WHERE'S BEST TO LIVE IN NZ ETC PART 7 !!

[frikonastick]

Come oooonnnnnn MNHQ, where's our medal

Well, first interview done, and apparently it went really well! Yay! Feel so proud of him DH now in car on way to Auckland for interview no2.

Even if nothing comes from either, it's a real boost I think when an interview goes well.

Here's crossing fingers!

Eastern Beach, Bucklands Beach, Mellons Bay all lovely with good schools and close to Howick. We looked there last year before we bought our current place. MacLeans is always in the top schools list (ranking higher than alot of Auckland private schools) and does Cambridge exams. I'm considering applying for ds1 as an out of zoner for next year - Don't' think we will get in but if I don't try we won't know.

That is a huge downside about where we currently are - the high schools are all dreadful so we pay private - manageable with one but shortly we are looking at having two at Intermediate/High School a whole other ball game

Maraetai is lovely too. We very nearly bought there (house was 1 room too small and no easy capacity to extend). It's our closest beach where we go paddleboarding and very safe for the boys to swim. It's also within acceptable drive to MMH and Totara. Has beach front cafes but local main shopping is at Botany or Howick realistically. Wouldn't bother me but apart from a very good local dairy you are a drive from the main shops. Having said that quite controversially Countdown has just got the go ahead to build at Beachlands (neighbouring)- don't know when it will be complete but will be closer.

Have pm'd you sibble

All three interviews went great! DH has call backs for second interview for 2 of them and the other they want him n Auckland and he said no, and they said, well if the other stuff doesn't work out, let us know, so that's positive too. Gosh ladies, it looks like our dream really really really might come true! Cross fingers xxx

Great news frik

Exciting!

Yes, how exciting!

Countdown will start building in Beachlands around October. It will really change the feel of coming home, but it will give some convenience. You were bang on with your guess of where I am Sibble

Waiting for the chimney sweep to come.

oooh I bet we know people in common, in fact our paths may well have crossed! If you are ever at the beach and see a family paddleboarding it may well be us. I am the one falling in the water or trying to restrain ds2 who otherwise would be half way to Waiheke! Ds1 and dh are far more competent! Actually ds1 is full of teenage angst lately so is more likely to be the one sulking on the shore

We probably do. It is a very small world.

Chimney sweep has come and gone. If anyone is looking for a VERY reasonably priced sweep, I'd recommend Mike Johnson ph: 5366394. $50 is what it cost me. He's not left any mess.

Excellent news frick.
Sibble I sooo want to paddle board, but I'm scared of falling in!
We are buying two double kayaks soon, can't wait!

In ter news, I ave been very sick for a week.
I thought it would go away but it's got worse
So went to docs, and she thins its most likely Guardia...from the effing water tank!
Coud be Campylobacter, have to wait for results.
Have to take 7 tablets a day, and no alcohol until 2days after I finish the course.
Feeling quite sorry for myself, but at least my jeans will be a lot looser...every cloud!

Forgot to mention best bit.
Giardia is sometimes known as...wait for it...Beaver Fever!! How fitting!

Exciting news Frik!

Sorry to hear about the potential giardia, AB. Friends local to us have had it from their water tank too. What sort of filtration do you have on your tank?

Giardia is a bastard. DH was hospitalised with it once when we were in Africa. Take care of yourself AB xxx

Yay on the SSRIs justa here's hoping the Ritalin works too. Am sure DS is a much happier kid either way.

Oh yuk AB :( that doesn't sound pleasant at all. Hope you are on the mend soon.

Hurray for the SSRIs justa! And fingers crossed for a good combination with the Ritalin (is there a known potential issue? Or just a case of 'who knows'?)

We appear to be toilet training. Not my idea. Madam raided the cupboard took out potty and has been obsessed ever since - even refused to get off it this evening! We've had now 4 wees & 1 poo in the space of 4 days. I'm totally unprepared so am just kind of popping her on every now and then or if she asks. This wasn't on my list of things to do over winter!!!

DD who is 4.5 still has night nappies. Is that bad? She took ages to potty train too, so well done vvvv DD!

Anyone live on Waiheke ?
What is it like to live on with young children? We have seen a beautiful house .

AngryBeaver is the woman to talk to about Waiheke. She seems to be enjoying it apart from the giardia Get well soon AB. Any developments on that house you were looking at buying?

frik. Some dcs are out of night nappies early but up to 6 or even 7 is within the usual range. There's a hormone they start producing which enables them to go longer without a wee at night. Until they start producing that they can't really be 'trained' to be dry at night.

Good news on the meds justabout

And good news on the potty training vvv

ds1 was out of night nappies by age 2.5 (he was just dry) ds2 was nearly 7. Didn't do anything different with either of them, didn't potty train either of them just waited until they were dry . But that's my lazy parenting method technique all round. Both boys stuttered - ds1 grew out of it, ds2 is 8, nearly 9 and it's quite pronounced at the moment - I'll wait and see if it dies down again otherwise I'll start the speech exercises we were given years ago.

And giardia - horrible I had it years ago - not nice.

Great news justa, things are going well for you guys at the moment
Frick, ds 1 was 5 at the end of Jan and is still in pull ups at night.
Dh is not pleased about this.

He as been dry for a few night and we think we've cracked it, but then he will just wee...and sleep in it!

Tanks wws.
The Giardia has been deeply unpleasant, still feel pretty weak, but the "other" symptoms have gone away thank goodness.
Lost a few pounds though, always a bonus.

Dh is dragging me out of bed to go and see the house again in about an hour.
Not actually sure I'm up to it...
And ave lst of reservations about it.
It kept me awake the other night!

4x4
We've been living on Waiheke for about 8 weeks. Really enjoying it so far.
The shopping might be an issue for some, as in, erm, there aren't any!
Well there are a few, but they are either touristy or reeeeally expensive!
It's more expensive to live here, in general.
And can be quite restrictive and limiting.
The expense I mean.
It's really expensive to get the car off. You have to factor that in if you want to go on a day trip for example.
Also, anything medical can be problematic.
I had to take my 2yr old to starship recently.
That was a drive to the ferry, park and walk to ferry, get ferry, get bus to starship (in bouncing rain) then he was supposed to have an op.
He didnt ave it in te end.
But if he had, would have had to do that journey in reverse with a groggy, possibly distressed child!

Also, it's likely that I will ave to have surgery this next month.
Same applies. I'm not looking onward to the ferry back.
If its rough, I will be in agony!

Anyway, sorry that's all the negatives!!

The positives are, it's quiet, great community (mostly) low crime rate, micro climate,beautiful scenery, of course, the vineyards!
We really love it in general.

But some things are starting to crop up, that are problematic.

I think you'd have to weigh it all up carefully.

Lots of people move off the island after a year or two apparantly.

It's definitely not for everyone.

Oh, and the population more than triples in the warmer months!!

If you want anymore information, feel free to ask, I can give you specifics