and do other things like call Mum or read books.

But still, I love my job. I am learning, always learning - I'm working with the two best bosses I'll ever be employed by. I couldn't ask for a better opportunity. I'm fearful of what is going to happen when my internship ends... Big decisions to be made.

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Yesterday was surely the first day of autumn. Actually, it felt more wintry than autumnal (NB: one of my favourite adjectives ever; I think because it makes me think of C.S. Lewis's Mr Tumnus); I even had my red coat on. I see that as a fairly definite sign that summer is over. Not long before I can dig out my winter boots!

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A photo of me with some of my friends from school. This was taken at Sam's wedding, where I spent the whole night nattering to the people in this photo.

Even without seeing them more than once or twice a year, I still think of them as my good friends.

review

Since arriving back from holiday, I have: new glasses; made salsa verde (thumbs up); rejuvenated my herb garden (read: replanted everything except the flat-leaf parsley, which is the hardiest plant I've ever known); joined a gym; had a great haircut, maybe even my favourite yet; had a catnap most afternoons.

I read some books over the summer break. The Year of Living Biblically (A.J. Jacobs) was quite good, but I had expected more. It was getting tedious by the last chapter, and then it ended abruptly. Animal, Vegetable, Miracle (Barbara Kingsolver) is still accompanying me wherever I go; I've found it a good book to read in fits and starts, which suits me. The Post-Birthday World (Lionel Shriver) was excellent – this was probably the only fiction I read in 2007, and it was great. A bit heavy on the similes, however in all, a well-constructed plot. What a clever woman.

Lined up are: Towards Aotearoa (David Eggleton); What I loved (Suri Huvstvedt); a selection of Peter Gossage's picture books (thanks to my staff discount at Reed/Raupo); and re-reading Franny and Zooey (J.D. Salinger). That list will keep me going for awhile – for the last few months of 2007 I only seemed to read for the 10 minutes before I fell asleep. I remember a time in my life when I would devour a book (or more) a day; I could read my way through whole library shelves over the summer holidays. I guess that has to change when there are bills to be paid.

Goals for this year include: staying out of hospital; continuing my everlasting search for clothes that look good and keep me warm; refining my recipe for caramel slice until I reach the ultimate confection; find a permanent job in publishing. This year I am also looking forward to seeing my name in print again (more than once, actually – more information when the books are published), inviting friends from Dip.Publ for dinner, night classes, and finally working out how to use the rowing machine at the gym without hitting my knees.

Finally, below are assorted photos from our holiday over the festive period.

Happy 2008, everyone.

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Trip to Auckland Zoo, 27 December

Guess the city!

Hint: Festival of Lights

Need another clue?

That's right – Sunny New Plymouth.
Jeremy and I spent a night there on our way home from Auckland.
It was really great; the Govett-Brewster Gallery was fab. The above photo was taken from this rock/mountain we climbed up. I'm surprised it wasn't blurry, because I had jelly-legs; there wasn't much between me and a 50-metre drop to the ground...

Kowhai Park in Wanganui

My dream house

mery christmas

I've just finished my six-week contract at Reed Publishing, coincidentally on the day that Reed Publishing stops trading as a separate entity. From next year, Reed will be Raupo Books and an imprint under Penguin Books. The last six weeks have been an interesting time, and I have worked on many books. I'll let everyone know when they are going to be released over the next year.

2008? Well, I'm going to be in Wellington for at least six months: I have an internship at Awa Press in Wellington. After that – who knows?! But it is comforting to know that I have three weeks' holiday to enjoy and then a job to go to; a publishing job in Wellington, no less. So 2008 is going to be another year of change and excitement. And that, really, is probably a good way to live.

Lastly, I want to wish everyone compliments of the season, and I hope that you all get to spend time with the people you love.

Jeremy and I at my graduation party in November