12 years!
Nov 30th 2025 | 4:17 pm
#1
Thread Starter
She'll be right
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 1,499
From: Near the beach, NZ
12 years!
Hello fellow Kiwi's and Expats,
It's Pom here, the argumentative one from a wee while ago! Thought I would drop in with an update.
Life has been and continues to be good in NZ. Highlights - we have road tripped and travelled around NZ. Love a Kiwi roady, love the scenery, wineries, landscapes and a decent coffee and a yarn along the way. We are doing the build a house thing at the moment, which so far has been mostly plain sailing. A busy time but not stressful. We saw a piece of land out in the North Canterbury countryside, 18 months later we almost have a house! We have met some lovely people and have a stable friendship group - shared and individual friends.
We've made it back to the UK every second year for the most part. In amongst people complaining about 'the immigrants' and having to sit in traffic all. the. time, we still manage a decent pub, a bit more choice of items and cheaper groceries. Would I move back? Nope. Last visit was just this year - we went to Dubai and Jordan as well. Jordan was fantastic - highly recommended. The conflict did not put us off, so we had Petra and other parts mostly to ourselves
The downsides? It's bloody far away! Don't underestimate it if you are thinking of moving and this bothers you. You need annual leave built up from work, money and damn the flights are so expensive now. I remember a time when we paid $1800 for a return to London with China Southern, Premium Economy darling. Now, you're looking at $3000 at least. Jet lag is real and sucks!
Not much more to say, just a bit older, a few grey hairs (him more than me), but really nothing other than still having a bloody good time!
Hope you are all well and ticking along nicely, box of fluffies etc etc.
It's Pom here, the argumentative one from a wee while ago! Thought I would drop in with an update.
Life has been and continues to be good in NZ. Highlights - we have road tripped and travelled around NZ. Love a Kiwi roady, love the scenery, wineries, landscapes and a decent coffee and a yarn along the way. We are doing the build a house thing at the moment, which so far has been mostly plain sailing. A busy time but not stressful. We saw a piece of land out in the North Canterbury countryside, 18 months later we almost have a house! We have met some lovely people and have a stable friendship group - shared and individual friends.
We've made it back to the UK every second year for the most part. In amongst people complaining about 'the immigrants' and having to sit in traffic all. the. time, we still manage a decent pub, a bit more choice of items and cheaper groceries. Would I move back? Nope. Last visit was just this year - we went to Dubai and Jordan as well. Jordan was fantastic - highly recommended. The conflict did not put us off, so we had Petra and other parts mostly to ourselves
The downsides? It's bloody far away! Don't underestimate it if you are thinking of moving and this bothers you. You need annual leave built up from work, money and damn the flights are so expensive now. I remember a time when we paid $1800 for a return to London with China Southern, Premium Economy darling. Now, you're looking at $3000 at least. Jet lag is real and sucks!
Not much more to say, just a bit older, a few grey hairs (him more than me), but really nothing other than still having a bloody good time!
Hope you are all well and ticking along nicely, box of fluffies etc etc.
Jan 13th 2026 | 3:08 pm
#3
Just Joined
Joined: Jan 2026
Posts: 1
Re: 12 years!
Hello fellow Kiwi's and Expats,
It's Pom here, the argumentative one from a wee while ago! Thought I would drop in with an update.
Life has been and continues to be good in NZ. Highlights - we have road tripped and travelled around NZ. Love a Kiwi roady, love the scenery, wineries, landscapes and a decent coffee and a yarn along the way. We are doing the build a house thing at the moment, which so far has been mostly plain sailing. A busy time but not stressful. We saw a piece of land out in the North Canterbury countryside, 18 months later we almost have a house! We have met some lovely people and have a stable friendship group - shared and individual friends.
We've made it back to the UK every second year for the most part. In amongst people complaining about 'the immigrants' and having to sit in traffic all. the. time, we still manage a decent pub, a bit more choice of items and cheaper groceries. Would I move back? Nope. Last visit was just this year - we went to Dubai and Jordan as well. Jordan was fantastic - highly recommended. The conflict did not put us off, so we had Petra and other parts mostly to ourselves
The downsides? It's bloody far away! Don't underestimate it if you are thinking of moving and this bothers you. You need annual leave built up from work, money and damn the flights are so expensive now. I remember a time when we paid $1800 for a return to London with China Southern, Premium Economy darling. Now, you're looking at $3000 at least. Jet lag is real and sucks!
Not much more to say, just a bit older, a few grey hairs (him more than me), but really nothing other than still having a bloody good time!
Hope you are all well and ticking along nicely, box of fluffies etc etc.
It's Pom here, the argumentative one from a wee while ago! Thought I would drop in with an update.
Life has been and continues to be good in NZ. Highlights - we have road tripped and travelled around NZ. Love a Kiwi roady, love the scenery, wineries, landscapes and a decent coffee and a yarn along the way. We are doing the build a house thing at the moment, which so far has been mostly plain sailing. A busy time but not stressful. We saw a piece of land out in the North Canterbury countryside, 18 months later we almost have a house! We have met some lovely people and have a stable friendship group - shared and individual friends.
We've made it back to the UK every second year for the most part. In amongst people complaining about 'the immigrants' and having to sit in traffic all. the. time, we still manage a decent pub, a bit more choice of items and cheaper groceries. Would I move back? Nope. Last visit was just this year - we went to Dubai and Jordan as well. Jordan was fantastic - highly recommended. The conflict did not put us off, so we had Petra and other parts mostly to ourselves
The downsides? It's bloody far away! Don't underestimate it if you are thinking of moving and this bothers you. You need annual leave built up from work, money and damn the flights are so expensive now. I remember a time when we paid $1800 for a return to London with China Southern, Premium Economy darling. Now, you're looking at $3000 at least. Jet lag is real and sucks!
Not much more to say, just a bit older, a few grey hairs (him more than me), but really nothing other than still having a bloody good time!
Hope you are all well and ticking along nicely, box of fluffies etc etc.
Jan 16th 2026 | 5:04 pm
#4
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 467
From: Auckland
Re: 12 years!
Thanks for the update - it is good to hear that you sound settled.
I never used to have any grey hair when I lived in London but after 16 years of living in New Zealand I have lots - I blame the country.
I never used to have any grey hair when I lived in London but after 16 years of living in New Zealand I have lots - I blame the country.
