~misfit~ wrote:

So you're from NZ too huh Neil?

Pennsylvania, actually.

But my [old] company sent me to Wellington for three weeks in 1997.  We were
working on the Ericsson cable TV system, which I understand went belly-up a
year or two later.

You can try to compete with that national Telecom company, if you're a
masochist.

Winter wasn't really bad.  No snow; sunny half the days.  "Almost" cold
enough to get pneumonia if you stand out in the rain, but not quite.  When
you get used to it, it can be refreshing.  Otherwise, they have umbrellas.

I stayed at the Shepherds Arms Hotel.  Needless to say, they make a good
lamb.  My commute consisted of walking to a cable-car in the Botanical
Gardens, taking it down the side of a hillside, and walking a few more
blocks to the office.  Actually, walking through the bustling business
district was faster, but I didn't want to miss the cable car.  Only in New
Zealand.

Pretty peaceful.  Pretty, peaceful.

I though the South Island would be desolate enough to be an opportunity to
try my hand at driving on the left side of the road.  But the schedule for
the ferry to the South Island was severely limited for the season, so I
didn't get to visit there.  I understand that you can visit a dozen
"micro-climates" if you take a three hour drive.

One highlight was the antique stores.  Almost nothing American, but lots
from Europe and the Orient.  It was a real eye-opener.  You know, Europe and
the Orient are a lot older than America, and so are their antiques.  Also,
American antiques tend to be items that used to be "useful," but European
and Oriental antiques tend to be "artistic" (which is even more timeless).

Most of my other trips were to countries that only had diesel cars, no
catalytic converters, thick air, and continual traffic jams on every paved
road.  (cough cough)  NZ didn't suffer from those automobile problems.
Except for driving on the wrong side, it was just like home.  It was nice
that my company finally sent me to an English speaking, 1st World country
for a change -- especially the one I was always most intrigued by but never
thought I'd be able to see.

Tnx,
        -Neil-