away

I'm in Wellington in the James Cook Grand Chancellor Hotel on the Terrace which is also the main faultline through Wellington - ah these are the things I think about now, actually not really. I always think about earthquakes when I walk along the Terrace.

But the other thing I think about when I'm in Wellington is all the places I used to hang out at when I was lived here, when I was seconded here, when I visited here - I have spent a lot of time in Wellington really.

I remember when I was 19 and working late, late nights at the James Cook when it was a Centra. My plan at the time was to be a hotel manager, now I wonder if I would have liked that - I think I would but I don't think I'd like the hours or the environment.

Memorable things that happened were spilling an entire tray of full champagne flutes on my self at an embassy function - not cool but kind of funny. I even remember the exact place I was standing and I snuck up there today to see how the room had changed - it had but it's an hotel so it's still bland.

I remember pulling my first beer and getting the glass stuck on the tap and having to smash it off.

Then there was the time Toni Childs was having a thanksgiving dinner with her band and she got drunk and crashed a school ball and sang them a song - how cool would that be if a famous singer rocked up to your school ball and belted out one of her hits??? Is she still famous? Does anyone remember her? I think she might be touring NZ about now, oooo cosmic timing....

I also remember thinking that I would never get to stay in an hotel as flash as the James Cook - and then I went to do work experience at Huka Lodge and I stay at James Cook type places all the time but never Huka Lodges.

So tonight I have enjoyed the luxury of dinner at Juniper with Gavy and then back to my room (by myself) for a long bath with a glossy mag and then a room service dessert of kapiti ice cream in a brandy snap basket - I love brandy snaps! And, and made all the better by leaving my phone in my car at Smith and Smith Glass in Christchurch. After no phone withdrawal symptoms, I am quite enjoying the quiet.