Where's Best to Live in NZ and what do we need to know: PART TWO!!!

[AngryBeaver]

Wow,have just gone to post and it wouldn't except it! So have had to start a new thread. Hope everyone finds it ok.I feel a bit like we've all been out for the night and somehow got seperated and no one has their mobile!!
Anyway,this was the question I've had to cut and paste from the old thread:...

Sorry,have had a quick look but can't see...has anyone used emirates?
I think the sky couch thing looks good,but we'd have to buy a couple and that would be pricey.
Dh reckons Emirates are fine,but I don't think he's anticipating how different it's going to be travelling that disatnce with 3 exhausted infants.
He has limited travel experience as it is and the longest he has been on a plane with them is 3 hours. He keeps saying it will be fine,they'll sleep for loads of it...somehow I'm thinking this will not happen!!

lollystix I agree with Mt Eden being a v nice area, I lived there for 6 yrs.

littlest glad your dd is so much better

Whatshesaid - when you were in mount Eden could you get to the beach quite easily?

You can get to places like Mission Bay, Kohi, St Heliers etc in about 15 mins drive. Oh and Pt Chev beach is prob about 10 mins drive. They would be the nearest ones I think.

OMG (as DN would say), I've just had my personal banking manager on the phone from ASB in Auckland to have a wee blether further to the emails he has Sent to me (not one of them automated - he actually wrote them himself!!!) to arrange an appointment on our arrival.

Being in retail banking myself I am staggered at the customer service displayed here. I didn't have to call him, I didn't have to press 1,2,3 on an IVR only to be cut off after 20 minutes of being on hold and he actually suggested an account to earn me some interest. Is customer service always this proactive and personal?

lol lollystix, in my experience with banking yes. With anything else you want no. If you want a tradesperson you will call them a thousand times, they will not call you back, you will eventually get hold of them, if you are lucky they will make an appointment and if you are even luckier they will even turn up when they say they will although this is definitely not guaranteed even though you phone to confirm explaining that you are taking a day off work. Rant over....

Agree Mount Eden is very nice. We rented there when we first arrived.

We're with ANZ and they are lovely. My account manager insisted we took my DD in to meet her last year. We've also dealt with Westpac who gave us great service too. We even got a gift when we took out our mortgage. But that may reflect how huge it is!

So I got chatting to mum in ds1s class and turns out she lived in mount Eden 2 years ago for a year with her DHs work. She said it was very like where we live now (the area most like it in Auckland from what she saw) - lots of nice shops, coffee shops, bit urban etc. It's sounding promising. 21 sleeps to go

Oooh,it's getting close,lolly! Hope everything goes smoothly for you
justabout,no I didn't think you were being callous at all!
Well,it's been a lovely few days after some crappy rainy ones.Apparantly,March is officially Autumn,is that right?
Had a lovely barbie at a friends house,then been manic cleaning/tyding today in preparation for Mums arrival on Wed am. Going to Pak n Save for big shop so can leave all the stuff where she is staying. Mixed feelings.Lots of emotions. Miss her like mad,but I know there's a storm brewing,so won't be able to relax until thats done!

Emotional drainage part 2 this weekend.

Back to see ILs. MIL (out the blue) told me dr. neighbour they're friends with said it must be like a bereavement for her and that the girl on the deli counter at Tescos said if her DD ever did what were doing she'd be devastated. Thanks - always useful to know what some random in a supermarket thinks on our life decisions. FIL spent the entire time looking glum and then asked if I was getting cold feet yet. Err 'No-I'm dead excited' was my response. They're coming for 5 days on Wednesday and I'm not sure I can cope if they're going to be so miserable.

Also saw my bro and said goodbye and that was very sad .

That's a bit extreme isn't it Lolly. I mean, it's a bit offensive to people who are actually bereaved. It must be very tempting to tell them to suck it up and get over themselves.

I found this bit the worst of the whole migration journey. So much to do, saying goodbye is hard and so much uncertainty. Just count the days. It'll be over soon and when you arrive you can get started on tackling all the things that are probably worrying you like finding a house and a job. It's always easier when you can tackle your to do list!

lollystix I do feel for you. My parents were exactly the same. Your ILs may of course come round, my parents however havn't visited in the 10 years we have been here and STILL say - well if you hadn't chosen to live so far away X, Y, Z would be different....

Just keep in the back of your mind that you are making the move for a better lifestyle for everybody. I spent the first 2 years here feeling guilty and not really giving it a go. I think they are now resigned to the fact if we move on it is unlikely to be back to the UK and definitely not round the corner to them. Of course it still hurts when there are comments (digs) but I now think - they are relatively young and certainly were 10 years ago, they could afford to come over (3 trips to Europe/year and several long weekends in the UK could easily convert to a month or two here), they are semi-retired etc etc....it is my mum who is pig headed and said the words 'if you go don't ever expect me to come and see you' and will probably stick to it until the day she dies which is just sad really!

