L'Exil...est retourné!

What a weekend! down to london for my first long weekend away - went to a concert 'get loaded in the park' (with fat boy slim and the happy mondays) courtesy of some dodgy scalpers tickets, went to a party on board the st catherine (a boat moored near embankment on the thames) with a whole bunch of saffas. then monday went up to the notting hill carnival for the rasta experience. there were posses, guys running and weaving down the street waving big bags of dope yelling 'hash, marajuana, and dope' at the top of their voices. total rip off. and i have never seen so many police officers - laid back despite a heavy presence. there were these two guys performing out their window to a good sized crowd just totally off the cuff. then there was the breakdancing battle - i don't think i've ever seen a guy with arms as strong as the guy that took it out. he didn't even need legs. amazing atmosphere. and then, get this...my flatie was telling me (and he's only the...

A few more random photos from around the place - London, Tahiti, some other place... Tower Bridge The view from the Tate Modern across to old St Pauls via the Millenium Bridge Winchester Cathedral on a trip with Sez and Rach Guess...? Mum'll know Freddie the Swedish Chef holding a small nipper in Tahiti I'm loving the macro setting on my camera at this stage - Tahiti again

Why is it that after a few beers things seem so much simpler? I tell you, if I ever get to be manager - the best thing I could have done is instigate this Friday lunchtime drinks thing. Team building at its best. Admittedly today the boys talked mostly about the plight of the Newcastle football (read soccer) team, but hey... And the beers are only £1.29...nuf said.

I've just discovered that there is no records section in this Council, can you imagine 17,000 people just filing their own stuff away in their own folders, where am I going to find anything? Absolutley ridiculous. I now know EBOP had a good system going. To find information over here in an organised fashion is like finding a set of hens teeth. Rare as. It's like everyday I think i've got it sorted, then all of a sudden I come up against another brick wall. And then all the Poms tkae a shortcut around it rather than break it down. Where is the Fantastic Four when you need them? It is sooo frustrating - new kind of job, new country, new "systems", new accents blah, blah, blah. I'm going on holiday to Spain for a weekend in September, then October am organising a boys trip to Amsterdam with the flattie (let's call him Matt) and anyone else who wants to come? - nice. Nothing in Nov yet. December maybe looking at Morocco for Xmas with Rob and Wombat or New York...

well summer has realy kicked in here...yesterday it was hailing and blowing a gale. Had my first site visit up to the northern part of our coastline where we have some seriously high chalk cliffs (like Dover) but with a bit more vegetation on them. Therefore good for the birds like puffins, and the well known great-tit, and little tit (No tomtits - sorry). This was a field trip with English Nature, a bit like the equivalent of DOC at home except no uniforms; who are about to become 'Natural England' - ooooh. Yes, so all very exciting. Until the rain come down. This was a serious North Sea storm (it was probably more like a piddler) but damn it was cold. I was the only guy (read fool) in shorts, my thin as Fairydown, and a cotton shirt. But at least I was the first to dry. And everyone got to know me as the crazy NZer.

I should probably stop writing these at the end of the day, otherwise they are just going to be full of rants about work. Anyway, all paperwork aside (I know still quite a major hurdle to jump) but I have managed to arrange a strategy whereby I work only four days per week, whilst still doing my required 37 hours. This means doing 9 and 1/4 hours per day - but then getting every Monday off. So long weekends here I come! If sustainability is includes resource efficiency, and making the best of what resources you have, eeking the most out of them so to speak - then local governement should lead by example and get rid of all the duplicate jobs, endless policies (we have to fill out a terrorism questionnaire before travelling outside of Yorkshire now - even if we're going to Hull! like Hull is going to be targeted. Only by the anti-chav terror groups seeking to rid the world of another cornerstone of the 'axis of evil - fashion edition') and paper! I'm sure most good ideas ...

