Well there's good news and there's bad news. Both of which make want to return home for a while, as I feel completely out of it on the other side of the world.
The bad news is a friend of mine is dying, which makes me very sad and feel useless.
At the other end of the spectrum, a friend of mine is pregnant, which I'm really chuffed about.
I'm at home with the lurgy - dave had flu and has passed some of the germs onto me - I haven't got flu don't think but I'm feeling pretty ropey.
Dave's got his promotion and is finally getting paid for it, and I have finally got my tax rebate in the UK after four months so that will help going towards paying stuff off in the UK.
Tuesday, 15 July 2008
Sunday, 4 May 2008
Friday, 21 March 2008
Panic - No shopping for two whole days!
Well, it turns out that the silly opening hours on Saturday's are just a Gisborne thing, but nationwide, shops are closed today (Good Friday) and Easter Sunday, apart from Dairies (corner shop/spar type thing) and petrol stations, or they get fined. So panic, the world grinds to a stop because people can't go to the supermarket for two days!!!!
And no alcohol is served, so the pubs are closed as well. Slightly surreal when I'm used to spending easter keeping warm/drying out in a pub in between sk parades/drill/battle/standing around and waiting!
The good thing is that there are no adverts on tv today or sunday!
It's very strange being UK springtime and not rushing around to gather stuff together to throw in the car and camp in the middle of a muddy field somewhere.
We're also going to try and get away for a couple of days over the long weekend, but for the first time in many many years have had to borrow a tent.
Yet another Pom is headed out to NZ - someone I went to school with is emigrating at the end of March. Which is good, because all the kiwis are going to Oz!
And no alcohol is served, so the pubs are closed as well. Slightly surreal when I'm used to spending easter keeping warm/drying out in a pub in between sk parades/drill/battle/standing around and waiting!
The good thing is that there are no adverts on tv today or sunday!
It's very strange being UK springtime and not rushing around to gather stuff together to throw in the car and camp in the middle of a muddy field somewhere.
We're also going to try and get away for a couple of days over the long weekend, but for the first time in many many years have had to borrow a tent.
Yet another Pom is headed out to NZ - someone I went to school with is emigrating at the end of March. Which is good, because all the kiwis are going to Oz!
Friday, 15 February 2008
Poms, Poms everywhere, but not a Pimms to drink!
Every day I meet more English people! Quite random though as have met someone that has been here for ages (i.e. 30 years), and still has the broadest Geordie accent, but other people that have only been here a couple of years that sound Kiwi to me - bizarre.
I found out the other day that we can still sponsor our world vision child from NZ - was looking a bit ropey as they won't accept international Direct debits, but have got it sorted now so we can stay sponsoring the same child - which is good, cos otherwise we would have had to stop sponsoring him, as to send the sponsorship money back to the UK by transfer would have cost a fortune, and we've sponsored him for two years now so I'd feel like I was abandoning him. Prob sounds stupid to some of you, but I like to try and do things that can have an inpact on people less fortunate than me if I can.
I found out the other day that we can still sponsor our world vision child from NZ - was looking a bit ropey as they won't accept international Direct debits, but have got it sorted now so we can stay sponsoring the same child - which is good, cos otherwise we would have had to stop sponsoring him, as to send the sponsorship money back to the UK by transfer would have cost a fortune, and we've sponsored him for two years now so I'd feel like I was abandoning him. Prob sounds stupid to some of you, but I like to try and do things that can have an inpact on people less fortunate than me if I can.
Saturday, 2 February 2008
Once more into the breach dear friends.........
Yes, I know, I haven't updated it for ages, but in my defence I don't think Dave has posted since November!
Our stuff finally arrived from the UK, not all in one piece I'm sad to say, some treasured items were in many many pieces when we opened up the boxes. It was a bank holiday here on Monday (we mark Auckland Day) and it arrived in the afternoon, so we spent the rest of the day counting losses, putting pictures up and looking at photos.
