Last Day at Work

Hey Team,

With 1 hour to go i've decided to prudently update my blog. I've deleted thousands of emails, wrapped up some projects and finally tidied my damned desk! Bit strange to think i won't be here come monday...

My delightful colleagues just presented me with the following going away card...

How nice is that?!!

Next post: from timaru next week.

Doors and Windows acting in contrary fashions...

Righto, now the blog is up and running. We've got 73 hits (of which maybe 20 are me but anyways...) including some from Fonterrans, AJParkers, Family, Penpals, Ozzies (your country rhymes with genitalia) Robin and what not. Robin Robin Robin.

Um, nothing much to report. Some guys came and took away our couch today, booked thailand accomodation, booked dentist, sorted out the bank... I've never been so organised in my life! Except of course tomorrow when i up the organisatino factor to a new and more retentive level...

Kate is officially leaving Auckland today. (at 730 incidentally) She is off to Hamilton hospital for 7 days of work, then 2 days back in Auckland next weekend, then 5 more days of work in Hamilton. She then has 2 more days in auckland on the 8th/9th March before flying away on the 10th... It's a symbolic thing that she is departing ex AKL and i'm departing ex CHC. i.e after marraige we'll "fly together." - am upping the cheese factor in honour of my former employers and because that's what Maria Van Trapp would do...

Anyone want to buy my car? it's awesome and have never missed a beat. I love that car but it has to go... otherwise it's gonna be a trademe fest.

Am dawning on the following facts:

i'm gonna miss during the remainder of 2008

• national winning the election (despite helen being glorious)
• nz winning 3 gold medals (single sculls men, some other rowing thing, women's bmx) at Beijing
• inflation (how will i cope??)
• the US elections (Obama sweeps to power with Hillary as VP)
• Birth of Jamina.
• ?? hopefully some new engagements and other announcements...
• Ski season.

Anyways, use the comments thingie. Will Rouse did and look how cool it made him. I loaded up one photo on photobucket. jeepers i'm clever.

Tanzania fact: over 50% of the government budget comes from foreign govts. Divided loyalties anyone??

sweet.

Humpf. Last Friday I resigned from the Supply Chain Strategy dept of Fonterra. This fact was insignificant until I realised there were only 11 days of work left before i depart. Equal parts yay, equal parts ut oh. Will officially finish with Fonterra after 40 pay days. Not a bad haul for a first dig at the crease. My last day of attendance will be the 29th of February.

The sheer number of small things we have to organise is almost beyond estimation (36?37?). However, I'm not going to bother with that stuff. Instead I'll outline our plans.

In some ways our trip started when we moved into a shoebox at the top of Symonds St with the express purpose of condensing our worldly possessions into roughly one car loads worth. This was/is liberating but tramautic. Thanks to those people on trademe who buy random crap.

Anyways the trip is:

1. Drive to Timaru stopping in Palmy, Welly, Blenheim and Chch to catch up with the scoundrels i know.
2. Fly to Sydney. Stress a lot. Get Married. Have awesomest day ever. Resume stressing a lot. Depart.
3. Fly to Bangkok for 5 days of Huahin doing very little and beaching very lots.
4. Fly to Dar es Salaam. We'll arrive mid afternoon utterly shagged from travel. We are to be met by some guy who we'll stay with for a day or so hopefully.
5. Travel north to Pangani. This is apparently 300 odd kilometres of "road" north of Dar Es Salaam. During our time there we'll work hard, travel a lot and hopefully conserve funds a bit.
6. During October, November, December we are free to do ????
7. Fly Home 12th December for some much needed Christmas Cake and fattening up (with a bit of luck).

I want to record my pre-impressions of Pangani. So far I've heard from Mondo challenge that it is a nice place, from some tourists that it is wonderful and from some past volunteers that the bugs/animals and people are horrific. Lets hope it's a combination of all of these things and truely memorable. Let's also hope it's not too hot, not too malarial and not too insurmountable!! The photos i found on google are spectacular which is good. There aren't too many things that a good swim at a spectacular beach can't fix...

Humpf. long first post. hopefully it'll be one of many!!!