[Rimbo]

Bye everyone!
Just about to say my fairwells to Sue, and Jon.
Andy picks me up in 15 mins or so.

And the adventure starts. :hopeso

See you on the other side of the world.

John.
xx. :cool

[Milliemoo]

OMG, How exciting! :P

ENJOY!

Milliemoo :nice1

[Dave & Sandra]

Good luck :hopeso :hopeso :hopeso :hopeso

[jesselyn]

Good luck :hopeso and God bless! :angel

[Kim39]

The Hunter goes hunting to provide for family........ :laugh Good hunting Rimbo and good luck.

Kim

[Diny]

Keep us posted John Boy !!!!!!

Good luck with the hunting :hopeso

Diny

[MB]

'Bye! Thanks for all your contributions to forum. Safe travels!

Matt and family. :nice1

[Babette & Andy]

Best of luck John :hopeso Hope you find the perfect job. Look forward to reading about your experiences. Big hug for Linda when you get to their house. Will miss you next Saturday, but great that Susan is coming.
Take it easy Hun, and enjoy your adventure.

Hugs
Babette xxx

[Mildred]

Is that beautiful cat on your website going with you? Good luck

Frances

[Jon]

Good luck John, keep us posted.

Cheers
Jon

[veronica]

Are you nearly here yet.....

[Rimbo]

Yes i'm here.
I have no time to post.
so what i'll do is post every so often on this thread with the same stuff i've been sending family and freinds.

its not too detailed and i apologise if i don't get to reply to anyone.

You can PM me with specifics if you wish and i'll endevour to reply ASAP.


Saturday 5th Feb

So far the weather is hot; god dammed hot, humid, very blummin humid and wet, quite wet and rainy. The sun is out now which should provide some excellent views of Mt Taranaki, hopefully by the time I send this e-mail I’ll be able to attach a picture.

Auckland was quite rainy, but as it rained (spitting) it dried as it hit you so you didn’t really get wet. First impressions of Auckland wasn’t too good but it actually grew on me. Very busy, people criss crossing and loads on different cultures. More Asians that Indians, more whites than Maori, there are French, German, Swedes, Scots, Brits, Irish… you name it. The people I met there were very friendly and warming. There seems to be a car culture here. Lots of people driving Jap imports with big exhausts and dump valves, not just in Auckland, but in New Plymouth and Rotorua too. We didn’t really get chance to do much in AKL but Andy got a few pics of the Skytower and Marina.

We then went on to Rotorua (about a 4 hour drive) to see the bubbling springs and hot thermal whatsi-me-callits. The place stank a bit but you could quite easily imagine that Raquel Welch was about to appear wearing a leather Bikini wielding a hand made spear… YEAH! BRING IT ON BABY!!!!!!! The next morning we woke up and mist appeared from over the mountains and mingled in with the steam from the hot springs. Stunning, my limited vocabulary cannot convey some of the scenery here, so I’ll leave it to your imagination. The place we stayed was owned by a young couple, they were very friendly and DaveO allowed me to use his Internet connection via my Wi-Fi link for free! What a nice chap. The apartments where great and cost only $95 per night, they were like prefab cabins with a fake log exterior and were built on stilts so you could park under them. Sounds crap but they were really good and clean.

We then drove to New Plymouth, took about 5 hours including a few stops for lunch and pics. Driving through these valley’s, gorges and mountains made the journey really interesting. Again the scenery! As we hit the coast line of the Taranaki region we could see Mt Taranaki. Imagine popping up from the mountains and seeing a gorgeous deep blue see, then to the left a vast lush green landscape covered in trees and small hills, in the distance and peeking through the haze is one mother of a mountain. It’s not like the Lake District were one mountain turns into another. It’s like flat land and then… Everest! It was 25C on the ground and this thing is poking above the clouds and has snow on it.
We ate at a pub last night and cost about $13 each plus $9 for two drinks. There are a few pubs in town and one main high st this is used by the car enthusiast to show off their annoyingly noisy exhausts. Pubs are nice though. Today we will look around new Plymouth and Sunday we will go for a drive up to Mt Taranaki. Monday I have two meetings.

I’ve bulleted a few interesting things about NZ;

Injuries;
• I had cut my little toe nail back so far before our flight that spending 30 hours wearing the same tight fitting hiking socks my toe was bleeding and is quite painful.
• My jandles have cut into my foot, the plasters I have bought to cover the cut are useless and last 5 paces before coming off.
• My new trainers have rubbed against my heel, yes you’ve guessed it! Another foot injury. I am limping like an old drunk on crutches!
• Andy’s finger is still hurting from when he trapped it in the van door the week before coming out… he has no new foot injuries.
• I have been bitten several times causing my bites to ooze yellow puss. Hydrocortisone cream works a treat!


Rip offs;
• We parked the car at the Hilton on the marina in Auckland for just 2 hours. The bill was $20, that’s about £8!
• The liquor stores in Rotorua close at 9pm on Thursday.
• Pak N Save (cross between Morrison and Kwik Save) do not sell hard liquor. Only wine and beer.
• Whiskey is the same price here as the UK, as is Vodka, Gin, Brandy etc.
• Beer is actually comparable to the UK in price! Gulp!


Noticeable things in NZ;
• The bus services here are Stagecoach, just like the UK.
• Flip flops are called Jandles or Thongs.
• Heinz are Watties but they make a lot of frozen foods too, such as Chips, corn on cobs etc.
• Hydrocortisone cream can be bought over the counter.

More follows....... :cheers

John.

[Rimbo]

Sunday 6th Feb

Happy Waitangi day!

Went up Mt Taranaki today. Drove to Stratford and up to Dawson's falls. This is part way up the mountain. We took a trek to Wilkies pools, formed from water cutting through the lava rock. These pools were full of clear cold water that runs down the mountain through streams and under ground rivers. Very cold and very nice to wash ourselves in on the way back down. It was over 25C again, so the pools were quite welcoming.

We walked for about 2-3 hours and then went back to the car park and picked up a walk to Dawson's falls.

Mountain rescue and the Army Helicopter’s were out cos some 16 year old has been missing on the mountain for 3 days. There are loads of treks to do and if you’re going up there to do a proper one, you’ll need a good set of rations and warm clothing. It rains most of the time on the mountain so the weather can turn very nasty very quickly.

Any way, we didn’t get that far up.

I’m up for a Ruby tonight and Andy spewed his guts up last night due to mixing his drinks. It was really funny!

I as usual snored!

How do i insert an image?????


John

[Rimbo]

Tuesday 8th Feb 8:30am
The weather has finally broke. It’s raining here but is still about 24C and the rest of the Islands are the same. Dunedin has been reported on the news to have flooded. They have record some recorded highs in their weather and it has nt rained for the last 4 weeks. Then a torrential downpour yesterday flooded out the city.

The boy lost on the mountain was found the day we went up. I read a newspaper yesterday morning that reported to have found him at 1:30pm lying in a stream semi-conscious. He had fallen on Friday night and basically lay their until Sunday.

