Sunday, June 30, 2013

Random follow #163 - @wsafc

When you see the two letters 'FC' what do they mean to you?  Well for some people they could mean Fried Chicken.  That is probably about 2% of the population.  Anyone else who is cultured and knows a bit more about the world instantly recognizes FC as meaning Football Club.

Today's tweeter Glenn Sheppard is a man with a heart for the beautiful game.  Football becomes more than a sport to watch or participate in.  It becomes an obsession, a passion, even a religion in some parts.  Football is about comradery, strategy and an ability to work together as a team to achieve an objective.



If you're looking for tweets about the usual stuff - life, food, fashion etc.  Then this is not the account for you.  If, however, you love your soccer on both an international and more importantly local level then @wsafc is the account you will want to keep an eye on.

So what sort of things will you read on this account - 

  • F is for Frank (NZ soccer's version of Chuck Norris) - "Emergency services give way to @FrankJTurner #toughasfrank"
  • O is for optimism - "I hope the new channel shows heaps of Spurs games as we are winning the league this season. #BALE #BALE #BALE"
  • O is for outstanding achievement - "Congratulations @Socceroos on qualifying for WC. A fantastic achievement. #Brasil2014"
  • T is for a tied game - "Halftime at Parrs Park 0-0. Both teams hit the woodwork. Fairly even game. #NRFL @AuckFootballFed"
  • B is for barracking - ""@neilemblen keep up the good work boss. I'll get that balcony singing & chanting next week! "Give us wave Embers give us a wave""
  • A is for allegiance - "Big day for the club today. Really looking forward to it. @WspringsFC #proud"
  • L is for luck - "Good luck."
  • L is for laugh - " haha - that would be classic" and "Ozzie, Ozzie, Ozzie! Cheats, cheats, cheats!!"
So if football is your thing and you are looking for someone local in the Auckland area who can keep you up to date with what is happening then @wsafc is just the account you are looking for.


Saturday, June 29, 2013

Random follow #162 - @asheiBAND

@asheiBAND are a progressive rock band from Christchurch.  They have been around on the music scene for a while but they haven't yet found the magical formula that has launched them into the big time.  The thing with the music industry is that very few bands make it big straight away.

It takes blood, sweat and tears to make it in the industry.  It also takes years of hard work and practice.  There is no secret formula for success.  But there comes a point when a band reaches that sweet spot and they have their sound so perfected that you cant but help it.

Ashei (ash-eye) have been working their butts off for years.  They have been practicing, playing gigs and spreading the good word about their sound.  Twitter is yet another platform that they use to expose the world to what they are good at.

I am aware that their music is available online through iTunes and you can listen to it as well on YouTube.


But what do they tweet?  Well stuff like this -->

"Hi followers old&new! We've decided to give you a free download of one of our songs! PM or mention us in a tweet & we will send you a link x"

"New video from us! A cover of a @frank_ocean lost track "Eyes Like Sky"Hope you like it! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eq1JYqfyl4A …"

"If you're wondering what that's about and might want to support us too, head to http://tinyurl.com/ashei-EP for all the details #indiegogo"


And if you are wanting to see them play live you'll have to move quick because they are on their way to Australia in a couple of weeks time.  Just a quick heads up - the band have linked their Facebook account to twitter so most of their tweets now are links to their Facebook page.  I really hope that they start tweeting properly again but who knows.

And as always I try to give the last word to the Random Kiwi Tweeter of the day.  So here it is - 




Thursday, June 27, 2013

Random follow #161 - @vivster81

@vivster81 is a really interesting tweeter in that she is a person of great diversity.  Diverse in really good ways.  That diversity is expressed through different interests and likes and also a really interesting life story that has gotten her to the point in life that she has reached today.

Vivian is a human rights advocate.  And a very vocal one at that.  She is one member of the team who tweet as Amnesty International New Zealand.  She also works for a charity (and I use the term work loosely because sometimes charity is work is voluntary as c.f. paid).  For some people keeping their 'corporate identity' tweets separate from their personal ones can be a challenge.  That is definitely not the case for Vivian.

@vivster81 is a very conversational tweeter and is often at the ready to chat about both the serious and the fun things in life.  She tweets pretty much anyone who takes the time to tweet her or if she sees that there is an opportunity to engage in a meaningful conversation with somebody else.  She also has lots and lots and lots of fun with twitter.  If you check out her photo's she has posted it won't take long for you to discover that she has a really great sense of humor.

So what does a tweet from Vivian look like?

The inevitable X-Factor tweet....
"urrgh was about to type, so what's on TV twitter, then saw that it was #xfactornz is there nothing else?!"

Throw in a sports tweet....
"Hashtag confusion must just make it harder for those wanting to filter out, otoh #absvsfra makes me think all kiwis have abs #Mmm #nzlvsfra"

Customer service tweets....
"aww you know it's a bad day at @FlyAirNZ when their hold music breaks. currently listening to static"

But these are the very few tweets I could find that were stand alone tweets.  Over 98% of her activity on twitter is conversing with or talking to other tweeters.  This is a highly interactive twitter account that moves quickly, stays current and keeps fresh. 

In summary @vivster81 is an an active, vibrant, enthusiastic and energetic tweeter.  She takes a common sense approach to tweeting and puts out the good stuff.  She is encouraging, thoughtful and honest while also being personable and forthright.  And another thing - Vivian's tweets will inject some sunshine into your timeline.  Because lets be honest - we all need some smiley, happy chirpy people around us to help keep our spirits up.  I think this account is one that totally deserves following.  

Oh and another thing.  I am trying to work out what a 'pastafarian' is.  If someone can let me know I would really appreciate it.  


