In recent news...

Wonder of wonders, miracle of miracles... my car is back, and both Anna and my car remained safe and sound (or so she'd have me believe) for the duration of the trip — with the exception of a chip in my windscreen, which is fixed for free under my insurance.

Thursday was an awful, stressful day though, which had little to do with waiting for the return of my car (at 8pm in the end, but only because my considerate little sister had taken it to her friend's place to vacuum it out first!). I had a job interview and a practical assessment for another job, both of which went horribly. Easily my worst day this year.

That's all good though. I didn't even want the practical-assessment job, as it was more hours than I was looking for; I went along for the practice, and I'm glad I did. If I apply for a similar job, I'll now be that little bit more experienced, that little bit less wracked with trauma.

Sadly, I did want the other job; but since the interview I knew I hadn't got it, so thankfully the stress ended then. When I got my rejection call I was disappointed, but not surprised — went back online, applied for another job, and was rung up within four hours to ask if I would come in for an interview! That interview went well, so I'm back and happy and, well, still applying for other jobs since honestly I don't have a chance in hell of getting this one. But I like that they think I do.

On another positive note, I did get offered one job. I didn't actually want it, in the end, so I turned it down; but it was good to have the option. I'm not too desperate for a job, thankfully — my student allowance covers all my basic needs, and while it would be nice to be able to have a bit more to spend on luxuries, I'm easily surviving without. So I'll still keep avidly job-hunting, but it's a good feeling to know I'm financially stable without one.

For possibly the first time in my life, I've actually been sticking to my budget this year — that's gotta make life a lot easier. I've started a student loan this semester — not because I can't afford tuition fees, but because student loans are now interest-free, and it makes far more sense to stick my moolah in the bank. If the government ever change that policy, I'll just pay my whole student loan off at that time. I understand the reasons they initiated that policy, but I don't think it'll serve to keep as many graduates in New Zealand as they'd want; and anyone in New Zealand with a student loan no longer has any incentive to pay off more than the bare minimum.

In non-financial study-related news, I've handed in all of my assignments on time to date, not even taking advantage of offered extensions (go me!), and now I'm well on my way to completing two out of my three next assignments, all of which are due next weekend. (The lecturers conspire against us, they really do.) But thanks to my once-in-a-lifetime organisational skills, partly to Angela's wonderful help and partly to my workshop group, I' ve nearly finished the first two, and have made a tentative start on the third. I gotta say, it's a good feeling. I should do that more often!

In Wellington news, Dan and I are meandering southward this weekend, for the first time in... well, a week and a half, but still. That was just a flying visit; this will be (drumroll) an overnight stay. I'm meeting up with quite a few people so far; should be good times.

And now, having covered the car-related, study-related, work-related and money-related aspects of my life, let me retire gracefully from the lists. Although I have a feeling that that was originally boxing cant, which is singularly inappropriate. Oh, and in Chaff-related news I may be starting up writing a regular column. Don't I rock? Oh yeah!