We all have a reason to renovate. Just not quite as bizarre as this one.

I heard probably the most ‘Auckland’ thing ever this afternoon.

A friend was talking about doing some renovations on her house. These included painting the roof. She was asked what prompted the decision to do this and she explained that the roof was metal and hadn’t been painted when it was first installed. We asked whether there was a problem with the roof being untreated? Did it mean the roof wouldn’t last as long, or was prone to weather-damage?

Apparently neither of these are problems. Her decision to paint the roof was inspired by Google Earth. Apparently if you look at her house on Google Earth the roof is much brighter and shinier than any other in the neighbourhood and not particularly attractive.

You know you live in Auckland, and very probably work in advertising, when you have friends who decide to paint their roof on the basis that it doesn’t reflect well on them when their house is viewed via an online satellite surveillance system.