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ans Serif">Last Tuesday, I met a potential client in town. That meant an early start -I had to drop my wife off to work (she usually uses the car).

ans Serif">Once I'd dropped her off, I had to find something to do for an hour. It wouldn't be worth the trip back home and then back into town. I rang to confirm the time of our meeting, and things had changed - now I had to find something to do for three hours.

ans Serif">Finally the meeting time drew near, so I went quarter of an hour early to find parking.

ans Serif">After a careful study of the map, I made

my way into the crazed metropolis of Auckland City, driving at 20 kph to spot a park. Not a popular move with other drivers.

ans Serif">Wow! A parking space! And not too far from where I'm going (maybe a block or two). I park, pay the obscene $2 parking fee for 45 minutes ($3 for a whole hour).

ans Serif">After a brisk walk to reach the address in time, I meet my potential client, and we decide to go for a coffee. A café isn't hard to find (one advantage of the city) and we discuss issues over a cappuccino and Earl Grey tea (one of each, not mixed!). The blaring techno music adds the fun of guessing what the other person is trying to say.

ans Serif">Our meeting lasts 15 minutes tops. The preparation took about 30 minutes, bottoms.

ans Serif">Compare that with today. I sealed a deal with an overseas client by emailing a PDF document for him to fax back to me. All this with my cat on my knee, my hair in an absolute mess, and if it was warmer, I'd still be in my pyjamas.

ans Serif">I love technology. I love the 21st century. Most of all, I love focussing on getting the job done. Don't you?