Kim39
2nd December 2005, 07:34 PM
:clap Well we have been here now for 1 month today and boy has it flown. I can remember waiting for a buyer in the same space of time in the UK and jeeze it dragged:( Anyway in the last 4 weeks we haven't really got very far regarding somewhere to live, as we decided that what we required was plenty of chillout time to recover from all the stress that we had gone through in the UK ref: house selling in a totally flat market. Ok, i have a job all lined up with a starting date of 12th Dec, but nowhere to live as of yet. We have seen a few rentals that we have taken a shine to, and still have one to view tomorrow in Howick, so here's hoping we can get sorted over the next 24hrs. Sorted ourselves out with Bank accounts...plug the ASB here, they have been totally in the word of a kiwi...awesome and cool, so i would definately recommend them as they also have some wonderful rates for investments and simple accounts, take a look, you never know what they'll offer. We have sorted cars, i have just purchased a Toyota Prado, and Elaine a Honda CRV, so we no longer have to rely on hire cars.
So the last 4 weeks has taken us from here in Cambridge(staying with friends), down to Diny and Mark's at Ashhurst in the Manawatu. Whilst here in Cambridge, we have been across to Raglan...beautiful, trip to the Waitomo caves,which we thought it was a slight rip-off, but they are catering for the tourist i suppose. Been out and about in the locality looking at sections for sale in stunning scenary and enjoying the warm spring sunshine. Took a trip down to Rotorua and across to Tauranga, paddled in the warm waters and chilled on the goldon white sands near the Mount....ah bliss. Done a bit of Horse trekking, we started out as the Magnificent 7, but ended up as the 3 Amigo's, various individuals, not naming names, totally lost it even before the horse's had been untethered:laugh In fact the wife...oop's, renamed the place Terrror mountain instead of Magic mountain as it was on top of a big mountain and she is terrified of heights, no chance with the horse up there then. But in hindsight we look back and have a laugh over it.
So after the first 10 days we moved down to the Manuwatu, Diny looked after us very well, in fact we felt part of the family. Had enormous help from Mark and the Queen. Let us come and go as we pleased. Went to see another depot from the company i am going to work for, they offered me a position down there, but something was missing unfortunately, so we have returned north, but whilst there,we took in a little run to Napier and returned through Havelock North, now there's a place i would like to live, out of our reach though. Lovely scenary down there, wonderful feeling driving through the Manuwatu Gorge. Been introduced to the wonderful game of 4 square by Fergie and Hen, oh i almost forgot Mark, who calls himself King of 4 square. We tried to accept the Manuwatu region for settling down as it is a little cheaper than further north, but it wasn't to be.
We have found that the kiwi's are very friendly and helpful, they'll even go out of their way to help more than you can imagine. Our personnel banker even tried to get us an advance of NZ$33000 for the purchase of the cars without any security. Didn't work, but the thought was there. Place we have bought the cars from allowed me to take my car off the forecourt for a paltry sum of NZ$640, just paid the balance off yesterday, now would that happen in the UK? i don't think so.
We have had a rough ride along the way though, and that will come in a seperate thread in the finacial section of the forum, regarding the ineptness of the british banking system as well as the international system.
Unfortunately though, in our attempt to start a new life over here there is some sad news. A few may remember me mentioning in another thread about my sister who gave me here blessing to make the move here, although she was diagnosed with Breast and Spinal cancer only 8 -10 weeks ago. Well yesterday she lost her short, but brave fight against the disease:no so this has taken the shine off what would have been a blissful 4 weeks. Have spoken to my dad, and the opinion from himself, and my brother in law is that i shouldn't return for her funeral. They feel i have to think of my family as they are the people who should come first and they feel should i return it would only delay our fresh start here in NZ. I can only say that i have the utmost respect for their requests.
Anyway i will update again probably at the 2 month stage and once i have sorted my computer out i will post some pic's from the past month.
Kim
So the last 4 weeks has taken us from here in Cambridge(staying with friends), down to Diny and Mark's at Ashhurst in the Manawatu. Whilst here in Cambridge, we have been across to Raglan...beautiful, trip to the Waitomo caves,which we thought it was a slight rip-off, but they are catering for the tourist i suppose. Been out and about in the locality looking at sections for sale in stunning scenary and enjoying the warm spring sunshine. Took a trip down to Rotorua and across to Tauranga, paddled in the warm waters and chilled on the goldon white sands near the Mount....ah bliss. Done a bit of Horse trekking, we started out as the Magnificent 7, but ended up as the 3 Amigo's, various individuals, not naming names, totally lost it even before the horse's had been untethered:laugh In fact the wife...oop's, renamed the place Terrror mountain instead of Magic mountain as it was on top of a big mountain and she is terrified of heights, no chance with the horse up there then. But in hindsight we look back and have a laugh over it.
So after the first 10 days we moved down to the Manuwatu, Diny looked after us very well, in fact we felt part of the family. Had enormous help from Mark and the Queen. Let us come and go as we pleased. Went to see another depot from the company i am going to work for, they offered me a position down there, but something was missing unfortunately, so we have returned north, but whilst there,we took in a little run to Napier and returned through Havelock North, now there's a place i would like to live, out of our reach though. Lovely scenary down there, wonderful feeling driving through the Manuwatu Gorge. Been introduced to the wonderful game of 4 square by Fergie and Hen, oh i almost forgot Mark, who calls himself King of 4 square. We tried to accept the Manuwatu region for settling down as it is a little cheaper than further north, but it wasn't to be.
We have found that the kiwi's are very friendly and helpful, they'll even go out of their way to help more than you can imagine. Our personnel banker even tried to get us an advance of NZ$33000 for the purchase of the cars without any security. Didn't work, but the thought was there. Place we have bought the cars from allowed me to take my car off the forecourt for a paltry sum of NZ$640, just paid the balance off yesterday, now would that happen in the UK? i don't think so.
We have had a rough ride along the way though, and that will come in a seperate thread in the finacial section of the forum, regarding the ineptness of the british banking system as well as the international system.
Unfortunately though, in our attempt to start a new life over here there is some sad news. A few may remember me mentioning in another thread about my sister who gave me here blessing to make the move here, although she was diagnosed with Breast and Spinal cancer only 8 -10 weeks ago. Well yesterday she lost her short, but brave fight against the disease:no so this has taken the shine off what would have been a blissful 4 weeks. Have spoken to my dad, and the opinion from himself, and my brother in law is that i shouldn't return for her funeral. They feel i have to think of my family as they are the people who should come first and they feel should i return it would only delay our fresh start here in NZ. I can only say that i have the utmost respect for their requests.
Anyway i will update again probably at the 2 month stage and once i have sorted my computer out i will post some pic's from the past month.
Kim