Stuff and Things: Good Bye Fiji

Sunday, November 3, 2013

Good Bye Fiji

So finally the time came when a decision needed to be made. We had been hanging on in Fiji trying to conserve money whilst I waited for a work visa to start a dive job I'd been offered. The problem with getting the work visa was that I was already 'in country' so special permission was required in order to apply for the work permit. My would be employers were unable to provide me with accomodation in the mean time or hurry the process up so it simply became unmanageable to continue waiting, this was compounded by the fact our friends Russ and Sue wanted crew to sail to New Zealand departing as soon as a weather window allowed. Fate it seemed was pushing us away from Fiji for the time being at least.

A BIG tip if you would like to work in Fiji, make work contacts before you arrive, (if you are a dive professional there are plenty of opportunities!!!!!) then when you land and have to fill out the little form at the airport, simply tick that you are there on business, this gives you a 3 months working visa provided you can prove you are employed within 2 weeks of arriving. Simple!!! From there you can get 6m or 3 year visas although it gets a bit more complicated.

Anyway I bit the bullet and decided to move on and a 1050nm open ocean voyage seemed to be the right choice.

I am a little gutted Fiji didn't pan out as we had hoped but we got a very real experience of living there and met some amazing people. I will miss the sugar and honey, pineapples, curries and weather. Also we will never know what happens to our wee puppy but we did all we can for her.

Good bye to Fiji and hello to the next chapter.....

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Her and Him

Stuff on Things

Things is a Marine Biologist I met whilst working at the Environment Agency we both worked as high tech bottle fillers. Instantly attracted to her out going personality, love of everything sci-fi, drinking abilities and almost being as loud as me once a few too many had been consumed I knew we were going to make a good team. We subsequently went to an Alice Cooper gig after a works doo where we went dressed as Thundercats (Things outgoing personality). Things is also a competitive type like myself so once a pool table was introduced to our relationship things really kicked off!! Pretty much any game we play now is a fight to the death!! (In a loving, caring, affectionate way of course). She is one of the most generous, selfless people I have met who is always willing to help some one else, sounds cheesy I know, but true none the less. Sick bags at the ready!!

Things on Stuff

Well, I'm not sure how to follow that, blush!!! Stuff is an ecologist by degree but lives for surfing, it is his passion and at times obsession. He is intelligent and very funny although not as funny as he thinks (he is guilty of laughing at his own jokes on occasion) and he is loyal almost to a fault. He's a bit of a worrier, but generally about important things which is good as I am something of a risk taker with less concern of consequences. He also holds fairness in very high regard. He can match if not out do me in alcohol induced volume and there's no one I'd rather hang out at the pub with.

A good friend coin the phrase 'Ginger Adonis' to describe him, he is indeed, red headed and blue eyed and modestly unaware of his charm. Don't tell him but I'm proud to call him mine!