Sunday night we had a curry then a few beers but we were back in the room for 8:30, must have been the walk. Monday I dined at McD’s for breakfast and then headed to my Interviews. The afternoon Interview lasted 4 hours 45 minutes. A chat, Lunch, then Interview, then personality test then chat with the MD and back down for a finishing off chat with the director in charge of IT. It went very well although I didn’t sell myself too much. They have another 4 interviewees to see over the next two weeks.


The city of New Plymouth is great. It’s the same size as Ashton or Haydock, but it’s a city. The shops close early apart from the Supermarkets which are open until about 10pm. There is one main high st, Devon St. There are fast food joints, a brilliant beech promenade, a few museums and a multi story car park. What more do you need?

Last night the pubs shut at 10pm, there were no customers so they just shut. Sunday night was pretty much the same, some don’t even open Sunday’s and Monday’s. Friday they are open and have customers (I cant really say that they are busy) from early evening to late, some are open till 3am. Saturday the customers only turn out at about 10pm, so they were quite when we were out, buy the time we were off to bed Devon St was just coming alive.

We head off to Wellington in about 2 hours, hopefully taking in a transport museum on the way. I will have to get my head down and start to phone the agencies to let them know I’m coming. None of them will commit to a meeting until I am there.

Injuries;
• My feet are healing quite well.
• Andy has hurt his wrist after standing in front of a door. A woman burst out and knocked him over. I was at the bar and missed the whole event.
• Andy hurt his other wrist after a fall up near Wilkies pools on the mountain.


Prices;
• Cars are the same prise as the UK! Most are Jap imports and I can’t see why they are so dear? I dread to think what an Audi will cost.
• Petrol is about $1.17 Diesel is $0.77c That’s 30p a litre!!!!


Noticeable things in NZ;
• There are no shutters up against the shop windows!
• People leave there cars running to keep cool (air con) while they nip into Burger King for dinner!
• Some restaurants do a Smorgesboard for about $9.95 where you can just pile your plate high with whatever the have!

[Annierobrigado]

hi john

thanks for sharing your experiences in nz! i must say, i'm glad there's smorgasbord there... we've always eaten in "eat-all-you-can" altho nowadays we choose the food - you know, less cholesterol, less fat, more veggies, less carbo. but if we get to go walking in nz, well, that's fine.

i can imagine the views you've been describing. can't wait to get there!

how much is a beer? can or bottle?

do they have sing-alongs?

:cheers
annie

[Moorf]

See you when you get to Christchurch (that's if you don't sustain any more injuries and need a hospital bed instead of a hotel room :roll: ) :nice1

Have PM'd you re drinks/food/sightseeing :P

[Kim39]

John,

I thought the hunter had gone hunting not sightseeing :laugh cracking post`s bud keep em coming............ :nice1

Kim

[veronica]

whats your timescale in Christchurch John. looks like I may miss you there as I am in Essex until the 24th Feb.

[Rimbo]

Beer ranges from $4.00 - $8.00 dependant on what you drink. Imported bottles being the higher end of the scale. you don't wanna know what a Smirnoff ice costs!! :eek
Susan, Your going onto Speights luv!
:mrgreen:

I'll actually leave Chch next Thursday. I should be going back home on the 24th but again that depends on what happens here in the next week. If i stay i'll have no chioce but to base myself in AKL were the jobs are. pick a hotel and just try harder for another month :?

John

Someone give me some help on how to post a photo on here!!!

[Timbo]

John. Check out this thread

http://www.emigratenz.org/forums/viewtopic.php?t=980&highlight=photobucket

If still no good, PM myself or the picture posting guru herself, Diny.

[Diny]

Rimbo

Love reding your posts - good to know how you're getting on.

If you want to e-mail your pics to me I can get them onto the forum for you if you like.

It would be great to see them.

Diny

[veronica]

OK John I'll wave as the planes go past each other who you flying with.

[Moorf]

Rimbo... how about staying at Veronica and Peter's backpacker place.. it's really lovely and very central.. if they have space????

[RoadRunner]

John,
Thanks for sharing your experiences! Were you able to get some interviews lined up in Wellington? If so, how did they go?!

Anything different/unusual about the way they conduct interviews?

Roadrunner

[Rimbo]

Here's some more stuff.

and some misc photo's too.

Again the below text is from an e-mail i have sent to freinds and family, so its a few days on since i wrote it. I am now in Reefton and not Nelson as dscribed below.


Thursday 8th Feb 13:30

OK the whether really didn’t brake, it became hot and sunny as we left the hotel. We spent the day driving down to Wellington. We called in at a car Museum about 40k’s out called “the Southword Trust Museum” in Paraparamu. They had everything there. It was really worth the $7 entry fee. We spent an hour looking over old cars, planes and bikes and then carried on to Welly. As we hit the centre the traffic came to a complete halt. An accident further ahead meant the motorway was shut and there was gridlock all over the city. So we headed for an area we thought we might find a hotel. After telephoning around it became evident that we may not get a room for night. We landed in Te Aro and fell upon a hotel with one room left. “We’ll take it” $110 per night, no aircon, clean but not very nice. We booked in for two nights. Outside favered a bomb site! What a hole! People in the area seemed nice enough but the area is in need of regeneration and it looks as though they are building a road right through it. We wandered around until we found an internet café and then showered before returning out to dine at Nando’s. A few pints later and a walk around the city made me realise that Welly was not for me.

We checked out of the hotel and booked on the ferry a day earlier but, again, as I wandered around the city, it grew on me. OK we had picked a bad spot to stay, but there was no trouble, just a few tramps effin an jeffin and some run down buildings and a bit of graffiti. I had only one Interview with an agency lined up so there was no point in staying anyway. A few hours later and we had had McD’s for breaky and the Interview was finished and I made my way through the city to meet up with Andy. I then realized, “It’s full of fit women”! I found a small square surrounded by mature trees and was overlooked by tall office blocks. The sun was blazing again and office workers and families were milling around eating sandwiches, ice creams and drinking coffee. I sat (with the rest of em) on a wall in the square and bought a double strength coffee. It was delish! And I suddenly quite liked the city! There is a lot of development going on and again the people I met were really friendly. They had a genuine interest to what I was doing, where I was from and why I was there. They wished me luck and again told me their city was the best place in NZ to be.

At 1pm I met Andy on the dock. We had somehow managed to swap our ferry pass for the Lynx Kat. We had an hour for lunch, again taking in the square and more coffee before retuning to the dock. The crossing was very pleasant, no rough seas and because we was on a sea Kat type thing it only took 2hrs 15 mins, the ferry takes about 3 ½ hours. We had to go slow out of the harbour and again slow down through the sounds, so that thing must have made a lot of time up in the open sea!

The sounds were an awesome sight. Beautiful scenery and deep blue waters. I will include some pics when I have a faster e-mail connection. I also drank 4 pints while on route and spoke at length with several other passengers. People are just really nice here!

We then drove on to Nelson, again not being able to find a hotel. So we are here now in Stoke about 5 miles out of Nelson. We have a spacious motel room and I can connect to the T’Interweb thingy using the hotels dial up ISP. Calls should only cost local rate but my transfer rate is really slow. Hence no attachments. We went to a steak house (again!) last night and I’m sure the chef was a scouser. I didn’t involve my self in conversation for fear of him spitting in the “wholly-backs” dinner! The steak I got was magnificent. About 6 inch long, 2 inch wide and two inch thick. Tender, well seared and juicy in the middle. Mmmmmmmmmmm! We then popped next door after a shower for a pint or two before retuning to the room. I snored again! Tonight they are doing Jugs of beer at $5 each. You can get 2 ½ handles out of each jug.

