Random follow #292 - @SalSallySarah

@SalSallySarah is a lady who gives life her all.  Living on the other side of the world, in a city that is uneasy at the best of times tells me this mum is a person with a sense of adventure and purpose in life.  Sal is a lovely and bubbly lady whose smile is electric and catchy.

While not completely new to the twitter scene she is still relatively fresh.  1,500 tweets is still in the vicinity of being labeled a spring chicken (in social media terms).  What I do love about her account is that we both follow some of the very best tweeters in New Zealand today.

And in case you don't take the time to read her twitter bio it one of the more honest one's online today.  It reads like this - " talker of a load of shite".  I don't believe this for a second based on what I have read in her tweets.  Here a few little insights into her life.

Sal has all the same issues to deal with that most modern women do -

"Lets have a beer he says. To celebrate the christmas holidays he says.
Off to land of nod he goes without a word...."

Being a mum ain't easy -

"Despite my amazing breakfast the kid wants ham! I swear shes gonna turn into a ham sambo!"

Some days its the little things that count the most - 

"Cup o the finest tea and a slice of victoria sponge! 

Is there a better way to finish a Monday! #getinmybelly"

@SalSallySarah is a really great twitter sort of friend.  If you ever need her you just tweet and she will reply.  And if you've got nothing to say to each other it doesn't actually matter.  Why?  Because you can pick up your conversation with her wherever you left off and it will be east to do.

To conclude Sal is a really nice person who talks a lot, tweets a little bit less and is funny and full of life.  She wears a smile a mile wide that is totally infectious.  And she is on twitter.  What else could you want when looking for someone to follow?

Random follow #279 - @Finnyx5

My new most fave twitter person is a person based out - you guessed it - New Zealand.  @Finnyx5 is a breath of fresh air in the social media space.  Smart, sassy and able to throw a good verbal barrage from time to time makes her a really enjoyable follow on twitter.

Being relatively new to the twitter game Dawn has picked up on how do it right really quickly.  Photo's of cats, lots of good interaction with other people and plenty of hilarity to boot.  All the rights ingredients to add to the primordial soup that is twitter.

@Finnyx5 jumps in and out of twitter with ease and can light up a conversation in the blink of an eye.  What else is cool about her timeline?  Well tweets like these -  

"OK managed 2 get my own Mr Darcy slot o day.Workin in Sumner & just driven past (slowly 4 safety) surfer dudes who've come out o water :-)"

"Re being Elizabeth Bennet: told my hubby n he's interested 4 2nite :-D But men o ChCh still keen you stand smouldering etc #eyecandy4Fri"

"Getting ready 2 go out 4 Devonshire T wi workm8s.Its a glor-i-ous sunny day, theyre a gr8 bunch o women n there will b lots o sweet food :-D"

To be fair I can't even remember when @Finnyx5 first popped into my timeline but it doesn't matter.  Cos this lady has made quite a difference to my timeline and has managed to change it up.  If you hadn't seen it yet - we have a fancy word challenge going on.  That is find a random word and then the challenge is to use it in an everyday conversation.  Its actually quite a lot of fun to try and do.

Dawn is a lover of life, a lover of her husband and a very smart twitterer who won't settle for anything but the best in her timeline.  If you settle for nothing less than the best in your timeline too, then this is one lady who won't disappoint.  Cheers to that.

Random follow #268 - @DrSJNZ

Smart people exist on social media.  Really smart people.  One of those really smart people is @DrSJNZ.  She comes at you on twitter out of Christchurch and totally rocks along with her love of for writing and science.

If there is one thing I have learned about doctors and people with PhD's this year it is that they have brilliant personalities and can share a really good anecdote with pure ease.  Sarah-Jane (SJ) is a woman whose determination to succeed is matched by her love of beer, motorbikes and the internet.  (Lets be honest - she isn't the only one of us who enjoys those things....)

As far as twitter goes SJ is pretty much a lot of fun.  Here is an example tweet to make you smile -

"Moved house two weeks ago, new neighbours have been pinching my newspaper. I'm getting pretty tweaky without my daily dose of newsprint."

What's really neat is that she tweets a whole variety of people!  For those of who have been around the social media scene for a while it is easy to follow the same peeps as our friends.  SJ though has a completely different set of friends from many of the usual suspects who I usually see people interacting with.

