commuter lifestyle

To those who've been looking for news, we've been a bit submerged with developments of late. I can't promise we're back to a regular broadcast schedule, but at least we're back!

As I wrote about last month, I've accepted a position as a Consultant to the Massey University Psychology Clinic in Wellington. I started work at the Clinic last week, so am in my second week now. I'm working out the specifics of how I fulfil the needs of the role as I go along to some extent, as I've been brought in as additional to current staffing, rather than replacing someone with a clearly defined post. The last week has seen the usual to and fro with various departments, as I get computer access, email accounts, and various employment paperwork sorted. In all domains this is a re-activation for me, since I was previously employed by Massey for a three-year period that ended six years ago. Apparently all my details have been in hibernation in the system, just in case, so it's back to the same email address, login name, and so on. Meanwhile I'm getting into gear with working on initial research and admin projects in the Clinic.

We're currently living on the Kapiti Coast, an area north of Wellington city famed for better weather, characterised by less expensive housing, and home to my brother and various cousins, uncles and aunts on Bronwyn's side. We're temporarily based in a family-owned rental property here while we're trying this area on for size. It means a fairly hefty commute for me, some 1hr 45mins if I do the lift to the station-catch the train-walk scenario... It's not all downside though. I'm quite pleased to have a 35 minute walk each way as part of that—I don't get much exercise any other way—and the view on my route along the Wellington waterfront is pretty spectacular on a good day. And I read on the train. On some days I'm catching a lift with my brother, who lives up this way and works some days from his city office. That's good. Overall though we're still weighing up whether this is going to work for us.

Meanwhile, another tie to this area may be Bronwyn's work. She's been offered a two-term position as the Music teacher in the local secondary school, a maternity leave cover position. She's seriously considering this, and will be meeting further with the school staff and principal tomorrow. It'd be great to have her working just round the corner... So it may be a total reversal of our commuting roles in London, where I had a 20 minute walk to work, while Bronwyn often hiked 1.5 hours across town. What goes around...