[Moorf]

G'Day

I thought it was about time we showed our faces - literally - so if you see us in the street you can cross over :laugh

Pic taken last Wednesday at the Hill Top Cafe above Akaroa :nice1

http://www.emigratenz.org/aka1.jpg

[Diny]

Oh wow !!!

The scenery and the look on your faces says it all !!

Good on ya !
:nice1
Diny

[bbq]

great pic.

:clap

alex

[steve netwriter]

Hey, that's beautiful.
Shame about those two people standing in the way :mrgreen: :mrgreen:

Enjoy !

Steve

[Raeven]

ROFL, Steve!!!

Seriously, Moorf, you guys are adorable, and what a fantastic pic -- I have to agree with Diny, it says it all!!

I'm soooooooooooo jealous!!!!!

Thanks very much for sharing -- Rae

[Annierobrigado]

steve

:laugh :laugh :laugh :laugh

but they so look at home don't they?

i gotta ask-- moorf, weren't you blonde before?

annie

[karltsmith]

You look like you both come from Cheshire! :? Lovelly just Lovelly :P

[shagen]

Hi Moorf,

That is an excellent shot! Both of you look really fabulous! From the look on your faces, I know you did the right thing. :nice1

:mrgreen: Seeing the both of you there will sure make a lot of us jealous! :mrgreen:

Cheers,

[shagen]

Hi Moorf,

Regarding your purchase of tv, washing machine, dryer, etc you posted earlier. How did you manage to get them for so cheap? Are prices in stores in Chch that much different from the ones one would find on the internet?

My wife was browsing the internet for pricing of white appliances for comparison purposes and found that they were expensive. We saw just a washer and dryer for over NZ$2000. Also other people on this forum mentioned that white appliances are expensive here. But you seem to have gotten them plus a sofa bed thrown in for less than NZ$2000!

Well done! Please teach us a thing or two on bargaining! :yes :yes

Cheers,

[edd]

Hi Moorf

Great to hear that you're enjoying yourself and getting on so well. Getting up and reading your posts in the morning has been really helpful.
We're moving to Mount Plesant in a few weeks and are very encouraged by some of your comments about the general area.

Where did you get your car from? Was it very expensive. We've been advised to get the AA to give any car we buy a onceover.

Best wishes

Ed

[Moorf]

Ok, where to begin....

+++++++++++++++

White goods: Farmers (big store) had a combo deal on a washer and a dryer - their deal was $1050 for the two. Normally would have cost (seperately) $1300. It's a top loader and manufactuer is Fisher & Paykel so a good, well-known (i.e easy to service!) NZ brand.... We have found appliances here to be quite reasonable - as always if you go for top notch stuff you will pay top dollar. We initially went to a second hand appliance store on Ferry Road and the prices were stupid - would have been c. $800 for a washer and dryer and they were pretty grotty....

The telly is a Sony WEGA 21"... normal cost was $449.

Sofa bed was usually $599.

The King size duvet would have been $149 (pillows $20 each!) but they gave it all for free... we just had the cheek to ask! And said we were paying cash... they also threw in free delivery of all the items (which would have been $80)!

I think the mention of "cash" went a long way (had to go to the cashpoint and money was all in $20's so had to count out $1800 on the paydesk..!!

+++++++++++

Car: We got it from Donnithorne Simms on Ferry Road (loads and loads of car showrooms / 2nd hand showrooms just by the Jade Stadium... )loads of choice. Donniethorne Simms have a good reputation here. Again, we said we were paying cash and the price came down from 11K to 10,200K :P It has a 6 month warranty and WOF (Warrant of Fitness) until March 2005 (that's like an MOT).

+++++++++++

Annie - my hair changes colour on a whim!! And length - it was down my back, blonde and curly in June this year :laugh :laugh

+++++++++++

Right ... todays news....

