Phrase of the week: Parlez vous anglais? Ou se trouve la gare?

Another week has gone by and so much to say! Been working on the tan but also on getting a new job :)

Thanx to everyone who has emailed me, nice to hear from you :) If I don't reply straight away I will get back to you eventually :) Oh and wishing my lil brother a happy 24th l'anniversaire!

Oh now this is a pic of Antibes on the left here or it might be above when I post this. Been walking this dock to ask for work in 35 degree heat - hot work! It's been so incredibly hot here, day after day of perfect weather but it's a curse when you're running around in a shirt and shorts trying to find a job!

Had some fun at the crewhouse I'm at, good people and good times. Many afternoons lying on a sun bed taking in the sun and drinking a beer! Yes I know I never drink beer but there's something about the heat here that makes you crave it - it's the only thing that quenches the thirst! However for those Frucor people reading this I have had many a can of orangina, and have bought countless bottles of water, prefer evian but there's so many different brands. Some of the mineral water here is horrible, far too much magnesium so the water tastes like metal - yuck! Anyway I'm digressing already. There are four pet rabbits living here, which is quite hilarious cause the hop around the back yard all day. Have keep doors closed or the hop inside. There's also a little dog, I have no idea what his real name is but I've named him moppy cause he looks like a mop with a smile haha. The beach is walking distance but it's stoney not sandy, but it attracts a surprising amount of people that rock up there everyday with their inflatable loungers and rings - all the rage. I think I've just about got used to the driving on the right hand side of the road.... funny to have to actually think to look right first before crossing the road - no near misses yet :)

Well I don't wanna right a novel here so here's a few highlights for ya

• Night out in Antibes and Juan Les Pins last weekend - got access to a vip area and had a ball on the dance floor - we got the train home at 6.30am ;P




• Went to Cannes on monday and had a look around (it's beautiful) before heading to my medical appt (have to get a special med certificate to work on yachts) and it was a lot further than I thought - got a bit lost but I made it there - but had to walk back to Cannes as there weren't any more buses back - grrrr




• Had my first job interview with the chief stew of a 54m motor yacht.... but missed out on the job unfortunately, but good experience to have the interview




• Met up with my friend Nic who is on a massive 94m yacht. Had a few beers at the hop store - the place to meet in Antibes.... oh had a few G&T's too :) Nice to see a familiar face and catch up with her after a few years.




• Got day work through one of the agencies for the next day on a 34m charter yacht that had one day between charters to get the boat ready. Got picked up by the skipper who drove us to Cannes and I was hanging onto my seat as he was cuttin sum serious corners - mind you, everyone here drives crazy. Got to the dock and the captain picked us up on the dingy. He was a Kiwi... from Wellington! haha classic. He thought I was an experienced stewardess though so was a bit surprised to hear it was my first yacht (agency's mistake I think). Because the boat was anchored it was swaying quite a bit and I'm sad to say it only took about 20mins before I was sea sick throwing up in the bathroom, and freaking out that I wasn't going to be able to work. Luckily the stew gave me some wrist bands and seasick pills, as I felt so sick! Luckily it passed once we were cruising and we docked at Nice thank god! Worked 9 hours and basically polished every inch of the interior, vacummed and did some detailing (i.e. cleaning with a cotton bud, 'polished' the magazines etc)..... that's the thing about yachts is they always have to look so incredibly pristine that that shine and a finger print shall never been found. They put on a nice lunch for all the crew and I ended up working till 8pm so I can't have been that bad for them to keep me on late. I cleaned the galley for the chef and had to watch live lobsters being put into boiling water - it seems so cruel and they certainly put up a fight!




• Ok that was a ridiculously long bullet point above but it still makes me feel like this is less of a novel




• It was my first time in Nice yesterday and it ended up being a half hour walk from the boat to the train station and I was sooooo tired but made it home and had a swim and a rose before bed

So there's another taste of life over here. Now time to update my CV with my new experience and find some more work! However going to take the weekend off and probably going to Italy for a night - look out italian stallions!