Here's a few photos from the Greece trip with Ellie. It was in May so just before summer really kicked off. Feels like ages ago...wish i'd got a photo of Kyrabithres on Paros, but it looked way better on the postcards. Always does. The wonders of Photoshop's ability to Nip/Tuck/Colour. Looking back towards Athens from the ferry - the sea, the city, and a dirty, great smoker Ramshackle-ness Big gay flowers - didn't you know i'm an artiste? Me and big-little sis on the lava island in the middle of Santorini Check out the plumage on these birds! Possibly one of the barren landscapes around and then you get these two... Looking back acorss the caldera toward the lava island and Santorini's main town Looking through the wires of the cable car at Thira on Santorini's main island - like snow on a cliff top. The entrance by ferry to Santorini has got to be one of the most amazing around. Everything is so precarious. Just a pile of really old stones - and another Gre...

I'm going to have to tell you guys about work and all the crap that goes down here, mostly its funny, but at time I'm just pulling my hair out. Which is not good for bald man's island (bald men will know what i'm talking about). The first day I started the big boss (let's cal her Sally) told me that most of the team was ok, but there were still one or two issues. Now of course she didn't tell me who those issues were, so that left me guessing. I ended up not inviting a dude out for lunch with us because I thought it was him (wrong - he's the most laid back dude in the office). Then progressively, everyone else in my office (that's five others) has taken me aside at some stage to bitch about someone else. It appears to be all directed at (let's call her) Mags, who has also taken me aside to bitch about the others. And now i've got an interview for this other post (my current bosses job - who is leaving to go to a consultancy) which I don't rea...

I got me a brand new Bike! well not exactly new, but a 20 year old Coventry Eagle with 5 speeds and perishing tyres. For free! Rock on. Thanks to the poindexter in IT - I have wheels. Only two so far... I'm off out for my first night out in the big smoke - Hull. Might bump into Stephen Kearney.

I finally got round to putting some of these photos up. There are still more to come from Puerto and from Greece too. This however is Mexican life at its finest. Pretty basic, simple pleasures. Doing nothing and getting quite good at it..."Yeah we're leaving tomorrow" was said every day. Never happened. Good crew too. It is amazing how quickly you get into a repetition of lifestyle, routine. I think I was just holding this for someone... View down towards the Mexican pipeline - not pumping, but dangerous swimming. Cicahua - sponsored by HP. Great little deserted beach that needed numerous modes of transport to reach it. And swinging in a hammock for a night was free, just mind the little scorpions, and the thieves... The locals from Chicahua - she can cook a mean omelette. She had a funny name like Aunt Betty or something. Don't think his name was Uncle Ben though. They are actually native Mexicans, and are incredibly poor. Chicahua by night. Flippin' excellent.

It's crap - except for this week (so far) but its now just turned muggy and rain I fear is imminent. I had to buy a brolly for 1 quid the other day to fend off the 'English Summer'. That was one of the chants the Aussies were holding over the Poms at the cricket - at least we've got a summer. Speaking of which, what a series this is turning out to be. Two incredibly close matches, with Stinger at the centre of them both. The Aussies have never been under this sort of pressure before and Ponting is no Steven Waugh, wo, wo, wo what is he good for...Steve Waugh would have finished the job. It's a shame Harmison had to bowl the last few overs instead of Jones, he hasn't really got the maturity to be able to craft a wicket during an over. Bouncers or attempted yorkers. Great stuff. What's this about building bits of Rotorua overseas? Absolute madness, China is just way too big. Fancy being able to build small bits of other countries in your own. But then again, ...

Finally got to use a computer with real internet - the new BBC centre in Hull is free for half an hour, as is the local cafe down the road with the good looking waitress, same old story. My local cafe has 17 different staff...so there must be a bit of luck to be had there...sureley. Lurvley. I tell what else is part of the British psyche - talking about work and not actually doing any! Today I have taken a half day off (paid of course) to go down to Hull and get a National Insurance number (basically another tax or an extension to our ACC payments). Basically all it was was a form I could have filled out with my eyes closed, but instead they had to do it for me, in front of me, and then countersign it blah, blah, blah. Fun times in Bureaucrat land. Of which i am now a member. Can't wait for the first paycheck. Keep up the email news. Did everyone know Zak found a fossil - and it wasn't you Dad!! sorry, couldn't resist. you now you'll miss me. Good innngs so far, but we ...

