My turn - 5 years on
Jan 28th 2013, 10:02 pm
#1
Forum Regular
Thread Starter
Joined: Jul 2007
Location: waikanae
Posts: 124
My turn - 5 years on
I have a habit of rambling.You are warned.
We came over in May 2007 under the skilled migrant thingy as my hubby was a plumber.The events leading up to us coming is a book in itself so I'll cut to the chase. Hubby's employer was great & fixed us up with a rental in Raumati Beach & also helped with us bringing over our dog. He & his wife even supplied basics in an otherwise empty property for us to use until our container arrived as well as putting up a fence for our dog. The relationship lasted well until the recession hit & it really cut him up to let OH go. Because of the many contacts made in those first few years OH was able to contract to other plumbers now & then until the economic bite hit again. So OH (after having a chat with a friend) took the HGV tests, passed & for a year was working for a large local co. They liked him so much he was taken on permanently (in record time for this co.)He continued driving but was given the opportunity to take further courses which have now put him in charge of a satellite depot. He's happy & never thought after a million years in plumbing he would be in this line of work. He's enjoying the challenges (so old dogs can learn new tricks) & setting up a depot on his terms.
The early days at the rental were a challenge for me. Luckily there was a pony club nearby (I'm horse mad) so I introduced myself. From that I met many wonderful characters & ended up with a young horse. We bought a place 6 months after arriving (this is another amazing story of coincidence) out in the hills with several acres. Brought the horse along who needed a mate so from the resolve of "horses do not come into the equation" we now have 2.
We were made so welcome. A neighbour hosted a meet up evening & lots of locals there.We were invited to all sorts of xmas events including the most unforgettable new years under the stars with music,braziers burning away & food food food.
To see if there was a real community spirit, I started up a monthly market in the cute & small village hall. This was for people to meet up, swap or sell their whatevers & give new comers a chance to meet the locals. The first day brought in 200 people! I managed to keep this going for 8 months but in the end I couldn't fight off the interference from zealous council officers whose interpretation of acts blah blah blah any more. We raised nearly $1000 for local use out of that.It did it's job though. Locals who'd lost touch gave a local history weekend,new comers were a lot more confident & best of all, a network was started so all can continue to swap,ask,arrange or meet up without officialdom poking it's gangrenous nose in. (rebel? ... moi?)
Back to the beginning. It was 5 weeks in & I got the migrant blues. The whole thing was surreal. English was spoken but it wasn't quite there. I looked at stuff in the shops which seemed familiar but weren't. Eg Watties (Heinz?) Weet-bix (wheatabix?) and so on. Then I went to Pak & Save & that set the depression in good. Then got a kiwi cold. Oh boy was that bad. Three weeks ill in June which should have been summer. OH realised he was the one socialising & I was having to find my own way. We made sure after that to spend leisure time together. All was good when our container arrived & having familiar things around helped enormously. The ghosts of loved ones & friends came with it. The dining table & chairs where many a good time was had in particular.
Since we've been here, the guests from the old country have been. My brother who turned up on the day we were moving from the rental & wanted us to help him get into NZ. Put him up but advised he'll have to do it on his own as we did. Haven't heard from him since.
People who we thought of as friends, who ate & drank us out as well being chauffered everywhere for 10 days & then left $60 to cover it. TICK TICK TICK
An acquaintance (never invited) but booked a flight over anyway to arrive & leave at the most god awful times. Who every morning turned on our computer & left it on so she could continue her online trading. Was shown around,chauffered, fed & lounged about the rest of the time. Not so much as take us out for a meal as a thank you or at least offer to rustle something up. TICK TICK TICK
A friend who wanted to bring someone else with him so he'd have company on the long flights. Didn't happen in the end & he came on his own. He really is a lovely guy though but this was to be the last of the "guests "for us One day he asked : what's for dinner?" TICK TICK TI.....BOING!!!!!
These are just a few examples. I've now sent out a tactful mail to counter any more freeloading visitors.
Now we are looking to move again. The country life is our love but hubby's work is allowing less time on the land. I've got a bit of arthritis developing & it's better we sell now & hopefully adapt to closer to town living. Deep down it doesn't matter really, you see, we've found home at last. We have very dear friends here It's official because we've laughed & cried with them.
I recall being asked before we moved if we knew anyone in NZ. Not really, but our friends are there was my reply. Some got it.
We came over in May 2007 under the skilled migrant thingy as my hubby was a plumber.The events leading up to us coming is a book in itself so I'll cut to the chase. Hubby's employer was great & fixed us up with a rental in Raumati Beach & also helped with us bringing over our dog. He & his wife even supplied basics in an otherwise empty property for us to use until our container arrived as well as putting up a fence for our dog. The relationship lasted well until the recession hit & it really cut him up to let OH go. Because of the many contacts made in those first few years OH was able to contract to other plumbers now & then until the economic bite hit again. So OH (after having a chat with a friend) took the HGV tests, passed & for a year was working for a large local co. They liked him so much he was taken on permanently (in record time for this co.)He continued driving but was given the opportunity to take further courses which have now put him in charge of a satellite depot. He's happy & never thought after a million years in plumbing he would be in this line of work. He's enjoying the challenges (so old dogs can learn new tricks) & setting up a depot on his terms.
