Many people think that I’ll not stay the domestic executive course and do a u-turn on my plans and stay in full time work. After a week like I’ve had I can continue to plead my case that I’ve had it will full time corporate executive responsibilities.
There was no single big event that made me reaffirm my plans but simply the build up of lots of little niggly things that overall just serve to remind that even if you change the job, organisation or the country, corporate life if pretty much the same everywhere.
Now I am settling into my desk and people know I am in post the in-tray is piling up and email box is overflowing (no Murray here to lift the lid on the ICT limits!). The difference is now I don’t take it home to do on an evening or weekend, what doesn’t get done in the office quite simply doesn’t get done.
This change of attitude and behaviour is very empowering and somehow the big stuff still gets done and so far noones complained. Not spending time at home on work frees up bags more time for other things – we’re back on proper cooking on an evening, I’m keeping up with my emails (mostly) and most of all there is time to spend with whomever I chose.
Next week it’s a social whirl with the party season starting to get into swing so just as well my new work policy is in place as I’ve got too much partying to be done!
It’s starting to get really confusing with Christmas looming.
The daylight and climate is just not very christmasy. I was wandering around the supermarket this evening and heard a carol and was temporarily glued to the floor as I tried to reconcile the seasonal music to the circumstances. Sure, traditionally christmasy foods are starting to appear in the shops – there are crackers and gift packs – but it just doesn’t feel right.
Earlier today I was horrified to find my EA has a christmas tree on her desk, complete with lights and red bows. I’m not sure whether it was the fact that it had appeared in November or more of the same sensory confusion that bows and christmas trees just don’t feel or look right when the sun was shining outside (don’t be fooled folks, the southerly promptly blew in tonight).
Still, in my usual style I will do my MT Christmas shopping this weekend, after getting my christmas hairdo in readiness for the christmas parties next week. Need to work on finding a christmas outfit and get on top of my christmas cards which will never reach the UK if I don’t send them next week!
Talk in the office is as to whether people prefer the traditional christmas dinner or whether a BBQ is the way to go. Need to have a family board meeting I think to decide what we will do.
The fact that Christmas here is a potentially very long holiday here – most people take at least 3 weeks off – makes the seasonal break something that has more to it than the lunch, pressies, TV and stroll about the village. We’ll be off work for 2.5 weeks and then still having a week in February to look forward to.
There is a chance that there will be too much of a good thing at one time since when the winter comes around it’s a long haul from Queen’s Birthday (June) to Labour Day (October) when in the UK you’re enjoying the summer breaks.
It’s all a new experience, different but still good. Now, If I’m ever going to get ready for the traditional greetings I’d better find those Christmas cards I put away safely and now can’t find!
Friday night drinks are a bit Wellington thing and this week it was particularly satisfying to be notified by MT over a round of drinks that it was only 20 more working days till Christmas. This news seemed to lighten the mood that was already pretty high because the sun had come out and it makes the world look a much better place.
It’s strange to be contemplating the round of Christmas parties this year in light nights and hopefully some more of the sun. They start in the coming week when we’re off to the Zoo for a do. MT’s very excited there are guided tours and opportunities to get close up and personal with the zoo’s inhabitants. The week after we’re off to see Elton John in concert at the caketin stadium, corporate do so the tickets will probably be good. I’ve got at least four work do’s lined up so it’s all good on the social networking side.
The week’s really do fly by so guess I must be having a bit of fun at work. People are certainly very good fun to be with although I have so many contractors that after Christmas I’ll be bereft of staff as they all take their long summer breaks (usually whole of January and some of February). As a domestic-executive it will be one long vacation so have at least got that to look forward to although with the growing mountain of work to do in the next 43 weeks I’m not sure there’ll be much time for R&R before then.
Hmm, moment of madness me thinks. We’ve got 2.5 weeks at Christmas, a week in February and then Easter will be around the corner. Oh, let’s hope the sun keeps shining and the countdown will go even quicker.
I’ve talked before about the wonders of technology and we were once again able to experience the closeness of the whanau in the UK across the internet. Very frustrating when Auntie June is passing around cups of tea to those on camera in the UK and we’re left without!
MT has another new boy’s toy which allows him to attach his iPod to a radio and when combined with some special software he is able to down load all sorts of programmes from the Beeb and other broadcasting institutions. Podcasting is really bringing home to NZ as we listen to the weekly news casts and I can listen to my beloved Archers (shocking about Ruth, David and Sam!).
Email has poured in from my note to friends and family to say hello. Blog readership has sky rocketed and once again I’ve felt connected with folks back home in the UK. It’s good to know you’re out there reading about our exploits in NZ and continuing your encouragement of our endevours to live the NZ dream.
I’m off to Christchurch today which is another new adventure – pity I’m going to spend it all in boring offices talking to colleauges!
