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!

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.

Randon follow #44 - @TophHooperton

Over the last few weeks while working on this project I have been genuinely surprised to find out how many tweeters in New Zealand are either -

a) English living in New Zealand or
b) Kiwi's living in England
c) Kiwi's who have lived in England and have returned home

I really enjoy English people and the wittiness that they bring with them.  If you were to bottle all that wit and turn it into tweets then you would come up with an end result of @TophHooperton.

"Social Media is so difficult you won't understand it until you see a PowerPoint explanation."

There are many tweeters who work for the media in one way or another and @TophHooperton is one of those people.  But the difference with this chap is that he doesn't tweet as a 'company man'.  In fact he is able to not take it all too seriously and he is able to have a joke about some of the viewing TVNZ has on.

"You know how fancy foodies do that smear of sauce on plates that looks like the inside of a nappy? Why? #MasterChefNZ (+1)"

And he will also share his thoughts about other tv with you as well (don't we all tweet about tv programs?) -

"Just when you think #Girls is as good as it gets, it gets even better. Holy crap. My squishy heart."

And I also managed to pick up on the fact that he is single.  Some times this fact can really irk parents.  And in @TophHooperton's case this is true also -

"My mum's fulsome list of reasons why I'm single is still amusing me. It ends with 'I don't think you'll meet someone til quite late in life'"


In summary - Christopher (only his mum use's his whole name probably) is a very likable chap who creates amusing tweets and uses his English wit to humor the world.  One tweet at a time.

Random follow #36 - @jessmeade

There are plenty of ex-pat kiwi's who have made their way (aka escape) from New Zealand and have headed offshore to the UK.  Todays random kiwi tweeter is one of those lucky enough to venture abroad and spend her youth in a foreign country and exploring the world.

@jessmeade set sail from New Zealand a number of years ago on her first OE.  England, Europe, Egypt and a bunch of other places were visited as well.  When her visa expired she returned to New Zealand and it was at that time that I first came into contact with her.  A lively, lovely, energetic young lady with a clear vision of what she wants out of life.

It became apparent quite quickly that New Zealand was too small a place for her at this time.  And so she hatched a plan.  A plan that would see her return to the UK and grow a career in the sports and fitness industry.  In a role that see's her travel to the US at least once a year.

It was upon @jessmeade's return to the UK that she signed up for twitter.  She was originally known as @keweechick but recently switched to her actual name (professional standards now apply - LOL).

To say that she is a prolific tweeter would be lies.  She tweets when she wants but she doesn't waste words.  She cuts to the chase and calls it as it is.  Here are some examples -

"Good thing I hit @FitnessFirstUK this morning with Krispy Kremes doing the rounds this arvo #allinmoderation"

Jess is an active girl who is keen on netball and equestrian.  If you follow her you aren't going to find out anything too amazeballs or ground breaking.  But if you are able to make her a friend you will find someone who is fiercely loyal and will stick with you no matter what.

So there you go.  Follow #36 @jessmeade.  Worth a follow.  Especially if you live in the UK.