City Councils

All those who know me know my feelings towards City Councils.

Oh yes, no matter where in New Zealand you live you have them,
They are the bane of my life.

Let me explain.
I, am a builder, and as such have to deal with councils all the time, and their interpretation of the rules is not as easy as you think, It would be akin to say climbing Mt Everest in a pair of shorts and jandals, (or thongs if your an Australian, But this is another matter)

Over the country I would have to say Hamilton City council is buy far the worst. Porirua comes a bloody close second equal with Waikato District.

As I will now show.
Several years ago I needed the water connection to be done from the house to the street so when I applied for the building permit I could show I had running water, so I called the Hamilton City council.

Me; Hello I need my water connected from my house to the street.
HCC; Certainly. Do you have your permit number?

Me; I didn't realise I needed one. I thought I had to have water on to get a permit.
HCC; That is correct, to get your building permit you need your water connected.

Me; Then I need my water connected so I can apply for a building permit.
HCC; What is your building permit number?

Me; You have just told me I need water connected to gain a permit,correct?
HCC; That's right sir.

Me; Then can I get my water connected?
HCC; Sir, to get water connected you need a building permit.

This conversation lasted several minutes going around and around.

Me; For fucks sake!!(smashing the phone against my head) Seriously? What the fuck are you on?!
HCC; hello sir?  is there something wrong?
I hung up.

They have set rules and must follow them. Even if this goes against all that is natural in the world.
No matter how I tried to explain to the young lady she couldn't understand why I was losing the plot.
I was thinking how she would look splattered all over the wall behind her when I showed up with a sawn off shotgun.

This is the wrong way to deal with a council.
The best way is to get someone else to do it. Sadly for me, that other person is me.
To deal with a council you have to be prepared to answer the dumbest of questions, and nod politely when after making you do somersaults and back flips they give you a permit to build.


It would be a simpler world without these councils,or would it?

Builder.

For all my friends who are, Or have reached that magical 40 year mark.
I am only two weeks away from 40.
Big deal, Not really, As a young man at 20 I thought little about 30, let alone 40, Yet we place a huge hype on it.
So what is the big deal,  I'm in the best shape of my life (since 13 to 20) I can run longer, Lift more, and have more stamina than ever before.
 I am soon to do the Sky Tower challenge, 1103 steps in full fire fighting gear, Why? Because I can and have the mental capacity to do it. Even though I know its madness.

At 20 you don't care, You know you could do it, but cant be bothered, Beer and sex was far more important.
I look back at the last 40 years and see I have done amazing things with my time.
Travelled to places few in the world get to.
I have met amazing friends, And sadly lost some as well.
And met some I wish I never had.  (But you get that with Australians)

I have an amazing wife and two beautiful girls.
I work for myself, And choose my hours of work.
I play rugby (still)
I am a Volunteer Fire fighter.
I know I'm in excellent health, I have the test results to prove it.
Life at 40 is good.

So why do people say "oh your 40?" then give you a sorrowful look of pity?
My theory is simple, They don't have a happy life.  They have hit 40 and looked back and seen nothing. 40 is not a doomed age, Its a number, that's all.
38, 39, 40, 41, 42 etc....

The only thing about 40 to me,   I thought I would never make it this far. And honestly I bet neither did my family and friends. 


Builder.