Thursday, January 31, 2013

Random follow #29 - @Harfish



Todays random follow is no jamie Oliver.  In fact one might think that judging by some of his tweet she could be banned from the kitchen all together.  Tweeting at you coming straight out of Christchurch is @harfish.  If his tweets are anything to go by he is a real genuine bloke who is able to laugh at himself.  Try these tweets on for size -

"Starting the day with a fireball in the kitchen is totally a good thing right?"

"Instead of cooking my pork on the BBQ, I think I might save gas and just cook it on the patio"

"So apparently it IS possible to burn rice in a microwave"

@harfish is a man after my own heart in that he is a keen sports and fitness person.  His bio states that he is a sports reporter, gamer, rugby referee, runner.  That sounds like a fantastic mix of interests to me.  he also enjoys watching ice hockey which is a HUGE plus!  You can check out @harfish's website - http://www.fattofit.me/ - and see and read even more of his story.

The real story behind @harfish is the fact that he is an earthquake survivor.  Many people after the earthquakes for whatever reason packed up their lives and moved on.  Others decided the battle was worth it and saving Christchurch is an accomplish-able goal.  @harfish and his family are among those that have chosen to stay.  Full credit to him and his family for making such a choice and all the best to them.

So that's my very small take and recommendation to follow @harfish.  He strikes me as a great bloke who enjoys life and tries to do everything he can to suck every last drip and bit of blood out of life.

I'm picking that if you are able at some stage to convert your twitter follow into a real life meet and greet then you may want to invite yourself around for a BBQ.  That way you'll at least be outside should anything go wrong! LOL.


Random follow #28 - @anabels

Today's random kiwi tweeter is one of the great people of twitter who has yet to be discovered.  If there were a 'NZ Twitter Idol' competition today's person would be right up there in the top 10.  @anabels is a yet to be discovered gem of New Zealand twitter.  @anabels is really nice, has a great sense of humor, and is without a doubt highly intelligent as she is currently preparing her proposal for her PhD thesis research project.

It is rare that any tweeter can string multiple tweets in any day that are worthy of favoriting or make you (really) laugh out loud but @anabels is able to make me laugh multiple times a day.

Here are some examples of tweets that really amused me just in the last few days -

"Wednesday strikes again. 7pm and I've accomplished nothing going to bed before I do anything stupid Like text the tax accountant "

"Love Real Groovy! Homer and The Hunger Games on the same shelf!"  (Editors note - that's Homer as is the philosopher and not The Simpsons cartoon character - LOL).

Another thing I like about @anabels is that she operates/works/lives and breathes higher education. An area that I know a little something about.

Here are a few other interesting bits and pieces - she has a great sense of musical taste (she went to Laneway Fest NZ), she is a sporty person - and likes running and triathlon too.

She also has a particular area of life that she tweets about.  Its like she has drawn a circle around what subjects she will tweet about and there are plenty of other areas that she won't.  Personally I really like that.  @anabels tweets allude to what she is doing but don't give away the full story.  Its like the tweets that are written relate to certain subject matters and the rest of her life stuff is contained to being "in real life".

So there you go.  Today's random kiwi tweeter is a yet to be discovered gem of New Zealand twitter. 




Wednesday, January 30, 2013

Random follow #27 - @scuba_nurse

<Today's random follow has taken me Week's to finally write up.  Not because it was hard but because i wanted to make sure that I did a really good job and did justice to the person.>

@scuba_nurse is quite simply a really neat tweeter.  She lives somewhere in Auckland (so her twitter bio says and she tweets the good stuff.  Not like ground breaking news or anything like that but really good down to earth tweets.  And funny, she is also very funny.  You find too much negativity or downer tweets which is really nice.  She is polite, tweets when tweeted to and is very genuine in her approach to social media. 

Here are a couple of tweets that I have favorited over the last few weeks -

"Learning new song on guitar, good progress on knitting made. Harry potter watched. Progress on actual chores. Zilch"

Or this one -

"That moment where you are about to call IT, and you think to check what your email IS, and you have been scanning to the wrong address"

Overall @scuba_nurse is a really nice person who gives encouragement to people that need it. She isn't  tied down to social media and she uses it as a fun way to interact with people on a daily basis.  In my opinion she totally adds value to the twitter conversation and is absolutely worth a follow should you feel inclined to do so..


Tuesday, January 29, 2013

Random follow #26 - @Nakiman

Many good things and many good people come from the various regions of the the West Coast of New Zealand.  Today's person tweets from one of the most resource rich and intense places in the country.  TARANAKI!!!!

