Toys For The Boys?
#1
Toys For The Boys?
Was talking with someone today who seemed to think that the Kiwi's still think the majority of British ex-Pats are "Cashed Up Poms." Clearly they don't study the exchange rate or Immigration criteria. Or indeed the average wages vs house prices/cost of living.
It got me thinking. If you moved to NZ for the lifestyle, have you achieved it? Did you get the boat, the jet ski, the quarter acre section, the house build, the weekends fishing? If you haven't, do you intend to?
For me, I got to live by the beach in a great climate. But other than seldom used fishing rods and a son who costs a fortune racing go-karts, I appear to be missing all the other lifestyle trappings!
It got me thinking. If you moved to NZ for the lifestyle, have you achieved it? Did you get the boat, the jet ski, the quarter acre section, the house build, the weekends fishing? If you haven't, do you intend to?
For me, I got to live by the beach in a great climate. But other than seldom used fishing rods and a son who costs a fortune racing go-karts, I appear to be missing all the other lifestyle trappings!
#2
Re: Toys For The Boys?
Was talking with someone today who seemed to think that the Kiwi's still think the majority of British ex-Pats are "Cashed Up Poms." Clearly they don't study the exchange rate or Immigration criteria. Or indeed the average wages vs house prices/cost of living.
It got me thinking. If you moved to NZ for the lifestyle, have you achieved it? Did you get the boat, the jet ski, the quarter acre section, the house build, the weekends fishing? If you haven't, do you intend to?
For me, I got to live by the beach in a great climate. But other than seldom used fishing rods and a son who costs a fortune racing go-karts, I appear to be missing all the other lifestyle trappings!
It got me thinking. If you moved to NZ for the lifestyle, have you achieved it? Did you get the boat, the jet ski, the quarter acre section, the house build, the weekends fishing? If you haven't, do you intend to?
For me, I got to live by the beach in a great climate. But other than seldom used fishing rods and a son who costs a fortune racing go-karts, I appear to be missing all the other lifestyle trappings!
#3
Re: Toys For The Boys?
Not happening for us yet either. But as the OH keeps telling me 'we have only been here 4 months and it cant all happen overnight' - doesnt stop me wanting it now though.
To be fair, at the moment, we cant afford a dinghy never mind a boat, fishing was never on my list eeewwww, but the housebuild - could be!!
Ask me again in 4 years - if the exchange rate improves - things may look better
Psycho x
To be fair, at the moment, we cant afford a dinghy never mind a boat, fishing was never on my list eeewwww, but the housebuild - could be!!
Ask me again in 4 years - if the exchange rate improves - things may look better
Psycho x
#4
Re: Toys For The Boys?
And having read the title again.......
Why are only boys allowed to have toys?
I want a toy tooo
that was me having a paddy
Why are only boys allowed to have toys?
I want a toy tooo
that was me having a paddy
#5
Re: Toys For The Boys?
Well, Kate has a toy, an A4 convertible. I drive a 12 yr old Honda. My big indulgence is my spa. We have a pool and a large house in a lovely neighbourhood with mountainous rural views. How rich would we have to be to have that kind of house in the Uk?? So whilst we don't have the boat or a crib by the sea we have a more 'toyesque' life here than in the UK.
So yes I guess we have achieved a way better life (both materialisticaly and spiritualy) here in NZ than what we left in the UK. And that is inspite of having financed Mark Hotchin's lifestyle to the tune of $100k (he's the owner of the failed finance co that robbed us of our life savings after our capital outlay). Had that not been the case Kate would be driving an exotic german marque rather than an average one!!! Ho hum. Easy come easy go.
One thing that has not been achieved is the beachside lifestyle that AL has. That is one thing I would love for me and the kids. They reckon Palmy WILL be beachside in about 2 million years. For me it will be worth the wait.
Last edited by Genesis; May 10th 2010 at 10:27 pm.
#6
Re: Toys For The Boys?
