davros1984

Hi Pom, thanks for the reply. Yes, it was very shocking - she was only 51 as well, my poor Dad. I did my best, tried to persuade him to come out here, but he needed time on his own to grieve and adjust as such. Yes, July 2014 is the date at the moment, although I had a good day at work today and its warm, so it always makes me think again!
Glad you like the pics, FYI.. the first picture is near to my Dad's house and I took that myself with my phone
Thanks Stormer. Too far away from the masses? - A bit like NZ!
Despite it being a very hard time, I did enjoy being back. There is no way I could ever live in a busy busy place again, Auckland is big enough for me now. I am glad to be back in NZ and back in my routine as such.
I try my best to be balanced Pip, only occasionally do I let slip! Glad you enjoyed the post.
Its not often I get so many positive comments on here and often people disagree with me! Thanks Dannigirl. Best of luck to you in your new adventure back in the UK. Hope its going OK? I guess there are always certain things you will miss or want, even if your new life is good. Glad you find it interesting - plenty more to come along with some difficult threads and posts I'm sure.
Really? Bevs I'm touched
Thank you Bellasmum. your description of grief is so true, I may have to poach that off you for future use I'd say yes, I am far more positive about the future, but even with a number of things, its still not easy to leave here, I have become very fond of NZ and I can see us coming back to live here again in a few years.
Will check that out - thanks. The home sickness will definitely get you playing that! I think the combination of the beautiful scenery along with the human history and architecture makes it a very special place.
To wrap up (for now), the current plan is to move back somewhere between Derby and Ripon, in truth it will more likely be Yorkshire. It will be nice to have the lake and peak districts as well as the Yorkshire dales within reach. The challenge (if we really do go home in 2014!) is to find somewhere pretty and not too busy with an easy-ish commute (ideally train or bus) into a city or town where I can get IT work (until I find something else to do). So its more likely to be North Yorkshire.

Spacecake799

Hi davros,
We moved to North Yorkshire last year. We had never been here before but picked it off a map. Oh is also in IT. A couple of places to look at, Knaresborough which has a lovely market town, a regular bus service and a train station. Harrogate also is lovely. Easy commute to Leeds for either place.
We live in Boroughbridge another easy commute by car, but no train station I'm afraid.
Let me know if I can help at all.

Tom1983

I presume you'll be targetting Leeds?

I know someone who works for HSBC in Sheffield if that city would interest you. They're line of work is SQL Database Administration

If you do decide Sheffield, DO NOT MOVE TO PAGE HALL!!!!!!!!!!!

Let me know if I can help

Snap Shot

Davros, I'm sorry for your loss and how quickly you had to travel to Britain and back to NZ.

The photos of Scotland look stunning. My husband was born in Scotland to Scottish parents.

He wouldn't live there now, he says it's to cold !

Although there was a job on the Isle of Skye that sparked his interest ! Oh ok, for about five minutes ! It might just put Scotland generally, on the, 'maybe' list regarding possible places to live in Britain should we ever return to Britain.

Snap Shot

I'm inspired by your story of returning to Britain. I'd like one day, my story to be similar to yours.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Spacecake799

Thanks snap shot that's very kind. Hopefully you will make it back one day and we can meet for a coffee.

Snap Shot

Thanks, I'd like that

Jess3699

Really interesting post, I think Scotland is very beautiful, my brother got married in Scotland, Dumfries and Galloway to be specific- a little market town(s) on the sea, extremely cold, but extremely beautiful.

Just in case you are thinking of moving there, I don't know if you've heard on the news, but Scottish Independence is being pushed for, which if materializes, could mean major reforms in Scotland.

Hoping the weather is nice at the minute in NZ!

paddyo

Er...not sure about little market town...its a County!! They will hang you as soon as you set foot in it for suggesting such a thing!
As for major reforms, no chance. Simply a political and fiscal stuff up which will cause more hassle with administration than any benefit it might incur.

Hazelnut

Thank goodness it's looking less likely that independence will be voted for but, if it is NZ may well experience a flurry of applications from non-Scots born people who now need to move out.

What I'd say about Scotland is that most of the grumps made about NZ could be applied there as well.

Jess3699

Ow dear- my geography is truly shocking! Funny thing is my brother got married in Gretna Green ( which is what i think I was thinking of by mistake as I'm sure that is a small little town?) and I've heard thats where alot of people run off together to get married! Not my brother, but I always rib him about this of course!

Tom1983

If she shouts out loud FREEEEEEEEEDOM!!!!!!!!!!!! She may get away with it

Jess3699

Snap Shot

I wish more people realised this. However, those same problems seem more acceptable in your destination country. Go figure.

davros1984

The weather in NZ at the moment has generally been great! We had an amazing Christmas and New Year. Did 8 nights of tenting (9 days).

Firstly we stayed here for 3 nights: http://www.mountainvalley.co.nz/ and had an awesome site. Its a great campsite in the mountains, and the owners (Doug and Julie) really made it a great stay. I did some clay bird shooting whilst there and really enjoyed it, but they have all sorts of activities. Its such a beautiful site in the mountains with a river and an incredible sky at night.

After that we spent 3 nights in Napier city at Kennedy Park campsite. A much busier campsite, but a great location - I love Napier and Hawkes Bay. We had a day in Napier exploring and chilling, the second day down at Ocean Beach, went to a winery and visited Hastings and Havelock North. The 3rd day we did a 40km bike cycle around some of the simply amazing cycle paths/tails that the council have put in over the past 10 years. Auckland could learn a LOT from Napier!.

Finally, we then went and did the East Cape - which was so empty, off the beaten track and interesting. We drove to Gisborne, then after lunch went around the cape, we camped at a rustic old campsite in Te Aroaroa where water came from a creek - so you had to boil it, but it was so rustic and chilled. Also visited the east cape lighthouse, most easterly point in NZ - so pretty much the first place in the world where you'd see the sun rise on the first day.

Yes - I read the UK Tele(Tory)graph on my Kindle everyday, so very aware of whats going on in the UK/Scotland. Highly unlikely the Scots will vote for it, but you never know! Not overly worried, especially as the old man lives up there.

Glad you enjoyed my post. I feel so good about NZ, but I know the time is coming to go back to "reality", have some direction in my life again, put some roots down and at least settle for a few years. I am really sad about leaving here, its really like living in paradise or a bubble where you have very little worries. Equally though we are both excited about our future. NZ will always feel like a home to me, even if I can't ever buy a
house in Auckland.
Happy 2014 to all.