This morning I logged on to find my meeting in Christchruch had been moved back a day. Hopefully I can get more meetings arranged before arriving or I fear that I have wasted a week. I then went for a run while Andy took a drive into Nelson. I ate lunch and found a job in Christchurch to which I subsequently applied.

I’m just about to look through ITJobstuff for more jobs and phone around a few employers / agencies.



Injuries;
• I have been full of a cold for the last two days in the hottest temperatures I have encountered for al long while. Go figure!!!
• Andy is now having foot problems.


Prices;
• Steak and Mushroom pie and mini Pizza (pie size) $3.75
• 6 plums, $1.07
• ferry $240.00 single trip, two adults, one car
• Leather belt $24.99 from Farmers, a bit like Debenhams.


Noticeable things in NZ;
• The smallest coins are 5c bits. So when you buy something at $24.99, they round up or down. So I got charged $25.
• A pint glass (or near as dammit) with a handle, is called…. A handle! i.e. “I’ll have a handle of Macs Gold please luv”!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v694/Rimbo/NZPic022.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v694/Rimbo/meuntaranaki.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v694/Rimbo/sounds.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v694/Rimbo/NZPic010.jpg

Image quality is poor due to optmisation for web.
From Top to bottom.

Dawson Falls Mt Taranaki
Mt Taranaki from rd off Stratford
Ferry from Welly to Picton Thru Sounds
Eggy smelly fog stuff in Rotorua

John. :cool

[AliJax]

Great Posts John, Using my Jedi Mind Powers I can foresee these posts of yours being truly inspirational to those who are maybe sitting on the fence and wondering if they should or should'nt, or maybe even spur them on a bit.

I agree with your statement about the place being beautiful, Linda & I have only been so far south as Cambridge, when we went to Rotorua - and although the drive was along vast fields of open land we could see hills in the distance and rolling vegetation.

Excellent view of the mountain & I beleive you may have travelled further in NZ than anyone on the forum at this time.


Well Done John & Andy
Keep up the sight seeing...erm Job Hunting Tour, and I'm sure you'll have done more exploring for a place to live than most.

Meet up again soon we hope.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v112/AliJax/Img_1912.jpg


__________________________________________________ __________
The Image is of the place where John & Andy had their photo of Rotorua.

[Babette & Andy]

Wow John, you're sure packing your days full off things to do and see. Excellent thread to follow, agree with Ali - you've probably seen more of NZ by now than many of us.
Hope all goes well when you get to ChCh - were any of the agency addressess we sent you any good for interviews? Keeping :hopeso for you & Andy.

Take care and good luck.

Babette :cheers

[Diny]

Rimbo

Good pics. The view of Taranaki is great .... it's amazing how it just 'crops up' out of the ground isn't it. We have some mates who own a farm right at the foot of the mountain ..... fancy having that as your back yard eh.

Your posts are entertaining and imformative, like Ali says - I think they will be inspirational to anybody thinking 'shall we shan't we' move to NZ. I particularly like your 'health reports' - bad feet and fingers ...... what are you getting up to.

Ali

Quote: I beleive you may have travelled further in NZ than anyone on the forum at this time. :no

Keep the posts coming guys.

Diny

[jo b]

John

Please keep em coming.

I love your posts. They really are full of very good descriptions and observations of the people and how you feel about things.

I think you have a literary genious inside trying to breakout.

How the interviews going? Do you feel positive/negative?
Have you followed any of them up?

That's always worth a shot.

Anyways best of luck my fellow Wiganer :hopeso

Hope you land that dream job soon.

Take care and don't get too many injuries please.

Jo

[Annierobrigado]

hi john

great pics, and stories. hope you're feeling better. how are andy's feet? have you had them checked out? he doesn't have diabetes now, does he?

anyway, mt taranaki looks -- majestic!


BTW, HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY TO YOU!!

:cheers
annie

[Rimbo]

Thanks everyone for your good wishes. :nice1

Here's more adventures, this ones a biggy though. Again, this is a copy of the rubbish i've been sending to freinds and family. So some of it may not be relevent to you.

If you have any q's for me, please pm me and i'll do what i can. If any of you want me to stop posting this. please pm me and i'll think about it! ;)

The interviews are going well but i've not seen anyone since Welly. I have two meetings with Agencies tomorrow and another on wednesday. I'll be popping into a few more in town (Chch) to make appointments when i can.


Sunday 13th Feb 18:30

Rain confronted us on the Friday morning leaving Nelson. We nipped to New World (Large chain of Supermarkets, seems to be one in every town) to purchase a vast amount of booze to take to Derek’s in Reefton. Then followed the 6 highway that took us into the hills. The scenery again was spectacular. Along this road we fell upon several small towns and while driving through Wakefield we found a garage with no less than 40 Morris minors. We drove past and realised the amount of moggies present and quickly spun the car around to take a closer look. They came in all sorts of guises, van’s, Pickups, Split Windows, Bull nosed. It was an amazing sight. Several other passers by stopped to take a look. On ward into the hills and through the Buller Gorge, steep drops to one side of the road and sheer cliff faces to the other. The road weaved through this landscape and each time we came to a bridge we lost a lane and it became a single track. Every so often the road would widen and an extra lane would appear on the left so we could pass large trucks. Our poor 1.5 auto doesn’t really like accelerating especially up a steep hill, even past a slow lorry. Makes life interesting don’t you think?

We saw the clouds rolling over the tops of mountains and on some of the higher ground we actually drove through the clouds. We stopped off to take a look at the longest rope bridge in New Zealand which spanned the Buller gorge. I think that this is over the Buller river, and it seems to be used by people doing white river rides. A few Photos’ and about 2 hours of driving and we were in Reefton.

The town is very small. It has a sort of supermarket, 2 or 3 corner shops, some antique (junk) shops, a petrol station and a school. Several pubs and a cinema. Very quaint and quiet surrounded by hills and beauty.

We arrived at Derek and Yvonne’s early afternoon and spent the time talking before Yvonne made dinner. Yvonne is a very good cook and we tucked into a fabulous soup followed by BBQ’d Rib Eye steak, Salad washed down with copious amounts of beer, white and red wine.

The next day we went for a drive around Reefton and took in some of the projects that Derek has been working on. The scale of the operation is beyond my comprehension. Derek took us into the office and showed us a scale model of the area, hills, trees, various terrain and roads he was putting in and had already cleared. We then went out in the 4x4 to do a bit of off roading. The roads had been fashioned by cutting into the side of a hill and laying the excess down to form a sort of dirt/rocky path. Very steep drops and terrain I’ve never encountered. We got quite a privileged tour of the area.