Some people have noticed that I’ve been pretty quiet about the house and land for a while. This is because there have been some developments so tiresome I didn’t wish to bore everyone with the detail until we had a resolution one way or another.
In short, we’re had to change our plans. The land we were suposed to buy is taking an age to be finalised and the behaviour of the developer who is subdividing the land suggests that it might never happen and ultimately we’ll end up very disappointed and plans for a house but no land to put it on.
The situation is that the land we want to buy is in the second phase of a subdivision which requires another bridge to complete the third phase. Having put in the bridge across the Pakatuhari river it seems that this is having an adverse effect on the river flow and causing erosion as an unintended consequence. Whilst he still has resource consent (planning permission) to continue with the arrangements on phase 2 his opportunity for phase three is ebbing away because putting another bridge over the river may cause further erosion that the regional council are not prepared to accept. Therefore, the land in phase 3 becomes worthless for housing.
According to the neighbours who have seen the revised plans, he intends to change phase 2 plans and instead of having 4 lots of 4 hectares will have 8 lots of 1.2 hectares and not sell lot 7 (ours) but keep that as the building plot he can sell the remaining phase 3 land with. His ability to realise the value of the land is his primary concern and he’s waiting approval from the council to get a new subdivision plan.
This dasterdly deal is being done without our official knowledge but we smelt a rat and decided to look for new opportunities. Fortunately we’ve found a new piece of land and if all the legalese sorts itself out this week we should be the proud owners of 6 acres in Kaitoke at another location before Christmas. Our architect has done a plan for the existing design of house and cottage to fit and subject to approval by the local council we hope to start building if February.
To say it’s been a roller coaster of emotion of “losing” our dream plot is an understatement but being the pragmatists we are we knew it was time to detach ourselves from a dream that was rapidly turning into a nightmare. The vendor is legally bound to sell us the land and we could hang in there and try to insist he fulfils his side of the bargain but all the advice from the lawyers is to walk away and minimise our costs.
Ironically, the new plot of land is within the original budget we set ourselves for land, is closer to town and still has beautiful views across regional parkland. I’ll do some photoblogging so you can see the new place. Fingers crossed it all comes through and we can start to live the dream of our house in the country in New Zealand.
close up to Lot 3
The closest neighbour – lot 4. Lot 3 is to the right and down the hill
Not a bad view to come home to at the end of the day!
I know it’s a strange thing to photograph but this is our power and telecommunications supply!
Life has been so busy I’d forgotten to recognise my countdown to being a domestic executive. Don’t worry I’m not weakening my resolve and I’m bouncing back to remind myself that it’s almost time to be putting together the new plan for 2007.
I’m now officially over my honeymoon period as a newby at work. After the letter incident I’m now seen as a force to be reckoned with. Little do they know that underneath I’m as soft as putty. Not wishing to ruin my growing personal brand I’m continuing to give people a hard time about how any muppet cannot do marketing and communications and you need skilled and experience professionals.
There are some people who still tell me that things have been seen and signed off by policy and legal as if I am suposed to get out my rubber stamp. It’s like red rag to this taurean but I’m being as polite as I can in response.
The big difference with this job than any other I’ve have a new sense of empowerment that you just can’t have when you’re a signed up full time employed member of staff. Having a slightly independent perspective doesn’t lessen my commitment to the work but gives me a slightly detatched view that enables me to be bolder than I might otherwise be.
One of the key reasons for going back to work (apart from money) was to get a social network of people and on that front I’m doing quite well. I’m starting to meet a wide range of people and collecting their business cards with one eye on future client potential. Mercenary I know but hey when you’re goal is to be a domestic executive you’ve got to be determined to get what you want!
It’s been a busy quake week this week. I’ve experienced abour 12 earth shocks, about 10 imaginary and then 2 biggies for real!
I’ve been involved in a cross Government planning exercise for a major earthquake – code name Capital Quake. This was a desk exercise which meant we pretended what we’d do if there were an earthquake centred on Wellington. There were times when the situation reports of damage, death and distruction for the 7.8 richter quake centred in Lower Hutt (about 7km from the CBD) felt real enough. It was tiring play acting in the crisis management team for my organisation but lots of learnings which will help improve preparedness for the real thing.
The real thing happened twice yesterday – once during the morning when I was in a meeting and it was a continuous rolling feeling. The odd thing is that when I peered out of the door to see whether we were heading for the hills, my colleagues were head down not really noticing. It only freaked me slightly as this was the first time I’ve been in our cronky old 1960′s building that only two days before in our exercise was rendered a pile of rubble.
Last night we had another which rattled the house and woke up both MT and I. Both these were 5.5 and not too far from Wellington which is pretty unnerving. People say it’s best that there are lots of little ones to avoid the big one so I have to take it at face value.
For more information on our quake experiences http://www.geonet.org.nz/recent_quakes.html
Must get those radio batteries and extra stock of baked beans in!!
