Week 2 in my new role as a consultant. I have to remind myself that the client is paying for my services by the hour, that my employer has targets for my productivity and that my earnings are dependant on these.
The folk I work with seem a nice enough bunch, though Project Office types. Not much banter, head down keyboard bangers. I am going to have to do something about that. The team is currently eight strong and consists of the Programme Office Manager, a schedule planner, two guys looking after governance, two folk who do the organisational reporting and three folk doing something though I cannot remember what.
My role for the next 6 months is to review recently completed projects. There is a significant backlog and I am tasked with trying to close the gap, but more importantly to provide a quality of insight into the manner in which projects are managed and delivered in the organisation. To cut through the crap and identify where the issues or successes within a project were, to derive meaningful learnings and capture metrics that are relevant.
There are some good challenges ahead and I look forward to improving the structure and process for these post implementation reviews. I have identified a few shortcomings already and will test my understanding of these in the course of the first reviews. I am expected to get through between 5 and 7 reviews a month. Not an overly taxing target, so I look forward to exceeding expectations on that front.
The boss and I had a really good chat on Monday afternoon, bouncing ideas and discussing some of the trends evident from the results already at hand. I suspect I will have more than a few of these with him over the next six months, looking at trends and debating solutions to these. I suppose a logical progression for me will be in implementing solutions I will be part of developing.
As for life, all is well with us. The weather has improved slightly, if only in the daytime temperatures. Still suffering under bucket loads of rain, which affects Meghan and her horse time, Travis and I with our sport and Des is constantly driving in the rain, which worries me.
Kids are into exams and Meghan is preparing for her end of Intermediate School Ball in 3 weeks time. We need to buy a dress and shoes and all those things. Meghan seldom wears dresses so a new outfit is required. She is less than excited……….
I was invited to attend the Starfish end-of-year function for the contractors. Though I am not part of the division the boss thought it a good idea to meet some of the folk. The company booked the Concrete Bar on Cable Car Lane, just off Lambton Quay in the CBD. An upmarket venue that was packed by the time I finally arrived, opting to finish a piece of work before taking the 10 minute walk. I was expecting twenty odd people, so imagine my surprise at walking into a buzzing fifty odd.
What I had expected to be a beer or two and on the train by 7PM turned into dragging myself away to take the 9PM train, which meant that Desiree had to collect me from the station at 10PM. To sum up the vibe of Starfish, I quote from the Boss Man’s toast at the end of his 2 minute speech: “…the best team of project managers…………….in the World!” which was greeted with a spontaneous cheer that epitomises the attitude and vibe of this “little” company.
I look forward to our staff Christmas function in mid December.
Did my back on the way to work yesterday and had to visit the chiropractor. By the time I had been re-aligned, the muscle spasm had set in so hobbled through the day and spent the evening prostrate on the couch. Slept well though and feeling much better this morning, the pain having been replaced by stiffness and should be good for cricket on Saturday. Speaking of which, our home ground is separated from the sea only by a road. I am wondering how many cricket balls will be lost into the water! Learnt last Saturday that sunscreen is a must, to protect from wind-burn and salt spray, more so than the sun. I must be on layer seven of peeled skin off my nose already; and no end in sight!
We are all scheduled to do our immigration medicals this week. The girls are today, Travis and I on Friday morning and Des on Friday afternoon. I am hoping to drop the Permanent Residence applications at Immigration on Wednesday next week. All going well we should be in the house hunting market by Feb next year, Residence the only barrier to a home loan. Rates are between 7.5% and 9.5% depending on the package structure and risk profile. Property is expensive, though growth in house prices is strong and the affords good opportunities for people, like me, who are willing to buy a property that requires a little work and has potential to be developed. The returns are solid and I expect that will be our approach. Renovating!
The folks called early yesterday morning, our time and their time, from Bangkok. It must have been about 2AM in Bangkok and from the party tones in their voices it probably was! They are having a ball! Shopping and sightseeing, sampling the cuisine and the local brews. Ally I understand has not been afraid of the Thai whiskey, silly girl and Pa, it seems, has taken to sampling every local brew he comes across.
They sounded as though they were, finally, on holiday! I just wonder if they will actually make it to the airport to continue their journey because we can’t wait for them to arrive.
My Path
Darkened windows, the lights flash by, streaks of communities, streaks of the infrastructure that control life. White, yellow, red!
