Where's the time gone?
Jul 8th 2011, 8:43 am
#1
mick/caz
Thread Starter
Joined: Nov 2010
Location: On a hill....
Posts: 126
Where's the time gone?
Well, we have been here 6 months now, cant believe its gone so quickly. We arrived in january and after spending the night in Auckland to catch up on some much needed sleep, and got our little hire car and drove to Rotorua. Not having been here before we wasnt to sure what to expect, but we had free accomodation at the the school my OH was working at, so there was no immediate pressure with trying to find somewhere to live. We had 2 weeks before caz had to start work and i didnt have anything to go to, so we set off exploring. We were pleasently surprised with the area, theres so much to do here and 9 times out of 10 at the end of the day we just drove down to the lake and just sat there and took the sights in.
Reality stepped in and caz started work which means i had to get off my backside and find something, i am a sparky by trade so i contacted every electrical company that i could find either on line or the phone book, i tried in Hamilton, Taupo, Tauranga and Rotorua and about 4 companies actually come back to me to say they cannot do anything as i need to get nz qualified, Great, i have been a sparky for 25 years and cant a job, i have never been out of work in the uk, my confidence was starting to get to rock bottom, Caz bless her it dont matter as we had no living costs and she was earning well.
I suppose if we had kids with us then it wouldnt have been so bad as i would of felt useful and at least i was contributing by looking after them, but we didnt , just me and her, so i did get miserable and i was starting to get wound up with constantly apply for jobs and not hearing anything.
So eventually i plucked up enough courage to go knocking on doors which is not me at all, so got loads of cv's printed off and went door knocking, I GOTTA A JOB!!!
i got a start with an air con company as i had dabbled with it in the uk and this company wanted a sparly with a/c experience, talk about timing, i was well chuffed, so i felt more complete now, well that was 3 months ago and i am still hanging on to my job, i have also managed to get to college to do my electrical coursewhich i completed last week, only have to wait 6 weeks for my results
Almost forgot, we have brought a house!! in a place called Lake Okeraka, lakes out one window mountains out the others, would never have been able to afford this in the uk, bit chilly but i suppose i could stick a heatpumps in trouble is i cant wire it up for 6 weeks
So all in all, lifes pretty good at the moment, neither of us have any regrets about coming here , no sign of homesickness ( with the exception of my little wobble when i couldnt get a job) in fact, caz's favourite saying when we are sitting out on the decking is " we are on the other side of the world " but somehow it dont seem different, just seems like home.
Right i have rambled on enough, will give you another update in another 6 months.
Mick
Reality stepped in and caz started work which means i had to get off my backside and find something, i am a sparky by trade so i contacted every electrical company that i could find either on line or the phone book, i tried in Hamilton, Taupo, Tauranga and Rotorua and about 4 companies actually come back to me to say they cannot do anything as i need to get nz qualified, Great, i have been a sparky for 25 years and cant a job, i have never been out of work in the uk, my confidence was starting to get to rock bottom, Caz bless her it dont matter as we had no living costs and she was earning well.
I suppose if we had kids with us then it wouldnt have been so bad as i would of felt useful and at least i was contributing by looking after them, but we didnt , just me and her, so i did get miserable and i was starting to get wound up with constantly apply for jobs and not hearing anything.
So eventually i plucked up enough courage to go knocking on doors which is not me at all, so got loads of cv's printed off and went door knocking, I GOTTA A JOB!!!
i got a start with an air con company as i had dabbled with it in the uk and this company wanted a sparly with a/c experience, talk about timing, i was well chuffed, so i felt more complete now, well that was 3 months ago and i am still hanging on to my job, i have also managed to get to college to do my electrical coursewhich i completed last week, only have to wait 6 weeks for my resultsAlmost forgot, we have brought a house!! in a place called Lake Okeraka, lakes out one window mountains out the others, would never have been able to afford this in the uk, bit chilly but i suppose i could stick a heatpumps in trouble is i cant wire it up for 6 weeks
So all in all, lifes pretty good at the moment, neither of us have any regrets about coming here , no sign of homesickness ( with the exception of my little wobble when i couldnt get a job) in fact, caz's favourite saying when we are sitting out on the decking is " we are on the other side of the world " but somehow it dont seem different, just seems like home.
