Touch Down in Brazil

Landed in Brazil last night to a stunning 26 degrees, Diplomat pick up and a lovely aroma… I have got use to smelling like a fast food outlet now; it’s the alternative fuels that they use here for vehicles Apparently last year there were 30% more cars on the road.

And if you didn’t know Saturday was international ‘no car’ day – with 18million people in Sao Paulo it is a crawling car yard. Meetings can be late due to traffic and do not expect to fit more than 2 meetings in a day or to travel after 1530hrs.

I’m staying with William our New Zealand Consul and Trade Commissioner in Sao Paulo in his ‘Consul Residence’. The Crunchie bars, honey and Marmite are going down a treat.

I have met two local lawyers this morning and one worth noting for use to New Zealand companies is Octavio.

The office is gearing up for the Ministers Business Round Table discussion on Wednesday.

Sally Ann’s 50th

We had a wild time on Saturday night at my friend’s 50th birthday party.  The evening started off with a mini putt style golf competition at Miramar Links Golf Course then headed inside for a night of fine dining and entertainment.  The talking stick brought out of the wood work a few funny´s from SA´s past.

It was a great night and she got lots of lovely and silly gifts, including a Brazilian Wax and Pedicure from Elizabeth and me. Which was complemented by an IM lingerie gift voucher from Marie and co.

Apparently for SA the night was better than her 21st and even better than her wedding day - it was very special.

The night brought lots of people together from all over NZ that I hadn´t seen for a while, it was a great catch up night.

And SA looked absolutely stunning – if I look that fabulous at 50 I´ll be happy.

Cave Swimming Tonga

Reading the article today re the kids getting stuck in the cave while swimming reminded me of my cave experience on a diving trip to Tonga last year.

We were shown a cave by our boat boys that we could snorkel in to. It had two entrances, one 11M’s under the surface and the other 2.5M’s under. Most of the divers were entering and exiting the cave via the top hole but some of the more experienced free divers came out the bottom hole – it was amazing watching them drift up from the depths. The visibility was fabulous for up to 20+M’s which provided a great view of the divers appearing out of the lower entrance and kicking up to the surface for that much needed breath.

Timing was everything – You had to kick hard and go in with the tide and duck duck duck otherwise you’d knock your head on the roof of the entrance which was 2m’s long. Once in you had to equalise your ears every time the tide surged back and forward to counteract the change in air pressure.

As always with this type of adventure once in you are only half way, you still have to get out! So, yet again you had to time it right and kick with the tide and keep the head down ensuring you didn’t rise too soon and hit your head on the entrance on the way out.

Even though it took a couple of times to get the timing right to go in I am glad I did it!

Jamis Day Night Thriller MTB Event Taupo

What a fabulous weekend! Two weeks ago Steve (brother) and I decided after much deliberation to enter the 12hr mtb race in Taupo. We joined the Vodafone crew who had a four man older dudes team and our three person mixed team. We rocked!

I had rented this great house in Taupo for the weekend that slept eight (five separate beds) and was close to AC Baths (hot pools) and the MTB event in Spa Park. I will definitely look to booking this place again next year. There is also another house at the back on the same section you can hire for bigger groups.

I thoroughly enjoyed the event this year compared to when I was with a five team crew last year – I think less people to trip over, everyone shared and we were more organised with equipment etc and they were a wonderful bunch of people!

We had a big tent, cookers, table and chairs, gas heater and heaps of accessories.

Next year I want to ride the 12hrs solo – the three months of training prior unfortunately is in the peak of winter when it is darkest and I find it difficult to get out of bed to train. But no excuse! Next year all I need to ride is around 18-23 laps to place in the top three.

So, I’ll need to suss out my lights properly, as riding half blind was a mission, and organise my training including food and water intake.

I have since noted the female winner this year only stopped once for about 15Min’s and I assume it was to gear up her lights and do any other necessaries I am impressed with her efforts – I actually rode with her for a few corners in the forest, she had a good pace on her.

The best part, I did not end up with sore muscles the next day! Eyes and knee ligaments/muscles throbbed a bit on the night and my face the next day was a bit blocked up and puffy, probably due to lack of sleep and the amount of dust flying around the track as it was very dry.

Check out Desmond Downs Photographer for pictures of the event and Event Promotions for results and pictures.

ANZ Wellington Export Awards

I attended the ANZ Wellington Export Awards last night with work at Te Papa and had a great night mingling with my clients.  I had two clients as finalists; 4RF in the Exporter of the Year category and PlanHQ in the Emerging Exporter of the Year category.

And guess what?!  4RF won!  This is fabulous news as it is the second year in a row one of my clients has won – last year Metra won the same category.