Went for drive up to Kaikoura today - took about 2.5 hrs each way and weather wasn't good but we just wanted a long drive out.... was worth it even in the crappy weather... THE SEALS THE SEALS! Wow, was literally standing amongst them... unreal and what an experience..

Were watching a man and 2 kids picking things out of the pools so we went over to ask them what they were doing... to cut a long story short Warren has a small cash job (a one off)!!!!!!!!! Unreal huh - the guy asked us about ourselves etc etc and when Woz said he was in IT his eyes lit up - he's got a bit of kit he needs programming so we're off to see him and his wife (who makes candles and sells them in Chch Art Market!) next week! Jeez, just TALK to people folks.... you just never know...

On way back from Kaikoura I noticed a black mass above the sea near Goose Bay stop-off so we pulled over... it was totally amazing - a "swarm" of millions of birds over the water for as far as the eye could see - as we watched they formed what I can only describe as a "tornado" and then sank down again along the sea's surface... we asked a guy on the beach (hmm we have a thing about talking to guys on beaches!?!?!) what it was and he said it was a "once a year" occurence... whitebait were massing in the sea waiting to swim upriver to spawn and these birds were "herding" them and eating them... totally unreal.. and to be there at the right time and right place too... :nice1 :nice1

Right place, right time seems to be the motto of this post....

Good Luck All... off to pack, we move into our rental house tomorrow

:exit

Moorf & Woz

[susanlin]

Moorf

love the picture!!! You look so happy. Is that a 'Harcourts Blue Book' I see in your hand? Isn't that great reading?!! :? Laugh - some of those descriptions of houses used to crease me. :laugh Talk about waffle!!
Good luck with your house move tomorrow!

I look forward to meeting you when you are settled. We could meet up at Sumner and I'll try my best not to be too miserable and promise I won't bleat on about the deprivations I am suffering ...wholemeal pasta, gel bleach...ooops there I go again :roll:

Keep those posts coming - they make me smile so much - I feel like I am reading a book and I eagerly await the next chapter.....
Sue

[Moorf]

Yes Sue - it's THAT blue book!!! I'd just picked it up in the Hill Top Cafe!!! :laugh :laugh :laugh You're so right, it is hilarious - the descriptions are outrageous - one even had "bit of a bu**er without a four wheel drive - steep drive" hahahahahaha

I'm on a mission to find your bits and pieces.... here's a thought - if you can't find wholemeal pasta how about making your own? :nice1 Not sure about how you'd go about making your own bleach gel tho :? could be dangerous!! :laugh

Hmm something is wrong here - it's Friday night and we are both on a PC... we should be down the Ruptured Duck eh? When we move (tomorrow) you and family MUST come round - no excuses - and we'll go for hot choccies in town (T for Tea is FABBBB) and I can pretend I am young and cool with your kids :laugh and talk about surfing LOL

I will PM you our tel numbers when we get them... or my mobile if we don't get them LOL

Take Care hon....

Moorf

[Diny]

Moorf - the talk of whitebait made me go all weak at te knees.

Susan - the property descriptions - the one that make me laugh is when they tell you how much ground the property stands in they sometimes follow the measurements with the comment "more or less". Can you imagine that in the UK? My God - the boundary disputes !!!!!

Diny

[jo b]

Moorf

gorgeous picture, certainly looks like paradise :nice1

Jo

[jesselyn]

saw in another thread there is a moorf&woz pic so i came to investigate...
oh wow! :eek two thumbs up! :clap :nice1

jes :angel

[Timbo]

Super picy Helen. You both look very content. You mentioned the infamous whitebait a bit earlier, but have you got round to trying it yet. The NZers I talk to rave about it.

[captainxmas]

Cool, Hip and Groovy Snap guys. :clap

Certainly puts the Chilterns into perspective.

Glad it's going so well for you both. :nice1

[Tara Sage]

Love the pic Helen

I have a pic from the same location it is fantastic I wasn't going to spoil it with my ugly mug though Ha Ha :laugh

Hope move went well

Tara

[Soon2baKiwi]

Great to see a success story and SUCH a success too. :nice1 I love reading your posts.

