New Zealand - Going Home

colindp

1st February 2007, 01:26 PM

We have been here for 16 months and lots of delays and difficulties with visas (even though I had a job all sorted out) should have indicated that perhaps it wasn't the right move for us....Why are we going back lots of reasons surrounding my son not being allowed a work permit ????? A number of other personal issues, I dont find it particularly easy to make ends meet, I don't believe that NZ is as cheap as most seem to think and I work longer hours than previously(no Flexi time here)
Reading this back I sound like a right misery, I don't mean to be.
I am glad we came and gave it a go, at least I wont be one of the 'I wonder brigade'....

spudulike

1st February 2007, 02:33 PM

Good luck with your move back home Colin, I hope it all goes smoothly and at least you won't have any regrets as at least you tried - many don't!

Best of luck :nice1

Louise :)

zardell

1st February 2007, 02:34 PM

Hope all goes smoothly from now on.

Good luck and best wishes for a safe journey home.

Julie

xx

Kim39

1st February 2007, 04:09 PM

Good luck with it all Colin. Can understand your frustration with some of it.

I dont find it particularly easy to make ends meet, I don't believe that NZ is as cheap as most seem to think and I work longer hours than previously(no Flexi time here)

couldn't agree more with the above. As a trucker out here, and having left the WTD behind, where the trucker works an average of 48hrs over a 17,or 26 week period i find it very difficult to work the long hours these guys put in for the pittence they receive in wage.

Best of luck bud.:nice1

Kim

The Hodges

1st February 2007, 11:58 PM

Just wanted to say good luck and understand the reasons for you leaving.

http://www.freesmileys.org/emo/signs003.gif (http://www.freesmileys.org)

I am glad we came and gave it a go, at least I wont be one of the 'I wonder brigade'....

Exactly why we want to give it a go.

StevieD

2nd February 2007, 02:12 AM

Good luck mate! :nice1

kiwidollie

2nd February 2007, 06:29 AM

Like you say Colin you gave it a try and won't have to wonder what if?.......

We made the move over to NZ last February and the kids and I moved back to UK in September. I just wanted to say that I have never been more sure of anything in my life that home is the best place to be.

I haven't doubted for a second that it was the right decision to return.

Kids and I are thoroughly settled and very happy back where we belong and even though the last year has been full of ups and down I'm glad we gave it a go.

All the very best to you and I hope you'll be very happy back home. x

veronica

2nd February 2007, 06:51 AM

While Pete and I are happy enough here I can feel real sympathy with people who are finding the money situation difficult. Its definately portrayed as being a lot cheaper to live here than the reality is. we came out for a visit 5 or so years back and then with the exchange at $3.40 food and property were cheaper. but we were really surprised when we arrived 3 years ago and in that time food had gone up considerably, property had shot up and the exchange rate was under the $3 mark.

Wages here are appalling and they are well overdue for a shake up to bring them in line with the rest of the developed world. Its the main reason there is such a brain drain and when you consider it to 30 years ago, then NZ had one of the highest incomes per household and the UK joined the common market, deserted NZ and caused a depression here.

able

2nd February 2007, 07:33 AM

Is appalling a bit sweeping? Our friends made the move and he dropped from £40,000 to around $95,000 but he says that he's a lot better off financially in NZ. He also said that although NZ wages are lower,it's a bit of a myth that skilled people need to take a huge cut. Know your value, negotiate hard for what you're worth and should do all right. If you accept any sort of wage just to get into NZ, it's likely a recipe for trouble. Must admit though, I've still got to see if I can get what I think I worth when I start applying. :o

colindp

2nd February 2007, 07:34 AM

able

2nd February 2007, 07:39 AM

Best of luck to you Colin, you gave it a go. Most Brits want out but most of us don't have the nerve to do at the end of the day.

Moorf

2nd February 2007, 07:50 AM

All the best for your return to the UK Colin, let us know how you get on :nice1

Debbie

2nd February 2007, 09:53 AM

All the best Colin, let us know how going back goes for you.
Debbie

K&CS

2nd February 2007, 09:54 AM

Able, we've been quite lucky with OH's salary too, I have to say, but I'm not sure if that's just his particular industry. I think we're one of the few people who are financially better off here, but I know that isn't the case for the vast majority of people. There are industries that pay good salaries, but they are few and far between.

colindp

2nd February 2007, 09:59 AM

Will do Debbie......

