During her time in power, Jacinda has made some commendable decisions, such as the banning of semi-automatic rifles and the suppression of the Christchurch terrorist's manifesto and video. However, her tenure has also been marred by controversy and sorrow, particularly concerning the pandemic and its associated lockdowns. One issue that particularly troubles me is her government's decision to withhold the name of Grace Millane's killer until 2020. In my view, individuals who commit such heinous crimes, like rape and murder, should face public accountability rather than being afforded anonymity and potentially comfortable living conditions in prison, as seen with Kempson in Paremoremo, near Albany, north of Auckland – the same facility that houses the Christchurch terrorist. They should be named and shamed, as soon as they are outed as killers, and should not be allowed to live a luxurious life behind bars, but instead live out their remainders of their life with only the bare needs, and nothing else. While Jacinda may no longer hold the position of prime minister, the repercussions of the Covid restrictions persist. I've experienced the loss of friendships, the development of unhealthy lifestyle habits, exacerbation of PCOS symptoms, family and online relationship conflicts, increased stress and anxiety about the economy, and now I find myself having to undo these detrimental habits and cope with the emotional toll of lockdowns and PCOS-related mood swings. The lockdown in 2021 instigated conflicts among my friends, leading to arguments, anger, and tears, ultimately resulting in the loss of at least five friendships, one indirectly. I attribute much of this turmoil to Jacinda, as her policies directly impacted our lives, and the lingering effects continue to affect me deeply. Jacinda may no longer be the prime minister, but the damage has already been done. That's something I can never forget or forgive. Neither Christopher Luxon nor any future prime minister can alter what has happened. I eagerly anticipate leaving all of this behind and embracing a happier, healthier future, particularly in a post-pandemic world. I'm also excited about pursuing a career as a fashion designer elsewhere. While I can't forgive or forget her actions, I believe that even in the darkest of times, there are silver linings, such as exploring new hobbies like learning French. The pandemic era, including Jacinda Ardern's leadership, has left a mark on my history and memories, but I refuse to let it define me. Instead, I will forge ahead, cultivate new friendships, and focus on building the future I envision.
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Now that 2023 is over - and that we are still in the New Year period, this is a New year that comes with a set of goals that I have decided to put together following the disastrous 2023. This year, I want to move on from the past, make peace with the household and make myself a better person. I have already checked one thing off the New Year eve resolutions this year - that is to delete my photography account from the X platform following Musk's failure to remove and ban Nazis and trolls. Taking everything into account of last year, as well as that of the previous years, I want to learn from what went wrong, and learn from my mistakes to be a better person. I want to avoid making the mistakes of the past, and move on to creating a better future. With all the global conflicts and the ongoing pandemic going on, along with economic and physical challenges that come with these, I want to focus on myself and make myself a happier person, as I realize that I cannot help what is going on in this world. Here are my list of goals for 2024
Note that this is not a complete list. There will be challenges that I will face this year, and especially in the face of current global conflicts and events this year, but I will strive to do my very best and make myself a better, a healthier and a happier person. If I can complete these goals, as well as some others not mentioned here, I should be a much happier person compared to last year. Nothing comes without challenges along the way, but these goals are realistic and are possible to do. And with that, this year should be a great improvement compared to that of last year, and the previous years.
Note: The embedded video contains flashing effects, which may affect some people, particularly those with photosensitive epilepsy. If you have photosensitive epilepsy, or are sensitive to flashing effects otherwise, please scroll past the video and do not watch it.
2023 was a hit and miss. Well, most times, miss. I am glad to see the back of 2023, with no going back. Having said that, there are some memorable moments of 2023, like finally being able to skydive, checking more things off the bucket list, visiting new places and doing different things. So I will be highlighting some of the good memories as well as reflecting on the bad events that have happened during the year.
With all COVID restrictions finally ending, a new challenge emerged: friendship issues that had arisen with some of what were once my good friends, including one I had been friends with since intermediate school. There was a personal conflict that caused her and me to become ex-friends, and although I will never forget that, I will move on from it. There was also minor conflict on my dad's side, which has since been resolved a long time ago, and an incident at a music festival which resulted in me being kicked out of a chat group on what was once Twitter - now known as "X". Personal conflicts with friends and family ensued. At the end of the year, my best friend stopped talking to me after my mother called the doctor on me when I was supposed to meet up with a guy I came across on Badoo, a dating site. The date never happened, as I was so upset about the conflict that ensued with my mum that I wasn't up for it. There was also a conflict over a nude bungee jump that I wanted to do, but fortunately, in the end, I got to do it anyway. It also didn't help when it was confirmed I did have PCOS - and the readings are pretty high.
