Re: Got a bit of a story to tell..........
 

Hi Ian - you have another fan here. Looking forward to reading more. :)

Re: Got a bit of a story to tell..........
 

Cool and there mostly ladies :thumbsup:

Re: Got a bit of a story to tell..........
 

Throws bucket of cold water over Ian ... :D come on mate! lets hear the next installment! :p:p

Re: Got a bit of a story to tell..........
 

I saw a reply and got excited! Tease. :sneaky::p

Re: Got a bit of a story to tell..........
 

Wow! What a great read and I had the pleasure of reading it all in one go as I accidentaly found this thread today while looking fo something else.
Now that I'm hooked on your story can't wait for the rest of it.

From another fan,xxx

Re: Got a bit of a story to tell..........
 

Keep us waiting too long, Ian, and we may not be ladies anymore.:sneaky::D

Re: Got a bit of a story to tell..........
 

Foot tapping impatiently,:p Come on Ian we are waiting :p:lol:

Re: Got a bit of a story to tell..........
 

stumbled accross this thread and love the narrative ian, you sound like an ace family :)
more please before you publish your memoirs and I'll have to pay for it!

Re: Got a bit of a story to tell..........
 

Well onwards and upwards, so I thought I’d phone my Dad again and see when he was going to come down? The phone started to ring and then I herd my father’s voice, hi Dad I said, how are you? Fine came the reply, he then told me that he was busy and he’d ring me back latter! I asked when he was coming down and he said in a few days, great, my own Dad could not be arsed, at this point I was on a big low and started to get very emotional. What could I do now I was at a complete lose end, so in times like this there’s only one place to go, yep the pub! I got my coat and started the walk to my local, now I’d not been in for just under a year and the people there knew Sharon more than me as I’d only lived in St Helens for a couple of years, I was “Sharon’s husband” so the people who drank in there were not my close mates just people who I knew through Sharon and her sister. I walked in and it was like I’d just left, it was 4pm and the same people were there, sat in the same places drinking the same drinks eating the same crisps! It was quite bizarre! I ordered my pint of carling, the bloke behind the bar said he’d not seen me for a while. I told him that I’d been living in New Zealand for the past 10 months, he just said “oh I bet that was nice” just as I was about to tell him all about it he turned round and walked off, ok fine I thought. Then I herd the voice of Billy, Billy was a good friend of Debbie and came to the night doo of our wedding, he seamed made up to see and asked how I was and how the trip was? I started to tell him and after a few minutes could tell by his eyes that he had switched off, what was the point in telling how it was when people did not want to listen. It did surprise me that people did not want to know how we’d got on, but if you think about it there are a lot of people who have had the opportunity to move countries and haven’t, and there are more who just have not had the opportunity and wish they could, how lucky were we to have been given the chance to experience a different way of life, I knew how lucky we had been I just hoped Sharon would come to her senses and give me the nod to go and book the flights!
After a couple of pints I started the walk back to Debbie’s, Ian was meeting me there to take me to his, I had time to ring Callum and arrange to go and see him before he turned up.
Ian picked me up and it was like I’d never been away, you can do that with some people, you know not speak for ages and then when you do talk everything just falls in to place, well that’s what I’m like with Ian. He’s a funny bloke with a witty and direct way of explaining things, if your in the wrong he’d tell you and call you a prick. But if you were right he’d back you up 100% at the end of the day he was just a good mate. We got to his and he said that some of the lads were going to pop in, great I thought but there was a couple of them who I’d not talked since I’d left. I thought it would be great to see them but at the end of the day the closeness had sort of gone because they not been bothered to stay in touch, people who have gone through this will understand, it is quite a strange feeling.
So that night was ok, yep just ok, we played video games had a few beers and a couple of joint. At the end of the night I asked Ian was that a typical night now? He said yes and went in to the details why, it seemed that the young kids down town were always trying to prove them selves and it was not worth going to the pub, you didn’t go out on your own and walking back from the pub by yourself was a definite no no! People had been stabbed and being beaten up was a every night accurance and not just left for Fridays, the” hoodie” ruled! So they now take turns going round to each others house to play on the “play station”. So this was what I was going to be doing on my Friday night from now on, I’d rather be having a bbq even if it was in rainy Auckland.

