Originally uploaded by beejayge

On November the 18th, 1985 all the staff of the ANZ Bank, Hobson Street branch moved to brand new premises. Everything was new including a whole new phone system which was so flash nobody knew how to answer a call let alone transfer calls. Up till then we had a phone system that had three lines and you pressed a button on the phone to connect to line one two or three. You could also listen in on anybody’s conversation.

I stayed at this branch till February 1986, when I quit the Bank (my very first job) and started working at the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries: MAF.

I see this building is now an Asian grocery store and there is a business studies school upstairs. At least the actual building still looks exactly the same, unlike the previous two buildings I worked in.

To be honest I should say it’s harder when you’ve been enjoying a few Xmas drinks. OR should that simply read: dialling numbers when you are drunk, should not be attempted.

On Friday night after a really great Xmas party I tried to call a taxi to come and get me butit was just not a happening thing. So I walked down to Queen Street where I could find the taxis. No problem, I found one and was on my way. However thinking back, I have a very vague memory of a lady answering my calls telling me it was not a taxi company.

According to my recent call list on my cell phone I was calling Christchurch! OMG. And what’s worse… I tried calling the number FIVE times. See below:

Originally uploaded by beejayge

Back on October the 23rd I ended the 20 Questions with a final question about where was my first place of work.: https://beejayge.wordpress.com/2010/10/23/the-final-question-q20 The answer was the ANZ Bank in Customs St. I started working there on the 11th of January 1982 and stayed there till 1985 when I was transferred to the Hobson St branch (see the photo above).

When I worked there this building was only two stories high and looked like the brick wall on the left side, all ugly bricks. Now it’s a high rise apartment block.

I Found Another One

Originally uploaded by beejayge

Outside the brand new BNZ on Queen St sits another gigantic Xmas decoration.

I noticed this one seems to have some kind of lighting effect in it. If you look closely you can see the little dots that surround the big stars are tiny lights. I wonder what this looks like at night time.

Today I got to train staff working in the BDO Tower on Albert Street.  Lucky them, they have an awesome view.  But I just don’t think I would get any work done staring out at that every day.  This photo was taken from the lunchroom, their offices have even better views.

Auckland’s Big Little City

Originally uploaded by beejayge

Although I’m not a fan of the “Auckland’s Big Little City” concept, I did like the TV advert and to see the iconic gate in the Aotea Square today at lunch time was very cool.

I went back to the photographic exhibition I mentioned on Sunday the 21st. It’s called: “Earth From Above” and it’s amazing. Very haunting and moving at times, I’m so glad I got to see it.

While I was there I noticed the amazing new roof next to the Aotea Centre.

I love the huge Xmas decorations they have at the square too… very cool.

I got my first Xmas card today in the post, very exciting!  It was from my supermarket LOL, but it did have a $5 gift voucher in it so that was nice.

After many long hours, the tree is up.  I still love my tree and even after all these years, I get a real thrill when I plug it in and it still goes.

As I decorate the tree while listening to Christmas music, many memories fill my head.  The songs and the decorations have great memories attached to them, like who gave me this decoration, where was I when I first heard this song etc.

This is down town Rotorua.  I love this building it’s so distinctive and cool.  The main information centre and tour bus departure point is here.

The rain finally stopped and it was a beautiful day in Rotorua.

I can see the Whakarewarewa thermal park from my hotel room.  All the thermal activity makes it look like a bush fire is happening just across the road.

It was a beautiful sunny day today, so I was looking forward to going for a big walk once work was over, but guess what?  It started raining as soon as I stepped outside.  Had to go back to the hotel room to get a brolly.  I learnt that taking photos using one hand while the other tries to hold up the brolly is harder than it sounds!