When I started my first day of the work experience ‘vintage’ period last week, I picked up something and felt a ‘snap’ in my back. After two days of pain and painkillers I decided it was wise to go to the doctor (although friends/flatmates had to convince me). He diagnosed a bulge on one of the lower back discs. He prescribed some medication and physiotherapy which I could organise straight away next door. The doctor thought it could take 6 weeks to fully recover; the physiotherapist said maybe 3/6 months when unlucky. I better not listen to those stories!!
Of course I planned to stay at home a few days and then I would be better, but unfortunately that hasn’t happened yet. This morning I could hardly get out of my bed and needed a good dose of painkillers to be able to move and sit. Walking and lying down on my back seem to give me most relieve.
I now only have two problems:
1) Will I be able to get my work experience? This is necessary for my Diploma;
2) How am I going to finance my studies for the rest of this year, since I had planned to make a lot of hours, so I could save some money?
My first goal, however, is to try to sort out my back. Sending some positive vibes this way might help!!!
Anita
21/03/2009
13/03/2009
What's Up?
First of all I want to apologise for taking so long to write an update on my whereabouts. However, I do not hear a lot from some of you readers of this blog either. You might all have very boring lives, or your lives are so exciting that it is hard to write about it? I am curious to know which of it would be in your case…….
My planned cycle tour in January unfortunately did not eventuate and in stead I started working in the vineyard where I will be doing my ‘cadetship’ for two years while finishing my studies. At this moment everyone in the wine industry is getting ready for the vintage and so, also me! Next week I will be changing the vineyard for the winery, which will be a new experience again. Everyone was having barbeque parties last weekend, because from this week onwards no one in the wine industry will have time to socialise. On Friday I was too tired and so I even skipped a barbie, but on Saturday I went to some Chilean friends of mine who had only Chileans and Argentineans around. Unfortunately, I noticed that my Spanish had deteriorated quite a bit in the mean time. Even though we have a Chilean living in our house, who is here to work during the vintage; but he only wants to improve his English and thus is not improving my Spanish language skills.
But the best thing that happened lately is that the house in Wellington has been sold and our financial settlement has been done. This has been a very difficult process the last months, but now I can start the next part of my life. In the short term future I will be here in Blenheim, but the longer term is open to a few opportunities. If anyone has some ideas about it, please let me know.
Autumn clearly is on its way, since I even had to wear gloves in the vineyard – keep in mind I start working there at 7 o’clock in the morning. And also first time this year there was some snow on the mountains – beautiful sight! Apart from that it is a bit noisy in the vineyards and it reminds me of the weeks before and after New Year’s Eve in The Netherlands when you hear occasional fireworks. Here these are the bird scaring devices. Although a lot of the rows with vines are covered with nests against the birds (they love to eat the ripening – sweet – berries) it is necessary to get them out of the un-netted vines.
The crew for the vintage has nearly all arrived. It is a great mix of Europeans: two Italians, one French, one Spanish, one Greek. It will be a very interesting time.
I won’t be on line a lot in the upcoming weeks during vintage, since that will mean working 7 days a week for around 12 hours a day – so I am off and looking forward to some ‘gossip’ from your side that I will be able to read when I am resting from the hard work.
Anita
My planned cycle tour in January unfortunately did not eventuate and in stead I started working in the vineyard where I will be doing my ‘cadetship’ for two years while finishing my studies. At this moment everyone in the wine industry is getting ready for the vintage and so, also me! Next week I will be changing the vineyard for the winery, which will be a new experience again. Everyone was having barbeque parties last weekend, because from this week onwards no one in the wine industry will have time to socialise. On Friday I was too tired and so I even skipped a barbie, but on Saturday I went to some Chilean friends of mine who had only Chileans and Argentineans around. Unfortunately, I noticed that my Spanish had deteriorated quite a bit in the mean time. Even though we have a Chilean living in our house, who is here to work during the vintage; but he only wants to improve his English and thus is not improving my Spanish language skills.
But the best thing that happened lately is that the house in Wellington has been sold and our financial settlement has been done. This has been a very difficult process the last months, but now I can start the next part of my life. In the short term future I will be here in Blenheim, but the longer term is open to a few opportunities. If anyone has some ideas about it, please let me know.
Autumn clearly is on its way, since I even had to wear gloves in the vineyard – keep in mind I start working there at 7 o’clock in the morning. And also first time this year there was some snow on the mountains – beautiful sight! Apart from that it is a bit noisy in the vineyards and it reminds me of the weeks before and after New Year’s Eve in The Netherlands when you hear occasional fireworks. Here these are the bird scaring devices. Although a lot of the rows with vines are covered with nests against the birds (they love to eat the ripening – sweet – berries) it is necessary to get them out of the un-netted vines.
The crew for the vintage has nearly all arrived. It is a great mix of Europeans: two Italians, one French, one Spanish, one Greek. It will be a very interesting time.
I won’t be on line a lot in the upcoming weeks during vintage, since that will mean working 7 days a week for around 12 hours a day – so I am off and looking forward to some ‘gossip’ from your side that I will be able to read when I am resting from the hard work.
Anita
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