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-   -   It's been a while so here it is ! (https://britishexpats.com/forum/new-zealand-83/its-been-while-so-here-515456/)

Fireman Al Feb 19th 2008 8:12 am

It's been a while so here it is !
 
Hi all,
It's been a bloody long time since i was on here but thought i'd give you a run down on how the first year has been.
Well, after finally arriving via LA (god forsaken place) we picked up our motorhome for our 4 week jaunt around north island. Now, picture this, Motorhome, me & Mrs Al the 4 wee little Al's plus our 13 bloody huge suitcases all stacked up in the back of said motorhome...how funny. Well, we ventured as far as Takapuna for our well deserved night and let the kids run riot on the beach before all crashing around 7.30. Next day drove up th Whangarei for a couple of nights before heading up to Bay of Islands for another few days, came back down and stayed at Orewa for a night before heading down to Rotorua, Taupo and on to Napier where i did some soul searching and tried to find my dad who had run off on the day i was born (was born on the beach in Napier!) but, to no avail, couldn't find anything relating to him at all, so, a bit down hearted we set off to Wellington, then up to New Plymouth, back up to Orewa where we had fallen for. Stayed at the campsite there for 3 more days and decided to look for rentals, went a bit over the top and rented us a bloody enormous house on the cliff over looking Stanmore Bay, awesome view and only 200mtrs to the beach. Kids settled into school really quickly and really enjoy it. I got myself a job working at Carters in the timber yard which was highly amusing considering i know diddly about timber. Sent in the application for the Fire Service, did the recruitment part and was successful in being accepted and was over the moon to be told that i didn't have to redo basic recruits course for 11 weeks, all i had to do was a 2 week conversion course. Am now stationed at Otahuhu (it's so nice !!!!! Not)...and have also started my own painting and decorating business up on the peninsula on my days off.
We bought ourselves a nice house in Manly which has a huge second lounge so we gave that to the kids as their playroom, now all i have to do is soundproof it and lock the door when they're in there !!!!

Life is pretty damn good, couldn't be in a better place, traffic sucks on way to and from work but the view of the city skyline as i come over the hill into North Shore makes it worth it.
Beaches are awesome, barbeques every week......even had stacks of neighbours and friends over for our 1st anniversary the other month to celebrate with us which was cool (and the fact that i managed to keep hold of Mrs Al for a whole year too !!).....

To anyone thinking of coming, take the jump, come on over, it really is beautiful and coming home was the best thing i ever did !!

Now that i'm back on here will be posting loads agin,

Speak to all soon...
Be safe, Be happy

Big Al. :)

TeamEmbo Feb 19th 2008 8:38 am

Re: It's been a while so here it is !
 
That's such a lovely post. Congrats on your move back. Sounds like you're really enjoying life. :thumbup:

Can't believe we'll have been here a year soon too. Been here 9 months already and it's just flown by.

Look forward to hearing more from you :)

Fireman Al Feb 19th 2008 8:45 am

Re: It's been a while so here it is !
 
I could have written so much more. It really is the best thing we did, England was ruining everything, the job over there isn't what it used to be and it was just the right time to escape. The year flies past so quickly, even Boo (ameisha, my 3 year old) is in Kindy, has swimming lessons and even a better social life than us !

Al

:D

karonious Feb 19th 2008 8:51 am

Re: It's been a while so here it is !
 
What a great post :thumbsup:
Have some karma for that
Glad to hear you and yours are enjoying life here in New Zealand :cool:

Karen

Fireman Al Feb 20th 2008 8:03 am

Re: It's been a while so here it is !
 
Thanks, we're all lovin' it back here, so much so that we've got stacks of friends lined up coming over this year to see us and see why we love it so much !

Al

:thumbsup:

waynepfry Feb 20th 2008 8:21 am

Re: It's been a while so here it is !
 
Nice one - glad it's working out for you and all the best for your second year :thumbsup:

themoores Feb 20th 2008 8:43 am

Re: It's been a while so here it is !
 
Gald its all going well, gives me some inspiration! Been here 6 weeks and going well so far!!

Fireman Al Feb 20th 2008 8:46 am

Re: It's been a while so here it is !
 
The inspiration i get is when i look out the window in the morning (or on my way home from a night shift) and realise that it's not a dream anymore....sure we struggle a bit with money some months but sod it, we are all so much happier and chilled out here (even though with my two jobs i'm doing near on 95-100 hours a week but i love that)

Al.

notlob1 Feb 20th 2008 3:27 pm

Re: It's been a while so here it is !
 

Originally Posted by Fireman Al (Post 5952651)
Hi all,
It's been a bloody long time since i was on here but thought i'd give you a run down on how the first year has been.
Well, after finally arriving via LA (god forsaken place) we picked up our motorhome for our 4 week jaunt around north island. Now, picture this, Motorhome, me & Mrs Al the 4 wee little Al's plus our 13 bloody huge suitcases all stacked up in the back of said motorhome...how funny. Well, we ventured as far as Takapuna for our well deserved night and let the kids run riot on the beach before all crashing around 7.30. Next day drove up th Whangarei for a couple of nights before heading up to Bay of Islands for another few days, came back down and stayed at Orewa for a night before heading down to Rotorua, Taupo and on to Napier where i did some soul searching and tried to find my dad who had run off on the day i was born (was born on the beach in Napier!) but, to no avail, couldn't find anything relating to him at all, so, a bit down hearted we set off to Wellington, then up to New Plymouth, back up to Orewa where we had fallen for. Stayed at the campsite there for 3 more days and decided to look for rentals, went a bit over the top and rented us a bloody enormous house on the cliff over looking Stanmore Bay, awesome view and only 200mtrs to the beach. Kids settled into school really quickly and really enjoy it. I got myself a job working at Carters in the timber yard which was highly amusing considering i know diddly about timber. Sent in the application for the Fire Service, did the recruitment part and was successful in being accepted and was over the moon to be told that i didn't have to redo basic recruits course for 11 weeks, all i had to do was a 2 week conversion course. Am now stationed at Otahuhu (it's so nice !!!!! Not)...and have also started my own painting and decorating business up on the peninsula on my days off.
We bought ourselves a nice house in Manly which has a huge second lounge so we gave that to the kids as their playroom, now all i have to do is soundproof it and lock the door when they're in there !!!!