A respite, the doors open to fresh Wellington air, Kaiwharawhara! The same to Linden, “pshhhhhh” the password and the doors open.
A lone ranger alights our mount. Finds his seat in the want of todays society, alone.
Pshhhhh! Tawa; and a passenger disembarks, leaving a loner’s spot, quickly snuggled by someone previously sharing!
The lights flash by once again, these late night trips permeated with stops at all stations, like foreplay on a weeknight.
The bleary eyed, the well oiled, the work-a-hardest heading homeward. Those lights flashing by the window once more, signalling our safety, our route, our journey.
A small part of that journey that is life! The choices we make that shape who we are and where we end up.
Not philosophy, simply an observation of the fact that is!
Today we opt to do, tomorrow we opt not! How this trip changes a life, or not!
I think of those on the London underground, bombed on their trip! How many of those on their normal route, or forced to that route by a signal fault, a delay, a missed connection. How many missed that horror, early by the grace of an appreciative manager, free-flowing traffic or a flippant early departure.
Pshhhhhh! Paremata. Pshhhhhhh! Pukerua. Pshhhhhh………… I travel on!
There but for my homeward journey go I! Having met and experienced such lovely souls this evening at my first Starfish function, a different path I am bound to travel.
A respite, the doors open to fresh Wellington air, Kaiwharawhara! The same to Linden, “pshhhhhh” the password and the doors open.
A lone ranger alights our mount. Finds his seat in the want of todays society, alone.
Pshhhhh! Tawa; and a passenger disembarks, leaving a loner’s spot, quickly snuggled by someone previously sharing!
The lights flash by once again, these late night trips permeated with stops at all stations, like foreplay on a weeknight.
The bleary eyed, the well oiled, the work-a-hardest heading homeward. Those lights flashing by the window once more, signalling our safety, our route, our journey.
A small part of that journey that is life! The choices we make that shape who we are and where we end up.
Not philosophy, simply an observation of the fact that is!
Today we opt to do, tomorrow we opt not! How this trip changes a life, or not!
I think of those on the London underground, bombed on their trip! How many of those on their normal route, or forced to that route by a signal fault, a delay, a missed connection. How many missed that horror, early by the grace of an appreciative manager, free-flowing traffic or a flippant early departure.
Pshhhhhh! Paremata. Pshhhhhhh! Pukerua. Pshhhhhh………… I travel on!
There but for my homeward journey go I! Having met and experienced such lovely souls this evening at my first Starfish function, a different path I am bound to travel.
More News'y Stuff
While I have not written for some time, much, as per usual, has transpired in our new lives. Summer, for one, has arrived! I think. I hope. Touch wood!
A full week with no rain and no padded jackets escorting me to work. Aahhh, what a life.
Brian came to visit last weekend. Part of his soccer teams year end tour, I think? He and two mates, one on route to Christchurch as part of a work relocation and one other along for the ride made up the party. A pretty good party by the sight of the boys on Sunday morning. Bleary eyed, yet ready to tackle the golden malt, again, before lunch.
It was good to have Brian around and I always marvel at his approach to life. He is a doer! He is funny and his humour always reminds me of Uncle Louis! A humour that is life itself, derived and inspired by people. To say that he has a capacity for partying would be to sell him short. The boy can thrash it till sunrise and start again with an early breakfast. Needless to say I was green-gilled by Sunday! And he only arrived with us on Saturday morning.
GREAT!
He spent time with us at Travis’ cricket, soaking up the first summer sun on Saturday, came back on Sunday, stayed over and flew back to Auckland on Monday evening! Thanks Brian!
We have been preparing our home for it’s six monthly landlord visit. A sizeable task given that we ignored our duties through the rain and cold months. We are almost there and I suspect we will pass with flying colours.
My resignation at EDS has left me feeling a little vulnerable, unsure. One no longer feels a part of the team. Like a peg without a hole? Things to do and places to go, but a little unstructured. I get the feeling my peers expect me to act in a certain way, to have a certain attitude. What? Why? All I want is to prepare the one major project I have for a seamless handover. Look after my baby!
I have been entertained recently with observations and musings from the Overburg. Of walks on the beach, misty mornings, friendly neighbours, a little wine and whiskey sipping, a life newly discovered. Of waiting with anticipation to catch up on the lives of Val and F! Recently the highveld smog departed, settled now in the foothills of fynbos country and a new four legged companion to boot! That lifelong dream realised! You go guys! And thanks……
(PS: Your music is in the post)
So what of our news? Well, suppose we have been busy doing life! Work, school, sport, horses, maintenance and well, the stuff that makes up what we are, a family.