@nakiman is from the region but has since made his way south to join all the cool kids in (you guessed it) Wellington.  Peter is a big sports fan and no doubt supports one of the finest rugby teams in New Zealand.  Taranaki.  Taranaki is more than just a place you live.  Its a province, a people and a way of life.

So why follow @nakiman?  Because he can hold a twitter conversation on just about any topic you care to imagine.  I am pretty sure that if the topic is sport he'll be better able to reply but if you try throwing any topic at him I bet you'll get a good reply.

Here's an absolute pearler of a tweet - "I reckon that guy is going home with Andy's Mrs if he loses auspoen"

or this one - "My cat is a killer, two native flies this morning"

And he is a football fan.  All the best tweeters are football fans!  So in short @nakiman is an all round intelligent tweeter who can be engaged on most subjects known to mankind.  I wonder if he has ever considered being a talk back radio host?

This photo was taken somewhere in the Taranaki region in the 1970's.  
(Editors note - Not much has changed)

Friday, January 25, 2013

Random follow #25 - @KendallForbes

One of the nicest tweeters you will find online is @KendallForbes.  She is a very lovely young lady who gives her all to her work.  Kendall is a radio personality who works for More FM.  And not just a radio station like More FM in a big city somewhere - where she would hidden out of the way.  But she is located in a community style station on the Kapiti coast. 

Kapiti coast is a collection of beautiful spots in New Zealand that have great beaches. The kapiti coast is located north of Wellington and is a bustling wee community that is spread out over a vast geographical area.  The lifestyle is easy and the people are laid back.  Much like @KendallForbes

Here is an example of Kendall's sense of humor -

"Oh no. Just saw a guy wearing a t-shirt that said "Keep Calm and Oppa Gangnam Style". He was not wearing it ironically."

or this one

"What will the world think of us if we get rid of cats? How will I explain to the next generation how cute and cuddly they are? "

And here is what I really like about her - if you tweet her she will tweet you back.  And if you tweet something funny or intelligent she will actually let you know.  Because social media and twitter especially are about having a conversation and interacting.  Much like radio.

I totally take my hat off to someone who is prepared to work hard in a smaller role with a large company as she pursues her dreams, goals and desires.  There is a lot to be said for smaller communities and using the opportunities that give you to springboard further and higher in your career and life.


Kapiti Island, just off the coast of Paraparaumu

Thursday, January 24, 2013

Random follow #24 - @Rotoscribe

@Rotoscribe has a tough job.  He is the single PR person who is the face and voice of @WaiarikiInst.  Actully he doesn't curate the Waiariki account but he does manage all the PR.  @rotoscribe also goes by the name of Craig in real life.

So for two days in a row now I am profiling people I have met in real life.  Craig is a really nice guy.  He hails originally from (you guessed it) Wellington ways but now he gets to live in the very lovely and beautiful city of Rotorua.

One thing I know that Craig really loves doing is mountain biking.  When you live in Rotorua mountain biking is almost a mandatory requirement of anyone and everyone wanting to live here.  Okay to be honest his old twitter account was way better than this one but as he is a friend he definitely needs some coverage.

If you want to follow him go for it.  But he's way better in real life.


Wednesday, January 23, 2013

Random follow #23 - @shineprjack

Choosing how you represent yourself on social media can be a little tricky to manage at times.  Some people have one account where they tweet everything and other people separate their accounts so they have one personal and one professional.

Today's random twitter follow has two accounts.  One personal (@ironjack35) and the other professional (@shineprjack).  I have followed Jackie on her @ironjack35  twitter account for some time now.  the other account though is a new one and I have only just started following @shineprjack for a week or so.

This is one of those rare occasions when i can actually tell you something real about today's person.  Jackie is an Ironwoman!  She loves triathlon and sport and she is super organized and efficient.  She is married and is a mum too.

One thing I have noticed is that Jackie is a really encouraging and uplifting person.  She is determined and focused but at the same time she is realistic about what she can and can't achieve at any given time.  Here are a couple of example tweets from her various accounts -

  "The best thing about daytime swim squad in our amazing 50m outdoor pool? An AMAZING tan - which for a redhead is significant!"

  "That moment when you discover that what you have been saying all along, for about 18 months, is in fact best practice. Nice" 

So now you have two options available to you.  Either way you will be making a good choice should you choose to push the follow button.



Tuesday, January 22, 2013

random follow #22 - @WellsNorthShore

Being given a recommendation by someone that they think you'd get on really well with someone else and then finding out that the recommendation was correct = priceless.

