[bob_the_engineer]

Life is so hard here in NZ, I sometimes wonder how I cope.

Just the other day I had to go to the shop and buy two bottles of wine because of the inconsiderate Easter trading laws which meant I had to stock up, such a chore.

Can you believe this, as I flipped the boot open (or trunk for our friends from the USA), I noticed I’d left the golf clubs in there. My little sports car has such a small boot, it was so difficult trying to fit the wine in there.

Well as I struggled to squeeze the bottles of wine down the side of the golf bag, I noticed one bottle was from Hawkes Bay, and the other was from Malbrough. I remembered being in both of these beautiful places, and that cheered me up a little. The cheery mood didn’t last long as I realised that the sunshine was burning my neck, so I had to climb into my sports car for shade.

Well as I drove back to my big detached house, in the capital of NZ, I found myself remembering how good life was back in old blighty, pushing my way through the asda crowds, driving around in my lovely Mundano, with those wonderful grey skies closing in on me. Ooooo the pleasure of getting out of the car and feeling my back lock when the freezing air hit me as I ran towards my tiny tiny house.


Poor Bob, just managing to get by in NZ. :laugh :laugh

[Kim39]

Life is so hard here in NZ, I sometimes wonder how I cope.

Just the other day I had to go to the shop and buy two bottles of wine because of the inconsiderate Easter trading laws which meant I had to stock up, such a chore.

Can you believe this, as I flipped the boot open (or trunk for our friends from the USA), I noticed I’d left the golf clubs in there. My little sports car has such a small boot, it was so difficult trying to fit the wine in there.

Well as I struggled to squeeze the bottles of wine down the side of the golf bag, I noticed one bottle was from Hawkes Bay, and the other was from Malbrough. I remembered being in both of these beautiful places, and that cheered me up a little. The cheery mood didn’t last long as I realised that the sunshine was burning my neck, so I had to climb into my sports car for shade.

Well as I drove back to my big detached house, in the capital of NZ, I found myself remembering how good life was back in old blighty, pushing my way through the asda crowds, driving around in my lovely Mundano, with those wonderful grey skies closing in on me. Ooooo the pleasure of getting out of the car and feeling my back lock when the freezing air hit me as I ran towards my tiny tiny house.


Poor Bob, just managing to get by in NZ. :laugh :laugh


Am sure you'll quite pleasently swap all this for the pleasures of Weston Point my good friend. Taking in those wonderful orange'y clouds above ICI. Now come on don't hold back Bob.

Hope all is good with you down there. All fine up here am pleased to report.


Kim

[alan999]

Thanks, I'm pleased I'm not on my own trying to adapt in this hostile environment and you've given me something to think about. Nearly ran out of things on Sunday when I spent the day on the sun lounger.

[peebles16]

Ah tis a hard life :D

Karen

[Moorf]

Our condolences Bob and best wishes for your flight back to the U.K.

We may soon be joining you. We've decided there's not enough traffic and crowds for us here, just last weekend we found ourselves totally isolated, not even a McDonalds or Next for, literally, 100's of kilometres. :mad: To make matters worse, when we decided on a 55km drive over to Lake Coleridge we encountered FOUR.. yes FOUR... other vehicles... what is this country coming to? :no

Just when we thought things couldn't get much worse, the sun came out and lit up the Alps, "this is NOTHING like Watford" we said in union, and vowed that we'd do all we could to fight our way back to the U.K and the joys of making up endless excuses to Big Issues sellers, the M25 and NCP car park stairwells.

Can't wait to smell the urine-stained hallowed halls of "home".

[alan999]

Our condolences Bob and best wishes for your flight back to the U.K.

We may soon be joining you. We've decided there's not enough traffic and crowds for us here, just last weekend we found ourselves totally isolated, not even a McDonalds or Next for, literally, 100's of kilometres. :mad: To make matters worse, when we decided on a 55km drive over to Lake Coleridge we encountered FOUR.. yes FOUR... other vehicles... what is this country coming to? :no

Just when we thought things couldn't get much worse, the sun came out and lit up the Alps, "this is NOTHING like Watford" we said in union, and vowed that we'd do all we could to fight our way back to the U.K and the joys of making up endless excuses to Big Issues sellers, the M25 and NCP car park stairwells.

Can't wait to smell the urine-stained hallowed halls of "home".

feel free to PM me if you'd sooner not talk about this in open forum,
Alan

[Mels]

You rotten meanies, stop it, it's torture.

When we get to Welly I will seek revenge...:p

Mels

[CJ22]

Gits :p

[ICR]

Life is so hard here in NZ, I sometimes wonder how I cope.

Just the other day I had to go to the shop and buy two bottles of wine because of the inconsiderate Easter trading laws which meant I had to stock up, such a chore.

Can you believe this, as I flipped the boot open (or trunk for our friends from the USA), I noticed I’d left the golf clubs in there. My little sports car has such a small boot, it was so difficult trying to fit the wine in there.

