New Zealand is less then a month away

Initially (as you can tell by the description on my profile) I started this as a travel blog. But soon after I started the blog my traveling came to a sudden stop and I ended up back in Melbourne. Instead of keeping this an exclusive 'travel' blog I decided it would just be my 'life' blog and would not fall exclusively under one category or genre. However in less then a month I shall be taking off to NZ (even if it is only for a week) for my friends 21st. Which means I can get back to some travel writing!
I'm not yet all that excited about NZ, and the main reason is the almighty dollar, or the lack there of in my possession. Work is quiet and my new/old place of employment is still taking forever to get me back in. So what I am currently earning is just covering my bills. Which leaves nothing for the savings.
The less money I have, the less activities I can do while I'm there. Not only that but I booked the flights from Brisbane (as I presumed I would be living on the Sunshine Coast) so I sill need to book flights to Brisbane, and I also need to change to the later flight to NZ on that day, so I'm on the same flight as my friend going over, and to make it easier to get a flight arriving at Brisbane in time for my flight to NZ (without arriving 12hrs prior).
But again I can't do any of this until I have the spare money. With less then a month to go I really need to find some extra work to get the funds up. But it will all work out. It always does. Worst situation is that I wont get to do all the things on my list while I'm over there. But that will just mean I have to return when I have more funds. Which isn't necessarily a bad thing now is it?

In a side note I've been super slack with reading and commenting on blogs. I promise to get back on top of it. Eventually ;)

Hayman Island Part II?

Two nights ago I received a call from my old manager on Hayman Island. He asked me to come back and work for him again.

WHAT THE FUCK?!

Honestly this was the last thing I was expecting. As my dismissal was changed to a resignation on the books, it entitles me to return after three months. Four months has almost passed since I left the Island.

This leaves me with a huge decision to make. Do I go back or do I stick to my plans. Now my plans are by no way locked in (apart from NZ in May). But going back to the Island will change the whole dynamic of what I am hoping to do.

I loved living on Hayman and the island life. But at least 80% of my friends have moved on. So obviously I wouldn't be going back for reunite with my friends. I was in the process of becoming supervisor, however I believe someone has filled that role since I have left. So it would be very hard for me to go back for anything less then supervisor, my AM even told me not to except any positions lower then supervisor when I left the island. And I have been told that I will be doing HDs (supervisor) after a few months of returning back to Crown.

Now my manager told me he was going to check with HR yesterday, to make sure I was eligible to return and then give me a call. Yet I have not heard from him. There are a number of possibilities as of why he has not called yet: he could have totally written himself off after he called me and forgot all about the conversation (although my AM was there as well so he should have reminded him).

He never got around to checking with HR/calling me back. Or,

HR has on my record that I was dismissed and I am not eligible to return any time soon, which makes calling me back a low priority.

In any case I have been considering the options, and if the possibility of becoming supervisor is on the cards (I've heard the current sup might be leaving soon) then I think I might take the opportunity. I really did want to finish off at that place on my own terms, plus this will give me the opportunity to win the Outstanding Achiever Award I was robbed of!

But I'm not going to get my hopes up or make any decisions until I get the call back and know exactly what my options are.

I found the picture on http://www.ffffound.com/ and it is exactly how I am approaching life at the moment.

The list

Initially once I decided I was going to spend a year (or three) abroad I had no idea where to start. I haven't been out of the country and only had stories from friends, travel guides and blogs to go by. So I decided to compose a list of things I wanted to see. Now this isn't your basic
list of monumental landmarks, or photo opportunities etc. I decided to list all the global sporting events I wanted to witness. The list then naturally progressed to festivals (mostly of the music variety), and a few other random things I wouldn't mind seeing. I have also started flicking through '1,000 Places to see before you die' by Patricia Schultz and I'm sure I will find a wealth of other things to add to the list. But for now it stand as such:

The Isle of Man TT - I have a couple of review dvds from this great race
and I just have to experience it in the flesh.
MotoGP world circuit - my goal is to attend a grand prix on every track.
NBA - in particular Madison Square Garden
MLB - visiting Yankee Stadium is a must
NFL
NHL
Soccer World Cup - if all goes well I will head over to South Africa
with my best mate (who is South African) for the world cup
Rugby World Cup - seeing as the next one is in New Zealand there is a
chance I will make it over there for the event.
The Ashes in England - nothing would be sweeter then witnessing the
Aussies crush the Poms on their home soil.
Cricket World Cup (one day and twenty20) - preferably when it is held
somewhere tropical!
IPL - seeing Shane Warne play again is a must on the list.

The Festivals:
Ruisrock - Turku, Finland
Austin City Limits - Texas, USA
Creamfields - England
Ibiza Rocks - Ibiza, Spain
T in the Park - Scotland
Roskilde - Copenhagen, Denmark
Isle of Wight - England
Endinburgh Fringe Fest - Scotland