Miss you all lots XXXXX

Kel

p.s. Have to say, the the french and italian men are the total cliche, and let's say they are not shy. I had to laugh when one italian on a scooter stopped on a busy road just to talk to me and kiss my hand.... but I have no idea what he was saying hehe.

Heat WAVE!

Hi all


Well it's been a week now and I've seen a lot in a week! But the heat wave here is pretty crazy, especially coming from winter for me.


Spent a lot of time walking aroun antibes lately and I'm quite amazed at how it manages to transform itself so efficiently. The Provencal markets are set up each morning and sell everything from fruit and vege to fresh flowers, cheeses and spices, and yet each afternoon they are packed down and the area is transformed into el fresco dining for the various restaurants. Every day! That's a lot of hosing down pavements :) Also I have often found myself thinking I'm walking down a new street but then realise it's the same street but has been transformed into a market/concert/restaurant/bar. So have confused myself a little but think I got my head around it now! It was Bastille Day on wednesday, which is the french national day. An amazing fireworks display was put on that lasted about 20 minutes. That day I took le petite train (a miniature train for tourists) to Juan les Pins which isn't far away and went for a swim there. Must say the water doesn't seem particularly clean there either, no wonder they have showers on the beach! Some good shopping to be had there although I didn't buy anything myself.



I've had meetings at most of the agencies in the last week, think I've been to at least six! No job interviews yet but have had my cv sent forward for some so here's hoping. I am most likely going to have to go dock walking next week to get some day work. It's just sorting the logistics of it as I'll probably have to get a train to a different port as Antibes doesn't have many yachts in port at the mo. But have to get there early enough to ask for work in the morning or catch them when they dock in the late afternoon, but also have to be dressed ready to work.... I'm sure I'll sort something out :)



In other news, I've moved out of the apartment and into a crewhouse in east antibes. Really nice to meet some others in the same boat as me, excuse the pun. A crewhouse is a place where yachties stay while they're looking for jobs. The lady who runs this place is a real sweetheart, very accommodating. I've got a room to myself for now with own kitchen and bathroom. There are about 15 staying here currently, we had a bbq and vino session last night so got to know them a bit and hear a few stories. There's a pool here so be nice to cool off although I think it's more the temperature of a warm bath! Lots to explore around here, but just hard to be out all day in the heat so may or may not venture out..... may even go to Monaco for some exploring there.



Been missing home slightly, but I think that's normal. I just realise how bored I get when I'm not working. It's a catch22 I guess, as when I'm working I'll just wish I could be relaxing. Anyway, go the all blacks and the warriors - I look forward to finding out the scores!! Hope everyone is well and enjoying reading this - please do write a comment or send me an email, not that I'm checking my emails every 5 minutes or anything :)

p.s. I'm missing the snow! If anyone's been on a snowboarding trip then please give me all the details!
XXXXXX

The surreal first few days in France

Bonjour, or Bonsoir to those in the Sthn hemisphere

Well it's been four days in France now and obviously I've been having far too much fun to write on my blog! I'll try to think back to the beginning and give you an overview :)

Last morning in Akl was a little hectic when I realised how much stuff I really have hoarded, really cursed the hoarding genes of my mother! Had about six boxes of stuff to give to charity and luckily my friend Amy took them off my hands for me when she picked me up, as I didn't know how I was going to get them to charity without a car. The other thing was that I never did a practice pack, and while everything did fit into my pack it was insanely heavy but I wasn't sure exactly how heavy. I was also trying to clean up my mess at the flat and was all quite a rush. Anyway was at the airport by midday and said farewells to Amy, it's always sad to say goodbye to your closest friends, but I think also the adrenalyn is rushing about the journey ahead of you! Well this may not surprise you but my bag weighed in at 32kg. Ouch!!!! They said I had to get it to 25kg (not 20kg as specified, thank god!) so had to throw out some stuff :( Also took maximum carry on luggage. Haha! I'm sure I'll learn once I've carted my gear around a few yachts and realise the need to travel light....

