Babe Ruth and Trains

Tonight the 5.33 to Carterton was delayed. This meant that the 5.33 passengers and the 6.18 passengers had to merge into the one train that departed Wellington Railway Station circa 6.40 pm. Timing is important to me.

All trains at the Railway Station were delayed - at least on the Upper Hutt line.

Once the train was on its journey a Tranzmetro man came through and announced he was sorry for the delay but the reasosn was one of the Train Managers (This is a flash term for a guard) on the incoming train had collapsed at Carterton railway station and had to be taken to Masterton Hospital. Train logic is dependent on outgoing trains being those that have previously been incoming trains.

So that is what was said by the Tranzmetro man with the yellow gerkin . Amazingly none of the passengers (and I am sorry to say this included me but at least inside I gave a shit) asked how the collapsed guard was or what is condition was. And then amazingly people started making conversations from their cellphones: and I quote one convo representative of the flavour:

"I'll be home late becasuse one of the guards has had a heart attack, so this means all the trains in NZ have stopped - and there's people standing on the train" (there was 1 person standing in my carriage)

Ah no, trains on the Upper Hutt route had been delayed due to the neccessity to follow health and safety procedures and because someones life may have been at risk.

People started complaining they would be late home. That NZ train didn't compare with those in Aus and Germany and Holland etc. They dont - but thats why they are NZ trains eh?

Then the best bit came. Ruth one of the "clippies" - that is not a train manager but lay person who earns a few extra bucks on her way to work by clipping tickets started her normal routine of "tickets please" . The Dutchman said "I'm not paying". The German woman said "neither am I" So Ruth (a classic Masterton mature woman) said "Well buggar you then" and walked off and noone had their tickets clicked. Hence a free $14.00 ride and some extra reading time.

So yeah I was an hour late home, but no big deal I missed the first few minutes of DWTS. But what about the guy in hospital?

Dare I say it, but a lot of the guards are proabaly heart attack material...but thats a seperate issue.

Yay for Ruth. She deserves a Tui.

How to get a new job part 2

First, prepare youself. Update your CV. Know who you are. Know your strengths and weaknesses. Explore. Know your passion. Know what rocks your world. What makes your world tick. Know what makes you get out of bed in the morning, Know what excites and engages you. Know what extends you. Know yourself. Inside out.

Don't be deterred by the crisis. The recession. Deficit is a mindset. Save your thoughts for bigger things.

Don't be deterred by people who interview you and then don't select you as their preferred candidate. Learn from the experience. Although it is worth considering the line "do you think that lipstick really is your colour". It traverses the ground of the personal. It won't get you the job - but heck, you will feel a hulluava lot better for having a little chuckle.

Consider the line "have we just wasted an hour of our lives when we could have been spending it more wisely" Again it won't get you the job but it will save everyone wasting more time eh?

So when one door closes in your face open another or keep knocking until the right one opens.

Some reasons why I like my town

I like my town - Carterton, because its real. My version of real. eg. Today I went and purchased fish from the fish man. He is the brother in law of Jean, the wife of the man who catches the fish out at Flat Point. I puchased the freshest Warehou for $9.00. Two decent meals. I don't know the name of the Jean's brother in law, just that I am his mate and he is my mate. Because like he says mate every second word and smiles. He is so happy. And he tells the same stories. And I kindof like that. Also the way he parks his truck up in the square and then people old and young come to him for his fish and his stories. And he is kind of a storyteller first and fishmonger second.

And then I go to Mirabelle - possibly the best cafe in the Wairarapa. Its run by this superb NZ cook and her French husband. The French husband is the front of house. Hes a bit abrupt sometimes, but today we established that I am a "local" and work in Wellington. This seemed to be quite significant progress for the Frenchman and me. This really is the best authentic French cafe you will find in the Wellington/Wairarapa region. Locals come in and meals are made to order, and there are conversations.

Then I went to buy a saw from the hardware store. I like the way the hardware store man treats you like you are the most important customer in the world. Which in that moment is possibly true because you are the only customer. But theres more authenticity to it than that. Its about making conversation.

Then i came home and sawed my wood (which my back neighbour chopped down without permission, but I kind of forgot that because the sun was shining and my bamboo is growing) while the roadworks guys had a banter about stuff and then got on with their work

How to get a new job

So, I've quite grown to like the "Buddha lady". This was inevitable really for a number of reasons. One of the reasons is that she does not "fit" within my team. She finds it crazy as I do. But being a contractor she has managed to disguise this more than I do.

