A couple of weeks ago I went on my first Vendor/Purchaser meeting of the year. It was on the other side of the Bombay hills and as I anticipated fighting Auckland traffic there and back I could feel my stress levels rising.

My solution, last year I purchased a Triumph Bonneville, a 2011 version of the seventies classic in bright orange. Those of you who know me will understand the colour. Always loved Triumphs and following that passion helped me, in my mind anyway, avoid that horrible “middle aged man buying a Harley” cliché.

My only issue was that I had an 11am meeting and the weather forecast was for mid-afternoon hail/thunder storms, what the hell it’s only water. It was heaven though, came out of our parking building and on to the motorway and I was relaxed. Didn’t care if those stupid red light queues were there or not, didn’t care about the traffic conditions just rode to Mercer, got off State Hwy 1 and then had a nice little ride through the country.

Got to my meeting feeling better than I have ever felt after a trip along the Auckland motorway. The meeting went well and at about 3.30pm I filled up at Mercer and headed back into town. Wasn’t concerned about the impending storm or the hassle of 4pm traffic heading along the Southern Motorway.

It was a liberating experience for me. My stress levels were almost non-existent even between Manukau and Mt Wellington when I got hailed on. No problem. I think I truly understand the saying now, ‘Life is the journey not the destination’.

It will be interesting to see how clients react this year when I turn up on my bike. The two I have seen so far have thought it was a laugh.

So if you and I have an appointment booked anytime soon expect me to turn up on my bike. Don’t think it concerns me to much whether it will be one of the 200 days per year it appears to rain in this city.