Dave&Izzy

Hi all,

we've been here 6 months now and almost have the same amount of friends as when we first came! :scared:
Despite trying and wanting to make new Kiwi - friends, we do miss our like-minded british pals very much indeed.
If there are any others here, who share the same views and experiences, please let us know!
We are in our late 20's and live in the Mount.
It would be great to hear from any other locals so we can arrange a social evening or two!!

Isabel & David

SarahB

Sorry we are not living in your area but we feel exactly the same way about living here. As much as we love living in Beachlands we are so lonely sometimes. We have made a few English friends but we dont go out at all to socialise. We have been here nearly 10 months now and I have been out once in the evening... with the Playgroup mums for christmas.

Its depressing, we do like it here but we were only talking last night about the lack of friends/people in our lives at the moment.

Apart from going to Playgroup I have no idea how to get out and make new friends... I'm finding it really hard. Any ideas?? We dont have much spare money either.

We want to make it work here and know making friends can take years, but I hardly ever meet anyone here.

Dave&Izzy

Thanks for your reply - and so quickly too!
That sounds really hard, to have been here so long and have gone out so little... luckily we are good company for each other and manage to go out at least once a week for a meal, but it's not the same as sharing it with others too!
Your comment about the lack of friends in your life at the moment is exactly our main quandry... we were very social people at home and are now wondering wether it has really all been worthwhile to give up our friends and family, to be lonely by the beach!!

What kind of things are you in to? Do you like music? How old are you and your children? And where in the UK did you come from?

Isabel & David

SarahB

Hiya!

We are both in our late 30's... we arnt married but been together for a few years now. Our son is almost 2 and a half. We came from Peterborough and still own 2 houses there that we rent out. We are just debating whether to have another bub!! :scared: :scared:

My OH has just joined the Volunteer Fire Brigade here which he is enjoying... in the UK they wouldnt let him join as he wears contacts. I have a horse at grass livery at Whitford... hes a rescued failed trotter. I'm a full time mum again... I just started a daytime job last month but it all went pear shaped very quickly.

We have 2 beaches within 5 minutes walking distance of the lovely house that we rent but boy its still so lonely here. I have got quite depressed over it sometimes. I look around me and its so beautiful here... the coastline is stunning round here... I can ride in the sea (which was always one of my dreams)... but we have nobody to share it with.

Apparently there is an expat mums group that has recently been formed but its the same day as Playgroup. My OH misses his mates a lot as he used to spend a lot of time with them... theyd known each other for over 30 years. I had really good friends back in UK.... theyd do anything for me.... my best friend has kept my horse (I didnt think it fair on him to bring him this far). I miss having friends like that. Of course we are still friends as we chat and email but its not the same. I sometimes wonder if the loneliness will ever drive me back to UK... and I really dont want to go back there!!

SarahB

Nice to speak with you earlier.

Speak soon

Sarah xx

chez

Hi Dave&Izzy
me and the family will be moving to the Tauranga area in august just waiting for the house sale to be completed.Do you have any children?and do you have residency?or are you on work visas.

kathm

Hi Dave & Izzy,

We are also in our late twenties and live in Papamoa - we have been here since 10th January. We have 3 little boys - aged 4, 3 and 10 months - and would love to meet up with you. Have you got any kids at all?

Bye for now

Kathryn

patsy88

hi well we have been in new zealand nearly 3 years .we have met a lot of new freinds and where we live now is better than being in england the people here are great we have a big gang of mates all ages and whould not move anywhere eles now .we was living in wellington but we are now in whitianga and now call this home ,

Dave&Izzy

Hi Kathryn, really nice to hear from you! We should definitely arrange to meet up and have a drink/meal... suppose it could be quite hard with the children so small! We have one of our own, but he's actually inherited- not technically ours! My younger brother (15) lives with us since our mum died- long story! Send us a message to arrange something!! We should see if we can get a social night planned for a group of us- bowling or something? What are everyone else's views??

Cheers,
David (& Isabel!)

Dave&Izzy

Hi Chez...
Look forward to you arriving! Lucky you- doing it the right way and getting 2 summers in!! We did that last year, and have enjoyed "summer" for about 8 months! Sadly it's all gone to pot in the last week, but you couldn't be moving to a much more gorgeous year-round climate. We don't technically have children (see previous post!!) yet... you do? We don't have residency- just 3 year work visas currently. We'll just see how things pan out. What do you do, and what are you moving out for in particular? Catch you soon!!

Cheers,
David & Isabel

sanandy

Sorry to here that. Were hoping to come to that area soon when we sale house. Depending how long it takes we could meet up once we get there. The down side is the housing market is crap at moment but heres hoping to sale soon. In the meantime chin up and im sure your meet some friends soon.

chez

Hi Dave & Izzy
It was a very lonnnnng process for us to get residency, the first forms we sent was in september 03 and we got the blue visas in our passports in september 05 .We have had our house up for sale since then and have just sold subject to contract (fingers crossed and everything else).My husband is a bricklayer and i am a chef .We are moving to New Zealand because we think it is a better place for our children to grow up in .The uk was a nice place 10 years ago but not anymore (just our thoughts may be not everyones).

TillyB

Hi Dave and Izzy,

We are moving to out to Tauranga in July,all being well! We have an Izzy too who is 15 (and 2 boys 13 and 8) and reluctant to make the move! Would be really interested to hear how your brother finds life, school, friends etc and has settled in the Mount/Tauranga. Would love to be able to reassure her that there are teenagers there!! We spent 6 weeks in Tauranga last summer, looking at schools and things she was interested in...sadly not sporty but into art and drama...trying to spot some good looking surfers!!! Shallow, I know but hey she's a teenager! She still isn't convinced.Would love to hear how it is.
Hope things improve....it will be us in the same lonely situation soon!!!

annaerb

The Mount/Tauranga is full of teenagers especially in the summer time. We were at the mount for New Year and the local council really went out of there way for a great night. Live bands, fireworks etc etc and about 10,000 people.

I live in Auckland and I think the Mount/Tauranga is a great place to visit and live. My eldest who is 15 thought the mount was a smaller version of the Gold Coast Australia.

Have you had a look at any local sites regarding Art/drama classes for your daughter?

TillyB

Thanks so much for that!! I will pass it on.
When we were in Tauranga it was winter and everyone was at school.
We watched a school production at the local theatre and it was great. I have found a couple of amdram sites on the web ,similar to what she is involved with now, so I am sure she will be fine.
It is such a difficult age for both of the older ones and I can't get that guilt feeling out of the bottom of my stomach, especially as July is fast approaching! My 13 year old son is a keen rugby player so I am sure he will be ok.
Hey ho...I've always said motherhood is about guilt!