The Value of First Impressions

A wiseman once said... well actually I don't know if he was a man. OK so a wise person once said... I'm not that sure he was widely known as being wise... OK so someone once said... I'm probably being pedantic but I can't really say for sure if it was said or written. This was not how I planned the introduction of this blog. Let me try again...

A person, man or woman, who may or may not have been wise once was heard to say or have written that "you learn something new every day if you pay attention". Actually I'm not even sure if that was the quote. Forget I mentioned it. But if that quote was true then today I have been doubly successful - I've learnt two new things today. 

The first of which is that first impressions can be misleading. We arrived into Napier at around mid-day a little tired from the drive and a lot tired from the previous nights' celebrations. It was busy, windy, we couldn't find a lunch spot, had to pay for parking (the first time since arriving!) and everything was just too hard. And when we did find a lunch spot, the food was decidedly average (again a first since we arrived in NZ). We ate up and the trudged back to the car. What had we done? Why did we come to Napier? Was this the first mistake? 

We did the only sensible thing; found our accommodation and went to sleep. At 2pm. It was lovely, refreshing and just what we needed. When we ventured out again into Napier it was a totally different place; less busy, the wind had dropped, the sun was shining and we had more time, or rather inclination, to just meander. Our opinion changed. Napier is a lovely town. The bulk of it was destroyed in an earthquake in 1931 but rather than abandon the town, which was the preferred option for some observers, they decided to rebuilt it. And rebuild it they did. Wanting to make it the most modern city in the world they chose the Art Deco style of architecture and the results are really refreshing. So two years later they had a brand new and ultra modern looking city. Impressive. 

So first impressions can be misleading. If we'd turned around and left town rather than bedding down we would've missed out. So if anyone tells you the Napier is a bit of a dump, cut them some slack - they're probably just tired and a little hungover.

The other thing? Be selective where you wear a t-shirt with a bands name on it. Three people have asked me if I play in the band and have been a little disappointed when I told them the that I didn't. I could understand one person making the mistake but three? What is all that about? Why was the t-shirt so fascinating? Do they assume that anyone in a football replica shirt plays for that team? Judging by the physique of some of those modelling replica footy tops, probably not. Maybe I should've lied and told them I was the lead singer and was on a world tour. Risky. I'd have been exposed as a fraud if they asked me for a rendition but then again I might've got a couple of free drinks out of it.....