Wednesday, June 26, 2013

Random follow #160 - @MrOfford

Just quietly, I think tonight’s Random Kiwi tweeter has the coolest job ever. Working for a Record Company has got to be a fun job doesn't it? I mean, lots of perks, meeting all those musicians, listening to music AND getting paid for it. Well, that is what I imagine the coolest job ever to be. Whether @MrOfford would agree with me is another story but I’m just going to pretend he does because I don’t want my vision of the coolest job ever ruined.



Working for a Record Company, it’s no surprise that Matt watches and tweets about #XfactorNZ but his TL isn't filled with endless tweets about the show. Quite the opposite actually. But when he does tweet about X Factor those tweets look like this:

"I think Benny's Eyebrows are something special... #xfactornz" and 
"Tom is a great singer. Not right for a show like this though. Too good"

So what else does Matt tweet about, well take a look at these tweets:

Tweets about Celebrity Cooks
"Oh @Paula_Deen . Even though you've been fired. I will always think of you with great love as I eat my butter-covered deep fried cupcakes".

Matt has an appreciation for cupcakey buttery goodness.

Staying in
"Last night I stayed in, was in bed by 11 and woke up this morning feeling like a million bucks. Never going out on Sat night again".

Matt knows how to take care of himself even if only for one night.

Movies
"On a scale of 1-10, how creepy is it for a 29yr old man to attend a screening of Despicable Me 2 by himself on a Sunday afternoon?"

Matt has a sense of humour.

\Insomia
"insomnia does a bad tweet make"

Followed 20 minutes later by this tweet, which may or may not be related to the previous tweet but it did make me laugh - 

"I don't know if sarcasm comes across on twitter".

So, with just over 3000 tweets under his belt and just short of 1000 followers, Matt is someone who knows how to use twitter and uses it well. Maybe this blog will push him over the 1000 followers mark, who knows, let’s hope it does! But as usual, whether you choose to follow @MrOfford is up to you, but take it from me if you do, it will be a follow you will not regret. Matt is after all an all-round nice guy who, did I mention, has the best job ever!!


Today's post was kindly written by @pammygirl for #RKT.  Thanks Pam!

Tuesday, June 25, 2013

Random follow #159 - @toryhipster

Politics.  Love it or hate it - they are everywhere.  And politics are also the foundation of any great debate, argument or heated discussion.  There is nothing quite like a good political discussion to get the blood boiling, the brain working and the heart racing.

@toryhipster is most definitely not afraid to put her political views out there on display for the public to see.  And whats more she is more than able to defend her point of view and dare I say it she relishes a good political discussion.  Now the term 'Tory' can be both a term of endearment as well as one of ridicule depending on who is using it.  It NZ political terms it means someone who is a National Party supporter.



But don't be put off by this!  Rather let her fire, passion and wit spur your tweets on to bigger and better things.  And not all Bonnie's tweets are politically based or intended.  In fact quite a few of them have nothing to do with politics at all.  Being a student at the University of Auckland a lot of her tweets are an insight into the life and musings of a university student who is working their butt off in an effort to make great grades.

And no she isn't studying politics.  She is in fact studying geography and marine science.  I am not sure how these two things fir together exactly  maybe underwater volcanology?  Or mapping the seabed to best figure out where we can start colonies for people to live?  Anyway.

So here are a selection of random tweets that @toryhipster has shared with the world recently - 

Girl tweets --> "Dear God, thank you for popping super babe's tyre in full view of the bus stop so he has to fix it in front of me #misandry #perve"

Her view of social media --> "Twitter is like screaming into an abyss full of voices. Sometimes you don't necessarily care if they don't scream back."

Random weather tweets --> "I've decided I'm moving to the tropics. Me and 4 degrees doesn't work too well".

And there are heaps more tweets than those that you can feast your eyes on should you decide to hit the follow button.   @toryhipster is an intelligent, witty and very smart tweeter.  She keeps it fresh and her tweets rocking.  Follow this young lady and your timeline will thank you for it.

And just for the record Bonnie is just about at the point of graduating with her degree.  So if you enjoy her at university tweets then you might REALLY like her "I have found my first job after Uni" tweets too.  When they happen.  Just letting you know in advance.


Monday, June 24, 2013

Random follow #158 - @TheConcreteCat

Pets need twitter too.  They have feelings, likes, wants and needs just like the rest of us.  A need to be heard.  A need to be able to have their say and get all the favorites and to share their day with you.


Well guess what.  Cats are taking over.  And I don't mean cat meme's or cat photo's taken by their owners.  I am talking about real cats.  Four legged creatures who prowl around at night and curl up on the end of your bed when they're cold.  Sid (the cat) is a brand new face on the twitter scene.  With a total of 20 tweets to his name he is striking out and is attempting new things.

Sid has a very good sense of humour and wit.  Actually its a even better than quite a few human tweeters.  Try these tweets on for size -

"The humans are watching XFactor and yet I'm supposed to be the one who does nothing meaningful with my life."

""Come on-a my house". Anytime @EvaLongoria. Anytime you like. I'll be here. At the bottom of the bed. On my blankie. As usual. Waiting."

"So pleased that @SnoopLion has come over to the feline side. Better late than never."

And some tweets that we are yet to see -

(Cat) food tweets  "Sardines and tuna for breakfast.  Instagram that! #nofilter"



Like all cats no one gets the better of Sid.  He is a cat on a mission.  A mission to eat, sleep and sleep some more of his days away.  Being a user of social media though he understands that he needs to keep his claws sharp.  Because you just never know when you're going to need to pull them out -

"Last night I had a beautiful dream that I was "combing" @garethmorgannz's moustache with my freshly sharpened claws."