Right i have rambled on enough, will give you another update in another 6 months.
Mick
Jul 8th 2011, 2:20 pm
#2
Forum Regular
Joined: May 2010
Location: Dunfermline, Scotland soon to be North Shore Auckland
Posts: 91
Re: Where's the time gone?
What a great post - Glad things worked out for you. Gives me hope for when we move out later this year.
Laura
Laura
Jul 8th 2011, 7:23 pm
#3
Forum Regular
Joined: May 2006
Location: Tauranga
Posts: 94
Re: Where's the time gone?
Mick,
What a lovely post! Really gives me confidence as we're going with no jobs to go to and we're worried - you just gotta be determined, hard working and positive. Brill!
Lotsa luck and keep us posted
Gay x
What a lovely post! Really gives me confidence as we're going with no jobs to go to and we're worried - you just gotta be determined, hard working and positive. Brill!
Lotsa luck and keep us posted
Gay x
Jul 9th 2011, 9:34 pm
#4
Forum Regular
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 44
Re: Where's the time gone?
Hey Mick
Glad you got something sorted. It's bad enough banging Brick Walls here! I'm a Spark's Mate, C&G L3 so wonder if I can probe you for info? Am looking Very seriously now having dabbled with the thought for a while...I hope you don't mind as would be good to bounce some info about.
Thanks
Andy
Glad you got something sorted. It's bad enough banging Brick Walls here! I'm a Spark's Mate, C&G L3 so wonder if I can probe you for info? Am looking Very seriously now having dabbled with the thought for a while...I hope you don't mind as would be good to bounce some info about.
Thanks
Andy
Jul 10th 2011, 5:16 am
#5
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Joined: Dec 2006
Location: From Essex to Christchurch.
Posts: 578
Re: Where's the time gone?
Good on ya Mick. well done for sticking with it mate.
Gary.
Gary.
Jul 10th 2011, 7:27 am
#6
mick/caz
Thread Starter
Joined: Nov 2010
Location: On a hill....
Posts: 126
Re: Where's the time gone?
Hey Mick
Glad you got something sorted. It's bad enough banging Brick Walls here! I'm a Spark's Mate, C&G L3 so wonder if I can probe you for info? Am looking Very seriously now having dabbled with the thought for a while...I hope you don't mind as would be good to bounce some info about.
Thanks
Andy
Glad you got something sorted. It's bad enough banging Brick Walls here! I'm a Spark's Mate, C&G L3 so wonder if I can probe you for info? Am looking Very seriously now having dabbled with the thought for a while...I hope you don't mind as would be good to bounce some info about.
Thanks
Andy
Not a problem, probe away, what do you need to know?
Mick
Jul 10th 2011, 9:17 am
#7
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Jan 2008
Location: Pakaraka
Posts: 3,264
Re: Where's the time gone?
Well, we have been here 6 months now, cant believe its gone so quickly. We arrived in january and after spending the night in Auckland to catch up on some much needed sleep, and got our little hire car and drove to Rotorua. Not having been here before we wasnt to sure what to expect, but we had free accomodation at the the school my OH was working at, so there was no immediate pressure with trying to find somewhere to live. We had 2 weeks before caz had to start work and i didnt have anything to go to, so we set off exploring. We were pleasently surprised with the area, theres so much to do here and 9 times out of 10 at the end of the day we just drove down to the lake and just sat there and took the sights in.
Reality stepped in and caz started work which means i had to get off my backside and find something, i am a sparky by trade so i contacted every electrical company that i could find either on line or the phone book, i tried in Hamilton, Taupo, Tauranga and Rotorua and about 4 companies actually come back to me to say they cannot do anything as i need to get nz qualified, Great, i have been a sparky for 25 years and cant a job, i have never been out of work in the uk, my confidence was starting to get to rock bottom, Caz bless her it dont matter as we had no living costs and she was earning well.