The early days at the rental were a challenge for me. Luckily there was a pony club nearby (I'm horse mad) so I introduced myself. From that I met many wonderful characters & ended up with a young horse. We bought a place 6 months after arriving (this is another amazing story of coincidence) out in the hills with several acres. Brought the horse along who needed a mate so from the resolve of "horses do not come into the equation" we now have 2.
We were made so welcome. A neighbour hosted a meet up evening & lots of locals there.We were invited to all sorts of xmas events including the most unforgettable new years under the stars with music,braziers burning away & food food food.
To see if there was a real community spirit, I started up a monthly market in the cute & small village hall. This was for people to meet up, swap or sell their whatevers & give new comers a chance to meet the locals. The first day brought in 200 people! I managed to keep this going for 8 months but in the end I couldn't fight off the interference from zealous council officers whose interpretation of acts blah blah blah any more. We raised nearly $1000 for local use out of that.It did it's job though. Locals who'd lost touch gave a local history weekend,new comers were a lot more confident & best of all, a network was started so all can continue to swap,ask,arrange or meet up without officialdom poking it's gangrenous nose in. (rebel? ... moi?)
Back to the beginning. It was 5 weeks in & I got the migrant blues. The whole thing was surreal. English was spoken but it wasn't quite there. I looked at stuff in the shops which seemed familiar but weren't. Eg Watties (Heinz?) Weet-bix (wheatabix?) and so on. Then I went to Pak & Save & that set the depression in good. Then got a kiwi cold. Oh boy was that bad. Three weeks ill in June which should have been summer. OH realised he was the one socialising & I was having to find my own way. We made sure after that to spend leisure time together. All was good when our container arrived & having familiar things around helped enormously. The ghosts of loved ones & friends came with it. The dining table & chairs where many a good time was had in particular.
Since we've been here, the guests from the old country have been. My brother who turned up on the day we were moving from the rental & wanted us to help him get into NZ. Put him up but advised he'll have to do it on his own as we did. Haven't heard from him since.
People who we thought of as friends, who ate & drank us out as well being chauffered everywhere for 10 days & then left $60 to cover it. TICK TICK TICK
An acquaintance (never invited) but booked a flight over anyway to arrive & leave at the most god awful times. Who every morning turned on our computer & left it on so she could continue her online trading. Was shown around,chauffered, fed & lounged about the rest of the time. Not so much as take us out for a meal as a thank you or at least offer to rustle something up. TICK TICK TICK
A friend who wanted to bring someone else with him so he'd have company on the long flights. Didn't happen in the end & he came on his own. He really is a lovely guy though but this was to be the last of the "guests "for us One day he asked : what's for dinner?" TICK TICK TI.....BOING!!!!!
These are just a few examples. I've now sent out a tactful mail to counter any more freeloading visitors.
Now we are looking to move again. The country life is our love but hubby's work is allowing less time on the land. I've got a bit of arthritis developing & it's better we sell now & hopefully adapt to closer to town living. Deep down it doesn't matter really, you see, we've found home at last. We have very dear friends here It's official because we've laughed & cried with them.
I recall being asked before we moved if we knew anyone in NZ. Not really, but our friends are there was my reply. Some got it.
Jan 29th 2013, 12:13 am
#2
221b Baker Street
Joined: Jun 2010
Location: Miles from anywhere, Victoria, Australia.
Posts: 14,125
Re: My turn - 5 years on
Hi there, I've moved your thread into the update section. 
Jan 29th 2013, 3:19 am
#3
Forum Regular
Thread Starter
Joined: Jul 2007
Location: waikanae
Posts: 124
Re: My turn - 5 years on
Thank you for that. I wasn't paying attention.
Jan 29th 2013, 4:07 am
#4
*********
Joined: May 2008
Location: Up in dem hills.........
Posts: 1,458
Re: My turn - 5 years on
Really great update! My wife is horse mad as well, she is taking part in the South Island Endurance championships next month.
Know exactly what you mean by having vistors from the old country, pretty selfish and ungrateful. None of your hospitality is repeated if you make a trip back either. We had a a couple stay with us for two weeks, fed them, drank us out of house and home, provided a car. When we took a trip back, we just got a cup a coffee in return!
Know exactly what you mean by having vistors from the old country, pretty selfish and ungrateful. None of your hospitality is repeated if you make a trip back either. We had a a couple stay with us for two weeks, fed them, drank us out of house and home, provided a car. When we took a trip back, we just got a cup a coffee in return!
