willsken
4th July 2007, 08:08 PM
I finally thought I should post my 6 month in post. I’m not sure where to start really so I will begin by saying that after being here for this time I know I don’t want to go back and live in the UK. I have had times here where I felt unsettled and when things have been hard but going back has never felt like an option.
I now finally feel settled in completely. It has taken me longer than it should because I can’t cope with my home being cold and what with one thing and another, trying to get hold of an eco burner (the first two I ordered were removed from the approved list while they were on order from the suppliers!!!). We have now sorted the heating out. The wood burner is being installed as we speak and the heat pump for the bedroom areas will be installed next week. The house is well insulated so it should be toasty warm! The last few days haven’t been cold in Hawke’s Bay, they’ve been bright and sunny and in fact I had to put the air conditioning on in the car today driving up to Hastings.
I’ve changed my way of life a little since being here. I spend all day Saturday watching first the boys and then my OH playing football. I would never have done it in the UK. I used to watch the boys but not OH as I found the atmosphere at games aggressive and I hated the constant bad language. Here in NZ I sit in my chair on the side lines with the other wives and drink wine and have a lovely time. One of the wives even tells any player off if she hears them swear!! We all go to the pub after and play silly games, the children are welcome and are not in an inappropriate atmosphere. It’s not all about getting as many pints in you as you can!
Finances worried me for a while as we are stuck with most of our money tied up in our UK rental properties, which so far we haven’t managed to sell. We have a bigger mortgage than we intended and I did wonder if we would struggle to pay it. So far all is going well. I don’t seem to buy “stuff” over here the way I did in the UK, I don’t know why, I just don’t.
I am enjoying my job. The school is a decile 5 and attracts it’s fair share of problem kids but it’s not a patch on the UK in the way there is so much more on offer and the kids here are just so much friendlier and less arrogant than the ones I taught in the UK. That is in general and I acknowledge there are lovely kids in the UK as well.
As a family we have all made friends and are enjoying a good social life, for us, as we are not big going out type of people. The boys do so much more here as well. They have all sorts going on with the soccer, the youngest boy plays for Central Hawke’s Bay Reps and the older boy has just been put forward as well. He is the youngest boy to ever play for the college 1st 11 to, which makes us very proud, as he isn’t the only Brit in the school. It’s sweet to see him at 13 being looked after by the 17 year olds when they go off on the bus to games!!
I do miss my family in the UK and I am really looking forward to them coming out to stay for a couple of months in December. We have a flat on the side of the house so that will make it easier for them and us as well. I am also exteremly lucky that my very good friend and her family are moving over here as soon as their house sells. I am looking forward to that happening a lot!
To sum up. As a family this has just about become home. We are happy and settled and know we made the right decision to move here. I know we are lucky that we earn enough money not to struggle here. NZ is an expensive place to live and I will caution people thinking of making the move, do your research and make sure the numbers add up. It’s not been an easy journey and the stress at times is unreal and compared to some we cruised the whole emigrating process!! For those out there reading this and still have the whole thing to go through, it really has been worth it!! :nice1
I now finally feel settled in completely. It has taken me longer than it should because I can’t cope with my home being cold and what with one thing and another, trying to get hold of an eco burner (the first two I ordered were removed from the approved list while they were on order from the suppliers!!!). We have now sorted the heating out. The wood burner is being installed as we speak and the heat pump for the bedroom areas will be installed next week. The house is well insulated so it should be toasty warm! The last few days haven’t been cold in Hawke’s Bay, they’ve been bright and sunny and in fact I had to put the air conditioning on in the car today driving up to Hastings.
I’ve changed my way of life a little since being here. I spend all day Saturday watching first the boys and then my OH playing football. I would never have done it in the UK. I used to watch the boys but not OH as I found the atmosphere at games aggressive and I hated the constant bad language. Here in NZ I sit in my chair on the side lines with the other wives and drink wine and have a lovely time. One of the wives even tells any player off if she hears them swear!! We all go to the pub after and play silly games, the children are welcome and are not in an inappropriate atmosphere. It’s not all about getting as many pints in you as you can!
Finances worried me for a while as we are stuck with most of our money tied up in our UK rental properties, which so far we haven’t managed to sell. We have a bigger mortgage than we intended and I did wonder if we would struggle to pay it. So far all is going well. I don’t seem to buy “stuff” over here the way I did in the UK, I don’t know why, I just don’t.
I am enjoying my job. The school is a decile 5 and attracts it’s fair share of problem kids but it’s not a patch on the UK in the way there is so much more on offer and the kids here are just so much friendlier and less arrogant than the ones I taught in the UK. That is in general and I acknowledge there are lovely kids in the UK as well.
As a family we have all made friends and are enjoying a good social life, for us, as we are not big going out type of people. The boys do so much more here as well. They have all sorts going on with the soccer, the youngest boy plays for Central Hawke’s Bay Reps and the older boy has just been put forward as well. He is the youngest boy to ever play for the college 1st 11 to, which makes us very proud, as he isn’t the only Brit in the school. It’s sweet to see him at 13 being looked after by the 17 year olds when they go off on the bus to games!!
I do miss my family in the UK and I am really looking forward to them coming out to stay for a couple of months in December. We have a flat on the side of the house so that will make it easier for them and us as well. I am also exteremly lucky that my very good friend and her family are moving over here as soon as their house sells. I am looking forward to that happening a lot!
To sum up. As a family this has just about become home. We are happy and settled and know we made the right decision to move here. I know we are lucky that we earn enough money not to struggle here. NZ is an expensive place to live and I will caution people thinking of making the move, do your research and make sure the numbers add up. It’s not been an easy journey and the stress at times is unreal and compared to some we cruised the whole emigrating process!! For those out there reading this and still have the whole thing to go through, it really has been worth it!! :nice1