BEVS

Bo-Jangles. Karma is a-coming your way for that stonking good post.

Especially for that.

crap coffee

I understand that and how you feel. It was the same for us when we first arrived in NZ - basically the concept of Kiwi $$$ was unfamiliar....:curse: That was the problem! so we just spent money as much as we needed for (first) a couple of months, then Mum quickly realized that we were doing something very wrong....! moneywise then she began counting every cent in the supermarket worry herself etc

(like many others here) we also brought "BIG Cash" into NZ but that doesn't last too long really.

j19fmm

You don't have to wait that long......www.sweetstall.com sell all kinds of NZ and Oz sweets. I know, I have a standing order for Mighty Perky Nanas

happynz

Damn! NZD$64K looks mighty fine to me.

Batty

Great post Bo-Jangles and very much like I feel too. You really do have to give it at least two years to get back to where you were when you left 'home'. You've got to be prepared to start at the bottom again and hopefully work your way up.

What I love about New Zealand? First and foremost - my friends. I had a horrible job when I got here but I made two friends and they've become my family over the last 2.5 years. I don't hate Auckland but I would like to live in New Zealand (as my OH says ) - I spent the first 27 years of my life in the wop wops and I'm feeling a hankering to go back to something close to that.

I love the way you get a chance here - yes, I've seen the Tall Poppy thing in play but tbh the person on the receiving end of it usually deserved it. Being gracious is very undervalued.

I've lived in 4 countries so I do feel I'm qualified to make comparisons - if I had that 4mil I'd like a holiday home in Holland but I wouldn't want my permanent home to be anywhere other than here and I can't quantify why I feel like that - disseminating isn't really very good for a person so I just accept that little bubble of happiness in my belly and be thankful for it.

lardyl

ah well us spoilt Brits do struggle to survive on it what being used to our new motors (cars not engines...!) every three years, foreign holidays, punative mortgages (oh it's worse here!!), pensions (no money for one in NZ????), etc etc
In fact got a package from me mum this morning- decent toys for the kids and some M&S for MrsL - I'll probably get a letter or something
Many Brits I know earn less in $$ than they did in ££ and that is a bit of a hit even if you are cashed up!
MrsL took a 45% pay cut and mine was 60% (now more like 90%!!)- that's gotta hurt!

crap coffee

Nice Mum

MrsL took a 45% pay cut and mine was 60% (now more like 90%!!)- that's gotta hurt!

Absolutely - we (Brits) all hurt by that

pixi-dust

I love the big sky and all the stars
Sitting outside at night in the spa ( spa!!?? in Glasgow haha) watching said stars.
Cafe culture mentioned by Nerine
The beaches
We're better off financially
More laid back way of life, where we are, no perceived pressure to have new cars etc
Our friends - who make all the difference to our lives and how good it is
All our animals that we would not have had the space for before
Our 'wooden shed'
The way you feel a bit braver, maybe it's because you had the courage to make a huge move, and are able to do things you would never have even considered before.
The sunsets and sunrises
The smell of the place
Fantastic neighbours, which we didn't really have in the Uk latterly.
We have a boat! ( a tiny one)
Year round diving, I tried this in Scotland and almost froze
Super friendly people
Smiling people
Not nearly so much litter ( not saying there isnt any, just less)
Less stress
Less work
Outdoor life
Growing our own fruit and veg never had a garden before so this is rather lovely
Great restaurants
Fishing
Barbeques

Margaret Parkinson

I have only visited family but that about sums it up. If we were younger we would be there too.

Dustybin

i was hoping it would be the lack of people moaning about the country they lived in..... alas it was not to be

Not to worry ...

The fact that in 8 months i have not seen a dog sh*te on a footpath!

(and that i have seen a white dog poo... now I remember when we used to have those in the UK.... ahh the things from your youth..)

lardyl

opened tonight - Brio train stuff for little-ee and star wars figures (10!) for big un! Thanks mum!!

crap coffee

you are very lucky lardyl. enjoy!

I can't expect such a thing from my mum.... she doesn't bother...

I_Will_Freckle

I remember those! Calcium deposits in the shite apparently.

bugman

the singing insects, most likey cicadas, theres the small ones about 2cm long that make a little tizzing sound then theres the larger ones about twice the length that make the really loud complex songs with the clicks/claps, very impressive.

i'll agree on the light, its very bright but I found the sun to be unbearable on my skin even in winter, it seemed to make me itch within seconds.

whilst i lived there my favourite thing about NZ were those very cool aucland tree wetas, the ones that would suddenly appear on a windowsill, i remember the first time i found one of those, it was a huge male with an even huger head, i remember thinking 'oh my god, i didnt know they were that big!' it was hanging from a rose bush, he was actually really sluggish, probably parasitized but at first i thought it was a big prawn shell that somebody had thrown!!