Re: Got a bit of a story to tell..........
 

Whoo Ian Nice home comming, :)

please, please dont leave it so long for the next bit :thumbsup:

Re: Got a bit of a story to tell..........
 

Bump;)

Re: Got a bit of a story to tell..........
 

There is a whole heap of people here desperate for you to tell us! come on, next installment please

Re: Got a bit of a story to tell..........
 

Great story, I've just read through the entire thing again. Please tie it up for us!

Re: Got a bit of a story to tell..........
 

Hi Pleccy, are you now in NZ?

Anyway here's some more!

Well that morning Sharon came to her own conclusion and told me to book the flights back to New Zealand, I was made up but knew deep down that this would now be my last few days in England; I knew England’s green and pleasant land was not so green and certainly not pleasant. What ever happened to us from now on I knew that we or should I say I will not be returning even if going back to NZ was not the right answer we would move somewhere different, perhaps Italy who knows!
The first thing I did was check my watch to make sure it was the right time not only to call Rhys but to also call the shippers and Robbie, Rhys as expected was made up and told me to get back to him with some dates and he’d take things from there, same with Robbie he told me to ring him when I knew when I’d be travelling down to Christchurch. I rang a few travel agents and got a couple of quotes, bloody hell more money this had turned out to be quite an expensive “blip”.
I did not book anything just got an idea of flight times and which would be best for us, I could not book anything because we needed to tell Sharon’s Mum & Dad first, at the end of the day it was the right thing to do. I asked Sharon to tell them as it would be better that it come from her, “thanks’” she said. Sharon’s Dad knew what was going on and when she told him it did not come as a surprise, he said that he would go and meet Syl from work and let her know of our plans. Well those 20 minutes dragged and I knew that when she came back it would be me that would take the blame but was not expecting the actual comment! Just then the door opened and there she was, it was raining and she’d been at work since 5am so you can imagine not only how she looked but how she must have felt. She looked directly at me, straight in the eyes and said “your doing my head in” all I could say was “sorry” as she brushed passed me to go upstairs, a few minutes latter I could hear a faint sound of crying. What could we do we had to tell her and could not leave it until the last minute at least we know had a date to work too and could plan our second escape from the UK.

Re: Got a bit of a story to tell..........
 

I've only just come across this thread!

This has been the best and longest coffee I've had whilst reading this!!!
Good luck and please write more - can't wait to see what happens!!

Isabelle.xx

Re: Got a bit of a story to tell..........
 

more please, like now lol

great stuff Ian :thumbsup:

Re: Got a bit of a story to tell..........
 

Me too. I want to read the story from the beginning but the first page is almost intimidating :lol: so much to read! And I have not even gone through all the picture threads.

Re: Got a bit of a story to tell..........
 

Started reading this in the wee small hours........read a bit more over breakfast......and the final bits over coffee...........then it stopped!:( Like many others it seems, I'm hanging on your every word and want to know how the outcome was arrived at.......
(PS. If you want a proofreader before you go to print, Ian, I'm your man (well, woman) :thumbup:)

Re: Got a bit of a story to tell..........
 

Just came accross this thread and had to read the whole thing !! brilliant story.....please tell more :thumbup:

Re: Got a bit of a story to tell..........
 

hurry up Ian!

Re: Got a bit of a story to tell..........
 

that doesn't work :rofl: he like to keep us waiting ;)

Re: Got a bit of a story to tell..........
 

Fantastic thread....enjoyed reading your adventure and looking forward to the next chapter... :)

Re: Got a bit of a story to tell..........
 

Hi Ian & Sharon,

Great story so far, I cant wait for the next chapter.

I am also thinking of taking the plunge and moving to NZ.

