[zardell]

G'DAY MATES !

(Sorry, but I couldn't resist...:roll )

Well, this isn't going to be a long post, because the furniture arrived on Wednesday to our new rental (newly built 3 bed/2bath) and we're still unpacking. Unfortunately it was a 'Smiler' (Hi D!) of a job. Yes, there were damages, but hey - that's what insurance is for, so I'm trying to be very philosophical about it all and instead of dwelling on whats damaged I'm looking forward to going shopping to replace it.


Shopping - now there's a thing. Shops, I've never seen so many. It's like a shopaholics blooming paradise!! Just to give you an idea, we live in a small suburb with a lovely village feel in the country, with it's own, more than adequate local amenities including 2 supermarkets. However, 5 minutes drive away and we are in a town with everything anyone could ever need or want. 10 minutes away and we have a shopping mall. 15 minutes away we have a huge, 3 storey shopping mall with a small train that takes you around the shops - bizarre. Oooh and we have Aldi and Ikea too !!!!!


We are about 50 minutes from Melbourne Central (by car on a good run, but why would you 'cos the trains are quicker and there are free trams to take you all over the city once you arrive) 40 minutes from the coast with great beaches, whilst living in the country with parrots (green and red ones and blue and red ones. Oh and grey and red ones too. You can tell I'm not a 'Twitcher' can't you :laugh ) and yellow crested, white cockatoos feeding in the garden! Amazing.

As we all know, moving to another country is usually a culture shock to many of us and now that we are living in Oz, I am just so grateful for the time I spent in NZ. It has made the transition so much easier.
There are shops, products and a lifestyle that I recognise from both NZ and UK. Oz is not the UK with sunshine, nor is it NZ with warmer houses. For me, it's a bit of both and I'm finding it a lot easier to settle than I did when we first moved to NZ. Remember my Zardell Returns thread ?

OH has started his new job and is liking it. He says he still can't get used to the slower pace of working and sometimes finds that a bit frustrating, but he's sure he'll cope...:D

It's a chilly day today, only in the mid 20's and a bit overcast, so it looks like we may be in for some much needed rain. Makes a change from the mid 30's that we experienced a few days ago. 'A little touch of summer, just to put you in the mood' as one of my new neighbours commented !

Well, like I said, this was only going to be a short post, so I'll pop back with pics ( Lord (and Nicola) help me!) when I've got a bit more time.

In the meantime, take care all and I hope to catch up again soon.

Julie

xx

[gil]

Well hello you! Great to hear from you Julie. It sounds as if you're settling in just fine. Ikea, eh :D, lucky thing! Melbourne sounds brilliant. I'll let you know when I'm coming on a girlie shopping trip, it'd be great to catch up!

Take care and keep in touch,

Lots of love,

Gil
x

[jubjub]

I was thinking about you the other day when DH had to go to Whakatane!

You been to Southlands yet? I dont remember the train, but, man, that place was huge too!

Hope you sort out your insurance stuff and have fun replacing it with IKEA stuff (lucky toad!)

Enjoy exploring more of Melbourne and some pics would be nice!

[zardell]

Melbourne sounds brilliant. I'll let you know when I'm coming on a girlie shopping trip, it'd be great to catch up!



Hey - a Forum Girlie Shopping Trip to Melbourne...sounds like a great plan to me.

Someone start a poll............:D

Julie

xx

[Moorf]

:D Yay, hi Julie - was also wondering when we'd hear from you. Good to hear from you :clap

Love the idea of parakeets and parrots on the garden, pics please!!

Keep it coming....

H
x

[pinkpiggy]

Great post Julie. Lovely to hear how well you're settling in. Get that camera at the ready!

[shakyle2906]

Julie

Been wondering how you have been getting on!
Glad to hear youre doing well

Keep in touch

Sharon
xx

[Kim39]

So we can open our mouths now, hey Jules;)


Kim

[mossum]

JULIE !!!

I'vew been wondering about you all week - your latestadventure sounds great .

Keep posting

vic x

[Sam B]

Oooh, jealous about the parrots and other wildlife, and the weather. Bit cold and rainy here today. And the shops - sounds great!

[Lupin]

Ikea, parrots, 30 degrees ...

**cooo**

Enjoy, Zardell- sounds wonderful :cheers

[BaldyBeardyBloke]

Sounds like all is rosy in Zardell Land.

Hope it remains the case, I'm sure it will.

Cheers.

[StevieD]

Nice to hear your update Jules and PB2 - sounds nice, although Ikea isn't at the top of my list after some of our recent experiences with some of our furniture and goods we bought in UK before we came. Note I said some, not all.

Anyway, keep us posted, good to see you made it safe and sound.

Steve and Jan & kids

[marcia]

Just read your email and your post here Julie (a bit busy with mum and dad at the moment, having to snatch my computer time as and when!)

Lovely to hear you are liking it over there (not hating it with a vengance like you said about palmy!:o )

Hope it all works out well over there, can't wait to see the pictures!

Lots of love from

marcia, kev, the boys (and Julie doggy!!:D )

[Leccy-Lee]

Hey Julie

Glad all is well, sounds a tad too hot for moi! (warm enough here! LOL)
So Melbourne eh, been to Ramsey Street yet? LOL i would have to in melbourne, be rude not too! hehe

[jo b]

Glad to see you are feeling more settled Julie.

Aw the birds in the garden sound like you have your own little bit of paradise there.

