[vixxann]

Sams business sale finally went through today :raebanana

We've been dealing with this for AGES and its such a relief to know its now done and dusted - and after a week working for new owner next week - he will then be a free man:clap

So just need house to sell now - any good luck charms going spare;)

[Carey]

Good news Vixxann, exciting times, each little (or not so little in the case of selling a business) step gets you nearer to NZ.....what's next?

Best of luck with all your plans, hope it all goes smoothly and you enjoy the ride!

[Helsandfamily]

No Good Luck Charms I'm afraid, but lots of good luck wishes coming your way!!

Hopefully though you won't need them as you have already crossed a major hurdle!

Have a few of these :cheers :clap

Hels

[pinkpiggy]

If I remember correctly that's a little longer than you were expecting so you must have had some breath holding moments. So pleased it has gone through for you.

Hopefully you'll sell the house soon and can get out to NZ (Christchurch wasn't it?) in Sept/Oct.

[speckythecky]

Congrats on the business sale:clap :raebanana

As best wishes with the house sale. (no good luck charm so a cheers will have to do.:cheers )

[vixxann]

Thanks everyone :)



Hopefully you'll sell the house soon and can get out to NZ (Christchurch wasn't it?) in Sept/Oct.

Plan is for September but I suppose it could depend on house sale :roll
Currently we aren't actually tied to any areas for work etc so we want to have a bit of a trek (reccie part 2!) when we arrive and just take it easy for a bit before the real life (work) has to start!

We are currently thinking about Nelson area for settling and trying to see about construction jobs there for Sam - but hey ... it could change again yet!

Hope you're enjoying NZ - PP & BBB!

[zardell]

:clap

Well done on selling the business - all good house selling vibes being sent your way.

Julie

xx

[StevieD]

Great news Vicky and Sam, good luck on your sale - fingers crossed.

Steve and Jan

[Andy-Dee]

Really pleased to hear your news - good luck with the house sale
:raebanana :raebanana :raebanana

[vixxann]

Spent the weekend celebrating with lots of these :cheers

Its is such a HUGE relief to have got over that major hurdle

Now then... Any tips for me - I am getting majorly frustrated at lack of interest in house (1 viewing) although I know its only been on market a week (Zorbster and Sam B I think I was expecting your luck to continue for me :roll )

Just being a little impatient I know :o

Apart from these wonderful stories of sales going through immediately - what does everyone think the average length of time is to be on the market before we should be worrying?

[thezorbster]

Congrats on finally completing on the business, it's been going on a while for you so that is one major hurdle over with.

Good luck with the house now - we just struck lucky and never thought ours would go so soon but it's still early days for you so hang on in there and stay positive.

Reccie 2 eh? That's what I'd like to do too as I'm still not 100% about Christchurch. Nelson is still my no 1 destination, we loved it there and we're still considering a business there in order to make it happen so we have some tough decisions ahead, I'd rather move 12k miles to somewhere I really want to live but we also need to be practical and have to make a living somehow!

[vixxann]

I'm still not 100% about Christchurch. Nelson is still my no 1 destination, we loved it there and we're still considering a business there in order to make it happen so we have some tough decisions ahead, I'd rather move 12k miles to somewhere I really want to live but we also need to be practical and have to make a living somehow!


Our thoughts exactly - we like Christchurch but it didn't leap out and grab me - if you know what I mean - however, its where Sams was offered jobs and we know for certain now that he'd be able to get work there no problem. Nelson might be another matter - although in his trade I think he'd get something- he just might not get the same choice of jobs (and wages) to pick from.

emailed a few companies but as we found before no-one really takes you seriously until you're on the ground.

Found an absolutely gorgeous HUGE load of land (I mean acres and acres and acres) (and acres!) nr Brightwater with views all over Nelson, sea, mountains, hills etc for overs over $600k - fancy sharing it?:D

[Carey]

If you have the choice, I would say go where you feel you'll fit in the best. We too have Nelson as our No 1 but realise everyone else does too and for good reason; part of our reason is that we were based with friends there for 2 weeks, so felt we were seeing the area in a realistic way rather than holiday mode. Also went into a primary school and were shown around a high school which we didn't do in other places, so we're now biased. But if you can go where you really want to be, you'll make more effort to make it be the best and so it probably will. Jobs allowing of course. However, we can't find a way to get there yet unless I return to studying for a year, but having to pay international fees for that and school fees, puts that about Plan Z. Ah well, where's there's a will, there's a way!
Be keen to know where you both end up!