Later we drove out to Greymouth to see Civilisation! Yep, it’s a town! Then onward to Punakaiki to see the Pancake rocks and blowholes. Photo’s enclosed might show the weirdness of these rocks. Then we sped off to the Foul winds Seal Colony a little further up the coast. After a short walk from the car park we looked over a cliff balcony to view Seals and their pups. It was aright! The Whirlwind tour then took us to the twinkling lights and sparkling metropolis known as Westport. It took us 2 minutes to drive the length of the high street at 40Kmph. There was a small port and not really much off the high st. Then we headed back to Reefton, again this journey took us over some great passes and winding roads like you’ve never seen. The problem here is, that I am coming accustomed to it. Its like constantly driving over the Lake district, or through Keilder Forrest, you don’t tire of it, but you get accustomed to it and it stops being spectacular. But, take it from me. It is!

7pm, it was the local Cinema’s showing time of Oceans 12. We asked Yvonne if they showed a film every Saturday night, she replied “mostly every other Saturday”! Ocean’s 12 was a good film and we even had intermission while they changed the reel of the film. After cinema we went to the local, sunk a few Jugs and ate pies before retiring home to bed.

We awoke this morning to find the sun shining, good, that means the chopper ride is on! Yvonne produced a buffet and nibbles for several people. Packed a few beers, water and coffee and set off in the 4x4 to Big River mine at 11am. Along the way she met with Nick, Nigel (from Atherton) and Ursula his 9 year old daughter. They then drove two vehicles which is the usual safety recommendation for this road. This is about a 90 minute drive over the rough stuff and up hills that normal cars could not go, even hire cars. It’s like driving up and down Rivington for an hour and half, but the car is rubbing shoulders with sheer drops and pushing its way past shrub and trees. We sat around in the house for an hour before picking up Rosa, Nicks Partner, and then we set off to Air West headquarters. The farm house on the hill overlooking Reefton has two Helicopters and is currently looking to expand to three. The father and son team take American tourists on fishing trips and do a lot of work for the mine. Seems to pay quite well, better than sheep farming. Dad was busy so our Pilot was Scott his 22 year old son. We thought the Chopper would have had tinted windows, a big bore exhaust and a bass box, but it didn’t.

Me, Andy and Scott in the front, Derek and Rosa in the back. We flew for about 20 minutes taking in the surrounding area. It was a fantastic. I’ll not go on about the flight but as we flew over Big river the motorcade that had set off earlier popped through the trees, crossed the river and parked up while Ursula was waving to us above. We circled and came to land on a patch of sand that covered an old chemical dump. I felt like Royalty as other walkers (trampers) were watching us fly over, then land and rendezvous with our motorcade. Brilliant!

We then ate the Picnic in a hut and drove on further up to the old mine Winding house. We then walked up the steep slope to the Winding tower over the mine shaft. The view again breathtaking. We then drove the 90 minutes back home, it’s only a few Kms away but we drove at around 15kmph in 4x4 low ratio due to the terrain. Another fantastic meal by Yvonne, NZ Lamb, Silver beet, potatoes etc. Few bottles of red and the remainder of my whiskey before beddy by bo’s.

Night night!


Injuries;
• A slight hangover
• Another couple of bites.


Prices;
• A Jug of Beer in the local in Reefton is $7, about 3 pints in this one though!


Noticeable things in NZ;
• Just seen a bloke riding a horse with no saddle.
• At major intersections or junctions marked Stop with yellow lines on the road. Stop. Then look and proceed. If you come to a rolling stop and carry on because you are safe to do so, you could end up with an $80 fine. I’m not speaking from practical experience though!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v694/Rimbo/0791afc1.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v694/Rimbo/NZPic057.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v694/Rimbo/5.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v694/Rimbo/4.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v694/Rimbo/2.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v694/Rimbo/1.jpg

Thanks Annie for the Valentines Wishes. I've got a card from the wife. Now i just need to find someone to give me my special 14th feb gift! :laugh

John.

[Diny]

The pictures are great. This has to be the best 'how we are getting on' chronicle on the forum ..... keep it up.

Diny

[Babette & Andy]

Wow John,

Diny said:- This has to be the best 'how we are getting on' chronicle on the forum

I totally second that, keep it coming :clap

[Timbo]

Sounds like the boys are having a ball. Keep it coming John.
One (minor) gripe though. Could you shrink the picys a bit so we dont have to scroll around to read the post, please. If you are using Photobucket, it is dead simple. just use the resize tool.
Great pics all the same.

[Kim39]

Just to echo everyone else's comments, absolutely cracking post's John, just keep em` coming. :nice1 John i get this distinct impression that you ain't gone on a job hunting trip, but decided that once you saw the scenary NZ has to offer, you thought sod the jobs, i'll blow the money and do the sights instead. :laugh :cool

Keep em` coming

Kim

[kiwi]

Looks like too much fun for just 2 people huh Kim?

I hear the kaikouras (sp?) had a dusting of snow last night...maybe our intrepid adventurer will confirm this later...as it was flippin freezin yesterday...

Enjoy chch...all waiting here with open arms for your arrival!

Nicky

[Tate6]

I must echo the previous sentiments....

Awesome post!! LOVE the photos!! Eye candy for my soul!!

Good luck on the job front and have a great time.
:nice1

I promise to be as accomodating when I'm finally there! ;)

Terry

[Rimbo]

Again another edition from my e-mails to friends and family.

I've not really got many photo's though.

there are some of our evenning with Moorf etc on moorf thread in the lounge.

Thursday 17th Feb 18:30

I left Andy in Reefton on Monday and travelled on my own to Christchurch. I had two meetings arranged for the next day while Andy decided to have another day at Yvonne’s and Derek’s. I had been advised to take the long route and take in more fabulous roads over Arthur’s Pass. It was a very nice road and it kept my steering and braking quite busy the whole of the time. The journey along this route took me about one hour longer but it was worth it. Along this route I came up behind a Subaru Impreza with the number plate “JBERRY” (he used to be my boss!). So just before passing it a took several photos’. Not easy to do when doing 100kmph! I finally reached Christchurch (Chch) and drove through the main highway at Riccarton. An hour later after looking around the place decided that Riccarton was the best place for a motel and checked into the first available one. It was a bit manky but it had two bedroom and 4 single beds. This meant that when Andy came to town he had his own room and wouldn’t be disturbed by my constant snoring (or kept awake by my interaction with certain ladies of the night from the local brothel on Manchester street!).

The next day went well and I met two agencies. Both were neither positive nor negative, lets just say realistic but I left feeling quite happy with the way the meetings went. Andy phoned at 6pm saying he was on the TranzAlpine Scenic train from Greymouth to Chch. We met up after his train journey and ate at a local. 4 meetings the next day and I was feeling more positive again. All were again realistic but said I would have no problem in acquiring a visa should an employer be interested. It’s just a matter of getting me in front of an employer. Each time I was advised to station myself in Wellington for the following month as this is where the majority of IT jobs are. And the location means I can fly with ease to any other city.

We had planned an evening with Moorf, Woz (Helen and Warren from the NZ Emigrate forum), They also invited other members along and she booked us a table at the Fuji Japanese restaurant for Teppanyaki. We arrived at 7pm and quickly met Richard followed by Helen and Woz, its strange finally meeting people that you have conversed with for several months. The dream is finally a reality, for all of us. We are here, We are living the dream, OK mine is a bit of a holiday. We were led to a table, and were joined by Peter, Veronica’s husband. The table was a C shape and surrounded a big cooker, it was basically a huge hot plate. After we got comfortable, our chef appeared and took photos, then started with our culinary show. First mixed vegetables, he chopped dissected the veg with flair and elegance, tossing his cutlery and cleavers as he went. He tossed his salt and pepper mills with the skill of a cocktail waiter while seasoning the hot plate and food. This show went on throughout the different courses. This was not going to be your average stir fry!