The speakers were a great line up; Andrew Ferrier, CEO, Fonterra and Ken Stevens, Founder and Chairman of Glidepath. 

A long night but good to be able to attend - a pity more exporting companies do not show up as the room tends to be full of NZ service providers and professionals.

Phoenix Sunday Game

Well what a boring day at the soccer, if it wasn’t for the Deloitte Lounge tickets, courtesy of a friend, including pizza and vino then I probably would have gone home early. No entertainment – its not like I go for the soccer!

They deserved to lose 1-0 as the Nix striker could not put the ball away in to the back of the net!! He was driving the spectators mental with his inadequacies.

Alas the 11,478 fans and Yellow Fever supporters were out in fine form and I dear say they enjoyed the game but not the result.

Come on Phoenix – step it up!

Next game in the ring of fire is Saturday 22nd September.

Traversing Mt Ruapehu

Had another magic day up the mountain skiing and traversing across the snow covered ridges. The weather was perfect, sunshine and no wind!

We skied all morning and then laced up the snow boots and strapped on the new crampons and took them for a walk across the lower ridges – it was fun! I could have done it all day. Next time I am going to take up my GPS and walk right across to the upper glacier.

It is always fun to watch someone else learning to use a new toy and watching Craig learn to walk like a duck wearing nappies in his new crampons so he didn’t cut up his legs was a hoot! Like most boys he prefers going down than going up (my preference) but liked using crampons and wants to get on to some technical ice climbing (this always separates the men from the boys, as the heights can be scary)

Mt Taranaki was looking fabulous, snow capped and sitting high above the cloud line.

Nothing like being outside doing stuff

Walk on Earth Fashion Show

Walk on Earth Wellington’s premier fashion show featured at The Grand Hall, Massey University last night.

This year 600 people (a full house) attended the show supporting the Wellington City Mission youth programme which was hosted by the Walk on Trust.

It was a great show featuring some of my favourite Wellington designers: Andrea Moore with her lovely jackets and dresses; Laurie Foon with a couple of her ranges, Starfish and Laurie Foon; Sophie Voon had a gorgeous wedding gown collection that she showed (nice for a change); and Mandatory and House of Hank featured for the male fashion guru’s out there. There were 19 labels lined up in all.

Hayley Smith was probably one of the only designers that really got into the theme of the event incorporating a spirit guru on stage and earth people dancing around. Zantis had some nice mix & match pieces for this summers ‘Daughters of the Nile’ Collection if you want to make your way out to Hataitai.

The first half of the show was a little boring and left me thinking not much shopping is going to be done this summer L but the second half was a lot more interesting, at least showing a few items I would consider purchasing once the weather warms up.

Father Britten, from the City Mission was a bit dry in opening up the show and the MC was a little nervous but his outfit more than made up for it – that red frock and high heels!

For all ‘Walk on …’ events my friends and I get to be front of house staff for the night so we can watch the show in the front seats (usually the aisles) and attend the after show parties. And if we are lucky we get a goodie bag! (Not that these are not anything to write home about)

Now that the preshop viewing has been done and items noted, lets get on with the real shopping!

Wellington’s Cable Car Challenge

Two companies that I have helped enter the CCC have made it in to the second round – Yahoo!

The challenge was open to all Wellingtonians who had an idea or business that they wanted put in front of New Zealand angel investors and American VC’s. The first two rounds were all about the business plan and overall potential of the company; this includes the team (Me!). All plans had to be entered via an online business planning tool from a SaaS company, PlanHQ.

The interesting part about this challenge is the actual presentation venue; it’s the Wellington Cable Car! Companies who make it to the third round have to make their investment pitch in the 41/2mins it takes to ride the Cable Car up to the top and then Q&A’s on the way back down. A brilliant concept!

First prize is irrelevant really the presentation itself to the VC’s being the coveted prize.

The 26 companies that have made it to round two have been able to attend workshops on writing business plans, adding value to IP, market validation and the third round winners get to attend a presentations workshop.

Fingers crossed for my two companies!

 

Anita’s Queen’s Guide Award

My cousin was awarded the Queens Guide Award today by the Governor-Generals wife at Government House after 3 yrs of being a Ranger. Anita was very casual about the whole affair while everyone else was amping in their pants for her. Even her younger brother got dressed up in his #1’s for the occasion.

She received a badge and certificate from the Queen signed Elizabeth R and after a quick hand shake they got to dine on cucumber sandwiches and walk the halls of Government House.

We went out to celebrate and show Luke (15yrs) Courtney Place. (He now wants to have his 18th down here)

Congratulations Anita!