3 months in ...
Posted 21-11-2008 at 11:24 AM by zummerzet_lou
Did I really just write that? 3 months? Where has the time gone?
Yes, all that planning and stressing and organising and here we are - 3 months after the plane touched down onto Auckland Airports runway.
Thanks to the efforts of Taffy, we had a car for our arrival (which is still going strong), and in less than a week after arrival I had a job lined up.
We had a very jet-lagged week in Auckland - saw quite a lot of the sights though, and collected our beloved dog from the airport, and then we headed south for our longest road-trip on record.
Arrived at Christchurch 3 days later, and immediately settled into life. Explored the areas, went into the city centre and checked out the beaches - and sorted us out a rental.
I started work a week later, and James started at a local pre-school afew days later. It was quite a relief to get back to a routine after all the upheaval of emigrating and finding our feet in a new country. However, in saying that, never before had I felt so at "home". Probably sounds quite daft, but NZ is really so similar to the UK, but has more of the nicer aspects, that I hadn't realised I'd missed them ... everything is so less populated, there are huge green spaces between villages and even between houses! And the people are friendly - everyone smiles and asks how you are, and seem genuinely interested in your response!
We had arranged our holiday let for 4 weeks - so it wasn't long before we were on the move again. As I was at work, poor Jon did most of the too-ing and fro-ing on his own (well, apart from the help from James and Lauren). We were actually very disappointed when we got to our rental - yes, it had the most magnificent views of the sea, and estuary but it was incredibly cold and dirty. Despite complaints to the agent, nothing very much was resolved, and it wasn't long before we decided that we wanted a place of our own.
After several rounds of open homes, and private viewings we fell in love with a house. It wasn't anything that we had thought we'd end up in ... our original aspiration was a hige lifestyle block, with ourbuildings but the reality was that it wasn't achievable without a sizable mortgage. So, instead we have a beautiful 4 bed place, with a reasonable garden, that I can cycle to work occasionally (12 miles each way), and the kids can be walked to school.
In fact, things couldn't have worked out better as 3 days after settlement day, our container was delivered. What a day that was ... in fact I barely slept the night before as I was so excited to see all our things again. Nothing much was damaged, and despite Jons protests, we unpacked everything that day!
So, here we are in NZ. Our own house, no mortgage (certainly couldn't have achieved that in the UK), and all our stuff. Already we have made a small circle of friends, and for the first time ever are having coffee afternoons, and playdays .. so much nicer than the pub scene.
I, and the kids are now on countdown to Christmas - our first NZ one!! Can't wait :-)
Yes, all that planning and stressing and organising and here we are - 3 months after the plane touched down onto Auckland Airports runway.
Thanks to the efforts of Taffy, we had a car for our arrival (which is still going strong), and in less than a week after arrival I had a job lined up.
We had a very jet-lagged week in Auckland - saw quite a lot of the sights though, and collected our beloved dog from the airport, and then we headed south for our longest road-trip on record.
Arrived at Christchurch 3 days later, and immediately settled into life. Explored the areas, went into the city centre and checked out the beaches - and sorted us out a rental.
I started work a week later, and James started at a local pre-school afew days later. It was quite a relief to get back to a routine after all the upheaval of emigrating and finding our feet in a new country. However, in saying that, never before had I felt so at "home". Probably sounds quite daft, but NZ is really so similar to the UK, but has more of the nicer aspects, that I hadn't realised I'd missed them ... everything is so less populated, there are huge green spaces between villages and even between houses! And the people are friendly - everyone smiles and asks how you are, and seem genuinely interested in your response!
We had arranged our holiday let for 4 weeks - so it wasn't long before we were on the move again. As I was at work, poor Jon did most of the too-ing and fro-ing on his own (well, apart from the help from James and Lauren). We were actually very disappointed when we got to our rental - yes, it had the most magnificent views of the sea, and estuary but it was incredibly cold and dirty. Despite complaints to the agent, nothing very much was resolved, and it wasn't long before we decided that we wanted a place of our own.
After several rounds of open homes, and private viewings we fell in love with a house. It wasn't anything that we had thought we'd end up in ... our original aspiration was a hige lifestyle block, with ourbuildings but the reality was that it wasn't achievable without a sizable mortgage. So, instead we have a beautiful 4 bed place, with a reasonable garden, that I can cycle to work occasionally (12 miles each way), and the kids can be walked to school.
In fact, things couldn't have worked out better as 3 days after settlement day, our container was delivered. What a day that was ... in fact I barely slept the night before as I was so excited to see all our things again. Nothing much was damaged, and despite Jons protests, we unpacked everything that day!
So, here we are in NZ. Our own house, no mortgage (certainly couldn't have achieved that in the UK), and all our stuff. Already we have made a small circle of friends, and for the first time ever are having coffee afternoons, and playdays .. so much nicer than the pub scene.