We were brought a bowl of soup, no spoons, we slurped from the cup, a bowl of rice and two dips, chilli and peanut and a pair of chopsticks. No forks folks! Then he flicked on s few mussels, 2 each, after seasoning and cooking he flicked them onto the cleaver and served, we ate. A bit of rice, a slurp of soup, a dip in the sauce and chopstick full of mixed veg, then fish, smoked salmon, I never like salmon; this was nice, very nice. Then squid, chicken, some white fish and then 3 large steaks, probably fillet. Once seared he began to chop, dissecting each piece to a perfect bite size, again flicking them onto his serving spoon or cleaver and dishing it out. We washed the whole meal down with two bottles of wine and I must say it was one of the best meals I have had, apart from my own cooking of course! The night was finished by meeting a few others (Wilson182 and Kiwi) in a pub before saying our goodbye’s and firing off to the Manky motel.

It was now Thursday morning and we packed our stuff and hauled it onto the car, just before paying the bill my phone rang. Another Interview, just down the road in Riccarton and they wanted to see me right away! I apologised for my appearance as my shirts were now quite sweaty and I had no choice but to turn up in Combats and a T-shirt. They were cool with that, “Ah no worries!”. The Interview went very well although I feel that I made a bit of a hash of the whole process. The feedback I got was very positive, they like me, my attitude and respected my honesty. This feedback was from an agency I had met on Tuesday. She phoned me right away to explain how well I had come across. Only time will tell whether I had made a mistake after all! We then sped off to Picton to catch our ferry, the drive took us about 3 ½ hours with the usual breathtaking views, this time of the Pacific Ocean.

I like Chch, The centre is nice with a mix of old buildings such as churches and a Cathedrals. Then a new high rise built by Price Waterhouse Cooper. It’s not a real city unless there’s one of those! The night life also looks good, lots of bars, restaurants, café’s etc. And a river. Every city needs a river. The City is not too big and not too small, a mass urban sprawl surrounds with most of the areas I drove through being very nice. Car culture again is the usual Jap imports, blacked out windows and noisy exhausts.

Injuries;
• No major incidents.


Prices;
• A Jug of Beer in the local in Riccarton is $7.50, about 2-3 pints in this one.
• An evening customer in Manchester St usually pays about $50 for a mouth service and $100 for the works.
• The above I completely made up………I got it for free ;)


Noticeable things in NZ;
• I have noticed lots of things this week, but my memory has had a lapse. Must be the beer I’m drink on this boat back to Welly.
• For a country that has a total ban of smoking in enclosed spaces, I am rather surprised how many people actually smoke. I’m in a minority it seems as a non smoker.
• After noticing the above a noticed 2 mini coaches of school kids on a school trip arrive at a café in Arthur’s Pass, they got of the bus and the majority promptly rolled a backer and smoked it right in front of the teachers! “Gud as gawld mate, roll us a fat one sir!”


See you on the other side of the Cook Straight.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v694/Rimbo/jags2.jpg

This ones for you richard!



Ta-raaaa!

[Babette & Andy]

Thanks for your latest installment John, will take a look at Helen's thread in the lounge in a minute. Must have been strange yet so nice to finally meet up!! Keep us posted.
Babette :cheers

[richard]

....

This ones for you richard!




Arrrgghhhh!!!! Oh well, I guess they weren't just scrapped :(

[Rimbo]

Another one,
and agian it is several days behind.

anyone bored of this yet??

please say and i'll stop.

John.

Sunday 20th Feb 17:30


We arrived in Welly at about 9:30pm Thursday and quickly disembarked from the ferry to find our hotel. We had booked a room in a small motel in Petone near Lower Hutt. We checked in then went straight to the local Pak N Save for some stock. I bought a McCain frozen Pizza which tasted of nothing and washed it down with a bottle of Chardonnay, which tasted of something. Another bag of “Big Uns” crisps (I love that name!) and some barn Joes that look like Edwards’s, which is nice. Andy bought the Marg, Ham and cheese and we made butties for the next day’s journey.

The next morning (Friday) I went to see another agency, had a pleasant meeting and left with more positive vibes. I Met Andy and changed clothes in a local BP station back into the usual Kiwi uniform, Jandles, Shorts and T-shirt. On the way to Napier we stopped off to eat butties and take a last look at Welly. We pulled up near a pier where locals were fishing. I spoke with one chap that was throwing a hand made grappler hook into the sea, it was tied to his waste so I was hoping he wouldn’t get a snatch from a passing whale. He allowed it to sink then hauled it in. After each throw he had a catch of seaweed with 3 or 4 green lipped mussels attached. If they were small he either threw them back or fed the seagulls, big ones were put in a bag to take to market later.

4 hours later we were in Napier, again checking into a motel before firing off into to town. The place was buzzing. People in 1930’s period clothing were milling about, eating, drinking chatting, admiring each others attire, checking out each others vintage vehicles. It was all there, Roadster’s, station wagons, pickups, trucks, American vintage’s that I’ve only seen in books like the Auburn, Ford V8’s, Chevrolet’s, and many of the owners dressing in Gangster gear complete with Tommy guns. Loads of British marques, MG’s, Jags, these were newer but as long as it was a classic it didn’t matter. It didn’t have to be a 1931 Ford Model T to fit in with the festival.

Just in-case you don’t know. Napier was completely flattened by an earthquake in 1931. Therefore when it was rebuilt, most of the buildings were built in the hey day of Art Deco. So the place has a 1930’s feel to it. Each year they celebrate the Art Deco movement by hosting a festival. People from all over the islands come to Napier in costume with their vintage cars. Some actually come from farther a field. I saw one car from Sweden and an E-type Jag from England. Most cars had some history printed and left on the Windscreen. The Jag had been over to Denmark, Norway and Sweden in 2003, 2004 it had travelled through Europe taking in Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Italy and this year it was doing New Zealand. The owners must have nothing else better to do…..!

Bands play music from the era and you can see the crowds just dancing in the street, even if it is the Charleston. A steam train with old carriages filled again with people in costume comes to town. It really is quite a spectacle and something I’m glad I’ve seen and been a part of. The pics won’t do it justice though.

Last night I met up with Tony Dewsnap, an old friend from the Tote. He has been here since November and says his family have really settled in well. We hit a bar near to his home and sank quite a few beers before arranging to meet up gain when we are in Auckland. He’s doing well and I’m really glad for him, hopefully I can settle too.

Andy got up this morning at 05:30. Never been seen in memory of man, Andy Taylor up before dawn. He was on a mission. He wanted to see the morning sun before anyone else in the world. The sun as you know rises up from the east. The Chatam Islands are the first to see it. But who cares about them? Andy drove out to a scenic spot and took the usual million photo’s that he always takes. Some have turned out rally good. He of course cam back and then slept till 11:30!