The first flight was pretty good, enjoyed flying cathay pacific except they ran out of the meal I wanted :( Met up with Sophie in Hong Kong (who I met on the stcw course) and we had a walk around and then I went to the showers to freshen up. Next flight was delayed a little so I watched a movie on my laptop and then we were boarding before I knew it. Took a sleeping pill that knocked me out as soon as I was in my seat! Was a bit dazed when I woke up but at least 13 hour flight went fairly quickly. Arrived in Paris at 6.30am as scheduled, got luggage and headed through customs with my british passport which was stamped by a cheekily grinning customs dude :)

Had a few hours in the airport before my train so looked around and was feeling quite nautious, maybe from the heat and wearing too many clothes! Was realising that yes I am in Paris and I don't speak much French, but still managed to get around. I figured out where my train was, stopped in for la mcchicken which made me feel much better so must have just been hungry (little did I know that was all I ate for next 24 hrs), and before I knew it i was hauling my luggage onto the TGV and finding my first class seat. I had a nice window seat with a table opposite a french lady who looked like the queen. We established she didn't speak english but she gave me a mentos every few hours! I wanted to stay awake for the 6 hour journey but started to get very tired after the first few hours of french country so think I dozed off for a few hours. Had a mix of french and canadians in my carriage, some of whom I chatted to. Got really excited when we got to Canne (i.e. Canne film festival) and saw how beautiful it was, with the train going past the coast line I could see all the people enjoying the beach and lots of yachts too. Then next stop was me, welcome to Antibes!

Since arriving in Antibes I've been well introduced to the town and the way of life here. I had heaps of sleep when I first arrived and managed to get over the jetlag really quickly before my friend Leah arrived. I'm staying in her apartment in old antibes, which is lots of quant streets where the windows have shutters and the streets are narrow and cobble paved. The french cliches are everywhere, so I've been finding it very surreal but wonderful! I can see the water from my bedroom and hear people walking past. Leah was here for the weekend and was a fabulous tour guide. She taught me how to order in french at bakeries, restaurants and gelati bars - although it's so touristy you can get away with speaking english. However I enjoy my morning "Bonjour, Je voudrais un pain au chocolate sil' vu plait" (Hello, I would like one chocolate croissant please"). The morning markets are full of fresh produce, I'm loving the raspberries and the olives. We've walked down to the quay where all the yachts are, big and small. We have walked to the beach which is only 5-10 mins walk but we've been dying by the time we're there it's that hot!

The last few days I've done a lot of walking around, eating out with friends, and swimming. We had a flashy lunch by the beach on saturday with some of Leah's friends, and the waiter somehow opened a 4L bottle of wine for us! That is one massive bottle! Ended up being quite expensive but we had fun. You can hire beach side beds there but we decided to lie on the beach instead. The water was so nice and cooling from the 30 degree heat, but I gather it's not the cleanest water. There are showers right down by the water's edge where everyone seems to rinse off when coming out. Leah's friend got a call to hear he got a job that afternoon so he bought a bottle a veuve for us to polish off - jolly good! The evenings are very balmy, no need for a jacket when out, and sleep with the fan on all night and one sheet if that! A few friends have their yachts docked near me and might have some day work for me so I could be working in the next wee while. I'm going to visit some agencies today too and do some more exploring!

I didn't mean to write a novel but there's been so much to write back about.... I hope you enjoyed the read! Love to hear back from you.

mademoiselle kelly xxxxxx

Au revoir NZ

bonjour blog readers!!

well it's my last night in NZ, hard to believe! it's nearly midnight and I'm still packing up, typical. It's a strangely good feeling to get rid of so much stuff and start afresh, but hard to let go of anything remotely sentimental! Anyway tomorrow I fly away to Paris in the early afternoon and then jump on a 6-hour train to antibes. I don't think it's hit me yet but it will be so sad saying final goodbye at airport. My dear friend amy is taking me to the airport so will be nice to have one more car ride and chat with her before I'm on my own. Very exciting things lie ahead and once I've said my goodbyes etc I'm sure I'll start to feel it! Stay tuned for all the details on the trip over..... Mwah, love Kelly. p.s. try not to be green with envy :)