If all of that wasn't bad enough, we experienced the Auckland Anniversary floods and Cyclone Gabrielle hitting Auckland. The Anniversary floods were so severe that our tenant's flat was badly damaged, necessitating major repair work and renovation. Just a few hours after I completed the 5-hour Black Abyss tour in Waitomo, torrential rains in Auckland caused flash flooding. The floods reached our tenant's flat while we were in Waitomo. The cyclone also made it nearly impossible for us to sleep at night due to the intense wind and rain, forcing the entire household to sleep upstairs and, beforehand, move things to higher ground. It also prevented anyone, including myself, from going to West Auckland beaches such as Muriwai and Piha, as well as other affected beaches. The storm impacted businesses, some of which had to shut down for months, affecting the economy and the tourism sector in the North Island. We had an exceptionally wet summer, with the wet weather persisting throughout much of the year. Consequently, I wasn’t able to snorkel or take surfing lessons. Parts of the North Island were totally off-limits to everyone except residents. Adding to this mix were the cost of living crisis, the ongoing war in Ukraine, the recent events in Palestine, along with a still ongoing pandemic, and other global issues.
There were also positives to 2023. I checked off some items from my bucket list, which I had never done before—like skydiving, paragliding, hanggliding, going down the Kaituna Rapids, and visiting Yosemite National Park in California. Other good things that came out of the year were Christopher Luxon becoming Prime Minister, Kiri Allan getting arrested after crashing her car and later resisting arrest, Jacinda Ardern resigning as Prime Minister and going on a long-haul trip to San Francisco—the first time I had been to the United States since 2015 and also the first long-haul trip of this decade and since the pandemic began. Additionally, I have been traveling around the country and to Australia multiple times, in addition to going to San Francisco. I also took up horse riding lessons, which is a new experience for me as well.
In conclusion, 2023 is a year that I'd rather not repeat, marked by friendship issues, both mental and physical health challenges, personal conflicts, and even freak weather events, including a cyclone. The aftermath required major repair work, disrupting our daily routine, proving to be costly and time-consuming.
Starting 2024, with me likely having contracted COVID while in Australia, doesn't make matters any better. Furthermore, conflicts in both Gaza and Ukraine persist, along with the ongoing pandemic. However, let's hope that in 2024, things will settle down, and it will be a much better year than the previous ones.
NOTE: This blog contains a movie spoiler reference.
When the barbie movie came out, everyone was excited. This movie created a "barbiecore" trend, which swept the globe by storm. Instagram posts were flooded with everything pink: Pink shoes, pink fashion, pink toys and everything else you name it. There are even holidays, events and competitions dedicated to Barbie and Ken. The movie, which I have seen now, is not only a really enjoyable film, but also an important one. It touches on the importance of feminism, women's rights and also on women's health. As some of you may not have seen the movie, I won't be revealing the exact line here, but here is a hint: The movie is trying to send an important message to women and girls that it's important to get medical check ups for any issues relating to their reproductive system, and also to see a gynecologist for these issues.
Taking the barbiecore challenge a step further, opting to do two bungy jumps in Queenstown, while embracing the Barbie theme. For one of them, I decided to attempt a topless jump. Before my Queenstown trip, I had dressed up according to the theme multiple times - once for attending a Beauty EQ Long Lunch event, another time for watching the Barbie film Barbie itself. I chose to bungy jump topless from the Kawarau Bridge, located about 25 minutes north of Queenstown. My aunt wasn't pleased with the decision, and became upset. (I'm 25 years old, a fully grown adult, why does my aunt think she can control my choices and be upset about my decision to go topless?). This kind of situation is one of the reasons I will never convert to Christianity, or become a Catholic. Another reason is that many Nazis associate themselves with these religions. In the end, I chose to keep my jumper on to appease my aunt. Fortunately, my jumper was oversized, just like the top I was wearing underneath. A positive aspect about this site was that it was a waist harness, rather than a full body harness, allowing me to place the jumper over the it. The experience was incredibly enjoyable, with a genuine adrenaline rush, and to my surprise the top actually actually slipped down, exposing my breasts!
