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I did a photo shoot for my friend Chantal, who runs Pipetto. Pipetto makes vintage belts and now laptop cases. Check out the proofs here.

It’s been a very busy first month. I’ve finally moved into a house and gotten internet sorted, which seems to be a pre-requisite for sharing photos. So far I’m having a great time. Compared to London, there’s a lot more variety here in terms of activities, but it’s also much more quiet. So it feels empty here, but I’m looking forward to weekends more.

Weta put me in a huge business suite in the Duxton Hotel. Free cooked breakfasts every morning and the staff new my name. Very posh. I was sad to leave really. My room was on the top floor with a view overlooking Wellington Harbor. Here’s what I saw the morning I landed and checked into the hotel:

I didn’t have to go into work much for the first week or two, so I spent that time looking for houses, and sorting out other odds and ends. Nick, Saul, and I eventually got a really nice place on Scorching Bay. Here’s the house and the view from the lounge. There are more photos on the facebook link at the bottom of this post.

Once I got into work it took a little while to find my way around. The shots department is split into two buildings, both maze like. There’s Manuka St, which is the main office for shots and is where Avatar is currently held. I spend a week there in a little back room behind the parking lot, but have thankfully been moved to Big House. Big House is the nicest building Weta has. Just check the lobby below.

Other than work and sorting out moving, I’ve been trying to explore on the weekends. I’ve spent the last 3 weekends wine tasting in the local vineyards, mountain biking, and skiing. I’m actually looking forward to a quiet Sunday at home… but will probably go along the coast to find sea lions. :)

Check out the rest of my photos here.

It’s been truly epic to have spent my mid 20’s in a major European city. I remember first leaving New Orleans feeling frustrated at the current conservative leanings of the US and the insanity of those that blindly supported George Bush’s policies. I yearned for a new perspective and London provided it. The common man was more informed and liberal thinking was the norm. Londoners are interested in life and trying new things. I’ve never taken that for granted. I’ll always miss the diversity and abundance of fun in London.

Though, it wasn’t all roses. I spent most of my 5 years there living month to month, despite earning a good salary. Money was always a problem, even after you stop the masochistic comparison to  US prices. There’s also the unexplainable sense of anger that the general population harbors. I’ve thought about and heard many explanations: the lingering class system, lack of space, unreliable public transportation, etc. I don’t think that any one thing is to blame, but the underlying discomfort and pent up aggression of its citizens is something that prevented me from ever calling London home. At best you can just smile and laugh to yourself at how childish it appears.

In the end I’ll miss the city, but most of all I’ll miss my friends. You know who you are. Building loving friendships and a personal community in a harsh city like London is profoundly meaningful. Because of you guys, this hasn’t been just another chapter. I’ll always keep in touch with you guys and you’re always welcome to come sheep herding with me in Wellington.