The cat is finally putting on some weight as well as length, so he looks less like a pipe cleaner! He's going outside now, but despite lots of worrying, and being desperate to get out of the house when we go out, he mostly walks around the garden and then goes and sits under the house. Which is fine because it means I don't have to panic about him getting squashed by a car. I'm sure he'll go further as he gets braver, but for now, I'm glad that he's still the right shape and size when I get home from work!
Although we've still got lots of things to replace, the house is slowly starting to look less like a show house and more like someone lives here - it's nice to have some pictures and photos up on the wall as the house is very neutral and it makes it feel more like home having a bit of colour about the place.
We get another holiday on Wednesday - Waitangi Day - most of the bank hols over here seem to be towards the beginning of the year, which is great for now, but means it's a long slog for the rest of the year!
Further observations from down under:
Their sausages are weird - can't get a proper sausage for breakfast without special order (or paying through the nose for it), but there's a place here called the world cafe which does kind of sausage patties, which are different but quite nice. Most places that do breakfast do poached eggs only - and no fried bread!!!!! But, thank goodness - they have hash browns out here, which is gooooood!
Biscuits here are rubbish - even had a kiwi admit that our biscuits are great. But, I have found a couple of websites that you can buy English biccys, sweets, and loads of other stuff from. I'm all for eating local fare, but there are times when you just want to curl up with a steaming hot cup of tea and a bourbon biscuit - and you can't get them for love nor money in supermarkets. Or rich tea fingers, which I am bitterly dissappointed about!
There are flipping loads of poms here!!!! Every week I meet more people that have come out from the UK. There is a guy coming to Dave's work from the UK, and he's got a wife and kids, but has already bought a house over here, which I think is pretty brave. And they land on Friday, and he starts work on Monday - which if our jet lag is anything to go by, is just a silly idea. Oh well, I'm sure he'll soon find out it wipes u out!
We have aquired a shed load of books for free from my bosses, which is great as we had to get rid of so many books when leaving the UK, so our shelves are looking a bit more healthy!
I miss people very much, a lot of the time I don't think about how far away we are until I think - ooh I could go and see ............. this weekend, I haven't seen them for ages - and then realise that visiting anyone in the UK is now a major undertaking.
I've joined an organisation called BPW (business & professional women) - which is a worldwide organisation, but it's basically for women to meet up, network, have seminars (on personal as well as business matters) & they have guest speakers etc. And I can't knock it because going on one occasion got me a job, so it's all good. And no, as Dave asked, it's not like the WI - c'mon can you see me knitting toilet roll holders and making doilies????? I think not.
Our stuff finally arrived from the UK, not all in one piece I'm sad to say, some treasured items were in many many pieces when we opened up the boxes. It was a bank holiday here on Monday (we mark Auckland Day) and it arrived in the afternoon, so we spent the rest of the day counting losses, putting pictures up and looking at photos.
The cat is finally putting on some weight as well as length, so he looks less like a pipe cleaner! He's going outside now, but despite lots of worrying, and being desperate to get out of the house when we go out, he mostly walks around the garden and then goes and sits under the house. Which is fine because it means I don't have to panic about him getting squashed by a car. I'm sure he'll go further as he gets braver, but for now, I'm glad that he's still the right shape and size when I get home from work!
Although we've still got lots of things to replace, the house is slowly starting to look less like a show house and more like someone lives here - it's nice to have some pictures and photos up on the wall as the house is very neutral and it makes it feel more like home having a bit of colour about the place.
We get another holiday on Wednesday - Waitangi Day - most of the bank hols over here seem to be towards the beginning of the year, which is great for now, but means it's a long slog for the rest of the year!
Further observations from down under:
Their sausages are weird - can't get a proper sausage for breakfast without special order (or paying through the nose for it), but there's a place here called the world cafe which does kind of sausage patties, which are different but quite nice. Most places that do breakfast do poached eggs only - and no fried bread!!!!! But, thank goodness - they have hash browns out here, which is gooooood!