Well as I struggled to squeeze the bottles of wine down the side of the golf bag, I noticed one bottle was from Hawkes Bay, and the other was from Malbrough. I remembered being in both of these beautiful places, and that cheered me up a little. The cheery mood didn’t last long as I realised that the sunshine was burning my neck, so I had to climb into my sports car for shade.

Well as I drove back to my big detached house, in the capital of NZ, I found myself remembering how good life was back in old blighty, pushing my way through the asda crowds, driving around in my lovely Mundano, with those wonderful grey skies closing in on me. Ooooo the pleasure of getting out of the car and feeling my back lock when the freezing air hit me as I ran towards my tiny tiny house.


Poor Bob, just managing to get by in NZ. :laugh :laugh

THATS IT!!! I'm not coming anymore!

[bob_the_engineer]

That really happened, I was looking in my boot thinking “gorr I cant believe I left my golf clubs in there, I cant fit the wine in now” the sun was burning my neck, I glanced at the wine and almost fell over laughing at myself.

Do you know I didn’t have a clue how to swing a golf club before I came to NZ, I used to stay indoors peering through the curtains as the rain ran down the window and never imagined I’d ever actually want to play golf.

It still makes me laugh when I hear someone shout…….. 4 BRO,,, BRO duck BRO duck :laugh

Kim I can picture it now, ICI looming under that giant grey sky (shudder), you know the other day I went into a petrol satiation in Johnsonvill, the lady behind the counter said “lovely day” I agreed, then she said “oooo its just like being back in Liverpool” we both fell about laughing. I don’t seem to be able to recognise accents anymore, she took me totally by surprise. I guess all I can say is things are sweet as, and I hope it’s all good for you too bro. :nice1

You know after 2 years I finally made the trip to the other island (south), friends who grew up there told me that its beautiful, to be honest I looked around and said, better than this!

Well I got on the ferry and watched loads of Kiwis lock themselves into a dark room on the ferry to watch a film. I’d heard that this was an outstanding trip and thought it must be overrated, hey the locals would rather watch a film!

Well I’ve never seen anything like it, the dolphins leaping across the bow, the green blue waters of the sounds, the extraordinarily colours of the lush south island. Half of me wanted to shout never mind the film, have you seen this, the other half just thought (with envy) you spoilt B*&^^% I cant believe your not stood out here with your gob hanging open!

M25,,, South Island hemmm M25,,, South Island, Moorf I bet you guys just cant stop laughing! What a place eh, the south Island, its all I’d heard and more!

Bob

[themilkybarkid]

Ha don't want to gloat but I'm having a fantastic time here in the UK - and just reading your messaging has convinced me it would be a huge mistake to lose so much and live in NZ.

Just had a reassuring Easter -freezing, a cold biting wind, bleak and damp spoilt only by short bouts of sunshine. Went to the city centre the traffic jams and never ending roadworks were great, litter everywhere, things reliably unkempt and run down. And you know for all the tax we pay over and above income tax (the 18% VAT whenever we buy anything, the £136 TV license, national insurance and we've got our Water rates - £700 a year, and our local council tax £1,900 a year). It makes you feel like you are part of a big family - we pay all this money and our services are rubbish, our country is run as a playground for multi national companies not people, and nothing works. Because of global warming we get floods and strange weather and did you know 'More than 10000 people are still unable to return to their homes after last summer's flooding', but we feel united because we are in this big mess together. This togetherness is what you miss in NZ and we also sleep well knowing our good public money is helping to start wars in all sorts of places, not sure what they are about though.

I read the papers this morning great news 'Sparrow numbers have dropped 64% since the first Garden Birdwatch in 1979 and starling numbers have fallen by 77% in that time, while the blackbird and chaffinch have seen numbers fall by 39% and 28% respectively'. ... but the good old pigeons has increased by 665%

and more good news your missing out in NZ (sorry to rub it in:laugh ) 'Britain is in the grip of an anger epidemic, with a quarter of the population now struggling to keep the lid on their feelings of rage and resentment. What's making us so cross? And what can we do about it?' The Independent newspaper today tells us it's partly because of:

'the feeling of powerlessness many people feel in their lives. We are hemmed in by regulation, CCTV cameras, health and safety laws. There are even things we're not allowed to say. We feel a kind of despair about our lives. When two million people march against a war and no one in government pays any attention, no wonder many of us feel: "What's the point?"

But powerlessness is a dangerous emotion. No one likes feeling that way. And it means that, to vent our anger, we get our revenge in small ways'


So don't think that you can get me to leave the good old UK (USA Inc.) to suffer all that quiet people-centred outdoor lifestyle in NZ with all those beaches, open spaces pleasant weather and countryside - no chance!! - it's ..errmm sort of great here in the UK:exit
PS and we have central heating!!

[smitjo]

:laugh Made me smile!!!

[gina]

Loved the "and we have central heating":laugh

[mikewalkerfrom]

I'm still laughing!

[bob_the_engineer]

Hi Milky bar kid

I have to admit I’m sat here laughing too. I’m just waiting up for the wife to come in from her late shift, I’ll have to show her your post.

Well I guess I can forego the central heating, seems like a fair swap to me :laugh

Bob

[themilkybarkid]

You can't be serious ... you're prepared to put up with all that isolation in NZ and miss out on the central heating???

