Look before you leap

[Debd]

Ughhh just posted another reply and it disappeared!!! Arghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh >:(

[Dawn]

You're right Glenda. We're all individual, we all have our own thoughts and feelings and what's more our own thoughts and feelings are always charged with personal emotion. If one feels strongly enough to make a post then that post is always gonna be partly subjective no matter how objective or open minded one tries to be. And everybody knows how reluctant I am to express my opinion anyway ::) I just try to keep my mouth shut and be a good girl :o

We're all in this NZ thing for our own reasons and we will all make of it what we will. And for those of us who are leaping before we've looked - well, we'll either bounce or break both our ankles - shit I'm a dancer!!!!!

:) :) :)

[Dawn]

:o :o :o I've just re-read my post after posting and what's with the NUTS thing????? I didn't say that :o :o :o

This forum site thing can read it's own messages and censur them!! OMG how do we know that everything we've said hasn't been censored!!!!

Big Brother is watching you :o

[MotherBear]

This forum site thing can read it's own messages and censur them!! OMG how do we know that everything we've said hasn't been censored!!!!

Yes, Dawn, there is a censor facility on here where selected words are taken out automatically and replaced by other less 'sensitive' words. ?I've already taken some words off the censor pages as they weren't, to my mind, harmful at all.

I'm off now to see what you REALLY wrote. ? ? ?[smiley=Tut_tut.gif]

Edited to add: I've taken out The Word, Dawn so your text now appears as you meant it to. We've all got strong stomachs and broad minds on here.....haven't we? :-? ;)

[Dawn]

:-[ Sorry MB :-[ I have slapped my own wrists :-[

[Debd]

Ha ha Dawn, you're so funny!! ;D

[clare]

Haven't looked at this site for some time and am interested in the replies. I note that many people have viewed the site and that reassures me that it was appropriate to write.

In response to some of the comments
Re: safety: we are an adventurous family, white water rafting, skiing etc etc.... but we can see when things are not appropriate. High levels of child abuse, traffic accidents and low car insurance take up are not necessarily signs of adventurous spirit. Much of what we saw was bad workmanship, poor legilative policy and poor attitude. We agree the US (where I have lived for 4 years) and Uk can overlegislate - but we might well remember that many health, work and safety benefits that we enjoy were fought for at a cost by our elders.
Scenary: Quite frankly if one has travelled in England, Europe, USA and elsewhere you can beat the scenery in NZ anywhere. A trip to the Swiss Alps, many beautiful beaches in Europe, highlands, fiords etc etc match it anyday, cheaper to get to all these both in time and money. The addition that these have is that they also have great culture and history. On a rainy day there is still lots to do and see.
Fresh produce and shopping: Didn't comment much before, but we were surprised by the poor quality and selection of produce. Where do people shop at home, if they think it is better - just can't believe it! Perfect shopping would be in a french market ( found everywhere in France) where the sites, smells are a sheer delight. That's fresh! We went to the much raved market in Napier and Hastings - what a disappointment.

I wrote my original comments not to whing about NZ, to unsettle those of you making the move, to justify our own decision not to go, but to add balance to the euphoria of the books and comments we had absorbed ourselves. Having returned home we note how much more honest people are about their assessments about NZ. Let's be frank we all want to be proved right, not to lose face or feel we have spent a lot of money on something that hasn't lived up to its promise. As a family we are happy to do all these things if it means we remain as a stong and healthy family unit, true to themselves. I wish now I had listened to others more, I think we put the children through some unnecessary stress. Our teenagers would have got out as soon as they could, like many NZ kids who go to make a better life in Austrialia, US or Europe. Being so far away from them would have been unbearable and certainly not alieviated by spending a couple of hours in warm conditions on a beautiful isolated beach - where are people coming from if they think this really helps. Values are really upside down - no pun intended

We went to NZ to assess it as a possible place to live. If we had just been going on holiday we would have no doubt thought it was lovely and been less critical. However we take the prospect of uprooting ourselves, the children and the impact on our extended families seriously. We had to assess properly and objectively.
I trust that those of you who are going or have gone will fine happiness, if it doesn't meet expectations that you won't feel you have to stay to prove a point. The context of our lives are important, but so is inner peace and happiness, which doesn't come from scenary, weather or activities.

Well that's my last word on this site - really have moved on now

[macfod]

Very interesting and informative article giving a great in sight to NZ.

I would like to add my views having been here now for the past three months having travelled through both island and currently in our planned location of Dunedin.

The weather- yes its changeable and with sun index of 10 or 11 you will burn so quick- interesting is that Kiwis tlak more about the weather being bad than us Brits did at home.
I have found it fine though although no warm nights at all with some nights bldy freezing when we have attempted to pitch tent.

Driving- mmm well I find that they drive to the limit most times and do not like to follow cars with hesitancy in over taking and rarely letting cars out.
Women in partiularly ( no axe to grind here! ) drive too fast.

Cities are ok with lots of advertising boards as mentioned but other towns so quiet and deserted but people friendly.

Amazing the choice of food has been great with New World and Count Down all over- but still cannot buy proper Marmite!!

The scenery is stunning and walking trails brilliant with NZ being a must for anyone that like to travel.

Mortgage rates are high and looking to go up, great though if you have a few pennies saved and getting 7-8% interest.

In short we have learnt a lot over the past months and whilst a great place to visit I wonder long term!

We have had our warmer clothing shipped over and are still on our six months visa which we could extend.

BUT, in truth at this stage I am not sure if I could live here long term!
Partly due to me still having a travel everywhere bug installed and dont want to make the wrong move.

And yes, the move was planned almost two years ago, but it has to be right and we should not wear rose coloured specs as it has to be an individual decision for all.

There is much more I could add with most positive and now we are in rented accomadation can reply on the board more frequent to help !

[Glenda]

Amazing the choice of food has been great with New World and Count Down all over- but still cannot buy proper Marmite!!

Pop into New World and buy "OUR MATE", which is usually stacked alongside the Marmite and Vegemites. [smiley=icon_biggrin.gif]

[macfod]

thanks Glenda
It just doesnt taste the same though ..ug ha ha :)