[lindajax]

hi you two,

:mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen:

Love the pick feel well envious!!!!

good luck with the move :hopeso

nice to see you both lookin so kiwified

Love linda xx

[Moorf]

Whew - back online after 2 days of net isolation :wah

We are now in our rental house - I posted re it's cleanliness on another post ( "Oh My God" by Diny ) - needless to say I've been a right little scrubber all weekend!! :laugh

The house ... what can I say... IT'S FREEEEEZING... Oh, it has "one poxy heater" (to quote Michelle!) and it's a 3 bed house! Oh, and the thermostat is directly above the heater - DOH!! Basically it turns itself off as soon as it's heated the thermostat up .... :roll:

We bought 2 oil-filled heaters for $99 (total!) on Sunday and they are on full blast and just about taking the chill off the place! I'm also washing and drying stuff at quite a pace as the dryer hasn't yet been mounted on the wall so I have it in the dining room to help heat the ground floor!! :laugh :laugh

Our landlords took us to the Chch casino on Saturday night! Was great fun - Woz and I love casino's and usually join the local one wherever we are.. you don't need to join the Chch one - just walk straight in (no blue jeans please!). Cheap food and lots of games - we are off there on the 12th Oct to play in a poker tournament :hopeso

Weather is still freezing... when the sun is out it's hot in the sun but wander into the shade and you'll be shivering! Locals keep telling us it's unusual (yeah yeah - we used to tell tourists in Scotland that it didn't rain all the time :laugh )- the guy at the shop where we bought the heaters said he never usually sells them at this time of the year!!

We're putting out feelers for work this week so will keep you posted as usual!!

Oh, we got the tel connected today - v. painless. There's a queue for broadband connections here it seems, it will take 10 days, so we're stuck on dial up for a wee while longer!

Moorf

[jesselyn]

moorf,

how much is the broadband connection? thanks! :smile

jes :angel

[Moorf]

I'll let hubby (Woz) answer that one!! .... *handing over* !!

There are a number of providers here but most are just a repackage of the Telecom Jetstream. I will put the prices in $NZ.

First of all you will need a line that is DSL enabled which costs $99. You need to contact Telecom for this once you have a line even if you go through a different provider for your link. This takes a little while to do, we are having to wait 11 days from putting the order in.

You should also be aware that broadband here is slower than that found in the UK. Most offer 256kbps down and 128kbps up. In the UK its common for 512kbps down and 256kbps up.

The following are the Telecom prices but most are similar.

For a 1Gb capped link its $39.95/month
For a 3Gb capped link its $49.95/month
For a flat rate link its $69.95/month

With the capped links you pay 5 cents per Mb of data once you download more than the capped amount of data in one month. This can work out very costly depending on how far over the cap you go as 1Gb over = $50. With the uncapped link you bandwidth is cut back to 64kbps after you use 10Gb (A huge amount of bandwidth). So be realistic when you decide on your plan.

There are people that are cheaper for the flat rate but Telecom has an offer with the flat rate at the moment where if you sign up they do not charge the $99 setup fee and the first month is free. You can change after 6 months to a cheaper provider. If you change before the 6 months they charge the $99 setup fee. This is my plan and it will save us about $100 in the first six months for an uncapped link.

500kbps-2mbps down links are available but you pay through the nose and the caps can start as low a 500Mb/month with 20cents per Mb after that.

Hope that helps

Woz

[veronica]

what about 'whoosh' for those near the cities. (wireless)

[Moorf]

Yep, Veronica, whoosh is another option but not for us Sumner-ites - we're too far out (man)... lol

Peace!

