This Friday 31 Jan 2014 marks the beginning of the Year of the Horse, possibly still the most common form of transportation in New Zealand 100 years ago before the start of the first World War (which both my grandfathers fought in).
I've started this year by leaving the American based 'Wet Infrastructure' consultancy MWH and creating my own transportation consultancy - whether I find employment by the time of the special annual conference of the IPENZ Transportation Group (of which I am the national chair) on 23-26 March (www.ipenztg2014.co.nz) remains to be seen, but even if I find a new job I like the idea of being able to do some community work if practicable.
We've had some more earthquakes this month and anyone who's been to my home town Christchurch recently will have seen all the empty sections in the CBD. But this creates opportunity for new beginnings in the planning and engineering realms and apparently there has been an influx of overseas workers chasing the rebuild projects. IPENZ is holding its 2014 Eng. Forum in Chch immediately before our TG conference, which next year will be in Chch. So think seriously about a trip to NZ this year or next. [IPENZ = the Institute of Professional Engineers New Zealand]