[katandbob]

This post is in reply to Smiler and Kiwidebs, but also to anyone else who is about to move to New Zealand....

We were origionally moving to Christchurch, jobs were there as well as a few people we had already met from the NW meets.

The internet searches on the area, gave us the impression that we would like it in the Christchurch/Ashburton areas.

But we are from a small town, rush hour traffic plus commute home for me was 10-15mins, for Rob who worked in the same town as we lived was 5mins!

Christchurch Central is a nice easy city to visit, but the suberbs are one long car journey towards the rural areas, we could have settled in Kaiapoi 35mins on a good day to Central area or Rangiora - slightly more, and if you wanted really rural Oxford, an hour away....these times were not what we were expecting....so we wanted to check out the rest of the island before we made that decision.

Timaru didnt impress, not very friendly

Dunedin is a nice City, we spent 2 days enjoying the city - but the suberbs are all built on the surrounding hills, the cheaper houses are the ones in the shade, and the steep drives gave me vertigo!

Balacultha looked nice, but didn't look like it would have much in the way of work.

Omaru was bigger than I expected, but we went further...

Gore....now when we got here, I thought, this is the New Zealand I was looking for, the people are friendly, the countryside is beautiful, but I thought it would be too rural for my teenage boys.(but we will see what they think when they get here!)

So finally we got to Invercargill, and I liked it, we arrived at 4pm, got a motel, and went for a drive, it was 4.30pm-5pm and the traffic was fine!

we drove around and found a road with a sign saying Oreti beach...we drove straight onto the Beach and watched the sunset......

I new then that this was a place I could settle. so thats what we did, in 2 days we moved into a rental, bought furniture and electical goods and started looking for jobs. (Robs working I am still looking ;) )

But I don't think we quite fell off the end of the island - Theres STILL BLUFF between us and the end of New Zealand....or the beginning - depending how you look at it!

PS, weather has been ok too, just one day of rain since we arrived on the 20th June and it is the home of "The Worlds Fastest Indian" after all!! :D

for some reason the pics are not in order! never mind you can see which is what!

[Kim39]

If you had that "yes" feeling then Good luck to you and Rob :nice1 but don't be strangers to us North Islanders will you. PM me with your contact details.


Kim

[zardell]

Hi Kat and Rob.

Glad to hear that you have found your special little piece of New Zealand. Steve and I are really pleased for you.

So, you're currently a kept woman eh? :nice1

If it's what you want, I hope that you find a little job yourself soon, as its a great way to meet people and make new friends and lets face it, a girl can only do so much shopping !! ;)

Love the pics....but we need more .....LOL

Take care and keep in touch,

Loadsa love,

Julie.

xx

[K&CS]

Hi, I've already PMd you, but as I said, I have a friend who was born and bread there and she won't hear a word against the place. Sounds like it'll suit you down to the ground - you just know when you have found the right place (just as we have).

Hope it won't be too long before the kids are joining you.

Kate x

[Smiler]

Thanks for the update Kat. :clap I was wondering how you were doing.

I know what you mean when you have that gut feeling, you just have to go with it. Good on you and good luck with the job hunt too.

You'll be well settled before the boys arrive too. :nice1

[katandbob]

if you want more pics then just read my Blog....and as to the jobs, (enjoying being a kept woman) but I have applied for 6 so far - I had my first interview today,1 15min phone interview, plus 1 phone & internet role play interview and today....I passed the 3 hour assessment/aptitude/roleplay!

And this job your wondering was for.... Call Centre representative.

I decided that I didn't want to sit on the end of a phone all day, so I after the assessment when they were going to organise the final 45min formal interview I said that I didnt think that the post was right for me so I declined!

[Singel]

Kat, thanks for the update and glad to know that you have found your piece of heaven :nice1

With your enthusiasm, I'm quite sure you will get a job pretty soon :yes

Best of Luck with the job searching :cheers

[Howie]

I just checked out your blog and am now dying to visit Invercargill. It's beautiful!! You'll have to forgive my ignorance, but I thought the south end of the south island may actually have a winter (unlike Auckland where it feels like spring). But Invercargill looks so green and alive. Yes I see you're wearing toques (hats), but it doesn't look like winter.

