Hello again, it has been a long time since my last post. Has been a tough year personally with Paul’s health situation and subsequent exit from the business and I really haven’t felt like writing to be honest.

But we have a new website and a new market identity and time to get back on the horse so to speak.  Has only been in the last couple of weeks that I feel I have been fully operational again as a broker so I hope to again be able to regularly post my thoughts here for those who are interested.

Well the market certainly seems to be on the move. Most exciting seems to be the probable re-emergence of a NZ building industry with the pressure of the Christchurch rebuild and well publicised Auckland housing shortage. Hopefully for those involved in the building industry, and who have been through some really tough times in recent years; we can get past the bureaucracy and get on with it.

Another indicator for me on how the market is improving is the number of people who are currently on winter holidays. I sent a flyer to our database last week introducing 5 new franchise systems to the market and I had just on 100 out of office replies. My wife and I are off next week to Switzerland for a couple of weeks and the planes are certainly full, most I would expect heading to London Olympics.

Have had numerous coffee meetings with all the Banks over the last couple of weeks and this again is another indicator to me that times are improving. The words cash flow lending have again been on the lips of the representatives of the big 3 ½ Banks, (not sure ANZ and National make up more than 1 ½ anymore and ASB only cherry pick with business lending so they don’t count either J) so times are a changing.

Another reason I think for the more positive outlook has to be the weather. Has been cold but clear and that means very little rain, another layer of clothing is a small price to pay for being able to leave the umbrella at home. Long may this continue.

Well hope everybody likes the new website, thanks to my wife Karin for that. As mentioned above I will be in Europe from 29^th July – 11^th August and my daughter Nicollette will be holding the fort. Will be business as usual because brokers never have a holiday away from the business and I will be skyping early mornings and evenings to get the job done. Talk soon.