Trigirl

2nd February 2007, 10:02 AM

If you accept any sort of wage just to get into NZ, it's likely a recipe for troublethis is so true. we've also taken pay cuts to come to NZ but nothing like as savage as we were led to expect.

in the first few days of starting looking one agent tried to get my OH to take a contract at an hourly rate that turned out to be over 25% below his market value. i wonder where the difference was going to be pocketed???

you do need to take care and make sure you know the market value of your skills before you accept an offer. us brits are rubbish at talking money and asking someone who does the same sort of job as you straight out how much they get paid can be really hard but its the best way to find out.

wilson182

2nd February 2007, 10:02 AM

Thanks for all your good luck wishes...I hope you all find what you are looking for.....may all your dreams come true...
Even after we return don't expect to hear the last of me If I can offer any advice or assistance I will be glad to help. I would not wish to put anyone off coming here, it just did not work out for us. It is terrific country with lots to offer but not for me or my family.....

Thank you all again.....

Hi Colin and Family

NZ is never going to be for everyone, and I think that this can take as much courage to acknowledge as actually getting here in the first place. I think thats why posters like yourself, Kiwidollie and spudulike so valuable to this forum.

Wishing you and your family the very best of luck on your return to the UK.

Debs xx

colindp

2nd February 2007, 12:06 PM

Thanks Debs.....

spudulike

2nd February 2007, 12:22 PM

Hi Colin and Family

NZ is never going to be for everyone, and I think that this can take as much courage to acknowledge as actually getting here in the first place. I think thats why posters like yourself, Kiwidollie and spudulike so valuable to this forum.

Wishing you and your family the very best of luck on your return to the UK.

Debs xx

Thanks Debs - nice to know we're of some value rather than just whinging poms!! :D

Louise

gil

2nd February 2007, 12:28 PM

I agree, thanks for taking the time to explain your experience, it's helpful to hear. And all the very best back in Blighty!
Gil

veronica

2nd February 2007, 05:08 PM

Anita & Marco

2nd February 2007, 07:46 PM

Thanks Debs - nice to know we're of some value rather than just whinging poms!! :D

Louise

Hi Louise,

But you still are a POM - LOL

spudulike

3rd February 2007, 07:29 AM

Hi Louise,

But you still are a POM - LOL

Fair comment :laugh

Diny

4th February 2007, 06:53 PM

Carey

4th February 2007, 07:40 PM

Nobody really knows what its like to live away from the family and friends network until they try it, so until you are in a position of doing this emigrating thing its impossible to know how its going to affect you. Being hard up is difficult wherever.
Just wanted to say that we are currently experiencing what it is like to be away from family and friends but on a short time scale which in itself has different issues. We are on an 8 month house swap with another family in Sicily but are leaving early to go to NZ for a reccy. Despite numerous problems over the schooling her for our 3 kids, it has been an amazing chance to have an adventure even though we wish somewhat iroincally we'd spent the time in NZ!
However we have been in touch far more regularly with both friends and family than if we'd been at home, we've had numerous visitors and found out who are real friends are! But knowing we are going home soon, has been both positive and negative and different to emigrating.

Debbie

5th February 2007, 11:47 AM

Nobody really knows what its like to live away from the family and friends network until they try it, so until you are in a position of doing this emigrating thing its impossible to know how its going to affect you. Being hard up is difficult wherever.

I left home at 18 and only went back for short periods after uni. and like most I've had my share of disagreements with my family. I always knew I was very close to my family but haven't lived geographically close to them in ages.I had a realy hard time telling my family that we were going to NZ and now Im here Im experiencing what Morf called reverse homesickness. I long for my family to be here so I can share all these experiences with them. NZ is a wonderful place but at 2pm when you sat down with a cup of tea and want a chat to your mum just to pass the time of day....It's not the same.

For those about to make the move here, don't underestimate the effect being the other side of the planet to your family. I know I did.

Debbie

Diny

5th February 2007, 02:18 PM

. NZ is a wonderful place but at 2pm when you sat down with a cup of tea and want a chat to your mum just to pass the time of day....It's not the same.

For those about to make the move here, don't underestimate the effect being the other side of the planet to your family. I know I did.