To say that Sid is one cool cat would understating his position in the twittersphere.  He is king of all he purveys.  All will secede to his wants and needs.  You have been warned.  Follow or else.  He might curl up on you and go to sleep.  Then there is no way of escaping!

Sunday, June 23, 2013

Random follow #157 - @andydower

Tweeters in New Zealand apparently flock together like birds of a feather.  Well maybe not quite that closely but it seems like there are pockets of twitter users scattered all over the place.  And some towns in New Zealand have more than their fair share.  The Taranaki region is the perfect example of this.

There are SO many great twitter peeps from the 'Naki and @andydower is another one!  Andy is a great example of a random kiwi tweeter.  With almost 1,000 tweets under his belt and 68 followers he's not making big waves in social media.  But that doesn't matter.  Because what he does do is tweet some pretty cool stuff.  Especially about sport and New Plymouth.


Andy is a dad who has 3 boys whom he is raising with love.  And its really impressive that in his twitter bio he outs it out there.  Plus he loves a few other things - like coffee, sport and cooking.  I am hoping that there is one very lucky person out there who gets to reap the rewards of these interests.

He doesn't give too much away about who he is or what is happening in his every day life but occasionally he opens the door just a smidgen to let you in catch a glimpse of his life.  Such as -

"Parking for the test match has reached our house already People must be getting excited early. 6 degrees and dropping. Huddle together peeps".  It doesn't take a Sherlock Holmes to figure out he means New Plymouth.

"Got to go to bed, bugger!"  He stays up past his bedtime?

"Rugby, cricket and F1 to watch tonight and the kids have lost the Sky remote AGAIN, AAAAUUUUURRRGHH!"  Boys, sports and television can be trouble!

"Danger Mouse #ClassicTV"  The man has taste!

@andydower is a twitter account under construction.  Now that he's almost got the first thousand tweets out of the way he's practically a local.  So I encourage you to call over to his place and say hi.  If you like what you see then why not give him a follow?  He's a great guy.  

Over and out.

Saturday, June 22, 2013

Random follow #156 - @Sabenltd

Handbags.  That is what @Sabenltd does.  Beautiful, contemporary, extravagant handbags.  This is one twitter account that is utterly and totally aimed at the ladies among us.  I am not one of those ladies.  So why I am I adding them to the blog?  Because this company is yet another fantastic example of how to do twitter right.

How do they do it right?  Well here's my opinion -

  • Personality.  Tweets are fresh, funky and personal.  When @sabenltd tweet you its like talking to a friend over the phone.  Its warm and inviting and easy to do.
    For example - "#HappySaturday and hello sunshine!! It's nice to see you again! Anywhere else in NZ have a bit of sun today? xx"
  • Conversation.  The girls like to chat away, have a laugh and interact with those that tweet them.
    For example - "Nooo @robotexplosion not the puddles! They'll get you... when you least expect it, then boom - soggy shoes. Get your feet by a heater asap x"
  • Diverse.  The team tweet about more than just their line of products.
    Another example - "This delicious recipe from @HeartBookmarks looks like a treat for a cold winter's night! http://www.heartbookmarks.com/2013/05/lentil-chilli-recipe.html … #ComfortFood"
Are their handbags any good?  I have no idea.  But I am sure @butternessa would like to find out should I happen to purchase one for her.  I have yet to meet or come across a Saben handbag but if I ever do I will be sure to let you know.

This blog is not about advertising anyone's product ('cos I sure as heck don't own ANY handbags) but its about sharing who the neat people on twitter are.  And if an account like @sabenltd are doing it well then I say - lets give them some shine.  Because at the end of the day everyone on twitter is there for a reason.
Whether you are a company or an individual you would do well to follow Saben's example of how to use twitter well. 

(Yes - I know I am not supposed to use this image
but its staying until I get told off :-p)

Friday, June 21, 2013

Random follow #155 - @NzChrissie

"Here is my sleeve. At times you will find my heart on it."
(Chrissie's twitter bio)
@NzChrissie is one amazing lady.  I love her approach to social media.  Much like her approach to life I am picking that what you see is what you get.  She shares her life openly with those whom she considers her friends.  Her heart while not fragile is sensitive and needs protecting from the stresses and strains of this life.  And its not that she intentionally puts it out there its just the way Chrissie is.  

Don't get me wrong though.  There are no long endless emotional rantings going on here.  Rather honest and open accounts of how she is making her way through life.  Chrissie brings to the twitter table some interesting thoughts and ideas which help to show us the working of her inner mind - 

"Reconnecting with my childhood. Hello banana custard. Yum!"  #nostalgia

"Two AA call outs in one day. Wish it was alcohol related but no..."  #funny

"You know how most people tend to hate snorers? Hearing my mumma snore is one of the cutest things in the whole wide world right now." #heartwarming

@NzChrissie is a mum who has some older boys and she provides some of the more interesting tweets when it comes to her kids too -->

"Being a 'proper' mum and picking boys up from school today. Enjoying watching their ex girlfriends walk past..."   #hahahahahaha

Being a girl from Palmy it sort of goes without saying that Chrissie loves her netball.  Be it playing on court or sitting in the stands barracking for her team the Central Pulse.  And this is just one way through which she keeps herself in shape physically.


Chrissie is also directly related to another really great tweeter @not_friends.  This tweeter is one of the straightest shooting females I have EVER met.  And she is incredibly intelligent and a little bit cute too.  Note - You'll have to ask her permission to see her tweets if you would like to follow her.

So why follow her? Well @NzChrissie is a really lovely lady who doesn't tweet too much - just enough.  She tweets nice things when she has something to say and she keeps in touch with her friends in a caring and nicely sensitive way.  She is also an attractive lady with an amazing approach to and outlook on life.  She brings an open and balanced worldview that gives everyone an opportunity to have their say but within reason and they must be genuine.  And its that word there that I feel best sums Chrissie up - genuine.