A video of the bungy jump captures the moment when my jumper slips down, exposing my breasts. This can be seen towards the end of the video, especially when zoomed in.
Two days later, I visited the Nevis to experience all the activities there - bungy jumping (which was even more intense and thrilling), the swing and also the catapult (finally got to go on it this time, was supposed to try it last year at first, but the ride malfunctioned and we got a refund as a result). This time, my outfit was a bit different. I arrived at the Nevis, dressed entirely in pink - except for my shoes. Additionally, it was snowing creating a truly beautiful scene. Both the bungy and swing were incredibly enjoyable, but the catapult, despite its claim of intensity, fell a bit short for me in terms of the thrill level (although it was entertaining). It's interesting to note that just last December, I experienced the slingshot ride in Surfers Paradise, which subjected me to forces equivalent to 6G (twice that of the Nevis Catapult), propelled me to a height of 90 meters, and reached speeds of 160-180 km/h. Furthermore, considering that the Nevis Catapult falls short in terms of both thrill and duration (the Nevis Catapult ride only lasts around three seconds and is only 100 kms worth of speed) compared to the one in Surfers Paradise, its price seems a bit excessive. The Slingshot ride, in contrast, is notably more affordable. The Slingshot ride costs A$40 (NZ$65), although our expenses were higher due to purchasing the video. On the other hand, the Nevis Catapult is priced at $230 NZD ($212 AUD); however, the activity's duration is significantly shorter, the speed is also less impressive, and it doesn't truly involve substantial heights (unless you consider being suspended in the middle of the valley). Moreover, access to the Nevis Playground (where the Nevis Catapult is located) is restricted to the AJ Hackett shuttle service, whereas the Surfers Paradise slingshot can be reached using various modes of transportation, including walking.
The jumps were not only incredibly enjoyable and memorable, but they also carried a significant intention, considering that I had dressed up for the occasion. Moreover, the intention was to convey an important message to everyone, particularly to girls and women. One message I aim to convey to girls and women is that it's perfectly acceptable to go topless when engaged in activities that naturally require it, as well as to breastfeed your baby in public without feeling the need to cover up. Another message is to be authentic, pursue your individual hobbies and goals, and refuse to let obstacles hinder your progress. An additional message emphasizes the importance of prioritizing health - both mental and physical, which was exemplified by Barbie (whom I dressed up as), who visited a gynecologist at the very end of the movie, portraying her as a relatable human character.
Bungy jumping isn't commonly viewed as a feminist activity or even a contemporary women's extreme sport, despite its origins in the traditional practice of land diving, which is a custom originating from a group of indigenous tribal women in Vanuatu. Before AJ Hackett and co-founder Henry Van Asch commercialized the sport, they made bungy jumps accessible to the public for the first time, marking a historic turning point.
Unfortunately, in today's modern world and outside of Vanuatu, like most extreme sports, bungy jumping is dominated by men, and the fact remains that despite the fact that women came up with the original concept, bungy jumping is highly patriarchal, due to in part, the fact that men are more likely to jump, and also, the fact that men can jump topless in almost all locations, whereas women will have to get permission from the jumpmaster or the company itself to go topless. Furthermore, in certain places, such as Taupo, women aren't permitted to jump topless at all, whereas men can do so. Likewise, similar to any sport, including extreme ones, and even resembling gym visits, women often experience sexualization based on their attire for jumping. Videos of topless women can find their way onto adult websites (this isn't an issue if the women in the videos uploaded them voluntarily or provided consent for sharing), sometimes without proper consent. This situation occurs in certain instances due to the way the public perceives women's breasts. Furthermore, bungy jumping involving topless women might be considered a fetish by some, primarily because bungy jumping can carry a notably sexualized connotation for women. This is partly due to elements like adrenaline and arousal, as well as the attire women typically wear for jumping, including leggings, sports bras, and shorts.
I'll be highlighting instances of sexism and misogyny within bungy jumping. This is ironic, considering that the original concept was conceived by women from a small Pacific Island country. What's even more ironic is that, at one point, AJ Hackett Bungy used to offer free jumps to those who opted to go nude. To start with, women are restricted to going topless only on days when there are fewer children and families present, and this permission is granted at certain locations as well. In contrast, men have the freedom to go topless anytime in most countries (except, possibly, in some Middle Eastern countries with strict modesty laws where both women and men are required to be fully clothed for bungy jumping). This leads us to the issue of racism and sexism, all justified under the pretext of being "family-friendly." Another concern lies in the comments made on social media and even in public spaces. Women often face sexualization based on their attire, regardless of whether they are covered up. Women encounter significant amounts of sexual harassment simply for wearing leggings and a sports bra while jogging or working out at the gym.
