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!!

Justabout - vicar? Are you of the cloth?

Not materialistic in my view- more about convenience - I'm having to use the grill to make toast, DH is going to iron his shirts on the kitchen worktop. I usually love drinking a bottle of wine and getting a bin liner out but it's just a bit bare in here. The new sofas are helping it feel more homely.

Wow - I'm impressed justabout. I actually thought you were a writer of sorts as your blogs are really impressive - you write so sequentially - I sensed you are of an ordered mind. Not that that has any bearing on being a vicar...

The inconvenience - That's just it - with the kids it's a nightmare. I'm back to boiling baby food in a pan.

I've just had a bit of a moment (fuelled by half a bottle of st. Clair and watching Touch). Sounds crazy I know but I used to see a spiritual reiki lady and saw her when pregs with DS3. I'd seen her the morning I conceived him infact as he was very planned and she very much inferred he was happening which I didn't know at the time. Anyway I saw her at 8 months pregs again and she said he wouldn't be my last baby (at the time I thought he would) so I poo pooed that and she said all I wanted was new sofas - I have cos my old one is 1910 and SO so I've spent years dreaming if a comfy sofa. She said she saw me on new sofas, living out of town with a big garden space around me through open windows. I remember feeling a bit terrified by that as I'm a towny and that meant moving over the bypass in Edinburgh and I didn't know NZ was happening. But here am I now with ds4 present, sitting on my comfy new (to me) sofa, infront of my deck doors with a massive garden outside - and I'm still in town (technically).

(lollystix screws top on bottle of wine and places back in fridge).

crumbs .... another one for who it seems to be meant to be ....

When we arrived in NZ last year without the faintest idea where or how we would live until our stuff arrived, after 48 hours we had a lovely couple offer up their house to us for the next 7 weeks, found a lovely rental house and all our stuff arrives without any breakages. DH loves his job (the least stressed I have ever seen him since he started teaching), I passed my bar exams first time round (very shocked), made good friends and had good times and got well and truly roped into stuff at Church. You can come and be my vicar justabout - sound like my kind of vicar! It never ceases to amaze me how everything just kind of "happens" in a good way for us.

Lolly, hope you settle into your rental place. It really will be like Christmas when it all arrives. DS was just so over the moon, I'd had his bedroom furniture all set up when he got home from school - he really was the happiest boy ever. I made a point of having the best china and glass out for KFC for our first night with lots of lovely possessions!

Where do you guys get your cleaning/household stuff? I tend to pick them up with the weekly shop (Countdown because it's in our local town & I'm wasn't brave enough to drive further for ages ), but they seem really expensive. Am I missing something and I should be buying that sort of stuff somewhere else? Or is it just very expensive here generally?

I just get them from Countdown - I usually get either the own brand stuff or whatever is on special. You can get huge packs of washing powder from places like the Warehouse and Placemakers but I find it usually works out the same price as what is on special at Countdown (e.g this week I got 2 kgs of one of the Sensitive concentrated washing powders for $8 - normally it's 1kg for $7)

Not sure if Pak n save is cheaper?

Ah the magical Vanish carpet cleaner. We were at a bach last Queens Birthday weekend and of course on the first night I managed to spill red wine all over the white carpet.

The nearest shop was 30km away so dh drove a 60km round trip the next day in the pouring rain to get hold of some Vanish carpet cleaner. It did the job perfectly!

Hmm... looks like I may have to be brave and drive further afield to check out pak'n'save. It'll have to wait until after the Easter holidays though - DD1 & supermarkets are a bad combination (she'd be fine if they had slides, a dancing area and nobody to bump into )

Have you got an Uncle Bill's Emporium near you? They are way cheaper for cleaning stuff (and dishwasher tablets and washing powder). They tend to get a lot of european stuff that they buy in huge bulk and sell on cheap. I got a huge box of finish dishwasher tablet (about 75 i think) for $19.99. Also good for cheapy party stuff/toys/stickers etc

Just had to buy a new washing machine. Went for a frontloader (of course) at the expensive end. Was galled when i looked on line to see it cost me $1299 (and that was in the sale!) and same one costs about 400 pounds in uk. It has been worth it though and i am slightly in love with it.

oh yes - and the dishwasher tablets i bought were the UK version and much better than the same NZ/OZ version of the brand brought in Countdown

I'm a greenie (and allergy girl) so I tend to buy ecostore kitchen stuff which works out okay price wise if you use the recommended amounts which tend to be smaller than other brands. I'm allergic to their washing powder though so use another eco brand.

We got a new dishwasher after xmas and for the same price we could have bought a SMEG in the UK and bought it a seat on a plane over here.

AB- I'm just back from Cambridge. Have to say, it is a lovely place. We went to that bird reserve and saw some rare and beautiful birds. Defo worth checking out.

I use the ecostore stuff too and agree that if you use the recommended amounts it's pretty good value. The only problem I've found with it is that if it sits on certain materials too long (mainly jersey or cotton stuff) it will leave bleach marks. Not sure if that's just a top loader issue though as I didn't have the same problems with my front loader.

Also use eco stuff except for washing powder. Buy from health food stores in 5 litre containers, lasts ages and much cheaper than smaller buys I think. I seem to be allergic to all washing powder apart from Persil non-bio sensitive which I buy in bulk when on special in Pak n Save.

Well, house move hopefully back on track have had 2-3 very stressful days. Found out 2 days ago that the paperwork we signed at solicitor on Monday was not all in order (query with bank). So yesterday I am in Wellington, 3rd Trustee is on way to Timaru and there is paperwork to be signed at solicitor's in Auckland or witnessed by JP and sent back locally. Frantic phone calls while I am supposed to be working, faxes to motels etc etc.... Flight delayed back last night. Eventually paperwork signed but insurance on new house not given (applied on Monday). Sent to underwriters for assessment rather than just signed off. Have just heard (paperwork had to all be at bank by close of business today for purchase and sale to go through) that they will insure us.

Ds1 went to the beach with a friend on Monday with strict instructions to text or phone when he got there and daily. NOTHING. I don't have the mums number as I was late dropping him off and she said she would call when she got there from dss phone. I have no idea whether he is coming back tonight or tomorrow and we move tomorrow....

I would but I feel too stressed for that even.

I think maybe more along the lines of would be more beneficial sibble

Does DS1 know where you are moving too Sibble? I'm imagining his face if he comes home to a new family!

Hope it all gets sorted.

I'm on day 15 of my solo stint so I also deserve .

We are off to view a house this pm at4. Not expecting much. From what we've seen,we did pretty well getting this one. And I complained about this!!

How was the house AB?

Friggin' awful! Am getting worried. There are some rentals over in Leamington,but that is the other (not as nice) side of town. The 2 older dc are in school and kindy on our side and dh goes to work in taking the car...at 1pm. I could walk it,but it would be too far for the children's little legs,especially after a long day. bugger