Earlier this week I sat down to watch some sports and of course do the obligatory twitter thing.  While watching the beginning of the game @swtgallagher tweeted me and said "Hey. I think you'll get along well with @WellsNorthShore".  And that ladies and gentlemen is history right there.

So here is what I know - he's a good guy.  He lived in Canada for a while when growing up.  He doesn't support a Canadian ice hockey team because he saw the light and supports the Pittsburgh Penguins.  He has a girlfriend and he is studying at a post graduate level.What else?  He has 'The Brain'  from the hit kids television show 'Pinky and the Brain' as his avatar. 

If you haven't seen he show "Pinky and The Brain" then you have missed out on watching some really funny television.  The show always had one line which was repeated by the lead character and it went a little something like this -

"Pinky: Gee, Brain, what do you want to do tonight? Brain: The same thing we do every night, Pinky -
try to take over the world
!
"


And he blogs too!  All about sports.  All about all sports even.  He knows his stuff about sport and like any good blogger what he doesn't know he makes up.  It appears he blogs more about winter sports than summer ones so don't go to his website expecting to know about the Australian Open.  If you follow him on twitter though he tweets a bit about whatever sport he is watching and his opinions are pretty good.

I have no doubt that is lots and lots of interesting and fun things about @WellsNorthShore that I haven't touched on.  Mainly because I have only been following him for like two or three days on twitter.  But if you follow him and ask about his interests etc - I am sure he will be oblige and tweet you too.






Monday, January 21, 2013

Random follow #21 - @nzange

Do you ever have that feeling of anticipation?  Like you know something really good is about to happen or take place but you're not quite sure where its going to come from.  You wait.  And you watch.  And then it happens - that moment when your excitement comes to fruition.

That's much how I feel about today's random tweeter.  @nzange chooses her words carefully and thinks before she tweet.  She offers encouragement to those who need it and has fun along the way.  She makes light of random everyday situations which can at times lead to some very funny tweet stories.  Here is just one example -

"Can't find something inconsequential. Trying to relax & worry about it tomorrow. Will. Not. Freak. Out"

Another really great thing about @nzange is that she shares her life and happenings through her blog.  So what you won't get on twitter is blatant oversharing.  @nzange is a healthy tweeter who is purposely elusive.  She engages in social media but at the same time manages to keep her distance.  And she quickly establishes that fact with her twitter bio - "I'm many things."

What you will often see are tiny little tweets that allude to a situation or scenario followed by a link to her blog. Her blog is a total piece of art just on its own.  It is totally worth looking at and reading.  @nzange has a very wicked sense of humor at times and has a very clever way of telling a story.  Here is a link to the first blog post of hers that I read and it had me rolling on the floor in total laughter -
http://notsurebutsure.wordpress.com/2013/01/16/a-stinky-mystery/

I ask to read her blog posts and if you don't any of then even remotely funny.....  then I give up.


Saturday, January 19, 2013

Random follow #20 - @hoochicoochimun


Being yourself.  Standing up for what you believe in.  Never giving in.  These are all qualities that today's random tweeter.  @hoochicoochimun is not afraid to have his own opinion and share it. 

If all I knew about Mark was his bio then that would probably be enough to warrant following him and enquiring about him more -

"Like adventure, travel, interesting characters, including the underdog and the clever bugger."

He is not an abrasive tweeter but he does challenge you in such a way that you stop and think about what he said and then you have to go back and think about it again.  How do I know this?  Check this tweet out -

"I've made a life of swimming against the current. Not always easy. Keeps ya fit though."

This says to me that @hoochicoochimun is a person who knows exactly who he is and he isn't afraid to stick to his values.  From what I can see Mark doesn't tweet just for the heck of it.  I believe he tweets according to the old maxim - if you've got nothing good to say, then say nothing at all.

And you'll also find tha he has a diverse range of topics that he spends time musing on.  Sports, business and life in general.  Its not my place to tell you to follow him but I can totally recommend that you do.


Random follow #19 - @ChrisMorgueMan

I haven't been following @ChrisMorgueMan for very long.  In fact he was recommended to me by a very good friend of mine.  So I pushed the button and thought 'let's see how this guy tweets'. 

If his bio is anything to go by I'm picking that when sports are on, especially real rough sports like rugby league and boxing, then he'll really get to tweeting.  Live tweeting while a sports game or a great tv show is on takes social media to a whole 'nother level.