PS - I got your voicemail at 10.30pm so will call again tomorrow... :nice1

[Moorf]

By Jove!! I think we've cracked it... today felt like a "normal" day :nice1

We've been here 12 days now and, despite ongoing "wobbles", we have stopped rushing around like headless chucks and had a "normal" day - i.e. just got on with things, relaxed, etc! Was lovely that Nicky (Kiwi) popped round with afternoon tea - made it feel even more "normal" and I made my first meal (lamb casserole :yes ) in the new house and basically we both feel ALOT better about things. It's warm in here now - the 2 oil heaters have done their job :nice1 and BOY does it make it easier to function... and type! :laugh

The only downside (if you can call it that) is that despite Warrens skills being in line with Chch requirements, we have been told that the job market (we're talking IT) is a bit "slack" at the moment. However, Warren has been speaking with a recruitment consultant and they are meeting next week. It's only his first day putting out feelers....... so watch this space!

Moorf

[Nicola]

Hi Moorf

The posts are brilliant keep them coming. It is so what we want to here.

I am really interested in your comments on the job market. I am in IT as well and I thought there was a lot of work available in Christchurch. I have already contacted the recruitment agencies, but they would like me to contact them again when I am in NZ. What skills does Warren have in IT. Are they on the look out for a particular skill set or are there just not the jobs around.

I have considered just circulating my CV around IT firms in Christchurch to see if I get any takers. This is how I got my current job in Edinburgh, which I really do not want to leave. I would like to persuade them to keep me on when I move, on a freelance basis. I work from home 2 days a week anyway.

Which leads me on to another question, do Kiwis do much teleworking. My firm does because of lack of office space.

Sorry rambling again, thanks for all the good information, you should collate it into book. It has been a lot more useful than some of the books I have read.

[shagen]

Actually Moorf, you should considering putting all this into a book of sorts. All the books I have read doesn't come close to what you are writing down here.

Cheers,

[Moorf]

Hi Nicola

I'll get Warren to PM you re his skills etc etc.

We moved down from near Edinburgh in April!! Loved it there.. I used to work for WWAV Rapp Collins near Leith (ad agency) when we lived in Edinburgh (lived in Landsdowne Crescent in the West End) after which we moved to Carnbo, small hamlet between Dollar and Kinross!! Small world eh! When we moved I went freelance.. don't want to go back to working for someone else again if I can help it ;)

Have you visited the Canterbury Cluster site yet http://www.canterburysoftware.org.nz/ ... it has a networking section called Real Contacts - as 80% of jobs here aren't advertised it's well worth getting onto this network - if you PM me your email address I can add you to our network and get things moving :nice1 Many people we have spoken to here are on it and say it really does work. Again, PM me if you have any queries re this.

Good Luck with the job hunting... :yes

Moorf

[jesselyn]

thanks, woz! :nice1

jes :angel

[Moorf]

It's exactly 2 weeks since we started our life in NZ. :P

I've just come in from a solitary walk along the beach here in Sumner and I'm feeling... well... content. At last. Can't say I won't get the wobbles from time to time, but all in all we do feel we have made the right decision. We're settling into the house nicely too.

Work - luckily we are still working for a client in the UK and will resume work next week as we took a break to get our lives sorted. In that respect we are lucky as we aren't eating away at our reserves. Warren has also picked up two "cash jobs" (2/3 hr jobs as "favours" really) and is meeting with a guy from Brannigans Human Capital (recruitment agents here in Chch) on Monday to discuss permie positions.

I am going in to see a contact at Canterbury Museum next week, I've been discussing voluntary work with her via email from UK. I'm hoping to get in a couple of days a week - it's a way of meeting people and also learning about NZ. There are lots of opportunities to do voluntary work if you have the time - http://www.volcan.org.nz/search.php .

Oh, and we got ASDL sorted today - quite a few days earlier than they had quoted too (on Monday of this week they quoted 10 days!) :nice1 so we happily wandering around the house clasping laptops with our wireless network sorted and the phone isn't constantly engaged!! :clap

On another note - I faxed NZIS yesterday to request they change our address on our EOI from our UK address to our current NZ address - they emailed back the same evening to confirm it had been changed :nice1 Eazy Peazy!

