Hi folks

I've been living in NZ for just over 3 years now, moved out with hubby and 1 kid, now have another one (well the TV is rubbish and it gets COLD at night). We came over for a job but after 2 years of same sh*t different company my OH decided to do the midlife crisis early and went off to Uni for a year. Now he has a totally different career and comes home smiling which is nice!

We are looking at oz now because the south island is just too close to the antarctic and we still miss warm summer evenings like wot we had in the uk. Dont start me on the beer, himself has given up hope of finding a good Kiwi one and has got into home brewing. Now we want somewhere where we can sit out and drink the stuff!

Looking forward to chatting with some of you folks.

I lived in New Zealand for a while a few years ago, i'm a teacher and found it very hard going on a teachers wages, especially when you try to buy property. I was up in the Bay of Islands, it was beautiful and I love the place, especially the beaches. I'd love to go back when I've got some money together. Definately not an easy place to live with a family on a single income.

Yep, I have to agree with you. It is a beautiful place but all the views in the world don't pay the bills. I must admit we are torn, when we look out of the window in the morning and see the harbour and hills beyond its magical. If we could really make a living here we might consider staying but wages are low, the cost of living is pretty high and some of the things we took for granted in the uk are only just happening here so the 'step back 30 years' image is unfortunately not just a joke.

We haven't been to the Bay of Islands, we looked at Auckland (doesn't everyone) and Christchurch and Christchurch won as it was smaller, cheaper to settle (you didn't need to live an hour out of town and do the battle of Aucklands motorways) and seemed to be more our kind of place. We were stuck with the limited choice due to himself's previous career as an aircraft engineer. Now we have more options so we are reconsidering everything. Funny thing, once you have done the scary big move to the otherside of the world its a lot easier to think about relocating again.

Oh, and we NEED good teachers really really badly so please come back! My daughters class has had 3 teachers in the last 18 months due to pregnancies planned and unplanned (I dont mind people having kids, have done it myself but when they've only just been in post 2 months it kind of stuffs up the flow of learning)

Funnily enough all our good ones seem to go overseas to get better wages to pay off their student loans, sound familiar?

Hi Shimmy. I hope you find exactly what you're looking for. I also hope you post more. You've got a very entertaining style, and I enjoyed reading your posts. I can imagine sitting down over your home brew and getting the giggles together.

By the way, I call my hubby "Himself" too. His daughters get a real chuckle out of it.

cheers for that, I'll try to keep it up! The home brew certainly gives me a few giggles - like when himself comes home all excited because he has tracked down some Fuggles! Apparently they are hops, yes dear, course they are. Its like having a new baby in the house when he has a brew on, he keeps listening out for it blipping and blopping through the valve thingy - sad thing is you end up listening too, just in case it stops!

Okay, that's it. I have to officially invite you to my new topic now, because obviously we need a place to discuss each of our Himselfs in detail. lol

I just started this yesterday to give us a place to get to know each other better. Come over and giggle with me. Generic discussion, bonding, and miscellaneous mirth-making