And he does tweet some quite good observations.  For example -

"Green Party list MP Gareth Hughes looks way too young to be a politician w/ a 5 y/o son. He looks to be about 17. That's a compliment. :-P"

And he also shares some of his opinions on television like this -

"I remember the actor who plays Zack used to work at Barkers at St Lukes Mall. "

Here are a couple of other interesting facts that I managed to gleam about @ChrisMorgueMan as well.  Horror movies and Chris go together like ebony and ivory.  And I've got a funny feeling that with a twitter name that refers to death - you'll probably find he has a dark sense of humor too.



Thursday, January 17, 2013

Random follow #18 - @samarasheppard

It is interesting that many kiwi's head overseas in search of fame, fortune and riches.  And it isn't until they achieve something REALLY big (aka a mainstream win of some sort) that people actually get to hear about those people.

@samarasheppard is exactly one of those people.  I have met Samara a few times over the past few years as she was a resident athlete with the educational institute that I work at.  She is a really lovely lass who is full of grit, determination and commitment to her sport.  She is a very humble young lady who is full of life and also a very smart cookie. 

Her sport being cross country mountain biking doesn't get a lot of coverage in the mainstream media in New Zealand but it is a HUGE sport with tons of opportunities overseas.  Did you know she won a World Cup race in 2012?  No.  Neither did I.  But my aim is to keep up with whats happening in 2013!

@samarasheppard  has a twitter account and a Facebook page through which you can keep up with her travels, exploits and undertakings from around the world but mainly in Europe (from what I understand).  And guess what she has her location based as Wellington (yes - yet another Wellingtonian..... but she is REALLY a Rotorua gal)

You're not going to find out too much by just checking out her twitter account but if you link social media with her website --> http://samarasheppard.com/  <-- then you'll get a pretty good picture of what life is like for a professional elite athlete.

Go hard Samara!



p.s. I hope you don't mind that I 'borrowed' one of your pictures for this blog post Samara!  Let me know if I need to change it or remove it please =)


Random follow #17 - @gloombat


Milly, aka @gloombat gets full marks for figuring out how twitter works and what makes a great tweeter within her first 100 tweets.  In actual fact @gloombat only actually has 104 tweets (at time of posting).

Her tweets are always varied and much like her (I suspect) very eccentric.  What I like is that her tweets aren't all one sided or single topic tweets.  When she tweets @gloombat manages to cover a range of different areas - from the weather to wine and

These are some of my favorite tweets that I have seen -

"UGH! Just noticed skanky lipstick on the rim of my glass AFTER I had finished drinking from it. Excuse me while I vom"

And with tweets like this you know she is a quick learner:

"Only a few minutes ago I did my first hashtag. Ima have me a celebratory beer"  

I'm not going to overstate or bang on about Milly except to say I think she is a great twitter peep who is keeping it real and brings a freshness to the social media realm.  Follow on!

Wednesday, January 16, 2013

Random follow #16 - @vinonurse

Couples and partners using twitter are really cool to interact with and watch tweet.  There is one couple on twitter now who are really funny to watch interact.  One half of this couple is one of the funniest guys you'll follow on NZ twitter - @kutch007.  Well guess who else is on twitter too now?  His wife!  Nicholle goes by the name of @vinonurse.  And she totally ticks all the boxes for why this blog was started.

She has only a handful of followers, she isn't famous and she is a genuine random kiwi tweeter.  She doesn't have a twitter bio as such but I think this tweet is a very good description of her and her taste "Is drinking vino, happy days!".

What do I enjoy about @vinonurse's tweeting?  The fact that she is able to give her husband so much grief on twitter.  Like funny stuff and jokes and the tweets are really great to watch.  Here is one example -

"@Kutch007 actually it helps me to be able to sit here and listen to you talk sh*t! Haha"

And occasionally, very occasionally @Kutch007 is able to get some of his own back.  Never a full frontal argument but more of a sneaky method of getting his own back.

"My husband @Kutch007 is the bestest!! PS. It's Juro here .... HAHAHA sssshhhh don't tell her"

Its not every day that you find a couple that both use twitter.  There are some great couples who do use twitter and when they do it totally adds to the value that each person contributes.  Not to mention it adds a whole different flavor to the twitter conversation.

If we are to use the language of wine to describe these two tweeters, here are the wine varities I think describe them well -

Aglianico - Considered the "noble varietal of the south," it is primarily grown in Basilicata and Campania. The name is derived from Hellenic, so it is considered a Greek transplant. Thick skinned and spicy, the wines are often both rustic and powerful.

and

Primitivo - A red grape planted found in southern Italy, most notably in Puglia. Primitivo is robust and rustic, with spicy black fruit notes, and thrives in very warm climates, where it can achieve very high alcohol levels.