Jo

[vixxann]

Great post Julie - sounds a bit different to your Blackburn roots ;)

i think you need to change your location now - still says NZ :p

Good luck- enjoy - and keep posting, its great to hear about other places too

VIcki

[leachio]

Sounds good Julie, glad ur settling in well ;)

[zardell]

Lovely to hear you are liking it over there (not hating it with a vengance like you said about palmy!:o )




Oh yes, Palmerston North - I remember it well !!

We had at least 3 weeks of grey skies and had to light the log fire on Christmas Eve last year to keep warm !!!

And the wind...don't get me started on the wind...:no


Just reminded me too much of the miserable UK weather, although I'm sure Palmy's climate can't be that bad all the time.

Mind you, there are some lovely people in Palmy that's for sure.

Julie

xx

[katandbob]

Hey - a Forum Girlie Shopping Trip to Melbourne...sounds like a great plan to me.

Someone start a poll............:D

Julie

xx

you can count me and Rachel in for a shopping trip in a year ;)

It was nice to catch up yesterday - if a bit brief, I will check in on you soon for a longer chat.

I am glad the weather, shops and nice house are making your move a smooth one...

we had 7 days of hot sun - it started to drizzle on the way home today and I caught myself thinking - ooh great - the grass needs some water! LOL:laugh :laugh

Kat

[pinkpiggy]

we had 7 days of hot sun - it started to drizzle on the way home today and I caught myself thinking - ooh great - the grass needs some water! LOL:laugh :laugh

Kat

That's what OH said when it started raining on Saturday night. :laugh :laugh

[Smiler]

That's what OH said when it started raining on Saturday night.


I'm turning into my nan, I said it toooo! :laugh

Glad to hear you are settling in Julie, was just wondering where you were the other day.

I hope you get your shipping woes sorted wuickly and get to go shopping for new bits soon. Keep us posted please. :nice1

Right who's up for a ENZ shopping meet in Melbourne? :raebanana I wanna go on the train...............................



P*S we've got parakeets/cockatiels around the house here. There's a flock? of about 12 -15 of them and some of those green red and yellow birds too.

[zardell]

we've got parakeets/cockatiels around the house here. There's a flock? of about 12 -15 of them and some of those green red and yellow birds too.




I knew we had a lot in common D...Pick 'n Mix and now twitching !!!

Julie

xx

[Smiler]

Where do you keep your binoculars and anorak? :laugh :laugh



See now you've mentioned pig and mix, I'll be craving all night :uhoh :mad:

D x

[wilson182]

Right who's up for a ENZ shopping meet in Melbourne? :raebanana I wanna go on the train...............................






Actually that sounds like fun, I'd have to have time to save up though:D

[Moorf]

What a great idea - shame there's no way I can afford it after the expenses of the last few months... I'll give the girls a list of stuff to bring back :D

[Leccy-Lee]

See now you've mentioned pig and mix, I'll be craving all night

"Pig and mix" Sounds erm "tasty" :eek: hehe

[Tia Maria]

Zardell wrote:

Well, like I said, this was only going to be a short post, so I'll pop back with pics ( Lord (and Nicola) help me!) when I've got a bit more time.

Got any further with these yet? I'd love to see these strange exotic places you talk of ..... Aldi & Ikea.

Does your average Melbourne high street look like your average NZ high street? I did go a few years back (way way back) but all I remember is a train station, a rather impressive coastal road and some cute penguins!

Cheers

Tia

[zardell]

Got any further with these yet? I'd love to see these strange exotic places you talk of ..... Aldi & Ikea.

Does your average Melbourne high street look like your average NZ high street? I did go a few years back (way way back) but all I remember is a train station, a rather impressive coastal road and some cute penguins!

Cheers

Tia



We're going inland tomorrow, panning for gold :uhoh so I'll try and post a few pics, but don't hold your breath. May have to email 'em to you so you can do it for me.....LOL

Where we live is very similar to a typical NZ residential area apart from we have more brick and tile houses and sooo many trees. An incredible 5 trees per person apparently. I'll try and attach a couple of pics of the ones in our garden.

We are surrounded by various towns, all probably about the size of Whakatane all about a 10 minute drive away, with Melbourne city about an hour away. We have loads of up to date shopping malls closer to our home than we did in NZ. Whakatane was about and hour plus from both Tauranga and Rotorua.

Have a look here www.thatsmelbourne.com.au (http://www.thatsmelbourne.com.au)

Never short of anything to do or anywhere to go.

Julie

xx

PS.

Tia - I'll send 'em in an email.....LOL

[Tia Maria]

Some of Zardell's photos ...... hopefully ....

Who's a Pretty Boy then?

http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p147/tiamariaNZ/Whosaprettyboythen.jpg

The Yellow Crested Cockatoo that made all that noise this morning!!!

http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p147/tiamariaNZ/TheYellowCrestedCockatoothatmadeall.jpg

Not a cloud in that blue sky.

http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p147/tiamariaNZ/Notacloudinthatbluesky.jpg

Some more to follow :)

[Tia Maria]

King Parrots

http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p147/tiamariaNZ/KingParrots.jpg

Can you see the Yellow Crest?

http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p147/tiamariaNZ/Canyouseetheyellowcrest.jpg

Another King Parrot

http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p147/tiamariaNZ/AmotherKingParrot.jpg

Cheers

Tia

[katandbob]

nice pics Julie, must sound great with all the birds, I rode out towards the Omaui reserve this morning and the sound of the cicadas was deafening!

they say summer is here when you hear them - they are right its been really sunny for ages and its nice sitting with the windows open till dusk!

Glad your still having a ball, see you next year when we come over for our shopping trip:nice1

Kat