It’s Official!

By cyberevolution April 26th, 2010, under General

I just got my passport back today, with a bunch more blue inserts, stating my official status as a New Zealand resident. I am now entitled to live, work and study in New Zealand indefinitley…which for me is awesome, as this is a place I now consider to be very much my home – it’s culture is both young and old at the same time, and the people here are varied and vibrant.

This journey has taken me just over two and a half years, but now I can finally concentrate on settling long term. I have a clear vision of things I want to acheive personally -one of which is getting a degree; my one regret in life.

The question now is, what subject I want to get my degree in? I’d like to look at something which embraces all of what makes me, me. However at the same time, I don’t just want to concentrate on my strengths as this doesn’t encourage me to grow. I need to be stretched academically in order to reach my goal, so I am inclined to go for something I have not done before – but also something that will benefit the community around me; once I know what I am going to do I’ll let you all know.

It ‘may’ be Easter soon…..

By cyberevolution March 31st, 2010, under General

Indeed as the title suggests, rather than “chillax” with some chocolate and basically gorge myself on sugar this Easter; I am instead going to be partaking in a different kind of fix! ARMAGGEDON NZ EXPO has arrived again!!

Last year I managed to score an autograph from Flash Gordon, this year, I’m heading there for Paul McGann (Dr Who) and a whole heap of Star Trek stars including Dominic Keating (Enterprise) and Rene Auberjonois (DS9 – ODO)

….oooh I am sooooo excited!!

Oh the Irony!!

By cyberevolution March 22nd, 2010, under General

So here I am currently awaiting for my residency application to stay in New Zealand. Time is dragging on, the expiry date of my current permit has drawn ever so close. To the point where I run the risk of being booted out of the country….

After going through several hoops and learning some complex circus skills (it seems) I have now managed to get a new interim work permit which allows me to stay for a further six months whilst my residency application is considered, here’s the catch – I am NOT allowed to travel overseas as I have not been given a new visa….

It’s funny how to coin twists its face from one direction to the other….

In other news I now know how to make a killer cheese sauce from scratch with no sachets in sight!

Happy St David’s Day!!

By cyberevolution March 1st, 2010, under General

Happy St David’s Day, today is the patron saint of Wales’ day and in order to celebrate I thought I would share a recipe for Welsh Cakes with you all:-

Welsh Cakes!!!

- 2 cups (260 grams) all-purpose flour
- 1/3 cup (65 grams) granulated white sugar
- 2 1/4 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon to 3/4 teaspoon of mixed spice to taste (alternatively you can use half and half cinnamon and mace)
- 1/2 cup (113 grams) cold unsalted butter
- 1/3 cup (50 grams) currants or raisins
- 1/4 cup (40 grams) chopped mixed peel (optional)
- 1 large egg, lightly beaten
- 2 – 4 tablespoons milk

1) Sift dry ingredients into a large bowl mix through with a whisk to ensure an even mix..
2) Cut butter into small cubes and rub into dry ingredients until crumbed in texture.
3) Add fruit (and peel if using) and evenly mix
4) Create a well into the middle and add lightly beaten egg.
5) mix until you have a dough (add milk only if mixture is too dry, and add more flour if mixture is too wet)
6) Welsh Cake dough has a distinguished spicy aroma and once you gain experience with them this is a good guide to the end result.
7) roll dough flat until it is approx. 10mm thick (not exact but use best judgement)
8 ) either use a round cutter or cut into small squares (small squares will require much less re-rolling of the dough.)
9) Heat a griddle or large flat frying pan to a medium hot heat (lightly greased).
10) depending on size of cut-outs can be cooked in 4-5 cake batches.
11) once places on griddle watch for the base of each cake to start to turn white this will give you an indication of when the cake has browned sufficiently, turn over using a fish-slice/spatula and keep turning at regular intervals until moderately browned on both sides.
12) remove onto cooking tray and dust with some caster sugar.

Muse has hit again!

By cyberevolution March 1st, 2010, under General

Lamp lit prophecy
Stone damp;
Quill weilded as sword.
Words drip onto parchment.
Flowing as the flame gutters.
This done, in a secret place.
Knowledge of which nobody utters.
Comets fly past.
A waxen moon is cast –
Seventh son of a seventh son at last.
Into a cold world born
Stone damp;
Lamp lit prophecy.

A prize to the one who can guess my literary inspiration!!

Quote of the day!

By cyberevolution February 25th, 2010, under General

This comes courtesy of “Twitter” originally but this is a cool quote that I had to share because it’s sooooo true!

Brent Spiner (aka Data from Star Trek) – “it’s only via mediocrity that brilliance emerges” I humbley support Brent in his search for mediocrity

Glandular Fever Maybe???

By cyberevolution February 24th, 2010, under General

So I resumed work on the 22nd February almost a full month after being signed off work with severe swollen glands, fatigue and a temperature. Whilst I have never received a positive diagnosis from blood tests taken in A&E on the 5th February all the symptoms fit.

Taking each day as it comes.

I was unlawfully evicted last night just to add to my adventure ;p I won’t go into detail here, just in case legal proceedings are required to preserve the private rights of all parties concerned, although mainly me. I am still reeling in shock and I am extremely lucky I have such a caring pseudo-family nearby who have taken me in.

In other news thanks to my illness I have lost yet another 1/2 stone, putting me firmly under 85Kgs.

A Taste of Taupo

By cyberevolution January 30th, 2010, under General

So – amidst getting over one of the most persistent viral bugs I have ever had the misfortune to suffer, I figured I would sort out a couple of my photo’s from recent travels, whilst it will take me a good while to upload them all I thought I would share this one –

There will be more to follow as time allows… gonna upload most to Facebook first though :)