Biscuits here are rubbish - even had a kiwi admit that our biscuits are great. But, I have found a couple of websites that you can buy English biccys, sweets, and loads of other stuff from. I'm all for eating local fare, but there are times when you just want to curl up with a steaming hot cup of tea and a bourbon biscuit - and you can't get them for love nor money in supermarkets. Or rich tea fingers, which I am bitterly dissappointed about!
There are flipping loads of poms here!!!! Every week I meet more people that have come out from the UK. There is a guy coming to Dave's work from the UK, and he's got a wife and kids, but has already bought a house over here, which I think is pretty brave. And they land on Friday, and he starts work on Monday - which if our jet lag is anything to go by, is just a silly idea. Oh well, I'm sure he'll soon find out it wipes u out!
We have aquired a shed load of books for free from my bosses, which is great as we had to get rid of so many books when leaving the UK, so our shelves are looking a bit more healthy!
I miss people very much, a lot of the time I don't think about how far away we are until I think - ooh I could go and see ............. this weekend, I haven't seen them for ages - and then realise that visiting anyone in the UK is now a major undertaking.
I've joined an organisation called BPW (business & professional women) - which is a worldwide organisation, but it's basically for women to meet up, network, have seminars (on personal as well as business matters) & they have guest speakers etc. And I can't knock it because going on one occasion got me a job, so it's all good. And no, as Dave asked, it's not like the WI - c'mon can you see me knitting toilet roll holders and making doilies????? I think not.
Wednesday, 16 January 2008
One less millstone
Hooray, the house sale completed on Saturday (our time). Thank God. That's one less thing to worry about. Still have to send money back to the UK to pay for stuff, but that's such a huge weight off my mind not being tied to the house. Everything that went on with the sale of that house has put me off buying another house for a long time, but you live and learn - in hindsight buying that house was a bad plan and brought nothing but bad luck and stress.
So, what's new - not a lot. We had a friend of Dave's here for just over a week from after Christmas to early new year.
We went to Rere falls and Rere rockslide two weeekends- which is excellent fun - largest natural rockslide in the world I believe.
We have the national surfing championships here from last Friday for a week or so.
We continue to get aftershocks from December's earthquake.
Our stuff still isn't here from the UK!!!!!!
I started my new job last Tuesday.
It's absolutely scorching here, which is nice if you've got the day off, but trying to work in it is interesting to say the least, and it doesn't cool down properly for ages - not helped by the fact that we can't have the windows fully open so that cat can't escape, but he's getting his second lot of jabs and microchip on Friday so he'll be out and about soon - we may never see him again if he forgets his way home!
Anyhow, that's the news, not much exciting, but at least you can't whinge you're not up to date!
So, what's new - not a lot. We had a friend of Dave's here for just over a week from after Christmas to early new year.
We went to Rere falls and Rere rockslide two weeekends- which is excellent fun - largest natural rockslide in the world I believe.
We have the national surfing championships here from last Friday for a week or so.
We continue to get aftershocks from December's earthquake.
Our stuff still isn't here from the UK!!!!!!
I started my new job last Tuesday.
It's absolutely scorching here, which is nice if you've got the day off, but trying to work in it is interesting to say the least, and it doesn't cool down properly for ages - not helped by the fact that we can't have the windows fully open so that cat can't escape, but he's getting his second lot of jabs and microchip on Friday so he'll be out and about soon - we may never see him again if he forgets his way home!
Anyhow, that's the news, not much exciting, but at least you can't whinge you're not up to date!
Tuesday, 8 January 2008
Pre-Online Blog: 26th September 2007
Went to the solicitors this morning to arrange the power of attorney for the house sale. Have given fourteen days notice to Bairstow Eves cos their being crap - and they know I'm an ex-employee and how things should work, but they're still being crap. David Blount are coming round tomorrow to take photos, and then on 10th October we'll go on the market with them.
