After a week of searching for jobs on the internet, handing out CVs and calling into agencies I eventually found one. I decided not to go down the road of looking for a bus driving job as the license conversion would have been too much of a hassle, plus I wasn't sure how long I'd be in Welly for. A furniture removal company based in Newtown (45mins walk from Kelburn) offered me a casual position as a labourer. I popped in for a chat on the Thursday and started on the Monday. The casual basis worked by getting a text the previous afternoon asking if you were free. I did Mon-Sat that week just before the company (like most in NZ) close down for the Christmas/NY period.
The company has 6 vehicles, 6 drivers and about a dozen labourers. I got up at 0530 each day, signed on at 0730 and finished between anytime between 1600 and 1820. 2 or 3 jobs were typically slotted in to each day per truck. Around the time I started they were very busy with contracts from the council relocating people on benefits from their non-earthquake proofed houses to earthquake proofed ones - this made up the majority of jobs I did. Although there were a few private jobs as well as tip jobs! Most jobs were around the Wellington and Hutt Valley areas, although one day we ended up an hour away from Welly near Kapiti Island.
Items lifted included sofas, glass cabinets, fridges, washing machines, beds, wardrobes, pianos, cross trainers, lawn mowers. It wasn't just the size and weight of the items but also the property access - houses that were on steep slopes of flats that were up several flights of stairs. Each day I felt like I'd done an 8+ hour hardcore workout in the gym! The typical labourers diet includes rank high-energy drinks, cigarettes and pies - I opted for lots of coffee, bananas and jam sandwiches! It was a strange feeling walking home each day feeling like I had just been giving a good hiding, but it was very rewarding. Working with a top bunch of guys and meeting different NZ people made it enjoyable.
There were lots of moves that I will remember from that week. One of which was moving a British guy and his family. The guy points at a J Sainsbury box and says 'i bet its been a while since you've seen one of them'. Turns out he went to the UEA in Norwich! A move I did on my first day was tricky with lots of disobedient kids running about everywhere, luckily i didn't bonk any over the head with a desk or TV. Another was a big luxurious sofa in someone's lounge which was on the third floor, it wouldn't fit down the staircase so the french windows were opened, then two of us dangled it longways over the balcony while the third person was on the balcony downstairs waiting to get a hold on it, the other ran downstairs to help him and we managed to drag it in.
I was fortunate enough to go to the Cmas bash on the Sat after work. After doing a big move with very difficult access (from a third floor flat to a house down a slippery slope with slippery uneven steps) in the heat you can imagine how good the cold beer, BBQ and fishing tasted afterwards.
I am writing this on 9Jan and the boom enjoyed before the seasonal break has not returned...yet. With not enough work to need me for the first 3 weeks back in January I have decided to leave Welly and continue my travels... Thanks to Mike for taking me on in the first place.
below: midday and just finished job 1. I was with Ben and Rongo that day.
below: job two finished and an hours drive back to the yard
below: this was the only 'van' and was a 2 man van. job 1 complete and time for a quick feed in Island Bay. I was with a young chap called Michael that day.
below: the benefits of Wymondham Leisure Centre gym are long gone! Well earned caffeine boost!
below: the leg bruises are normal for a newbie. The arm scratches weren't from an angry cat but from big tree stumps we had to take to the tip!
