[Pip]

Another glowing report for John Masons (for this side anyway). Apart from arriving at 08:15 instead of 9am on monday morning when I was in my Pj's with a bowl of muesli, they were really polite, efficient, friendly and packed everything beautifully. (the tip on another post about making another room a non packing zone - is sheer genius and made life so much easier - thank-you.).

It was quite strange as we weren't really needed. We actually ended up in a coffee shop down the road for a bit, just to get out from under their feet...(our non packing room was the ensuite bathroom, so a limit to how much time we could sit in there!) by 2pm, everything was packed, so they went home and we stayed with a friend. Overnight, I had a panic everything wouldn't fit and then a further panic yesterday when the container was three hours late - but eventually it arrived, everything fitted with space to spare (did think about dashing off to buy some more shoes, but husband talked me out of it..:laugh ) and it was loaded in under an hour and away. JM left me with a beautiful six page inventory, with each box number and whats in each box. So fingers crossed, everything is as efficient at the other end.

A few more goodbyes, to go, we need to collect the cat from my parents and take her to Golden Arrow on friday, and then Saturday we'll be checking in for our flight to Singapore and arriving in Christchurch next wednesday, after a couple of days stop over. (hopefully we can make the Christchurch meet a few days later, to help us feel a bit less billy no mates)

Now we're staying with friends and living out of suitcases, it sort of feels like the journey has already begun!.. its been a long 15 months, since we started to explore this, but it feels like, we're moving on the next stage!

thanks to everyone for all their support and help so far, although I suspect I'll have plenty more questions once we arrive! (anyone know a Yoga class in Christchurch for example ?!!)

I'll post again once we've arrived!

[StevieD]

Good luck guys - says me, sitting in the middle of the biggest pile of boxes and funiture I've ever seen outside a shop!! Roll on next Wednesday because it's our turn then. Can't wait to get these next 2 weeks over and done with, I expect you felt the same.

Good luck again.

Steve and Jan xx

[Trigirl]

good luck you guys! i remember how exciting that was. save some energy for this end though - our container arrived on tuesday and i just can't believe how many boxes there are to unpack!

have not too awful goodbyes and good flights. we'll be welcoming you to NZ in no time at all now!

[nippa&pippa]

Good luck pip, see you at chch's meet :nice1
Feel free to ask us! do you know where about you plan to rent? as there are several lesiure centres as well as local school offer yoga classes so better to find place to rent first!
John masons was fab too to us, especially one of them had a 'shadow' follow him...my son! :laugh

[leachio]

Hooray!!

We will have the JM boys round in the next few wks hopefully. Glad to hear glowing reports, safe journey and will look forward to ur posts once ur settled!!

Amanda xx

[benandclare]

Good luck, hopefully catch up with you at the meets when we get to Ch Ch :yes :yes

Whereabouts in Shropshire are Golden Arrow? will be bringing 2 cats with us

Ben and Clare

[Caroline and Dave]

All the best Pip and Stu.We will keep in touch and hopefully meet up again when we decide to visit Christchurch as we have a couple of months to explore NZ.Glad John Masons were OK

Wishing you all the best in your new life

Kindest regards


Dave and Caroline

[jubjub]

Whereabouts in Shropshire are Golden Arrow? will be bringing 2 cats with us



they are in Lydbury North

Pip, safe trip, and hope everything else goes well for you.

[StevieD]

Bet you feel a lot better now, another milestone gone. I have just been in the loft and had an "oo-er" moment - watch out tip, you're going to be busy. :laugh

[Caroline and Dave]

Well your on your way now. Have a safe trip you twohttp://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q109/davros1nz/Plane0003.gif


Best wishes


Dave and Caroline

[Pip]

Hello,

Just a quick update from Singapore, as I'm online to check in for my Singpore to Christchurch flight. Touchwood, everything is going o.k so far. Having grovelled to have our luggage allowance increased to 30k a person on Singapore airlines, on the morning of the flight, I realised that we were still over even that ..eek!... When we checked in, I couldn't see the weight for each bag (we checked in four in total for 2 of us), but I think it came to between 70 and 75 in total, but she looked at the blue stickers and didn't say anything. Just got to hope that Singapore check in staff take the same approach for the next leg.

We did however get caught out at security, as we both had a small bag each and my laptop, and they are very strictly enforcing the one bag only (including laptops), so we had to duck out of the queue, buy a bigger bag, put both rucksacks in that and then we were allowed through, as that plus laptop = 2 (there must be some logic in there somewhere, but not sure where!) ;)

Its currently chinese new year in Singapore, so have just had dinner over looking the bay with an an amazing firework display!, and there are all sorts of fairs and celebrations going on everywhere.

Only downside so far has been that Golden Arrow have said that Olive is refusing to eat since she arrived on friday, so I'm going to see if they can move her flight forward by a couple of days..otherwise I might have a very skinny cat.

Right thats it for the time being... can thoroughly recommend our hotel (Hotel Scarlet in Chinatown, its a boutique hotel - its a little quirky (a somewhat gothic theme!, lots of chandaliers and red/purple decor), but great location and much more atmosphere than a lot of the huge hotels on Orchard rd!)

will post again once we've arrived..

[The Hodges]

Hi Pip

Thanks for the update. Some useful tips in there too. I hope that the rest of the trip goes well for you and Stu, and perhaps more importantly for Olive as well.

Hopefully we'll catch up soon - not long until we fly out... :exit

All you need to do know is update your signature and location... :laugh :clap

[StevieD]

Great timing hey Pip, slap bang in the middle of the New Year!!! yay...

Just hope the handlers have had a good time and a bit too much rice wine to cause you any bother as you board your second leg.

Good luck, us next...

Steve

[H & Rick]

Good luck Pip & Stu....Hope to see you in Christchurch soon.:nice1

[nippa&pippa]

Have safe rest of flight! see you on march 11th if you can make it!

[thezorbster]

Oh you lucky things! Good luck with your arrival in NZ and settling into Christchurch - hopefully that will be us in a few months!

[Ana&Steve]

Only downside so far has been that Golden Arrow have said that Olive is refusing to eat since she arrived on friday, so I'm going to see if they can move her flight forward by a couple of days..otherwise I might have a very skinny cat.

Just wanted to pass on advise my vet gave me when I changed to a healthier food and all the kitties went on a hunger strike; he said cats (and dogs) won't allow themselves to starve, it's just their way of saying they hate change:nice1 (it took 5 days for the last one to eat)
Good luck with everything,
Ana

[speckythecky]

Sounds like JM did you proud, I have pickfords coming round to give me a quote next week.

Does anyone know the ruling for putting a vehicle in the container? Can you put it in with furniture or do you need seperate containers?