Day 29 - In this month what have I learnt?

A 'hur' of a lot to be entirely honest........ but to name a few and not bore you to oblivion and back again:

• Spontaneity is not to be ignored
• That I do not need many materialistic objects to live contently
• To be entirely respectful, and responsible, of the little bits that I do NEED in my kit bag to survive
• Fawns aren't just found in fairytales
• The name of the conference centre just outside of Bulls is called "FLock House" - The name has been on the tip of my tongue for a few weeks!
• You can buy a taxidermied hawk for $850 in Wellington or a taxidermied possum holding a rifle for $57.95 on Trademe
• Savings do actually accumulate if you forget about them
• Pregnant woman can, and will, eat whole bags of chippies if left to their own devices
• It is imperative to keep your fingernails short during the teaching term
• Money definately does not grow on trees, no matter how much you fertilise the soil

and........

• A tiny percentage of people who want to borrow your phone in the middle of a rain storm, are in fact escaped convicts from the Wanganui District Courthouse... (remind me to tell you this particular story one day - please?)

Italian Phrase of the Day: "mostrami le tue incisioni" - show me your etchings..

Day 28 - A pikitia of me from last year, and one of now - how have I changed

August 2010...

and... December 2010 (so not 2011 but nearly!)

How have I changed? Hmmm.... Well not much on a physical level, although my locks are a little longer, and I feel rather grown up this year, but on a mental level I've learnt that it makes more of an impression to carry a staplegun around then a picture frame.. and Life is relatively about the Lines that you make.....

if only I could get a tan (and maintain one) on my legs..... oh the lines I would make!

Italian Phrase of the Day: Come si dice "crap me on" in italiano?
How do you say "crap me on" in Italian?

Day 27 - Why am I doing this 30 day challenge?

Why?

"Because we love you.." (Mickey Mouse Club)...

Because a part of me misses writing....

Because I need to get in the practice - big tricks are ahead!

and... because Mama Dee is sooo inspiring, I adore her Blog (Denita Tizard Artist) and the way she documents everything, be it with photographs, writing, painting, or video..

Italian Phrase of the Day:

"Mi è piaciuto molto" - I enjoyed myself very much

Day 26: What do you think of your friends?

"A true friend is someone who thinks that you are a good egg even though he knows that you are slightly cracked." - Bernard Meltzer

My friends.... they share loads of aroha and make me laugh until I nearly wet my pants!

Our hearts are often on the same page... but they don't mind begging to differ.....

Spontaneity is often our other best friend........

And jam sandwiches unite us.....

And gather us around the fire....

While distance never seems to matter.....

I love them more then the moon .... and that's a true story in itself!

Ciao mia bella amici xo.

Day5 - What you would find in my bag?

I've left my camera at the Balmoral manor, and I'm a day behind... But let me tell you whats in my bag this day:

1. a 'boysenberry' telephone
2. Pick-up-sticks
3. A random set of keys -not sure who they belong to
4. 2011 diary, stuffed full of found objects
5. Traces of tobacco from days long gone
6. Headphones
7. My wallet which has only just made its way back to me (thankyou Deanna)
8. Many pens.. many of which do not work
9. A crunchy organic apple from Ashburton
10. Copious amounts of EFTPOS receipts
11. A guitar pick made of paua
12. A map of Europe
13. and... Frankincense oil that has slowly leaked dry

I did something yesterday that nearly made me faint - and if it wasn't for the concept of hurting myself, perhaps I would have..! When I confided in a 'Pesky Teenager' this morning, he sung me a tune by Tracey Chapman (is she still about?), which bought to memory this legendary tune:

Italian Phrase of the Day: "Sei stupenda!" - you're fantastic!

Mucho aroha and awhi to Sarah, Ben and whaanau - I wish there was still time to get to know you and your beautiful smile girl xox.

Day 24 - A letter to my whaanau

Dear Whaanau,

Thankyou ever soooo for the red hair that tickles my ears, the laughter that causes my head to ache, and the aroha that fills my heart..

Ka te ra
Paula Ann

P.S: and thankyou for the tears that keep my eyeballs clean and clear.. all the better to see you with my dears...!

