[Paul]

Hi everyone, found this forum recently after doing some searching on internet after wife and i started talking about possibilities of emigrating at some point!

Usual story about not being happy with UK crime, immigration policies, general environment for bringing up kids etc

We are still in very early stages of discussing future plans and baby no. 1 is on way in January so will be part of long term plan I reckon!

Anyway after rambling on, just to say found this site so good, so much information on here - you should all be proud!

Especially fun following Moorf posts about recent move!!

Will be back!!

[lisa]

Hi Paul

Welcome to the forum we have been members for a while now and have found it to be extremely helpful you can usually get an answer to most questions. And I've just noticed that I finally have one plane things must be looking up I shall take this as a positive sign!!! :clap Have you thought about when you are going to apply yet? We were picked out of the pool just over 4 weeks ago and according to the NZIS site we will soon be receiving our invitation to apply when exactly we don't know yet as hubby doesn't have job offer.
Where abouts in essex are you from.

Take care

Lisa

[Moorf]

Welcome Paul... this is certainly a great forum, you can ask anything... literally!

Happy Posting!

Moorf

:nice1

[Paul]

Hi Lisa

Congrats on the being picked from pool and good luck with the rest!

No not got anywhere near deciding when to apply or even if we will apply yet! I have reviewed our points position, and our age and my professional qualification (accountant) gets us enough without a job offer I believe so who knows!!

Wellington looks like the preferred area at this early stage but we shall see as we go along.

I'll certainbly keep reviewing this site for info!

I'm from near Southend area -are we nearby then?

Regards

[jesselyn]

hi paul,

welcome to the forum :smile
umm january babies are cute :oops: ;)

jes :angel

[jesselyn]

And I've just noticed that I finally have one plane things must be looking up I shall take this as a positive sign!!! :clap

congratulations!!! :clap

jes :angel

[susanlin]

Hi Paul

Welcome! You will find everything you need on here - it is a great place to be, amongst like minded people. There is an answer for everything.....apart from where to get wholemeal pasta but that's another story....

Sue

[xanctus]

welcome to the forum paul...this is an awesome place indeed!! hehehe

[Lizelle]

:typing :raebanana
Hi Paul

Good luck with the baby, and welcome

Cheers
Zelly :raebanana

[jo b]

Welcome Paul,

This site is very addictive so I advise you to get as much info from here before the baby is born. Or her indoor may not be best pleased :mrgreen:

If you have any questions just ask.

Jo

[Paul]

Wow, thanks for the warm welcome!! :nice1

Will direct wife to this site and see what we can get rolling!

Thanks everyone

[karltsmith]

Hi Paul and Welcome to our little group!

On the navigation bar at the top of your screen you will see a link to the old forum. We had some technical difficulties a while back and had to start a new forum.

There is a wealth of info on the old forum and if you have a spare week or to you could read the lot....failing that use the search function on specific key words and the forum becomes your bi-valve mollusc! (Q for Moorf to begin a sea cucumber campaign again......long story...lets not go there....just use it as a keyword on your search and you'll see how mad some people can be :?

Karl :cool

[pleccy2000]

welcome....

[Tara Sage]

Hi Paul just wanted to welcome you to our haven of knowledge and support.

:cheers

[Sarah Jane]

Hi Paul....Glad to see there is someone else as in the dark as me. I wish youu luck on your travels but hope we'll find out all the probs along the way together as with others on our way to New Zealand for our better life.......althogh I'm in the shit here cos I don't know what to do first.....although medicals ect booked for November...and boy are those expensive.....am I being ripped off?

[jesselyn]

hi adam,

welcome to you too :smile

jes :angel

[lindajax]

Hi Paul , Sarah Jane and Adam,

welcome to the forum :clap

Love Linda xxx

[Jodie]

Hi everyone,

welcome to this forum - it'll really help in the process of getting to NZ. Everyone's so friendly and helpful. :nice1

Hey Adam - haven't we met somewhere before? ;)
Looking forward to that drink when you get here. :cheers

Jodie

[Diny]

Welcome !!!

You will find all you need to know here - it's brill.

Diny

[Moorf]

Did someone say sea-cucumber?? :uhoh

You think the Sumner population would go for my 'cumber fritters?

:P

[karltsmith]

Hey Moorf...I'm sure they wil relish them!.....Relish????? Now theres a thought......sea cucumber relish........it would go with everything!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Wouldn't it?????????? :no

[Moorf]

'Cumber Chip Dip?

I'll give Watties a run for their money!

:laugh

[karltsmith]

I think anyone could give Watties a run for their money!

How about a deli business......home made chutney's, relish, pickled walnuts, marinated olives and the odd (very odd) tin of Heinz Baked Beans!

Karl :cool

[Moorf]

A deli / homemade chutney/relish type business was something I was considering..... but now we are here there is lots and lots of lovely stuff - the range is huge - so it's not as "backward" as I thought when it comes to foodstuffs - just another of those things you can't know until you get here.

