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There's no 'I' in 'team'!Posted on Friday 17 August 2007 at 09:57 - Post Comment
However, as many people point out - there is a 'me'. Still, despite this it seems that 1 week in, my team at work is going to be a good one. It's been a busy busy few days, and has given us all the opportunity to get stuck into our various roles, whilst feeling each other out at the same time. So much so, that the week has simply flown by and I can't believe that today is Friday! We've all mucked in, helping each other and all that. There's been no back biting, ignoring, bitching or moaning - and although it is only early days still, I feel that we are all going to do rather well over the coming weeks and months. Here's hoping!
Last night we went to go and see Gary and Justin, who have just moved into their brand spanking new house out in Rolleston. You remember- the couple who's 'roof party' we went to a couple of months ago? Well you know what - it is absolutely gorgeous! I was sat in the lounge, mouth open in awe, as the place is just great, and I cannot wait till we get our chance to do the same. Still a while away yet I know, but what an achievement. Gary and Justine were obviously pleased as punch to finally be in their own home after living in a friend's 'sleepout' (converted garage) for many months, but having all the personal touches around them that make the house really 'theirs' seems to me to be well worth the wait.
Regarding houses and such, we meet with John Archer, our mortgage advisor tomorrow morning to fill in the paperwork which will tell us if we can really afford the house we have had our offer accepted on. Having done some fiddling around with online mortgage calculators I am sure that we will be able to come to some arrangement - so long as the lenders are happy with Toni's employment prospects after Christmas. We will need to do some serious saving to live through the long Christmas break as T won't be paid until after the Jan term starts but having crunched some numbers it is certainly do-able.
The housing market here has been shocked today following the NZ dollar crashing against the US$ - and subsequently against the UK pound. It has meant that exchange rates are all over the place, lenders are nervous, and at the bottom of it all are house prices. It could possibly mean that we could have bought at just the wrong time as prices may drop slightly, but seeing as it is a place to own for many years to come I don't feel that, even if this is the case, the decision is the wrong one. The underlying problem here that keeps housing prices on the rise is the lack of housing supply and this won't be solved overnight. As in the UK, many Kiwi's strive towards home ownership, and this - along with the constant stream of immigrants to the area - are certainly going to keep things buoyant. Ah well - gotta be in it to win it and all that!
The thought that we may soon be in a new place that we own is certainly very exciting! It will be perfect timing too, as my parents are due out here in a couple of months and it would be so good to have them stay with us rather than in a hostel somewhere. Much as we love the flat's location, I am getting a bit tired of the cold and the rubbishness of the bathroom and kitchen. Plus, I can't wait for the absolute JOY of owning a GARAGE! My very own garage! Toni will tell you just how important this is for me. In the UK I had a wet, cold and leaky shed in which to work on my race and road 'bikes. To have an actual gargae will be so cool, I think I may pass out with excitement. T knows that I really don't give 2 hoots about the house itself so long as it is warm, dry, and will hold or increase in value, so long as it has a garage I am happy.
So, the weekend awaits and it'll be a quiet one really. Weather permitting we may go out and do a bit of exploring in the car. We have yet to explore Banks Peninsula except for the Akaroa road, and there are loads of little bays and meandering roads across it that I quite fancy exploring, and seeing as it would be on the work's fuel card why not indeed?! I am also determined to get stuck into sorting out our residency application., I have put it off for a month now through laziness and really need to pull my finger out. The triciest thing will be the UK police checks and so I will sort them on Saturday. Then we need to get medicals done (around $400 each - eek!) and then submit that lot along with a bunch of other paperwork to the NZ immigration service. The outcome should be a '2 year work to reside visa' for me, and a 2 year 'eligable for any work' visa for T. After the 2 years (or 1 and 1/3 years now as I believe that it backdates to when you started for the company that is sponsoring you) of work we can then apply for residency. Sounds pretty simple - let's hope it actually is!
Funny moment of the day today was watching a DVD that Kelly (T's sister) sent to us of her and her family over the past few months. It has everyone on it, including Kelly in labour (!) with her second son, and it was just so good to see people from home in the environment that we have spent the last 7 years of our lives. You know what though, it really didn't make me long to be back there, and I was quite surprised by this. I think it certainly helps knowing that Kelly and her brood will be out with us next year sometime.
Actually, another funny moment today was receiving a letter from MAFF saying that a letter sent to us had been 'detained' as it contained 7 ears of wheat picked on the 7th of July 2007 (07/07/07) sent to us by T's mum for luck! We can pay $20 to have it sent back home to the UK, or $60 to have it fumigated and then sent on to us! We need to speak to Dominique to see if anything else was in the letter/ parcel as if not I think it will be getting destroyed. So much for good luck! Thanks for the thought though Dominique. Speaking of thanks, despite me being a terrible son, my mum continues to send us gifts and things. Just yesterday T got a parcel addressed specifically to her (maybe mum's trying to tell me something...?!) containing some clothing which fits T beautifully. We love getting stuff in the mail - even a bill excites me at the moment so to get a parcel is extra-special. Thanks to all of you who continually think of us.
Well, it is now nearly 10pm on a Friday, and party animals that we are - we're off to.....
....bed. How sad! However judging by these two, they've beaten me to the Land of Nod by a good few hours:
Nighty night!
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