Cranberries - Ode To My Family

Italian Phrase of The Day: "Mi gira la testa" - I feel dizzy.

Day 23 - Something I crave for a lot

This morning I craved for a good ole game of the "Chronicles of Narnia" - and I fulfilled that craving this afternoon....! Cheers to Mrs Jones..

Right now I would do just about anything for a gluten free, sugar free chocolate cake that comletely and utterly tasted like the real thing! Maybe I should turn into the huntress and raid the cupboards, of where I'm housesitting as I am officially homeless, to look for buckwheat flour and organic vanilla essence - would honey do the trick? hmmmm... I believe I really need someone so skilled in this gluten free trick to just take over and feed me on a regular basis.....

I wondered, while at the movie theatre the other evening, if Cher is gluten free? By the way the movie, Burlesque, was choice - an escapism tactic, and quite similar to Coyote Ugly....

Italian Phrase for the Day: "Mi piace la torta" - I like cake.

Day 22 - What makes me different from everyone else?

Honestly..? I believe I'm different because I say I am.. and.. not too much in my life makes me profoundly different... but I know I am.. and I know this because:

1. When everyone else is watching rugby, I have no idea which teams are playing, and if, mysteriously, I happen to be roped into watching a game, I'm disappointed at the lack of respect when the players let their socks fall down.. and then I wonder how long until full time, when we can put the board game "Chronicle's of Narnia" on the table and defeat the White Witch....




2. I prefer old school folky, blues tunes and feel sooo confused when my 13 year old niece asks what my favourite Taylor Swift track is.. (is she a cousin 2nd removed perhaps?)


3. I'm homeless..... literally!


4. and.... My heart is soooo hugee, I often wonder how much aroha one's heart can contain before spontaneously combusting all over the footpath outside of Whanganui's grandest coffee house 'ZINC'...

But then every single human being, and two, three or four legged creature holds their own sense of difference - perhaps the word one is looking for is..... UNIQUENESS..

I challenge you to ask yourself: "What is unique about me?"
and if your nails are strong enough, please write your findings in the comment slot attached......

I asked Georgey (the 13yr old being above) and he patted my cheek as if to say "Get it together woman! I've got four legs, and I've just about lived my nine lives, and I've fathered sooo many wee one's - all of which I have never met.... and I prefer to sleep on the bonnet of your car instead of wrapped around your neck like all those other four-legged creatures out there.. in a nutshell, I'm a ginger King!"....

Day 21... Pikitia of something that makes you happy!

I've been playing a legendary "Chronicle's of Narnia" game with the Jones' whaanau, the white witch and a whole bunch of Asian tokens (oh no, sorry, make that Aslan token's).... And that surely makes me happy, but one trick that completely makes me happy is a grand ole game of SCRABBLE....

I must go - I have one more chance to completely defeat the white witch and ensure that Edmund the lust gets eaten by wolves... whilst Lucy the Violent sets her brother, Peter the Magnificent, up with the muscly Centaurs... and Susan the gentle keeps all the Asians for herself....

And one question: What did Father Cristmas have to do with the Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe?

Italian Phrase of the day: "Cosa danno?" - Whats on?

Day 20 - Someone I see myself marrying in the future

If marriage ever gets round to knocking on my door (Oh, hold on one minute - best I not be a Nomad then, and actually have my very own door?), I've got my heart set on a grand, strong scotsman... yes, I know, Ewan McGregor does not seem all that strong in this pikitia, but I'm hoping you get the idea..

A piece of advice crossed my path in 2010, and that is to ensure you settle your heart with somebody that meets you on the following levels:

a. Spiritual

b. Emotional

c. physical

I'm not to sure if this rolls with me because often in my life, I come across couples that are so opposite! Maybe meet on at least one of these levels?

I did find a random recipe for a man in the back of one of my journals - 'ability to use a chainsaw, and the patience to let me use one too..'! (Is this a realistic ingredient?)...

The following video clip is from Sarah Blasko - All I want.. (I'd really like to own her dress...)

Italian phrase for the Day: "Mi piace it tuo ciondolo" - I love your pendant.

Day 19 - Nicknames I have and why?

Ha! Honestly where does one start? Well I suppose the beginning is a fair enough place..

