M&S do

http://www.marksandspencer.com/Inter...ry/b/183243031

Good old M&S

Thank you for the link, will check it out.
Kaz

Hello!

We shipped over rods/bike/tv/bits and bobs/clothes. Before we left we were ruthless! If it hasn't been used in 6 months then it is ebay!! We packed 2 of everything but I wish I had packed-
Fake Tan (bloody expensive)
Another Big Jacket (although it's spring I'm freezing!)
Books (They are expensive out here)
Fav Make-up (I'm not a fan of the stuff out here, they have rimmel and those types of brands but still not a fan)
Fav shower gel/Shampoo etc (Again if they have it your lucky and it will cost)

Before I went I wish I had gone to the doctors and got a full work up and sorted out all of those niggly things and also got my eyes tested/dentist etc.

We threw out so much stuff before we left and we have given our parents/in-laws a suitcase and they are going to send one thing over every month!!

Postie would stock some No.7 stuff and sometimes sell it off cheap.
MrsL would do some serious stocking up on that.

We are pretty much bringing everything, even the car. We figured that if we're paying for a container then we may as well fill it. Will be heading to M&S Outlet and stocking up on undies/socks/PJ's etc.

Massive Benefit Make-up fan. Good job there's a little thing called Chitmas beforevwe come over :-)

A spare stainless steel palette knife (of the M&S kind) for when mine's in the dishwasher - never found anything of the like here and M&S wont ship one.

I wish I had invested in a top notch food processor, can't justify $400 to $500 for one.

Bring everything you can, just clean the outdoors stuff.

To be honest though you do adapt to new products...my boots no7 tinted moisturiser was only factor 15 so moved to aveeno that's factor 30.

Toiletries are extortionate though.

I still get my underwear from m&s though. And the shopping isn't so good but you adapt...well I did. And you can't get my Hoover bags down here...my mum just ships em to me.

Just having a look through and thought that it would be good to get this going again!

thread bumping eh ?

There's a shop in the Re:Start mall in Christchurch that sells imported goods - loads of UK favourites in there. Need to check it out more thoroughly soon.

Things I've not found so far:

Cinnamon bagels (or even plain bagels) - though I have only tried Countdown in Sydenham who sell cheese and onion ones (not for me).
An ice scraper for my car - even if others don't, I would like to find one.

If you have room in a container bring everything you can.
We made the mistake of selling stuff (for a pittance) or giving away before leaving to have a fresh start. Only brought the newish stuff with us but how I
miss my assortment of screws, nails, old tools and all things collected over the years.
Furniture is expensive even second hand, items I would have taken to the skip sell for silly amounts and I still find it hard to believe the white chipboard crap cost more than solid wood.
If you have things you don't need when you get here sell them on trademe but, until you have somewhere to live how do you know what will fit and what wont.
If you still have room in the container I am sure someone on this site can fill it for you, me being one.

I would bring any good quality warm clothing - such as warm woollen jackets and warm hats - the kiwis don't wear nice hats such as those you buy in Monsoon in winter - they put up with the cold and have bare heads or wear beanies that are not very attractive.
Also leather boots and nice shoes - very expensive here. I would also bring any nice designer clothes that you have as limited here or very expensive.
I would go to the doctor and dentist for check ups before leaving Uk. Buy as many face creams and nice perfume etc to last you as things such as clarins etc very expensive here. Spray deoderants very expensive here. Might not be practical though to bring as they add so much weight to your lugguge.
I would also pack lots of cash as the cost of living very expensive here compared to the Uk.

Hope this helps!

Things have changed dramatically since we've been here and there's little I could put on a list beside shoes and underwear that require me to be at the shop to look, feel and try on.

Certainly lately since M&S went international and we've had the groovy exchange rate; it has helped no end in alleviating my previous shopping woes and almost everything I buy now is online from overseas. I have stocked up on heaps of stuff that we were previously lacking and I actually do feel human again.

M&S have been a total godsend having had free shipping for weeks on end; consequently I keep a regular check on the sales and offers and have bought all kinds, from skincare, muffin cases to towels and bedding. There are multitudes of beauty and skincare sites that will deliver stuff for free and at a fraction of the cost of things here. Next are now online locally at Ezibuy. Books are sorted with the Book Depository and Mighty Ape. We now have Specsavers and the likes. I buy pet stuff reasonably cheaply online and sometimes from Aussie e-bay. We now have a Nosh Foodmarket within striking distance which even caters to little Waitrose fixes.

We are still sadly lacking in decent shoes and clothes shopping; prices of electrical appliances and household goods are still in the stupid range.

I think my rosy view could easily change though and it will really hurt me in the wallet if the currency exchange suddenly returned to where it was a couple of years back or M&S stop doing free deliveries!

I bought my beanies with me!!