[Dave & Sandra]

Hi all

Marie - we were in Birchwood - it seems like a life-time ago. Wouldn't go back for anything, we're loving life here :clap

Vincent - not long until you are here :nice1 Thanks for the advice on the medical. They haven't said anything up to now about the BP, Fingers crossed. They have only asked for the updated Police Certs ( which arrived today and will be in the post to them tomorrow). We have a case officer at last. Just have to apply for the NZQA ruling on my qual. and that's it. My employer wrote a really good letter supporting my application, so we may get there soon. Maybe we can all meet up at Barista when Diny and PB finally make it. :cheers

[voth30]

Hi Dave and Sandra,

Cannot believe that I will be back in Palmy in 3 weeks time after a 12 year absence. I really want to see how much has Palmy change over the years.

Sure we can meet in Barista one day when Diny and PB are also in town. I will definately go and try this restaurant when I am there in May. Is the restauarnt easy to find (near the square)? How the weather like in Palmy now, has it turned cold?

Anyway, thanks and take care.

Vincent and Joo Bee

[jo b]

Sandra

Send my regards to Dave will you. I have broken my heel before along with snapping two ligaments.................very painful, I can tell you.

Hope that ITA soon sorts itself out.

Will catch up with you when in NZ.

Take Care

Joanne

[Dave & Sandra]

Yaaaaayyyyy!!!!

We got PR. :clap :clap :clap :clap Whoopee!!!

We now have the lovely blue visa stickers in our passports and to say that I am shell-shocked is an understatement. I haven't been on the forum for ages. So much to do - so little time. Never seem to have a spare minute, but I have to share the good news.

The really weird thing is that our ITA, which came from Wellington, said I needed a full assessment of my qual. I'm still waiting for that..................never a word from NZQA although I've paid the $420. So when I got a letter from NZIS my heart sank. I thought 'Oh gawd, what's this about' But there it was:-

'Congratulations. I am very pleased to inform you that your application for residence has been approved'

I just stood and stared at it in shock - then called Dave at Murray's bar where he was having a quick half after work and said 'Buy everybody a drink, I'm on my way, we've got PR' He was still shaking when I got there. Everybody was delighted for us, shaking our hands and congratulating us on getting residence. It was wonderful. The kiwis are soooooooooo nice.

My boss got a call from NZIS in Palmy checking up on me and I realised that I had been there 3 months that day. He was brilliant and told them he needed me because of my banking experience and qualifications , which I'm sure helped the decision along. Also, I've got a feeling that if Palmerston North branch hadn't taken our case over it would have been a little more difficult.

I have to say a big thank you to the long standing residents on this forum like Karl and Jamie and it's so long ago I can't remember who else was around in those days. I know Timbo's been around for ever. But if it hadn't been for this forum, I would never have even had the idea to submit an EOI. It was only when I saw that the points needed were dropping so rapidly that I did an on-line application. So to all of you that were posting and giving advice from April 2004 onwards a HUGE thank you and loads of hugs.

I'm a kiwi, I'm a kiwi - well sort of.

Thanks again - a million times.

[Marie P]

Fantastic news for you two !

best wishes for your future .....

:clap :clap :clap

Marie x

[jo b]

Sandra

I was wondering where you had got too.

Glad you aren't glued to the pc and are enjoying the Kiwi way of life.

I will deffo be able to catch up with you more than you think as we will be living in Dannevirke not to far from Fielding. :clap :clap

So we can have that drink after all.

how is the house coming on BTW.

Jo
x

[jo b]

Oh forgot to say CONGRATULATIONS

:clap :clap :clap :clap :clap :clap :clap :clap :clap :clap :clap :clap :clap :clap :clap :cheers :cheers :cheers :cheers :cheers :cheers :cheers :cheers :cheers :cheers :cheers :cheers :cheers :clap :clap :clap :clap :clap :clap :clap :clap :clap

Jo

[Smiler]

Sandra & Dave

That's brilliant news. Well done. Congratulations.

As a newbie and with pr a 'work in progress', I'm dead jealous too :raebanana

Mmm it's also nearly happy hour, I'll raise a glass too.

Deborah

[sweetpea]

Congrats!

:clap :clap :clap

[Diny]

Fantastic news you two !!!!!!!!

I loved the bit about everybody in the bar congratulating you - would lovede to have been there.

Thanks for the PM ...... rushing around like an idiot today and had a house full for the past couple of hours. Will reply real soon.

