Hey Skyring,

Had a bit of a crappy week last week. I lost my wallet and the [nasty word goes here] person who found it decided to do the dishonest thing and use my credit card instead of handing it in to the police. Luckily they only spent $20, and the bank hasn’t charged me for it (thanks ANZ!). The really annoying thing is that my work credit card and 98% of my receipts were in it too which is going to be fun when I have to do recon, but work know about it, so hopefully it won’t be too much of an issue. Plus my drivers license, 2 days after I’d finally booked in to do my full license (this Tuesday!)

Then of course there was the Christchurch earthquake. I was glad to find out that no one I know was hurt in it, but I didn’t find out about one person until last Friday which was a little stressful. And seeing the pictures is pretty hard. We both love Christchurch, and I always say that if I couldn’t live in Wellington then Christchurch would be my second choice. Well maybe not right now… There were so many awful stories, and some good ones obviously. This one from Amanda Palmers blog particularly got to me.

The weekend was good, got some of my cards replaced (well mostly just eftpos, bus card, and dl), had brunch with my Dad and family for his birthday, dinner with another friend for her birthday, watched Glee with Kirsty today, and had a BC meetup today.

All was going well until the bossman asked if I could go pick up truck driver man after taking the truck to the next school, and I said yes, of course I could, and went to proudly display my new temporary drivers license for him. And couldn’t find it!

I searched through all my gear (yes, there are clothes all over the floor of my bedroom (oh yeah I’ve got my own room now!) now), couldn’t find it anywhere. So I frantically jog up Cuba St to see if I can find it. Nothing. On the way back I stop in at ALL the shops that are still open asking if anyone’s handed it in. Nothing. I’m kinda depressed at this stage, and don’t want to face the workmates, so I decide to walk along the waterfront to one of my favourite parks, which has awesome swings.

When the playlist ended, I figured I should probably make my way back to the apartment where we’re staying at the moment. But as I was passing Te Papa, there was a man carrying an extraordinary amount of bags. I offered to help him carry them, and he declined, but we walked together for a bit.

Turns out, he had been picking up groceries to take down to Christchurch where he’s off to tomorrow to help out with search and rescue. He normally is involved with bush rescues, but they clearly need as much help as they can get, so he’s off to help out there. Once it became obvious we were heading kind of in the same direction he did let me help him with the groceries.

I told him about my wallet, and how I didn’t think the police station would be open at this time of night, but he said it would be, and encouraged me to go and report it missing, and once I realised how close I was to the station, I figured it wouldn’t hurt. Plus it meant I could carry his groceries for a little bit longer.

So I went in to the police station and said my wallet was missing, and what was in it. AND THEY HAD IT!

So I would like to send out some love to this random stranger who is not only going to help people in Christchurch, also got me my wallet back. Also to the person who actually handed my wallet in. You both seriously rock.

Now I can just start freaking out about the driving test on Tuesday!

Love, Discoverylover

Hello, Discoverylover!

I looked through the Australian Red Cross’s blood bank website today. Checked off the requirements – had to be within certain weight and age restrictions and so on – and then looked for a place to give blood.

I couldn’t find any slots free on the 14th of February, and then I noticed that the website doesn’t allow bookings less than seven days in advance.

So I rang their number and explained that I was giving blood because a friend was doing it on the same day. “Where are they giving blood?”

“Ah, New Zealand,” I replied, “but the location isn’t important, the day is.”

After a little hunting around, she found me the mobile blood bank, which on that day is going to be parked within easy walking distance for me.

I’ll report back on the experience. I’m a complete novice at this, but I’m sure that the knowledge that I’m doing it for Becky – and you – will put a smile on my face.

As for smiles on faces, here’s what comes to mind when I think of blood donors: Tony Hancock!

Yours aye,

Skyring

Hey Skyring,

First off ((((((((((((((((((((((((((Skyring))))))))))))))))))))))))))))) It’s always nice to know when other people think I’ve had a good idea! And that they’re going to do the same

Second off, don’t worry too much. It seriously doesn’t hurt that much, just like a scratch. And (as I said) if you laugh or cough while they put the needle in then it relaxes you, and hurts way less! And you really don’t have to look when they do it/when the blood is coming out. I don’t!

Third tip: take a light book. You’ve only got 1 free hand, and unless you’re a bleeder like me (I think my record is 11 minutes or so!) you can’t hold your book up for that long with only one hand :p Daydreaming is a great alternative too though, and thats probably what I’ll do for my 11 minutes! Plus I know you’ve got some awesome things to daydream about

Either that or think about Becky. And her family. Also a viable option

And then you’re done, and you can honestly say you’ve helped someone out that day Or 3 people if you believe the NZ Blood Donor site says.

Love, and hugs, and smiles
- DL

Hello, Discoverylover!

It’s me, Skyring. With Becky‘s birthday coming up soon, you mentioned that you were going to mark the day by donating blood.

Becky was an organ donor, and I know that even though she’s no longer here in an everyday sense, she lives on, not just in loving thoughts, but in the lives of the people who received the parts she no longer needed.

So your donation announcement struck a chord with me. Somehow I’ve managed to avoid giving blood. I’m terribly squeamish on such things, and when I got a blood test a year or so back, the sight of my living blood being drawn out of my arm was quite disturbing.

But, in memory of a sweet little girl with a big smile and generous heart, I can’t hold back. I’ll organise to donate blood on Valentines Day, her birthday, and I’ll wear my “Becky’s Hugs” badge.

Thank you Becky, and thank you Discoverylover. You’ve helped me see the world in a rosier light.

Yours aye,

Skyring

Hello, Discoverylover!

It’s me, Skyring!

I live for travel. I have a lust for distant places and experiences and people. To see the scenes of my favourite books and movies. To look down on exotic lands from ten kilometres up. To be on holiday, master (more or less) of my own time.

I spent years travelling around the world on my own. It’s fun. But every now and then, when I’d be looking out over the Golden Horn, or gazing into the slick of oil bubbling up from the Arizona, or browsing through the Tate Modern, I’d wish that I had someone to share the experience with.

And nowadays, I try to make my big trips with friends. In 2009 I went around the world with my daughter, and we had such a wonderful time in those fourteen days, making the crossing at Shibuya, walking the Royal Mile, cruising down the Seine, watching the Mets get crushed, and having a BBQ dinner with you in Washington.

Spending a week in the midwest with you was fun. So much fun!

And driving to Switzerland last year with five of us crammed into a Volkswagen, it was a pleasure to get out and explore quaint German cities or ask for a Luxemburger or go Double Dutch in Amsterdam.

My April is going to be one long roadtrip. I’ll take my two children, a fellow BookCrosser, and a friend of my daughter’s, and drive drive drive from San Francisco to DC, via the Grand Canyon, New Orleans and Cape Canaveral (and a zillion other places), where I’ll meet you for the BookCrossing convention.

Spending time with friends and leaving books on every monument in Washington.

And then we’ll head off West, taking that “highway that’s the best”. Spending three weeks with you, snarfing and BookCrossing our way across America, taking silly photographs, listening to Sister Hazel, and just having a blast sharing the experience.

Kind of like sharing a blog with a friend, I suppose. The whole is more than the sum of the parts, as they say.

Yours aye,
Skyring