[marcia]

Kat so pleased you have found the place you were looking for - I'm a big believer in going with your gut feeling!

Will send you an email soon just been busy busy busy!!

loads of love

Marcia

[Lupin]

Why not Invercargill? :nice1

Looks beautiful Kat. Our panel Dr spent a few years in Invercargill and really rated it. Hope you'll be very happy there.

[jdbob]

Congratulations!!

Someday I'll have to visit southland.

[willsken]

You're right ,sometimes some where feels just right. I think you know in your heart when something is for you. Good luck :nice1

[sizzlingbadger]

Great to hear you're settling down in to kiwi life :raebanana

After reading that you bypassed Wellington I didn't think you would last long in Chch.

Good Luck with the job interviews and I hope your boys join you soon :nice1

[kiwidebs]

Hi Kat

Great post. I'm glad you found the place that is right for you. I agree that the far south is beautiful - not my cuppa tea but def somewhere we will visit. My other comment was nosiness not criticism, I hope that's how you took it. Heck, I live in Auckland and I'm pretty sure that's a place that doesn't do it for alot of people, but I love it here (could have something to do with my family all being here though:laugh - I'm loving the built in babysitters after years of doing it on my own!!).
Anyway, just wanted to say keep up the posts from down that way, and we'll pop in to visit when we get around to doing our South Island tour.

Good luck with the job hunting (can't believe that mega interview for a call centre job).

Debs

[katandbob]

Hi Debs, nah, I didnt take any comments wrongly...and as to citys...I think they are nice places to visit...with taxis..or good friends to drive you around :laugh (god bless Marie & Dave!...we didnt say anything in our earlier posts.. but we were stressed out 5mins after leaving their house when we drove to Taupo...and only relaxed once we were out the city limits and on the right road!)

I took rob to work today, then went straight to the beach for some excercise!...wish I could stay at home..I could get used to this!!

Any way I went to the interview, stayed for most of it...but I knew it wasn't for me...so before I sat in listening to calls, I said thanks but no thanks.

It was for IRD by the way.

Anyway...today I was busy cleaning my windows, and car in the sunshine (got all my washing dry too) and the phone rang....it was the council, inviting me to an interview on Thursday.....and the place is 5min walk from where I live :clap Parks Dept, admin...so keep your fingers crossed as I think this one may be one I would like.

will keep you informed...anyway, heres a pic of some of the trees in Queens Park...we spent a day wandering around and had lunch in the Crazy Llama cafe ...great coffee!

Kat :nice1

Hi Kat

Great post. I'm glad you found the place that is right for you. I agree that the far south is beautiful - not my cuppa tea but def somewhere we will visit. My other comment was nosiness not criticism, I hope that's how you took it. Heck, I live in Auckland and I'm pretty sure that's a place that doesn't do it for alot of people, but I love it here (could have something to do with my family all being here though:laugh - I'm loving the built in babysitters after years of doing it on my own!!).
Anyway, just wanted to say keep up the posts from down that way, and we'll pop in to visit when we get around to doing our South Island tour.

Good luck with the job hunting (can't believe that mega interview for a call centre job).

Debs

[kiwidebs]

Keep those beautiful pics coming Kat. And good luck for Thursday - let us know how you get on.

Debs

[StevieD]

Great Blog Kat, nice pics, looks like you got a nice enough place to live there!

Steve and Jan

[colindp]

katandbob,
I have always heard it said the Invercargill should be twinned with Chernobyl, nobody I have met has anything nice to say about the place!!
Well I had to go to Invercargill Monday (28/08/06) and I must say they are all wrong, we all loved the place particularly the area around Queens Park. I live in Dunedin but I much prefer Invercargill....Not too sure about Bluff though!!!

[katandbob]

katandbob,
I have always heard it said the Invercargill should be twinned with Chernobyl, nobody I have met has anything nice to say about the place!!
Well I had to go to Invercargill Monday (28/08/06) and I must say they are all wrong, we all loved the place particularly the area around Queens Park. I live in Dunedin but I much prefer Invercargill....Not too sure about Bluff though!!!

wow some people do have it in for the place...BUT I am beginning to see a reason for it....it keeps people away!....maybe thats why its still a nice place, with reasonable house prices.