Moorf

[shagen]

Moorf,

I can't remember if you said you brought your laptops from the UK. I read in quite a few places including the NZIS website that phones, fax machines and laptops from outside New Zealand will not work in New Zealand.

Is that true?

Cheers,

[Moorf]

Hmm that's a question for Woz, but he's watching Kill Bill on our new DVD player :laugh Daren't interrupt him :eek

I'll get him to post later, but I can tell you that we bought our laptops over with no probs, I believe they have built in power adaptor thingys (see how TECHNICAL I am?!) plus the router, phone chargers etc are all ok.

[shagen]

I am sure it is not becasuse of the power requirement. I know UK and New Zealand both uses 220-240V but I think they mean the phone jack. I may be wrong.

This is not urgent so I shall wait for Woz. :nice1

Cheers,

[veronica]

we bought ou laptop from the uk and it works fine. phone jacks here are the same as the UK. plugs are different but easy to get adapters.

[shagen]

Thanks, that's what I thought until I read the NZIS website on what to bring with you.

Wonder why they say that?

Cheers,

[Moorf]

It's halfway through our third week and, to combat stress and anxiety, we went for a lovely drive on Saturday to Diamond Harbor.

What a gorgeous, gorgeous place. Godley House is the village "centre" and it's a gorgeous old house with amazing lawns with amazing views :yes and fab food too! I want to keep going back each day as it feels like home :yes Plus, it appears to have great community spirit with loads and loads of clubs - photography, art, writing, book clubs, sports, gardening etc etc.

However, I was strangely drawn to the Open House signs dotted around the village and, inevitably, we ended up viewing several places! :roll: Well.. it's relaxing!! Until.....

.... you fall in love with a house that needs total renovation :uhoh

It was love at first sight! In fact, we have a buildings inspector meeting us there on Thursday :laugh we don't muck around!! We also have to learn, quickly, the buying process and how to make offers etc - we're slowly beginning to understand the jargon.

We have fallen in love with Diamond Harbor so much so that we are literally going to hang out for the perfect property there (if this one doesn't go through for whatever reason) it is going to need ALOT of work - will have to start a thread in the Real Estate area re renovations.

**********************************

Woz went to Brannigans recruitment ageny yesterday for a chat about his CV and potential jobs. They advised him to contact companies direct (hmmmm not a good business plan Brannigans! :? ) as most companies weren't using agencies at the moment. So it seems the best way forward is to get his CV out to all the little companies and HR depts of the larger ones.

**********************************

Whilst Woz was at his interview I enrolled at the local Health Centre. It was very easy. I literally had to give my address/name/DOB details and that was it - registered. No need for any info on residency status etc etc. The lady behind the counter was the surgery nurse and the first thing she said to me was "have you had your smear?" :eek well, they sure don't waste time!!! So, booked in for Wed.... :?

I also advised her of my recent cholesterol probs for which I need to go on statins - she said that I'd come to the right country for lowering chol levels with exercise, right diet etc etc - little did she know that I was standing with a plastic bag with two HUGE cream donuts from the bakery that I'd bought to celebrate Woz's first agency interview!

So, I filled in the forms and went home........ leaving the donuts in the bag behind the counter! Woz was home when I arrived and when I realised what I'd done I sent HIM to recover them!!! (and register, of course!) - he said the nurses were giggling when he got there and taking bets on whether I'd be too embarrassed to return to pick up my goods!!

:laugh :laugh :laugh

[shagen]

Hi Moorf,

Glad you have set your eyes on your dream home!

Is it easy to get hold of the yellow pages in NZ especially in public phone booths or hotels etc? Otherwise, how else would you find contacts of all those employers?

Cheers,

[veronica]

yep to get a copy of either the yellow pages or the white pages you just ask for them at the post office counter. they are free and you dont even have to have a phone line to get them.