I'll let you figure out which wine description applies to which tweeter ;)

Monday, January 14, 2013

Random follow #15 - @handsmegan, @nzcows and @angelahogg

Social media is for everyone.  It doesn't matter where you love or what you decide to do for a living.  Social media cuts across all sectors of society.  One area of industry that social media is becoming more and more popular with - is the farming sector.

Mid 2012 I started following a tweeter who goes by the name of @nzcows.  If there was ever a more self explanatory twitter name than that - I have yet to find it.  Colin is a great tweeter and does a really good job of sharing what life is like down on the farm using an interesting lens.  He actively engages in #agchat and has introduced me to some other really great random NZ tweeters.

The person whom @nzcows introduced me to recently is @handsmegan.  Megans twitter bio is quite an appealing one and it certainly gets the brain cells moving.  Here's how it goes at the moment - Practical Environmentalist, Politics geek, Agriculture advocate and proud Rural NZer. And if that bio isn't enough to prove to you that Megan is a farmer through and through, then try this tweet -

"Being up at this hour makes me feel like I should be heading for a cowshed"

@hangsmegan  doesn't just tweet about cows and rural life but she tweets about subjects that she enjoys and finds fun too.  Much like a mixed farm what you'll find is a pleasant mix of tweets with Megan.  And she does tweet - a fair bit.  In a good way of course!

And it wouldn't be fair to do a blog post about farming tweeters if I didn't include another delightful lady of farming - @angelahogg. Angela is a really cool person.Much like Megan she works hard and works hard to keep a good balance in her life.  And as an advanced notice Angela is organizing the inaugural #tweetup with #AgChatNz in Ashburton at a Farming conference of some kind between the 3rd and 5th July, 2013.  See you there?

Editors note - I've never been to Ashburton myself (hint, hint) so if anyone happened to think they'd help me to get there - I wouldn't say no!  LOL.

 Otago - in summer

and Otago in winter :)

Sunday, January 13, 2013

Random follow #14 - @katywr and @curlsinmyhair

Today I'm going with two tweeters.  Why two?  Because they are  (best friends).  Not just twitter besties but best friends in real life who have been able to link up through twitter (and Facebook too probably) and continue on their friendship.  Through thick and thin their friendship has stood the test of time and they are still going strong.

So who are these two tweeters?  They would be two very lovely ladies who go by the twitter names @katywr and @curlsinmyhair.

I haven't tried looking to see how often they tweet each other but I'm sure it must be often.  Real friendships can occur online but the depth and need of a friendship that only ever occurs in an online space (I think) doesn't really develop the depth or emotion that being friends in real life does.  And lots of conversations and communication occurs via DM's om twitter.  And I am picking time on the telephone too.

As individuals though I really enjoy seeing their individual timelines when you see tweets like these appear -

"NOT IMPRESSED at #hubby trying to contain laughter, while trying to explain to #missfive why 'Shit' is only an adult word."  That from @katywr.   And this tweet from  @curlsinmyhair -

"4 out of 4 people agree, purple asparagus does not cause "asparagus wee". "

So there you go.  Besties use twitter too.  And this is the tweet that tops all other tweets to describe the friendship -

"@Katywr @HagmanNZ I love my besties like I love chocolate, which is a lot & all the time by the way!"



Saturday, January 12, 2013

Random follow #13 - @ChantalsHB

If you are looking for the ultimate super food (aka organic) store in the North Island then I do believe that @ChantalsHB takes that title easily.  They sell some of the absolute BEST fresh produce, whole foods and organic products that are available anywhere.

Whats even better about the store?  They have a cafe that serves fair trade coffee and makes some of the meanest smoothies you can get from anywhere.

What I enjoy about the tweets is that they aren't like "This weeks specials are....." but they are the tweets and goings on of Lisa D. who curates the twitter account for @ChantalsHB.  Here a couple of tweets that totally cracked me up -

"My first tomato of the season is ripe, Im excited...even though its a cherry tomato" and this one....

"What a bloody fantastic idea..mobile coffee van just pulled in to campsite. Im running like a mad woman".

If you take some time next time you are in the Hawkes Bay call in and say hi.  I am sure if you tell them you follow them on twitter the least they will do is give you a smile.  And keep an eye open for some of the locals like - @brenasmith, @kylieberrynz  and maybe even @MrBobbyDigital


Random follow #12 - @OliviaFranceska

Twitter is a place where peoples stories unfold.  People who walk past you every day but you never meet.  People who work in the office down the hall or sit in the same lecture theater as you.  You know they are there but you never talk to them or find discover their story.  Some peoples stories unfold as they alert the world to what is happening in their world via social media.  Or in this case via twitter.