Misogyny is not just an issue in bungy jumping. It is an issue across the entire sports industry, including the extreme sports industry - and indeed, also the tourism industry as well, especially that tourism and extreme sports collide with each other.
Another aspect to consider is the realm of social media platforms and their respective policies. One such platform is Facebook, which is renowned for its practice of removing content showcasing the female nipple, and this extends to the extent that artwork, food, and beverages portraying nipples are also subject to removal. This can also encompass individuals engaging in extreme sports, such as the scenario of bungy jumping. This situation becomes notably troublesome when the convergence of social media and extreme sports featuring topless women occurs. Entities like AJ Hackett must exercise utmost caution when uploading videos depicting topless women engaging in bungy jumping, to prevent triggering actions from Facebook, and other social media platforms like Facebook as well, such as Instagram. Numerous businesses have encountered instances where their posts featuring nudity were removed without adequate explanation or justification. In severe situations, business pages and even the accounts of the administrators and owners of these pages have faced account removal from Facebook and other social media platforms, all for the aforementioned reasons. However, this principle does not apply to male nipples. Nonetheless, in certain instances of close-up shots, Facebook and other platforms might also remove male nipples, owing to their resemblance to female nipples, which can lead to confusion among the platform's moderators.
The tourism and sports industries need to improve in terms of treating all genders equally. Individuals need to cease the practice of sexualizing women and individuals identifying as being part of the LGBTQA+ community simply because of their breasts and nipples, and that includes making inappropriate comments about what they wear, both on and offline, and engaging in other inappropriate behaviour, such as catcalling. The normalization of topless and nude bungy jumps (and similar extreme activities, contingent on the specific activity and local regulations) should extend to all genders. This principle is applicable to any activity involving nudity, not solely limited to extreme sports. Nudity is a natural state and is not harmful (unless indecent exposure is involved). Tourist and adventure operators should demonstrate respect for individuals' decisions to engage in nudity, unless safety requirements, or local laws of where the adventure site is, dictate that nudity is prohibited. Facebook, Instagram, and other social media platforms should discontinue the practice of removing images of women's breasts and nipples (except in cases of non-consensual sharing or involving children, naturally) and shift their attention towards removing genuinely harmful content, such as cryptocurrency and Nigerian scams, Neo-Nazi/white supremacist material, other forms of terrorist content, and fictitious or impersonation accounts.
The takeaway from all of this is: Be true to yourself, prioritize your well-being, and know that it's acceptable to be topless whenever the opportunity arises. Concentrate on your aspirations and interests, embracing life to the maximum. Meanwhile, social media platforms should prioritize the removal of genuinely harmful content like terrorism and Holocaust denial posts, alongside dangerous misinformation, including conspiracy theories. They should also initiate the prohibition of accounts participating in scams, fraud, and impersonation. In contrast, topless bungy jumping and other naturalist activities like skinny-dipping should be left undisturbed. Individuals should refrain from associating bungy jumping with sexual activity or viewing it as a fetish solely due to a woman's attire or her choice to go topless. Keep in mind that being topless doesn't imply consent, and it's imperative that no one uploads photos or videos of individuals bungy jumping nude onto adult websites without the explicit permission of the individuals featured in the media. When it comes to clothing for bungy jumping, there's a single guideline: Wear whatever you prefer, as long as the chosen attire isn't constructed from delicate material prone to tearing, doesn't have an excessive amount of beading that might detach (like beads, crystals, and sequins), and isn't emblazoned with offensive, hateful or other inappropriate content. Such content could include Nazi or other hateful symbols, cult ideologies and symbols, references to genocides, mentions of controversial ideologies like communism or anti-alcohol movements, or instances where a tragedy or natural disaster is made fun of. If you're free from any serious medical conditions or recent injuries that could affect the jump, meet the minimum age and weight requirements, and have the necessary funds, then go ahead, enjoy yourself, and welcome the adrenaline rush that accompanies the experience.