[shagen]

Free?? Wow!

I was quoted NZ$500 for the yellow pages to be sent to me in Malaysia from NZ.

Cheers,

[Annierobrigado]

It's halfway through our third week and, to combat stress and anxiety, we went for a lovely drive on Saturday to Diamond Harbor.

What a gorgeous, gorgeous place. Godley House is the village "centre" and it's a gorgeous old house with amazing lawns with amazing views :yes and fab food too! I want to keep going back each day as it feels like home :yes Plus, it appears to have great community spirit with loads and loads of clubs - photography, art, writing, book clubs, sports, gardening etc etc.


he said the nurses were giggling when he got there and taking bets on whether I'd be too embarrassed to return to pick up my goods!!

:laugh :laugh :laugh

*** hi moorf - this is still in christchurch, huh? what about universities? are there any around?
:P :P ***


*** i think woz also laughed with them! now they know you at the health centre!
:nice1

but you'll be working on your new house, so that'll give you time to exercise and lower those cholesterol levels! broil baby broil!

annie

[Douglas]

Beautiful spot Moorf and all the better if you can find a way of working from home.

Not bothered by the twisty road drive into Chch each day?

[Moorf]

how else would you find contacts of all those employers?

There is a big index of IT employers on the Canterbury Software Cluster website :nice1



http://canterburysoftware.org.nz/directory.htm

[Moorf]

Not bothered by the twisty road drive into Chch each day?

Not at all - we have done the run a few times at commute time and other times of day to check it out. It will take approx 40 - 50 mins to get into central Chch... and we both love to drive and WHAT a drive. I have to say that Dyers Pass isn't for those with vertigo :eek - perhaps we'll use that as our route home :? so we hug the rockface!!

Plus, we intend to work from home again (as we have done for the last 6/7 yrs) once we get initial jobs out of the way and have PR etc....

Plus, it's a good reason to get our Cooper again :nice1

[Moorf]

Another "new" experience today.... went to docs - had a half hour (ie double) appt and it cost $45. One prescription cost $15.

I thought these were good prices, especially given the level of service.

Also v good news re getting results back etc - blood test results 2-3 days, smear results 3 days!! Coming from the UK those timings are amazing! My last results took almost 6 weeks!

:nice1

The weather has certainly turned here - for the better... it is soooo warm and not a cloud in the sky :cool - its been like that for 2 days now and set to continue until Sunday when a couple of showers are forecast. It's windy tho - Kiwi did warn us that it would be a NWesterly day and BOY when that wind blows it BLOWS!! Tumbleweeds zipping past me on my way back thru the village!!! Had sunblock on for first time today too as it really is scorching.... time to shop for a BBQ, as Veronica advised, Bunnings does seem a good place to get them... :nice1

[miep]

Moorf,

You seem to be settling in very well! Maybe too well, I don't think there are many people who would consider buying a house within 2 (?) weeks of arriving in a new country, wow! Ok we almost did the same but our offer came in too low.

And Sumner is great too, I have friends who live there and they never want to leave again. Haven't been to Diamond harbour though but is sounds great.

Anyway your cooper caught my eye, I had several back in Amsterdam and loved them. However the roads are different here (bumpy!!!) and if you plan on doing a hill with lots of cornering etc I suggest you look at a Mazda mx5 aswell. I've got one, 1989 (yes 15 yrs old) in red and absolutely adore it.
It drives very like a mini, very direct and they haven't gone overboard with springs or shocks, its only marginally more comfortable than a mini but ofcourse you can put the roof down on days like these! :cool

I've had mine for more than 3 years now, it was a Japanese import, and it has been very reliable. Because most of them are getting a bit old you can get them at very reasonable prices and they seem to get old with a lot less trouble than mini's do, and they're as good if not better to drive than a Cooper. Mind you mine came already lowered with fat tyres and a boy racer exhaust. I had them exchange the exhaust for a more civilised one but the lowering seems to really make a difference.