By the way ....... Barista here we come :nice1

Good on you.

Diny

[Moorf]

GREAT news guys :cheers - and it doesn't seem so long ago that we were having our brekkie watching out the window as our flight came in to Auckland Airport after our meet up at Singapore airports smoking verandah!! :clap :clap

Well Done!
:nice1
Moorf & Woz

[robothamma]

Excellent news Sandra & Dave :nice1 :clap :clap :clap :clap :clap :clap :cheers :cheers :cheers I hope we are as lucky! We sent ITA back to London 14/06/05 received standard letter back on the 17th June still awaiting NZQA but it's only been 2 weeks! :uhoh and now have a query with Phils medical although they ended the note "nothing of any significance", now to the doc it might not be but to NZIS and us it could be all the difference between us going or staying! :eek :wah
Once again congrats to you both you both deserve it esp after what you had to go through at Auckland Airport :eek :laugh :laugh :laugh :laugh

Michelle

[Timbo]

That is GREAT news Sandra & Dave. I bet you are totally "stoked".
Yeah, I do seem to have been here forever dont I. Reading and learning while I bide my time. It WILL be my turn to return the thanks one day, I`m sure.
:nice1 :cheers

[Babette & Andy]

Over the moon for you guys :cheers :cheers :cheers what a way to find out, so unexpected :nice1 Enjoy the feeling.

Babette

[Rimbo]

Nice one Sandra, Well done to you both. :clap
I have some Sassy Red's in the Fridge (Which is Dave and Murray's fault) which i'll crack open later in celebration. :cheers
Hows that Kitchen Window looking by the way? :P

Congrats again....Nice One! :nice1

John :cool

[Dave & Sandra]

I'm going to post a picture of the new window in the kitchen soon Rimbo, if I ever get around to it. Just wait until you see this one, it's stunning.

[Kim39]

We got PR. :clap :clap :clap :clap Whoopee!!!

Please accept my apologies Sandra, as i have just picked up this thread on your post. So i will just add my congratulations to the ones you have already had :nice1

Jeeze, it don't feel that long ago since i rang you that night asking you what your plans were, can you remember?

Anyway lets hope this place sells soon and we will be over there living the dream with you and others. Well done lass.

Kim

[Dave & Sandra]

Hi Kim

Thanks for the congratulations - it's such a relief and it's hard to believe that in just another 2 months I will have been here a year. Come on slow coach - get that house sold. I told you there's plenty of room in my street to park up the truck.

I had a chat with Diny last night - which was great after reading her posts for so long. She sounds such a nice person. We're hoping to meet up at the weekend along with PB and the boys and Dave of course. Their rental is just down the road from where I work - so they're not that far away

We'll start up a NZ chapter of the NW meet and when Jo arrives we will have 3 members. Whoopee!!

See you soon

[Dave & Sandra]

The only way I can get my new kitchen window onto the new forum is to post it as an avatar - so here it is if you can see it. I'll try and post some proper piccies when I can

[Moorf]

I can just about make it out Sandra but it looks fab :nice1 - did you have the stained glass pattern made yourself or was it reclaimed?

[Dave & Sandra]

Thanks for the PM about the pics Moorf.

We copied the existing windows in the bedroom and dining area only with a bit more fancy doodads around the sides and made it round. That was Dave's idea and it was a brilliant idea. It almost makes me feel like washing dishes - I did say almost.

[Moorf]

:D Very cool....

[Dave & Sandra]

Well I've switched to the other computer and don't have any problems at all uploading files or using Smilies :raebanana :nice1 So it must be my browser set up on the other computer. Any computer wizards out there know what the explanation is. I've compared the settings ticked in the Advanced settings and they all appear to be the same.

It's a mystery to me:confused:

So now I've attached a proper picture of the new window (and the old window we copied and full length view of the kitchen which isn't that brilliant a picture.) Can't - it won't let me - too many kbs

John - poor Moxie has to go through his cat flap now instead of jumping through tthe window. Shame

[jo b]

Sandra

that window is beautiful,

I bet it is lovely when the sun shines through it.

Thanks for showing us.

Jo

[Smiler]

Sandra

It's gorgeous.

Thank you for persevering and posting the pics.

However I can't answer your technical query :laugh :laugh :laugh :laugh and those that know me, say I should never try to!!
Deborah

[kiwidebs]

Sandra, I love that window. I'm a big fan of stained glass and that one is beautiful. Thank you for sharing with us.

Debs