One year, one month and 10 days

Although I have been into the Central library many times since the earthquake and helped remove stuff and grab a few of my own work essentials, today I got to go in and actually start clearing out my very messy office.  The highlights of my morning were

• finding my Roxy jandles that I have spent all summer looking for
• getting out my own (empty) filing cabinet
• my pen holder (the paper cup has just not been doing it for me)
• and my in-tray
• lovely little notes and drawings I had around my office from Nic
• my scale rule
• my apothecary sniff box

Small but significant treasures
I also took some photos

bit of a mess from the door

Lots of mouldy stuff on the floor...thanks to the only leak int he building

Chsritchurch Cathedral in the back there

Looking down Gloucester

Through to the Square, Anthony Harper and Clarendon Towers

Victoria Square



Looking south down Colombo



Social

I am a social person, I roam the halls at work chatting to people as I head for the loo or the staffroom. I do lunch, coffee, drinks after work and enjoy being interrupted by a phone call. Before Jonty I was VERY VERY VERY social, after Jonty but before Nicholas I was just social, since Nicholas I am not social at all outside the hours of work. It is the biggest thing that has changed in my life, time to socialise. So, it is with a modicum of sadness that I am sharing the extent of my Christmas socialising plans. My entire Christmas social calendar takes place in ONE WEEK!! For some reason my Christmas fun is squeezed into one little week.

Don't get me wrong, I am not blaming and I could organise a wide range of things myself to ensure my early December activity does actually link to Christmas. I am very grateful to have the following social events to attend next week. Sadly they are all, but a few, work related which tells me I need to sort my life out and start heading out at night and being a part of the world outside my work Saddo.

Fortunately I work with a wide range of lovely and engaging people so each one of my work related activities will be interesting and enjoyable...

Tuesday

• Lunch with lovely Viv our most recent interior designer. Will be an enjoyable interlude
• After Upholstery class...the last ever! We are off to the Fox n Ferrit for a pint. Jonty is kindly taking the night of work to facilitate that. Much appreciated.

Wednesday

• Early evening Jasmax Architects 1st Birthday roof party. Not sure how this will go but I am guessing it will be friendly and stylish
• Later evening Book group Christmas outing to the Crumpet Club. Will be loud and fun. Can't wait.

Thursday

• Early breakfast with the Bishopdale library team before we deliver a 'Roadshow' to them. Will be very nice. Great team, generous invitation
• Early evening drinks and chat at the Dux De Lux with Aoraki LIANZA peeps. Not sure who is going but should be ok. Nice to sit outside in the evening sun if the weather behaves

Friday

• Early breakfast farewell for Khrys at Upper Riccarton library - retiring to Hokitika. That will be fun. Also an opportunity to check out how the re-laying of the tiles in the library is going.
• Early evening - farewell to Lovely Elizabeth a colleague whom I appointed some years ago who is feeling the pull of her homeland and heading back to the States. One of my most favourite appointments. I will be the Nana who leaves early as I know this evening could get very messy and I am not really comfortable losing my composure at a work related function.
• Jasmine is also coming to town that night.

Saturday

• Morning - not strictly social but a day spent at the AFFIRM festival in Aranui doing some pre-new library- schmoozing with the locals
• Night Lesley's 50th birthday party. This will be fun and the food will be delicious.

And that is it. I am sure more personal non-work activity will crank up but I think others are far more busy than I and have much more exciting and flash dos to go to. Might do a report back later. Actually I think we forgot to go to a cricket club social last night. Obviously we need to do some calendar work and get our act together.

So, what is everyone else doing to celebrate in December?

Summer is really here

Since my last post we have been blessed with the loveliest summer weather. Clear blue skies, warm wind caressing your skin (while watering the garden in pyjamas), hot cricket game in the domain and a late afternoon visit to the beach. The water temperature was inviting and embracing. Sadly I am at work right now while most of the city is holidaying. I am taking a day or two to clear out a years worth of ignored inbox messages. Luckily only 1000 messages in the 'too hard' basket. I am roaring through them as most just need another home to go to with not a lot of intervention or thinking. Interesting to reflect on the giant amount of work that went into a few projects this year. Spreydon library refurb and the 2025 Facilities Plan.
Good things about being at work while the world holidays

• biking to work with no traffic
• listening to my new MP3 player - bliss
• listening to Radio NZ - National on my new MP3 player - more than blissful - Noelle now and anticipating brilliance with Matinee Idle after lunch
• no queue at my favourite cafe for morning coffee
• no interruptions - this of course for an extreme extrovert like me, will quickly pall and move into the 'bad things about being at work...'
• interesting conversations with people I might not always have time to chat to at work

Back to the inbox now...

Libraries

I don't normally talk about work in Sallyscape but I wanted to share some pics of our recent project at work. This has been an ongoing project which has caused Chris and I some very dark moments and I think we both might have sqeezed out some tears of frustration at some point.

However, the revamped library re-opened on Monday after months of closure. We are thrilled with the result and although there are still a few lingering problems, it was very exciting to see customers loving the place on Monday morning. The team who work there also love it so, yay. It has been a huge team effort but as the project leader and buck stopper I am thrilled with the result. Perhaps some before photos would help ...might find some...