The boxes from the delivery company are coming tomorrow so I will be able to start packing things up and doing labels and customs forms. It'll be so weird to be moving without a car/van full of stuff arriving with us.
Feeling pretty ropey today but got stuff to do, so not rest for the wicked. It's bloody miserable here at the moment - no summer, straight into the windy, rainy autumn. Hopefully it will actually be summery when we get to NZ.
God, this has been a pipe dream for so long - I can't believe it's actually happening. We will have to completely empty the house - lock stock and barrell.
Should get some money from Marianne for the furniture, dave got some pennies from someone at work for a load of books - so we're slowly accruing pennies to pay things. ho hum.
The boxes from the delivery company are coming tomorrow so I will be able to start packing things up and doing labels and customs forms. It'll be so weird to be moving without a car/van full of stuff arriving with us.
Feeling pretty ropey today but got stuff to do, so not rest for the wicked. It's bloody miserable here at the moment - no summer, straight into the windy, rainy autumn. Hopefully it will actually be summery when we get to NZ.
God, this has been a pipe dream for so long - I can't believe it's actually happening. We will have to completely empty the house - lock stock and barrell.
Should get some money from Marianne for the furniture, dave got some pennies from someone at work for a load of books - so we're slowly accruing pennies to pay things. ho hum.
Pre-Online Blog: 25th September 2007
The realisation is dawning that in all likelihood, we are not going to get to see everyone before we leave. Mostly, that's due to people being half-arsed and non-commital! I'm due to go down to Devon a week Friday, so I'm hoping to catch up with Kylie, Duncan and Jens in Teignmouth, and I'd like to get down to North Devon to see Mags and Lani & Andy, but without a car, I don't think that's going to happen. I know I said goodbye to them at Nantwich and Chirk respectively, but that was ages ago and we've still got a month to go.
The estate agents phone yesterday with a viewing for half six yesterday- but they didn't turn up and I haven't had an explanation yet so I'm not best pleased - we need to sell this bloody house!!!!
The estate agents phone yesterday with a viewing for half six yesterday- but they didn't turn up and I haven't had an explanation yet so I'm not best pleased - we need to sell this bloody house!!!!
Pre-Online Blog: 24th Sept 2007
As of Saturday afternoon, we are £1300 worse off and booked to fly on 22/10/07. Four weeks today, by this time, we will have been flying for four and a half hours. Arrrrrrrrrrgggggggggghhhhh!
Saturday afternoon we went to Lyn & Sams in Cannock to meet up for a meal with them and Mike & Claire et al. Unfortunately Mike & Rob couldn't make it, so it was Lyn, Sam, Claire, William, Catherine, Dave & I - good job Lyn & Sam bought a big new house!
We had good food, good wine, and good company - it was a really lovely evening.
We had breakfast at theirs, and then headed off to Richard's Castle to take some flowers to my Nana's grave & to visit my Auntie and cousin. It's still so hard going to Richard's Castle and knowing I will never see my Nana again in person.
I phoned up to order the packing crates this afternoon, and the bloke that I spoke to said Nana's table was going to cost £800. I said I don't bloody think so, you quoted us £200 - and they still don't guarantee to get it, or any of the rest of our stuff that they charge you £80 a box plus insurance for there without damage. Waiting for them to give me a call back with (hopefully!) a lower quote.
And then I have to phone the council, gas, electric etc & see what happens about bills whilst the house is empty. Oh my life is so "out there"!
Saturday afternoon we went to Lyn & Sams in Cannock to meet up for a meal with them and Mike & Claire et al. Unfortunately Mike & Rob couldn't make it, so it was Lyn, Sam, Claire, William, Catherine, Dave & I - good job Lyn & Sam bought a big new house!
We had good food, good wine, and good company - it was a really lovely evening.
We had breakfast at theirs, and then headed off to Richard's Castle to take some flowers to my Nana's grave & to visit my Auntie and cousin. It's still so hard going to Richard's Castle and knowing I will never see my Nana again in person.