Was talking with someone today who seemed to think that the Kiwi's still think the majority of British ex-Pats are "Cashed Up Poms." Clearly they don't study the exchange rate or Immigration criteria. Or indeed the average wages vs house prices/cost of living.
It got me thinking. If you moved to NZ for the lifestyle, have you achieved it? Did you get the boat, the jet ski, the quarter acre section, the house build, the weekends fishing? If you haven't, do you intend to?
For me, I got to live by the beach in a great climate. But other than seldom used fishing rods and a son who costs a fortune racing go-karts, I appear to be missing all the other lifestyle trappings!
It got me thinking. If you moved to NZ for the lifestyle, have you achieved it? Did you get the boat, the jet ski, the quarter acre section, the house build, the weekends fishing? If you haven't, do you intend to?
For me, I got to live by the beach in a great climate. But other than seldom used fishing rods and a son who costs a fortune racing go-karts, I appear to be missing all the other lifestyle trappings!
#7
Forum Regular
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 231
Re: Toys For The Boys?
I guess the biggest change to my life (apart from living on the beach) is my motorbike. We would probably have bought land by now and started building except for the lousy exhange rate. So I guess the major change is the lack of buddies we have to go for a drink with. Been here a year now.
#8
Re: Toys For The Boys?
I guess the biggest change to my life (apart from living on the beach) is my motorbike. We would probably have bought land by now and started building except for the lousy exhange rate. So I guess the major change is the lack of buddies we have to go for a drink with. Been here a year now.
He has to take me and the kids instead now
#9
Forum Regular
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 231
Re: Toys For The Boys?
I don't mind drinking with my OH, its just the purile male remarks and the sillyness I miss!
#10
Re: Toys For The Boys?
Jan has more toys than me i,m very hard done to
I also miss the pub on a friday but it seems a small price to pay
I also miss the pub on a friday but it seems a small price to pay
#11
Re: Toys For The Boys?
Got the boat, just big enough for us.
Got a 4wd, never wanted one til I came here.
Got ski/board season tickets for the mountain, hour and a half door to lifts.
Got drinking buddies, started via bike and work mates then expanded. Still prefer to go out with Haze after ten years working away from home and her when we were in UK.
Got two chainsaws and an axe and a hatchet
Got no mortgage.
Got no money, but never had any anyway.
Better off? You bet
Got a 4wd, never wanted one til I came here.
Got ski/board season tickets for the mountain, hour and a half door to lifts.
Got drinking buddies, started via bike and work mates then expanded. Still prefer to go out with Haze after ten years working away from home and her when we were in UK.
Got two chainsaws and an axe and a hatchet
Got no mortgage.
Got no money, but never had any anyway.
Better off? You bet
#12
Dorset to Dunedin
Joined: Feb 2004
Location: Dunedin SI
Posts: 457
Re: Toys For The Boys?
YES YES AND YES
Well after 4 years in town we got the house we wanted, on an acre, no neighbours, albeit we had to take out a wee mortgage to buy our dream, also last year i managed to buy the Jet Ski a 1500cc 4 stroke 3 seater and now bomb around the lakes and rivers having fun, although doing shifts now doesnt give me all the wekends on the lakes, so i make up for it in the week when i am off.
So it may have taken us 5 years but we are at a stage where we were in UK.
Nige
Well after 4 years in town we got the house we wanted, on an acre, no neighbours, albeit we had to take out a wee mortgage to buy our dream, also last year i managed to buy the Jet Ski a 1500cc 4 stroke 3 seater and now bomb around the lakes and rivers having fun, although doing shifts now doesnt give me all the wekends on the lakes, so i make up for it in the week when i am off.
So it may have taken us 5 years but we are at a stage where we were in UK.
Nige
#13
Re: Toys For The Boys?
got two guinea pigs
and two ukuleles...didn't have them at all
oh I forgot...I have a dehumidifier too
and two ukuleles...didn't have them at all
oh I forgot...I have a dehumidifier too
#14
Re: Toys For The Boys?
