Nathan's Insights

World Traveller: 7 Continents, 90 Countries, 871 Days Overseas

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  • Travel for 2009 just got interesting

    Due to a large number of reasons including the desire to catch up with friends in Europe and my nephew wanting to cut down the big 2009 trip (due to increased costs) I’m now going on two different trips in 2009.

    Trip 1: USA – Egypt – London – Copenhagen – Bangkok
    This first trip will see me going accompanying my mother Helen for her 5th trip back to USA. That particular leg will see use staying around Los Angeles, visiting Las Vegas, Grand Canyon, and Tijuana in Mexico. Egypt is the tour I’ve wanted to do since 2006 and is the major reason I’m doing this trip. London is catching up with friends.

    Trip 2: New Zealand – South America – New York – Orlando – Honolulu
    This is the really big trip of 72 days travelling with my nephew Andrew for the entire time. His family (Kara, Jason & Erin) will be part of the New Zealand leg. Since this is a big change from my previous plans I have heaps of planning to do, however I think I’m now an expert in maximising flights for costs. I’m waiting on my new passport, and I can say its heaps better than the last photo that looks like I was drunk and suffered from a mental disability. Finally I won’t have custom officials laughing and pointing at me

  • The Colossal 2009-2010 trip gets bigger

    Well the trip keeps on getting bigger.   Andrew and I will probably be taking off late November 2009 but we have added a few more stops.  Current thinking is Egypt (tour), New York, Las Vegas (new), Orlando (new), South America (tour + longer stay in Rio), Queenstown, and NZ (new).

    I’m also thinking about a short stop in Jamaica since I’m so close to the Caribbean and I’m unlikely to get there ever again.   Anyway Andrew has been saving up big time for his first big world trip as an adult (18 years old) and I’m paying off debts so I can get into debt again!

  • The big product launch

    Well last week the organisation I work for (accidentally) released the new returns I was project leading early (by about 1 week). Now the hard part, dealing with the public and any issues they have (or our staff).   The returns themselves are radically different and introduce a lot of new concepts and rules and instructions.

    It’s been an experience working with some many public across the country to create this products, government and public, professionals and non-professionals.  Hopefully I made the right decisions, easily the biggest project or thing I’ve work on or been responsible for.   I’m glad I pushed myself to do something like this, I’ve learnt a lot about people and bringing people together I can tell you!

  • Debutants and baby minding

    My nephew (Andrew) had his debutant ball (or presentation night) last weekend.   Basically a night when 16-17 old girls get to dress up in formal white dresses, get limos, make-up and presents and the boys get to escort them and dance with them.   They have to practise for something like 10 weeks.    Anyway since Andrew’s parents went to the night I got to look after my baby niece (and god daughter), it turned out to be so much fun.   She started out crying (she loves her parents) but after a little while she decided it was time to play, the transition was amazing!   She’d take me from one side of the house to the other, picking up things wanting to play.   She has this small indoor slide, at one point she got quiet and I haven’t seen her for about 2 minutes I found her sitting on the slide she was waiting for me to watch and cheer her on!   Erin even put her hands in the air after doing a roll 🙂

    Got the pleasure of feeding Erin, playing with her and even had to change her!   A really great night, I understand how people get tired looking after young children but boy its fun as well.   Erin is so cute and loves playing little games and even spying on you when she doesn’t think you are watching.

  • New Position

    Since February I began working as a Director, a position I just finished last week.    It was an interesting 3 months, I had to deal with a health issue effecting staff that meant the workforce had to be changed from full time to part time (with shifts).   Hard to tell people that they could no longer to a job that they were very good at due to a job design issue effecting people’s health. Still it’s the right thing, I didn’t want staff having long term health issues after they retire or leave.   As a former rehabilitation officer I’ve seen people who get injured at work and have the condition for the rest of their life, that’s never justifiable to affect someone’s life like that. Anyway I’m returning to the Superannuation area but in a higher level job.   I’m now responsible for delivering several major superannuation projects over the next few months; most that still have outstanding issues especially relating to computers.   Over the past 15 months my work has challenged me and there is no doubt that the expanded working hours, weekend work,   consistent travelling and high pressure to deliver have affected my health.

    I somehow have to get back on track, need to remind myself that it’s only a job and a means to an end i.e. to have the financial freedom to enjoy life, travel and met people.