Tweeting is all about what you bring to the table to share.  Like a pot luck dinner what you bring is what others get to feast on and can interact with.  One way to describe SJ is that she brings the dessert.  Like the marshmallows on a skewer or the mousse that everyone smiles after they consume it -

"Probably shouldn't have allowed so many "on the mouth" kisses with my nephews on the weekend. #sick #kindygerms", and this one

"Trying to convince the cat to make the most of being outside, since she's about to go into "new home detention" for two weeks. Unsuccessful."

Sarah-Jane has a healthy relationship with her twitter account and puts only the good stuff out there.  She isn't one to sit around and let the grass grow under her feet or let an opportunity pass her by.  So you'll need to be a bit nimbe if you are going to keep up with this amazing and intelligent random kiwi tweeter.

And as if getting a PhD wasn't enough @DrSJNZ is now back at University studying towards another degree.  If you want to know more about her story have a look at her website http://drsjnz.wordpress.com/.  You will discover even more fascinating and new people over there too.  So go ahead - follow, follow follow.

Random follow #263 - @alanhsmith

Patience, commitment and focus are the three essential ingredients to success both in business as well as in sports.  @alanhsmith is both a sports fan and a sports man.  Not only does he sit on the couch and cheer on those teams that he barracks for you will also find him out on course giving it all he has got.

Living in Christchurch isn't easy.  Not only from a post earthquake perspective but also by way of finding both the time and the ability to train. If you're a triathlete training in the snow isn't much fun.  Especially the swim.  Running is okay because your body is in a constant state of movement and its easier to generate warmth.  Swimming in ice cold conditions while good for your circulation isn't so good for your mental faculties.

Alan is somewhat of a contrarian but that is brought about by his sheer passion and enthusiasm for life.  he knows what he like, he knows clearly who he supports and he certainly knows a classy rugby team when he sees one.

This husband of one and father of four is someone who supports his family and his family support him.  His tweets are just like his relationships.  Encouraging, supporting and more focused on others than himself.  They are also lighthearted, good fun and easy to get along with.  Such as -

"Why did the chicken cross the road? Probably to get away from the gang of ducks!! #oldjoke"

Whats really neat is that almost none of his tweets are stand alone broadcasts.  And that is why I have only put one in my examples.  (Note - for #RKT I don't show tweets that are part of a conversation).  Rather Alan is constantly jumping into conversations, engaging with others and letting the world know that Christchurch is such a beautiful city to live in.

If you're looking for a tweeter who is a bit light hearted, a whole lot of fun and an all round good person then I recommend @alanhsmith as someone definitely worth following.

Even the kea run in New Zealand!

Random follow #221 - @CatherineQ

When I signed up to curate the @peopleofnz account I had no idea about who I would interact with or what sorts of people would I meet.  There are so many people from literally every corner of the world who intersect through the "People Of" or "We Are" accounts.  And the number of truly interesting people you get to talk to is magnified beyond imagination.

I can say that I have had the total privilege of discovering one New Zealand tweeter is achieving AMAZING things in the area of science and astrophysics in the United States.  @CatherineQ who is blazing her way forward in a career that incorporates both past knowledge but also future knowledge as well.

Reading someone's tweets and seeing them online can tell you quite a bit about who they are as a person and how they see the world.  When you add to that the way they describe themselves then you can build a very good understanding of the person.  This is how she describes herself -

"I am an astrophysicist, a passionate spirit, advocate and thinker with a lot to learn and a thirst for knowledge."

And her twitter bio says this - 

"Astrophysicist, science communicator, over-thinker. One of@HuffPostscience Top 30 Physicists to follow. Autoimmune illness girl. Kiwi in US. Dogs rule."

One quick fact I know is that this lovely lady started out life in Christchurch and completed her undergraduate study there.  She is now based in North Carolina (but there's still nowhere quite like home).

So the question now stands - how does Catherine tweet?  Well, how about, we take a look - 

"Wang, International Team Discover Why Massive Black Holes Consume Less Material Than Expected (UMass Amherst) http://www.umass.edu/newsoffice/article/wang-international-team-discover-why-super#.UiFhUwG_iaw.twitter … #space"

"The satellites are to be launched for the operators Eutelsat and Es'hailSat -of Paris and Qatar - and the Indian Navy. #Ariane5"

"T-minus 4 minutes and holding. Countdown has entered a planned hold for 45 minutes, 30 seconds leading to new launch time of 10:52a.m PDT."

