Random follow #261 - @thatmarkhagan

Yes @thatmarkhagan.  Not to be confused with any other Mark Hagans there is only one @thatmarkhagan.  This gentleman of twitter is a good sort who resorts to tweeting when all else fails (that was a joke).

Mark is one of the good guys in social media.  He is a dad, he is passionate and when required he can be a fierce protector of those who he loves.  And he is Scottish.  Well he has spent great lengths of time in Scotland so therefore he must be a Scot - right?

Mark has a really great straight up tweeting style that leaves you knowing exactly where he stands on whatever issue it is that is on his mind at the time.  I especially like the tweets like these that warm the cockles of my heart -

"A fair amount of Guinness drank today, despite the cold!!"  <-- why wouldn't you?

"Again, no justice. #nzjudiciary" <-- knows exactly where he stands on the issues

"Having a smashing time in Rotorua. Weather has been amazing, always lots to do; Luge!!!!"  <-- the weather is ALWAYS amazing in Rotorua......  (biased)

I don't know a whole lot about Mark but I have been able to figure out a few things about him.  He is a man of passion, loyalty, genuineness and he has a great sense of humour.  He doesn't let too much get to him or put him into a flap and he has more common sense than the average punter.

The RKT project exists because tweeters like @thatmarkhagan exist in the twittersphere and deserve some lime light and appreciation for their contribution to the social media world.  I appreciate Marks tweets and look forward to reading many more.

Random follow #250 - @kiltedkiwi

@Kiltedkiwi is an expat kiwi who now resides in the beautiful country of Scotland.  Yes there are plenty of expats overseas and yes they are usually great tweeters.  But there is something different about a man who wears a skirt.  Oops sorry I meant a kilt.

Kilted Kiwi is a great chap with an excellent sense of wit but openly confesses to having a not so flash twitter bio.  But what he lacks in twitter bio he makes up for and more through his tweets.

Here are a few to give you a little view into his twitter world -

"Oops apparently it's only #nationalpoetryday, hyperbole such a poetic word me thinks!"  Aaahhh the pure
wit shines through.

"Wonder if I'll ever stop buying #cycling gear?! Fluoro is the new black". A man who knows that health is the elixir of youth.

And then there a few obligatory tweets that reference his new home land.  Such as -

"Off to a kiwi farewell, haggis & whiskey, gotta admit- not a huge haggis fan. Och well, when in Rome & all that!"

Kilted Kiwi is a really funny guy who keeps the jokes rolling, the humour flowing and twitter lol'ing.  He won't hog your timeline n part cos he lives in the opposite timezone to us but also because twitter is a hobby and not a lifestyle.  And I like that fact.

One thing I have enjoyed doing recently with twitter is going international with my follows.  And @Kiltedkiwi is one expat kiwi who I am pleased to have found online and follow.  You might want to try checking him out too.

Random follow #63 - @TickledNZ

"Excels at being awesome"

Ladies and gentlemen of twitter I present to you the one, the only @TickledNZ!

When someone's twitter bio says that about them then there really isn't much more I can add that may convince you that Toni is a fun loving, big spirited, adventurous, genuine lovely lady.

She is incredibly attractive, enjoys her fitness and therefore looking good physically and she is also just really nice.  And being a kiwi away from home she also likes to tweet those from home who can help to remember some of the reasons why New Zealand is such a magnificent place to live.

Even when kiwi's leave the nest and head overseas - home is still home.  And there are some things that we just can't live without.  Here are a couple of item's that Toni has mentioned missing -

"@PeopleofNZ mince and cheese *sighs* #pietalk"

"Less than 5 mins to go. Come on Chiefs!!"

"Today marks 10 yrs away from home! Apparently u should all be buying me pressies of the tin variety. May I suggest cans of watties tomato sc"

As with all ex-pat Kiwi tweeters that tell you about things happening in their general area that they don't realise are quite different that what we at home experience.  For example -

"On a train to Glasgow. Boy with the drinks cart forgot we are in the best position to see him adjust himself & the lads are talking football"

"And how did Scotland help me celebrate such an achievement? By enveloping me in freezing cold Haar! O second home, I love ur sense of humour"

Toni's tweets are sweet and normal.  And they just appear.  Like out of nowhere they are just there.  I quite often have to do a double take when her tweets come up 'cos she quite often tweets at normal times for New Zealand.  Here is one that made me do a double take - 

"Very much looking forward to seeing the mega awesome@Ginger_82 in Jekyll & Hyde tonight! x".

Why the double take?  Because my first thought was 'why didn't anyone TELL me Jekyll & Hyde is on in New Zealand!!!!!!'.  (Yes it is one stage show I must see in this lifetime).  

And in my mind it is that fact there which sums up @TickledNZ the best.  After 10 years of being away from home she still sounds, talks and tweets like a genuinely lovely lady from the land of the long white cloud, Aotearoa.