[benandclare]

Hi folks

had a bit of a problem with the mobile which was a bit unexpected as it is a vodafone. Got the O2 one unblocked and bought new SIM on PAYG no problem. Tried to get a SIM for the Vodofone one thinking as it is Vodafone in NZ it would be ok and its blocked - apparently only for use in the UK.

SO... to cut a long story short ....if you have a mobile which is on vodafone in the UK dont assume it will work on vodafonr NZ - it wont - get it unblocked in the UK before you leave as this will save time and hassle (and possibly 20 quid in to the bargain!!)

Grump over ...

Everything else has been plain sailing. Emirates looked after us very well and love the inflight entertainment on the Dubai/Ch Ch leg of the journey.

Staying in Joannes flat - highly recommended and the view from her balcony is to die for ........

First day - sorted bank and bought car
Second day - toured round looking at houses, lunch on New Brighton Pier and kept pinching selves !! Views to Kaikoura, Southern Alps and Lyttleton were awesome.
Third day - played golf in shorts (this is winter !!!!!) Clare won very easily:roll Did afternoon of 'open houses' found one we liked a lot - now considering exchange rate and whether to make offer or not!!

???skiing tomorrow :raebanana

Fuller update once settled
Ben

[IanW99]

Congratulations and good luck with everything.

Christchurch is a little nicer than Wellington, Shropshire :yes

Ian

[K&CS]

Glad you're having fun and all is going well.

That's because Christchurch is chuffing lovely and don't believe anyone who tells you it isn't! I've been here 18 months and still have to pinch myself that I live in such a beautiful place with some of the friendliest people I've ever met.

Make sure you visit Sumner, especially on a sunny day - the view as you come over the causeway is to die for!

Hope you keep on having fun!

Kate x

PS good advice re phones. We had our vodafone phones unblocked before we left UK

[Moorf]

Welcome to Christchurch :raebanana

Stunning innit - just don't tell everyone.... ok?

The boys are up on Hutt skiing today - you'll have to give us a bell/email and make sure you're booked on the next trip!

18 degs and sunny here with the Alps gleaming in the background.... after a trip round the bottom of the South Island last week I sure know where I want to be... CANTERBURY ROOLS! :D

Kate - never got bored of those views driving in and out of Chch from Sumner ... huge smiles all the way home!!

Hope to catch you for a beer'n'chinwag soon guys :nice1

Moorf & Woz

xx

[Jim&Karen]

hi guys we are heading to Christchurch arriving 10th Jan one way tickets booked Will be staying in the city for 2 weeks till we get settled keep the posts coming anything will be of help Would love to arrange meet nearer the time if anyone interested. Christchurch sounds awsome

Regards

Karen

[thirtysomethings]

Thats great news Ben & Clare , sounds like your settling in a treat :)
The exchange rate is interesting at the moment seems to be on the wane...........
We await exchange of contracts on our house.Should have been on Friday.However our buyers buyers had a family illness and were not answering the phone.Had an email from our buyers saying at last that they had heard that Exchange for Sept 3rd Completion for the fifth.Have to wait until tuesday now because of the bank holiday.
But Im curious if they can exchange on the 3rd why cant they exchange this Tuesday?
Am I paranoid or are they lining up to come in with a lower offer to our buyers at the eleventh hour???????
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[peebles16]

Great to hear your enjoying it sooo much, sounds fab and so glad we made the same choice - can't wait to get there!

Karen:cheers

[Moorf]

Loads of newbies in Chch - looks like we need a Spring meet!! :yes

[constablechuck]

In the Riccarton Mall there is a booth where they sell mobile phone accessories, they will also unlock your phone for about $40.

[EngiNurse]

Loads of newbies in Chch - looks like we need a Spring meet!! :yesIndeed. We too should be there by mid-January!

[stephenandjulie]

Welcome to Christchurch Ben and Clare.
There certainly are quite a few of us here in Christchurch and a few more to come.
Julie

[nippa&pippa]

:raebanana You are finally arrived! Welcome to christchurch and agree with you, we love it here too :clap

Moorf...better get on with organise another meet as not had one for a while :p

[Familyofmonkeys]

:raebanana You are finally arrived! Welcome to christchurch and agree with you, we love it here too :clap

Moorf...better get on with organise another meet as not had one for a while :p

Can you post some piccies afterwards, so all us nosey folk up here can put faces to names?

