Kiwi’s tend to binge on holidays. When I started work here in New Zealand I was shocked by the fact that over 50% of people in my department hadn’t had any significant time off work for more than a year.  They took just the public statutory holidays and their annual leave entitlement was being squirreled away for a long break which would generally be for a long winter trip overseas or a long holiday at home over the summer.  For years it was always my policy to have a holiday every 3 months and not to return from one break without having the next booked or planned for. The thought of not taking a holiday for months on end is not something I could ever contemplate.

Now I am self employed taking a holiday has a whole new perspective – no work means no pay.  So whilst I have the option to take more or longer holidays it has to be balanced out with filling the coffers.  So last night as I watched the sun dip down behind the hill I sat on the step and mentally worked out my rough cashflow possibilities and the next time I could feasibly take my next break. Today I started back to work after my kiwiesque style long holiday but the first thing I did was mark out in my diary when my next break would be.   And then I got stuck in.