I phoned up to order the packing crates this afternoon, and the bloke that I spoke to said Nana's table was going to cost £800. I said I don't bloody think so, you quoted us £200 - and they still don't guarantee to get it, or any of the rest of our stuff that they charge you £80 a box plus insurance for there without damage. Waiting for them to give me a call back with (hopefully!) a lower quote.
And then I have to phone the council, gas, electric etc & see what happens about bills whilst the house is empty. Oh my life is so "out there"!
Friday, 28 December 2007
Pre-online blog - 23rd September 2007
Four weeks tomorrow we are emigrating to the other side of the world.
We will be leaving behind everything we have ever known to go and live in a country we've never even visited. Dave has never flown before and the furthest I've been is Austria. And the flights are a combination of about 28 hours. What the hell are we doing????????
And there's the small matter of the house still being on the market. We can't rent it out as by the time we've paid all the fees we would be making a loss - so we'll just have to keep our fingers crossed that we get a sale soon.
Our farewell tour started at Nantwich - the last major muster of the year, where I said goodbye to friends that I have known for over 13 years.
Two weeks ago, Blews had a big party at Chirk, the last proper muster of the season, and we had a really good night. But it was really sad leaving a muster and having no idea when we will see everyone again - and with a pretty much empty car having sold most of our kit and camping stuff.
I've sold a lot of our books and some videos/dvds through amazon, so that will help with the relocation fund.
Lou's friend Marianne is buying a load of our furniture so that's one less thing to worry about. The only item of furniture that is coming with us is Nana's table - which will cost more than all the boxes to ship even tho it's only about the size of two of them and quite light, but I want it for sentimental reasons, so I'm prepared to pay the extra.
So mostly we're shipping personal stuff - letters, photos, mementoes, nick nacks, cds and dvds.
I can't believe that in four weeks time my whole world is going to be turned upside down - and I don't even know where to buy milk and bread from. It sounds stupid, but you take for granted that you know that it's cheaper to food shop at Asda that Marks & Spencer, and get clothes from Top Shop rather than Saville Row - I have no freaking idea about stuff like that - it's going to be a big learning curve.
Of all the places I have lived in my life, there is none I will be happier to see the back of than Kirkby in Ashfield!!!!!
We will be leaving behind everything we have ever known to go and live in a country we've never even visited. Dave has never flown before and the furthest I've been is Austria. And the flights are a combination of about 28 hours. What the hell are we doing????????
And there's the small matter of the house still being on the market. We can't rent it out as by the time we've paid all the fees we would be making a loss - so we'll just have to keep our fingers crossed that we get a sale soon.
Our farewell tour started at Nantwich - the last major muster of the year, where I said goodbye to friends that I have known for over 13 years.
Two weeks ago, Blews had a big party at Chirk, the last proper muster of the season, and we had a really good night. But it was really sad leaving a muster and having no idea when we will see everyone again - and with a pretty much empty car having sold most of our kit and camping stuff.
I've sold a lot of our books and some videos/dvds through amazon, so that will help with the relocation fund.
Lou's friend Marianne is buying a load of our furniture so that's one less thing to worry about. The only item of furniture that is coming with us is Nana's table - which will cost more than all the boxes to ship even tho it's only about the size of two of them and quite light, but I want it for sentimental reasons, so I'm prepared to pay the extra.
So mostly we're shipping personal stuff - letters, photos, mementoes, nick nacks, cds and dvds.
I can't believe that in four weeks time my whole world is going to be turned upside down - and I don't even know where to buy milk and bread from. It sounds stupid, but you take for granted that you know that it's cheaper to food shop at Asda that Marks & Spencer, and get clothes from Top Shop rather than Saville Row - I have no freaking idea about stuff like that - it's going to be a big learning curve.
Of all the places I have lived in my life, there is none I will be happier to see the back of than Kirkby in Ashfield!!!!!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)