As a final note - I would like to pass on my sincerest condolences to Chrissie and all her family on the loss of her mum just a day or two ago.  It must be an incredibly tough time for her so all the thoughts are with the family at this time.  Xx



Thursday, June 20, 2013

Random follow #154 - @booksadventures

It takes some serious commitment and drive to work your way through 12 years of school and then follow that up with at least another 6 years at University.  But that's what you need to do if you if you want to earn your PhD.  Well that and then some but we won't go too much into the details.

But having a few letters behind your name doesn't make you who you are.  What it does is tell everyone else that you have a passion in a particular area, you know more than most other people do about that subject and you have the skills and abilities to both teach about it as well as teach others.

That is exactly what @booksadventures does.  He is both a writer of books as well as a reader of them.  And he is also a teacher.

Matt is a really genuine guy who comes armed with a great sense of humor.  It appears that in real life he is just as witty as he is online -

"Really? I'm so proud. RT @catatonichic New word I learned from @booksadventures: sassmonger", and

"Now THERE's a Facebook status update. "Bleakish.""

And he is pretty good with his volume of tweets produced too.  Just be warned that he tweets.  A lot.  In a good way of course.  Matt also has a knack of seeking out and RTing some really good tweets too.  So this is in no way a boring account - quite the opposite.  There is light, laughter and love in this timeline.  And libraries.  Lots and lots of libraries.  And included in a large number of those library tweets are the truly legendary @corinh.  

He is pretty good at encouraging people to engage both with reading as well events that surround the library scene as well.  Matt gives you some insight into what books and materials he is using to teach different classes so you can sort of read along if you like.  He gives credit where credit is due which is a trait not often exercised - 

"That reminds me - coffee with Jo of @UnityBooks inspired & revived me this lunchtime. Great booksellers make such a difference to city life."

So if you are looking for a tweeter who is highly engaging, very energetic and entertaining to boot then @booksadventures is just the person you are looking for .  So there you go.

Wednesday, June 19, 2013

Random follow #153 - @tripthestation

Anyone who has ever worked in a government agency for any length of time can attest to the fact that it can be a quite dark and lonely place.  Some departments have their little ray of sunshine who is able to break the monotony of the day and bring life to an otherwise dull landscape.  @tripthestation is one of those people.  (The sunny ones, not the dull and dreary ones).


Chelsea is a stunning young lady in both persona and intellect.  Hailing form the mighty metropolis that is otherwise known as "The Hutt" she is a grass roots girl who keeps her dreams big but her feet on the ground.  If you are looking for a funny, inviting and witty tweeter to follow then Chelsea comes highly recommended.

And her real life personality is represented really well through her tweets.  She is one tweeter who I really
wish I could kick back and have a big glass of wine with and not say anything but just wait and listen to what might come out next.  Now I have NO idea what she does for work and this next tweet certainly doesn't help make matters any clearer -

"My job is quite strange. I just went from talking to a member about granny panties & heavy periods to talking to another about gun policies."

And it appears that @tripthestation is a popular twitter chick given that she is followed by 43 people that I follow on twitter as well.  That's quite some achievement I must say!  She also has a eye for style and some quite clear guidelines on what does and what doesn't work for her -

"Your email signature is in comic sans. Please discontinue emailing me. I cannot take you seriously."

And another cool thing about living in the Hutt?  Pretty much everyone knows everyone - 

"The thing I like about Upper Hutt is if I sit in a public place stranded for long enough, one of my parents old bogan mates will find me."

From what I have seen of Chelsea's tweets they are well thought out, spelled correctly and can stand the test of time.  She interacts a lot and gives you a different take on the everyday happenings going on around her.  
So if you are looking for a young, vivacious, witty and quite endearing tweeter then Chelsea is your girl.  If you are looking for the opposite of those traits you may want to follow some old farts twitter account.  Like @johnkeypm.





Tuesday, June 18, 2013

Random follow #152 - @blairdrysdale77

The best part of this project has been the chance to discover everyday real people who use twitter both as a tool for communication as well as for learning and general entertainment.  And whats even better is that geographical boundaries don't exclude anyone.
@blairdrysdale77 is a good bloke who lives south of the Bombay Hills somewhere in the deep south at a place near Hauraki.  Being a farmer and having quite a broad range of interests and hobbies makes him even more interesting.  He is a husband, dad and volunteer firefighter.  "Vollies" as they are affectionately known fulfill one very important role in the community.  They pretty much do everything.  Be it cleaning up after a car accident, fighting fires, draining floods - these guys are usually the first one's on the scene so they deal with a lot.

Blair is a tweeter who doesn't take either himself or social media too seriously.  He has a healthy relationship with his twitter account.  and isn't too over the top about telling people what he is up to.  When he does tweet it is either in reply to someone who asked him something or he jumps into a conversation that is underway already.  Here are some examples of his straight up tweets that you will recognize come from the farm - 

The weather  "Today will be a day of preparation on the farm for the impending snow. Sounds like mother natures going to throw the shit against the fan."

The economy "Why is it that housing intetest rated are so much lower than agricultural rates that have productivity behind them. The solution=house %↑."  (Yes - the spelling mistake was already there.  LOL)

Home life "Wifes gone to Tuppaware party. WTF? I mean how do you have a party with cake tins?"

Life on the farm "Sweet. Kids in bed, beer in hand, home made pizza in the oven. Watching Country Calendar and then the ABs v France. Life is good."


And I've yet to meet a decent farmer who can't go a day without some sort of complaint - 

"For everyone on here that dislikes X-Factor so much, heres a hint, STOP f*en watching it! All the tweets are p*ing me off."