2023 has just started, with nearly a month into the year now - and things are looking much better this year than 2022! Especially with the certainty now - and with Jacinda Ardern stepping down, and that almost all covid restrictions are lifted. So now I should find it a whole lot easier trying to accomplish some goals, especially working towards what I really want to be - a fashion designer, a model, an artist and a photographer - and getting a job! Also the other good news is that I am now 5 years seizure free (I have epilepsy unfortunately), so if I have the time, I can move towards studying the road code and learning how to drive - although, given the environmental concerns we face today, if I get a driver's license, I will opt to drive in a more sustainable vehicle, like choosing a car or a motorbike that runs on electricity instead of petrol. This year, I aim to be a happier, healthier person and go on more adventures, and get a job. I also have goals for taking up new hobbies and meeting new people, and making friends with them. Just as with any other year, I aim to be kind and nice to people, be organized - especially around social media posting and content creation, plans for events and daily or weekly routines such as skin care. I will also partake in new experiences that I have never done before, and go to events that I've never been to before, and the same with new places and trying out different and new types of food and drinks to me - places that I've never been to before, and food and drinks that I've never had before. Unlike previous years, I also am going to put my health first - especially my mental and physical health, in addition to happiness, as usual. I will be cutting out toxicity from my life, including removing toxic people, try to consume less negative news* - especially news surrounding the Covid 19 pandemic! And I will be thinking about the positive things this year and will aim to be a positive person who can contribute to the community more. And when I mean health, I mean reducing stress, spending more time exercising (another bonus is that being fit means I can enjoy doing adventures and extreme activities), eating well, spending quality time with friends and family, and making sure I am in good health through checkups. Oh, and I will try to avoid getting sick as well. Covid isn't much of an issue for me, but isolation is not great, having done it last year. *Bearing all of this in mind, I will, of course continue to be concerned about any global event, including Covid, the economy, the war in Ukraine and other issues. But I will be trying not to be so anxious or stressed over it as much now that we are in more certain times, now that covid restrictions are almost gone. I have pursued extreme sports (including bungy jumping) and bodyboarding as a hobby, a new one that was born out of the pandemic and will be taking up more, which will be a mixture of good things. I have also been to high teas and have done luxury shopping, both of which are new hobbies that I have started in late 2021/start of 2022. This year, I will take up more hobbies, in addition to continuing on with the usual hobbies like gardening, painting, baking, blogging and photography etc. Some of the hobbies that I will likely take up this year includes:
New experiences that I can think of doing this year include:
There are many others, but there is too much to list, therefore this is not an exhaustive list. The most important thing though, is that I will strive to be stress free this year, although that will be a bit of a challenge given the unfortunate events of the past few years - given Covid and the passing of my father and the fallouts from those events. Even more importantly, I will enjoy doing what I do best, and live life to the fullest. And as with any other year, I will try to achieve my goals and resolutions, and work towards being a better, a happier, kinder and a healthier person.
This year, has proven to be much, much better than last year, with the obvious reasons of the lockdowns limiting my movements and affecting me mentally. Still, this year wasn't all smooth sailing - it was in fact, not only a year that was whack-a-mole, but this year also had many hiccups along the way. It was tough, with a lot of uncertainty at the beginning of the year, worrying about the pandemic and potential future lockdowns, ongoing worries about the economy (including rising costs) and business impacts, and the war in Ukraine, which started very early this year. Also noting that we had just emerged from a form of a regional border lockdown for the unvaccinated this year too (which thankfully did not apply to me as I was vaccinated before the regional border lockdown was lifted).
One of the memorable parts of this year was travelling overseas for the first time since the pandemic began and the death of my father. The overseas travel happened a month before my birthday - but it was a part of my birthday celebrations, as I went to Sydney to do luxury shopping, which we bought a lovely Chanel scarf, a Furla bag and some other items. We went back to Darling Harbor and Circular Quay as well, both of my favorite areas to dine in. We went to a part of Sydney which I believe we have never been before - Shark Island. It was also my first time jet boating overseas, although I have done it many times in my own country. When we got back to Auckland, this was followed by more luxury shopping, which we bought a nice Alexander Wang bag, and two Givenchy items from a designer boutique in Parnell. This then follows a trip to Queenstown for my 25th birthday, in which I did a bungy jump at the Kawarau gorge, went on the Nevis swing and hilariously got tossed upside down, and back to the Shotover Canyon swing for another fun and adrenaline inducing activity. Concerts and events were another thing - from concerts and music festivals to fashion events like those hosted at restaurants where I was given a complimentary drink and a set course menu, treated to a fashion show on most occasions, and given a goodie bag to take home. Other times it was about mixing and mingling, and there was one event that was based on an auction (What Women Want) that took place at the end of August, just before we went on our first overseas trip, to Sydney - since the pandemic began. Six 60 made history again, as it was the second time they have ever performed at Eden Park stadium. I also went to Friday Jams for the first time ever, and the concert/music festival was such an amazing experience with an awesome vibe.
