Chasing The Odd Shaped Ball

31/03/2024

Last weekend I was at F1 Australian Grand Prix and honestly there’s something about going to a Grand Prix that makes you both elated but also exhausted at the same time!

This was the best GP I’d been to in a while, mainly because of the small community I’ve created through F1Lady44 so many catch ups were done, but also I got to meet an F1 driver - in George Russell!

That kōrero on how I met him involved gatecrashing a fancy party whilst with a “fresh from the track” look 👀 but in the almost 30 years on and off I’ve been watching F1, this will be always a core memory for me - sadly I didn’t get to ask him about that time he met Richie McCaw 😭🤣

19/12/2023

Kia ora e te whānau, as some may of seen on my socials I haven’t been updating as much, mainly due to personal reasons.

I have had some members of my family pass away in recent weeks and my sole grandparent is currently in end of life care, which has meant a lot of trips to northern NSW.

My priority currently is with my family, so content will be sporadic for the interim.

Last week I took some well needed self care to see one of my favourite bands, in concert in Brisbane. It put 2023 in perspective, in where I went to and and had an awesome experience at both, but of course taking time to make sure what’s important.

Hope everyone has a, or has had a safe and joyful holiday season.

Take care, peace out.

30/10/2023

More tickets are coming! 😉

tickets are available at regular prices from 1 November, 10am SGT - don't miss your chance to get up-close to the track action at the 🏎

Find out more: singaporegp.sg/en/news/2023/2024-earlier-start-of-regular-ticket-sales

F1 Academy has already been locked in to make their Marina Bay debut. Stay tuned for what else we've got in store for you for our 15th edition!

27/09/2023

Just a little dump of my experience at Singapore Grand Prix a little under 2 weeks ago. These memories will last forever, but I certainly didn’t want it to end!

18/09/2023

Over the last few days I’ve been in Singapore for the Formula One Grand Prix - I had one of the best times of my life and lost my voice singing Tūtira Mai Ngā Iwi because of Liam Lawson

I need to do more rugby games but there’s something about F1 that makes you want more!

12/09/2023

All packed and I hope it’s under 30kgs

10/09/2023

WHEN LAUREN’S FAVOURITE THINGS CLASH

So, if you don’t know, the fulla on the left is George Russell - he drives for Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team in Formula 1. On Friday (French time) he was at the France vs All Blacks March, as a guest of the All Blacks principal sponsor, INEOS, who also sponsor Mercedes.

His team-mate is Sir Lewis Hamilton, you might of heard of him, a lot of people say he’s the GOAT.

Except - he’s standing next to the GOAT.

📸 All Blacks

10/09/2023

I’m off to Singapore on Wednesday for and I’m so excited! I’m almost packed, just some last minute sorting to organise on Tuesday but cannot wait to share a new adventure.

14/08/2023

JEEPERS! This is creeping up on me quickly! Today I got a email saying my tickets to will be sent out this week, and I’m going on holidays in 3 weeks this Friday!

I better start packing 😂 but it doesn’t seem real that it’s almost time to go to the Singapore GP!

14/06/2023

So this happened yesterday.

After everything that has happened in the past 18 months for the Foo Fighters and I never expected to see them play live again.

So I’m very blessed & grateful for the opportunity to see them in Brisbane and right in the thick of it in GA.

The other thing is I am relieved I have tickets, because we had such a massive drama getting them yesterday.

It’s another 182 days to go, but the sad and ironic thing is, the date is 1 year & 2 days after they were supposed to play in Brisbane.

And I realised now it will be 4 years & 1 month since my last concert at Suncorp Stadium when I saw U2

I’m sure when My Hero plays there will be tears.

Bring it on

02/04/2023

And because I know there’s a few of you who know I’m a Lewis Hamilton fan, I thought I’d share this moment with you because it’s the highlight of my weekend

02/04/2023

So if you’ve been figuring out the lack of posts, this is why - F1 Australian Grand Prix is that much of a spectacle that when there’s so much to do, you don’t get time to post!

I’m still blown away by especially today let alone the entire weekend. Can’t wait for Singapore later in the year but honestly I have so many memories from this that I’ll never forget.

10/03/2023

Last weekend I headed to Melbourne for Super Round, I apologise for not getting this out sooner, but I have been well and truly down for the count since I returned to Brisbane with COVID, and it’s only now I’m feeling well enough to post about it.

But it was a good weekend, despite the heat on Saturday and Sunday, being able to get a few photos was great and I’ve been convinced to buy a Gallagher Chiefs paua jersey (mainly because I love it!) plus I’m surprised Brad Thorn still remembers me from his Broncos days 🤣

However I still have some grievances about the entire weekend, like I love rugby, but Super Rugby Pacific I don’t believe Melbourne is the place to make Super Round a sustainable venture, more needs to be done for marketing and also helping grassroots rugby as well getting the younger and also sometimes fans engaged with meeting their heroes pre event.