[thezorbster]

But if you can go where you really want to be, you'll make more effort to make it be the best and so it probably will.

I totally agree with this. 'Making do' with somewhere probably doesn't bode well for settlement. I would be forever comparing it with where I've left behind (Cotswolds, hills, beautiful!!) It's not that I dislike Christchurch itself, I really liked the city centre, the fact that there's lots going on, theatre, arts centre market etc but no way could I live in the city/suburbs and at the moment I am struggling with where we could live nearby that would feel like somewhere I could actually put down roots and settle. (we like TaiTapu (hills) but mega expensive!). My thinking is that OH will be at work, littl'un will be starting school and I'll initially be at home trying to make it feel like a home and feeling incredibly homesick. I personally feel I would find it less of a struggle to settle in Nelson as it has everything I want and seemed to have more of a community feel in the short time we were there. Remember being in our holiday home there, with a huge picture window looking out over the sea across to Abel Tasman, doing the ironing with a smile on my face. Now that was the first time I have ever done the ironing with a smile on my face so something there must be right :)

Our decision is a really hard one to make and we are going round in circles trying to make it. We have now identified some potential businesses in Nelson that we can begin to make enquiries about but they are tourism related and it will then be a case of potentially compromising on family life - working weekends etc which, ideally with a littl'un is something we don't really want to do. What's the point of being somewhere surrounded by all the outdoor activities we want but being unable to enjoy them together. At least Christchurch OH would be working Mon-Fri and we'd have weekends together to do stuff.

Sorry, this has turned into a bit of a personal ramble but I have to admit I am feeling down at the moment, things are starting to hit home!

ps Vicky - have seen the Brightwater land before- yes - we can share, possibly room for 2 houses there!!!

[speckythecky]

Cheers up zorbster and have a banana:raebanana

Its all a bit scary isn't it. Its so much like a rollercoaster, moments of elation, followed by fear, then something or someone will upset you.

I know that I am struggling to try and find a bright side to things at the moment, still the forgotten man at work, still waiting for letter from NZQA (have they sent it surface mail?).

But then you look at some of the pictures on here, and read some of the posts and decide that all the hassle will be worth it in the end.

Good luck with the decision on the business opportunities, It is important to get the work / life balance right and as you say you don't want to be settling in to a new country and not being able to enjoy the outdoor life. But also you need to have money to enjoy that life.
The important thing is that it is your decision to make, no one else can do that for you.:)

[vixxann]

We have now identified some potential businesses in Nelson that we can begin to make enquiries about but they are tourism related and it will then be a case of potentially compromising on family life - working weekends etc which, ideally with a littl'un is something we don't really want to do. What's the point of being somewhere surrounded by all the outdoor activities we want but being unable to enjoy them together.

See where you are coming from and having owned a business here I know about the pitfalls of weekends etc but just wanted to remind you that if you do buy a business it will be YOUR business and (subject to certain factors) you can adapt it,you can employ staff to cover some weekends, you can make it ultra child friendly so you can be a family together whilst at work. You can enjoy just being together in NZ and being in control of your own future. When youngster starts school you get time to work together with your OH and possibly take time off together during week. Look at the positives ;)

Lecture over - I know its a difficult one, but what ever you choose to try it is just that - a try. give it a go - its not set in stone and although it may cause one or two logistical problems you can always change your mind and try something else later on.

I'm trying to keep a very open mind on our future at this stage - which I know is extremely difficult - but hey its just going to be a fab adventure :D

[thezorbster]

John, Vicki, thanks for your comments and support, really appreciated. Just on a real downer this week following a big family party at the weekend (OH's parents 50th wedding anniversary). There were people there we may never see again and it was the start of the proper goodbyes I suppose. I was Ok until Mum in law made a little announcement in front of everyone at the table wishing us good luck, at which point I started to blub. OH's sister then got really upset which I don't think we were expecting to see so there were certainly a lot of tears shed last weekend (and a lot of red eyes/faces on the family photos!). When we're away from family we're not too bad and we do live a fair distance from both sides but it's hard now when we do get together and seeing littl'un with her grandparents etc, you realise what she will be missing. Just have to stay focussed on the positives and our reasons for doing it but it is hard to do at times.

ps - John - we may need a chef!!!!