No toys...but a boat never interested me anyways.....and never in a million years would I want a motor bike . As an ex A&E nurse I've picked out gravel & tarmac from one too many a biker to ever find the idea of bikes appealing
We do have a nice house (in my ever so slightly prejudiced opinion of course) with the statutory acre...all on a steeply sloping hill. Which of course necessitates the lawnmowers on legs aka the goats, Sugar & Dumbo. Who are a source of fun & frustration given their interest in escaping and eating the neighbours trees.
We own 4 cars...which is slightly concerning given that we are a family of 4...so 1 each, which I'm sure contributes nothing to the environment. But only mine is less than 10 years old...so basically nowt to boast about with that lot then That said we'd never, ever have managed to have afforded a car each for the children in the UK, let alone the insurance, so maybe it's toys for the teens rather than for the boys in this household.
Our single big indulgence, although tbh it's an investment far more than anything else, is the little beach house we own. On a mortgage, so not ours outright, but a great place to escape to and chill. Except that to make it pay for itself we have it rented out far more than we ever intended. We might get our noses back in there come November...if we're lucky
But, and for me it's a big but, I'm working far longer hours & far, far harder than I ever did in the UK to sustain a decent standard of living. We do very well by most standards, but we've not had a holiday in 3 years, we rarely eat out, and most things that we do are free entertainment or at home or away with friends. Absolutely not a complaint, I'm the first to admit that we have a good life....but we work pretty bloomin' hard to achieve that. No boys toys here
We do have a nice house (in my ever so slightly prejudiced opinion of course) with the statutory acre...all on a steeply sloping hill. Which of course necessitates the lawnmowers on legs aka the goats, Sugar & Dumbo. Who are a source of fun & frustration given their interest in escaping and eating the neighbours trees.
We own 4 cars...which is slightly concerning given that we are a family of 4...so 1 each, which I'm sure contributes nothing to the environment. But only mine is less than 10 years old...so basically nowt to boast about with that lot then That said we'd never, ever have managed to have afforded a car each for the children in the UK, let alone the insurance, so maybe it's toys for the teens rather than for the boys in this household.
Our single big indulgence, although tbh it's an investment far more than anything else, is the little beach house we own. On a mortgage, so not ours outright, but a great place to escape to and chill. Except that to make it pay for itself we have it rented out far more than we ever intended. We might get our noses back in there come November...if we're lucky
But, and for me it's a big but, I'm working far longer hours & far, far harder than I ever did in the UK to sustain a decent standard of living. We do very well by most standards, but we've not had a holiday in 3 years, we rarely eat out, and most things that we do are free entertainment or at home or away with friends. Absolutely not a complaint, I'm the first to admit that we have a good life....but we work pretty bloomin' hard to achieve that. No boys toys here
#15
Re: Toys For The Boys?
What about this "toy"?
Isn't it sooooooooooo cute?
But wait, that is the F5 generation. I want a F1 generation cat.
BTW That is a Savannah breed cat. Full size, the F1 generation look like.....
And no, those are NOT doctored photos. The Savannah F1's are 4x the size of a normal cat, eat raw meet and in the UK fall under the Dangerous and Wild Animals act!
But wait. It gets better. In America, the Great State of Texas (Yes, the gun-ho state) have BANNED them!!!
I'll take 2!
But at £6000 GBP a KITTEN they are a **tad** expensive. I wonder if they are banned in New Zealand?
Isn't it sooooooooooo cute?
But wait, that is the F5 generation. I want a F1 generation cat.
BTW That is a Savannah breed cat. Full size, the F1 generation look like.....
And no, those are NOT doctored photos. The Savannah F1's are 4x the size of a normal cat, eat raw meet and in the UK fall under the Dangerous and Wild Animals act!
But wait. It gets better. In America, the Great State of Texas (Yes, the gun-ho state) have BANNED them!!!
I'll take 2!
But at £6000 GBP a KITTEN they are a **tad** expensive. I wonder if they are banned in New Zealand?