Debbie

Spot on !!!!

There's no denying that this is a wonderful country, but when you NEED your family around you and they're just not there it really smacks home just how difficult things can be.

I love NZ, but I find the weeks/months I spend here alone (my hubby works in Africa for long periods of time) are VERY difficult. I certainly under estimated the impact this would have on myself and my kids.

Diny

britchik

5th February 2007, 02:31 PM

Spot on !!!!

There's no denying that this is a wonderful country, but when you NEED your family around you and they're just not there it really smacks home just how difficult things can be

Diny

Have to agree with you there too.
Although I have family here, it's still hard not having extended family to call on.
I also left behind very close friends I have grown up with my whole life. One has 2 children now to which I find very hard to accept that I've not even met them yet. It's not like Spain where you can just catch a flight home for the weekend, the distance (and time difference!) is very hard to be able to stay in as much contact as you'd like.
Even though you make new friends It's not the same.

ruthyroo

7th February 2007, 06:58 AM

Ditto. My parents have just headed back to Scotland after a wonderful month long trip here and while I know i'm kind of emotional and missing them etc etc, it's really confirmed for me that i don't want to live on the other side of the world away from the people I love most, forever. NZ is good but it's not that good. We are planning to have kids soon (fingers crossed) and there's no way that I want my parents (or the OHs) to miss out on seeing and being involved with their grandkids at first hand. So we'll be heading back to Europe at some point in the next couple of years, all being well. We'll have PR / IRRV under our belt by then, and a fantastic adventure to look back on and a whole range of places and memories and experiences that we never would have had if we'd stayed put.

The freedom of having no friends / family and all the obligations / time that it entails is great here, but the flipside is that there's nobody here that needs me. And I miss that after a while. Everyone that loves me (except the OH) is 12000 miles away!!

gil

7th February 2007, 07:57 AM

Although I have family here, it's still hard not having extended family to call on.

I agree that's hard wherever you are. We have never, ever had extended family to call on, so I find it no different here! My sis-in-law, on the ohter hand, is emigrating to Florida next week and I wonder how she will cope as she has a huge extended family in UK, always on call....

Gil

G&K

7th February 2007, 11:29 AM

My parents have just returned to the U.K and K's are here now - but will be heading back in a couple of weeks... I am glad that they both managed to come and see the lives we have for ourselves here... It makes it all seem more "real" somehow...

I am glad we came to N.Z and 22 months in have NO regrets about it - you only live once after all...

I am happy to be going home this year though - my parents look older and my Brothers kids have grown up SO much. K's sister has had a little girl since we have been out here and is now talking and walking... These are the things that you miss and tug at your heartstrings...

If you are close to your family - you can't escape that pull...

As my Brother said at our wedding in his best man's speech - "It's great you doing what you're doing - but come home, we all miss you..."

You can't argue with that can you ?

Carol

7th February 2007, 11:41 AM

For those about to make the move here, don't underestimate the effect being the other side of the planet to your family. Debbie

I still suffer from this 11 years on.....
I've got used ot it - but it is THE price I paid for moving here.
:-(

wilson182

7th February 2007, 12:06 PM

As my Brother said at our wedding in his best man's speech - "It's great you doing what you're doing - but come home, we all miss you..."

You can't argue with that can you ?

:wah

Diny

7th February 2007, 08:49 PM

The freedom of having no friends / family and all the obligations / time that it entails is great here, but the flipside is that there's nobody here that needs me. And I miss that after a while. Everyone that loves me (except the OH) is 12000 miles away!!

Couldn't put it any better - you have hit the nail firmly on the head - very well said !!!!!!

victoria

7th February 2007, 10:35 PM

thought I'd add my tuppence. We wanted to come to NZ 30 yrs ago but stopped due to my mother-in-law's death. Hubby very close to his dad & having experienced what immigrating is like(I grew up in Canada) I didn't push.Life just rolled along & last year made the decision it's now or never. Older? Wiser? Internet YEAH! It's better to say I wish I hadn't (you learn from that) than I wish I had.We are all so very lucky to make & follow our choices.Good luck with wherever you find your contenment. Vicky

colindp

13th March 2007, 07:32 PM

Well I have managed to land that job I was hoping for so just a few more weeks and we'll be off back to Blighty :raebanana :raebanana