Unfortunately I work in the financial industry which is on its knees at the minute, and hence there doesnt seem to be many oportunities for work in my industry in NZ.

I was thinking of maybe setting up my own firm over there if I decide to move.

I have a friend who lives in Auckland and she loves it there, but I too have looked at Christchurch and cant make my mind up which would be better for me.

It will be a while before I actually decide to go as all of my money is tied up in property and I wouldnt like to sell them in this market but I'd be keen to know whether you made it to Christchurch and what you think of it there.

Thanks

Craig

Re: Got a bit of a story to tell..........
 

Ok, just finished. We already know what is going to happen by looking at your signature, but we want to know HOW. Next chapter please! :thumbsup:

Re: Got a bit of a story to tell..........
 

Bump!!!;)

Re: Got a bit of a story to tell..........
 

I've started reading this but have now decided that it will need to wait until I have the house to myself for the whole day. Plus a cup of tea would be better than a bottle of wine as I'm struggle with all the words falling into one.

But rest assured, I'LL BE BACK!

Re: Got a bit of a story to tell..........
 

I don't expect Ian will reply soon ... he's obviously a Soft Tory shandy drinking southerner! ;)

Re: Got a bit of a story to tell..........
 

more please Ian :thumbup::thumbup:

Re: Got a bit of a story to tell..........
 

I have just spent several hours reading this awesome thread - Ian where are you and what happened next???

Can everyone reading this nudge Ian into finishing this awesome tale - I think there really is a book in here.

Sue

Re: Got a bit of a story to tell..........
 

Tory maybe...Southerner no way....:rofl:

Re: Got a bit of a story to tell..........
 

Sorry luvwelly Im sure you are right .. I was just trying to temp him into posting ..:D

Re: Got a bit of a story to tell..........
 

What a bloody story....You should write your own book..

Suzanne

Re: Got a bit of a story to tell..........
 

My suggestion would be to deluge Ian with PMs. Having met his good self , I can vouch he's a lovely , good, fun, kind and funny bloke but not one of us superb and quite brilliant Southerners. ;)

Re: Got a bit of a story to tell..........
 

I think we need to beg LOL come on Ian it getting colder now more time to sit in out of the heat and do a bit of typing some more of your story please

PLEASE,PLEASE,PLEASE,PLEASE,PLEASE,PLEASE,PLEASE,P LEASE,PLEASE,PLEASE,
PLEASE,PLEASE,PLEASE,PLEASE,PLEASE,PLEASE,PLEASE,P LEASE,PLEASE,PLEASE:thumbup::p

Re: Got a bit of a story to tell..........
 

Just read the whole story - WOW,that was fantastic, you should be an author Ian!

You have squillions of female fans ;)

Re: Got a bit of a story to tell..........
 

we have to beg some more I think :thumbsup:

Come in Ian stop ignoring your BE email in your inbox we await the next bit of the story ;);)

Re: Got a bit of a story to tell..........
 

Maybe he's concocting a plan to charge us all for the privelage for all those ping-ponging air fares hee hee

Re: Got a bit of a story to tell..........
 

Just stumbled across this post today and wanted to say how much I have enjoyed reading it. It's been pretty addictive and my housework has had to take a bit of a back seat (oh what a shame). As someone who is considering emigrating to NZ it has been a real insight for which I am grateful. Like others, I am keen to know how the story unfolds further. Having reached it to page 14, I thought I would know how it all ended, but like others I dangling on a thread. I am not much of one for reading books but this had had me hooked. Well done you for sharing this, but please hurry up and let us know what happens.

Thanks, Lizaberry :thumbsup:

Re: Got a bit of a story to tell..........
 

This is a great story Ian and from your avatar it looks like you ended up in Brisbane so who knows how that happened!

All the best mate. You sound a decent fella and it looks like you had your fair share of problems to deal with, but in true expat style you overcame them all:thumbup:

Keep up the story and I wish you and yours all the best mate:)

Re: Got a bit of a story to tell..........
 

Fascinating aint it! :)