[leachio]

Sooooooooooooooo many emotions goin on right now, I think I may be goin mad :roll We fly in 11 days so this message is for the StevieD's, Marcia's, Wilkison's etc and all of those who have recently made the leap. House sold, job ok, flights booked, furniture gone etc etc all according to plan BUT now Im having 'do I wanna leave everyone dear to me' thoughts:confused: :confused: I have experienced healthy concerns re money, houses etc but yest I was a tad concerned and if Dan had asked if I wanted to stay I may have said yes just for a min! To top that I suddenly seem to see posts about people coming back to UK and being delighted they have.

I am generally a sensible, rational individual so I know Im gonna have bad days but to hear some reassurance from u guys would mean a lot right about now :)

Amanda xx

[Trigirl]

amanda - can you hear the phone ringing? go on - imagine its NZIS - they've called to say they made a mistake in processing and so they've withdrawn your visa. sorry - you aren't entitled to live in NZ. time to get on with planning your life in the uk as you won't be leaving.

how do you feel now?

believe me this process you are going through is perfectly normal. i was there myself only a few short months ago. ask me now - i wouldn't move back if you paid me millions.

try and keep focussed on why you are doing this.

[leachio]

Shock tactics huh!!

Didnt like my imaginary phonecall tho :roll

But exactly what I wanted to hear that u wouldnt come back,

Thanks Mandy ;)

Amanda x

[zardell]

Well, if you are going mad, then I am sure that there are a lot out there that are going mad with you.

I went through exactly the same feelings before we flew out and I'm sure that most of us did.

It's not mad - it's normal.

Stop worrying - you'll be fine.

Julie

xx

[K&CS]

You've got to try and get it into some sort of perspective. People emigrate from one country to another all the time - some will be pleased with their move and others will decide to try somewhere else or go back to where they came from. There's nowhere that will please everywhere!

True, there are two or three few people who post on here who are returning/have returned to the UK recently, but in terms of percentage, it's a fairly small number. There are also a couple who have returned to the UK and are desperate to get back to NZ.

The truth is you will never know until you actually leave! I know how you feel about last minute nerves. In the month or so leading up to coming here, people would tell me how envious of me they were because I was coming here, and I was envious of them because they were staying (although I didn't say that). It's a natural feeling - it's a huge leap. Feel the fear and do it anyway and all that!

I'm pretty sure you'd regret it if you didn't at least give it a go. Yes, it might not work out, and it could be you in a year or two posting to say how pleased you are to be back in the UK, but there's an even bigger chance that it will work pretty well. There's only one way to find out!

Anyway, just think how unbearably busy York will be within a couple of months! Gives me a panic attack just thinking of walking down the streets in York when it's busy!

Good luck. Have a drink and relax...

Kate x

[Kim39]

Welcome to the loony bin Amanda, its very welcoming:yes As folks have said these are normal feelings that we all go through and if you didn't you wouldn't be human at all. Go with the flow lass as all works out in the end.

Kim

[marcia]

Hey didn't anyone warn you about the rollercoaster ride??? Ups downs, great big drops and steep uphills????:laugh

Well the ride varies from person to person, but basically almost everyone will go through the same emotions, its HUGE step you're taking, bigger than just moving house which is supposed to be one of the most stressful things you do, you are perfectly normal to feel like this, and to be honest I've had a pretty bad week myself here, mainly due to feeling very low over the death of a friend we have only known since Nov, very very sad time, also the waiting game again now for our moving date to our new home, (so don't think it will end when you arrive, the rollercoaster continues!) But you have to take each day and each new challenge as it comes along, these things just make us stronger.

Hope you are feeling better soon, the waiting is a killer, especailly when all the sorting is done and its count down to D-day, and you have all the fairwells to do, but once you are at the airport, start looking forwards to your new life, not back at what you have left, it a whole new book to start filling with new friends and places.

Remember we're here for you, just as people were there for us a few months ago - you are normal you are not a mad woman!!! :nice1

[Sam B]

The last few days before I flew I thought I was going to have a breakdown, I had never experienced such strong and unfamiliar emotions. By the time I arrived here, I was completely exhausted. It is taking me a while to settle here, but I am feeling better each day, and I have not regretted the move at any point or considered going back. The kids are so happy too, there are definitely no regrets there. I think you've gone past the point of no return anyway - so you need to give it a go and if it doesn't work out, I'm pretty sure you still won't regret it, as it will have been an exciting experience with some good memories.

Look forward to seeing you in Cambridge some time soon - you'll feel calmer as soon as you land, and then it's a new set of unfamiliar emotions I think!

[gil]

We're 3 and a half months in and LOVE it. There is no way we'd go back to UK now, Amanda. I started work this week and even tho I'm doing the much maligned Auckland commute, I STILL love it! It gives me a thrill to see the Skytower as I drive in and I'm high up in a CBD tower building and have a fantastic view from my office. Poeple are lovely, I'm meeting great kiwis, not just ex-pats and wow, soooooooooooooo happy!

Hope your ups and downs are balancing out, just relax and enjoy the last couple of weeks...New Zealand awaits.......

Gil
xx

[willsken]

Amanda, what you are feeling is so normal. You'll find there’ll be ups and downs once you arrive to. You will question your decision to come, everything will be difficult but things will settle. You had a reason to make the move in the first place, whatever that may have been and it hasn't suddenly disappeared. You’re scared and worried, rightly so, what you are doing is huge. I have to echo Gil we LOVE it here. We have a life we could only have dreamt of. Yes, there are problems here as with anywhere. The lifestyle we are living now, 3 months in is a dream come true. Hang in there, except it's going to be hard and except that life in NZ isn't utopia and you'll be fine. Remember, if you really don’t take to it, whatever the reason, you can always go back to the UK. OK it won’t be easy but you’ll never say “what if”! I'll say it again to.... we love it!!!

[StevieD]

Amanda, perfectly normal I'm afraid. But the decision is solely down to you. Yes, it is difficult upping sticks and saying goodbye. But it is your life with Dan and your children that is your concern.
I have just come back from a great night in a pub with a load of people and a Neil Diamond impersonator (I know!) but we had a great laugh. These people have lived here for years and are well settled. Sure they went through the same feelings and experiences as yourself. I know I did.

So, will we see you down this neck of the woods soon? I expect the answer is probably yes. Good luck guys.

Steve

[leachio]

Thanks guys, and girls for the pm's! We are officially out of our house and in at my MIL's. But I am getting thru with all ur help :yes Stevie u sure will see me down there in a few short wks and Nic I prob will be callin on u at some time soon,

Thanks again Amanda xx