Extra

Your suggestions for Jamie's present were very welcome. One has spurred a torrent of ideas, and no, it's not the beepee thing for car keys. Though that did come a close second.

There's many things floating round in the ehter of my mind, but I can't seem to put them to paper, or at least the electronic form. There's the conversations of late regarding the perceived soullessness of lawyers; elements of fate, destiny, and spooky coincidences; the simple pleasures of shoe polishing and domestication; and more.

I just can't seem to put these things down though, perhaps I'll get time later to do this. Until then, I'll be baking tomorrow - a cheesecake most likely. Yum.

Cries from a Foreign Land

Again I write this to you from a foreign laptop. My insurance claim is yet to reach settlement, though the end is nigh. I hope so at least, it would be a pretty neat birthday to be able to go shopping for new stuff. Admittedly the point is moot; it's all replacing what was taken. But you can't deny there'll be that new freshly opened box smell.

Other new things have been some developments, if you'll excuse the pun, with work. I'm now part of the biggest case there: 177 apartments against me. Well, they're against the council, and I'm merely assisting the Associate handling the case. But damn, there's only two of us against the marauding hordes. Pretty sweet.

What else? It's my birthday next week; it's rather surprised me. July has stealthily snuck up, hidden behind the frustrations of a stagnating job, and the relishment of finding a new one. Poor excuse, but damn it, I was pretty much swide swiped this time. Thank heavens it's not a major birthday.

Though, that's the tough thing about being a twin - forgetting one's birthday means it can impact upon the other. I now have a week to find my brother a present. I have ideas, but I do need to cross the boundaries of postal inadequacies to ensure it arrives in time. So, I'm giving myself until the weekend to find something.

Burdened with work, that might prove difficult. Hence this plea: any ideas for an evil twin genius, impassioned with a love of music, guitars, computers and living in Wellington?

A Sign of the Times

So, it's been a while since a real update. I currently sit writing this post on my flat mate's laptop, seeing as mine is still yet to be replaced. I'll start at the very beginning.

Coming up 5 weeks past, our flat was broken into. My bedroom window was jimmed open, my bed was scrambled over, and most of my valuables were taken, and some of my flat mates' stuff too. People can probably imagine what was taken, but the more interesting items include my Grandfather's greenstone and gold cufflinks and tie-pin, his silver ring with an onyx gemstone, a set of silver cutlery from my christening, and a case of wine. I mean, seriously, who steals a case of wine? Especially when there were other things in the house of equal size and weight they could just as easily have substituted it for. But I'm guessing the vagrants responsible are not known for their mental prowess.

Anyways, nothing has been found and my insurance is yet to settle my claim. They're being rather...obstinate. I understand them trying to protect their interests, but I've given them as much information as I have. Hopefully it all comes together shortly.

But there is a shining light, a beacon of hope. I resigned and started somewhere else this week gone by. Well, I resigned five weeks ago, worked out my four week notice period and started at the new firm this week. The work I now do is full-time litigation on local government liability. And we represent all but three territorial authorities in New Zealand. Exciting stuff.

More exciting is that their promise, which now on hindsight was a warning, of being dropped straight into the work. They weren't lying. I am running two of my own cases, alebit lower potential damages if there is liability. But I am also involved in two very large claims, very complex claims. I've already swaggered off to court for one of them.

It's apparently a light workload for the typical barrister and solicitor at the firm. I should expect more cases, more mediations, more court appearances, more more more. It's exactly what I'm after, and I'm loving it. Moreso because there's also a fair amount of travel - I will have to travel to Christchurch and Wellington for the above claim; the former for mediations and hearings and the latter for trials lasting a solid week.

And as for everything else mentioned in my update gone by, I:

• attended a Readers and Writers fesstival and had a Pulitzer Prize winner sign my copy of his book while I made a slight fool out of myself (the aura of celebrities inexplicably affects most);
• drank in La Boheme, dining on the Operatic feast;
• purchased my first tailored suit, a stunning grey number created by local artists, and I want more;
• tramped (or hiked for the Americans watching) the Pinnacles in the Coromandel, imbibing in the breathtaking scenery on offer;
• and more.

So on the whole, things have been good. Things have been close to great. Here's hoping that divide can be breached, and bliss is forthcoming.

Ch-ch-changes

Quick update - house was burgled and most of my valuable taken including my laptop. Which means very little internet access, and even less time available to update this little project

I've also resigned from my current employment, and start in a new place next week, - you know, negligence, nuisance, defamation, duty of care, all that nitty gritty stuff. Best part is we'll be acting as defendant in most proceedings. A specialist litigation firm, mainly insurance and local government. It's all litigation work for me, I'll be on my feet all in Court, mediations, management meetings. It's going to be fantastic.

I'll fill you all in more once I finally get my new laptop. Until then, I'm borrowing flat mate's computers when ever possible.

UPDATE --- I should mention my house was burgled at the start of May, and I'm still awaiting insurance. There's been loads of stuff that's happened betwixt and between, including Opera, new suits, embarrassments, job offers, rejecting offers, tumultous and sometimes bewildering times, times of wonderment too, drinking, confusion, escapism, hikes, book signings, and more.

I'll divulge what I can when I can.