You're making a big mistake Bob

..... and don't forget all the shopping I can do in the UK!!

- it's great all those silly local shops where people wasted your time saying hello and chatting to people (like the butchers, bakery's, confectioners, newsagents, chandlers) are quickly closing down (we make real progress here in the UK) and instead they are being replaced with those nice big mega TESCOs - they're everywhere.

On Sunday we don't go to church we all go to TESCOs and if you can't sleep and your restless you can go to TESCOs and spend money -they have everything. We're now looking to try and relocate not to NZ but closer to TESCO. To shop is to be.

I realise this is tough on you Bob and you are probably green with envy imagining that corporate image of the isles knowing every TESCO everywhere is just the same, those great big shopping trollies, trying to find a car parking space, the queues at the til, the screaming kids and all that spend spend spend - this IS the life - it's great in the UK and I'm so glad we don't have to waste time with all those silly friendly local shops.

You know life is about money not people!

Don't think you'll find me making the same mistake and following you lot out to NZ - I know a good life when I see one not only do I have central heating I have shopping!!

[JandM]

:laugh ROFL!

[JandM]

I've just read the other page, and laughed out loud at the line, 'This is NOTHING like Watford.' Brilliant stuff, all of it.:clap

[mesh2008]

I feel lucky then!!:D I live in a third world country so certainly the life in NZ will be better :nice1

[Pebbles]

.. and their sense of humor isn't bad either :p

[nickydwuk]

PS and we have central heating!!

We don't - our boiler died 2 weeks ago and as is usual the staff could not be more helpful. Two weeks later someone is going to come and look at our boiler to see which one would be the best to replace it with. You can't beat a good, reliable, UK company. So helpful & friendly :wah

[dusk]

I don't know whether to laugh or cry :D

[themilkybarkid]

Hey Nicky - we needed a new boiler about 18 months ago - we only went about 3 weeks with no hot water or heating -no problem - more good news with all the new safety regulations, standards, energy savings etc the new boiler only cost us £2,600 and the best part of a week to install - so you're in for a treat - ENJOY:laugh .

People on this forum living in NZ really are missing out:laugh

They'll be beggin' to come back to the UK!! We are at the cutting edge here.

Hey and we've no worry about running out of gas for our central heating systems because we're gonna glow in the dark - the government has just decided it's going for a massive expansion in nuclear power stations yippee!!

And here in the UK we don't worry about food we've got factory farming (we know how to pack 'em in - just like our BIG shops) and now we're going into GM crops big style! This time the government are gonna keep the GM farms a secret!

And don't worry about crime in the UK - we are taking pre-emptive steps/strikes. The government and enforcement agencies are all watching and knowing. We have signs everywhere on every street. In my village on street corners NO ALCOHOL, NO FOOTBALL, NO PARKING, NO SPEEDING, 3 PEOPLE INJURED LAST YEAR ON THIS ROAD, as well as our notices we've cameras everywhere, and we have an ASBO(Anti-Social Behaviour Orders) -any four young innocent people together and we can get the police onto them and before you know it we can progress them down the track towards a criminal record. We enjoy a great sense of security, control and safety here in the UK - we should know we lock up more people than any other European country - we are top of the league - we love winning! We love to read talk eat sleep crime and a favourite pastime now is watching out for crime and terror at all times and all places. You know it makes you feel great:yes

Nothing can beat the UK at the moment - we are going places!! (dangerous places)

Now where was my identity card ... oh and I mustn't forget to give the government my DNA sample ... I wonder if this message is being monitored, or perhaps my keystrokes... well at least I know we are all so safe here.

... anyway we've got shops, money and central heating!! :clap

[shakyle2906]

You've lost it..............great posts, made me chuckle!!!!!!!:laugh :laugh

Sharon
x

[peebles16]

:laugh :laugh

Karenx

[benhila]

I would like to thank you all for your positive posts (especially Bob’s which ALWAYS makes me smile) – much needed to boost our spirits in the nerve-racking period of waiting for ITA approval… Shipping date is set, car sold, plane tickets bought, flat rented out, Wellington job secured (starting date 12/5) – all we need is the elusive PR. BUT, I wanted to say (in response to all the negative comments regarding the UK) that we actually love it here. Yes, we do need a change after 20 years in London and we fell in love with NZ instantly during our first visit there (6 weeks 5 years ago, have been back twice since). However, having come originally from Israel, there are so many things we appreciate in the UK; The (relatively) incorrupt politics, the political correctness, the multi-cultural feel. Of course not all is great and London has changed a lot over the last two decades, but not all to the worse! This is still a great country and (perhaps) you need to know other countries in order to appreciate it. So, not intending to preach, just wanted to point out that England has its good sides too (and they are not limited to M&S….).

Hila

[themilkybarkid]

I agree with you Hila

It was just a 'tongue in cheek' cynical satire of some of the changes for the worse here in the UK - which was meant to be funny - albeit extreme :laugh . You are right there is a lot of good here in the UK :nice1 and in comparison to other countries it has a lot to offer.

