Kerry and David
1st December 2008, 08:13 PM
Hi all,
3 months has passed like a flash!
We feel very settled in Red Beach and love having the beach within 10 minutes walk while Auckland is only 35 minutes drive. David works in Albany which takes him just 20 minutes at the most to get to and there is no traffic getting there.
I love waking up, opening the curtains and seeing the sea, so different to our last view!
I haven't felt homesick as such. I have thrown myself in to different activities with my 4 year old son including the Playcentre, which has proved an excellent way to meet other parents within the community and they really are a lovely bunch of people.
It makes me feel very much at home when I pop in to the local town and often bump in to or pass people that I recognise, even if it is just to say 'hi!'
I miss my 2 stepsons in the UK and I have a very dear friend who is very poorly and has been moved in to a hospice. I knew she was very ill before I left but the reality when you are so far away is hard and although the phone and internet is great, it's times like this that you really feel the distance.
My 11 and 16 year old stepsons joined us in NZ and the 11 year old has settled so well in school. He has met some great mates and its really nice when the knock the door asking for him.
It has been really hard for my 16 year old and a month ago he was planning on returning to the UK, however he has now got a full time job and seems to have settled much more. He is even talking about getting tickets for the Fall Out Boy concert next February so I guess that is a good sign.
David enjoys his job although he struggles with the laid back attitude towards service sometimes!
Our stuff finally arrived from the UK last week (it was packed up in the UK on the 14th August!). It was great to see but dissapointing to have so many broken/damaged goods - cracked TV, cracked fridge, dented freezer, dented garden table, broken basketball net, 2 smashed ornaments and a couple of broken pasta dishes.
We have met up with some of the lovely people on this Forum for some social gatherings which has been great fun and I so value the new formed friendships.
The biggest frustration I have faced is getting a referal for my son for an ongoing foot problem which he was diagnosed with in the UK. 4 referals later and I think I may be getting there!
The biggest thing I wanted to do when I came here was to try and fit in and be involved within my community. Yes I miss things from the UK like my warm house, nice car and M&S foodhall BUT these things are not important, when in NZ live like a Kiwi and try not to compare, thats what I have told myself to do!
Well have rambled on enough and in a nutshell - we are very happy :)
3 months has passed like a flash!
We feel very settled in Red Beach and love having the beach within 10 minutes walk while Auckland is only 35 minutes drive. David works in Albany which takes him just 20 minutes at the most to get to and there is no traffic getting there.
I love waking up, opening the curtains and seeing the sea, so different to our last view!
I haven't felt homesick as such. I have thrown myself in to different activities with my 4 year old son including the Playcentre, which has proved an excellent way to meet other parents within the community and they really are a lovely bunch of people.
It makes me feel very much at home when I pop in to the local town and often bump in to or pass people that I recognise, even if it is just to say 'hi!'
I miss my 2 stepsons in the UK and I have a very dear friend who is very poorly and has been moved in to a hospice. I knew she was very ill before I left but the reality when you are so far away is hard and although the phone and internet is great, it's times like this that you really feel the distance.
My 11 and 16 year old stepsons joined us in NZ and the 11 year old has settled so well in school. He has met some great mates and its really nice when the knock the door asking for him.
It has been really hard for my 16 year old and a month ago he was planning on returning to the UK, however he has now got a full time job and seems to have settled much more. He is even talking about getting tickets for the Fall Out Boy concert next February so I guess that is a good sign.
David enjoys his job although he struggles with the laid back attitude towards service sometimes!
Our stuff finally arrived from the UK last week (it was packed up in the UK on the 14th August!). It was great to see but dissapointing to have so many broken/damaged goods - cracked TV, cracked fridge, dented freezer, dented garden table, broken basketball net, 2 smashed ornaments and a couple of broken pasta dishes.
We have met up with some of the lovely people on this Forum for some social gatherings which has been great fun and I so value the new formed friendships.
The biggest frustration I have faced is getting a referal for my son for an ongoing foot problem which he was diagnosed with in the UK. 4 referals later and I think I may be getting there!
The biggest thing I wanted to do when I came here was to try and fit in and be involved within my community. Yes I miss things from the UK like my warm house, nice car and M&S foodhall BUT these things are not important, when in NZ live like a Kiwi and try not to compare, thats what I have told myself to do!
Well have rambled on enough and in a nutshell - we are very happy :)