[Singel]

Hi everyone,

I'm glad to be back to this forum again :P

My hubby and I had recently went back to Holland to attend his parents' 50th wedding anniversary celebration and at the same time, attend the Dutch forum members meet - we have a great and fun time there :clap

It was very strange that during our stay in Holland, my hubby and I started to compare the 2 countries to reassure ourselves that we are indeed making the right move.

Things that we do not missed :
1) having to drive to and from work in the dark during the winter time
2) no shopping on sundays, even McDonald restaurants are closed
3) the housing and environment
4) the cost-of-living
5) the snow

Things that we do missed :
1) celebrate our June birthdays in the garden and enjoying the long daylight (our birthday party usually held in the evening)
2) family and friends

One year in Auckland and we still like it here, great living and working environment :nice1

I guess we will continue to justify and remind ourselves on the purposes of our move to NZ.......................

:cheers
Ivy

[jo b]

Ivy

that's a great post, especially as those are the only things I will miss, my summer Birthday which aways falls around the UK August bank holiday, and of course family and friends.

Jo

[Diny]

Funny you should mention birthdays.

My youngest son and I have our birthdays in June (last week in fact) and we've always had BBQs or gatherings in the garden to celebrate. My youngest son has his birthday in December and has always had to have indoor parties - much to his dis-pleasure.

It's now all about to change, we'll have ours mid winter and Fergie will have his mid summer. How odd is that?

As for hubby - his birthday is in April so I guess things won't be too different for him. I've had wet & windy Aprils in NZ and sunny warm ones here in the UK - and of course - vice versa.

Good to hear that you're still happy with NZ after a trip home. I shall be making a trip back to the UK in Aug 2006 for my parents golden wedding bash too ...... I hope I return with the same positive attitude as you do.

Diny

[ISan]

Hi Ivy,

Glad to see that the trip to Eindhoven reassured your decision to move last year.

It sure was great seeing you at the Meet. Will you believe that we have almost 40 people attending at the next Meet in July? :clap

That thing about the birthdays was something I realized as well some time ago. I now celebrate mine in the middle of winter in February. It will be great to swap around for a summer birthday. :nice1

See you in December!

Ingrid

[Hannah-NL]

Hi Ivy,

SO good to see you back posting and it's indeed funny, me and hubby will have our birthdays in winter now and the kids in summer!
We sure had a nice time at the first dutch meet, I'm still getting lots of tips from you and we're building a great support group now on this side of the globe. Looking forward to your postings as you are our "Ombudswoman" in Kiwi country ;)

(Oh and check out below the line... We finally have decision successful!!!)

[Singel]

Jo and Diny - the thought of having winter in the middle of the year is still affecting us :wah :wah :wah
I guess we need to live here a few years to get over it, hopefully. :uhoh :roll:

Ingrid - wow, that is a big party (wish that we could join you guys ;)).
Look forward to meet up with you in December.

Hannah - that is FANTASTIC news and CONGRATULATIONS !!! :clap :clap :clap :clap :clap
Certainly, you deserve this :raebanana :raebanana :raebanana :raebanana :raebanana :raebanana :raebanana :raebanana :raebanana :raebanana :raebanana :raebanana :raebanana

:cheers
Ivy