[Croft]

Well, Reccie Trip No 3, and my 4th trip (and my wifes 5th trip) to NZ is almost upon us. We'll be spending 3 weeks looking for houses around Wellington (our first stay beyond a day there in 2001), and an interview with a branch of the company I work for, which is very good news.

Up until the last minute it was a bit dicey whether we'd leave on the date planned, as the OH hadn't yet returned from a hot and sandy place. Luckily she's back now! The fly in the ointment is that the day we get back I have to start a new job for 11 months, again going somewhere hot and sandy, and of course no choice in the matter! This is going to push our emigration to NZ right to the limit of our RRV. I can only say thank goodness we maximised the time limits on our visas at the beginning, otherwise we'd be in trouble now. Even if you don't think you'll use it I'd suggest anyone to maximise your flexibility and, for example, don't get the blue stickers straight away (if you have the option) but wait the permitted 6 months from the decision to grant residency.

Add to that skiing in Queenstown, watching an All Blacks/England game in Christchurch and generally visiting relatives and friends we should have a pretty good time!

[NZ Hopeful]

Sounds like you have a lot planned! Hope you have a great time! :)

[Red Devil]

Good to hear from you Croft, hope your trip goes well and best of luck with your interview :nice1

... enjoy the entertainment also, you lucky so and so ;) :D

[JandM]

Have a good trip.:nice1

[StevieD]

Enjoy!

[dusk]

have a great time and a good house hunt! :D

[AndyR]

have a cool time! hope its productive

[pinkpiggy]

Have a great time. :nice1

[Croft]

Thank you all!

I hate last minute packing!

[M-Squared]

Have a super trip!

[Croft]

Got back from our trip on Monday - beginning to feel vaguely human again after 24 hours in the air.

We very much like Wellington, and have decided that is the city for us. It is always a compromise of course, but it offers the best opportunities for us for jobs and a "small city" atmosphere. We had some of the best and the worst weather that Wellington has to offer, so we don't have any rose tinted glasses on.

The OH likes a house in Whitby, north of Wellington, though I am a little hesitant as we won't be going out for another year and I don't know how the property market is set to go. All our friends and relatives out there are saying to hold off.

I prefer Kandallah, much closer in and that more established feel.

I had an interview with the firm I work for their Wellington office, seemed to go well but they can't guarantee anything because of the timescales involved.

Got some good skiing in Queenstown though - 1 day of interesting conditions on Coronet Peak, 2nd day beautiful and 3rd was grey but OK. Also saw the England/All Blacks game in Christchurch - what an embarrassment! Amazing how much of the crowd were England supporters. Waiting for the Pacific Blue flight from Wellington we heard a long chat between someone who installed "real" English central heating and another English couple - very funny!

The worst thing is the years delay before we go- hopefully it will fly past!

[AndyR]

cool glad you had a nice trip

[BaldyBeardyBloke]

Glad it all went well.

[Red Devil]

Good to hear your 3rd 'recce' went well... I'm sure the next year will whizz by!!!

Good luck :nice1