kiwidebs
13th April 2006, 11:17 AM
Hi All
Just a quick four week update. It really does feel like we've been here so much longer.
The latest news is we're buying a house. We'd lined up a rental, then we both got jobs so decided to pay our own mortgage rather than someone elses. We've had an offer accepted on a 3 bed brick and tile in West Harbour - a very nice suburb in West Auckland. We're 10 minutes walk from a fantastic primary school, 15 minutes walk from the Marina where there is a ferry to the CBD (35 minutes each way!), 10 minutes drive to my parents and only 5 minutes drive to my sister and niece. The grounds have been neglected and are well overgrown and the interior of the house needs painting but it'll be ok to move in and live with for now. It has a two room 'work space' only accessible from the outside but we think we'll be able to put in stairs to make it a 4 bed plus study!
So we're currently going thru the getting LIM's, mortgages, building reports etc. Hopefully we'll be moving in on (or around) May 5th. Very exciting (and stressful).
We've both got job offers. I'm going to be working at Auckland Hospital and Mark has a job with APN (big media company - they publish the NZ Herald and Woman's Weekly amongst others). Just filling in the paperwork and all the pre employment screening stuff.
The kids are both in daycare at Kindercare and loving it. Gem goes three days a week but Cam's only got two days so far. It is far better than the daycare they went to in the UK.
Both kids have started swimming lessons and Gemma is going to a dance class too. They are also both loving the time they get to spend with my family. Gemma and my niece are 7 weeks different in age, and they are getting along really well (most of the time).
We're in the market for a second car now. We have a wine coloured Mitsubishi Grandis gas guzzler (2.4L), and are thinking of getting a Mitsubishi Colt as our second, more economical, car (yes, we like our Mitsubishi!!).
We managed a short weekend in Chch catching up with relatives, but unfortunately not long enough to catch up with forum buddies. We're thinking of a camping trip to the South Island in the summer (we have bought a tent from Kathmandu, but def only fair weather campers so won't be trying it out till the summer) - watch this space.
Well, that's about it. Can't wait to be in our own space with our furniture and 'stuff' around us. It'll be good to get back into a nice routine.
Debs
Just a quick four week update. It really does feel like we've been here so much longer.
The latest news is we're buying a house. We'd lined up a rental, then we both got jobs so decided to pay our own mortgage rather than someone elses. We've had an offer accepted on a 3 bed brick and tile in West Harbour - a very nice suburb in West Auckland. We're 10 minutes walk from a fantastic primary school, 15 minutes walk from the Marina where there is a ferry to the CBD (35 minutes each way!), 10 minutes drive to my parents and only 5 minutes drive to my sister and niece. The grounds have been neglected and are well overgrown and the interior of the house needs painting but it'll be ok to move in and live with for now. It has a two room 'work space' only accessible from the outside but we think we'll be able to put in stairs to make it a 4 bed plus study!
So we're currently going thru the getting LIM's, mortgages, building reports etc. Hopefully we'll be moving in on (or around) May 5th. Very exciting (and stressful).
We've both got job offers. I'm going to be working at Auckland Hospital and Mark has a job with APN (big media company - they publish the NZ Herald and Woman's Weekly amongst others). Just filling in the paperwork and all the pre employment screening stuff.
The kids are both in daycare at Kindercare and loving it. Gem goes three days a week but Cam's only got two days so far. It is far better than the daycare they went to in the UK.
Both kids have started swimming lessons and Gemma is going to a dance class too. They are also both loving the time they get to spend with my family. Gemma and my niece are 7 weeks different in age, and they are getting along really well (most of the time).
We're in the market for a second car now. We have a wine coloured Mitsubishi Grandis gas guzzler (2.4L), and are thinking of getting a Mitsubishi Colt as our second, more economical, car (yes, we like our Mitsubishi!!).
We managed a short weekend in Chch catching up with relatives, but unfortunately not long enough to catch up with forum buddies. We're thinking of a camping trip to the South Island in the summer (we have bought a tent from Kathmandu, but def only fair weather campers so won't be trying it out till the summer) - watch this space.
Well, that's about it. Can't wait to be in our own space with our furniture and 'stuff' around us. It'll be good to get back into a nice routine.
Debs