Don't worry or fret though.  These are not the only tweets in her timeline.  In fact these specifically spacey one's are not the norm.  What are the norm tweets are interactions and conversations with other scientists, brilliant minds and links to news stories that would otherwise be outside the average persons scope of news awareness.

This kiwi is really going places.  Literally as in her physical location but even more so in her scientific research and understanding of the universe which benefits us all.  You can smarten up your timeline by following this fantastic lady.

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 - 

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.

Random follow #92 - @SIMNZ

Interaction on social media is the name of the game. Interaction doesn't mean constantly tweeting or talking. What it means is that when you go online you interact, talk, converse and share a laugh with others. Sonia is just one of those people. One of those people who both interacts and has a health rate of tweets per day.

She brings enthusiasm, fun and a sense of maturity to the twittersphere. Sure she enjoys a good tweet and a good laugh but at the same time she is able to keep a sense of balance and healthy aloofness. Its quite neat finding tweeters who pretty much never put out grandstand tweets or tweet statements. @SIMNZ tweets almost entirely in an interactive way responding to others tweets and then engaging with people.

And on the very odd occasion that she does just tweet, here's what you are most likely to find -

"#winning" or ";) #grammarfail" and even "More men should wear cologne. I miss cologne and a good sniff!"

@SIMNZ hasn't been on twitter all that long but she has managed to amass a very tidy number of tweets. And like the rest of us she id trying to get her head around the different trends, changes of topic and approached to tweeting that are constantly changing around us.  Just a couple of other interesting tidbits from her twitter bio - she is originally from Canada, she now resides in Christchurch and she tells it straight. I like that. A lot.

There is something different about @SIMNZ that seems to be a growing thread amongst the new style of tweeters.  That is - leave your offline issues offline, tweet the good stuff and most of all bring all the encouragement and happiness to everyone you can.  I like the new twitter WAY MORE than I liked the old twitter.

Sonia will brighten up your timeline, throw in some encouragement and bring some sunshine to your timeline.

I do have one thing that is bothering me though - and that is I can't for the life of me figure out what her twitter name stands for.  Wait on - I just figured it out.  Phew!  I'm pleased I have that sorted.

Random follow #71 - @007GAL

"The name is Page, Sara Page"

Social media person, earthquake predictor (sort of) and all round good tweeter. That is what makes @007GAL worth your while following on twitter.

There is no such thing as the perfect tweet but there are some tweeters who are able to string together a series of tweets and make you chuckle and think "I'm glad I follow this person". @007GAL is one of those people.  I wonder if Agent Q signed off on this gadget that Agent  @007GAL recently purchased -

Tweet 1.   "Mad Farmers sale today, super excited about my new peeler though #sad #mustpeeleverything pic.twitter.com/4w6CcjgR0l"

Tweet 2.  "Do I have any veges in my fridge? #mustpeeleverything"

Tweet 3.  "@FarmersNZ I have high hopes for this device, it best not disappoint me haha"

Tweet 4.  "@FarmersNZ True!! I'll post results later #excite"

Telling a story with your tweets is what engages readers and makes you more interesting and fun to follow.  One thing her twitter bio needs is a sign that reads 'No drama'.  Because there isn't any. Simple.  Sara is not a social media superstar if her statistics are anything to go by but twitter is not about quantity.  Its about quality.  And I for one think her tweets ooze quality.

And then I got to thinking.   If @007GAL were a real Bond agent then what would the names of her love interests be?  Here are a few randoms I came up with -

"Gypsy Bare Knuckle Fighter"

"Iron Balls"

"Plenty O'Hair"

"Long John Silver"

Here are some other things I have noticed about Sara - she always has a kind word for everyone.  Her tweets are WYSIWYG (what you see is what you get) and she engages with a really wide range of people.  It is nice seeing someone tweet a bunch of different people every day,  Variety is the spice of life and Sara certainly likes to vary her tweets.

And like a few other tweeters I have profiled Sara is neat from the point of view that she tells you what she wants you to know and that is all.  There is a lot to be said for keeping your real life away from what can at times be the big bad world of social media.


And now for that one last great question.  Does she drink martini's?  I have no idea but if she did/does they probably come shaken and not stirred.

