nickbraddock
27th August 2008, 11:39 AM
Hi all,
just realised we;'ve been here just short of 3 months, can't believe it really, so thought I'd give a quick update:
We used Robinsons International to move us, can't fault them, they turned up and everything was packed and removed very neatly and efficiently. They were the cheapest quote by a bit (£6000 for sole 40 foot) and I would also recommend bargaining with the insurance, they were quoting 2.5% or 3% and I got a quote from another broker for 1.6%, so I asked if they could match it and they did, so it kept all my stuff with one company and saved me a few hundred quid!!
We used Golden Arrow to ship our 2 cats, I took them down to Shropshire and was well impressed with the people/accommodation and boxes that they use to transport them.
The last few days in the UK were a lot harder than we had imagined, saying all those goodbyes was not an experience that I would like to go through again in a hurry!! I had not really thought about that bit in the excitement of moving.
We stayed over in Manchester airport the night before our flight, which was a very good idea. I would not have been able to handle leaving people at the airport.
We flew with Singapore airlines, getting double allowance, although they said that they had no record when we were checking in, I had a minor panic, but had printed off all the emails saying we could have double so they had to accept it. They even let us off the 1 kg that we were over!!
Could not fault the flight/s at all, I am 6'3" and felt that I had more leg room than I have ever had, there was plenty of entertainment for our son and us to watch etc and I would not hesitate to use them again. We stayed in the transit hotel at Singapore and had a few hours sleep, which was a very good idea, and then we finished our journey with the next flight direct to Christchurch.
I had booked into a motel on Blenheim Road for a week, which was ok and we hired a car so we could look round and get to know the place. The first week was hectic to say the least and we were all over the place, looking at rentals/houses/cars and trying to fit in leisure time for our son every day as well. We had seen a house at Swannanoa on the internet which we liked the look of so we viewed it and loved it, so we went to the auction (never again!!) and managed to win it. We got a date to move in which was 2 weeks from the date of the auction, why can't it be that simple in the UK!!
We managed to get a rental for 2 weeks that allowed cats and moved in after a week in the motel. The cats arrived on the 15th and settled ok into the rental. We bought a couple of cars and then had some down time before my OH started work.
We moved in on the 26th June and borrowed some stuff from friends and my cousin brought some stuff from Nelson. We got our son a place in Swannanoa school and he started a few days after we moved in, he was there a week and then had a 2 week holiday, he couldn't believe his luck! He settled after a few weeks and now loves it.
Our Container arrived on the 25th and is with NZ Van Lines as I type, they are arranging MAF and Customs so we will hopefully have it within a couple of weeks, we really can't wait now, the novelty of living in a house with no/little furniture has long ago worn off and it will give us all a boost!
We have gone through many emotions since arriving, sometimes loving it, sometimes wanting to go home. Now my OH has settled in work at the Womens Hospital, she is happier and I am getting used to not working as much, although I have a part time job, it is only a couple of days a fortnight and I am desperately looking for something else, I would do nearly anything, the only problem is that I have to drop off and pick up from school, so that makes it difficult for me to find anything suitable, I will just have to keep my fingers crossed.
I think that's all for now, I am used to reading other peoples and thought I would contribute for a change!
Speak soon
Nick
just realised we;'ve been here just short of 3 months, can't believe it really, so thought I'd give a quick update:
We used Robinsons International to move us, can't fault them, they turned up and everything was packed and removed very neatly and efficiently. They were the cheapest quote by a bit (£6000 for sole 40 foot) and I would also recommend bargaining with the insurance, they were quoting 2.5% or 3% and I got a quote from another broker for 1.6%, so I asked if they could match it and they did, so it kept all my stuff with one company and saved me a few hundred quid!!
We used Golden Arrow to ship our 2 cats, I took them down to Shropshire and was well impressed with the people/accommodation and boxes that they use to transport them.
The last few days in the UK were a lot harder than we had imagined, saying all those goodbyes was not an experience that I would like to go through again in a hurry!! I had not really thought about that bit in the excitement of moving.
We stayed over in Manchester airport the night before our flight, which was a very good idea. I would not have been able to handle leaving people at the airport.
We flew with Singapore airlines, getting double allowance, although they said that they had no record when we were checking in, I had a minor panic, but had printed off all the emails saying we could have double so they had to accept it. They even let us off the 1 kg that we were over!!
Could not fault the flight/s at all, I am 6'3" and felt that I had more leg room than I have ever had, there was plenty of entertainment for our son and us to watch etc and I would not hesitate to use them again. We stayed in the transit hotel at Singapore and had a few hours sleep, which was a very good idea, and then we finished our journey with the next flight direct to Christchurch.
I had booked into a motel on Blenheim Road for a week, which was ok and we hired a car so we could look round and get to know the place. The first week was hectic to say the least and we were all over the place, looking at rentals/houses/cars and trying to fit in leisure time for our son every day as well. We had seen a house at Swannanoa on the internet which we liked the look of so we viewed it and loved it, so we went to the auction (never again!!) and managed to win it. We got a date to move in which was 2 weeks from the date of the auction, why can't it be that simple in the UK!!
We managed to get a rental for 2 weeks that allowed cats and moved in after a week in the motel. The cats arrived on the 15th and settled ok into the rental. We bought a couple of cars and then had some down time before my OH started work.
We moved in on the 26th June and borrowed some stuff from friends and my cousin brought some stuff from Nelson. We got our son a place in Swannanoa school and he started a few days after we moved in, he was there a week and then had a 2 week holiday, he couldn't believe his luck! He settled after a few weeks and now loves it.
Our Container arrived on the 25th and is with NZ Van Lines as I type, they are arranging MAF and Customs so we will hopefully have it within a couple of weeks, we really can't wait now, the novelty of living in a house with no/little furniture has long ago worn off and it will give us all a boost!
We have gone through many emotions since arriving, sometimes loving it, sometimes wanting to go home. Now my OH has settled in work at the Womens Hospital, she is happier and I am getting used to not working as much, although I have a part time job, it is only a couple of days a fortnight and I am desperately looking for something else, I would do nearly anything, the only problem is that I have to drop off and pick up from school, so that makes it difficult for me to find anything suitable, I will just have to keep my fingers crossed.
I think that's all for now, I am used to reading other peoples and thought I would contribute for a change!
Speak soon
Nick