But having been here for 50 years and been employed in social services, then as a probation officer, drugs worker and more latterly as an academic in the social sciences I've studied UK society and worked with those on the edge of of UK society. I have to say all is not well here in the UK - but I appreciate it's relative. But given our rich history, democracy, wealth and opportunity it could and should all be LOADS better here in the UK than it is.

PS I wish the UK was multi racial/cultural - London is - but outside of Inner London there are largely tensions and ghettos sadly. With things getting worse with the War of Terror and Islamaphobia.

well done and I hope all goes through well for you Hila with your move to NZ - a busy couple of months ahead for you :nice1

[caz]

Can't speak at the moment life is so so bad - need to go to the beach it helps me remember why I came to this place - you saw how many cars!!!:clap

Enjoying life to the FULL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:exit

[Carey]

It all sounds just dreadful. Ok better cancel the house sale, un-select ourselves from the pool, decline the job offer and stay put. Now off to revel the thought of driving round my beloved M25 asap.

[incredible hulse]

And no 55% tax eh Bob ?

[Lara Croft]

I don't think Bob is painting an entirely fair picture, it's not utopia here. I counted at least 20 people on the beach on Easter Sunday... it was crowded beyond belief! And there was not a single ice-cream man, or hot-dog / burger van. Disgraceful!

And I had to sit in a traffic jam for 5 minutes. On a sunny day!

J :exit

[JayBee]

Very naughty Bob!!!

And themilkybarkid, are you signing up for the petition for the extra bank holiday here in Blighty?
No one seems to have anything better to do than go shopping in the Superstores....I didn't even notice it there was a bank holiday (or two). No excitement stocking up on the wine because everything was open as usual!!!I really don't know why they're bothering !

As for the beach - I'd have been sandblasted down here in the SW!! Good job our central heating is still on!!!

[Kerry and David]

How awful for you all - great post:D

[Lara Croft]

I found out the other day, that NZ has a public holiday for the Queen's birthday!!! Another day off work.....

Jane :)

[napiers]

Thanks for this thread and for putting everything in perspective!!
:cheers

[CJ22]

Yeah but enough's enough, or you're going to start me getting all defensive about poor old Blighty.

[StevieD]

Bob, now that is just downright wicked!!! :laugh

[themilkybarkid]

It's all funny .... but true!!!:D :laugh

Anyway I'll leave you all in peace for a few days - I'm in work all day tomorrow - I'll be thinking of you poor Bob when I down the picturesque M53 and glance across at the sprawling miles of fumes pumping out of those Petrol/Chemical plants in Ellesmere Port - looking like something from the film BladeRunner - I'll try and remember to close the air vents in my car as I do though.

Then on Fri I get the train for a meeting in London - a mere £220 day return second class from Liverpool! You just know your getting the best in the world when you pay so much for a 200 mile train ticket.

Just hope I can get a seat! LOL:wah

When the quality is so good the demand is so high! :D

[StevieD]

And you don't get that in her home country, where is the logic in that :laugh

[jubjub]

Seeing the lovely sea views everytime we go to kindy is such a chore

There are just tooo many coffee shops, and the cakes are too nice looking.

The fact that there is so much to do for kids that is either free or quite cheap, how are they meant to do it all???

Having to use the aircon in the car 9 months of the year really takes it out on the petrol consumption....

Bob, I had the wine prob too, but its a baby buggy not a golf one that takes up all the space! I do wish I had the sports car though....

Sometimes I miss the M8 and the Kingston Bridge, and the muddy looking Clyde..., not to mention scraping ice off the car...

[incredible hulse]

Then on Fri I get the train for a meeting in London - a mere £220 day return second class from Liverpool! You just know your getting the best in the world when you pay so much for a 200 mile train ticket.

Just hope I can get a seat! LOL:wah

When the quality is so good the demand is so high! :D They see you scousers coming don't they ? :exit
What with Bob and his 55% tax and now this. Cost me 24 quid to get from London to Leeds return when I was back in Sept.

[Familyofmonkeys]

This is the funniest thing I have read all day :laugh :laugh

[willsken]

Cost me 24 quid to get from London to Leeds return when I was back in Sept.

Going to London for the day during the week is really expensive, I used to do it and couldn't believe the cost, I was just glad work paid. Just did a search for a day return Liverpool to London and it was actually £221. (Or you could opt for first class at £350.):yes

[incredible hulse]

Going to London for the day during the week is really expensive, I used to do it and couldn't believe the cost, I was just glad work paid. Just did a search for a day return Liverpool to London and it was actually £221. (Or you could opt for first class at £350.):yes
Yeah I know -real swine if you can't book months in advance. I used to do the trip (Leeds - London); if I booked in advance could get it for 19 quid otherwise it was as cheap to fly down

[Pip]

Bob, I truly understand.

