Our updates

First week of work is over, and I have to say being the new kid on the block isn’t that appealing after being in the one organisation for 8 years. But the people are friendly and the accent gives it away that I am definitely not from around here.

My second day in the office and I flew up to Glasgow to meet the communications team that I form part of. The brand team, strategy team and advertising agency are all based in Leeds, whilst the comms team are in Glasgow. Thought that was a bit odd myself with everybody working remotely, but it seems to work. At this stage I think I may be working a few days a month from the Glasgow office, and the rest of the time here in Leeds on special projects. You know, projects that are communications based that no one wants to touch with a barge pole – those are my ‘special projects’. Mind you they are all projects I have worked on at BNZ so at least they will be familiar.

The regulatory compliance here is really strict. So for you guys back home at BNZ thank yourselves lucky with the legals you have as they can be as long as an A5 page here!

Steve is on the look out for jobs and applied for loads with recruitment agencies, and about visit a few more in person this week. We went out to celebrate his birthday on Friday night, and both felt very sorry for ourselves on Sat. Steve’s not too impressed with the tap beer over here as it seems flat in all the pubs. I on the other hand am quite impressed with the price of Moet and Verve though, priced at £25 in the shops – move over Lindauer! Well that’s a treat anyway, and at this stage I have been sticking to cider really, and steering clear of the foul taste of Snake Bites.

They still smoke everywhere over here, and everyone smokes. In the cafes, lunch bars, pubs, hotels, stations, restaurants – everywhere. That is one NZ rule we really miss, no smoking inside bars. You go to have a meal and it reeks of smoke, so we have opted for take aways on more than one occasion.