THings I have done today to get to New Zealand

[sophiedb]

Today we finally received copies of hubby's birth certificate - whee! - which will now be used to register DD as a Kiwi citizen.

Yesterday my dad tabled a very tempting offer to buy our house, with the aim of renting it out. This may well go ahead, despite my reservations about working with my dad on anything again (despite loving him to pieces.. he's just.. DIFFICULT).

Earlier this week I ordered my French police check and began the hunt for a translator. No quotes yet, but most of the emails only went out yesterday

Last week my Aussie police check arrived, but not hubby's *head!desk* It had better not be LOST in all these postal strikes!

Um, that's about it! Now to find time for Christmas shopping...

[lin]

have been saying my goodbyes and crossing off the final few tasks. Few things i haven't done yet, but will have to wait & do that from NZ now.
I've packed my bags, then repacked them and as I can't lift them now, will probably need to do the same again in a few hours time. leaving on Sunday, so here's hoping i've all the important stuff done now.

sophie - good luck with the house & hope that missing cert arrives soon!!

[Mamee & Co]

Good Luck Lin.

Wow Sophie, I can understand. I would be tempted by your Dad's offer! We had viewer 3 yesterday and viewer 4 comes tomorrow, which is hard as it's the boys' birthday and means they can't open there presents too messily and slob around with them.

But hopefully next year their birthday will be in late spring and we can have a BBQ!

Off to the science centre with them on Sunday for their birthday (was going to do it tomorrow but, with viewer!)

Think L is a bit upset as this is the first year without a party but promised him one before we leave! Thought postponing to a farewell party might be more fun....now not so sure...but many of the kids are not having a birthday party every year!

So fingers crossed that the house sells soon!

[Mamee & Co]

Wowee..one of our viewers is coming back for a second look....

Please may I have lots and lots of positive selling thoughts to wing their way here?

[JandM]

You got em... +++++++++++++++++++

[nifta]

fingers crossed mamee!

we had our second shipping consultation.. one more next week. it'll be interesting to see how they differ. i realise that - like everyone else - we think our situation (or aspects of it) is a "special case" and i know that the shipping folk deal with people just like us everyday, but.. for some reason it makes me a little nervous when things are brushed off without a second thought as being no problem... i'm pretty sure there might be problems... (i think - HOPE - we're just being paranoid given our previous shipping nightmare!).

the other ickle step forward has been making initial contact with a recruiter... i guess this means i have to actually get my CV together then?! ugh!!

last night we went to what might well be the last gig we see in london. nothing booked and nothing of interest currently announced between now and the time we expect to leave (this is not entirely true - we're going to see sandi toksvig's christmas cracker which should be a fun night ). i must admit i'm feeling rather down about all this. just in the last couple of months we've been lucky enough to see the likes of the pixies, doves, wilco, bad lieutenant, mr scruff, cinematic orchestra and a handful of others - i'll definitely miss london!! (but i can't wait to be back in NZ )

[sophiedb]

Good luck Mamee!! And happy birthday to your boys It's my lil bruv's birthday today too (30!), so I baked him a humongous tray-sized brownie as what could be my last edible pressie for a very long time..

We haven't got any more viewings booked for this weekend, unless someone comes by unexpectedly in the next few hours. The market is SLOOOOOOOOOW in this neck of the woods, which is fair enough, being so near Xmas.

My French police cert has come back already - hee! - will drop off to translator fella later on, another £25 in search of Kiwi joy.. but at least the polic cert itself was free.

Still no sign of the fracking Aussie variant... *grrrr* Losing sympathy for striking postal workers right about... NOW. Sort out those sorting offices before the next strike, PLEASE!

[three to go]

Originally Posted by Mamee & Co

Wowee..one of our viewers is coming back for a second look...

Am all worn out sending positive thoughts..........how did it go??

ps - A big HAPPY BIRTHDAY to your boys enjoy the science museum!

[Mamee & Co]

Well...it went...not sure how...they didn't stay more than ten minutes but did say that they were there to see if their furniture fitted, so fingers crossed. Only problem is that they haven't sold their house yet so we would be dependent upon their house sale....but if it could be organised by next March would be good timing. Now we have to wait until we hear from the Estate Agent on Monday if they have decided to go forward.

The Estate Agent has told us that if they do offer we keep it on the market until the conclude the missives, and if someone else offers us cash in the meantime with a firm bargain then we give them 48 hours to say they will go ahead by x date or they withdraw. This is not the old Scotttish way of dealing with property transactions but I have been told that bridging is just too difficult to obtain these days so it is the way that the sales are going.

So fingers crossed that it works out. Sophie I would agree that the market is quieting. The EA told us this yesterday, btu she reckons that it normally comes back with a bang in January due to everyone's fall outs over Christmas! Hope your Aussie cert appears soon. I got my account opening details within 48 hours from one of the currency houses in LOndon. I was shocked to say the least!

[PonyGirl]

Well...I can't believe it is here...we get one the plane and leave for NZ tomorrow. We've been vacationing in Las Vegas and Los Angeles for the last week and have had a lot of fun. We got to see the Grand Canyon, which is the most incredibly thing I have ever seen in my life!!! I am so ready to finish this trip and start a new life in NZ, but I am so nervous and scared too. It feels so weird to not be heading back home. So, what I have done today to get to New Zealand...packed suitcases...again. LOL I'm pretty much all ready to go... Yay!