It is hard though when you want to be excited and share the excitement (especially when you arrive) but are constantly dragged down. Keep your chin up....

Sibble,that is really sad.What a lot they must of missed out on,and how detrimental to the relationships with you and your children.
My Mum said she felt like her grandkids were being abducted...the emotional pressure that family puts on people when they do something they don't agree with,is unreal

sibble - that's so mean on your mum's part and what alot she is missing out on. I'm lucky in that my side is all being so supportive and positive about the move. That must have really changed your relationship since the move.

AB - her GKs abducted by their own parents? . Good luck with the visit though - I know you're really looking forward to it. She may be almost there now.

'Rent a dent' are my new best friends. They have been soooo helpful tying up with the plunket bunch to arrange our car seats in advance for our hire car (they're going to pcik them up in advance for only $15). I am once again staggered at the level of customer service compared to the UK (spent 15 minutes on hold to Npower today only to get through and be told they could do chuff all to help me as their systems were down).

Our friends in Tauranga are also coming to visit on our first weekend which is sweet and will be lovely to see familiar faces - they're doing this despite their DD (18m) being fully encased around the middle in some plastercast as she's had to have her hips reset. I actually don't know how they're going to get her in her car seat but it must be possible.

hello lollystix and everyone else. I just wanted to let you know that I live in Mt Eden so get in touch if you need me to help you find anything local when you arrive (playgroups, music groups etc). Sorry I don't know how old your DCs are and I don't know if I can face scrolling through 500+ posts to find out (or rather, 1,500 posts if you count the first thread).

Mt Eden is a lovely area and very central, a good choice for your first taste of Auckland.

Thanks rodent - they're 5,3,23m and 5m just now. Have you been there long?

Yes and no... we've owned our house for 9 years but spent 5 years abroad, and moved back in the middle of last year. So I guess we have lived here for 4 years all together (sorry, long answer to a short question!).

I like your name,rodent...freaky!
Yup,Mum is here,emotion overload.Lots of tears and cuddles.The kids didn't know what to do with themselves at first,but have warmed up now! 20 month old dragging them round the house"c'mon ganny,c'mon gandad,get in bed!" erm..not now thanks!
They've gone to their lodgings now,dh says it's amazing there and they seem impressed with NZ so far.

Glad its going well Angry. Hope they have a good stay. A lovely English couple live up the road from us and his Mum and her Dad come out every year - 3 months each and have a fab relationship with the Grandchildren.
Is everyone ready for the storm?

Shells - the way DH is talking we're going to be washed right into the sea by this storm. Makes me feel glad I picked up a bunch of emergency preparedness leaflets at the library the other day. Didn't read them or anything mind you

Doesn't look anything like storm weather out near us just yet - maybe the forecast is wrong

No, its fine here in Welly too. Just a bit broody.

Black as outside here but only some spots of rain feels like winter. Boys are wrapped in blankets watching the rugby. We did cancel going to the beach this weekend. 8 metre swells - hmmmmm not good. Have bought up sun loungers and BBQ from around the pool, put the basket ball hoop in the garage etc just in case. Just hoping the power doesn't go out.

Not a great start to the visit I have to say!Mum struck down with bronchitus in Hong Kong,so still poorly and on antibiotics.
Then this rain!(bucketing down here btw)

Then Mum suddenly starts with the,"so it seems as though you're in exactly the same financial position you were in in the Uk? Was it worth leaving your family for?What is so great and different abpout here?"...etc veeery draining

Then kids being very clingy and whingy..mum and her dp were desperate to go (jetlag and still feeling weak) but kids were howling and then I lost my rag.
And said things like "Oh,just go!I cope when you're not here don't I?!"
Just sitting here feeling very wrung out.Lindauer is helping,however!
I can't believe they've just got here and the weather is this awful...and set to get worse!
Not the start I had imagined for their visit
At least theeir lodgings are A-mazing

Lindauer Lindauer. Its the only way.

Oh AB - hang in there . You thought there may be a carry on - its so draining.

I have mine here. Had MIL for last 2 days whilst DH at work. Quite a few comments about more neighbours and relatives 'my cousin says it's dreadful for me - I'm losing my son and 4 GK, etc, etc'. FIL arrived last night and DH said it was better - he actually started asking some questions about where we might live etc. He says SIL is creating scenes back at home. Ra