I went to McD’s for breaky then went into town to watch the soap box race. Mainly kids but adults had a go too. Some of the cars were brilliantly constructed, one had been built using sheet aluminium, you didn’t steer this one with a piece of string, it had a real steering wheel and proper brakes too. But there were some built in the spirit of things made from old prams, old wood, rope steering and a stick against the rear wheel to stop you. Obviously Ford Cortina owners built those ones!

This afternoon we went away from the crowds and found a beach recommended by Tony the night before. It was a bit of a drive from Napier but was well worth it. Once again we found a car museum, it was rude not to stop and call in. This one is not advertised anywhere and is called the British car museum. I think its some silly old fools private collection. There was the usual 30 or so Moggy minors in different body formats. Loads of Viva’s and other Vauxhals. It really made me laugh cos I have never seen so many mint hardly used pieces of crap, 1970’s poor excuse for British engineering. The list is endless so I’ll name a few of examples that show up British industry. By the way, these cars were mint, I mean not a spot of rust, all used but some with little or no mileage, some with mega miles. Metro’s, 2 of em, Marina’s, load of em even a pick up (Ute), A Morris Ital 1.3 estate in tangerine (oh my god!), 2 lovely chuvits, Land crabs (that’s Austin 1800 to most, however they also had a few 3Litres, ive never seen one before). I’ll not go on cos I’m still amazed at the sight. This place is a car enthusiast dream.

We arrived at Ocean Beach. I swam in the sea which was really good, excellent waves but they were really forceful. Everyone had body boards and I wanted to go and buy one there and then. Maybe next month, oh, I should be interviewing I suppose! Andy went for another paddle. That’s two paddles in two different seas (or oceans), sometimes there just no stopping him! We sun bathed for about an hour before boredom took over. I of course checked out the local talent, but as usual they were accompanied by some muscle bound, tanned young man. You can still look for free though!

Takeaway food again tonight. Trying to cut down on my spending although it’s not really working.



Prices;
• A take away curry is really dear. I’m having one later and I’ll pay about $12 plus rice @ $3.
• 400ml of Fabreze is $5.75


Noticeable things in NZ;
• I never really eat at McD’s or Burger King in Britain. But here I have for convenience. They are generally very busy (especially at breakfast) which surprises me for the small towns I have stopped in.
• The Irish pubs here are just the same as at home. Crap beer and expensive with always one local Irish man propping up the bar. Generally the walls are adorned with anything relating to Ireland, such as a shirt, a picture of a cobbled Belfast Street or a potato. Flags of Wales, Scotland, NZ, even OZ and America hang, never a George cross or Union Jack though!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v694/Rimbo/musselfishing.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v694/Rimbo/napier2.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v694/Rimbo/napier4.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v694/Rimbo/oceanbeach.jpg

John.

[Diny]

Hey Moorf look ........ the white gumboots !!!!

Another brilliant posting Rimbo - keep it up :nice1

Diny

[Rimbo]

Sorry to those wanting more of my, erm, trip type of diary thing. i cannot upload owt at the mo. there is last thursdays edition to add. and i've been travelling all weekend so i've not had time do send or write any more anyway.

I drove from AKL to Roturua on Sat.
Then to Fielding to meet the brilliant Dave & Sandra (thanks for everything, i realy enjoyed my time :nice1 ).
Then drove to Welly fo' T'interview wi' big tech company like
Then drove straight back to Roturua,
Phew must be 1000kms since sat.

Nearly got my first road kill tonight, i swerved like crazy, nearly turned the car over and still missed the little critter! :mrgreen:

John

[Moorf]

YAY THE GUMBOOTS!! :laugh :laugh :laugh :laugh

[Hannah]

Hi John,
Wonderful postings - and what a great record of your travels around NZ. When we came for a holiday (18 mths ago) we kept a diary. Our children wrote one - entirely different from ours ("All the McDonalds have play areas" and "I found a slug" etc.) Maybe writing travel guide books is a future career option!?
Interested to read your New Plymouth postings - I loved New Plymouth. We met an older couple in Pukekura park and they took us home for tea and showed us their antique collection!!!! We met a man in the toilet in Oakura who got us a cheap room in the New Plymouth hotel - $80 a night for 2 interconnecting rooms!!! Lovely outdoor heated swimming pool!
We plan to go and see the light show at Christmas - reading your postings is making November 1st seem SOOOO far away!!!!
Keep em coming, Hannah

[Rimbo]

Cheers Hannah, you may also want to read my new thread. Not one, not two. but three!

Sorry no pics, again its a week out of date as i have been really, really busy.

enjoy! :nice1


Thursday 24th Feb 09:30

I’ve just dropped Andy off at the Airport. Said my goodbye’s and told him I would see him in a couple of years, when he visits us here in NZ that is!

Bon Voyage Andy, have a safe trip mate and don’t let UK customs see all that porno you’ve got stashed in your case. Oh, and let me know what the lady boys are like in Singapore!

Now I’m all alone.

In truth I feel quite sceptical about the whole trip. I’m not sure whether it will be a success or not. Don’t get me wrong though, I don’t feel too pessimistic or depressed, but at this moment in time I have nothing else lined up, no leads, no come back from the few employers I’ve seen and nothing happening from the agencies. You would think that some e-mails or phone calls would have been made to me by now.

On the other hand it is still early days. The agencies that I saw last week in Chch and Welly will only be starting to send my CV out now, then the employers will eventually get round to reading them when the application closing date has passed (could be several weeks), if indeed they have any vacancies. Some agencies will send out a CV to employers that they know is always on the lookout for such skills or people. I have not logged onto –mail for a day so I may have something and the employers I have seen (all 3), still have not finalised their arrangements (how many staff, in what areas they require) or finished interviews as yet.

So it’s not all bleak, maybe I’m just a bit lost knowing I have another 25 days alone compounded by missing family, friends, familiar surroundings and the fact I’m living out of a suitcase (nobody to iron my t-shirts neither!).

Back to the story so far……..

We left the Motel in Napier at about 9am Monday morning. Andy dropped me off outside the City Council offices and I went in to meet Ron Massey in suitable attire. I had persuaded myself not to turn up in too casual clothing as he had instructed, but sat their in my trainers, combats and t-shirt and I did feel a little uncomfortable. I waited outside his office near the stairs and looked up to see a middle aged man skipping down the stairs two at a time and jumping on the floor at the bottom, like our Jon would. He opened the door and darted to the right, down the corridor, then did an about turn swinging on one foot and shouted “Mr Rimmer”! Jesus, this guy’s got energy! I replied and we went into his office. Ron had things a bit mixed up and thought I was a travel agent! He called another bloke (I forgot his name, things were happening so fast) into his office and started dialling numbers on his phone. He wanted to speak with Paul fro NeoCom, a local IT vendor and solutions provider and left a message for him to contact him ASAP. We chatted in a very jovial manner for a while and he said some pretty interesting stuff. I’ll not go into detail but just think about his for a minute. This guy represents the City Council of Napier. He has a presence at important City events and meets regularly with the Mayor, “BARBRAH!” As he like to call her. But he sat their like any other normal Kiwi efeen n jeffin like we were in the pub and was best of mates. So far most interviews have gone this way! Not long into the conversation there was a knock at the door and a big bloke with Hawaiian shirt, shorts and Jandles appeared, Paul, the owner of NeoCom. Apparently he was just across the road when he got the message so he thought he would just pop in. We discussed my skills and I went over to his business premises to take a look around. No point boring you with detail as he doesn’t have any vacancies but I left him with a copy of my CV just in-case. We left Napier and headed north back up to Rotorua.

