robbish

Hi Wayne,

Good luck for the future, I am still considering whether or not to go,for the same reasons as you.

After turning down the FS post,I am now considering the Cpl post that they have now sent me! My wife seems more keen and I still would like to go,but my job is good I guess,and I live in a lovely part of the country already.

I have about 10 days to make up my mind. Just had my house valued and the estate agent very eloquently put across a positive argument for going,so I am still in a quandary.

Have a good one in blighty,keep the thread going and have fun.

Bob

jonesey

Hi All

Arrived at the Hotel Citadenes in Trafalgar awaiting the big Attest day on Monday, very posh hotel and ready for a nice kip after the long journey south.

Well here goes to a new life !!! and hope you all who are left behind for the moment keep the thread alive when we are gone, keep dropping in once in a while to keep you all posted.....

Feel like a pikey with all these suitcases a few Bacardi's for me and Shez tonight.....all the best to you all....


Cheers
Mick,Shez,Kids

jonesey

We finally made it to LA onward to NZ Auckland, fancied a break not good for the kids all the way without a break so stopped off in LA at Travel lodge and the sun is shining. Met all other family's who are also in RNZAF and they went on without a stopover. All the best to those who are left behind until next year. A messgage to ann and dean polly and lucy cannot wait to see you next year and will be thinking of you on the final leg to Auckland.

Take care speak again soon

The jones family

jonesey

Finally arrived in Auckland and started the Induction for RNZAF and completed the first week and very impressed with everything they have set up for us on this particular course. Family are looked after on the Unit and 2 weeks of induction for the family is impressive compared to anything the RAF ever set up. So first impressions are good, just a shock for most families as to the base housing compared to quarters back home in the UK. So those of you reading this who are due out next time you cannot compare brick housing to weather board housing it is a completely different setup and going back 20 years are my estimations but everything else around us is as per back home but different in some other way, shops, lifestyle. Will no doubt keep you all posted with updates.

rickg37

Good to see everything is going OK we will be watching your blog for pics and updates

Tracy has PM'd you with a load of questions :scared:

Regards

Rick & Tracy

jonesey

Just to keep you all informed the Jones family have settled in well and enjoying every day of our new lives In Kiwi Land and are still trying to come to terms with the changes this has brought about, to those who are next to come across all we can say is embrace and be happy cos it will change your outlook without a shadow of a doubt, its been a hard 4 weeks of change for all family members but the induction is finely tuned to cater for all the family in so many ways. From leaving Heathrow and stepping on the plane to arriving and being meeted and greeted and looked after in a 5* Hotel is truly nothing we have experienced before !!. Even the two weeks induction course the family gets is finely tuned and set up to cater for all family members in every way, I cannot commend them enough for all their hard efforts making our transission so much easier. Will keep you all up to date with further updates. Good luck to all those coming out soon in 07/08.

Mick, Shez,Family

rickg37

Good to see you are settling in and enjoying it

Looking forward to our chance next year and a or two to pick your brains

So when do we see some pics on the blog then ????

Rick & Tracy

jonesey

Hi all

We are in the process of updating the blog with your request of pics and have some good ones to upload of all our feats and goings on as typical Pomms....Most of the families came round our Hobby House last night and we had our first Kiwi Firework Party which was good for the kids and adults to get together after the Induction and CMS. Most of us are settled in now with our house packs from UK and getting to grips with our new lifestyles, life is truly amazing here you soon learn to adapt and slow the pace of life right down to the way the Kiwi way which is not a bad thing. Will PM you Rick with your questions seeing your online.


Mick,Shez,family

Wayne270

Well, I thought it was about time to drag this post out of the depths to see how you are all doing.
Jonesey - glad to hear you are settling in and enjoying life 180 degrees out of synch. A part of me is very jealous of you.
Robbish - did you make up your mind? Still not 100% that I made the right decision but at least they have said I can resubmit.
Rick - This years the big one then!!! No pressure! Hope all goes well for you.
I wait with bated breath to see how you are all doing, the only consoling factor for me is that this years pay rise is all going to be taxed at 40% - is that a good thing or a bad thing?
Cheers all
Wayne

rickg37

Hello Wayne

NO PRESSURE!!! try telling Mrs Gregory that with only 24 hours until the removals arrive if she screams any more someone will think im killing her.

