Wellington

[tcpip]

The last days at my mother's place were somewhat strained. Just prior to my arrival she took up an internet account, which was very handy allowing me to start work on the disabilities website for connect.ie - however she then became convinced that because I actually used the connection (which was freely offered to me) that she missed a real estate sale (i.e., the people in question were prepared to spend hundreds of thousands on a motel, but not a couple of dollars on a mobile 'phone call). This is dubious to say the least. Neverthless she took the opportunity to delete all my files (and only my files) from her computer - including several hours work that I had done for the website. Fortunately recovery was relatively easy and I've managed to avoid being particularly effected or upset by this childish behaviour. On my last day in Palmerston North, she started accusing me of "inviting myself" to visit her over Christmas and New Year - which is contrary to the facts of both our email and telephone conversations. She has asked that I stay in Wellington for new year, a decision which I am more than pleased to accept.

Wellington, I must say, is quite wonderful. Yesterday consisted of the delights of the enormous and complex national museum, which included a spectacular Chinese dinosaurs exhibition, then an afternoon and evening with kimeros, beagl, dcarson and kehua. Today included a tour of the national parliament (very much like the Victorian one in style - but very different in the earthquake proofing), a visit to the civic centre art gallery (Wim Wenders and and Stanley Spencer exhibitions), a visit to "Fidel's", a somewhat famous leftie cafe in Cuba Street and to the Wellington library - which had a booksale on (yes, I couldn't resist, I purchased several books - including an interesting introduction to Quantum Theory which I'm currently reading).

I've been staying in the Downtown Wellington Backpackers, a beautiful, enormous deco hotel, which was graced by the presence of Her Majesty when she saw fit to visit the colony back in the fifties. It is opposite the equally magnificant Wellington train station and my room has fine views of both the train station and quay. The city seems to be designed with a sense of consistency in stylem, with planning and just a touch of nostalgia (the trackless trams - basically buses with electrical overhead power - are a case in point). There is certainly plenty to do in Wellington - I'll be quite occupied over the next few days - and the MAN makes Internet connections amazingly quick. Although a small city, it is hemmed in by mountains (and on two fault lines) giving the impression that the city is a lot bigger than its population of some 450, 000. It is certainly the sort of city I would be very happy to live in.

Comments

[angel80.livejournal.com]

We used to have those buses in Adelaide when I was a kid. After setting the retrieval process in motion for several minutes, I remembered that we called them trolley buses.

[zey.livejournal.com]

If real estate agents in NZ are anything like the ones in Australia, you'd expect their business cards would only have their office and mobile numbers. Very very rare that they'd hand their home phone number out. So the story sounds odd.

Destroying your work, accusing you of weaseling your way into free board and kicking you out, on the other hand, is very bad news. Being so far away and not knowing your family at all, I wouldn't want to speculate much. Maybe their family needs a bit more time to adapt to having such a very different unexpected addition ;-). Give 'em some time, I reckon.

Excellent that you're having a good time there despite it all. New Zulland is actually the country I've been thinking most of emmigrating to if J-Ho manages to win another term here... and I'd be surprised if I was alone. So you're scouting out the locations for more than just one there ;-).

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

you'd expect their business cards would only have their office and mobile numbers

They do.

Maybe their family needs a bit more time to adapt to having such a very different unexpected addition

My intepretation is that she's on a bit of a downer. The last two years haven't been good to her - she put all of her life savings into a huge turn-of-the-century two story building (former orphanage, how ironic) and bought herself a flash car all with the view of starting up a wedding reception centre and b&b.

The plan however fell apart. She hadn't done her budgeting properly (or at all really), the Council (and neighbours) weren't happy with the idea of a reception centre and she didn't have the buffer zone of a years' worth of income in the bank "just in case". So the inevitable happened and she lost the lot. I think she's having problems coming to terms with the fact that it is actually her fault - she let an ideological dream rule her head and she's paying the price. In the meantime however her behaviour can be a little odd.

[zey.livejournal.com]

Having a buffer is so important. The other biggie is to never own big assets but lease or hire-purchase when you're starting out. Yep, there's nothing worse than learning lessons expensively and after the fact, especially if it's been done by betting with money you can't afford to lose.