@OliviaFranceska, so I discovered this week, is about to embark into a new journey in the year ahead.  She  will be packing her life up from where it currently exists and moving city.  Maybe she will take a plane, possibly a train and most likely a car.  Moving anywhere any time can be daunting and it can also be exciting too.  So where is @OliviaFranceska headed for?  .  Yes, yet another (soon to be) Wellingtonian tweeter type person.

Here is a snapshot of her bio as it stands today - 

"Once described as the Queen on acid. I loves jaffa cakes and mojitos, innit. Prospective Wellingtonian".

I have a feeling that sentence may change as this year progresses and the word prospective will get dropped.  And so will her story and her tweets.  I sincerely hope that she will share with us some of the experiences of moving town, finding new friends and embarking on her voyage towards knowledge and 
a career.

So what does she tweet about?  Stuff.  Real everyday type stuff.  Her tweets aren't long winded.  they tend to be at the shorter end of the spectrum but they tell you enough about whats going on.  I really enjoy tweeters who do this because it allows you the reader to fill in the gaps.  For example - 

"Manual cars are just that much more awesome".

If you a Wellingtonian or live in the capital city can I recommend that either you follow @OliviaFranceska or that she follow you?  A few names spring to mind straight away - @reedfleming@torysaurus and maybe even @lmfbs who is a tried and true local.  All old hands at the university experience.

This is Victoria University.  Well one building anyway.

(Editors note - there has been a change of plams for @OliviaFranceska and she has decided to stay in Auckland for the time being.  Fingers x'ed she makes the jump to living in Wellington one day.  Maybe 2014?)

Friday, January 11, 2013

Random follow #11 - @SWTGallagher

What is it with Wellingtonian's dominating twitter.  Its like a total global domination and takeover of twitter   If people aren't actually in Wellington they are often times not far away from moving there.  There must be something in the water because people from the capital bring a different kind of intellectual approach to the benign.

Today's tweeter brings such an approach to the twitter game.  @SWTGallagher lives in the very forward thinking community of Upper Hutt (yes - sarcasm applies here).  If his bio is anything to go by then he is a man of few words but what words he uses have been well thought through and have an effect on the reader -

"God damn Lochness Monster get off my lawn!"

As far as I am aware the Lochness monster is located in Scotland but I do know there is a river that flows through the Hutt from the mountains and out to the sea.  So maybe whats really on Stephens lawn is a taniwha?  

Oh and here is another interesting thing that struck me about Stephen - he has a girlfriend.  Not earth shattering news I know but wait there is more!  He actually taught his girlfriend how to kick a rugby ball!  Now that is no mean feet (badoom-tish).  There is actually more to kicking a rugby ball than just throwing your leg at it and any man who has the patience to try and teach this fine art to anyone gets full applause from me.

Here is the tweet to prove it - "Swim number two done! #beachlife #haventwornashirtallday taught the gf numerous ways to kick a rugby ball too as we walked along the beach!"

I enjoy reading Stephens tweets and I highly recommend him to you.


Lochness monster = located in Scotland


Taniwha = located anywhere the Northland rugby team are playing.  When the Northland rugby team aren't playing you find this guy on @SWTGallaghers lawn!


Thursday, January 10, 2013

Random follow #10 - @atomic_moog

There are some people on twitter who are dead set funny.  Whether they know it or not some of the tweets they put out there make you laugh out loud.  Some people can achieve that feat once a week others can achieve it once a day.  @Atomic_Moog is definitely one of the latter.

It's the ability to make a joke out of the little things in life that really work.  Try this tweet out -

"I just realised I cooked and ate dinner and cleaned up without my glasses on. I have no idea if I actually ate what I think I did".

And football.  From what I understand he loves football.  English football.  Chelsea to be precise.  Not my cup of tea when picking a team to support - but hey each to their own.  And cricket. He talks a fair bit about cricket too. Maybe he is actually an Englishman? 

A quick note - @Atomic_Moog is not afraid to state his opinion and is more then happy to use a bit of foul language every now and then - and not the chicken kind either.  I personally don't have any sort of issue with at at all.  If you do you might want to either take a HTFU pill or go follow someone else who is a bit less straight up in saying what they think.