If you're looking for an honest, down to earth and straight as they come tweeter then @blairdrysdale77 is the account for you.  He is a good kiwi bloke who loves his wife, is kids, his work and being able to sit down put his feet up and watch the All Blacks belt out some decent footy.  

And the last word goes to Blair who shares his philosophy on social media which I believe sums things up nicely - 

"Twitters like a newly built bridge and road beyond not yet traveled. You never know where it might take you or the opportunities it brings."


 

Monday, June 17, 2013

Random follow #151 - @PaekakarikiNZ

Quite a few New Zealand families have a special place that they like to go to most years for a holiday.  Its a special place that you keep going back to over and over again.  It feels like home away from home.  For some people they travel to the Coromandel.  Other people go to Gisborne or Nelson.  Each year for the past 5 years or so our family has packed up the car and headed south in search of the ideal holiday spot.  And ladies and gentlemen we believe we have found it.

Located approximately 45 minutes drive north of Wellington Paekakariki is a super family friendly place to stay and swim.  In other years we have stayed up at the road a bit at Raumati Beach but this year pushed a little bit further south.  And the extra 10 minutes drive was totally worth it.

Paekakariki is a small, quiet and peaceful seaside town that has its own school, surf club, beach, a pub, post office, tattoo parlor and a real estate agency.  They also have a train station.  This is not something to be scoffed at because Paekakariki has one of the original NZ train stations still maintained and showing all its beauty.  Plus there is a superb camping ground for people on holiday.  It really is quite something.  And guess what???  They have their very own twitter account!!!

Ladies and Gentlemen I present to you - The one! The only! @PaekakarikiNZ!!

Yes.  So what does a beautiful little town tweet like?  

"Walk outside and have a look at the moon and stars tonight - amazing! #stars #nightsky #incredible #astronomy" or

"Loving the sound of the rain on the roof tonight #rain #winter "

The @PaekakarikiNZ also shares some beautiful photography and local news stories for upcoming happenings.  This account is someone's hobby so you won't get bombarded with endless tweets.  The tweet rate for this account pretty accurately reflects the town.  Quaint, peaceful, idyllic and all round beautiful with a little touch of quirky.

At the moment this account has 35 followers.  John Campbell (TV3) is one of them.  Plus another couple of more minor celebs like @KendallForbes and @BenJStrang (but they are celebs none the less). So here is your chance to start following a twitter account that is destined for big things!  Big things I tell you!  

Anyway, if you are in Wellington or are passing through Paekakariki heading either North or South stop and say hello.  The locals are really friendly.  And they serve a really good coffee at the cafe too.


Sunday, June 16, 2013

Random follow #150 - @kitty007darling

There are no defined canvases upon which the beauty of art must be out.  Art is broad in its appeal, rapid in its change and diverse in its application.  There are many, many talented people in the world who have the gift of being able to create something mystical and magical from a few colors and a blank surface.

@kitty007darling is one of those people.  She has been blessed with a mind that can see a vision of a finished image that is matched by her ability to create that special something.  I live in awe of those who have this ability.  I personally love great art be it a card, a photo or a tattoo.

This very lovely lady hails from the South Island and plies her trade upon those whom are willing to have someone else impart upon their body something unique and beautiful.  What I REALLY like though is that Kitty has also crossed mediums and is just as gifted on a canvas as she is upon the human body.

Want to know something else?  If you're smart you can get a two for one offer right here.  If you follow @kitty007darling you will very quickly discover that she has a very special person in her life --> 
@docscoffee.  They are an engaged couple and from what I understand if you're into coffee then Doc is one person you really want to follow.

And if you're down Dunedin ways call in and say hello.  Grab a coffee, kick back and enjoy yourself.

As a FYI @kitty007darling would really appreciate some more followers on twitter.  She currently has a really great presence on Facebook where she showcases her tattoo work and I am pretty sure that if she could carry that presence over into twitter as well then that would be a good thing.

So what do you get if you follow her?  Well lets take a look - 

"It's been over a week but today I can go swimming! Yay for healed tattoos! And special effects class after work tomorrow - so excite"

"Good morning world. I'm feeling inspired. Think I may go purchase some frames and display some sketches. Possibly sell some. #Art #life!"

And LOTS and LOTS of work in progress and completed tattoo tweets.  Kittys work is pretty spectacular.  While I personally don't (yet) have any ink I do enjoy seeing great pieces on people.  And the tweets and instagram photo's that she shares REALLY make me want to get some ink work done.

@kitty007darling's work could easily grace the pages of a magazine like Juxtapoz with its certainty and elusiveness.  Some of this art is completely world class.  And her ink work is right up there with the very best artists in the world.

You can also check out some really thought provoking video over here at Vine.  If you head over to her Etsy page you will find some small ways to enjoy her handiwork in a small and meaningful way that will benefit both yourself and her in her expanding her art presence in the world.  

So in summary @kitty007darling is a very talented lady who not creates art be it on canvas or through ink but she also wears her art as well.  And that right there is true testament to her abilities as an artist.  Oh and just for the record she has some really funk dress styles as well.  If you like tattoos, art or a mixture of both then this is the account for you.


(I sincerely apologise to Kitty if I cause offence by 'borrowing' her image but I LOVE this picture!)

Saturday, June 15, 2013

Random follow #149 - @mark_punt

It seems quite apt that as the All Blacks test match is being played on the television behind me that today's #RKT who has a passion for sport.  Yes he enjoys the rugby.  But he also enjoys all sports.  And he is willing to have crack, roll the dice, take a punt on what the eventual outcomes of sports events may be.

