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Smiler
5th October 2005, 07:57 PM
Hello all

Well, we made it to wet windy wellington and finally on the world wide web again. Thank god for WiFi.

Have I missed this forum? YES. Being unable to consult my 'font of knowledge folks' has been awful.

Started crying at the Heathrow sign, sitting next to my boy in the car. We held hands all the way. (Ahhh loves his mum still) I stopped crying somewhere over the Labrador sea for about 1 hour.

To Vegas which was as tacky as I thought and more, with the truly awful (Gary's) stepmother in residence. This is as painful as the homesickness but more later. Otherwise good journey if you forget the massive nosebleeds everytime I got on a plane. Proper bed thingys with quilts and pillows up in the posh bit, but grumpy NZ airways staff. Zoipiclone did it's magic stuff and I woke for brekkie. Yeh:clap

Arrived in Welly and rent a wreck met us, hmm interesting but $33.00 a day for a funfair ride (excluding parking in CBD)
Drove out to Kapiti coast that afternoon and decided it is too far for G to commute especially with the roadworks on SH1, yuk and hour each way and we didn't come here for that. I don't want to put any more pressure on the old boy with a new job and all.
Have opened bank accounts and been looking for a rental. Hard work or what! Anyone know anything about Miramar or Breakers Bay area PLEASE??

Have seen brill apartment over budget (of course) but it would be like having our own house so we are trying to haggle over rent. We have looked at so many we are both now confused and have to fell another tree to keep records! Going to see a house on Breaker Bay tomorrow am and after that will have to think about a motel (the Bucket Tree? ) for sunday and after, if we can't find anything. Can't put my finger on what is not right with some of them, maybe I haven't adjusted yet? But we need storage space and place for car and 2 motorbikes, the hills make it difficult for garaging in places.

G would happily stay here in CBD but I find it a bit to crowded ( lack of space not too many people)

Body clock is completely b******d, and exhaustion sets it at about 4.00 pm with the wake up call at around 3 or 4 am. But that's a good time to call to the UK.


V.V.V. homesick yesterday but got a call home card thingy for cents insteads of $$ on the mobile and am much happier now I can speak to Mum's and sis's and my little boy. Like a real tonic from the dr's. I remember reading and feeling your pain Diny but understand it so much better now. :( It crashes down like the surf and drags you under.

Had lunch today on the Bay road in the wonderful sunshine and didn't even mind that it rained later. Went to the big New world and liked that. Woollies yesterday up near Plimmerton was OK too. Everyone is helpful and cheerful too.

So all in all our 1st 2 1/2 days have been good. We have survived and didn't fall off the edge of the world. If I could improve my map reading skills and pronounciation of place names, it would save a lot of huffing in the car. (him not me) We have been to many places several times, un-intentionally of course. :D

Ok this is probably all my brain can cope with for now. I've missed everyone on here and hope to be up and running asap when we get a place. Might be handy as I have a business to run too. ;)

If anyone has any thoughts re a rental house please let me know.

D&G x

kiwidebs
5th October 2005, 08:04 PM
Hiya Deborah, good to have you back on-line!! Sounds like some exciting times in Wellington. I always say the best way to learn a new area is to just go out and get lost there.
When does Gary start work?
Good luck with the house hunting - I don't know Welly at all so am no help. I'm sure some of the Welly based forumites will get on and give you a hand.

Take care you two
Debs

Moorf
5th October 2005, 08:24 PM
Great to hear from you D&G!! Welcome to NZ :cheers - sounds like you're getting stuck right in - good luck with the house / rental hunting :nice1

Singel
5th October 2005, 08:55 PM
Debs and Gary, glad that your family arrive safe and sound.

Welcome to New Zealand :raebanana

Sound like a challenging find for a rental, hope that you could find an ideal one very soon - GOOD LUCK :nice1

Carol
5th October 2005, 10:32 PM
Aye up luv!!!

Give me a ring if you are in Tawa at all....


will pm you the number

Carol

Diny
5th October 2005, 10:44 PM
Yay !!!!! Welcome welcome welcome. I will PM you my number as I know exactly what you're going through. Believe me it does get better (and I never thought I'd ever hear myself saying that).

Sounds like you've had a hectic few days, hope the house hunting goes well. I'll be down your way again before too long to have another day with 'our Carol' - would love to catch up.

Chin up, take it one step at a time and remeber - the feelings get better.

Diny

dave k
5th October 2005, 11:18 PM
Hey..welcome to Wellytown.

Miramar is nice, but a bit dull. Breaker Bay...very picturesque but also a bit out of the way.
For a rich Welly experience may I suggest Island Bay or Hataitai? IB is much funkier than the other bays & Hataitai is just great...close enough to town (15 mins walk/5min car ride) but far enough away to be quiet and peaceful.

Good luck with it all!

clg
6th October 2005, 05:31 AM
Glad to hear you have arrived! Hope you settle in OK, the first few weeks really are a blur. To second Dave, we liked Island Bay a lot and it is worth looking at.
Good luck with finding a place and enjoy!