In summary @Atomic_Moog is an all round great tweeter.  He is able to converse on a number of wide ranging topics and can hold his own in a good twitter debate.  Why not try following him? 



Wednesday, January 9, 2013

Random follow #9 - @NyckiProctor

“Those who educate children well are more to be honored than they who produce them; for these only gave them life, those the art of living well.” Aristotle

Twitter is the most randomest place for finding new follows, acquaintances and friends.  In my normal life I work with teachers/tutors and I know that their work is never, ever finished.  Another thing I am aware of is how much teachers need to communicate with the wider world so that they continue to grow and develop in themselves.  And so twitter provides a really great platform to achieve that.

Are those the reasons why @NyckiProctor joined twitter? I have no idea. But what I do know is that she has an amazing sense of humor.  Check this tweet out -

"Spent the day in Carterton. I actually think there are only 10 sets of teeth in that whole town & they just share them around."

or this one

"Staying up late makes me YouTube Neil Diamond. That can't be good just before bed".

And yet another great reason why I follow @NyckiProctor is because she is from down Wellington ways.  And Wellington is (in my humble opinion) one of THE best places in New Zealand to live.  So if you post pictures of Wellington onto twitter - you're doing well by me.

“The mediocre teacher tells. The good teacher explains. The superior teacher demonstrates. The great teacher inspires.” William Arthur Ward


Tuesday, January 8, 2013

Random follow #8 - @JAYNEAST

Okay.  Today's random follow was just that - a random follow!  I have no idea why I pushed the follow button for Jane but I do know that I haven't regretted making the choice.

So here's what I know.  This has got to be one of the most winningest twitter bio's I have ever seen -

"My dad's Bill Cosby."

I really don't know if anyone could top that twitter bio in four words or less.  From what I know Jane isn't a twitterholic so you're timeline isn't going to get filled up with lots of lots of tweets.  But when she does tweet it is usually pretty good.  And even though she may not be a twitterholic she is pretty prolific given that she is almost at the 15k tweets mark.

I will let Jane tell you the rest herself if there's more you'd like to know about her. 

And to wrap up today here is a quote from the wise one himself, Bill Cosby, relating to social media - 

"Kids need to remember that when you put something on Twitter, it's not like whispering to your friend, you've put it on a billboard that the whole world, including your own kids someday, can see."

 


Monday, January 7, 2013

Random follow #7 - @TroyRF

One of my guidelines for this project (blog) is no A-list twitter celebrities.  Depending on who you speak to todays random follow could be considered to be an a-lister.  I however like to think of him as being one of the good guys on twitter.


In real life he is actually the big cheese at the @NZHerald as far as social media presence goes.  Which is no mean feat.  Finding the balance between good content to share on social media versus randomly spamming people with supposed news is a learned art.  And one it appears that Troy has learned well.

And if you do follow him prepare to see some good content.  Not the usual "here's a photo of my cat/dinner/car" type tweets.  But tweets more like this -

"I think the bus driver who keeps missing me thinks he's Rorschach: "He will shout 'pick me up' ...and I'll look down, and whisper "no."

While I haven't actually met Troy in real life yet I have met his wife @VickyRF and she is lovely.  Oh yeah and someone mentioned that they have an adorable bulldog too. Being a liker of dogs totally sets him apart on cool factor scale too btw.  Because dogs are way cooler than cats.  #justsaying

Go on.  Follow him.  He is one of the good guys!


Public service announcement: This is a bulldog.  Just so you know.  Not Troy and Vicky's bulldog but a bulldog none the less.

Sunday, January 6, 2013

Random follow #6 - @KozmikJewel

Everybody has a story.  Some people choose to share their stories when they asked, some people keep their stories to themselves and some people go straight up the guts and lay out their story to everyone who wants to know.

Today's random follow - @KozmikJewel - does the latter.  She tells her story straight up and leaves no doubt as to who she is about and who she is.  I must say I was a little taken aback when I first saw her bio but then I thought - you know what? This is her story and good on her for telling it.

Here is what it says - "Single and looking for new friends and new experiences! HIV positive for nearly 20 years and not ashamed of it!"

Go you good thing!  I have tweeted Jewel a couple of times and each time I have she has a really great sense of humor and outlook on life.  Plus (so I discovered today) she also does HIV education in schools.  Brilliant.

So there you go.  Jewel aka @KozmikJewel is my random twitter person follow for the day.