In particular, found a lovely shop at Barrys Bay near Akaroa (where they make cheese and you can watch it being done) - being HUGE cheese munchers (and it's got to be mature please!) we found the range great and they had lots of little jars of homemade relishes etc too... :nice1

I am sure there is still loads for us to discover... might put the sea cucumber harvesting in Fiji on hold whilst I munch my way through NZ's offerings!

The BIG question is... what do we do for Xmas Dinner - BBQ or traditional turkey dinner - we have Woz's sis and kids over (7 & 10) ....

[karltsmith]

make it reaaly traditional and get a Goose!!!! You can beat roasters cooked in goose fat! Best served in the evening though...it will be too darn hot for an afternoon meal!

Or to be daringly diferent!

BBQ then! BBQ roasted Turkey crown marinated in lemon juice, lemon zest and tarragon and served with a hollandaise sauce with BBQ roasted shallots, baby carrots, kumera sprinkled with flat leaf parsely and black pepper and a small serving of spinach.

Or a hot Turkey Salad!

Or a Turkey sandwich down at the beach!
:yes

[Moorf]

Is there a drool emoticon?!!

:P

[Rimbo]

Gotta be a Barbie! And you've gotta film it! :P
sit on the porch/patio wearing those silly Xmas hats pulling crakers. turn to the camera and wish everyone back home a merry christmas, then pan out to reveal the other half stood wearing only shorts at the BBQ doing a good impression of Floyd slurping wine by the bucket and turning his ribs & steaks.
the folks back home will be sat in a miserable stuffy house with all the windows closed as the rain and sleet swirls around in ever more depressing ways.

You can have a Sunday roast at any time of the year, no point in dressing it up as Xmas dinner with fancy sauses to make Turley taste good. Have a BBQ! you know it makes sense! :mrgreen:
John

[Moorf]

Barbie it is then...Karl, what's your hourly chef rate?!! :laugh :laugh

FLOYD - my fav!

*slurp*

[beah]

YUM YUM :cheers

[Rimbo]

Just thought,
for those who don't know who Floyd is.
Keith Floyd is a TV chef.
he has done many a programme that during the 80's and 90's became an institution, 'Floyd on the med', 'Floyd on France', 'Floyd on Spain', 'Floyd on India' etc etc. Basically this guy goes out to these really wonderful places and cooks local food, the local way over a big gas burner with only one camera and sound man. he generally wears a suit with a Dickey Bow and cooks hot food in the searing heat in some foreign and distant land. Normally he cooks with wine, one glass for the meal and one for him and so on until at the end of the program the locals are in hysterics at his pi***d antics.

My Hero! :cheers
John

[Moorf]

And we won't go into Floyds personal life eh!!

What a jack-the-lad, but still my fav!!

:nice1

[karltsmith]

Of course you could use a Chimnea and hang a few Turkey kebabs down the top....a few shavings of oak or hickory for a bit of extra flavour and viola! Served with a nice Greek salad and washed down with a nice bottle of Chablis................now the mouth is watering!

Or a layered Tuisian Salad: lettuce, sliced toms, sliced red onions, diced capsicum, sliced fresh chillies (or Jalapenos) dressed with a sweet chilli dressing and lemon juice topped of with a fresh flame grilled Tuna steak with a good squeeze of lemon (or lime) over the steak!

Side order of potato wedges roasted with a sprinkle of ground cumin and paprika...and of course a tub of sour cream!

And for dessert......Hot Love......piping hot seasonal mixed red berries cooked with a generous portion of either red wine or brandy and a dollop of your favourite ice-cream in the middle! Brandy snaps on the top of the ice-cream and some real (70%+ cocoa solids) chocolate grated on the top!

YUMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :cool

[Raeven]

Errrrrr, Karl...?

When are we invited for dinner? Please...?

What a fantastic-sounding menu!!!!! :clap

Droolingly yours, Rae

[lindajax]

Can I come too souns yummmmmmmy!!
love
linda xx

[Moorf]

Bang goes the diet!

When does your restaurant open Karl ? ;)

Am a little "lost" in the new kitchen - takes some getting used to. And I was thinking how hard done by I was without my "familiar" surroundings and gadgets and how on EARTH was I going to cook anything on the archaic cooker... until I watched a documentary on tv last night - a woman backpacking through Cambodia - and watched as a local family cooked a BANQUET on one tiny gas ring... I shall stop complaining about my lot now....

OH - one more thing.... I can't find Bread Sauce mix here anywhere..!! I'm now thinking "no loss" and am searching for good recipes... I'm getting into the swing of things now... :nice1

[Jodie]

I reckon the barbie things a winner - and The Warehouse have got a big gas one on offer at the moment - $129!

Now where can I get some kebab sticks..... :P

Jodie

[Rimbo]

Karl, wots wrong with Sausages?

Floyd's on Sky Travel right now actually!
Floyds Fjord Fiesta! :laugh
its true, he's in the far north of Norway cooking deer's heart in the snow!
i can't believe the man!

John