[pleccy2000]

Been back now for 2 weeks. I have started my job and Anna is currently going to interviews. Deposit is down on a flat and I bought a VW polo to get around. It's been a very busy 2 weeks.

How is it to be back? Well in all honesty, not very nice. I have noticed how miserable people are (generally). It's obviously cold which sucks and I have thought about New Zealand EVERY SINGLE DAY since I got back here.

So... my PR stamp expires unless I return in NZ before November 2006. Our plan is to save as much money as is possible and return to New Zealand, have children and start our lives then. As Anna is a kiwi she has no problems going back in terms of PR visa's etc.

I will try to make the most of being here in Europe. Will try to travel to more places - already booked a long weekend in Prague and 3 weeks in Africa doing some aid work there.

What I have come to realise is that although I have many friends here in UK, I can live without them. Not many people have asked me how I feel about it all and my experiences in NZ - they seem to be concerned with there own lives more - it suddenly hit me that we are all growing up and changing. Everyone is starting to do what they want to do.

I hope I am able to hang on until November 2006. I am already counting. It will be hard. Anna dislikes it here which makes it ever trickier - but we'll get through it.

I am very jealous of every one embarking on their trip to New Zealand this year and I hope it goes swimmingly. The best advise I can dish out having tried to emigrate 3 times already is not to look back at what you 'had' in the UK because seriously, you only remember the good things.

In my opinion (and it's only my opinion) New Zealand is a better place, and by a fair margin too. We'll its better for me and Anna anyway.

[bbq]

good luck Adam. SUre you will make it

alex :nice1

[Diny]

Adam .... good to hear you got back safe and sound.

Now you're back you're wanting to be in NZ again ...... your bank balance will be crippled !!! :laugh

Just a thought ... do you really have to be in London. Of all the places you could be in the UK I'm sure you could find somewhere a little less 'hostile' (for the want of a better word). I know you want to save up some money to enable you to return to NZ, but do you have to be in a place that makes you feel so unhappy. OK - so the UK isn't for you, but sureley for the time being you could 'make the best of a bad job' - get out of London to a smaller town with less 'rat race competitors'.

No doubt I'll get a few comments from the RTS brigade about how dreadful the whole of the UK is ..... but I for one believe that you would be much happier spending your remaining time here in a different location.

Whatever you decide to do, I wish you all the good luck and happiness.

Diny

[Annierobrigado]

as one who is probably 18 years older than you, am glad you realize you're growing up. if it is to be that you and anna will have children, then hopefully you are already in nz and will have them there. I believe it is a wonderful place to raise children.

But never lose heart, and always keep an open mind. take care of each other.

annie

[sarahw]

Adam & Anna,

Great to hear you guys got back to Blighty safely - must admit I did have to smile at your post - I thought you were going to say you'd made the right decision in going back to London... :P I'm sorry that you've found out you want to be in NZ the hard way (and very expensive way!) But hats off to you for persevering and still planning on coming back.

I must say I agree with you about everyone else being preoccupied with their own lives. Most of our friends have kids now - so that comes naturally and we don't expect to see them for many years or even to hear from them so regularly with little ones taking up all their time. However, its been interesting seeing who keeps in touch when you go away & who you loose touch with very quickly. A couple of girls who used to work for me e-mail nearly every day with their news, whereas I'm only hearing sporadically from one of my closest friends - after much prompting via e-mails and web cam movies and photographs (and she's supposed to be a bridesmaid at my wedding in January!!!)

You make new friends here & I must say that it takes a bit of time and patience but it does pay off!

Good luck with the saving and hopefully you'll be back in NZ soon! :hopeso

[lindajax]

Pleccy,
Nice to see you got back Ok.... Was having a chat with someone today who did the same thing ... basically came here thought they didn't really like it/ wasn't the right time to make the move and went home.
immediately they got back realised that they really did like it and wanted to return asap.

You will be clearer now that you DO want to be in NZ and that is a good thing!
I agree with Diny though ... mate your gonna be skint!

Hope to see you back here soon -- make the most of your time in europe ( which you seem to be doing)

Love
Linda xxx

[Glenda]

Hi Alan,

Well, at least you know now. :yes (Or .. is this a joke - didn't you go back in January?) Anyway, hang on in there - you will soon reluctantly get used to the "grey country". :? But honestly, how you will wait until November 2006, I do not know ... we are having trouble waiting until June. Bet you get here sooner. :P Have a good time in Prague and South Africa. We would like to see more of Europe but with four kids it really is a no-no.

BTW, when you posted "goodbye" foolsgold99 gave this comment:-

give em a fortnight and they'll be back!

If you are out there foolsgold99, can you give me a reading?? :laugh

[Wiggles]

Hi Adam

Well - your message is like a blast from the past!! We went to NZ (DH is a kiwi) and lasted there 18 mths. We were young and it was a bit boring! Really missed London, but by the time we flew out, we didn't want to go!! Got to Hong Kong, and did a u-turn back to NZ :laugh Who said life has to be boring - that's what I want to know :laugh

Anyhow, when we got back to NZ my DH was offered a really good job in London, so we flew out again ( :laugh ) within 2 weeks. This time we made it and have been back in London now for 8 years. Well, we're finally going back. flights are booked and we really want to go!

We are older now, but still none the wiser :uhoh We know what we are going back to and want our son to have a real kids life!!

Good luck to you both, and believe me, you will work it out and if NZ is where you do want to be, the time will fly. After all, it was only yesterday I was 21 and now I'm a 4 years short of 40 :wah

Wiggles

[leslie]

there is no rule that says you have to do everything by 25.

the last time we left london we spent 6 months wringing every last ounce of pleasure out of the experience and once gone didn't miss it at all. a huge part of the 'london/ england' fantasy is what 'could be', so if you've knocked it on the head/ done everything by the time you leave you will prob find yourselves less wistful in long run.

ps. buy our house

[jesselyn]

adam,

if you cant wait until Nov 2006 - you can always go back before that date... :yes :nice1 :angel

all the best,
jes

ps. anyways, here is some patience http://www.addis-welt.de/smilie/smilie/mix/brain2.gif