Just pick a nice sunny day and take one for a test drive! :cool :cool

Miep

[Moorf]

No no, it's a mini for us every time (or a Bimi :laugh ) as they are the BMW ones :oops:

Bumps? that's all part of the fun :nice1

Probably keep our Rav for more adventurous tracks though :?

We weren't planning on buying so soon - in fact we'd planned to wait and see what the market did. But it was one of those properties that just had our name written all over it. PLUS it is a total bargain - what is with Kiwi's - don't they like renovation? Seems that this place is being overlooked because it needs work doing to it.... not just a lick of paint, it needs some serious glazing and structural work.

We're at the property with a building surveyor tomorrow so that should frighten the pants off us!! :eek

[veronica]

the structural side could be tricky but if you are like us you would be looking to change the glazeing/windows to double anyway. hope it all goes well.

[Timbo]

WTG Moorf & Woz. Buying a place so soon is really in the spirit of things.
It sounds like you may get some first hand experience of the skilled trade shortage the country is suffering at the moment.
Do you want me to quote for a re-dec??
;)

[Moorf]

Well, we're walking, nay RUNNING, away from that house!! We had the surveyor out today and it's basically got so much wrong with it that it would probably be best to knock it down! Even us throwing $100k at it, which is what we planned, wouldn't reassure me re the underlying probs so we're still on the lookout.

Ohhh, what a shame... I have to spend days and days house shopping!! :laugh :laugh The only downside is that we are inundated with estate agents calling between 7pm and 8pm (in fact Woz is on the phone to one now :laugh )

Hey Timbo - hold that thought!! ;)

[Timbo]

Hi Moorf. At least you had the sense to get the survey done, a lot of pepes would have run at it head on and come unstuck by the sound of things.
What is the situation in your area regards to buying a section and building a home to your spec? At least you get what you want, though it may cost a bit more to get it up to "British" standards.

[Moorf]

Some lovely sections here Timbo, although we're not sure whether or not it's a route we want to go down. Diamond Harbour is definitely where we want to be and most of the waterfront / views are from existing houses - others are being built at the back of the village but you don't get the views we want. Sections are reasonably priced - about 180 - 250K.

Getting a builder here is a nightmare - most are now booked up until New Year (the one we had visit the property couldn't start until Feb!).

We're in no rush so we'll just keep our eyes peeled.

And yes, a survey isn't always advised here (or necessary for lending in alot of cases) but worth getting one done - ours cost 495$ but saved us thousands by the looks of it. :nice1

[Moorf]

Job Hunting - Week 3

Woz has applied to lots of companies direct and to recruitment agencies. He has already had some v. positive responses and meetings set up. :clap

He was asked today what his visa situation was. He said he was going thru the EOI process, selected with 120pts etc. That seemed fine to the agency. We then rang NZIS to get a clear picture of what we should be telling employers/agencies with regards to our visa situation. Basically, say at little as possible :eek but advise that you have been "selected" and are "in the system" and that a job offer would secure a 1 yr visa until the ITA received and processed.

The process would be as follows:

- Get written job offer
- Take job offer with meds, police reports and qualifications down to local NZIS
- They will process the application and in the meantime give a 1 year work visa
- Advised would not take long at all to get the appropriate PR visa etc once in the system.

Well, all seems straightforward :eek

Oh, and told to get to Chch immigration offices EARLY to avoid a long wait.

At last, things are moving, and he only started applying on Wednesday!!

:nice1

Please cross everything for us :hopeso

Moorf

[xanctus]

Moorf, good to hear about Woz...hopefully everything goes exactly what you guys are planing. :hopeso :hopeso :hopeso

[Moorf]

Thanks Xanctus... :hopeso

[bbq]

Hi Moorf

Good to hear about the progress.Good luck to you both and all the best and happy weekend in NZ

cheers

alex

[kiwi]

Crossing you know what!!!