We stopped at Taupo and looked at the lake for while taking a few pictures. We dined in another KFC then went back to the lake where I had seen some golf driving competition. There was a man made island about 120 yards out to sea with wind surfers and sailboats passing it at regular intervals. A girl sold me 5 balls and I had to hit them onto the island. A hole in one would land me $5000, holding it on the island would get me a shiny brand new Golf Ball! 9 iron please, wind against and slightly blowing left to right, the promenade was quite high up, so it was a good postage stamp type of hole. The first went several feet to the left of the island but splashed at about pin high, and the second, the third hung above the island before splashing down just too far over the back, the fourth I hit to the right and the fifth, oooh the fifth! I hit the ball sweet, by now several passers by where stud watching, a couple we parked next to got out of their car and also looked on, obviously discussing my athletic like figure and natural swing and golfing prowess, after each shot I held my pose, club in the air and then flicked my wrist, slightly loosing my grip to allow the club to spin as it slid through my hands, just like a pro that’s hit a good shot in one of the majors……. I missed of course and again hit it slightly over the back…. “Bollocks”!

Onward to Rotorua, we saw a sign for Huka Falls to the right and the Moon Craters to the left. So we peeled off to the right. This river feeds some of the hydro plants in the area. It’s like fresh clean swimming pool water. Blue and goes white when splashing about. You’ve never seen owt like it. The river closes to a small channel like a canal then gushes out into more open waters. It was beautiful. Then we went to the moon craters. This like several places in Rotorua has small craters caused by gasses rising to the earths surface, some have bubbling mud pools. It’s quite an extraordinary sight, but I have already explained the smell etc in Dairy 1. We headed back on the road but there was one place that Andy was really keen to take in. He had picked up a leaflet for the Waiotapu bubbling, gassy type place. $20 entry fee this time though! Here there were all sorts of different phenomena to view, pools of water heated by the sulphur gases, varying in colour, green, Jade, Yellow, Orange, Red, Blue, normal, the Champagne pool, a lake with a clear blue/green water with Orange sulphur coloured sides, bubbling hot air and giving off steam clouds that hang over it like mist. Big craters pumping noxious gasses, caves with Yellow sulphur coloured walls, geysers. Too much to list. Well worth a visit!

Back to the Pohutu Lodge in Rotorua to see Dave’o and Tina. Dave sorted us with an apartment, double bed and bathroom downstairs, kitchen lounge and two single beds upstairs, again $95, cheap rate for coming back. Dave’o then offered me a room with a meal deal for the coming weeks at a very cheap rate. I may base myself there for a week, 4hours from Welly, 3 from Auckland and New Plymouth, it will be cheap and convenient as Dave’o allows me to use WiFi and log onto his network for the T’internet thingy. I still have a problem sending SMTP mail though. The convenience and price may be worth it though rather than settling into a big city costing double.

That evening we ate a Valentines, this is some American type place, like you find in Florida, massive all you can eat Buffet, hot, cold, soup, salad, you name it. Cheap as chips at $24.95 too. Andy didn’t like too much and didn’t really eat a lot, so I decided that he was very rude and had to make up for him! First I tried salad mixed with feta cheese, sausage and other bits. A big prawn, an Oyster, some taco’s and chilli con carne. Didn’t think much of the Oyster, wet slimy, tasted of the sea and I can’t say it turned me on. Then I tried a couple of Green lipped mussels and a bit more salad. Then I had a small portion of chips, steak, roast potatoes, green beans, carrots, ham (shank) and gravy. I dipped on some Mexican lamb (crap and salty) rice and some more taco’s with Chilli. I was full but I was on a mission. I don’t normally eat pudding but it was too good to miss. So I forced a brandy snap filled with cream and two big profita rolls topped off with more cream down, then had a coffee, 2 biscuits, a tiny piece of chocolate cake and slightly topped it with chocolate moose. Andy then pointed out that the Chocolate fudge cake was nice. So I tried a piece before washing down with more coffee. I was done!

Andy rolled me over to the till then into the car and we noticed that they also did a bottomless glass for $11.95. Bugger! I could have bought my glass form the bar and then had 3 whites and 3 reds to choose from. Each time just topping up as I went. They were on display and ready for the drinking, and I missed it! I have just checked into a hotel here in Manukau, guess what. There’s a Valentines next door! If I’m here for a while you can guarantee that I’ll make myself sick, too much food washed down with way way too much free wine! Yum yum!

We checked into a posh motel in Herne Bay AKL. $199 for the room per nigh, luckily for us they didn’t have any room left so we slept in their spare rooms in the attic. $60 each per night. No fridge, no cooker, just a bed next to a busy main road and a bathroom. It was good enough. We ate at a fancy restaurant across the road. On the bar was a plate of freebies, Olives, Sun Dried tomatos, Parmesan, Pesto and crackers. Yum yum! Andy ordered the Veal and I ordered a steak. Lovely jubly, very well presented and very good quality nosh. We both had Tiramisu for pudding, it wasn’t like any Tiramisu I’ve ever had, it was fantastic of course and very fancy, but odd for Tiramisu. The restaurant is a bit more pricey than the usual, but because we didn’t order a load of wine we kept the bill to a respectable $80. That’s about £30.

Yesterday we spent some time in Auckland shopping before Andy went to MOTAT, Ministry of Transport and Technology (I think) to its museum. He’s not here to explain what he saw, but there were loads of em and it was dead good! Well worth the $10 entry.

I decided to drive round for 4 hours looking for decent shopping malls. I checked us into a Hotel in Manukua City and then got stuck in a traffic jam. Then missed my turning and ended up the wrong side of Auckland. Then turned back and couldn’t find the turning I wanted. Then queued in rush hour traffic to eventually get my turning. Then took Andy into the Centre so I could find a shop. Then queued for another hour to get back to Manukua. AKL may not have the “lifestyle” choice that I was looking for. I don’t intend to spend my new life down under queuing in Traffic. However, it’s a means to an end. And needs must etc etc.

Last night we ate at some Mexican type place. Steak and chips and a salad served in a hot iron pan for $19. I like steak!

I’ve already filled you in on the taking Andy to the Airport part. The rest of my day so far has been spent;
Looking of my drivers license as I’m renting out the car for another 25 days. I couldn’t find it! I went to the rental company anyway and the woman behind the counter went “ah yes Mr Rimmer, we still have your licence!”……..Bugger!

Then I spent some time looking for an Internet Café, there isn’t one near here. So I used a Library instead. No important e-mail again, just crap.

I have however received a call from the Company in New Plymouth that I interviewed with the first week. And they’re still looking into it. Although they are very keen to get me in they can’t guarantee anything. I can’t help feeling excited but I shouldn’t get too emotional as it rests on several factors that I have no control over. So now I have to wait (again) until next week.

No other agencies that I wanted to speak to are free. I need an Internet café that will take me and my laptop in.

