Hi there,
I've been back for nearly 8 weeks now and I am thankful to be able to say that I think we have made the right decision to leave NZ and to come home. The first few weeks were very hectic, so many people to see and nowhere to live, and it was hard to look at the difference in the types of properties to rent that there was over hear compared to the house we had sold. I am so pleased we were in the fortunate position of having sold our house and made a profit because it had cost us a fortune. Cars, deposits for a house, buying all those little things that you normally have in a house, not to mention the everyday expense of living, but i think it is worth it. I was lucky enough to have an interview the 2nd day back at the local grammar school so i start a lovely job in september, that has made things easier because we know we will have an income coming in then, it also helped us to get a nice house because we didn't have any references. I am loving the shops, tesco and asda make me smile when every i go in and B&Q was just massive. We've already taken the kids to warwick castle which my eldest thought was fabulous and visited the beaches and towns in north devon, so we are trying to do what we said we would do which was to explore this country abit more and appreciate what it has to offer. I do have one complaint and that is the weather, i had forgotten how cold it is even in June. Meeting our dog and cat at the airport was great, they looked so fit and well, and the staff were so professional that I would recommed anyone to fly their pets home rather than leave them. It was also lovely to see all our furniture arrive safely last wednesday and to finally have a bed to sleep on, it was well worth the money because we feel as though we are not totally starting again.

So to anyone out there who was in my position a few months ago all i can say is once you have decided to come back go with your gut feeling because england does have good points and the bad points don't seem that bad now we've lived away and seen that most countries have their problems.

Hi there Marbles

How long were you in NZ for, we are contemplating returning to the uk after 5 years in NZ. We have one fear of the uk schools for our children though, how have you found it. I have a house to renovate here which shouldnt take to long and then we will decide.

Regards

Stuee

nice post marbles. I get really wobbly as my time gets closer. not on my decision but about the dog flying and with setteling in. Reading posts like yours helps to put my mind at ease about these issues. thanks. And I am happy to hear you enjoying being back.

Good to hear things have gone well, I think the weather is something everyone returning to the UK is going to have to get used to, how about the traffic though, is it a nightmare?

Glad it is going well back in the UK. Who did you use for shipping the animals?

Lots of advice for UK to NZ but not vice versa. The dog has had the first Rabies jab but with her six months period we will not be able to go until Feb (which is fine which means we would not have to face two Winters in a row).
Roger

same as most people James Cargo. We dealt with a kennels in Palmerston North, he kenneled our dog and cat for 3 weeks as we left early, he did the final vets checks and then sent them. very pleased with the state in which they arrived, healthy and happy. He even dealt with our vets over some paper work they had not done correctly because we didn't find out until he came to pick them up, he made the whole thing very easy. If you want his contact number then i'm sure i can find it. They flew with quantas into heathrow which seems quite standard.

Thanks for that. James Cargo seem to be the folk UK end. Will need to keep an eye on all the paperwork.
Roger

Just remembered the people who did it all for us were called pet care specialists, they dealt with james cargo on our behalf

Rodger, our handler was a guy out of Auckland (www.dogtainers.co.nz) he was bloody superb. Our dog flew the day before us and he called us at the hotel to advise that Mischief had departed safety out of Auckland. For our belongings we used Conroys - again excellent. Not one breakage and by far the cheapest as were Dogtainers (guys name is George). James Cargo are the main handling agent at London and again wonderful staff and very professional. Like Marbles dog and cat our boy arrived safe, happy and well (bit jetlagged mind you ha ha)

Marbles, so pleased everything has worked out for you. Weather starting to heat up nicely too. Enjoy your life back home and sending you huge hugs.

xx

ps rodger one bit of advice well in advance. When your dog gets its worm treatment prior to the flight make sure your vet writes down the brand used as well as the dosage.. bit of a sweat on the day of the flight ours didnt!!

Roger, are you going back to the UK?

Gill

Yeh, hadn't been planning to but after being in UK in May made us quite unsettled. Wife's parents are old and frail and mine are getting older and missing us terribly (and the labrador).

Don't get me wrong New Zealand has been a fantastic experience. Wonderful country and people. It has given us the opportunity to review our life and priorities - and got us out of our rut in the UK. Doubt we will give up travelling and realise that there is more than leave school, work, retire in the same place.

Will probably return to a more rural area of the UK rather than the South-East - Scotland, Yorkshire, Welsh Border, South West, and downgrade careers and mortgage.

My wife wanted to sell up and go straight home in October. However the dogs Pet Passport has put a stop to that and I am grateful. Couldn't face two winters in a row (and Hawkes bays are as miserable as the UKs though with more blue sky days but chillier indoors). Plan to sell and then rent until travel back in March after a friends Wedding here.

One of the frustrating things I have found in NZ is that I cannot afford to travel, and with the poor leave too. Therefore on sale of house will book my diving holiday to the Solomons (third of the price of similar holiday from UK), join friends in Queenstown for skiing, weekend in Sydney, tour of the South Island, and travel home thru Australia (diving in the Whitsundays sounds good) & Borneo (diving in Sipadan and Orangutans sounds good). B..gg.r it why not!

How can I afford it? Made £50,000 on our Havelock North House, and Kiwi Dollar now 10% stronger than the pound than when we came. Second reason for looking at it positively!! Houses prices in North East Hants the same as they were when we left Leave it too long and we would not be able to afford it.
Roger

Congrats on the astute house sale

Guess you are doing the right thing at the right time in returning.
Cheers annd good luck
Gill

[QUOTE=marbles] I do have one complaint and that is the weather, i had forgotten how cold it is even in June.

Think somebody must have heard you....it was certainly warm today!!!