[joandmike]

Hi Guys

I have been browsing this forum since Xmas when we decided to finally make the big move.

Although I have not posted before I wanted to say a huge thanks to all of you for your posts they have made the whole application process much easier, although you dont know it you helped us with medicals (thanks to Diny), tips on getting letters from ex empoyers and how to deal with the NZQA all with the least amount of stress (still plenty of sleepless nights though!!).

I have enjoyed reading all your comments, not only the positive but also the negative! it has certainly given us a much better idea of what NZ is truly like to live in.

We've now got most of our paperwork together for our ITA, just waiting for City & Guilds to get confirmation to NZQA (4 weeks since this was sent, how slow is the post!)

Once again, thankyou. you are great. :clap

[Diny]

Jo and Mike

Welcome to the forum. This place really is the fountain of knowledge eh? Pleased that we've helped you.

I see that you are in Cheshire - do yourselves a favour and get along to the next NW meeting (I think it's on 20th Aug but there's a thread about it somewhere). These meetings are brilliant - it's sooooooo good to sit and have lunch with people who are going through exactly the same process as yourself and can talk to you about it (indeed - WANT to talk about it).

Also ...... it's a good chance to make some REALLY good mates. I can't wait for the rest of the NW crew to arrive 'cos it really does feel like we're emigrating with a bunch of mates. I know it will be a huge help to me when they arrive. They've been more help than you could possibly imagine since I got here - web cam conversations and PMs have kept me going at my lowest point.

Good luck with the rest of the application and all success for the ITA. Keep us posted and please feel free to PM me if you need to ask anything (not that I'm an expert but I love to talk :laugh ).

Take care.

Diny

[K&CS]

Hi Jo and Mike and welcome to the forum. You're right - it really is a great place to get info and hear from other people embarking on this mad thing!

When are you hoping to go and where? Do you have a job offer?

NZQA tend to come through if you give them a litttle bit of a chase (money for old rope, I reckon).

Good luck anyway - can be a frustrating process once your ITA is submitted (we're still waiting for news), but it'll all be worth it in the end!

Kate x

[Smiler]

:hi Jo and Mike

Welcome aboard! This is a brilliant place.

Good luck with the ITA. Do you have contacts/family in NZ. And a job offer.

Deborah

[jan]

:hi Jo & Mike

Well done and good luck in your application :nice1

Its great having newbies around.

[Kim39]

Hi Jo/Mike,

Welcome to our World

Diny says:I see that you are in Cheshire - do yourselves a favour and get along to the next NW meeting Where in Cheshire are you? I'm from Runcorn.

Next one is next Saturday 20th at Tatton Park(weather permitting) There will be an updated thread in the next few days, so keep your eyes peeled if you would like to pop along.

I can't wait for the rest of the NW crew

We're trying Diny, cos we can't wait either

Kim

[jo b]

Hi Jo & Mike

another Jo all I can say is it is a popular name eh!!

I hope to see you the next meet. Like Diny says you meet new mates and you feel you will already have a circle of friends when you emigrate which can only make it easier.

Welcome aboard the mad house

Jo

[joandmike]

Hi

Thanks for the warm welcome.

In answer to your questions we know no-one in NZ (unless you can count the NZQA evaluator, I contact him so often for updates he practically feels like family :laugh ).

We dont have a job offer, we've sent off to a couple of agencies but had the 'you need to be here for interview' replies, although they have said OH has good experience and have sent us lists of jobs. Also, never visited, if I was reading this written by someone else I'd think they were mad!!

We hopefully plan to go over after Xmas if successful for job hunting trip and eventually move over for real next July, funny, it seemed so far away when we first started looking into the move!

Not sure where, everytime we find somewhere we like the look of 2 other places seem just as nice, I suppose we'll have to narrow it down somehow.

It would be great to meet up with the NW gang and we'll look out for details.

Cheers

Jo

P.S. Diny, thanks for the offer, you could regret it!

[marcia]

Nice to meet you all and have a chat - hope you enjoyed meeting everyone at tatton park - not a bad bunch of people and hope Nick (? hope i remembered that right was a bit distracted with Emerson!) enjoyed himself playing footy and meeting other youngsters who are going to Nz - it's hard for them cos their mates at school just don't realise how important and big an issue it is.

keep us updated on your plans and how things are going.

[gil]

Hi Jo and Mike,
Sounds like we're at about the same stage as you guys, we've got everything together for the ITA to go in, just waiting for our 2 younger ones' passports to come back from the renewal process. We've never been over to NZ and do not yet have job offers either. Where are you headed? We're thinking Auckland because of the type of work we do. Hope you enjoyed the tatton park meet; we drove past it a few weeks back on our way to medicals in Manchester!
Good luck with everything,
Gil

[joandmike]

Hiya

It was nice to meet you all yesterday, even though we had to drag Nick along he actually asked last night if we were meeting up again!!! he really enjoyed himself,though I don't think we'll get him to admit it!

Bit concerned Jo B managed to change Mike's name to Andy? half way through the day (is this an undercover code name especially for meets?!!)

Hi to gil, we will be going wherever the work is, but this probably wont be Auckland, dont fancy big city living! good luck with your ITA.

Will keep you posted on our ongoing battle with City & Guilds,and hopefully have some good news soon.

See you soon.

Jo

[StevieD]

Good to meet u and enjoyed the day - have to get in training to catch Nick in the next footy match, although the general consensus of opinion among the more "mature" members is that a game of cricket/rounders is more likely next time round!! A few of us are sporting grazes and bruises and I even got a sprained finger after one particularly ruthless tackle from one of the young whippersnappers! :)

See you at the next one??

Stevie D

[jo b]

Jo

please apologise to Mike for me. I was giggling aloud when I found out I had been calling him Andy all afternoon and I promise everyone not a drop had passed my lips.

Thing is that morning at my little boys Karate graduation I had been calling a guy called Damien, Sean all morning.

Some wives do get into trouble because of me I am sure.

I really enjoyed yesterday and hope everyone else did to.

I think the next one will be around the 24th Sept so I will post details up this week.

Jo