Life is pretty damn good, couldn't be in a better place, traffic sucks on way to and from work but the view of the city skyline as i come over the hill into North Shore makes it worth it.
Beaches are awesome, barbeques every week......even had stacks of neighbours and friends over for our 1st anniversary the other month to celebrate with us which was cool (and the fact that i managed to keep hold of Mrs Al for a whole year too !!).....

To anyone thinking of coming, take the jump, come on over, it really is beautiful and coming home was the best thing i ever did !!

Now that i'm back on here will be posting loads agin,

Speak to all soon...
Be safe, Be happy

Big Al. :)

Wow what a compact blog, am also heading for north shore end of march and your experience sounds just up my street

Maz Feb 21st 2008 5:10 am

Re: It's been a while so here it is !
 
Many congrats Al! :thumbup: :beer: :cool: It's wonderful when everything just comes together so beautifully isn't it? :)

Bellasmum Feb 21st 2008 8:03 am

Re: It's been a while so here it is !
 

Originally Posted by Fireman Al (Post 5952651)
Hi all,
It's been a bloody long time since i was on here but thought i'd give you a run down on how the first year has been.
Well, after finally arriving via LA (god forsaken place) we picked up our motorhome for our 4 week jaunt around north island. Now, picture this, Motorhome, me & Mrs Al the 4 wee little Al's plus our 13 bloody huge suitcases all stacked up in the back of said motorhome...how funny. Well, we ventured as far as Takapuna for our well deserved night and let the kids run riot on the beach before all crashing around 7.30. Next day drove up th Whangarei for a couple of nights before heading up to Bay of Islands for another few days, came back down and stayed at Orewa for a night before heading down to Rotorua, Taupo and on to Napier where i did some soul searching and tried to find my dad who had run off on the day i was born (was born on the beach in Napier!) but, to no avail, couldn't find anything relating to him at all, so, a bit down hearted we set off to Wellington, then up to New Plymouth, back up to Orewa where we had fallen for. Stayed at the campsite there for 3 more days and decided to look for rentals, went a bit over the top and rented us a bloody enormous house on the cliff over looking Stanmore Bay, awesome view and only 200mtrs to the beach. Kids settled into school really quickly and really enjoy it. I got myself a job working at Carters in the timber yard which was highly amusing considering i know diddly about timber. Sent in the application for the Fire Service, did the recruitment part and was successful in being accepted and was over the moon to be told that i didn't have to redo basic recruits course for 11 weeks, all i had to do was a 2 week conversion course. Am now stationed at Otahuhu (it's so nice !!!!! Not)...and have also started my own painting and decorating business up on the peninsula on my days off.
We bought ourselves a nice house in Manly which has a huge second lounge so we gave that to the kids as their playroom, now all i have to do is soundproof it and lock the door when they're in there !!!!

Life is pretty damn good, couldn't be in a better place, traffic sucks on way to and from work but the view of the city skyline as i come over the hill into North Shore makes it worth it.
Beaches are awesome, barbeques every week......even had stacks of neighbours and friends over for our 1st anniversary the other month to celebrate with us which was cool (and the fact that i managed to keep hold of Mrs Al for a whole year too !!).....

To anyone thinking of coming, take the jump, come on over, it really is beautiful and coming home was the best thing i ever did !!

Now that i'm back on here will be posting loads agin,

Speak to all soon...
Be safe, Be happy

Big Al. :)

That's a great post and it makes me feel really happy for you.

Of course the NZ lifestyle trade off is $$$ but long term I am sure you will be asset as well as lifestyle enriched.

Fireman Al Feb 21st 2008 8:37 am

Re: It's been a while so here it is !
 
Thanks guy's
Just think it's nice to hear how everyone's doing etc....good to see the same ol' faces here plus new one's too.
This ol' one's back for good !

Big Al.

:D

Fireman Al Mar 2nd 2008 1:33 am

Re: It's been a while so here it is !
 

Originally Posted by Maz (Post 5962538)
Many congrats Al! :thumbup: :beer: :cool: It's wonderful when everything just comes together so beautifully isn't it? :)

Thanks Maz,
It's all just slotted into place perfectly !

Al.

donnaf Mar 2nd 2008 2:18 am

Re: It's been a while so here it is !
 
hi Al,
lovely post, it put a smile on my face. Glad all is "sweet as" for you and the family, long may it last.

lardyl Mar 2nd 2008 4:26 am

Re: It's been a while so here it is !
 

Originally Posted by Fireman Al (Post 5963062)
Thanks guy's
Just think it's nice to hear how everyone's doing etc....good to see the same ol' faces here plus new one's too.
This ol' one's back for good !

Big Al.

:D

Hiya m8ty glad to see you settled on the whanga' peninsula and glad that work is going well - know what you mean about Otahu - been to a couple of fires there myself :D :unsure:


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