Well, work over here and for a Council is in the basic respects the same, but in the details entirely different. Politics is a huge part of the Council here - all the local members are party based, and they have both a Counicl Committee and a Cabinet. Different structure. It seems a lot of backstabbing goes on, and everyone is suspicious of everyone else and their motives. All good fun. The structure is inherently complex too, probably because everything is so old and well established. Numerous different pieces of legislation rather than the primary one (like the Resource Management Act back home). My role is basicaly a policy one. I get to formulate the good ideas into nice, fluffy words - no on the ground, outdoors work. There are too many facets of Council for it to be that simple. I'd love to get out there and talk to people myself, but the processes weigh you down. I think this will be great experience, but i'm not sure how long I will last... If the Aussie batting fires t...

How 'bout that record breaking NZ cricket team! But still, wouldn't mind a half decent top order. This is my local - The Lempicka Nice food, better coffee, and great service...It's my new "Bean" - not that I used to just drive down to Whakatane to go for a coffee or anything... This is the White Horse or "Nellies"

Work mobile: +44 77 99642355 Physical Address: 15 Beckside North, Beverley, HU17 0PR Work address: East Riding of Yorkshire Council, County Hall, Beverley, HU17 9BA Still have the old phone until I give it back. No landline as yet.

No not Kevin Senio getting the call up for the AB's...don't be ridiculous, that was obvious! But my very own Combi! That guy that loves his beer at work (the colleague presently known as JK) has a Combi that he needs to get rid of. 34 years old, not old enough to be exempt from road user tax by only a couple of months, body a bit beaten (suits me), no ghetto blaster as he called it, couple of minor things to do like MOT rego etc., but otherwise goes very well and has always done so. And anyway, he can't sell me a lemon 'cos he just sits over there. Nice one Council (ERYC) - new flat, new car - now I just need some money - and there could be further good news with the relocation policy...

The holiday is finaly over...just starting to settle in again. Went for a couple of runs on the weekend to ease the boredom, and those good ol' shin splints obviously decided to jump on the plane with me and follow me over to Beverley. Am going to have to take it easy in my buildup again for the ever present half-marathon. The crew at work all seem to pretty nice, there's JK who likes a good pint of bitter and who together we have instigated the Friday lunchtime piss-up down at Nellies - a local pub with gas fired lights, a rabbit warren of rooms and crooked stairs, not a place for the fire alarm to go off - everyone would end up in the toilet looking for the exit. This place is renowned around the country, let alone the district, as a traditional pub and you can buy a Sam Smiths beer for £1.29. There's at least 45 pubs in Beverley alone (they've just done the re-licensing for longer hours and music nationally), so I should be right.

Frightening stuff this work business. Regular hours, fancy clothes - what have I done? I want my holiday back. Hopefully I can negotiate compressed hours and have a Friday off every fortnight to go exploring. There is no internet in Beverley or apparently in Hull either (must be though). Kingston Communications have a monopoly on the market and there is no BT, therefore internet and broadband is relatively expensive. Internet cafe would be a good idea though. So can't check my emails and don't yet have an account set up within Council. Have found me a flat with a guy from work down by the Beverley Beck/Canal - seems pretty sweet. £270 per calendar month (pcm) and there is just the two of us. Looking at now starting to buy stuff - guitar, laptop, INTERNET, van/wagon...the list goes on. It will be good to have a base again. Got heaps of photos I want to post - will try and do that soon.

That's my Yorkshire accent for 'Beverley'...man, the Yorkshire puddings up here are magnificent. Sorry Mum, but they might just shade yours a little - and they are massive! Was supposed to start work today, but Councils being bureaucracies need to pass all the paperwork first. Hence I start tomorrow after my medical clearance form is through. Everyone seems nice enough. Big, open plan offices though - even the head honcho's share space with the plebs. No pool cars so I need to sort out a vehicle. Am still going to go with a Combi or the van/station wagon deal I think. Was quite nervous and excited at the same time last night and so had a crap sleep. Don't really fell comfortable at the hotel either as it seems to flash for me. But it's a pretending flash, chain hotel - like the Quality. Everything appears as though it should be much better than it is. But i'm not paying, so...what would you do? Might have a flat by tomorrow too if things go swimmingly down b...