BluesBro's World Downunder

I'm sitting enjoying a coffee in the sunny Hawkes Bay at the Hastings Honda dealership where I am about to run a navigation training course. I've been getting in too late as I travel around to get on the net, so haven't been around for a while. Not sure what town I'm staying in tonight yet, but hopefully the motel will have internet access and I can catch up. Missing you guys, but enjoying being on the road instead of in the office. Taken lots of great pics to share when I get back, but probably won't be able to post them till the weekend.

I was bidding for a used Vintage resonator steel body guitar. The auction was closing yesterday at around 1 p.m. I left for Whangarei, a 2 hour drive at 7:30- and forgot to put in my final bid. It went for about US$300. GUTTED! I could have had it, there were no more bids on the day:-(

Guitars like that are rare in NZ and are keepers. I know it's not the real thing, but its close and doesn't cost $2,000 which I can't afford.

Now we can't say beam me up Scottie anymore:-( I'm sure he contributed to my love of handheld computers, as he virtually invented what we take for granted today, except that teleportation is still in its infancy. Apparently he was actually Canadian, but had a great Scottish accent.

Cat Stevens is 52 today. I used to have a lot of time for him until he became a Muslim and apparently racist. Burst my bubble that did.

Almost lost the plot with a distributor of Korean cars today. We did a lot of work for him for free in setting up a demonstration system and let him use it for a couple of months. When I wanted to train his dealers he said that he thought that most people would think it was too expensive, blah blah blah..................

I felt like saying that many people have the opinion that Korean cars are cheap and nasty, but I didn't:-)

Looking out my window I just saw the moon, almosty full with a nice aura around it from the thin cloud. Took a pic, which will appear here shortly. Just as I put the camera away, an air force jet flew past, would have looked great with the moon above it, but too late:-(

Planning a trip around the lower half of the North Island next week. Hoping there will be a little sunshine and some good scenery.

Skype suddenly opened up this afternoon and there was my cousin from Ireland who I haven't spoken to for about 8 years, would have to be other people in the office and I left my headset at home:-( Any other Skypers around?

Where did the weekend go? Why can't we have 5 day weekends and 2 day work weeks. I'm obviously in the wrong business anyway. I was having a look at some Bentley's the other day. No not to buy, but to look at their navigation systems and see if they could use our data, which they can.

A guy turns up covered in tatts, scruffy jeans and denim shirt and buys a Ferrari. All he wanted to know was if it went fast! I wonder if I should change industry. Any nice girls out there who would like to work for me? Or maybe I should buy up a container of pseduo ephedrine.

A few beers and Baileys last night were just the thing to get rid of my hangover from Friday night. I should have just started drinking instead of taking Panadol.

Loving all the new features that are popping up at Buzznet. Not sure if I should be spending as much time as I am here, but I love this place and the friends I've made here.

This morning I woke up with a massive headache which still hasn't disappeared. Not sure if it was the wine, the bourbon or the 42 South Vodka. Whatever, it better go away soon, cause I'm off to a 35th birthday party in 4 hours!

Last night I had to present the award for 2005 Salesman of the year for the NZ Sales and Marketing Institute as I am a board member. I had prepared my presentation story on my iMATE, but just before I was to give my presentation I was told not to mention the name of the winner or their company until the end. That totally blew my presentation because 2/3 of it couldn't be said till the end. Anyway I sort of managed my way through it and the winner was very happy with his trophy and $1,000 in accomodation vouchers. The Grand Prize winner was 42 Below, the NZ Vodka company who are making inroads around the world and everyone had a great night. I was also the photographer, so now have to work my way through about 50 pics.