1. Poola - A whaanau pet name.
2. Annie - Oh, the ginger Afro I had as a wee one!
3. Puha - A school name that stuck from taking puha and pork bones for lunch..
4. Pu - Now this one originated from "Puha" and stuck like glue for many years and it still comes up every now and then...
5. Purerehua/Purere - I was gifted this name by a beautiful man who claimed I had eyes like the puriri moth....
6. Auny (Aunty without the 'T') - From my beloved niece as a three year old.. Even now, at 13, if she's after some awhi and Aroha, she'll whip this one out..
7. Sissa - A name that my "Sissa" and I use inistead of our first names...
8. Rere - A dirivitive from Purere.. In Maaori it means to fly...!? I love it when it is hollered "Reeeeeereeeeeee..............................".
9. Rer's - This is a southern belle version of Rere.. Sometimes with a 'Z' sound...
10. Rooster - My beloved cousin named me this when the dreadlocks began to form..
11. Paula Ann - A professional version of my birth name, and one that was used as a child if I was in trouble...
12. VASA - This must be yelled.....! Especially from 14 year old's...
13. Mama - A grand term of endearment..
14. and..... "Mia Bella Merdina" (My beautiful little shit.....)...

A Grand Brother of mine wrote the following tune many years ago, not long after i'd leapt out of a beautiful tree in Taranaki and rearrange my waewae - he rung whilst I was in recovery and played it load and clear down the phone to me.....

Italian phrase of the day: "Francesco ha un cuore d'oro" - Francesca has a heart of gold....

Day 18 - Plans/dreams/goals I have

Life seems sooo full of aroha when you are free to do what you want, but then the school holidays finish way to soon and your back to the tricks of being a kindergarten teacher, while others explore and enjoy the world. As Nina would say "Please don't let me be misunderstood", I adore being a teacher (tutore/maestro in italian) but I'm rather unsure of where I want to be a teacher right now....

Anyhow... to the PLANS/DREAMS/GOALS I have:

1. Get on a wakarererangi for absolute starters - this year!

2. Explore/work/laugh and enjoy Scotland, of which makes up a third of my being...

Italy - Note that in some weird way it is shaped like an upside down Aotearoa...

.. and.... the Netherlands..

3. Have no sense of coming home until well into 2012..

4. Laugh, love and live...... Hopefully with a grand, strong Scotsman...

5. Teach where my heart is on the same page as others... In a natural setting perhaps?

6. Write music.... and photograph the world as I see it - "The Little Things"..

Hmmm... that might just have to do for now (I hope it's not too 'airy fairy' for your liking?) as I could get randomly carried away and fill in an entirety of Blog Challenge Days...

Italian phrase for the Day: (Compliments of an Italian Phrase Calendar that my gorgeous red headed niece gave me for Christmas)

"I diamanti sono i migliori amici delle ragazze" - Diamonds are a girl's best friend..

"Paula preferisce i rubini" - Paula prefers rubies!

NB: Darling Mama Dee, I'm not too sure if this youtube clip shows up on my blog trick - it doesn't appear to on the computer I am on.. AM I missing a specific trick perhaps? xox.

Day 17 - Someone I would love to swap lives with for a day

Hmmmm..................................... I've been pondering on this for a few days now and I reckon Miss

Nina Simone..

Imagine being able to play the piano with such grandness, and to sing with your deepest of hearts soulness without fear, or even needing, of offending anyone?

I've always wanted to spread myself across a grand Black piano and sing to my dearest loved ones for hours on end.. But I would only like to be Nina Simone for one day - her ancestral happenings, and sense of racial disturbances, really kept a negative hold upon her heart (of which it would!).. Maybe I could fill her shoes with positive aroha? hmmm... I love, well completely adore, the fact that dreams are absolutely free...

And I love her tune.. "Funkier then a mosquito's tweeter..." - A legend.. which I've just learnt, was a cover from Ike and Tina Turner!?

Italian Phrase for the day: "Tesoro mio" - My Treasure.

Day 16: (Already!) A Pikitia of Myself..

A classic morning shot of me rumaging through the dress-up closet - 2011 Self Portrait taken on a Lumix camera with a buggered lens (No excuses)...