Missing our folk is reality. News of family gatherings, birthdays, anniversaries and the like, remind us of the price we pay. Those sun drenched, red meat blackening, beer filled afternoons, chewing the fat, sharing love! We miss those. Seeing the nieces and nephews grow toward their fist steps, their first day of school, their first exam, their first job, their weddings, becoming parents! These things we miss! As pioneers though, I suppose we build our own “family” to satisfy these cravings.
I suggest we pay a little homage to our forebears, who did just this, without email and telephones. Respect!
Just peered out the window as we pass Plimmerton, The sea is calm, the sky cloudless, the wind but a murmur, like tea settling after a gentle stir. The sheep are out, not cowering in the hollows but freckling the hills. The folk about the carriage are in summer attire, the jackets lazing about the stowage racks, neglected, unwanted!
I sense a ramble coming on……….. something about how blue or green that Tasman, or how green or yellow spotted that hill, or how the rich folk are invasive, or how ………………..
I simply cannot wait to get off the train today and be with my family. A sundown at the beach, a chardonnay, a piece of cheese, a memory!
A full week with no rain and no padded jackets escorting me to work. Aahhh, what a life.
Brian came to visit last weekend. Part of his soccer teams year end tour, I think? He and two mates, one on route to Christchurch as part of a work relocation and one other along for the ride made up the party. A pretty good party by the sight of the boys on Sunday morning. Bleary eyed, yet ready to tackle the golden malt, again, before lunch.
It was good to have Brian around and I always marvel at his approach to life. He is a doer! He is funny and his humour always reminds me of Uncle Louis! A humour that is life itself, derived and inspired by people. To say that he has a capacity for partying would be to sell him short. The boy can thrash it till sunrise and start again with an early breakfast. Needless to say I was green-gilled by Sunday! And he only arrived with us on Saturday morning.
GREAT!
He spent time with us at Travis’ cricket, soaking up the first summer sun on Saturday, came back on Sunday, stayed over and flew back to Auckland on Monday evening! Thanks Brian!
We have been preparing our home for it’s six monthly landlord visit. A sizeable task given that we ignored our duties through the rain and cold months. We are almost there and I suspect we will pass with flying colours.
My resignation at EDS has left me feeling a little vulnerable, unsure. One no longer feels a part of the team. Like a peg without a hole? Things to do and places to go, but a little unstructured. I get the feeling my peers expect me to act in a certain way, to have a certain attitude. What? Why? All I want is to prepare the one major project I have for a seamless handover. Look after my baby!
I have been entertained recently with observations and musings from the Overburg. Of walks on the beach, misty mornings, friendly neighbours, a little wine and whiskey sipping, a life newly discovered. Of waiting with anticipation to catch up on the lives of Val and F! Recently the highveld smog departed, settled now in the foothills of fynbos country and a new four legged companion to boot! That lifelong dream realised! You go guys! And thanks……
(PS: Your music is in the post)
So what of our news? Well, suppose we have been busy doing life! Work, school, sport, horses, maintenance and well, the stuff that makes up what we are, a family.
Missing our folk is reality. News of family gatherings, birthdays, anniversaries and the like, remind us of the price we pay. Those sun drenched, red meat blackening, beer filled afternoons, chewing the fat, sharing love! We miss those. Seeing the nieces and nephews grow toward their fist steps, their first day of school, their first exam, their first job, their weddings, becoming parents! These things we miss! As pioneers though, I suppose we build our own “family” to satisfy these cravings.
I suggest we pay a little homage to our forebears, who did just this, without email and telephones. Respect!
Just peered out the window as we pass Plimmerton, The sea is calm, the sky cloudless, the wind but a murmur, like tea settling after a gentle stir. The sheep are out, not cowering in the hollows but freckling the hills. The folk about the carriage are in summer attire, the jackets lazing about the stowage racks, neglected, unwanted!
I sense a ramble coming on……….. something about how blue or green that Tasman, or how green or yellow spotted that hill, or how the rich folk are invasive, or how ………………..
I simply cannot wait to get off the train today and be with my family. A sundown at the beach, a chardonnay, a piece of cheese, a memory!
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