Jim&Karen
9th January 2009, 08:56 PM
We are one year old:laugh
Now we are having our first birthday it is time to think about how we are doing in this big adventure of ours. There are two aspects to a 12 month review, the things we have been doing, and how we feel about our situation at the moment.
For a log of the things that we have been doing over the past 12 months have a look at our blog at http://www.jleiper.com.
As to how we feel, Karen has had a much harder time of it than I have. We both miss the family we have left behind but Karen, possibly because of the maternal instinct, has had a much harder time dealing with it than I have. The early days were the worst. So much so that I had to book flights back for Christmas so that Karen would have an "Escape Hatch" at the back of her mind if she really needed it. During this period we were well supported by members of this forum and their help and advice was much appreciated.
Both our daughters (with their partners & children) booked flights to come and visit us before we had even left the UK so we knew we would have visitors. This also meant that we had to stay until after they had visited as they had already paid for their flights and made all the arrangements. This was a good thing and a bad thing. It was wonderful to see them and the grandchildren but when they went home the feelings of separation returned.
Over time however the stress has lessened and actually we are probably talking more to the girls now than we ever used to. Skype and webcams are wonderful things and even retired parents are buying laptops and venturing into the world of webcams so comminication is not a problem.
We have just returned from the Christmas trip mentioned above and after the expected couple of days of missing the family again we have the opportunity to compare the UK as it really is (not just remembering the good bits) to NZ. We now remember for example how crowded it is, how busy (and narrow) the roads are, how grey the winter days are. A long anticipated trip into Leeds for Karen to do some "real" shopping was a bit of an anticlimax as she realised that it was not as good as she remembered it.
On the minus side we still have to work for a living. It's not like when you come to New Zealand for a holiday. Real life and a mortgage mean that I work Mon-Fri and Karen is working shifts four days a week which can be a bit of a pain when she is working at the weekends or in the evenings. The wages are a bit lower here than in the UK but on average things cost about the same so in real terms we are not so well off.
On the plus side we both love the way of life here. It is a bit slower and more relaxed than back in the UK, it is not as crowded, the weather is not perfect but it is better than the UK. We have a lovely house with great views over the city. We are also finding the people very friendly.
So, after 12 months do we think we have done the right thing?
Yes, insomuch that if we had not tried we would be forever playing what if games in our heads. It was extremely stressful at the start (and at other times as well) but it is getting to be more "normal" now with more friends and a regular routine. We have not yet decided that we will be stopping here forever but we have no plans not to yet either.
So it's back to work on Monday.........
After a few drinks at the weekend of course :cheers
Best wishes to you all
Jim & Karen
Now we are having our first birthday it is time to think about how we are doing in this big adventure of ours. There are two aspects to a 12 month review, the things we have been doing, and how we feel about our situation at the moment.
For a log of the things that we have been doing over the past 12 months have a look at our blog at http://www.jleiper.com.
As to how we feel, Karen has had a much harder time of it than I have. We both miss the family we have left behind but Karen, possibly because of the maternal instinct, has had a much harder time dealing with it than I have. The early days were the worst. So much so that I had to book flights back for Christmas so that Karen would have an "Escape Hatch" at the back of her mind if she really needed it. During this period we were well supported by members of this forum and their help and advice was much appreciated.
Both our daughters (with their partners & children) booked flights to come and visit us before we had even left the UK so we knew we would have visitors. This also meant that we had to stay until after they had visited as they had already paid for their flights and made all the arrangements. This was a good thing and a bad thing. It was wonderful to see them and the grandchildren but when they went home the feelings of separation returned.
Over time however the stress has lessened and actually we are probably talking more to the girls now than we ever used to. Skype and webcams are wonderful things and even retired parents are buying laptops and venturing into the world of webcams so comminication is not a problem.
We have just returned from the Christmas trip mentioned above and after the expected couple of days of missing the family again we have the opportunity to compare the UK as it really is (not just remembering the good bits) to NZ. We now remember for example how crowded it is, how busy (and narrow) the roads are, how grey the winter days are. A long anticipated trip into Leeds for Karen to do some "real" shopping was a bit of an anticlimax as she realised that it was not as good as she remembered it.
On the minus side we still have to work for a living. It's not like when you come to New Zealand for a holiday. Real life and a mortgage mean that I work Mon-Fri and Karen is working shifts four days a week which can be a bit of a pain when she is working at the weekends or in the evenings. The wages are a bit lower here than in the UK but on average things cost about the same so in real terms we are not so well off.
On the plus side we both love the way of life here. It is a bit slower and more relaxed than back in the UK, it is not as crowded, the weather is not perfect but it is better than the UK. We have a lovely house with great views over the city. We are also finding the people very friendly.
So, after 12 months do we think we have done the right thing?
Yes, insomuch that if we had not tried we would be forever playing what if games in our heads. It was extremely stressful at the start (and at other times as well) but it is getting to be more "normal" now with more friends and a regular routine. We have not yet decided that we will be stopping here forever but we have no plans not to yet either.
So it's back to work on Monday.........
After a few drinks at the weekend of course :cheers
Best wishes to you all
Jim & Karen