Having managed to migrate my old employers to a proper email solution – one fewer Domino servers in the world has to be a good thing – I’ve now moved on to a new contract back in Wellington’s CBD.

Took a couple of weeks to line something up despite the job boards being busy, which got a little worrying. Had a good lead with Ministry of Coughs and Sneezes but despite telling the pimp they had chosen me from the candidates it never progressed to a contract. Thankfully the Ministry of Flying Safely came along with a three monther, which I started last week.

I’m backfilling while they hire a replacement for an engineer that’s moving to a new role elsewhere – to my first Kiwi employers no less … Wor Lass’ assertion of Wellington as “a city that thinks it’s a village” isn’t far off the mark….

I had three fairly intense days last week trying to get to grips with the client and its infrastructure and suck information out of the guy’s head before he left. Apart from uncomfortable chairs, colleagues all around me eating crunchy foods (my phobia is widening from just apples to include celery, carrots and other crunchables) and ridiculously slow lifts (right up to the 15th floor) it’s looking promising so far.

Not enjoying wearing face masks on the train though, makes for some awkward juggling of coffee cup and book to sneak a sip; plus the foggy glasses issue makes it difficult to read. Still, if that’s the worst thing I can live with it until we all get jabbed up.

Had a very pleasant Italian-themed menu dinner party last night. The menu for posterity :-

• Arancini balls with spicy tomato sauce
• Slow-cooked lamb ragu with fresh pappardelle pasta and garlic bread
• Almond chocolate torte with coconut vanilla bean ice cream

As usual Wor Lass The Duchess of Seacroft knocked it out of the park, though I would take some of the credit for starter – the guests were most impressed with my balls.

Last night did teach me two things :-

1. If you add a bouquet garni to a lamb ragu to add flavour, remember to remove it before getting your gormless boyfriend to dish it up to the unwitting guests. Thankfully the lucky recipient of a muslin bag of spices fished it out instead of trying to eat it.
2. Don’t, under any circumstances, finish the meal by getting out a bottle of home-made limoncello and pass it around like it’s lemonade.

Have lost most of today to ibuprofen and couch surfing broken up with constant refilling of the dishwasher. How did we manage to use so much crockery and cutlery? It was only 3 courses!

Check out Stephen Wildish’s site if you like infographics and visual puns. His latest gave me a chuckle: sourced from B3ta.com (nsf mams)

If they’re good enough for Hilda Ogden then we’ll give it a go! Took a punt on a Potteresque bookshelf with candles mural, and I think it adds a fun touch to the home office.

It’s the right way up and still on the wall after an hour so I’m happy with my work.

Poor NZ bird caught being a bit hopeless on a webcam.

Just ordered a flat white (normally $4.50) and claimed a half price loyalty discount. The girl taking the order had to do the maths on a calculator. What are they teaching at school these days? SMH