@mark_punt has a permanent finger on the pulse of sports betting.  And when you become so wrapped up in a hobby like sports betting then the odds are definitely on your side.  But Marks tweeting is about more than a mere "I put $20 on this"or "I put $50 on that".  What he also does is injects s bit of commentary and light humor while watching the game.
And like some of the other great tweeters I have profiled his tweets make up a sequence.  So tweets must be read in conjunction with each other to make sense.  Like this piece of classic twitter commentary right here - 

"HOLD ON DOGS #NRL #DogsOfWar"
"FAAAAARRRKKKK"

Whats really cool though is that he is open to most sports.  AFL, NRL, NBA, rugby union and most other mainstream international sports are his thing.  And did I mention soccer?  Yes that sport too.  It takes a fair bit of doing your homework to stay ahead of the game.  Some people put all their faith in lady luck but the wise punters know that winning it big takes so much more than that.

And while sports do make up a majority of his tweets he also puts out there the everyday insight into his life tweets.  Such as - 

"Thanks for nothing immune system *blows nose*" and 
"Still mentally scarred from googling impending surgery. Scotch should fix that." or
"Free advice. DON'T google the surgery you're about to have. It's not cool. I think I'm going to be sick."

And here is one classic tweet if ever there was one worth repeating - "I'm having a meal without beer. It's called breakfast."

Don't worry too much if sports isn't your thing.  He's not a mad tweeter like some other people are.  He tweets occasionally and won't clog up your timeline with random facts and figures that may not mean anything to you.  So overall Mark is a sports mad tweeter who isn't afraid to take a risk and put his money where his mouth is.     And that right there is the true essence of a great tweeter.


Thursday, June 13, 2013

Random follow #148 - @superleeni

"Young people are fitter to invent than to judge; fitter for execution than for counsel; and more fit for new projects than for settled business." Francis Bacon.

There are a whole bunch of people at the younger end of the spectrum who use twitter.  They enjoy sharing their thoughts, insights and experiences of the world with us.  And one of the real queens of being able to do this well is @superleeni.  Coming at you out of Auckland Lena brings a fresh and youthful vibe to what can at times be *cough cough* a rather middle aged timeline.

And the joy that I get from her tweets are a fresh perspective on the little things in life.  A fresh perspective that can make you chuckle as you think - "Yes! I get that!".  For example - 

"I just inhaled fried rice and omg everything tastes better when you're hungry" or

"Just noticed my earrings don't match. Hopefully people thought it was a fashion statement" and even 

"Crumbs down my bra are the worst."

And its that sense of youth that makes her so endearing.  There is a feeling of happiness and bubbliness that has not yet been tainted.  I do enjoy seeing her profile picture pop-up and wondering what she is going to share next.  And she is SO interactive and sweet.  The difference between a good tweeter and a great one is the amount of effort they put into talking to others.  Well I can tell you that Lena is a great tweeter!

And she also displays a level of maturity that others would do well to emulate - "I can't get over how aggressive people can be on Twitter. I think basic decency should still apply, online or off."

So why follow her?  Because she is a very lovely young lady, who is also very pretty, who brings a fresh approach and zeal to social media.  And I am thinking that if her online personality is like her real life one then Lena is full of life, energy, freshness and enthusiasm.  All traits that are super appealing.

Please be aware that @superleeni is a super tweeter.  She tweets quite a bit.  But in a good way.  Her tweets are often fresh and make a positive contribution.  Which tells me that she really is a people person.  People people are the BEST tweeters.  And if there was ever a tweet that really nicely sums up Lena as a person I believe it would be this one -

"Manager says she's grateful to have me on her team :)"




Wednesday, June 12, 2013

Random follow #147 - @robtreacher

When I first joined twitter all the rage was to talk about 'branding'.  Making sure that your online picture and persona created an atmosphere of buzz and excitement.  The ultimate goal of this was to try and generate business and employment opportunities.  Thanks goodness those days are (mainly) over now.

If you apply the earlier thinking of branding to @robtreachers twitter page you may come away thinking - what on earth is that guy about?  Initial thoughts are this guy is stuck in a timewarp.  And that is the surface impression that he is trying to make.  But what you need to do is look under the hood and dig a bit deeper into the man.

I think he describes himself best in his profile which tells us - he's a husband, a dad, and a saint.  He has a number of different affiliations, likes and dislikes and has whakapapa to the mighty East Coast.  Now for some reason I had this idea that he is a famous television type person or an influential news maker.  It turns out my hunch wasn't too far wrong.Rob does actually have a long history with the news.  He prints it.  Literally.  That's close enough isn't it?

So whats Rob like as a tweeter?  Lets have a look shall we?

  • He is a lover of fine wit.  "The big print giveth, and the fine print taketh away." -Fulton J Sheen"
  • He has learned the art of tact. "Ball preparations going on in this house. Do not approach - it's like a frikkin war zone"
  • He does his homework. "I love living exactly 120 paces from the nearest wine store - the exercise is so good for me."
  • He can be funny with the best of them.  "I took #fluoride tablets until I was 9 (we had an artesian well). Got my first filling at age 21. #Goodteef"
Some other bits and pieces - he only RT's good stuff.  He talks to lots of different people and he will do whatever it takes to get the job done.  So to sum him up as a tweeter - he is a caring, genuine, no bullshit guy who is happy to engage with people and have a good laugh along the way.

And if you're into classic albums, bands and music then dropping by his twitter page will be totally worth your time.  Go on.



Tuesday, June 11, 2013

Random follow #146 - @_surlymermaid

If you're keen to live life a little dangerously and enjoy taking a risk with your timeline then I can totally recommend @_surlymermaid.  Also know (currently) as Aunty Haurangi this is a tell it like it is twitter account.  Take no prisoners and pull no punches are the best cliche expressions to describe this account.

I am pretty sure that the bio for Aunty is correct (which I am not) and if it is then she is one smart cookie.