However can I aske a favour of my forum buddies...I will be moving back to Buckinghamshire and my job will be based in High Wycombe.....sooooo I'm looking for any info about Bucks...what's High Wycombe like and what about the sourounding area, I see that housing is not too cheap due to it's proximity to London. Any info gratefully received...:nice1

Thanks guys.....

spudulike

13th March 2007, 08:02 PM

colindp

14th March 2007, 07:38 AM

Congratulations Colin, that's fabulous news!! :raebanana What date do you leave? We go on May 16th!!! Can't give you any info on High Wycombe I'm afraid but just want to wish you the very best of luck. Keep us all posted how you get on.

Lou

Thanks for your good wishes, we are looking to return towards the end of April, I have to be out of our rental home by the 23rd and our dogs pet passport thingy expires in May, so at least she won't have to suffer months of quarantine.

All the vey best of luck to you too, do stay in touch perhaps we can arrange a meet for repatriates!!!! :laugh

veronica

14th March 2007, 08:05 AM

let us know how you get on in the UK. not just at first when the relief is there but 6 months down the line too. cheers

colindp

14th March 2007, 08:06 AM

veronica,

Sure...will do.....:nice1

spudulike

14th March 2007, 08:28 AM

All the vey best of luck to you too, do stay in touch perhaps we can arrange a meet for repatriates!!!! :laugh

Sounds good to me!!

All the best,

Louise :)

stu70

14th March 2007, 09:03 AM

Good luck to you both with your plans. Reminds me of my all time favourite Tome Jones' song "green green grass of home".

Debbie

15th March 2007, 10:43 AM

Best of luck with your move home, I lived in High Wycombe about 6 yrs ago, (BC before children) so my info is a bit out of date but if you want to know any bits PM me and I'll try and help.
I love the area and only moved because I was having children and OH wanted to be close to family. Funny how we've ended up on the opposite side of the planet from our family now!
All the best, Debbie

G&K

15th March 2007, 12:00 PM

Good news on the job - well done !
That's one less thing to organise eh?

My folks move to near H.W about 15 years ago and love it there.
High Wycombe is not a bad place at all... Got a big shopping precinct in town, which is a bit depressing - but a good theatre (The Swan) and multiplex cinema up the hill along with a huge John Lewis (can't be bad then !)
You are on the edge of the Chilterns which are great for walks/pubs and a lot of the villages have lovely flint buildings which really add character (especially after
the "beauty" of clapperboard and corragated tin roofs...)

Schools are supposed to be very good and reguarly in top 10 in the country.

You will be near to the M40 "easy" access to London and Oxford and the Chiltern Express train goes between Marlybourne and Birmingham - easy !

Also near to Beaconsfield and Amersham - which are also good little towns for shopping / pubs etc - i'd move there alone to be near the Royal Standard pub - supposidly the oldest freehouse in England at 900 years old...

http://www.rsoe.co.uk/

Good spot all round I reckon !

colindp

15th March 2007, 03:55 PM

Thanks Debbie and thank you G & K,
My wife was a bit concerned because searching for info on the web someone had posted that the best thing to do in HW was to leave. I have tried to make her understand that is just that persons opinion, there were no other such posts.
We have decided though we would like to try and settle in Chesham and are quite looking forward to the move....
Thanks again for the info and for all the good wishes we have received....:clap :clap

colindp

16th April 2007, 04:20 PM

Hi Folks,
recently I asked for some info on the area around High Wycombe, well althiough my new job is based there we intend to settle outside of town up to around a 25 mile radius....Well I have two viewings set up one is in a village called Stewkley and the other a couple of miles up the road at Mursley...anybody able to give me and feedback on either good or bad!!! For info flying back on the 23rd so only a week to go...:exit

Debbie

16th April 2007, 05:52 PM

Good luck with the move, hope all goes well for you. I don't know anything about these villages so the only comment I can make is that commuting into High Wycombe can be truly horrendus. At the wrong time of day it used to take 30 mins to drive Hazelmere to High Wycombe college (less than 5 miles). If your job is out of the town center it may not be to bad. And the motorways around there are notoriously bad. Check those commute times for these out lying villages, some of them are great places to live.
Debbie