Not that one should honestly critic oneself but - how's the wrinkles around my eye's? and my nose is rather similiar to that of my beloved Grandmother..... I do love the potae (hat)...

Italian Phrase of the Day: "Sbrigati!" - Hurry Up!

Day 15: Put Ipod on Shuffle - First Ten songs that play.

One must let you know that a few days ago I plugged my itouch into a stereo and turned it on - and only 26 (out 0f 100's) songs remain.... hmmmmm.... a mystery in itself!

1. Thats's Amore - The Wellington International Ukulele orchestra
2. Rain and Snow - The Be Good Tanya's
3. One Love - Lullaby Renditions of Bob Marley
4. Samba Clarina - Balkan Grooves
5. Mama Said - The Phenominal Ruthie Foster
6. Brown Skin - Indie Arie
7. Israelites - The Wellington International Ukulele Orchestra
8. Hope - Fat Freddy's Drop
9. Words With Creation - Hannah Howes
10. One Drop - Bob Marley and The Wailers...

and one more, that if I hadn't lost all my tunes, I know it would have spun up (It always did!)...

11. Izzy, izzy, ahh - Missy Elliot

Many moons ago, I met a grand musician, Hannah Howes - a lioness of the guitar! Being blessed, as I like to think I sometimes am, she invited me to open for her twice at the Red Eye Cafe in Whanganui - I nearly wet my pants with fear but pulled it off with a grand smile upon my dile...... Check her out on YouTube (I'm experiencing difficulties at uploading tricks - sorry Mama Dee, I was paying attention, I promise!)...



Italian Phrase of the day: "Sto cercando John" - I'm looking for John! Ciao xo.

Day 14: a pikitia of my whaanau and me..

It kind of looks like I've jumped the gun a wee bit, but let the truth be known - I missed yesterday's part of the 30 Day Blog Challenge... But please do not stretch me out and behead me like my 17th great grandfather.....!

The Gorgeous Cousin's at our Cousin's Wedding...

My Aunty, Sister, Nan, Mama, Cousin and Koro!

(This pikitia was taken on a timer on the top of the

beloved port-a-bin)...

Went on a bit of a tiki-tour today - shared some grand laughter with friends and their wee one's, filled up ordinary balloons with water and created "fish" for the swimming pool, got completely excited at the thought of leaping on a plane next week (Struth.. if only I could in a financial sense), chuckled at a duck waddling inside a fancy house, and nearly got dive bombed by a thousand long dragonfly's (okay, so that's a wee bit of an exaggeration, but there were a few!).. Oh and I got a grand lesson from Denita MAd in the fine art of 'Embedding' Youtube clips to my Blog! Mille Baci Mama Dee xox.

Day 13: A Letter to Someone Who Recently Made Me Laugh

Dear Mr Jack Lalanne,
I have to say Sir, that on New Years Eve of 2011, your video clip on "Unhappy People" (see Youtube), made me laugh soooooo much... The complications of this laughter, however, caused a ginormous seritonin overload in the back of my head, and, I needed to run outside, drop my trousers, and amidst contending with the ridiculous pain in my head and a sense of dizzyness, I had to urinate on the grass of my dearest friends newly mowed lawn.

I think you should definately be held accountable for this, and if the grass wilters or my brain swells too much from the seritonin overload, I shall be invoicing you for damages as soon as it is possible!

Grand blessings and a happy hewest of year wherever you may be..

Paula Ann

Day 12: How I found out about Blogger and why I chose to begin.

Tricky tricks honestly! No... From darling Denita Tizard - I loved reading her blog.. her way of writing about everyday happenings in the 1st/2nd/3rd sense just made sense!?

Roger that - Over and Out!

Day 11: Another Pikitia Of Me & My Friends

This has to be an all time favourite pikitia of mine - A grand ole roadtrip up the Whanganui Awa with Denita, Makahu, Josy Kuri Wai (not pictured) and mama Son before she was a mama, and before Denita was a mama too! Ha! Those were the days my friends.....

In this pikitia, we are perched outside the Art Room at the Hiruharama/Jerusalem Convent - I think its been turned into a library now..

When we returned home, sunburnt and smiling, papa Shaughan was all prepped up to make us delicious hamburgers! A truly gorgeous day....

