I've just finished a week long holiday, and how great it was! I feel so relaxed now, and am ready to go back to work on Monday.

I think I've earned some time off. For the month or so prior to my holiday, I've been working some very long days (for a software developer). I'm talking 9+ hours a day (not including breaks or lunch), 5 and a half days a week. That may not seem like much to you non-programmer types, but imagine spending all those hours working on crossword or logic puzzles. You end up mentally exhausted and physically drained.

Luckily for me, I booked some leave back in October. I'd chosen this week to have off because it contains both my wedding anniversary (Wednesday) and my birthday (today). I figured there was no better time to spend with the wife.

Even though we've not actually gone away for the week, we've certainly been away from home a lot. My wife loves looking at used clothing, so we've spent a large part of the week visiting various thrift stores around Auckland. She's managed to find a few stores that carry designer labels, so we can look very posh at a fracton of the cost. For example, I managed to pick up a practically-new Burberry short-sleeved shirt for only NZ$54. I don't know what it would have originally cost, but it was probably several times what I paid for it.

We also went to Kelly Tarlton's Underwater World on Friday. I hadn't been for years (early 90s) and my wife had never been, so we decided to head along. I'm still of two minds as to whether it was worth the money. It was great to see all the fish and the penguins, but NZ$30 per adult is a bit steep when you can take your time and still be through there in no more than 2 hours.

The only real downside of the week was that it had to end. On Monday I'll be back to work, although hopefully I've got the worst of the long hours over and done with. Oh well, I've gotta make a living somehow.