I suppose if we had kids with us then it wouldnt have been so bad as i would of felt useful and at least i was contributing by looking after them, but we didnt , just me and her, so i did get miserable and i was starting to get wound up with constantly apply for jobs and not hearing anything.
So eventually i plucked up enough courage to go knocking on doors which is not me at all, so got loads of cv's printed off and went door knocking, I GOTTA A JOB!!! i got a start with an air con company as i had dabbled with it in the uk and this company wanted a sparly with a/c experience, talk about timing, i was well chuffed, so i felt more complete now, well that was 3 months ago and i am still hanging on to my job, i have also managed to get to college to do my electrical coursewhich i completed last week, only have to wait 6 weeks for my results
Almost forgot, we have brought a house!! in a place called Lake Okeraka, lakes out one window mountains out the others, would never have been able to afford this in the uk, bit chilly but i suppose i could stick a heatpumps in trouble is i cant wire it up for 6 weeks
So all in all, lifes pretty good at the moment, neither of us have any regrets about coming here , no sign of homesickness ( with the exception of my little wobble when i couldnt get a job) in fact, caz's favourite saying when we are sitting out on the decking is " we are on the other side of the world " but somehow it dont seem different, just seems like home.
Right i have rambled on enough, will give you another update in another 6 months.
Mick
Reality stepped in and caz started work which means i had to get off my backside and find something, i am a sparky by trade so i contacted every electrical company that i could find either on line or the phone book, i tried in Hamilton, Taupo, Tauranga and Rotorua and about 4 companies actually come back to me to say they cannot do anything as i need to get nz qualified, Great, i have been a sparky for 25 years and cant a job, i have never been out of work in the uk, my confidence was starting to get to rock bottom, Caz bless her it dont matter as we had no living costs and she was earning well.
I suppose if we had kids with us then it wouldnt have been so bad as i would of felt useful and at least i was contributing by looking after them, but we didnt , just me and her, so i did get miserable and i was starting to get wound up with constantly apply for jobs and not hearing anything.
So eventually i plucked up enough courage to go knocking on doors which is not me at all, so got loads of cv's printed off and went door knocking, I GOTTA A JOB!!!
i got a start with an air con company as i had dabbled with it in the uk and this company wanted a sparly with a/c experience, talk about timing, i was well chuffed, so i felt more complete now, well that was 3 months ago and i am still hanging on to my job, i have also managed to get to college to do my electrical coursewhich i completed last week, only have to wait 6 weeks for my resultsAlmost forgot, we have brought a house!! in a place called Lake Okeraka, lakes out one window mountains out the others, would never have been able to afford this in the uk, bit chilly but i suppose i could stick a heatpumps in trouble is i cant wire it up for 6 weeks
So all in all, lifes pretty good at the moment, neither of us have any regrets about coming here , no sign of homesickness ( with the exception of my little wobble when i couldnt get a job) in fact, caz's favourite saying when we are sitting out on the decking is " we are on the other side of the world " but somehow it dont seem different, just seems like home.
Right i have rambled on enough, will give you another update in another 6 months.
Mick
Jul 10th 2011, 11:57 pm
#9
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Mar 2009
Location: Rotorua
Posts: 1,627
Re: Where's the time gone?
Well, we have been here 6 months now, cant believe its gone so quickly. We arrived in january and after spending the night in Auckland to catch up on some much needed sleep, and got our little hire car and drove to Rotorua. Not having been here before we wasnt to sure what to expect, but we had free accomodation at the the school my OH was working at, so there was no immediate pressure with trying to find somewhere to live. We had 2 weeks before caz had to start work and i didnt have anything to go to, so we set off exploring. We were pleasently surprised with the area, theres so much to do here and 9 times out of 10 at the end of the day we just drove down to the lake and just sat there and took the sights in.