Often as I drive home in my convertible, I feel a slight pang for those days of standing on the metropolitan tube platform, the heady excitement of the roulette of wondering whether the train would or wouldn't come, or whether there would or wouldn't be a seat and I'd be able to exercising those leg muscles and shoulder muscles (laptop bag) for the next hour. no longer do I get to play the jeopardy game of whether the person standing next to me was a believer in the use of deoderant (at 5'2 - I'm normally armpit level)

I sadly think back fondly of the challenge of fighting the wind/rain with arms of shopping bags from my carpark space to our second floor flat, the daring game of finding the doorkey and wondering which bag of shopping would break first. somehow driving into the warm dry garage and walking through the connecting door into the large detached house just isn't the same...sigh.

I've tried to replace the church of Tesco with that of woolworths on a Sunday, but somehow it doesn't seem to need the same amount of time and effort and instead I now find myself having to fill that unused time with wasted activities such as picnics, the beach or just lazing in the hammock. The shame of it....

those little challenges that we could rely on... from having the right money for the car park machine in which case it was invariably out of order, dealing with people who have no interest in resolving the problem and wondering whether my car's been broken into/stolen - have all been cruelly taken away from me. I've even tried livening it up, by leaving the house accidentally unlocked on a couple of occasions, but alas no one has taken up the challenge.

Ah well... we made our beds.. we must lie on them.

[BigRod]

...... not to mention scraping ice off the car...Hehe
that one made me smile - try explaining to a kiwi what an ice scraper is, and that they are available at every garage. You get a look like you have just stepped of a UFO.

Rod

[marcia]

Hehe
that one made me smile - try explaining to a kiwi what an ice scraper is, and that they are available at every garage. You get a look like you have just stepped of a UFO.

Rod


Just before our first winter here I was trying to get a can of de-icer before I got caught out, no-body knew what on earth i was talking about and looked at me as if I was mental when I explained what de-icer was!!

Love all your posts poeple, really made me laugh! :clap

[themilkybarkid]

They see you scousers coming don't they ?

well spotted - good detective work but anyone can tell by my accent - I spent the first 22 years living just outside the Liverpool FC football ground opposite the famous Kop!

I'm a Scouser and a Kopite!:raebanana

[Joolzr]

Thanks Bob and all

Was having a slight wobble, brought on by too much DIY and admin hassle for our move :(

Honestly, I think it would be cheaper and easier to spend three months on holiday than move to NZ to work! But glad to hear the beach will make up for it. And that winter won't be too bad. We're aiming for a May move so doung two in a row is a little hard to take. Can't wait to :exit

Joolz

[Joanne100]

Thank you! thank you! thank you! best thread on here for a long time, i nearly killed myself reading it.........I have the worse cough ever so couldn't breath after laughing so much.

Joanne

[incredible hulse]

well spotted - good detective work but anyone can tell by my accent - I spent the first 22 years living just outside the Liverpool FC football ground opposite the famous Kop!

I'm a Scouser and a Kopite!:raebanana No wonder you want to emigrate ;)

[StevieD]

well spotted - good detective work but anyone can tell by my accent - I spent the first 22 years living just outside the Liverpool FC football ground opposite the famous Kop!

I'm a Scouser and a Kopite!:raebanana

Poor sod!!! :laugh

Not Vienna St or one of those.....???

[themilkybarkid]

Was tough in Anfield in them days
spent me life playing footy on the 'rec' all day and night
Lived in Donaldson Street (about 4 streets along from Vienna) opposite Kemlyn Road! The one with the Wash House, Crete Hall, Mitchells the cake shop and the recreation ground!!

I know Vienna Street well along with Venmore, Venice, Varthen and Viceroy Street!! Ahh home.

Anyway after reading just how difficult life is in NZ with all those beaches not knowing which one to visit, having to cope with too much incessant sunshine and blue sky, having to risk dolphins intruding your private space in the sea, the intimidating open spaces, and feeling so lonely on the roads not seeing cars for miles - Hey I'm not gonna waste my time and money going to NZ - I'm staying in the UK with my box of Shreddies, my Cadbury's Chocolate Drops, my cheddar cheese, gas central heating and my 24 hour TESCOs. We even have de-icers.

You lot who've emigrated to NZ just don't seem to appreciate the important things of life!!

[benandclare]

Why anyone would want to move to a country where you can rack up on a car sales forecourt and take out a NZD 20,000 car for a test drive without the salesman and take all day if you want with no need to show identification is quite frankly beyond me ...........:roll :roll

[StevieD]

I don't think Bob is painting an entirely fair picture, it's not utopia here. I counted at least 20 people on the beach on Easter Sunday... it was crowded beyond belief! And there was not a single ice-cream man, or hot-dog / burger van. Disgraceful!

And I had to sit in a traffic jam for 5 minutes. On a sunny day!

J :exit

Lara, the beach we were on over Easter Sunday at the East Cape had the grand total of 6 people on. It was so difficult battling our way to the waterline in the evening. There was an amazing selection of driftwood for our fire and we almost killed a passing gull with the cork off our champagne bottle to celebrate our daughters 10th birthday as the sun set over the South Pacific. Birthday cake and champage with a stunning sunset, not wrapped up in woolies on EASTER SUNDAY!!!!!

