Well, we should be packing!!!

:icon_sad: Well, we SHOULD be boarding the aircraft at Manchester in around 12 hours time. Stopover tomorrow in Kuala Lumpur and arrive Auckland Friday lunchtime for a month's reccie.
POOP!!!
Unfortunately a couple of days after Christmas we were advised to cancel because my mum is seriously ill. She is very ill and my dad is struggling looking after her at home. We don't live nearby but do all we can.
Still, I can hardly believe that this day has finally arrived- and we're not going. People keep saying "New Zealand isn't going anywhere" and I know that's true, but whether we will get there now with ideas of living there hangs in the balance.
It took a while for us to decide to go in the first place (we're not affluent!!)and now we are floundering again. Husband wants to go to America!!!! Big trucks, hot rods and cheap petrol push his buttons.
My 12 year old didn't want to miss school for a month :icon_question: either.
So, I'm here waiting for Tescos to arrive, wondering what chocolate to eat next! I'm fairly sure things will work out better eventually but I sure envy some of you guys at the moment.

Thanks for this site and sorry for the ramble.

Nice pics Taffy.

Hi Ellie,

How disappointing. :icon_cry:

I do hope your mum gets better soon.

Must admit it is my greatest fear ... mum or dad being ill, or even one of us or the kids becoming ill or injured. All that preparation, high hopes ... :icon_frown:

Similar fears probably stick with anyone who emigrates - who will look after ill parents, who will look after the kids if anything happens to us, etc. Some decide the cost of being away from family too much to bear, others realise they will always regret not 'going for it'.

About 10 days before our first family trip to NZ, one of the kids caught chickenpox. OK, he would be clear before we flew, though we would have to get a doctor's note to say he was not infectious (they will not allow kids on planes with chickenpox). However my youngest had not had chickenpox before and the incubation period? ... 10 days. :icon_eek: icon_exclaim.gif We could have said "that's life" and "it is not to be" but we were not to be beaten and I left for NZ with the child who had not had chickenpox two days later. ::): We had a lovely time without the hubby and I was climatised and relaxed when I met the rest of the family off the plane a week later - which made a really big difference, being the stressed one in the family. :icon_rolleyes: My youngest came out in spots exactly 10 days after his brother and would not have been allowed on the plane. Thankfully, insurance picked up the costs.

The plus side with your delay in emigrating for a few months could be that ... maybe the exchange rate will be better, airfares may be cheaper, you will not be going into another winter ...

We are leaving on 25th June and I'm keeping my fingers and toes crossed everything will be OK and we will not have a similar dilemma as yourselves.

Keep off creme eggs and mars bars :icon_wink: - buy yourself a nice box of choccies - you'll enjoy them better. ::):

Hugs,
Glenda.

Dont you go wimping out on us now!!

Never mind hot rods and cheap petrol (they have those here, you know!).

Seriously though, I do hope you mum gets well soon. You can't let yourselves get too disheartened by it all, these things just happen. The family you leave behind is always a concern, but really speaking, sometimes you have to be a bit selfish and do what makes you and your more immediate family happy.

Keep your hubby on track, get your mum back on her feet and go from there.

Please note: If you fail to comply with these guidlines, I will be forced to post more pics to make you crack up and move here anyway!!

All the best, to you and your mum

Ellie,

Don't give up on your dreams!
We had a similar scenario about 6 months ago when we were getting all keyed up to go out and my wifes mother was diagnosed with cancer.
It really made us both think about what was Important in life, family or our own family, i.e. myself,wife and kids. It's a very difficult choice but one which has to be made!

Now, 6 months on, the mother in law has been given the all clear and we are booked up to go out to NZ in April for a holiday/Reccie. We can't wait!

I know how your feeling. We were both gutted when our plans had to be shelved before. Stay positive! And dont loose sight of your dreams.

Good luck,

David

Thanks everyone for your kind words. :icon_biggrin: I feel all warm inside!
I think you're all right though, and just because something doesn't go exactly to plan doesn't mean you should give it up!
We are going to re evaluate the situation in June and in the meantime work hard to pay off our debts and spend time with mum and dad.

So,we're off to Pizza Hut (extravegant!!) tonight instead of flying across the planet. My 10 year old has asked me not to cry while we're there coz it'll be embarrassing!

[Welshgirl]

Hi Ellie,

Sorry, I'm a little late in my reply to your original posting, but I just wanted to wish you and your family all the best, and I hope everything sorts itself out with your mum.

People are right - New Zealand isn't going anywhere! So keep your spirits up and believe it will happen when the time is right ::):

And I hope you managed to make it through the meal without crying!

Best of luck,

Welshgirl :icon_cool:

[Ellienbrian]

Hello again!

:icon_biggrin: Didn't cry, but my eyes filled up a bit!!!

Enjoyed the meal (as much as you can at Pizza Hut) and we all talked about dreams and stuff which was nice. Doesn't happen much with a 10 and a 12!!
My daughter (12) who was dead set against going to NZ anyway, seems to have softened slightly in her feelings. Maybe the events of the past few weeks have affected her.
If the delay means that she is happier, then we will all be happier!
Had words with husband today and we realise we need to re-focus.

Really appreciate your kindness.

Ellie.

[Glenda]

Daughters ... arrgh! :icon_rolleyes: My daughter is 12 this year and she is really looking forward to going to NZ and why? ... dolphins! :icon_rolleyes: She goes stupid at the sight of them!

Like your daughter she is at the age where friendships are important and she is aware of what is expected from her by her peers in this country. Now she has got to learn again in NZ and make more friends without looking a little stupid. I intend to give all my kids as many 'lessons' on NZ I can to prepare them ... if they will listen. Kids usually are OK, it is when they are older that there can be hiccups.

Dolphins ... :icon_rolleyes: :icon_lol:

[Welshgirl]

Dolphins..... oh, dolphins ::): I won't go so far as to say I moved to NZ because of the dolphins but, hey, it's an added bonus! I love dolphins and it has long been my dream to swim with them. I am now living in a country where a) it is possible and b) it is likely - hurrah! ::):

I'm sure your daughter will be fine Ellie. 12 year olds don't like the thought of change, but she will have to trust that you are doing what you think is for the best. I have 3 sons, aged 14, 12 & 9, who decided not to come to NZ with us because they didn't like the idea of change and so stayed back in the UK, but we believe we have given our 4 year old daughter the best possible chance to have a good, safe life, so we had to do it. Of course, we hope the boys will eventually change their minds!

All the best for the future anyway