[nippa&pippa]

Can you post some piccies afterwards, so all us nosey folk up here can put faces to names?

Will do...here is link to last meet together, there are few photos in it http://www.emigratenz.org/forum/showthread.php?t=10075&page=11&highlight=christchurch

[aberdian]

Good to hear - we'll be there for 3 weeks in Oct, but unfortunately have had to put the main move back by 3 months to April instead of Jan. Bummer missing the start of the school year, but all for the good.

Ian, Fiona, Johnny and Isobel.

[holland]

Glad your enjoying yourselves, keep us posted.

J and G x

[Belmont Babes]

Hi Guys. We went to London on Friday and handed in ITA. What a great feeling! Told the boys you were leaving that day to NZ and all weekend they were asking "where will they be now". I just kept making up whereabouts the plane would be flying over, they were really interested. Pleassseee keep us posted. When does Clare start work, was it September sometime?

[thirtysomethings]

Looks like Ben & Clare are spearheading the latest newbies to Christchurch - perhaps we should start a thread whos arriving in Christchurch before Christmas :)

[Jim&Karen]

Count us in Moorf on the spring Christchurch meet :raebanana

karen n Jim :cheers

[peebles16]

Hopefully us and the kids too!:)

[Moorf]

Ok, I'll sort out something for later in Sept/Oct.

Although, some confusion perhaps - when I say "Spring" I mean the NZ Spring - ie September thru November!! ;) Don't worry though, we'll have a Summer bash in Jan/Feb too!!

I'll start a new thread...

[benandclare]

Excellent idea Moorf we are definately up for that.

Many thanks for all your lovely posts :clap

Just a short reply and update ,as been struck down with the lurgy.

Have seen two houses we really like on a drive buy and hope to view this afternoon and if we like will go for it as they tick all the boxes for us, Queenspark for the locals here.Will keep you posted :yes

Still pinching ourselves we are here :raebanana :raebanana

Ben

[benandclare]

Hi Guys. We went to London on Friday and handed in ITA. What a great feeling! Told the boys you were leaving that day to NZ and all weekend they were asking "where will they be now". I just kept making up whereabouts the plane would be flying over, they were really interested. Pleassseee keep us posted. When does Clare start work, was it September sometime?

Cheers Guys, Yes Clare starts on Monday the 3rd

So pleased everything is dropping into place for you and with the promise of cheaper flights we'll be up see you :clap

Ben

[Joanne100]

Thanx for the plug Ben & Clare lol
booked up now till end of Jan, but if anyone is arriving after 22nd Jan and is interested in renting the flat give me a PM.

Looking fwd to the spring meet Moorf pls arrange it b4 21 sept or after 5 oct dont want to miss another one, hi to everyone coming to Chch look fwd to meeting u all.
Joanne

[nippa&pippa]

Looking fwd to the spring meet Moorf pls arrange it b4 21 sept or after 5 oct dont want to miss another one, hi to everyone coming to Chch look fwd to meeting u all.
Joanne

Not before 21st sept please :o

[Kerry and David]

Congratulations on your move, look forward to reading more about your adventures in Christchuch.

David has just booked flights for Beginning of April to fly out to do job hunting and hopefully get a job offer so we can get the process moving:clap

We were looking at living in Wellington but have come back to Christchuch as we loved it when we visited a few years back:raebanana

[Scousespark]

OH arrived in Christchurch the beginning of August, he has since managed to find a job, the first one he applied for, and is living with three other fella's in a house share, he say's its just like the Young Ones!!!! ;)

He loves Christchurch, and i'm sure he would definately be up for a meet/get-together....Hopefully myself and son will be joining him there before Christmas, so depending when the meet is you never no i could go too!!!! :cheers

Jeanette xx

[peebles16]

Sorry Moorf me muddling up seasons so put us down for summer meet! Think something to do with living in Scotland and one season - cold and wet:)