But these are the only two days we are not looking forward to once the house is packed and gone we have holiday cottages all over the country to go and say our goodbyes and some of that will be quite hard as our familys attitude has changed from being really happy that we have got our chance to is it really that time already with only weeks left.

But here we are and in the next couple of weeks I think we will be posting on the " had enough want to go now thread".

Good to see Mick and Sherren settling in and enjoying it we have asked plenty of questions and gained some good advice and reassurances so looking forward to meeting up with everyone else going to Auckland in March and all those already there

robbish

Hi Wayne,

Finally made a decision, they must think I am a real pain in the arse by now, but I said no to them.

I turned down the FS post, got stressed at work, so asked if there was anything up for grabs and they offered me a Cpl slot, which should soon be Sgt, but I ummed and ahhed well past the deadline and they emailed me for an answer, I had to say no purely from the wages angle, work here is better now but not plain sailing yet.

I was amazed for them to come back and say if I ever change my mind, they will just take me on from "Offer of Service", sounds like you got the same response. Who know, if my marriage fails.............????

Take care mate,

Bob

jonesey

Hi Wayne/Bob/Rick

Glad to see someone else pulling their hair out with packing and saying there goodbye's to family and friends, its seems so long ago for us now but when I read your update it all came flooding back of what it had felt for us when we did the same way back in October 06. But all is going good now we have a house - furniture and kids settled in schools, a lot is packed into the first 3 months it just flies by and before you know it your into the Christmas and New Year period. Not sure if the weather will hold out for you Rick around March time but at least you will have summer to look forward to when you get the Induction and settling in period is out of the way. We have now adjusted to the Kiwi dollar and its not too bad after a few months not all doom and gloom as some make out, especially when you keep up with the news back home and what you can save here in the long run. No council tax, lower petrol prices, it goes on and on so once the holiday period is over and you settle in to the $$$$ its not too bad. Hope to catch up with you in March and good luck to Wayne and Bob, will keep you posted all the best

Mick

justinthyme

Hi,

My son and his wife and 4 children are scheduled to arrive later this year (Auckland) and I've a couple of questions that someone might be kind enough to reply to:

What are the married quarters like? Do they put you up in those quarters near the camp or do they rent a quarter for you nearby? Is there any choice?

Schools? Any good?

The RNZAF boat - I believe that there's a boat which can be rented for fishing etc. Anyone used it? Is it often available.

Parents comming over. Where do they stay normally?

I'm 'hoping' to be able to do 6 months at a time sort of September to March, I was wondeing if there are any caravan sites around Auckland where I could rent or buy and spend the summer in?

Cheers,

Ian...

annbee

Hi Ian

Myself, husband and 2 girls are moving to Auckland in October. The housing is mostly in Hobsonville and are one storey and made of wood, you have a woodburner in the lounge that is the heating (no central heating) having lived in many quarters i am under no ilusion as to what to expect. The school my girls will be attending is Hobsonville Primary, you can look at this and have a virtual tour on www.hobsonville primary. I can not answer your questions about the boat or people staying over but we have some friends in hobsonville who i will speak to and try and get some answers for you. Hope this helps, we are just going through our medicals and gathering paperwork together to complete out ita. For us October can not come quick enough, we will be pleased to leave the UK and for our girls to have a better future that hopefully NZ can offer more than the UK.

Ann, Dean, Lucy and Polly

Divine Comedy

Hey, My name is Debborah, this is my first ever post on a forum but i have read through all this RNZAF thread and it has helped. I also have felt and been through alot of what you all have, which made me feel alot better as i felt i was going mad sometimes!! My husband appiled for the 2006 recruitment drive and was accepted last year, we nervously have done our EOI, been and done the ITA, all over Christmas along with everything else Christmas throws at you!! It was all worth it though as we now have our blue stickers in our passports ready to go! But its now i feel that the hard work is REALLY about to begin!?
We are going to be based at Auckland and we are going to London in July, is there anyone else who will be going then?