December 1997

4 December

The day my life was forever changed.

After arising at some ungodly hour, I am taken to the Masterton Train Station (by Ray Gouffe - former software manager, and generally interesting person) to catch the 6:30 (or something equally evil) train to Wellington. The train ride is pleasant enough, stopping to pick up commuters every five minutes.

An hour and half (or so) later and I am in New Zealand's capital looking for the shuttle to the airport and the next stage of my long journey.

The flight from Wellington to Auckland is as uneventful as one-hour flight ever is. I suppose this is a good thing.

Ten hours later, I'm back at the airport, surrounded by friends and family in the airport bar. Sometime around 10pm I'm poured onto the plane and away I go, leaving New Zealand for only the second time in my life. Eleven hours or so later, I emerge at Los Angeles Airport. Twenty minutes after that I've checked in for my next flight - a four hour jaunt across the southern US states to the city of Atlanta, Georgia, my destination. I have not yet slept since beginning my journey.

As it happens, we land at Hartsfield International Airport (that's Atlanta) at about 10pm December the 4th, 1997. I have been awake for something like 36 hours. But I'm here. I'm in the US. And the next chapter of my life (the earlier chapters are yet to be written - much like the whole Star Wars prequel thing) has begun.

I am met at the airport by Jonathan Erlank and Glenn Dale. Jonathan is a member of the software group, who has been in Atlanta setting things up for the move of the system from San Diego. Glenn is part of our hardware support desk, and he is in the US to help with training the US Support Desk.

Jonathan and Glenn take me back to the apartment via the office. The place is sparsely furnished, and there is a large rack where all the system computers are housed. After checking on a few things, it's on to the apartment and, at long last, sleep.

5 Dec

First day of work at the Atlanta office.

Tired as I am, I go in to work to meet everybody: Arvis Gilbert, Doug & Nancy Fowler, Grace and Jeremy Stanners, Ilse. Arvis is the General Manager of the US operation. Doug, Ilse and Grace man the Support Desk. Nancy is Arvis' PA, and Jeremy is the resident Field Engineer. Grace and Jeremy are also New Zealanders.

6 Dec

It's Saturday and I sleep...

7 Dec

Jonathan, Glenn and I go for a drive through North Georgia. We head along I-275 to GA-400 and head north. We check out a museum in Dahlonega and a couple of souvenir shops. On our return journey, we stop for a walk at Amicolola Falls and those with cameras (ie not me) take photos of the scenery.

Rather than heading directly back to the apartment, we make a visit to Lennox Square, a rather large shopping mall.

10 Dec

My first birthday away from Auckland, friends and family. Glenn, Jonathan and I have dinner at Carlos O'Briens, which is a Mexican restaurant across the road from the office. The Margueritas come in fishbowls, and are absolutely splendid...

Some time in the next few days, Jason Garrett, yet another member of the software group arrives from San Diego, where he has finished shutting down our original operation. He is in Atlanta for a few days, so he and Jonathan can fill me in on all the details of running the system. And then they are gone - back on a plane to New Zealand. Now the operation of the Harvest Management System, from the little black box in the coke machines through to the reporting tools used by Coca-Cola, is completely my responsibility. This is daunting, but I am up to the challenge.

Glenn also heads home just before Christmas, and the apartment is now quite empty and quiet. Not that that bothers me, considering I had been living by myself for the previous nine months.

21 Dec

I finally buy a camera! It's a Minolta, with a 75mm zoom, panoramic view, and red-eye-reduction. Now I can take pictures to show my friends and family what I really get up to :-)

25 Dec

Christmas away from my family is not really a big deal for me. In the past I have spent Christmas Day at friend's houses or just by myself. I do have a Christmas lunch with Grace and Jeremy, as they live in the same apartment complex as I do. Definitely a good feed of chicken and roast potatoes and asparagus and wine. After lunch I retire to my apartment for a nap.

31 Dec

New Years eve at a bar called "The Edge".

The bar really is not what I'm after. The bands are bad and the people are obnoxious. I do manage to get horrendously drunk.