:laugh :laugh

[StevieD]

The filthy volcanic sand and water at Marakopa beach

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e397/bluekiwi100/DSCF2318.jpg

[tea drinker]

He, He
Just what I needed when I was wandering around my house, in a state of complete chaos (the house not me) at 4 oclock in the morning trying to come up with a plan of action and thinking what am I doing trying to get to NZ (perhaps it was me and not the house) but being a true Brit I've put the kettle on for a strong cup of tea and turned my back (literally) on the decorating and boxes of stuff and bags for the charity and stuff to pass on and the tins of paint and brushes and what can I get in the attic so the house looks uncluttered when (feels like if at the moment) it goes on the market and am clicking away on the forum.
Feel better now:laugh
More please...much, much more

[lockstock]

It's hard enough having to get through a week (albeit a short one this time) at school but to be expected to stay behind after school every Friday to drink beer or wine and eat loads of prepared snacks is too much to bear;)

[mgbridges]

What I find so inconvenient here is when you ring the doctor on Thursday afternoon and they offer you an appointment for the next afternoon, I mean there I was with my diary all clear for 2 weeks on Monday and they expect me to be free immediately... I ask you!?

Oh yeah and then I missed out on reading several chapters of the book I'm currently reading because the flippin' doctor was running his surgery to schedule AND the nurse wasn't upset when I had to postpone my son's appointment due to the doctors advice.

And how dare the supermarket give me an immediate cash refund, no questions asked, for the total amount I was charged when I pointed out to them that the pears I'd just bought were marked up as $1.97 per kg not $3.98 per kg. There I was all prepared to have to queue for ages at the customer service desk, fill out millions of forms, give them all my personal details and then get a voucher that would have only been valid in that store!

This place its all too helpful, I think I need to go and lie down in a darkened room (or maybe on the beach) to get over the shock of it all! :laugh

Anneliese

[peebles16]

Flipping hysterical this one and am already in NZ :laugh :laugh

Karenx

[skibumwa]

I miss the rush hour traffic in Seattle -- 1.5 hours to drive 15 miles? :nice1 I miss that.. Now, my 15 minute commute to work by scooter is hard on me! :wah

John

[baz]

It does sound a hard and cruel life over there... :p

[StevieD]

Ah yes, the doctors.....

Fully expecting a response of "we can fit you in some time next week" I was bowled over to be told to come in immediately, pushed straight to the front of the line and then to be told that I needed a physio appointment. Again, expecting a wait of up to a month, he quite happily told me to go to the physio next door. In I hobbled (at 5pm), and they were most apologetic that they couldn't fit me in immediately but would I be available to come along first thing next morning!!!! Comparing that to my experience of a six week wait for a physio appointment and the problem clearing up before you had even seen them, I was quite pleased....


Oh, and you don't get enough time to read a few chapters either, most annoying :mad::mad:

[jubjub]

Stevie and anneliese, you need to visit my doctor... that will make you feel better, she is always late, and because she is so popular within the practice you cant get in the same day either....

Oh, another one, when I first got here and we went to a pub, we went home without stinking of cigarette smoke... I always used to enjoy having to wash my clothes after going for a pint....

[incredible hulse]

I'm intrigued by the doc thing. Our surgery in the UK could always see us same day as they had to reserve 'emergency' time for 2 hours each morning. So if you said it was urgent they could see you that morning. Thought this was a govt. directive to improve their figures?
Actually have to wait longer in NZ due to the higher patient:quack ratio in this area although never normally more than a few days wait and found the doc to be very good (although this is just luck of the draw I guess)

[stephenandjulie]

Since We have been here, we have had to cope with overly pleasant locals. Extremely helpfull forum members. Fabulous weather this summer was the best since 1977 on Barry island (LOL) Even last winter here in NZ was great.....COLD....but great. I even have more quality time with the family.:wah

But even with all these positives, I can't forget how lovely England is.

The people are very friendly laughing and joking when they rob you. The weather there is ssoooooo wet and grey and I cant forget the endless hours of overtime just to make ends meet. I really don't know what I was thinking coming here. I'm just soooo depressed.
:wah

[Leanne]

I have to say that this thread made me laugh (even though I didn't get all of the UK humor)! But it was enough to get me to register on the forum. I especially liked the part about the ice scrapers and de-icer! Does this mean I won't have to endure another winter of -40? Will the snow ever melt? :wah

Leanne

[JandM]

Hello, Leanne, and welcome.:)

[Leanne]

Thanks! Just finished introducing myself on the Introduction thread.

[marcia]

This thread is great - I love reading it!

But why hasn't it got any star ratings??? Come on you lot who are laughing - give it a rating so we can see stars!! :raebanana

[themilkybarkid]

Just got back from my £210 second class Virgin train trip from Liverpool to London and feeling very smug about my wonderful UK experience:raebanana I thought I take the opportunity of embarrassing all those who made the mistake of emigrating to NZ by sharing some of the highlights of the day. Daily UK life stretches and challenges us - great character building opportunities that you just don’t get in NZ!:yes

I went down with a colleague who uses a wheelchair. Although he is suffering from angina and needs help pushing the wheelchair he was given a real challenge (lucky him) as we tried to catch the 0707 am to London. Challenges are great!. My colleague had parked in the 2nd floor of the NCP car park in Lime Street Station Liverpool - but early in the morning he was faced with his first UK challenge (lucky him!!) - the lift was broken. We learn so much from this learning opportunity. He couldn't make use of the stairs or enjoy the lovely ambiance and odours of the NCP stairwells - instead he had to retrace his car route in his wheelchair struggling with his angina!!