And here's a tip - if you're a boy and you own a boat.  Drop her a tweet or two.  You never know how things might end ;)

(Note: Your boat doesn't have to be this big but it might help your chances! LOL)

Saturday, January 5, 2013

Random follow #5 - @mfhistory

Twitter (and the internet in general) is full of people who do interesting stuff in their normal lives that would quite often go unnoticed or undiscovered by most people.  Often times this occurs because we see people but don't take the time to really know them.  To ask them what really fascinates them or what makes them tick.

How is this for a twitter bio - "Hawke's Bay historian/author/chartered accountant based in Hawke's Bay, New Zealand. Now a freelance historian".

If I were working with this person chances are I would find out a few interesting things about them but I wonder if I would ever delve so far as to really find out what that person was about.  Well with the wonder of the internet we are able to learn more.  Not just about people but about the topics that interest them.

@mfhistory is an example of a person who has so much to offer the world of twitter (and the real world too!).  With his love for history and a head full of interesting facts and knowledge Michael adds a whole different flavor when you are reading through your timeline.

And if you are really interested in what he has to offer check out his website - http://www.michaelfowler.co.nz/.


A highly recommended random follow indeed!  And just so you know - the Hawkes Bay makes some of New Zealand's finest wines =)

Friday, January 4, 2013

Random follow #4 - @Gloryr66

Christchurch.  The town that rocks.  Is there any better way of describing a city that can't stand still?  That is the way that @Gloryr66 describes the place that she calls home.

While not a prolific tweeter (compared to the more active twitter users amongst us) she does tweet some really good stuff.

That's all I know about her so far but if I see some tweets or interactions that are worthy or updating this post - be rest assured that I sure will update this post!





(Christchurch Cathedral - prior to the earthquake that devestated it)

Thursday, January 3, 2013

Random follow #3 - @fromthestep

One of the things with twitter is - context.  If you do or don't understand the context from which a tweet is made then that can both help/hinder your twitter experience.  What I have found is it is far easier to follow people who live in the same country that I do as compared with people who live in other countries.  Why?  Context.

When you know where someone comes from, where they grew up or the landmarks they know those facts it makes following their tweets so much easier to understand.  And there are some people who used to live here and now live overseas but they haven't lost their identity or sense of humor..

One of the people who totally exemplifies this fact is - @fromthestep.

He is a kiwi who has relocated himself to England but still continues to be a hardcase bloke.  Great sense of humor, lots of passion for family and still remembers that NZ is home.  And with tweets like these you know its all true -

"G'day, cheers for the follow, welcome to the step, brush a bit off for yourself. It's good here, have a look around"

Totally worth a random follow.





And this is the country in which @fromthestep now resides.  England, The British Isles, aka The Motherland. 

Wednesday, January 2, 2013

Random follow #2 - @_victoriajayne_

My second random twitter person follow of 2013 is @_victoriajayne_.  Okay technically I started following Victoria on twitter a few days before 2013 but as I am away on holiday and don't have access to the internet I thought I would start with her.


Here's Victoria's bio as per twitter -

"Victoria Cross: Hutt Valley's favourite fag hag. I enjoy red lipstick, good wine, and laughing inappropriately."

Why did I follow her?  Because a mutual friend RT'ed Victoria's plea for more followers to allow her to reach 300. And I obliged.  And then what I really like was seeing her first tweet (after I hit the follow button)

"Wow thank you everyone, overwhelmed at the fast response! Hello to all my new friends! NZ rules!"

Totally love that kind of sense of humor!   Anyone who is able to wind up their friends in a good way and have a good laugh is well worth tweeting.  And just so you know the Hutt Valley is located near Wellington.  A little bit north and to the side.  Nice place.

So there you go - random kiwi tweeter #2.  Only 363 left to go.....

Tuesday, January 1, 2013

Random follow #1 - @thepowerofus

Number one is always an important place to start.  And the honor of first place for this project goes to one of the most remarkable twitter accounts ever.  Well maybe not so much the twitter account itself but definitely what it stands for.

"The Power of Us" is one of THE most fantastic, humbling and inspiring books you will ever read.  It is a collection of stories.  Not myths or fables but a collection of real everyday New Zealand stories.  Real  New Zealanders who have achieved great things in and through their lives.

I was fortunate enough to be given the book for Christmas (along with a very good friend of mine @pammygirl) and it is simply amazing.

Here is the twitter bio:  "The Power of Us: For New Zealanders who dare to dream. Buy a copy for Christmas & help contribute to Sir Ray Avery's worldwide charity Medicine Mondiale."

So this twitter account is more of a sales thing BUT it encapsulates all that is good in both New Zealand and the people who call themselves kiwi's!