After almost 4 years of fun based in Auckland I’m setting sail bound for SYD, NAN, SIN, LHR and finally DXB to live. What a ride I’ve had, and almost 11,000 of you out there have been riding the wave with me.

Over the next few months this guide will alter drastically, but retain the same mission statement with which it began, “Get as many people out as possible, doing new things, interacting and having fun. Through providing unbiased daily event options”. There will be a team taking over, making the skill set vast, spelling good things for guide-getters; In the form of exclusive deals, entry to parties, free music, colour, fun and a whole host of novel ways to interact with others.

My involvement will be as an international roving reporter, contributing a weekly tale of my inevitable mischief. I have no idea really where I will end up, all I want is a fresh start in a fresh environment. I just have the plan of flying to Sydney for a wedding on April 4th, Nadi for another on May 9th, Singapore has another knot tying session on May 16th. And Aldermaston (an hour out of London) the following weekend. Dubai rounds out the quintupplet where I plan to reside, ponder and explore. I thank my friends for not doubling up on nuptial dates, and giving me the huge nudge required to leave NZ’s kind shores.

I am often asked how Party Marty, and this guide thing, came about. Now seems a good time to explain… My nickname fully flared up in Christchurch when I was about 23, by my circle of friends who found it hard to keep up with my endless enthusiasm and energy, but I’d been hot for parties of all sorts since kindergarten. I tried to fight it, I thought it made me look as if I was going nowhere, and that partying was all I was good at.

I went to broaden my horizons in the UK for 3 years, aged 26, it arose there without any assistance also. Due to my incessant passion to party (damn this FOMO condition), push the envelope and never say when. Also, that my mission there was to solely have fun and experience different ways of life. Mission accomplished.

When I returned to NZ, I moved from my hometown of CHC to AKL, seeking opportunities vocationally, climatically but principally socially. I knew 2 people, Anne-Marie, who I’d met on The Spirit Of Adventure yacht in 7th form (now a flash physio), and James, my best school chum (now a kick-ass Doctor).

Within 6 months I knew 100 or so (mainly thanks to www.findsomeone.co.nz), and somehow the tag arose again. This time I embraced it, thinking… what the heck. It was about then that I began my guide, and was in the About Town section of The NZ Herald for the first time.

The guide began as a way to share event options that I was lucky enough to be invited to, so select friends had a choice; to either stay at home and watch telly, or seize the day, do something different, have fun and meet others.

The Guide was incredibly basic in the beginning, I used colourful fonts, assorted type styles and sent it out via Yahoo to about 40 people. Since then it’s had 2 major upgrades, and is now sent out weekly to nearly 11,000 people worldwide.

Whenever I go out I’m often spoken to by people I’ve never met before, even CEO’s, Mums and sports stars, they tell me about how they read it weekly, and like to keep in touch with what’s going on. Some just browse and never go to anything, others use it as a firm guide to their daily actions. This kind of chat keeps me going forward from week to week, as I put about 60 hours a week into The Guide’s look and feel. It’s good to know that people actually read it, so I thank them, and normally take a photo.

Finally, perhaps you can take a leaf from my personal motto and do something out of the ordinary today, “It’s always happy-hour. Life is short. Enjoy every opportunity! When I do depart anyone reading this please remember that I’m only ever just a mouse click away. Stay in touch and come visit.