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Original poster

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

999 replies

AngryBeaver · 30/10/2011 11:19

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!!Grin
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!!

OP posts:
WhatSheSaid · 20/04/2012 23:20

Are you looking for 3 or 4 bedroom AB? When do you have to move out by? Hopefully some new properties will come up on Trade Me that are more suitable.

justaboutisnowakiwi · 20/04/2012 23:30

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Shells · 21/04/2012 19:46

We have done our move. Internet back up thank goodness. It was all hideous but done now. Are you done too Sibble?
AB we had success once with rentals by advertising ourselves - we just put notices up on local boards, school, plunket, supermarket etc. and said we were local and had references and we got a great house. Might be worth a try.

justaboutisnowakiwi · 21/04/2012 21:40

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lollystix · 22/04/2012 01:40

Cockroach in an empty cupboard- normal? Do I need to man up?

thelittlestkiwi · 22/04/2012 03:20

How big is it? It's probably a bush one which are not so scary as other species. I either chuck them out or spray them.

In the space of two hours today DD has vomited in her car seat, my laundry flooded, DD got the shits VERY badly and I found an injured bird in the garden which needed rescuing. Is 2pm too early for Wine?

WhatSheSaid · 22/04/2012 03:46

Yep. we get the odd roach, I either spray them or dd1 likes to put them under a glass to see how long they take to die .

They live for ages under the glass. I can quite believe that thing about them being the only thing to survive a nuclear explosion.

Original poster
AngryBeaver · 22/04/2012 03:52

It's always 5pm somewher littlest Wink
lolly get the stuff that sprays every 15 mins. Yes,you may need to take a concrete pill (as my neighbour says!!)
sibble and shells...well done on the moves. Hope you're settled in soon.
We did put an advert in the local paper but only one person replied,and it was a house in Leamington.
I might try putting them up on notice boards around town though,good plan.

whatshesaid we are looking for a 3 or 4 bed! We have a few weeks left,4 I think...and they want 21 days notice!

justabout,yup rentals are just pants,on the whole. Hopefully our house will sell soon. I suppose we could change dd's school,but really don't want to do that. It would be more upheaval...and she'd have to make more friends again etc it's not fair.

They say bad luck comes in 3's,so we get booted out the house,the car breaks down...what's next!

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justaboutisnowakiwi · 22/04/2012 06:04

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vvviola · 22/04/2012 06:24

I found a cockroach in the toilet the other evening... When I say found, I mean it was lurking under the seat and I nearly sat on it Sad DH took care of it in exchange for me ironing his shirt for work Grin

I'm in the process of making apple and feijoa crumble - or I would be if DD2 would stop feeding. I'm feeling like quite the kiwi housewife Grin. I suspect I'll be doing a lot of it.. we found a feijoa tree in the garden & DH just keeps bringing more and more in!

thelittlestkiwi · 22/04/2012 07:15

AB- fingers crossed something will come up.

I'm still waiting for the SPCA to pick up the bird who is now being very fighty and has escaped from his box once already. Luckily our cat is dopey and didn't eat it. I wonder how long it takes small birds to starve to death?

justaboutisnowakiwi · 22/04/2012 08:29

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WhatSheSaid · 22/04/2012 09:06

Grin Need a "like" button for that

thelittlestkiwi · 22/04/2012 09:27

Well, the SPCA had totally forgotten about my bird. I've now cleaned him and added food to the box. It was stuck in the seed pods from a parapara tree- which is also called a bird catcher tree. I went out to chop the seed pods off and there were 3 other dead birds in it. It's horrific. I think I may get someone to chop it down.

WhatSheSaid · 22/04/2012 20:21

Are the SPCA going to get it at some point? There's a Bird Rescue centre about 5 mins from where I live but I think they prefer you to drop off the bird rather than picking up and it would be a bit of a trek for you. Their details are here though if you think they could help.

thelittlestkiwi · 22/04/2012 22:04

I think that may have been where the bird has gone as it was a Hilary I spoke to. SPCA are by the airport so a long drive. Not one I fancied with sick toddler! They finally came at 9.30pm. I think they misplaced my call. If I'd known it would be that long I would have cleaned it up myself- which I did eventually.

Original poster
AngryBeaver · 23/04/2012 02:45

Ok, does anyone know if you can get the cheapy pregnancy tests here like you can in home bargain and it's ilk in the UK? Blush

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justaboutisnowakiwi · 23/04/2012 02:57

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Original poster
AngryBeaver · 23/04/2012 03:14

Well,I'm a week late, but it could be stress of being homeless! I did one test a few days ago and it was negative. Don't know what to think if I am. I was so distraught after losing the last baby. I will be terrified of going for the scans,convinced something has gone wrong again Sad

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justaboutisnowakiwi · 23/04/2012 03:35

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Original poster
AngryBeaver · 23/04/2012 05:29

Am seeing the doc tomorrow,so we'll see.
Do all the expats know that their children have to extra hep b vaccinations?
The nurse hunted us down as it appeared our lot were unclean!! Apparantly hep b lives on the ground here and "survives for ages on Jungle Jim's and the like!"...Have to take my gang in this week. dd was horrendous getting her pre school jab,am not looking forward to round 2!

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WhatSheSaid · 23/04/2012 05:29

I don't think there are really cheapy ones, I seem to remember paying about $20 for them.I was always amazed at people on MN saying they had done 10 tests or whatever, as that would cost $200 here! Then I realised they must be cheaper there.

My dr did give me a bunch free one time - and they'll test for you but obviously a dr visit will cost as much or more than a test.

Original poster
AngryBeaver · 23/04/2012 06:57

Yep, you can get them for £1.99 or so in Home Bargain...I think you can actually get very basic ones for 99p. Had kinda guessed they wouldn't do that here! dh had to pay $170 for a new car battery yesterday, would have cost £40 in the Uk! But,I'll say no more as I don't want to be a whinging pom/pomme?! (not sure which one.Wonder about the origin? )

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justaboutisnowakiwi · 23/04/2012 07:03

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vvviola · 23/04/2012 07:05

AB - good luck at the doc tomorrow.

I am queen of useless information, so can tell you that Pom is either short for pomegranate (Old Australian slang for immigrant) or Prisoner Of Mother England. Second one is less likely, but a more popular one Grin

We got tracked down by the nurse too. DD1 has had the first of the set & nearly screamed the place down. Round 2 is due soon and I'm really not looking forward to it. We've caused all sorts of confusion though - as DD1 was vaccinated to the Irish schedule and DD2 to the Belgian schedule. I swear they talk about us at the surgery after we leave Grin