Chris

katandbob
6th October 2005, 05:43 AM
Debs and Gary, glad you have made it ok, enjoy and keep up the updates
:cheers Kat

gil
6th October 2005, 06:02 AM
Oh Deborah,
Have we missed you or what!! Sooooo glad to hear you got there safe and sound, albeit a bit knack'd.
Good luck with finding a place to live, and good luck to gary for the new job!


Love from
Gil

jo b
6th October 2005, 06:40 AM
Deborah

glad to see you back and you writing is as humourous as ever. the map reading made me laugh as it brought back memories of our 'near divoce'

Hope you get settle in a place soon.

Jo

K&CS
6th October 2005, 08:55 PM
Hi Deborah

Can't believe you're there already! Must have been awful having to leave your son like that. At the moment, can only imagine what your homesickness is like, but I'm sure I'll know for myself soon enough. Hope it passes a bit soon, but at least you had a good journey (agree Vegas is pretty tacky).

Look forward to reading your posts in the future and hope you settle down a bit soon. When is Scott due to visit you?

Kate x

Cardiff Irons
6th October 2005, 08:58 PM
Great to hear your news Deborah, but still struggling to believe you're actually over there!

Good luck and keep us posted :cheers:cheers:cheers

irishgirl
6th October 2005, 11:06 PM
Hey D&G

Glad to see you both arrived there safe & sound! If you get a chance on one of those driving trips where you think you know where you are going, but don't really, take a trip out to Scorching Bay (avert eyes at Nudist beach!) and check out brunch/lunch/whatever at The Chocolate Fish Cafe! One of my fav places to go in WWW. Sorry it's not a recommendation for where to live, but you have to eat as well, right? :)

Fingers crossed I'll be back there again before the end of November!!

Take care!


Dee

Smiler
7th October 2005, 06:06 AM
Thanks guys


The chocolate fish, Ohhh we heard about this when we were here in Feb. Might ride out there today then. :clap

Waiting for 2 rental agents to call, we are trying to haggle a bit over rent as we have/will completely blow our budget! 2 different properties, one a 1900's 2 bed cottage on the beach front but a bit cold and dark. All new interior and very pretty. 2nd is a huge aprt with more space than we could ever wish for but views and more views. The waiting is doing my head in but G takes it all in his stride and says we have to be patient. We can't buy any furniture or housewares as they are 2 completely different styled places.

Overwhelming Homesickness kicked in big time last night and I am struggling to do anything today, might let G take over as this is his last 3 days before starting work on Monday. Been used to working from home together for 4 months so gonna be really weird, new country, new house (hopefully), but left home alone!:eek:
Watch this space..........

Deborah

marcia
7th October 2005, 06:17 AM
Glad to hear you arrived safe and sound.
Lovely to read the updates, the good, the bad and the ugly - tell it like it is, it gives the rest of us wannabes an 'idea' of what to expect. :clap

Don't stay home alone, get out and explore, I'm sure you will have loads to see, pop into a cafe and try and get chatting to locals, you may make some new friends, and they will have loads of tips and advice (some rubbish too no doubts) to tell you. :cheers

Above all, keep SMILING! You've done the hard bit getting there, :exit now the real adventure will begin! ;)

dave k
7th October 2005, 09:36 AM
Thanks guys

Waiting for 2 rental agents to call, we are trying to haggle a bit over rent as we have/will completely blow our budget!

Dunno if this is going to be a bit late for you since it sounds like you've already decided on somewhere, but take a look at trade-me for rents.

here (http://www.trademe.co.nz/structure/listings/listings_search_results_advanced.asp?sidebar=1&76=2976&enableBedroomOptions=1&71=Wellington+City%2C+Wellington&selected72=%2C+&72=&27=0&27=0&59=0&59=0&x=55&y=11&search=1&mcat=2975-)

Check out that 3 bdrm in Maupuia!! Heated pool anyone?

You may save yourself some hoofing around, and there's lots of private rentals there instead of using agencies.

Cheers.

zsj
7th October 2005, 06:23 PM
Hey Deborah,

Don't let homesickness grab you. Drop us a PM and we'll meet you and take a few places if you want? Do you have a car?

Please don't sit round feeling sad and lonely, if you can put up with a 3 year old (phew the 6 year old is back at school monday!!) and me we'll be fine!

Chin up.


Sarah.

Smiler
9th October 2005, 05:39 PM
Hi All


Dave
Thanks I've been checking trade me for months to get up to speed on rentals and although I phoned a few this week, the owners did not reply. One or two had gone already but the 3 bed in Maupuia is OURS!!!!! We moved in today. Views to die for.

Sarah

I can do 3 & 6 year olds :raebanana !! Had lots of practice and a spare set of eyes in the back of my head.

Have moved into our new place today so a bit hectic and only have dial up til BB comes but will pm you and would love to meet up for coffee too. I have a rent a wreck so am mobile but also am a bit tied to the house this week as furniture is being delivered :clap :clap .

Will start a new thread with update. (while gary is not looking at the dial up 'free' clock)

Deborah

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