Day 10: Songs That I play when I'm sad/happy/hyped/mad...

Hnmmmm.. a tricky one! Would love to post youtube clips but unsure how..need lessons from my dearest Denita, but please do find, and enjoy, yourself....

• SAD: Xavier Rudd's "Solace"
• HAPPY: Ukulele jam sandwich - "My grandma, and your grandma"
• HYPED: Nina Simone's "Funkier then a mosquito's tweeter" and Black Market Funk Podcasts..
• MAD: Eartha Kitt's "I want to be evil" (Thanks Amanda J)

I'm currently housesitting up the top of a grand hill in Kai iwi with chickens (one of which is extremely clucky), a very old pooch, a grand vegetable garden and no water outside of the house... This home is just that, a heavenly home... I may just have to take over posession - isn't that 9/10th's of the law? Or padlock/electrify the gates? May turn into a prune too.... Ciao xo.

"Cosi fan tutte" - That is the way of all women.

Day 9: Something you are proud of over the last few days

Not hard at all - My grand ability to flash my peace lily white legs as I leapt into the ocean every day of this beautiful new year....

"A corre e cagare ci si immerda i garretti"

- By running and defecating at the same time, you'll get crap on your heels. In other words: Doing two things at the same time will result in a messs!

Ciao xo.

Day 8: Short Term Goals of This Month

.... & I have made it to Day 8 of the 30 Day Blog Challenge with out skipping a beat although I have skipped along to many beats over the first few days of 2011...

Short Term Goals For This Month:

1. Book plane tickets to explore the world...
2. Swim/walk EVERYDAY..
3. Eat nothing but organic fruit til lunchtime..
4. Keep my waka clean and clear - hoping this will keep my brain clean and clear...
5. Pour resin into the beautiful table at kindergarten, which we lovingly mosaic'd before the end of 2010...
6. Tan my white legs..
7. Ensure my positive communication skills are up to scratch before starting term one of this year..
& 8.. because this is day 8. Spend huge amounts of quality time with those that I love...

.... & I haven't touched a hikareti this year so far, and I really have no intentions of... Poo poo to "once a smoker, always a smoker"!

cough, cough, ciao xo.

Day 7: Pikitia of Someone/Something That Has a Big Influence on You..

All the Mama's and pepi

in my world of Aotearoa,

hold grand influences for me on a daily basis..

With their great sense of unconditional aroha,


patience and peaceful awhi,

they forever fill my heart..

Grazie.. xox.

Day 6: Favourite Super Hero and why?

Wonder Wahine......

I grew up with this amazing wahine, and she was every red-headed girl's idol with her super strength, super stamina, super agility, and super speed - What more could one ask for? Miss Honey and I leapt into the ocean today, and with the westerly wind creating an uncalm collection of waves, I pined for Wonder Wahine's super sense of strength to go with my Wonder Wahine hibiscus togs........

Ciao mia sorella xo.

Day 5b: A Pikitia of Somewhere You have Been

AKAROA...... ataahua!

Day 5: A Pikitia of Somewhere I've Been Too

Okay I have witness to the fact that I cannot upload any pikitia! Tis a true story....

But somewhere I have been to: AKAROA...

This should not be public knowledge but if ever I should randomly disappear.. Akaroa is where I'm bound to be found - A French town with calm people and still waters that mirror back gorgeous smiles, and the best tasting wild goat curry with horopito seed flat breads....

Pikitia to follow....

AND......... To say, to say...... Blessed of Newest of Years worth of Aroha and Awhi to all, to the nation, to the nation of nations worldwide...! Beautiful ringing in was to be had with a grand feast, new years cheer, and laughter til I nearly (?) wet my pantaloons...... Huge cheers to Brother Shaughan, Mama Denita, Jayne Twererangi and Tony Tones of the High Tunes... and that guy on Youtube - Struth Ruth, he's entirely too dangerous, and to Darling Mama Diane and Papa Timoti aka "Team Hyde"... (With tears running down her chops) "I love you's xox.

New Years Resolutions are keeping my brain warm and dizzy with the power of thinking, and no tobacco has passed my lips this new day..

Bella Nuovo Giorno.....