It was ‘Easy-Peasy’ with a wheelchair on the train though - because these brand new Virgin trains are 'state of the art' and have a toilet/wc that can accommodate a wheelchair! Amazing technology. But just to make sure these wheelchair users don’t start to expect to be properly accommodated there is no way of getting on the train using a wheelchair!! LOL

But we like challenges in the UK - so we decided to ask the railway staff to fetch a portable ramp so my friend can join us on the train and enjoy this brand new spanking train with all mod cons!

Although our meeting in London was only a few hundred meters from Euston Station we had the benefit of more UK challenges – we passed a few people wanting money or wanting us to buy the Big Issue Magazine –these were people in this rich country of ours have nowhere to live. These are the much appreciated daily dilemmas that stretch and challenge the social conscience – do we give, do we stop, do we ignore, is it our responsibility, the governments or self inflicted? Makes you appreciate the complexity of everyday UK living!

Returning tired from a long day in cold wet dirty overcrowded London we thought we’d have a boring uneventful journey back - but no chance of that this is UK not NZ more excitement!!

Okay we’d only spend £210 for our ticket and had indicated the need for a wheelchair table seat/access on the 1817 hours train to Liverpool - but another UK challenge kept us alert and awake!! To get on the train with a wheelchair we still had to report to a Virgin train manager who directed us to the customer relations counter. At the customer relations counter we joined the queue to ask for the portable ramp to be made available (which seemed a funny thing to do because we’d already booked a wheelchair accessible table), the nice red uniformed staff attended to customers ahead of us – but then disappeared to attend to something else?

Our challenge – what do we do now? All character building stuff that makes us what we are here in the UK. We do what we do well – waited in an orderly queue patiently and politely. Time moves on –while waiting I notice the huge poster on the pillar ZERO TOLERANCE with a photograph of a man with his hand raised in my face as it where. It says ‘staff will not tolerate any physical or verbal abuse’. I’ve learnt here in the UK recently just how important it is to be reminded of risk, danger, problems and unacceptable behaviours.

We wait but get bothered about missing our train. We can hear a member of staff chatting behind the screen so we shout across for assistance – helpfully as ever a member of the Virgin staff comes over to speak to us. She says ‘I’m sorry the staff have gone to attend to something and I’ve been told by Sandra (who’s in charge) that I can’t do the counter because I haven’t got a uniform on!’

We understand and appreciate this difficult dilemma fully – we wouldn’t want to be helped by a member of staff who was behind the counter and only had a badge but didn’t have one of those ever so nice red Virgin train uniforms. We thought about waiting for someone in a nice red uniform even if it meant missing our train – but please forgive our folly and foolishness – we decided to leave and make our way to the train and just try and negotiate the train ramp or no ramp.

It was a little disconcerting arriving back in Liverpool when we did because the train was on time. We passed quickly through Lime Street –but within that short 2 min period we had enough time to enjoy the reassuring and educational experience of hearing three separate security and safety warning loudly on the public address system - one about smoking, one about unattended luggage and although I did my public duty to be attentive I couldn’t hear the third security/safety warning - not sure if my life was at risk but have to admit I’ve worried about missing that warning all night as it was no doubt very important).

Anyway I digress - having learnt so much from another day full of the many character building UK challenges - that are sadly so often denied to you people who made mistake of emigrating to the UK - the out of order lift in the NCP car park (which by the way only cost £13) posed no problem whatsoever – because with great strength I pushed my friends wheelchair up the traffic ramps to his parked car!

I’m sorry to create so much envy but I thought you should know what you are missing and know there is never a dull moment here in the UK - NZ just doesn’t have the richness of challenges and learning opportunities like we have in day to day life in the UK!!!’
:p :nice1

[willsken]

I'm intrigued by the doc thing. Our surgery in the UK could always see us same day as they had to reserve 'emergency' time for 2 hours each morning. So if you said it was urgent they could see you that morning. Thought this was a govt. directive to improve their figures?
Actually have to wait longer in NZ due to the higher patient:quack ratio in this area although never normally more than a few days wait and found the doc to be very good (although this is just luck of the draw I guess)

incredible hulse your posts always make me smile. :) :) Our surgery did bring that in for a couple of years but they returned to the old system. Not sure which I preferred. Waiting at the back of the queue for a couple of hours while the older generation came for their weekly chat (could never get there until after 9 due to the school run) or waiting a week at least for an appointment. Always been in the day I rang or the next day since we've been in NZ. I was seen straight away when I broke my leg, too! :D

[incredible hulse]

incredible hulse your posts always make me smile. :) :)
I'm glad I can please. I do notice that we seem to have different memories of the UK :yes No doubt I'll be getting accused of being a troll soon but I can only see as I find ;) Personally didn't have issues with the NHS so I'm not going to start slating it now I'm in NZ. Was also interested to find if the emergency time we encountered was UK wide as the posts I'd seen seem to indicate it wasn't.