Random follow #68 - @sarb

While attending a running clinic last week one of the elite athletes spoke one phrase that totally resounds with me - "Respect everyone".  You never know when you speak to someone, toe the start line with someone, or run a few km's with someone who they are or what their story is.

I had the great pleasure of both meeting, conversing with and sharing some stories over a meal with today's random kiwi tweeter - @sarb.  @Sarb is one of those people who doesn't necessarily stand out in a crowd or someone who makes a big song dance about himself but underneath the surface is a myriad of complexity, warmth and awesome anecdotes that can keep you engaged for hours.

@sarb is quite literally the smartest person I have profiled so far.  With not just one but two PhD's in different fields of psychology he is quite an intellectual powerhouse.  With that much talent (and hard work to boot) it probably goes without saying that he is an associate professor.  And yet with all that intellectualism he brings to the table a sense of humor, an ability to engage easily with other people and he exudes an inner warmth of care for others.

It is that caring nature and ability to empathize that see's him travel the length and breadth of not only New Zealand but the entire world.  I don't want to say too much but his field of expertise is disaster recovery from a psychological perspective.  So he spends time helping the good folk of Christchurch and other places where there have been major disasters as well.

He is also an amazing person for other reasons.  On Saturday just been he ran/walked 60 kilometers to finish his second ever official ultra marathon.  Not only is that a feat in itself but, according to the doctor, he may have covered the second half of the course with a concussion.  On what was a super tough course he was able to dig deep and find both the drive, focus and single vision to get himself across the line.

Add to the mix hat he is a dad with a beautiful little girl and you'll have a pretty good picture of who @sarb is. And this wouldn't be a well rounded post if I didn't profile a few of his tweets so you know what you'll be looking at if you add him to your follow list -

Funny tweets - "I just cracked 1000 followers. I think that calls for a mini-w00t."
Weather tweets - "Bigger w00t reserved for substantial rain now falling in Rotorua"
Sports tweets - "Drinks break at nzVEng at the Basin Reserve. Ticket sales pretty chaotic at gate, and far fewer food outlets than required. Step up!"
Food tweets - "There is a conspiracy afoot to make sure that I don't get any lunch. I'm onto 'em"
Parental duties - "Good grief, I'm tired today - though a good day dipping in and out of the Newtown Festival with the toddler. How you doing?"

@sarb is an incredible person who if you ever have the chance or opportunity to meet in real life will in no way leave you disappointed.  When you leave his presence you will leave with both a feeling of meeting a mutual mind but also with a feeling that you have gained something.  That something could be knowledge, a fresh perspective on life or even just a warm feeling inside that you have engaged with a person who is completely genuine.

My final words to you are the same with which I started - Respect everyone.

Random follow #32 - @AmyBowie

Flair, imagination and a passion for color are the hallmarks of a creative person.  The ability to differentiate oneself in a crowd and yet still be part of the whole is not an easy thing.  @AmyBowie is just this type of person.  There is something unique about her. 

Amy's profile picture I believe encapsulates her artistic spirit and individuality.  What is it about the picture?  The hat.  Bold, bright and beautiful.  The hat stands out and captures your eye straight away.  The red stands out and says 'Hey! Look at me!" but not in such a way as to be all in your face.  It is just there.

In much the same way that Amy is just there.  In amongst a crowd of a billion tweeters her voice is there to be heard by those who take the time to listen and notice that she has something to offer.

Amy brings her own voice to the world.  And with that voice she can raise a challenge, such as this tweet -

"Question: If you could hear any song done with solo accordion and voice... what would it be?"

And she can also provide amusement of this tweet really cracked me up -

"Page 105 of 1030 of self-taught audio engineering crash course. Now. For some practical experimentation."

It is that have-a-go, do-it-yourself attitude that is so alluring and yet that is where the creative spirit finds its release.  Seeking both solutions as well as new ways of doing things.  Not taking no for an answer.

Amy also has a number of creative outlets that you can discover for yourself if you take the time to head over to her twitter page and read up on who she is and what her passions are.  She is a singer, a teacher of others and also a writer and a creator of prose.

@AmyBowie is my random follow for today.

(Note - This is not Amy.  And that is not her hat.  But you get a pretty 

good idea of what her hat may look like from this picture)

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 #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)