Pip

16th April 2007, 06:39 PM

Hi Colin,

we moved from Amersham (a couple of miles from Chesham) and about five miles from High Wycombe. If you've got any questions about the chilterns etc or "Where can I find a.....", drop me a pm.

p.s Old amersham(as opposed to Amersham on the hill) has some great restaurants -.. if I could make ""Famous fish" in the high street move here, I'd be a happy woman!

best of luck with everything...

colindp

17th April 2007, 08:35 AM

Thank you both,
I was quite used to the slow commute I lived in Cullompton which was only 14 miles from Exeter, it used to take 10 mins to get to Exeter and another 15 to 20 mins to get to the office less than 2 miles from the M5...
I would prefer to settle around Chesham or Amersham for ease of commute, I will be provided with a vehicle but it can only be used during work time so I would still have to get to HW and back under my own steam, I will most likely bus or train.
Thank you Pip should I have any questions I will PM....

colindp

11th May 2007, 09:52 PM

Hi there....
Made it back safely to Blighty and all is well, no reverse homesickness! my new job is going very well and looking forward to that first paypacket.
Found a nice little house close to the Oxfordshire border in a quaint little village called Ickford. All the paperwork is going through so hopefully we will be able to move in before the end of the month. Collected our dog from Heathrow yesterday and thank the lord for the pet passport scheme just turned up and took her home no quarantine :raebanana

Will keep you all updated with progress as it happens :clap :clap

zardell

11th May 2007, 10:00 PM

Was only thinking about you earlier today........

Glad to hear you got home safely and all is well.

Hope all continues to go well for you.

:cheers

Julie

xx

Kim39

11th May 2007, 10:10 PM

Hey am glad you haven't forgotten your friends and you have been quick to give us a small update. By the sound of it all is ok with the move back so let me wish you all the luck in the world for the rest of your life back HOME,and it nice to hear that the pet passport scheme is a winner:nice1

Kim

Belmont Babes

12th May 2007, 12:55 AM

Welcome back...and you've got another Summer to look forward to :clap

Lupin

12th May 2007, 07:34 AM

Enjoy that paypacket and your life in the village, glad it's working out for you :)

colindp

21st May 2007, 04:30 AM

Thanks for all your good wishes and sorry but my posts will be a bit few and far between, we are still waiting for the letting agency to let us know when we can move in to the home we applied for. We have found a nice little three bed bungalow in a quaint ole English village called Ickford right on the Bucks/Oxfordshire border, at the moment things are a bit awkward as I B&B in High Wycombe during the week and travel to my fathers house near Maidstone at the weekend where my wife and son are keeping him company. Still having no regrets and no reverse home sickness at all, hope it's not getting to cold for you all in NZ. Wel I'm off now to see a bit more of the test between England and the West Indies....

Take care all... :nice1

K&CS

21st May 2007, 09:20 AM

Glad all's going well, Colin. I thought of you last night when watching the weather - it was 24 degrees in Dunedin yesterday and is apparently a record high temperature for May! The weather continues to be as crazy as ever anyway - May has been amazing - it seems to be forgetting that it's nearly winter....

Hope you get the rental sorted out.

Kate

StevieD

21st May 2007, 06:58 PM

Good luck Colin :nice1

colindp

6th June 2007, 11:47 PM

Hi guys,
Quick update...the jobs going very well, we have moved into our little bungalow in the Bucks countryside, and life is good. not missing NZ yet so I guess so far so good...:cheers

liamnrach

7th June 2007, 12:22 AM

Hi guys,
Quick update...the jobs going very well, we have moved into our little bungalow in the Bucks countryside, and life is good. not missing NZ yet so I guess so far so good...:cheers

Hi

Glad things are working out well for you back in Blighty! At least you will not be one of those from the 'what if' brigades. I am interested to know if you think the UK has changed much during your time away? We're not so far away as we live in Ruislip, just down the M40.....

It's always good to read posts such as yours, as it makes one realise that all is not so rosey in NZ and that 'realism' is paramount.

Hope all continues to go well for you....

Best Wishes

Liam n Rach:p

zardell

7th June 2007, 07:21 AM

Good on ya Colin - glad to hear everything is working well for you.

Doesn't matter what country you live in as long as you and yours are happy and contented.

Hope everything continues to go well for you all........:nice1

Julie

xx