This week I had a special meeting with my old university lecturer.
Failing to pass an industry-related interview, I was put in touch with my lecturer as my new mentor.
20 years had passed since I had spoken with her, but she remembered me and gave her time to help me.
We met at Old Government House in Auckland CBD.
A great old building with so much character. Built in 1856, it is one of New Zealand's oldest buildings and is located within the University of Auckland campus.
My mentor told me the Queen stayed here in 1953.
Old Government House is now used as Staff Commons for University of Auckland staff.
The building is open to the public - however, you need to be a member to order a beer at the bar (important).
People chatted in a relaxed atmosphere in the big 'lounge'. The dining rooms were occupied by friendly university people.
Such a nice atmosphere inside, it was a real change from the busyness of downtown Auckland.
It made me feel like a student again. "I should become a lecturer", I thought.
My mentor told me a lot of interesting things about New Zealand that I did not know.
Going into a lot of detail about how New Zealand was founded and how at one stage it was run out of New South Wales!!
We enjoyed a glass of wine and pizza in the old house which was a real treat.
If I had passed this work-related interview that I was trying to achieve, I would have never been put in touch with my new mentor and would have never come into this building.
Upon reflection, it made me see many positives.
"Every cloud has a silver lining", as the saying goes.
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