12th March 2009

After a rather frantic time in the Philippines, I headed back to New Zealand for three weeks.  Mostly to sort out some legal stuff (the Meaningful Volunteer Trust, Meaningful Volunteer bank accounts, expired driver's license, expired visas and other dull stuff), but also to touch base with friends and family.

I spent most of the time in Auckland at my parent's house.  I got a lot of work done as well as watching far too much cricket and rugby.

I also headed back down to Dunedin and Christchurch like I did way-back-when.  Unlike way-back-when though, it was a largely positive experience.   I visited many old friends and found out how they were doing before launching into my too long rant about my plans for Meaningful Volunteer.  If I had a penny for every time I said "menstrual cycle"...

I also visited Tara Clark - my old clinical psychologist.  The old brain is a lot more sane that it used to be, but it was still good to touch base.  My story - successful businessman goes crazy before volunteering across Southeast Asia and Africa and ends up forming his own non-profit volunteer organization - has a nice positive feel good vibe about it.  Tara asked if it was okay is she shared this site with some of her clients so that they could see someone who found the light at the end of the tunnel.  I - of course - said yes and said she could even give out my email if she wanted.

It is nice to have such a positive story.

I also visited my ol' workplace: Enabling.  It was great to see the old crew again.  Gary Taiaroa - the Commander in Chief - was also good enough to give me some sage business advice.

So, that was New Zealand.  It was good to be back and remind myself of where my roots are.