I also have done some awesome experiences for the first time in my life, such as Waitomo blackwater rafting, reverse bungee in Surfers Paradise, parasailing in Taupo and visiting the interactive Ripley's - believe it or not! museum in the Gold Coast.
The end of the year also was fantastic as I attended Coca Cola Christmas in the park for the very first time in three years, with one of them I missed due to being on holiday in Queenstown - in 2019. The other two were, of course, due to the pandemic related restrictions. I also went to the Gold Coast for the holidays, which is a first for a non Sydney related destination in years (I love Sydney, but it is awesome to travel to different places). In addition to kicking off summer with a blackwater rafting adventure in Waitomo, we went to Taupo and Rotorua for a bungy - and some fresh prawns. In the Gold Coast, of course we spent time at the beach in Broadbeach and did shopping and of course, we went to theme parks. And spent time at Surfers Paradise, too!
My favorite bungy this year that was the most memorable was the Auckland Bridge Bungy, where I dressed up as a creepy schoolgirl, and put on spooky makeup to do the 40 meter jump. It later tuned out that I dressed up as Addams from Wednesday, as people pointed out that I looked very much like her after the jump. It was not only so much fun, but it was the first bungy that I did that involved makeup. I also loved dressing up, and the photos turned out to be quite spooky and awesome, making this jump one of my favorites so far (Other being the Nevis due to its height)! The staff at AJ Hackett (link for anyone who is interested in doing their activities in New Zealand) were amused and they could tell I had a whole lot of fun, given it was halloween and that I loved dressing up for any occasion - and also wearing makeup on any day just for a good photo op, in addition to looking good and feeling confident in photos, as my face has unfortunately, naturally got acne and other flaws.
The downsides of this year was that I had to suffer the impacts of the lockdown on me - and the fall outs also resulting from it. One of those impacts was me (other than stress related to the lockdown) still not being on speaking terms with a couple of friends as a result of the lockdown, and the friendship issue has, unfortunately, consumed me this year, and which in turn had a very bad impact on my mental health. Another was worrying about potential future lockdowns and the economy (including inflation and the cost of living crisis) which only added to my stress. Rising crime across New Zealand, including and especially ram raids, burglary and theft, only added to my stress and worries, along with gun violence (the US is already bad enough with too many mass shootings in 2022, we didn't need our own). As if gun violence in the world and NZ, in addition to a pandemic wasn't bad enough already, add monkeypox to the list - another disease introduced to countries where it didn't exist before is the very last thing anyone wanted.
Then as if getting a period before bungy jumping of the Kawarau gorge wasn't upsetting and embarrassing enough, being forced into isolation after a household contact tested positive was even worse. Much to no one's surprise, however, I also had covid - although mild, it still did count as a very faint line was shown (even the faintest of lines are positive) although we recorded it as negative as we were totally unaware of what it meant at the time. To cap it all off, the wisdom teeth extraction was the absolute worst - I was bleeding for approximately a week, I couldn't drink alcohol for more than a week, and I couldn't even laugh or smile in the first few days. I could only have liquid food and drinks for that time. Luckily, I was able to make a quick recovery just in time for Halloween, where I did a bridge bungy, in a costume. Still, the intermission period right after the operation and just before Halloween was the worst. If all this wasn't enough, many beloved celebrities including Olivia newton-john, in addition to Queen Elizabeth, passed away this year, and tragically, at the tail end of the year, fashion designer and founder of luxury label Vivienne Westwood.
With 2023 at it's very beginning still, I am looking forward to what 2023 has in store for us this year, including major sport events and concerts! I will also be travelling more so now that this is the first full year with total certainty. Although 2022 was an awesome year in many ways, and a far cry from the horrors of 2021 and 2020 especially, there have been rough and not-so-great moments that definitely will not be missed.