(ha ha, now you are thinking arnt you.....)

Tell him you want to be a lady of leisure and to pull finger, grin, and wink in 'that way' that he does! and I am sure Manchester st have some really good IT postings down there :laugh

all the best,
Nic

[Moorf]

Still nothing on the job front, and worried that 2 agents have told us not to panic if we don't get anything before Xmas as it is "slack" here in Chch and Xmas is coming.

That's not good news, even though we do have work through a UK company that is paying us, but we really want to get the PR sorted and a job would help.....

Might have to try Wellington - is there anyone out there in IT (software development) who has agency contacts we could try?

[kiwi]

NO, no one is in IT in welly, you are going to have to just stay here... . :yes

see no one has replied, so it looks like that cleaning job is a goer!!! :nice1

Nicky

I wont let you leave....I have a friend who is a cop..ha ha

[Moorf]

Hmmm, it would be a bit TOO far to fly for our Thursday hot chocs eh?

Hope you're well hon, will see you soon

Moorf
x

[Jodie]

Hi Moorf,

What kind of development does Woz do? If you're serious about looking in Welly, then here's a few companies Darren's had luck with...

AbsoluteIT
DuncanRyan
Spherion
Candle

Gove them a call and see what they say. Or email a load of companies on the yellow pages site and see what they say. There seems to be a lot of development jobs around here at the mo - just depends what Woz specialises in....

Good luck with it all!

Jod
:nice1

[kiwi]

Thanks anyway Jodie, but they are not interested!!!!

[jo b]

.
**********************************

Whilst Woz was at his interview I enrolled at the local Health Centre. It was very easy. I literally had to give my address/name/DOB details and that was it - registered. No need for any info on residency status etc etc. The lady behind the counter was the surgery nurse and the first thing she said to me was "have you had your smear?" :eek well, they sure don't waste time!!! So, booked in for Wed.... :?


Moorf don't forget your Glitter :laugh :laugh :laugh

I also advised her of my recent cholesterol probs for which I need to go on statins - she said that I'd come to the right country for lowering chol levels with exercise, right diet etc etc - little did she know that I was standing with a plastic bag with two HUGE cream donuts from the bakery that I'd bought to celebrate Woz's first agency interview!

This really made me laugh :mrgreen: :laugh :laugh


Keep the posts coming Moorf

Take CAre

Jo

[Jodie]

Only trying to help.... :uhoh

[kiwi]

You are not having them....I have locked their lap tops..and they never will be able to leave!
ha ha :cool

[Moorf]

LOL Jodie - it's just Kiwi's wicked sense of humour!

:P

[Jodie]

That's alright then - she scared me for a second there!! :laugh

[Moorf]

Oh she's very scary too :laugh :laugh

[kiwi]

:exit

[Carol]

Might have to try Wellington - is there anyone out there in IT (software development) who has agency contacts we could try?


Moorf......I've got my hubby on the case......he is a DBA for Westpac in Wellington. BUt has a few software agency contacts.........will get back to you tomorrow.

Carol
:nice1

[Moorf]

Carol, that's really kind of you, thank you :hopeso

Definitely some :cheers for you and hubby

:nice1

[Carol]

The one he has dealt with is
www.searchworks.co.nz

email them on info@searchworks.co.nz

When you contact them tell them Kenny Johnston of Westpac put you onto them.
They are two older ladies who are so onto it it's not funny!!

Good luck Helen......

:nice1
Carol

[Moorf]

Well, this is the life :P working on the tan, reading and generally enjoying life... the weather is sooooo good... it better stay for the weekend :cool

And yes, I have HIGH protection on :nice1

[Moorf]

Carol, hubby and I have decided that we'll concentrate on Chch for the time being - had call today to say he's still in running for the Govt job - and if we are still without hope or work in Jan we'll start looking in Welly... thanks for link, he's onto it :nice1