Reality stepped in and caz started work which means i had to get off my backside and find something, i am a sparky by trade so i contacted every electrical company that i could find either on line or the phone book, i tried in Hamilton, Taupo, Tauranga and Rotorua and about 4 companies actually come back to me to say they cannot do anything as i need to get nz qualified, Great, i have been a sparky for 25 years and cant a job, i have never been out of work in the uk, my confidence was starting to get to rock bottom, Caz bless her it dont matter as we had no living costs and she was earning well.
I suppose if we had kids with us then it wouldnt have been so bad as i would of felt useful and at least i was contributing by looking after them, but we didnt , just me and her, so i did get miserable and i was starting to get wound up with constantly apply for jobs and not hearing anything.
So eventually i plucked up enough courage to go knocking on doors which is not me at all, so got loads of cv's printed off and went door knocking, I GOTTA A JOB!!! i got a start with an air con company as i had dabbled with it in the uk and this company wanted a sparly with a/c experience, talk about timing, i was well chuffed, so i felt more complete now, well that was 3 months ago and i am still hanging on to my job, i have also managed to get to college to do my electrical coursewhich i completed last week, only have to wait 6 weeks for my results
Almost forgot, we have brought a house!! in a place called Lake Okeraka, lakes out one window mountains out the others, would never have been able to afford this in the uk, bit chilly but i suppose i could stick a heatpumps in trouble is i cant wire it up for 6 weeks
So all in all, lifes pretty good at the moment, neither of us have any regrets about coming here , no sign of homesickness ( with the exception of my little wobble when i couldnt get a job) in fact, caz's favourite saying when we are sitting out on the decking is " we are on the other side of the world " but somehow it dont seem different, just seems like home.
Right i have rambled on enough, will give you another update in another 6 months.
Mick
Reality stepped in and caz started work which means i had to get off my backside and find something, i am a sparky by trade so i contacted every electrical company that i could find either on line or the phone book, i tried in Hamilton, Taupo, Tauranga and Rotorua and about 4 companies actually come back to me to say they cannot do anything as i need to get nz qualified, Great, i have been a sparky for 25 years and cant a job, i have never been out of work in the uk, my confidence was starting to get to rock bottom, Caz bless her it dont matter as we had no living costs and she was earning well.
I suppose if we had kids with us then it wouldnt have been so bad as i would of felt useful and at least i was contributing by looking after them, but we didnt , just me and her, so i did get miserable and i was starting to get wound up with constantly apply for jobs and not hearing anything.
So eventually i plucked up enough courage to go knocking on doors which is not me at all, so got loads of cv's printed off and went door knocking, I GOTTA A JOB!!!
i got a start with an air con company as i had dabbled with it in the uk and this company wanted a sparly with a/c experience, talk about timing, i was well chuffed, so i felt more complete now, well that was 3 months ago and i am still hanging on to my job, i have also managed to get to college to do my electrical coursewhich i completed last week, only have to wait 6 weeks for my resultsAlmost forgot, we have brought a house!! in a place called Lake Okeraka, lakes out one window mountains out the others, would never have been able to afford this in the uk, bit chilly but i suppose i could stick a heatpumps in trouble is i cant wire it up for 6 weeks
So all in all, lifes pretty good at the moment, neither of us have any regrets about coming here , no sign of homesickness ( with the exception of my little wobble when i couldnt get a job) in fact, caz's favourite saying when we are sitting out on the decking is " we are on the other side of the world " but somehow it dont seem different, just seems like home.
Right i have rambled on enough, will give you another update in another 6 months.
Mick
Jul 12th 2011, 8:38 am
#10
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Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 334
Re: Where's the time gone?
Brilliant post ~ glad you have found work and are settling in, well done and good luck
Jul 16th 2011, 3:39 am
#11
Forum Regular
Joined: Jul 2010
Location: Nelson
Posts: 275
Re: Where's the time gone?
Happy times
Jul 18th 2011, 8:00 am
#12
Forum Regular
Joined: Jul 2011
Location: S.Wales for now
Posts: 66
Re: Where's the time gone?
Fab thread! Just shows with a bit of guts and determination what u can achieve! well done!