Photo on blog cover by D5 Render on Unsplash During mid - October, I was forced to have my wisdom teeth removed after it was apparent that it wasn't going to grow into a proper position. All were impacted, and one of them was growing sideways. One of them was poking up through the gum, but wasn't able to grow into a proper position. Left unchecked, all of this would have caused a lot of problems for me, such as pain, teeth infection and even neurological problems. So I had to get them removed before it got to that stage. The procedure was about an hour long, with the dentists taking some time to carefully remove all my four teeth. I was fully under anesthetic, despite being told I would be partially conscious. I woke up in a recovery position, in a nursing room with no memory of what had happened, only to know that I had stuffing in my mouth, and that there was bleeding and pain. I was groggy, sleepy and dazed but not dizzy and neither did I experience vertigo or hallucinations (thank god for that). The nurses checked on me, and then half an hour later approx. - I was cleared to go home to rest for the full day. I had to rest and take it easy for the first week due to the bleeding and pain and also to help recovery. The after effects of the procedure/surgery was bad, such as pain, bruising, swelling and bleeding (which lasted as long as a week or two, gradually getting less as time went on) - thankfully, no neurological effects, including dizziness or vertigo - or worse - happened, but the mental impacts the surgery had on me was even worse, as I could not drink any alcohol or caffeinated drink for at least two weeks, I could only eat soft food, could not even laugh or even smile for a few days! And all of this, coupled with the physical after effects (such as pain) makes having covid (which I had earlier this year in July) and isolation seem not so bad after all! I was not able to do much over the few days after the surgery, and especially extreme/adventure activities (although, thankfully, my teeth recovered just in time to indulge in Halloween treats and do a bungy jump, dressed up as creepy schoolgirl - although I was told several times, I looked remarkably similar to Addams from the Wednesday movie!) or any other activity that required a lot of physical exertion. Luckily the top two teeth have fully recovered and the holes at the bottom are nearly closing up and are healing well. Although I have the images, I will not show any image of the removed wisdom teeth here, because the images are pretty graphic due to the blood and surrounding gum tissue present on the removed teeth. It is not a very pretty sight. I am so glad to have had this done, because the complications of the impact teeth would have actually caused health problems, with pain being one of them - and also happy to have got it done on a day well before Halloween so that I could bungy, and I could also go to Rainbows End with my friends and Winetopia. I was cleared for more extreme sports and adventures two weeks after the procedure. More importantly, I am so relieved, more importantly, that I would never ever have to go through this again.
Johnny Depp's win was a major win. Not just for himself, but for most of us, including fans. But more importantly, Johnny Depp's win is a win for people who have been subject to bullying, defamation, harassment, and also to real victims of rape, sexual assault and domestic violence. Not only did Amber Heard lie about Depp, she also abused him as well. And this proves that men can be abused too, which is what we as feminists must also care about - domestic violence can happen to anyone, regardless of gender or sexual orientation. And Depp has had to go through the abuse for many years, and this year's trial lasting many weeks. I am going to tell you now how I can relate his defamation case to my very own personal experiences. I am, and have been a victim of defamation and bullying/harassment. I will explain here how this all started. And defamation sucks big time. It all started on Facebook and Twitter. I was reporting stuff that shouldn't be up on Twitter and/or Facebook, and soon the trolls started identifying and harassing me in late 2016/early 2017. (The harassment was very persistent for 2017.) One of the trolls I had identified was Jamie Lawlcard/Lee Levett. Another one is now convicted stalker Nicky Wright. Wright had written a defamatory wordpress blog on me, which is still up - despite it being a clear violation of Wordpress's Terms of Service in terms of harassment and especially so that I did not give permission for Wright or Card to use my photo. Throughout the years, I have been going to the police and to Netsafe to make complaint after complaint about Wright and his ilk. Nothing, to this day, has been done so far. In one screenshot of a Facebook post below, he has taken my photo - without permission - from one of my Instagram accounts - and has used it for abusive purposes and against me. I had reported it to Facebook several times, and it wasn't until a while later it got taken down. The case into Nicky Wright is still ongoing, and I hope that Wright will be held accountable for bullying and harassing me, Nicola Brookes and other people that he has harassed and defamed. And now that Depp won, I am holding out bigger hope that the UK and NZ police will take defamation and harassment more seriously and learn from the case and assist victims who, like me, are in a similar position.