I don't think having an ideological dream is such a bad thing. But you've got to spend time doing the research and be conservative about your spending. Having more sense than money's always a more preferable option to the reverse, as I'm sure a 1980s Alan Bond could have been told by a 1970s Steve Jobs ;-).

Anyway, it sounds like things will blow over when the immediate stress is gone and she's had a chance to get some perspective. It's good that you're not taking her too seriously. People under ongoing stress do kooky things they otherwise wouldn't dream of doing.

[severina-242.livejournal.com]

It is certainly the sort of city I would be very happy to live in.

What, for three months until you get itchy feet again ;-)

Hmmmmmmmm. You know, I have a theory about your mother's behaviour, but I'll have to share it with you some other time (that is, if you want to hear it).

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

I picked up the itchy feet thing about two years ago and I plan to have them for the next five-ten years at least!

I can't wait to hear your theory...

[doomydoombear.livejournal.com]

Ooohh...Quantum Theory. *Sits on the couch with you and reads over your shoulder.*

Nz is soo very beautiful, but I could never live there, I love my Queensland weather way too much! :D

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

The Quantum Theory book was excellent - it destroyed a couple of myths that I had in my head that were ingrained by high school physics teachers. No wonder I couldn't understand high school physics. They were training to tell me that atoms were made up of particles! Peh!

Next book I've picked up is a classic on data and computer networks. Something I'm already well versed in, but still a very good read for its time...

I understand that weather thing. There's not too much of Brisbane weather here!

[doomydoombear.livejournal.com]

Hmmm...It's like when you explain something to a toddler, you dumb it down so they can understand. Then when they get to high school they realise that the understanding they had of certain things is not correct. They if they go on to Uni, they learn that all of what they were taught in high school was dumbed down for them as well.

*Sigh* The lies we tell our children.

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

*Sigh* The lies we tell our children.

Yeah, like Santa Claus. I get strangely pissed off at that one.

[doomydoombear.livejournal.com]

Hehe, my son only knows the legend of Santa, but so he isn't left out at school, he still gets presents in honor of Santa.

Does that even make sense?

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

Yes, I imagine he has a lot of fun saying it with a straight face. 'Oh "Santa" left me x, y, z.'

[doomydoombear.livejournal.com]

Lol, he probably does at that. He has inherited a bit of a smartarse streak from one of his parents. Must be his Dad, couldn't possibly be me :P

[caseopaya.livejournal.com]

Now is that the actual St Nikolaus version or the American Coca Cola version? :)

[doomydoombear.livejournal.com]

lol, the St Nikolaus version. We still go and get our pix taken with santa at the mall and all, so he's not really missing out at all. He just knows the truth....

[caseopaya.livejournal.com]

Glad to hear there are "decent" parents out there then. Your way is much saner in my opinion :)

NYE

[beagl.livejournal.com]

Hi lev,

NYE is going to start with drinks at a friend's place and then go on to... I'm not sure. He said that you're welcome if you're house trained. :)

I suggest coming over for dinner first - say at about 7pm?

Re: NYE

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

OK, I'll come around about 7pm... Flat 10 isn't it?

Re: NYE

[beagl.livejournal.com]

Yep, that's the one. Cool.

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

Let me just change that a little.

Wellington has about 250,000 people - the other 200,000 are in the "Wellington region" which includes the west coast, Hutt River and Masterton and surrounds. So it's even smaller than I thought.

[caseopaya.livejournal.com]

Well at least you got to find out that family is not for you, and it was a choice you made. You have survived without them for so long, you will continue to do so as you know.

Glad to hear that Wellington is proving to be a better place.

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

it was a choice you made

Rather, it was made for me.

...you will continue to do so as you know

I know, c'est la vie. The remain a part of my life but a distant one.

Oh well, at least I have NZ citizenship...

[caseopaya.livejournal.com]

I meant more that you were given an option of meeting or not meeting your "birth" mother.

[kehua.livejournal.com]

Oh dear lord, you're staying above the infamous 'Flying Jug' pub. If I'd known that I would have insisted on going there with you. (And now I know you're just thinking 'thank christ I didn't tell her!')