I, and the kids are now on countdown to Christmas - our first NZ one!! Can't wait :-)
Total Comments 18
Comments
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"so much nicer than pub scene"? Maybe for you. It's the only part of UK life I really miss.Posted 21-11-2008 at 01:44 PM by Banjo.Jon 
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Lovely blog, Lou. Good news that you're all settling in well with NZ life. That 3 months has simply flown by. You'll have to get Jon and in-house bar that he can prop himself up against just to get 'the feel' again. He could even get behind the bar as 'mine host' or is it 'mein host'?
Posted 21-11-2008 at 04:21 PM by MotherBear
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So glad to hear htings are going so well for you guys. You seemed to have already made a goo dlittle life for yourselves.
And your own house with no mortgage- gosh that would be nice.
Sounds like you guys will be very happy here.Posted 21-11-2008 at 04:48 PM by ebianca
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Great blog Lou. You havereally gone for it and settled in well - even overcoming the stolen car fiasco!! Well done all of you. Hope the next 3 months are just as good.Posted 22-11-2008 at 05:10 PM by nickydwuk
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Has it really been only 3 months? What strides you have made in such a short time. Now if only the car story ends happily...Posted 23-11-2008 at 06:38 AM by selchie
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Sounds to me like the car thing is just alitle blot on your landscape girly!!!! Fabbo!! So pleased for you all
You were never going to fail really were you 
Posted 24-11-2008 at 02:45 PM by Dawn
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Of course the car story will end up OK ... ooh, now there's a sign if ever there was one - instead of typing "course" I types "curse" which is far more apt!
Anyway, Jon is already busy doing his favourite activity ... surfing the net for my new motor. Did find a beautiful purple MGF, but got told that we can't transport canoes with it :-( Watch this space ....Posted 24-11-2008 at 03:51 PM by zummerzet_lou
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Found a really nice Hummer as well but told it won't fit garage :(
Posted 24-11-2008 at 04:08 PM by Banjo.Jon
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Good to read you're feeling at home! know exactly what you mean, we felt like that on both visits to NZ and why Mark (husband) & I have decided to make perm move. Apart from familiy and friends is there anything else you wish you had over there?
Keeping Somerset warm (well trying)!!Posted 25-11-2008 at 12:58 AM by bubbles
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Off the top of my head, I really cant think of anything else ...
Definately miss our folks and friends, and get the odd pang for Tescos (or rather, their clothing dept), but saving a fortune ;-)
Oh, and the other thing I miss ... music supplies ... sheet music,and instruments are expensive and few and far between.Posted 25-11-2008 at 07:38 AM by zummerzet_lou
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Thanks Lou
Good to know, guess Mark will be after new guitar before we come over!! and I intend to stock up on clothes!! Good excuse for intense retail therapy .... house sale permitting!Posted 25-11-2008 at 08:47 AM by bubbles
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Ohh .. and it gets better. Should have the money for my car on Thursday from the insurance company. Not quite as much as we'd hoped for, but at least it's sorted.
Also, rental agent has phoned and looks as though they have found some new tenants for the place we're renting, which means we can get out early from the 6 months tenancy.
BTW - any newcomers, be very wary of signing up for a fixed term tenancy unless you are very, VERY sure you'll want to stay there for the whole term as they are virtually unbreakable, and you are liable for rent for the entire term of the agreement.
I can feel a dance coming on ....Posted 26-11-2008 at 12:10 PM by zummerzet_lou
Updated 26-11-2008 at 12:14 PM by zummerzet_lou -
"I can feel a dance coming on ...."
I thought it was an earthquake, stop dancing.Posted 26-11-2008 at 12:17 PM by Banjo.Jon
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I'm glad to hear that things are getting better for you & Jon, Lou. Best of luck in your very own home.
Posted 27-11-2008 at 05:49 AM by selchie
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hi Lou,
Just curious, did you view the house before signing the fixed term tenancy? So far all rental require us to sign some lease term 6 to 12mths. But if we're able to find subsitute tenant it's fine to move out.Posted 28-11-2008 at 07:10 PM by rasin
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Yes - we viewed the house prior to signing. We were happy with the 6 months, as at the time we thought we wanted to stay put somewhere for a while,
As for getting new tenants as a get-out-early that's entirely at the discretion of the agent and landlord. They are completely within their rights to say "no" and make you pay for whatever you signed up for. Thankfully, ours were very amicable in that respect.
Oh, I'm positively beaming today from ear to ear ... why? I hear you ask? Cos I drove to work this morning in my pose-mobile :-) Got me a BMW with the insurance settlement (had a to pay a wee bit more, but we got quite a deal) and it's gorgeous .... and I can't believe it's mine, especially after the go-kart!!Posted 01-12-2008 at 07:55 AM by zummerzet_lou
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Sweet! Now if you could manage to get this one nicked & totaled, you could move up to a Jag
Posted 02-12-2008 at 04:23 AM by selchie
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Not sure the bank balance will cope - had to sub the insurance pay out to buy the new car ... and now I have the wee matter of insurance to now pay! Lost my no claims ... that's 12 years down the pan!
Posted 03-12-2008 at 01:48 PM by zummerzet_lou