[incredible hulse]

:laugh Just got back from my £210 second class Virgin train trip from Liverpool to London and feeling very smug about my wonderful UK experience:raebanana I thought I take the opportunity of embarrassing all those who made the mistake of emigrating to NZ by sharing some of the highlights of the day. Daily UK life stretches and challenges us - great character building opportunities that you just don’t get in NZ!

I went down with a colleague who uses a wheelchair. Although he is suffering from angina and needs help pushing the wheelchair he was given a real challenge (lucky him) as we tried to catch the 0707 am to London. Challenges are great!. My colleague had parked in the 2nd floor of the NCP car park in Lime Street Station Liverpool - but early in the morning he was faced with his first UK challenge (lucky him!!) - the lift was broken. We learn so much from this learning opportunity. He couldn't make use of the stairs or enjoy the lovely ambiance and odours of the NCP stairwells - instead he had to retrace his car route in his wheelchair struggling with his angina!!

It was ‘Easy-Peasy’ with a wheelchair on the train though - because these brand new Virgin trains are 'state of the art' and have a toilet/wc that can accommodate a wheelchair! Amazing technology. But just to make sure these wheelchair users don’t start to expect to be properly accommodated there is no way of getting on the train using a wheelchair!!
But we like challenges in the UK - so we decided to ask the railway staff to fetch a portable ramp so my friend can join us on the train and enjoy this brand new spanking train with all mod cons!

Although our meeting in London was only a few hundred meters from Euston Station we had the benefit of more UK challenges – we passed a few people wanting money or wanting us to buy the Big Issue Magazine –these were people in this rich country of ours have nowhere to live. These are the much appreciated daily dilemmas that stretch and challenge the social conscience – do we give, do we stop, do we ignore, is it our responsibility, the governments or self inflicted? Makes you appreciate the complexity of everyday UK living!

Returning tired from a long day in cold wet dirty overcrowded London we thought we’d have a boring uneventful journey back - but no chance of that this is UK not NZ more excitement!!

Okay we’d only spend £210 for our ticket and had indicated the need for a wheelchair table seat/access on the 1817 hours train to Liverpool - but another UK challenge kept us alert and awake!! To get on the train with a wheelchair we still had to report to a Virgin train manager who directed us to the customer relations counter. At the customer relations counter we joined the queue to ask for the portable ramp to be made available (which seemed a funny thing to do because we’d already booked a wheelchair accessible table), the nice red uniformed staff attended to customers ahead of us – but then disappeared to attend to something else?

Our challenge – what do we do now? All character building stuff that makes us what we are here in the UK. We do what we do well – waited in an orderly queue patiently and politely. Time moves on –while waiting I notice the huge poster on the pillar ZERO TOLERANCE with a photograph of a man with his hand raised in my face as it where. It says ‘staff will not tolerate any physical or verbal abuse’. I’ve learnt here in the UK recently just how important it is to be reminded of risk, danger, problems and unacceptable behaviours.

We wait but get bothered about missing our train. We can hear a member of staff chatting behind the screen so we shout across for assistance – helpfully as ever a member of the Virgin staff comes over to speak to us. She says ‘I’m sorry the staff have gone to attend to something and I’ve been told by Sandra (who’s in charge) that I can’t do the counter because I haven’t got a uniform on!’

We understand and appreciate this difficult dilemma fully – we wouldn’t want to be helped by a member of staff who was behind the counter and only had a badge but didn’t have one of those ever so nice red Virgin train uniforms. We thought about waiting for someone in a nice red uniform even if it meant missing our train – but please forgive our folly and foolishness – we decided to leave and make our way to the train and just try and negotiate the train ramp or no ramp.

It was a little disconcerting arriving back in Liverpool when we did because the train was on time. We passed quickly through Lime Street –but within that short 2 min period we had enough time to enjoy the reassuring and educational experience of hearing three separate security and safety warning loudly on the public address system - one about smoking, one about unattended luggage and although I did my public duty to be attentive I couldn’t hear the third security/safety warning - not sure if my life was at risk but have to admit I’ve worried about missing that warning all night as it was no doubt very important).

Anyway I digress - having learnt so much from another day full of the many character building UK challenges - that are sadly so often denied to you people who made mistake of emigrating to the UK - the out of order lift in the NCP car park (which by the way only cost £13) posed no problem whatsoever – because with great strength I pushed my friends wheelchair up the traffic ramps to his parked car!

I’m sorry to create so much envy but I thought you should know what you are missing and know there is never a dull moment here in the UK - NZ just doesn’t have the richness of challenges and learning opportunities like we have in day to day life in the UK!!!’

LOL; Quality. Serve you right for being a tight git and not going first class ;)

[willsken]

No doubt I'll be getting accused of being a troll soon but I can only see as I find ;)

Not by me! I know plenty who are happy with their lot in the UK and would never consider leaving. I just wasn't one of them! :)