So I’ve just put a large wash on and now I’m going to iron some shirts that I washed last weekend.


Prices;
• I still think cars are dead dear here. They have ads on TV trying to sell cars. These traders actually ask about $7k for a 97 Nissan Pulsar. That’s about £2,500 - 3k for a Nissan Almera (GB name). Who in their right mind in GB will pay £3k for a 7 - 8 year old Nissan Almera?
• Gas BBQ’s are bigger than the ones at home. But they cost about $1200, that’s a monkey! (£500).


Noticeable things in NZ;
• It still makes me chuckle when I see people walking around bare foot. In shops, in Malls or on the street. Its’ great!
• I don’t know if I’ve said this before but, in the supermarkets, they have these refrigerated pools of water, constantly sprinkling water over fresh live mussels. Just press the button to turn the water off and raise the tray, then take your pick. If you’re into that sort of thing!

John

[Dave & Sandra]

Sorry it's taken so long to get around to it, but here's a picture of Rimbo (John) helping Dave move the kitchen window.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v218/sandracastree/Rimboandwindow.jpg



What are you up to anyway John boy - you must have started the new job and be too busy to chat. A bit like me - I don't have that much time any more.

[Diny]

Looks like you made him earn his keep !!!!

[Kim39]

I can't believe Rimbo, he's suppose to be out busting his gut looking for a job and all he does is swan around NZ as a tourist one day and a handyman the next.........this doesn't look like IT work to me :laugh

What's he got up his sleeve for the next installment of Rimbo's travels.

Kim

[Rimbo]

Your Right, I've been working 1 1/2 weeks and doing all sorts of busy things. I can only get onto this site while in work so its really difficult getting the time to log on.
I will fill you in on the details when i have more time.

No more Window work though, oh and my Golf Clubs have arrived, so the weekends will be full now ;)
john

[Kim39]

For a moment there John i thought you were in the process of starting a UPVC business...... :laugh

Glad to see you have your priority's right........get swinging them clubs. :nice1 Will play 18 holes with you when we get there.

Kim

[Rimbo]

If you're wondering where's the last month gone, never mind, any this is this weeks installment for those of you brave enough to endure another long post! :nice1

Friday March 25th

It’s Good Friday, I’m in my second week of work and I have yet another bank holiday. Next week (my third week of employment) starts with yet another! Great! Not that I am not keen on going to work, its just that a short week while you get accustomed to working again is really good.

Just like England though, the bank holiday weekend will be marred by bad weather. Taranaki has had brilliant weather over the last two months and I have seen sun and temperatures generally in the mid 20’s EVERY DAY!

My Golf Clubs arrived on Tuesday; I have my new shoes and new bag, balls, tees and various accessories at the ready for today. Westown Golf Club were duly informed of my immanent arrival and I may have even sorted out a free game to view the club before I join. They really are that desperate for members!

The lads at work are really good, in total there are about 6 poms and a French guy who lives in London. He’s going back though, he doesn’t like it. On Wednesday night there is a 5 aside soccer match at the YMCA, girls play too! I went to watch the other night and we had a few beers afterwards, next week I’m invited for a BBQ. Everybody has been so freindly.

I have been out to a few clients on job requests. Mainly the clients are businesses around town such as TV repair service centre, Electrical showrooms, Garages, wood cutters and a few large country wide clients like retailers with a few shops around the country, and Powerco, New Zealand’s electrical energy company for instance. It’s a bit different being on the shop floor again, in a different country and facing external clients, but I’ll get used to it and again, there isn’t this big expectation on you, no big deadlines where if you fail, you’ll know about it and your life never mind you job is in big jeopardy. Of course you have to perform and deadlines have to be met, its just different than before.

The good thing about this industry in this town is that all the shops shut at 5pm, a few are open till 5:30, no-one expects you to work late unless there is a project on or unless you have do perform out of hours tasks. So I don’t have to work a shift system where I work Saturdays, Sundays, Bank holidays, nights etc. Basically the customers realise that if they are open on a Saturday and they encounter a problem, it’ll wait till Monday. If it’s drastic, they can phone the IT Director, not me, not the helpdesk, the IT Director, and he’ll get someone out if the job warrants it. But it doesn’t happen. Other differences that are good are the small things that matter, the other day I walked through the workshop, the Director was there, sleeves rolled up with his fingers poking about in an old PII Compaq of some description wondering why the CD –ROM wasn’t working! I have been given a mobile phone. It’s a Nokia 6225 with camera, coloured screen polyphonic ring tones, oki koki 2000 features and is the same model that the directors have, the helpdesk staff have, the other members of staff with phones get etc. There is no silly hierarchy here, i.e. if you’re a manager you get this phone, a director gets this phone and a minion engineer (or consultant) gets the old brick that such a body owned 5 years ago. We also get 55c a kilometre for using our own cars although staff are encouraged to use the Directors cars and not their own. Last week I had to attend to a client and used a XR6 Turbo. Look it up if you don’t know what one is. Have a look on the ford Austrailia web site. They do an XR8 aswell, but believe me the XR6 Turbo was more than adequate for the job!

I have managed to find myself a really nice flat. I have moved in from last Saturday and bought myself a good deal of furniture. The flat is a basement to a nice sized house. Wooden polished floors and a great size at that. I have a small kitchen, bathroom, wash room, large dining room with sitting area and real fire place and a large bedroom that I actually use as the sitting room as well, my hi-fi is in there and when I decide which TV to go for, that’ll be there too. I have my own decking area and use of the garden and the main deck and BBQ upstairs if I wish. I also have my own spot in the car port so I have off street parking. The house is right near the centre of town in a very good area and adjacent to Pukekura park entrance. I basically walk up the drive and across the road into the park and go for a walk or run.

Tomorrow night though, I’ll do that walk through the park for about 5 minutes and then I’m at the Bowl of Brooklands, where R.E.M are playing and I happen to have a ticket! Imagine, REM on your doorstep!

I went to DTR for my furniture, they were having a clearance sale, all the stuff that they loan out was coming back in and they were selling it off cheap. I bought a two seater sofa, small 5 piece dining table, large scotch dresser (four large drawers and 5 small), washing machine and dryer all for $890! I bought a second hand large fridge freezer from Gill’s for $550, a new Hi-Fi with DVD and surround sound, sub etc for $268. I got a new wooden slat bed with mattress for $749 and then I’ve accessorised the house here and there spending about another $500. I still have a wad of cash leftover for my TV but can’t afford the Plasma. Today is pay day too, whoopee, I get paid every two weeks on a Friday, so I’ll go and check out the cash situ later today.


John

[Diny]

Great update John, sounds like you're settling in well. How did the R.E.M concert go? My sister in law went to it too.

I like the sound of your flat, lots of space too.

Looking forward to seeing Susie & little Rimbo on Saturday.

Take care.

Diny

[Kim39]

Another excellent insight in to how you are now settling in Rimbo. Any sign of Suzy and family joining you soon?

Will drop you an email over the next week, but before we all meet up on Saturday and i get to chat with Suzy.

Take it easy bud.

Kim

[Babette & Andy]

Hi John,
How's life treating you in New Plymouth?? Still a very laid back attitude at work? How's the wine supply holding up? Basically - would love to know what you've been up to :nice1

Babette