Goodbye iPod Touch, Hello iPhone 3GS

Today marks an important day. I’m finally getting an iPhone

Just over 4 hours ago I sold my 32GB 1st Gen iPod Touch.
When it was purchased on March 14, 2008, I paid $759.
492 days later I sold it for $431 on TradeMe
The difference for the 492 days use? Only $328.
That’s only $0.67 per day.

Less the cost of selling my Motorola V360V mobile phone for $110.
So that’s $531 to go towards the $899 purchase price of the iPhone 3GS on a $40 per month contract with Vodafone.
So the iPhone 3GS itself is only costing me $368.

I’m expecting delivery of my brand new iPhone 3GS tomorrow from Vodafone NZ
They oversold their second batch hence why I’ve had to wait nearly a week to receive my order.

So you can expect more videos, photos, mobile uploads, emails, Skype chats, Facebook updates and tweets from me now that I’ll have 24/7 access to the internet.
I’ll also be able to post random stuff on this blog from anywhere, so lookout world.

Hodge ‘get together’ 2007 – Punakaiki

It’s now Thursday, and we’ve been in Punakaiki for 4 days.
We’ve been staying with my parents who manage the Paparoa Park Motels.

The weather has been so so, but you can’t expect tropical temperatures on the west coast, especially in winter.
It’s been great spending time with the family, as we get together every year. This year has been the year of babies. Joshua is now 7 1/2 months old and my sisters baby Edward is now 7 weeks. My cousins baby Zach Wilkins was also around on Tuesday night (he’s 5 months old) when all the Greymouth relatives came out for dinner (and drinking, as only Wilkins’s know how…)

Yesterday we journeyed out to Hokitika to visit Kim’s uncle and then on the way home we caught up with Kim’s long lost west coast cousins who she hadn’t seen for over 20 years. It was great to catch up with all of them and Kim’s dad will be mighty pleased we did, as we were.

Update 8th June ’07

Aren’t you lucky, getting two episodes of the funnies in one short week!

Big shout out goes out to my brother from another mother, James Reid, who is turning 28 tomorrow (Saturday 9 th ). Congratulations brother, I hope Norah spoils you rotten and you have an awesome weekend!

And of course my dad, who is turning 62 next Tuesday the 12 th , love you dad, you don’t look a day over 60! Look forward to seeing you in a couple of weeks with the entire family!

Well, it been a busy week here at Destination Rotorua Tourism Marketing , let me recap just one day this week…

On Wednesday, we had a team building day for work. We all met at the office before heading out to Peppers on the Point (a local luxury lodge) for a team briefing/meeting, outlining the year ahead and brain storming a few ideas for the website and marketing opportunities. While we were there we enjoyed morning tea and an exquisite lunch. After lunch and a short tour of the lodge, we headed out to the Whakawareware Forest for our team building activities. It was like treasure island with compasses, where we had to find hidden clues and decode them. We also had to compete in timed activities along the circuit including bull whip cracking, mountain biking, miniature catapult building and firing and other various team activities. Needless to say, the team I was in won by a close margin of only 1 point. As it was now getting dark due to the other team getting lost in the forest, we then headed back to Action NZ headquarters where we enjoyed some laser clay bird shooting, mechanical bull riding and drinking. Then it was quickly home for a freshen up before heading to Skyline Skyrides for buffet dinner. And what a buffet I must say, first buffet I’ve ever been too where you can order fillet steak cooked to order! And of course the apple crumble dessert, Kim was gutted when she found out what she missed for dinner. It was a very enjoyable day had by all.

That about wraps up my week.

Check out the three latest websites I’ve been working on recently

ADRA
BodyTalk
QUASiMOTO

And get your fill of Joshua via three new photos and one new video titled ‘Laughing Boy’
This weeks funnies will be up shortly on AdrianHodge.com so check back before lunch.

Have a great weekend everybody, Kim and I never rest, we are heading over to Taupo after work to stay the night tonight with Jason and Jane before leaving Joshua with them for the day Saturday while we drive to Auckland for a one day seminar with Andrew Demitri . Should be interesting, and fast track our Australian stock market earning potential.

Ciao for now

Update 25th May ’07

Well, on behalf of my family, i just want to thank Alan, Alex and the team here at TUMONZ,
both present and past, for all the great times we’ve shared over the past five years and to
wish them all the best for their endevours in the future.
Check out me filling the staff swimming pool before a Christmas function one year.

Big shout out to both Luke Linnell and Tim Rattray who are both celebrating their birthdays,
turning thirty something (38&37) on Monday the 28th.
Congratulations boys, hope you have a fantastic weekend and your families spoil you rotten.

Joshua is now 7 months old and is weighing in at a healthy 7.8 kgs, he has 6 teeth currently
with another 4 almost coming through. He is a happy go lucky baby who we’ve been blessed with.
Never having to use a pacifier, which we are really happy about. Its been harder for us without any
close family support but I’m extremely proud of the way Kim has handled everything, especially
without the support of a mother (whom past away). Kim is a fantastic mother and I know her mom
would be proud of her.

Kim is also becoming quite the photographer, she has been responsible for most of the new
photos of Joshua you see on AdrianHodge.com. Speaking of which, there are 3 new photos of Joshua this week, one of which you can open full-size and print if you wish.

I’d like to thank everyone who replied to me last week with good wishes and thoughts,
I appreciate everything you wrote. I’m not sure when I’ll be able to get the funnies to you
next week, but they will come through, rest assured.

May you all have a terrific weekend, eat, drink (and don’t drive) and be merry.
Enjoy this weeks funnies
Ciao

Update 18th May ’07

Big news from Rotovegas

Well, my time at TUMONZ is drawing to a close…
For those of you who do not know already, I’ve been offered a job working for the Rotorua District Council in the Tourism department as their Web Development Coordinator.
Should be a drastic shock to the system after happily working for TUMONZ for nearly 5 years.
I’ll be concentrating on web design & development, which I’ve been developing after hours and will be able to further my skills in online and email marketing.
So it’s my last week in the office here at TUMONZ next week, and I start at the council on the 28th, the following Monday.

So, what will you be doing there you ask?
Here is a little extract taken from my job description manual.

Position Purpose

• To effectively administer, maintain and develop Destination Rotorua’s Tourism Marketing external websites.
• To co-ordinate, support and train internal and external content providers, maintain quality control of content, monitor statistics, promote and develop DRTM’s presence via the web.
• To explore and develop web-based marketing and revenue opportunities to fullest potential.
• To develop, administer and maintain DRTM’s internal client management databases.

So Kim and I are very excited about this, but at the same time are sad about leaving TUMONZ, as we have been a part of that happy family team for so long.
Kim and I want to wish TUMONZ all the best for the many years ahead.

In other news,

Joshua is now 6 months, 3 weeks old and has 6 teeth!
Check out the latest 3 photos of Joshua here
He is an awesome little man, we can’t go on and on about it enough.

A big shout out Happy Birthday to the big fella Reg Hawthorne today, he’s celebrating his 33rd birthday today, no doubt there will be Tui flowing freely around at the Hawthorne residence tonight. Hope you have a great day today brother and can explain why we didn’t get an invitation…?

Also a big Happy 24th Birthday to Kate Betteridge on Sunday, our little niece has grown up so fast, and is now married and living in Pinehaven in their own house. Well done Kate, and have a great day on Sunday.

Well, hope that fills your tanks of Hodge gossip for another week.
Enjoy this weeks funnies here

Have a great weekend everyone and we’ll see you all next week for the final funnies from TUMONZ!
Over and out

Ciao