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Rich&Sarah
16th March 2008, 09:42 PM
Hello ENZ Forumies,

I've been a keen reader of this forum for the past six months or so and have just about completed our EOI. Just waiting for my sons first passport to arrive from the UKPO so I can complete the EOI by entering his passport number.

I've been trying to talk my OH round to the idea of moving to NZ for about a year now and we have found this forum brilliant at answering all the questions/worries we've both been having regarding experiences, locations and money. We feel this forum has given us a really good grounding for what we can expect and a made us really think long and hard about what we want to achieve from it. OH is really keen now. Even after reading some of the bad experiences people have had!

My OH and I have been running our own business together for the past four years (Cafe / Restaurant in the Peak District) and working seven days a week with the odd afternoon off together to enjoy our new son. We've found this period a real strain both physically and mentally but also financially. So we're used to having no money (After VAT, Income Tax, Bank Charges and more taxes etc) and have got used to making the most out of what little we have.

The reasons for wanting to leave the UK are mainly spurred on by the adventure and the need of a change in work/lifestyle. Don't get me wrong we don't want to get over to NZ and put our feet-up. We want to work so we can live rather than to other way round. Plus the thought of bringing up my son in the UK fills us with a great deal of dread, having dealt with teenagers working for us. All that seems to matter is having stuff they can't afford, getting drunk, taking drugs and blaming someone in authority for there mistakes. (A few bad experiences).

On a more positive note we will be reading with interest all that is being discussed on the forum and hope to contribute with our experiences.

Many Thanks,

Richard, Sarah, Josh & Rocky (The dog)

peebles16
16th March 2008, 10:01 PM
Welcome to this fab forum from us :) Our kids love it here and if you're up for adventure you'll fit right it :D

Enjoy the rollercoaster ride that is moving to NZ

All the best
Karen

TrentBridge
16th March 2008, 10:04 PM
Hi Rich&Sarah

How lovely living in the Peak District. It sounds as though your business takes a lot of hard work and long hours though.

We aren't really trying to escape from UK either, just wanting an adventure and better work life balance too.

Hope all goes well for you and your family.

S

Asli&Mark
16th March 2008, 10:13 PM
Hello Sarah and Richard

A big welcome to the forum and good luck :)

willsken
16th March 2008, 10:31 PM
Well, I can only speak for my family but I relate to your post and can tell you we love it here! Sure there are things to moan about but nowhere near as much as I moaned in the UK. OH is really pleased!! :D

JandM
16th March 2008, 10:46 PM
Hello.:)

shakyle2906
17th March 2008, 06:59 AM
Hi Rich and Sarah

Welcome to the forum!

We made the move nearly a year ago and agree its the best one we have ever made!

We too can relate to a lot of what you said in you post about how life was in the UK.

The move is hard going, stressful and very much like being on a roller coaster ride, but so so worth the gamble.

We have a son who is 5.5 and he has settled so so well, which was one thing we worried about most.

Although we both work full time, we always have time to do things as a family, always try and get out on the weekend, sometimes going away even if its just the one night. We find we have done more as a family over here than we ever did in the UK!

Good luck with your plans, and keep us posted as you go!

Sharon
xx

dilanium
17th March 2008, 07:15 AM
Welcome to the forum!!

JayBee
17th March 2008, 08:25 AM
Hello and welcome to the rollercoaster ride (I wondered what everyone was on about until we got on it!)

Best of luck with the EOI - sometimes you just know its time for a change!

dusk
17th March 2008, 09:01 AM
Welcome to the forum :)

Kiwi-In-Texas
18th March 2008, 03:10 AM
Hello and welcome.

Red Devil
18th March 2008, 04:06 AM
Hi Richard & Sarah... welcome to the forum. Certainly are plenty of helpful and knowledgeable folk on board... we've learnt heaps since first joining.

The Peak District... you're not too far away from us, we're in Poynton near Macclesfield. We've spent many a pleasant day in the Peak (mainly walking) and having spent last year in the Vosges region of France, it's now time to see if the grass is greener on the other side (literally) before finally laying down roots.

I admire you both for efforts running a cafe/restaurant whilst bringing up a little one... do you plan on doing the same in NZ, or will you have a change of career?

Wish you all the best of luck with your plans :nice1

Evanses
18th March 2008, 10:41 AM
We are at the first stage of the process like you and our reasons for wanting to make the move seem very similar. We long for more quality time as a family and whilst we know that we will still have to juggle loads of diffeent things and money worries will still be there, we have a strong sense that overall our kids will have more freedom to enjoy being kids and enjoy being kids for a bit longer than they can here in England.

We like where we live in lots of ways but have begun more and more to feel closed in. We long for open spaces, mountains, sea, FRESH air and nature and I'm afraid there's precious little of that in Wigan. Hope all goes well with EOI. Keep us posted.

Rich&Sarah
22nd March 2008, 12:53 AM
Hi Guys,

Thanks v.much for all the replies and support which are greatly received. We recognise a few of you from previous posts we have read. Well, we got Josh's passport through a few days ago and we were all ready to complete the EOI when Sarah dropped the bomb shell, with pregnancy test in hand, that she was expecting our second child. I was expecting a roller coaster ride in the process but not quite as quick as that!!!

We're both a bit in shock at the moment but really really chuffed with the news. We've decided to delay the move for just over a year. We just need some close family help and support at the moment. But as soon as he or she is over six months old we will put the plan into action. (Another passport needed!!)

We've both agreed it is something we still really want to do.

To answer the Evans' reply I hope to have a career change when moving over to NZ and pursue a career in Land Surveying which I did a bit of in my early twenties. Fingers crossed anyway. But will do anything if needed.

Will keep you all posted. Thanks again.

dusk
22nd March 2008, 01:19 AM
Blimey, that is a plan changer if ever I heard one! Congratulations :)

Susan&Dennis
22nd March 2008, 01:54 AM
Hi, Rich&Sara,

This forum is a great way to dip a toe into the water...somehow it makes NZ seem more real to us, too, and we're also more enthusiastic. Reading that you are considering leaving the Peak District, my first reaction was..."why?--it's such a beautiful place." But, then, my husband and I are leaving a beautiful place, too...mostly for the adventure but also for the chance to continue working hard at a slightly slower pace. Good luck with your venture!--Susan

JandM
22nd March 2008, 03:10 AM
Congratulations on your news.:cheers

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