Having spent my first week in Auckland this week saw me heading on a ‘ticky tour’ to Christchurch and Wellington where Telecom has large offices .

Christchurch is the home of Telecom’s call centre and is where inbound email form the website is managed. Wellington on the other hand is where  the majority of the digital team. To a person they are very welcoming, so welcoming in fact that they send me a link to a youtube montage of Wellington airport landings to prepare me for my visit – Wellington airport is famous for its short runway, powerful cross-winds and ‘white-knuckle’ landings. My landing in Wellington proves uneventful apart from the visual spectacle of  generally white wooden houses hugging bush-clad hills that is the Wellington vista.

I spend that day having a one-to-ones with each member of the  digital team before flying back up to Auckland. While I was away Huw and Gethyn Baldwin, my temporary lodgers, moved out having emptied the fridge.  I’m sure that our paths will cross in the coming months.

On Saturday, with an internet service now connected to the house, I am able to take Ruth and the children on a virtual guided tour via Skype. All very exciting.

On Sunday I pop down to Viaduct Harbour where I joined a party of twelve sailing  an America’s Cup-winning yacht. It’s quite incredible how big the sails are and the power they generate. A great way to spend a Sunday morning.

Gillian & Ruth & Co arrive next Friday so my solo living is over – I better tidy the house !!