Don't read everything as truth as soon as you see it.  What you need to do is sift through the tweets and try and figure out which bits are genuine and which tweets are genuinely pulling your leg.  What I do know is that she is the boss.  And not a boss that is bossy if this tweet is anything to go by -

"Apparently cakes are on hold till afternoon tea. So much for me being the boss, i have even lost that decision making role!"

There is a real dark humor that flows through these tweets.  Not sarcasm, which really if the lowest form of wit, but an insightful and contrarian viewpoint resonates loudly.  Anyone can be sarcastic.  It takes someone with some smarts and a keen sense of humor to pull this world of the view off well.

"Well, after weirdly gaining 30 followers over the weekend, i lost 3 of them after my excessive #NativeAffairs tweeting THIS IS HOW I ROLL", or this -

"Things amusing me this morning: writing to the Dyslexia Foundation and managing to misspell dyslexia a different way every time"

Most people go to the mainstream and famous comics like Chris Rock or Sarah Silverman and dare I say it that Guy Williams fella...... but you don't have to!  Some of the tweets that are produced by @_surlymermaid will have your sides splitting and quite possible your pants being peed too. Like this - 

"The Mrs switched over q+a to stop me yelling at the tv. Now we are watching the Nation on tv3 + 1 and she is yelling. The dog remains silent", or

"Required: Social Media for Dummies (MP Edition)", or 

"Is Nicole ever going to get with a chick? #ShortlandStreet needs moar lady-lady action, stat"

Apologies if you don't find that sort of tweet funny but I do.  And this is my blog so I get to pick.  This tweet here probably says quite a lot about the about the approach taken to this twitter account -

"i completely understand. I feel so much freer and honest here. I keep hoping not too many people i know IRL join to change that."

I really hope that not many of those people join up 'cos this twitter account is damn fine just the way it is.  This irreverent, hardcase and all round funny.


Monday, June 10, 2013

Random follow #145 - @djpaterson

A man of many talents and skills.  That is a pretty good way to describe today's tweeter.  @djpaterson it would be fair to say is a book worm.  The all important twitter photo tells you a lot about people.  For @djpaterson it tells you that he is a man who loves to read.

And I'm picking he has a pretty ferocious appetite when it comes to reading too.  Which may be a good thing if his current tweets are anything to go by - "1:27am. My butt is the shape of an plastic hospital chair."


He is the originator and the good bloke who sits behind the controls of the @peopleofNZ twitter account.  Which is really cool because he is able to make a difference in and through peoples lives via that account without actually having to do much (except change the password once a week).  And whats neat is that he engages with the curator of the account each week as well.  Offering encouragement to those who are doing well and letting them know its a no pressure account.

You know what?  Its really hard trying to blog about someone who is genuinely nice and almost all their tweets are either questions or responses to others.  But he does occasionally come through with a genuinely funny tweet that gets you to LOL - 

"I'm not buying that Graphics Interchange Format, or GIF, is pronounced JIF, so don't even try to convince me."

Or this one - 

"Don't usually sympathise with telesales staff, but it was entertaining listening to a lady trying to hold a conversation with my deaf dad."


And the inevitable when you make a mistake but no one notices because your tweet really was that good - 

"Great. My last tweet was retweeted twice, but had a spelling mistake in the first word. Doh!"

I am not going to give too much away about DJ except to say he has been spending some time away from his little town of residence in Wellington.  That is he has moved away from the colony and back to the mother land.  Is he going to return home some time?  I have no idea.  And to be honest that's none of my business.  But as long as he keeps on tweeting from whatever part of the world he is in then twitter is a better place.

Final note - DJ's wife has been doing it a bit tough recently with having an operation and a few complications.  So from twitter to Mr and Mrs @djpaterson we wish you all the very best with your recovery.


Sunday, June 9, 2013

Random follow #144 - @LifeOfTheRiley

International world traveler, fashionista and ex-pat kiwi are the first three descriptions that come to mind for @LifeOfTheRiley.  Now it is a bit of stretch saying Riley is a kiwi tweeter given that she has been living in the UK for over 10 years but hey - if you spent any time at all growing up in New Zealand then we'll happily let you say you're one.

@LifeOfTheRiley is a twitter account that through humor and honesty gives you some insight into how life works in the great metropolis of London from the perspective of a professional young lady.  She is honest, open and really funny.  Oh and engaging too.  Really engaging.  I believe with her that the maxim of 'once a friend, always a friend' rings true for her.


Whats really nice about this twitter account is that she is totally engaged with people here in New Zealand.  Okay so she may have been living in England for 10 years but on twitter its like she lives just around the corner from you.  And that's the absolute best bit.  Knowing you can log in to twitter see whats going on and have a friendly face tweet to you like you've known each other since you were kids.  It makes the twittersphere a much nicer place to play.

Riley is not one to shy away from sharing on twitter.  With over 30,000 tweets that's quite some record.  What I struggle to understand is how so many people on twitter haven't discovered her yet.  Her insights on life can be hilarious - such as musings about men in suits, men in uniforms and men in general.  Well not general men but good looking one's!

And shoes.  She LOVES shoes. Shoes of all shapes, colors, trends, whatever.  As soon as you mention shoes her radar flicks on and she is in like a shot.

@LifeOfTheRiley is the quintessential girls girl.  Fashion, beauty, make up, clothes, lip gloss, nail gloss - if its a girl thing then Riley will know about it.  And if she doesn't know about it yet you can bet your bottom dollar that she will start researching straight away to find out what it is you're talking about.

So if you are looking for an attractive, young, jet setting, girls girl, professional tweeter then @LifeOfTheRiley is just who you are looking for.  I leave the choice of whether you will go for it or not.  I did and it has proven to be a fantastic choice!