This whole thing is relatable not only because the Wordpress blog in question contained false accusations about me, but that blog also used my photo without my permission and the blog was also of an offensive nature - any decent person who reads the blog would find it offensive. And that the case is still ongoing, and there hasn't been any closure yet. Remember that defamation is a real thing. And that men can be abused. Defamation is not only uncool, but it is a serious crime in many cases. Lying about rape or abuse makes real victims, women or men, look bad. And it can have consequences for them that impacts then in a negative way, such as people not believing real victims. Photo on blog cover by Salman Hossain Saif on Unsplash Now that it's the New Year, I want this year to be better than the last. Sure, it's not going to be easy with ongoing restrictions and the pandemic (and the threat of Omicron), but should things go to plan, then this year should turn out better than the last. And unlike the previous years, I will try to be as realistic as possible, given the pandemic and travel restrictions resulting from it.
This year, I aim to strive to be happier, healthier and fitter. One of my goals is to get a job and perhaps become a model and even get into fashion design (if possible)*. I also aim to meet new people, be more social, and hope to start travelling once the restrictions are lifted. I will strive to eat healthier, be kind to everyone, and be more organized and. I will also support businesses, try and do new things that I haven't done before, explore new places and be more active in my hobbies - and possibly take up new hobbies as well. And spend less unnecessary time on social media if possible. And most importantly, I will do my best to be a positive person, and live life to the fullest with having fun, doing what I do best, and try my hardest to achieve my goals and resolutions for this year. *Disclaimer: While, I am noting that it may be possible to become a model and a fashion designer, it may also not be possible under the current circumstances - which is why I used perhaps in my sentence. Photo by Clay Banks on Unsplash As 2022 begins, I would like to reflect on what has been quite a challenging year to navigate. The year 2021 has been what will be described as a rocky rollercoaster. There were ups and there were downs of 2021. There were moments that history was made and witnessed. There is one thing that was definite - the whole year was revolving around the coronavirus pandemic. One of the most memorable moments was the Americas Cup - and that was a part of New Zealand history as well. We celebrated with champagne and ate at a high end restaurant (which, unfortunately, has permanently shut it's doors as a result of the ongoing pandemic). I also went to Six60 with tens of thousands of other concertgoers - in Eden park, which was a first time for any concert . I also had my first bungy jump ever, in Queenstown. I also explored new places, and did new things - and experiences. And finally, I passed my university papers. There were many things that did not go well at all. First of all, it was the first full year without my dad, who passed away from his illness. Then there was the Delta outbreak in August (which is still ongoing), which saw my region being in lockdown for a couple of months (which had negative consequences on me, those who are close to me - and some of my friendships). And I was a casual contact of a case that attended the university that I went to on that day - although the case wasn't in the same class with me, thankfully. Bearing in mind, we also had a lockdown at the beginning of the year due to the Valentine's Day cluster, which also added to our misery. This is also the year that I found out I have PCOS (more on this later). I also wasn't able to celebrate my birthday with my friends and family as I had wanted - and neither was I able to have the Halloween that I had wished for either. The lockdowns had also brought back memories of my dad's death as he died during the very first nationwide lockdown, which was really tough. I had also put on a lot of weight due to the fact that I was cooking and eating a lot during the lockdown as I was bored and had to find something to occupy myself with and I wasn't able to hit the gym as I would have liked due to the lockdown. Then there were global and national events (such as the New Year disorder in the Waikato region of New Zealand) - such as the US Capitol Riot - that made the year even harder to deal with. The lockdown was also a nuisance as it had an impact on my hobbies - my ability to do photography was limited as we were confined to our own region and many places were closed and there were other boundary restrictions. I wasn't also able to seek out adventure and adrenaline as much as I would've liked - I was supposed to go skiing for the second time in 2021 but that was cancelled. In fact, our trip to Queenstown that was supposed to go ahead in August was moved to December, as are events that I was supposed to attend in August, which have been postponed to other dates (and one in November which has now been moved to April this year). Planned catch ups with my friends were cancelled due to the lockdown, which was frustrating and had a huge mental health impact on me.
Overall, the year was tough, challenging and difficult due to lockdowns, covid and the fallout of it. Moving forward, here's hoping for a better 2022 and this time, I am excited for what this year awaits, although cautious at the same time. Yes, we are still in a pandemic, but, let's hope that this whole pandemic will come to an end this year. Photo on blog cover by Nadi Whatisdelirium on Unsplash |
AuthorI am Natalie Dunn. I am a feminist who believes in gender equality and rights for everyone. I have many passions in life such as fashion, beauty, adventures and travelling. Archives
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