So, anyway she came to work on Monday and said that she thought she had secured her next contract assignment. So, I said "your a legend" omg I have not used the term in my workplace for well over a year eg in my current workplace. Then I said well, thats a.m.a.z.i.n.g how that came together.

And the Buddha lady replied "Well, I spent the whole weekend chanting about it" She then gave me a business card with the Buddist chant. Apparently it works for relationships, jobs, anything really.

I explained back that I wont be converting to Buddism, but nevertheless don't discredit it.

Its a little similar to the "law of attraction" - what you think about - you bring about.

I know for sure tomorrow I will recieveing a phone call about my job prospects. So, like I'm thinking positive. P. O.S.I.T.I.V.E and now I may go and do a little Carterton chant about it!!!!

Taxing issue

I have been corresponding with the Tax Department - aka Inland Revenue. Today I recieved a letter dated 23 March in response to my letter dated 27 January 2007.

It sets out my tax assessment for the period ending 31 March 2008. It says I have worked for 3 govt agencies during this time. Now I know the gross earnings it states are true. But one of the govt agencies it says I have worked for is not. It says I have worked for the Ministry of Education. It should of course read Ministry of ***** for the period stated.

It then says in the next paragraph "Based on the above, the assessment for 2008, which results in tax to pay of $608.10 , is correct, and becasue of this, we are unable to reassess it".

I'm debating whether to write back and say the assessment is incorrect becasuse I have never worked for the Ministry of Education and make them write again. However, I am wary of agitating the Inland Revenue Assessment Officer who signed my letter is possibly not the best idea.

I probably should just make the arrnagements via the 0800 line re payment options. But there is kind of a principle thing here.

a) Inland Revenue has one of my employers details incorrect
b) I am being taxed on annual leave I accrued - but this does not seem to make any difference.

Never accrue your annual leave - it will cost you.

Any tax lawyers out there? What would you do? Can I get off on the techncaility of the arguement that the assessment has stated is incorrect becasue I have never worked for the Ministry of Education. I know this is what the records state becasue when I rang up when I first got the assessment the 0800 person said I had worked for the Ministry fo Education.

I sort of translate the letter has - we have put your letter through our computer and it does not compute.

Fricken heck $608 is a lot of money to pay the tax man when I have already paid him...

Dye

I'm waiting for my hair to dye. One contact lense in so I can see and get it evenly coated. This is the Farmers dye your hair. Loreal mahogany brown.
Will my colleagues tomorrow know I am preparing for an interview ? Becasue like you know, I'm tidying up myself a bit. If they ask , think I may say: YES Because hello I am. Starting with the head down. I want this to be last interview. Becasue I want this job.

On a seperate matter I'm trying to go tv free. Of lifes addictions its possibly one of the easier ones to give up than some others. Especially when there is a computer and Youtube.

On a another seperate issue, I spoke to mye neighbour at the weekend. She said I was welcome to the damson plums on my side of the fence from her tree. She said they go well with gin/and or cheese. She also said she is writing for House and Garden and a company in France.

We have agreed she can profile my garden. This is perhaps a 12 month goal. a tough but possible one for me to meet if I literally put in the ground work.

Bikes and Buddha

Yesterday I rediscovered the bike I purchased off Stronger Light. I also rediscoverd my bicycle helmet and gloves. And then yes, I went for a bike ride. I have some way to go before I am familiar with the gear changes like I used to be with my old bike. I've entered the bike challenge at work and am aiming for 100k a week. It might be more realistic to go for 50 k. At leas for the first week.

So there I am, out cycling when viola this grey Toyota car glides past me. I look up. Read the registration. It is MY car. Well its not (but I still have a key - although to use it I guess would be called theft - although how can it be theft when you gave the car away?). And actually I knew it had been given a new life becasue I recieved the papers in the mail. So much for being only ok for parts. Anyway, its not my car now. just hope I never see it again - becasue it does mildly distress me. The bike is my car. And I have to make it my best (transport) friend if I want to move a bit faster to places. eg not take half a morning to go and get the Sunday paper or bread. but just hop on my bike and be back quite quickly. But actually, its part of my fitness programme.

On a seperate issue, the "buddha lady" at work spent a little bit of time ordering cheesecakes from some place in Woodville. Apparently they are the best in New Zealand. So i turn to her and I say "do buddists eat cheesecake?". She says "yes, they do". Well at least the Terrace chapter does. It just seems at odds to me.