And the big news is...

...that I have a new job. In advertising. And in Auckland.

I shall miss my quarter-acre...

It's great money and working in an environment that I love with a company that has titles spookily similar to Haymarket (cars, lifestyle - even caravans!). I'll be the Classified Group Ad Manager, which for the uninitiated is a bit of a step up for me. I'll initially be running 8 titles and this will expand to 27 by the end of the financial year (July next year in NZ).


The awful part about it is that I'll have to relocate - initially without the family. Not sure how it's going to affect me but I imagine I'll be very busy, so that should help. It was a really tough decision for me, as I love the little life we've built in Bulls and I've finally found somewhere to call "home". We've put so much effort into this house that I just can't bring myself to give it up. Luckily, Damian has said he's going to rent it off us for a year (by which time the mortgage will be paid off) and we can keep it as a holiday home when visiting the in-laws, going to the beach, seeing friends etc etc.

Clare & I had many protracted conversations about what to do - and she's decided that she's going to quit her job in January and join me in the big smoke. Whether she'll work or be a stay at home mum is undecided, but I can't imagine Clare not working for any lengthy period of time.


This whole process has taken two months, with flights (when they paid) and drives (when they didn't) up to Auckland for interviews, presentations and finally negotiations. Lots of nail biting and questions as to whether I really wanted to do it. I've been spending as much time with the kids and missus as possible and finally leave Thursday week for the big smoke.

The room that Damian built

We've finally finished the majority of work on the house, as I'm sure is typical and I love what the place is like. Damian built the dining room extension from the floor up - he's a bloody clever fella. His work is obviously well thought of at the in-laws as well because he was working on a former school that David was going to sell but David's now decided to live in (part of) the school and sell his own house instead. It looks fantastic!


Of course Mummy & Tom are due over at the beginning of November and my move has put several spanners in the works - but ACP (the new employer) added some relocation money to my salary in lieu of return flights home at the weekend (mugs?).


My new boss is a South African that worked in the UK for 10 years with Autotrader and once he'd seen my CV asked someone he knew at Haymarket about me who gave a glowing reference - it would be ironic if it was Prash!!

Responding to spam with a traceIP and a nuke

I've got some serious expectations to live up to and a lot of hard work ahead - but I'm relishing the thought of it currently... ...wonder what I'll be like as I wave goodbye to the family...