As for Bluff....the bad houses...they are mostly owned by overseas owners, who bought them for a song, come once a year or just forget about them, which is a shame as some are originals..ie have all the quaint features of the period that they were built in. and also the big freezer works that is empty, why they dont just knock the whole place down and regenerate it?? I havent a clue, as it would have great views!

I agree that Bluff needs a huge overhaul, they have got a grant to "think about what they can do to promote it!" :confused: Beauracrats at their best...they could spend the cash doing it up for as start!

We are actually going to move to a property between Invercargill & Bluff, so I will be 15mins from Inv, and 5 from Bluff.

Omaui Is great, a small Bach community near greenhills. the beach is deserted and its 5 mins from our home to be.

I work for the Parks dept so I see first hand how much goes into keeping the Parks such as Queens and the other parks such as Anderson/Donavan/Turnbull Thompson/ Stead St/ Otatara/ Sandy Point/ Bluff Reserve/Point etc...then theres the Neighbourhood Parks, the Southland stadium...gosh I could go on all night to list all the facilities that we have here.

Yep I love living here. :D

[Kim39]

Glad to read that you and Rob have settled well into your new lives, and after reading your blog it seems that the distant shores of Immingham are a long way from your minds. Hope you carry on feeling the same way.


Kim

[Diny]

Bluff !!!! OMG !!! Went there about 17 years ago and (somehow) managed to get caught up with (who can only be described as) the cast of Deliverence !!!

A funny story now but very scary at the time. I remember it being abit like Rhyl but without the class !!!!

Would love to go back now and have a look, I hear it's 'come on' abit since those days.

Nice pic by the way Kat.

[colindp]

Diny,
Can't say that we encountered anything like that however, my son was wanting to see the signpost...you know...where Billy Connoly started his tour of NZ well when we eventually found it we took the obligitory touristy photo's but found our exploits were being closely watched by locals in the Lands End pub...Were we doing wrong, was the right to take photo's at this place only the right of a local photographer, was I doing him out of some income???

[katandbob]

Immingham.............no its on my mind quite a bit this week! :uhoh I am sorting out the boys flying out next thursday...and MIL is getting more upset by the day, so I am feeling stressed and guilty at the heartache I am causing both the boys (Jords leaving his girlfriend) and my family who will have to go through another good bye....

...not getting much sleep, :( but I must say Manchester Airport were very nice when I rang them the other night, they put me straight through to security officers and they confirmed that the boys will be ok bringing their PCs in pieces in their luggage.
(the visions of scary looking security guards stripsearching my poor boys have been in my dreams lately!)

I will be glad to be sitting in arrivals at CHCH airport next thursday!

PS Kim, hope your having a better time working for Frontera..... :D

and Diny....you'll have to come visit and I'll give you a guided tour, ;)

Cheers Kat

[Kim39]

Bluff !!!! OMG !!! Went there about 17 years ago and (somehow) managed to get caught up with (who can only be described as) the cast of Deliverence !!!

A funny story now but very scary at the time. I remember it being abit like Rhyl but without the class !!!!



i remember you telling us that story and i still have a good laugh at it Diny.....cue the banjo's:p


Kat. Fonterra is working for me at the mo, and i feel a little more settled for the time being, but still looking to get out of the transport industry:yes

Kim

[Diny]

Diny....you'll have to come visit and I'll give you a guided tour, ;)

Cheers Kat

Would love to !! Should be down that way late summer so will let you know.

Diny

[katandbob]

Diny,
Can't say that we encountered anything like that however, my son was wanting to see the signpost...you know...where Billy Connoly started his tour of NZ well when we eventually found it we took the obligitory touristy photo's but found our exploits were being closely watched by locals in the Lands End pub...Were we doing wrong, was the right to take photo's at this place only the right of a local photographer, was I doing him out of some income???

Nah they were thinking .....look theres some more of those touristy people.....shall we go see if we can tempt them into a trip around the bay......NAH, poor another pint betty! :D


extra note...I think that the place has had new owners recently....or one of the Bluff ones did???? cant remember! ;)

[KerryS]

Your post has actually inspired me to explore more of the South Island. I've never been down as far as Dunedin, let alone to Invercargill or Bluff! I have two weeks off over the Christmas break, so I'm going to start planning a trip down south now.