I’m sorry Crusaders I can’t be at the game in Brisbane, it’s always the way for me, where I plan something like going to the F1, and they’re playing either in Brisbane or I can’t make the game….

But I can’t wait to be back in Melbourne in just over 2 weeks time for the F1 Australian Grand Prix.

08/02/2023

11/01/2023

Arriving into New Zealand won't be the same from June 30.

25/12/2022

Happy Holidays everyone.

It’s about to be the last night of Hanukkah here and I’m just setting up my menorah now so I don’t forget later.

Hope everyone has a safe festive season.

16/12/2022

The airport is a lawless place sometimes.

For more tips, hacks and guides head to: https://www.pointhacks.com.au/

05/12/2022

Consider me insane or someone who likes to plan way ahead, and a lot of this is due to the fact I used to work in hospitality - I am making a meal plan to make food to take with me to the Australian Grand Prix.

This is mainly because there isn’t much in the way of meals available to me to cater for my dietary needs (vegan & kosher) at the track, and to save on money as I was spending $40-$50 a day at the supermarket on crap food.

So tomorrow I will prep the breakfast bagels (that are now muffins) I also picked up the baked beans (I have a love affair with the Vegemite Baked Beans in Australia) then if I get enough time, I’ll start on the Jamaican Patties.

Once they’re prepped they can go in the freezer - that’s the great thing about this that I can freeze in advance then take them out when I’m ready!

01/12/2022

I still can’t believe I have done this!

Last week I booked tickets to go to the F1 Australian Grand Prix and today I have now booked tickets to the Singapore Grand Prix!

If you’re interested in going to Singapore next year this is the offical website to get tickets, they’re in Singapore Dollars

https://singaporegp.sg/en/tickets/all

29/11/2022

Something I found in my photos when deleting them.

Next Tuesday I was supposed to be in Melbourne to see the Foo Fighters play, and I was so keen on this concert because well I’ve been brainwashed by 2 huge fans 😂

It’s still crazy to think how we should take life by how it comes each day.

Rest In Peace Taylor Hawkins.

23/11/2022

Just how my morning went! Got presale access to the F1 Australian Grand Prix. This is trip 2 to Melbourne in the space of 8 weeks 😂

08/11/2022

🎶 It’s the most wonderful time of the year 🎶

Yes the dates and prices for the 2023 F1 Australian Grand Prix have come out!

I’m so excited about this and being privileged enough to get presale access for next year, I have a great chance of getting park pass tickets for 2023.

If you are planning on going to the race next year, log onto www.grandprix.com.au and sign up for notifications on ticket sales.

08/11/2022

07/11/2022

😅🫣😂

!!! Take no prisoners

01/11/2022

So it is my birthday today, it’s going to be a quiet one, mainly because there’s a matter of a pony race later today and well it’s raining.

All I wanted for my birthday was an iced coffee machine and I got it.

My only wish to be able to travel a bit more in the next few months and be able to have ability to do it without much pain.

29/10/2022

Sorry I didn’t post up this earlier, I’m now back in Australia and after our trip to Kanchanaburi, it was very late and wanted to go to bed.

The next day happened to be the day I was leaving Thailand and I’m sure you’d understand especially with short layovers after long overnight flights, that the last thing I wanted to do, was post on social media.

So Kanchanaburi was amazing, what beautiful scenery that is tinged of a sad history with the construction of the Burma Railway during WW2, by prisoners of war and civilians from other parts of South Asia brought to Thailand under false pretences during the Japanese occupation.

The more well known Bridge On The River Kwai, inspired a film of the same name, which loosely inspired could be the words used as there was many historical inaccuracies in the film.

As I always say about visiting these places, like I do when I go to a concentration camp in Europe, no textbook, video or photo will ever do the place justice. It is something you need to visit to fully understand the scale of what happened there.

21/10/2022

The last 2 days I took it easy as I’ve had Bangkok belly since Wednesday afternoon. Tomorrow is a national holiday in Thailand so if you thought Bangkok traffic was bad any other time, it’s 10x as bad today.

I went to Veganerie today for lunch and wandered the Khlong Toei market afterwards (no photos as I was talking too much) just booked a tour to go to the Bridge On The River Kwai on Sunday, but no plans as of yet for tomorrow

19/10/2022

Bangkok you really turned it on today. It was hot, but I didn’t expect arctic weather here, and I drank plenty of water to cool down.

I am still getting over how cheap it is here, it really was a culture shock to get 4 bottles of water for 24THB or USD$0.65/AUD$1, when it would be considerably more back home!

But Wat Pho, definitely respect Buddhism so much more after today, and learned so much about the temple and about Buddhism today.

19/10/2022

When at Wat Pho, there is always one who is holier than thou