Saturday, June 8, 2013

Random follow #143 - @NL2NZ

New Zealand be warned - @NL2NZ is on the case.  And he is taking no prisoners - "I'm going to make a citizens arrest of the first person that annoys me tomorrow."

Coming at you out of the very beautiful city of Christchurch is one of the must amusing twitterers I have seen yet.  I am not sure if it is due to his being dutch or not but he doesn't waste any words.  When he tweets he sticks to the facts and tells you as succinctly as he can what he is thinking.  And he thinks.  A lot.


What you need to be aware of is that almost every tweet is connected to other tweets.  That's what is so cool about his tweets.  They tell a story and must be read in conjunction with each other.  Here is an example of such a series -
  • "Bad idea buying the intense eclipse mints... #BurningMouth"
  • "bad bad bad idea #rtpt"
  • "That was probably one of the worst decisions I have made in the last few months! #rtpt"
  • "1 positive is that my nose is open now! #Winning"
And if you don't read his tweets as a series then you come across the likes of this - 

"Theres a sheep having the hiccups next to me..." and you are left wondering WHAT ON EARTH?

Another really cool thing is that he has his own hashtag.  So if you want to follow whats going on in the south island you can follow #ChChCracker and be kept up to date with fantastic photos of the sly and glorious weather in general.

@NL2NZ also has a skill that enables him to keep it fresh.  There are very few second hand tweets in his timeline.  Much like good produce his tweets are fresh, contain no preservatives and are 100% digestible.  he is happy to share an opinion on just about any topic going and has a very good handle on current affairs.

And if you are looking for someone who is genuinely funny then this guy is totally the account to follow.  I mean with tweets like these - "Phone vibrating in my pocket, thought someone was ringing me but nope, just me pressing the volume button" - you can't help but laugh out loud.

@NL2NZ gets a 5 star rating from me.



Friday, June 7, 2013

Random follow #142 - @fastfreshtasty

How about having a twitter account that is useful?  Not useful like keeping you entertained because you're bored.  But a really useful account.  An account that is designed to help you when you get stuck thinking of ideas for food to cook.  An account that comes up with recipes and ideas, ingredients and propositions.  Now that is a twitter account worth having.  And what about having an account that is both useful and fun?

Well guess what? One already exists!  @FastFreshTasty is an account run by a very friendly lady called Emily.  It is a really friendly, interactive and useful account that is quite active.  And whats really cool is that they supply new ideas every day.  So if you are someone who plans out your menu for the week in advance then this account is great.  Alternatively if you're looking for some inspiration in the kitchen then you can quickly access their website and get some ideas.



If you're into watching reality shows that feature cooking then you are going to LOVE @FastFreshTasty.  Because when #MasterChefNZ is on the television - Emily is on the twitter!  And there are a few reviews of a restaurant or two as well.

Here are a few tweet examples so you can see what sort of content Emily is tweeting -

"Anyone in #wellington off to @TheFoodShow today/tomorrow? Tip: get there early, go to cooking demos: @JoshEmett @Simon_Gault @RayMcVinnie"

"I'm off to talk to rotary tonight - wonder what's on the dinner menu? #IWentToSchoolToEatMyLunch"

'#mothersday why not #mothersweek ? cook her dinner for a whole week! 170+ ideas right here http://www.FastFreshandTasty.co.nz/getfft "

So there you go.  A twitter account that is - a) useful, b) fun, c) interactive.

And so there isn't too much more I can say that I haven't said already.  This account is for anyone and everyone who enjoys food and more importantly preparing your own food.  There is an app you can download that will make your life easier in the kitchen - so why not?



(Disclaimer - as with every Random Kiwi Tweeter recommendation made so far this year - the account holder had no idea this post was going to be written about them in advance.  As always this blog is put together for the love of it.)

Thursday, June 6, 2013

Random follow #141 - @Dblo7XX

Some of the best finds of people on twitter this year have been the tweeters who are fairly new to social media.  The people who are still finding their feet, figuring out how it all works and bring a certain freshness to the twitter scene.

@Dblo7XX is another person who  moved to these fine shores some years ago and quite happily calls New Zealand home.  Originally hailing from the very beautiful New Caledonia she is of french descent.  And as we all know (insert stereotype here) all things french are beautiful and romantic.  And I have no doubt that the same is true of her.


And yet another stereotype that exists about the french is that they can cook.  Well if you look through the images and photos that she has shared you can very quickly figure out that @Dblo7XX totally has the bakers touch!  Beautiful pictures of bread, ganache, kale chips and creme brulee.  Seriously?  This lady has it going on!!!

So how do we know that she is becoming a kiwi?  Who she supports in the rugby (LOL) - "Woohoo... Just found out I'll be at Eden Park on Saturday!! Absolutely ecstatic! GO BLACKS!!"

And she brings with her from the other side of the world a fresh perspective on things - "How do I see my world? Above the cloud cover, there is always a pristine, intense blue sky."

"Life is full of little pleasures"

And another thing that I find really enticing and interesting is that she tweets in french too!  I have NO idea what she is saying but it just looks fantastic when she does!  For example - "Bienvenue à mes nouveaux followers francophones. Pardonnez moi si mon français est un peu rouillé".

So what @Dblo7XX is able to do is tweet to so many more people than those of us who uni-lingual. Please spare her a thought as you go about your bust day because this lady is not just a mum but a student as well.  Taking on both of those roles takes some kind of commitment and dedication.

So if you are looking to follow someone on social media who is fresh, brings a bigger perspective of the world while still being able to keep their feet on the ground and can make your mouth water through the simple sharing of a photo of her cooking - then @Dblo7XX is just who you are looking for.