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I'm dreaming of a stinking hot Christmas...

Posted: 30-11-05

I love to liken what journalistic skill I might have with those of Bill Bryson, my favourite travel writer.

Like him, I keep a list of the many thoughts and ideas that flow through my mind from day to day and from recent weeks; That curious phenomena of footwear flung over electricity wires, of seeing New Zealand in a different light - as perhaps you might if you'd never visited before - old but full of character, like remote areas of rural England might have been in the 60s. Of every size of industrial premises located on my journey between home and work being filled with the practice sounds of the bands and singers of tomorrow.

Unlike Bill however, my notes are tapped into the Notes area of my mobile phone and not scribbled on the back of a snotty tissue, in a beer induced myopic environment of a remote European bar.

I've been in New Zealand now for five months and have run through every gamut of emotion I'd ever care to go through in a period ten times that.

The worst period was perhaps in the weeks prior to gaining that all essential knowledge; that I will indeed have employment come new year and not a realisation of my worst fears - having to leave New Zealand. It did occur to me you see, albeit in extreme circumstances but forseeable nonetheless, that I might have to leave the country if I couldn't find suitable employment.

This is typical behaviour for me it emerged upon talking to some friends; that I often jump to the very worst scenario possible when encountering life changing paths. Not because I approach the world with any negative lilt you understand, but simply because I'm trying to be realistic, wanting to know at the very outset the potential range of possibilities available to me at the time. The problem is that in doing so, my brain filters out any other candidate solution that might lie between any two extremes.

As I remember, it was as soon as I had altered my perception of what might define "suitable employment" that I conceived of perhaps doing dome contract, even temp work. I wasn't totally convinced this was workable given my visa restrictions at the time (which have been lifted as of today) and as it turns out these were avenues I need no longer traverse as, through a fast paced week I had interviews and was awarded the job.

I sit here now, very much looking forward to my imminent Christmas holiday period. It starts when I finish at my current employment on the 23rd and spend six hours on a Newmans coach down to Napier, staying with my close friends Paul and Michelle. We'll all take a few days to travel up from sunny Hawke's Bay (for it is now the New Zealand summer) to Gisbourne, the first place in the world to see in the new year, where there's the Rhythm & Vines music festival (www.rhythmandvines.co.nz - 10,000 people, that's big for NZ..). I'll be hitching a ride back to Auckland on the 3rd and then packing my shit for the big move down to Wellington.

My flatmate Piran has offered to drive me and my stuff down there and I'll be paying gas and accommodation - well I'll get reimbursed, as GNS my new employers are offering to pay any and all relocation fees incurred by my move.

Like the trip to Gisbourne, Piran and I fully intend on taking our time getting to Wellington from Auckland (c. 600km) and will be stopping in sunny Taupo for some light refreshment courtesy of the great Speight's brewing company en-route...

As usual - take care people,
Russ - out.