My NZ anniversary, today.

[Mom]

Thanks babe, Canada was on the cards but some one told me NZ was tropical

The tropical comment has me in stitches LOL.

We have elderly pommy neighbours who came out here about 3 years ago. The called this the "tropics". They were hell bent on tiling their entire house as it was what you did in the tropics. They removed the Kent woodburner and disconnected the mains gas supply. We tried to tell them it got really cold here, but no, they knew best.

They now have reinstated the mains gas and have installed a big gas heater, the entire house is now carpeted and they have invested a mountain of mony in underfloor insulation etc...LOL

My mother was born in Newfoundland in the depression, the house she grew up in had no electricity or running water, the sole form of heating was a range. The house is a timber one with no insulation and sits maybe 10m from the water in a sheltered bay. It freezes solid in winter, iceburgs sit off the coast line and in winter the snow can be as high as a man against the house. She reckons when she first came to NZ she had never been so cold in her life!

[martybabe]

The tropical comment has me in stitches LOL.

We have elderly pommy neighbours who came out here about 3 years ago. The called this the "tropics". They were hell bent on tiling their entire house as it was what you did in the tropics. They removed the Kent woodburner and disconnected the mains gas supply. We tried to tell them it got really cold here, but no, they knew best.

They now have reinstated the mains gas and have installed a big gas heater, the entire house is now carpeted and they have invested a mountain of money in underfloor insulation etc...LOL

My mother was born in Newfoundland in the depression, the house she grew up in had no electricity or running water, the sole form of heating was a range. The house is a timber one with no insulation and sits maybe 10m from the water in a sheltered bay. It freezes solid in winter, icebergs sit off the coast line and in winter the snow can be as high as a man against the house. She reckons when she first came to NZ she had never been so cold in her life!

: Don't hold it against the neighbours, being stubborn, blinkered and eccentric is all part of the breed.

Yay your mom, I'm with her, it's a bit bloomin parky when the winds up your valley. Though I think Newfoundland being warmer than NZ is a bit of an exagermeration. Then again, Moms don't lie, mmm

Lovely tale by the way, Iceburgs and stuff. Just gonna pop the fire on now.

[MSTRS:Me]

She reckons when she first came to NZ she had never been so cold in her life!

We've got a Swedish mate who says the same thing. Lack of proper insulation apparently. We just say "Harden up, ya blouse"

[Mikkel]

12 Months ago today after a 56 hour journey

56 hours You must have taken the scenic route then

Two nice gentlemen in uniform asked me if I would mind stepping back into the customs area and actually finishing the formalities and retrieve my luggage before doing the Hakka in the lobby fair enough I suppose.

Why is it that I find this preposterous claim entirely credible?

Well it's been a bit like that ever since, one step forward two steps back

I know just how you feel. Although I'd say it's more like two forward and one backwards - after all progress is being made

but all said and done it's been an amazing year and I now live in one of the most awesome countries in the world, 5 minutes in any direction from my town and I'm in motorcycle scenic heaven, mountains, sea , lakes, bubbling stink holes, and two and a half million things I can't pronounce, I am truly privileged to be here.

One and a half year for me - and that is how I feel as well NZ pretty much has it all, just get on your bike and go out and get it.

I don't know how many of you have done it but being 12,000 miles from your friends and family can be a bit daunting and lonely at first

Yup - but I have to look at the bright side: 18,000 kms from my family and friends back home also means 18,000 kms from my mother-in-law. It's a fair trade!

[Mikkel]

We've got a Swedish mate who says the same thing. Lack of proper insulation apparently. We just say "Harden up, ya blouse"

Part of the problem is that it actually doesn't get cold enough. In Scandinavia the temperature drops way below zero during the night - as a result the humidity drops very quickly.

Here in Chch the humidity is ~100% - and it's in the middle of winter. Add a bit of wind and the chill factor becomes quite significant.

Damp cold is just so much nastier than a dry cold.

Oh, and yes there is the cardboard houses and the single-paned windows. Not so much a concern for keeping warm - after all you can always turn the heater on. But, aside from being uneconomical, the real problem with that is that the indoor environment is less healthy than it ought to be (e.g. black mold). At least you can use it as an argument for spending more time out on your bike

[martybabe]

56 hours You must have taken the scenic route then

Mate, watta trip, Jersey to Gatwick, Gatwick to Heathrow, 9 hours waiting for Heathrow Aukland flight.


Why is it that I find this preposterous claim entirely credible?

Ah ya got me, it wasn't the Hakka, I was kissing the ground like the pope.


I know just how you feel. Although I'd say it's more like two forward and one backwards - after all progress is being made

Yep, positive thinking, like your style.

One and a half year for me - and that is how I feel as well NZ pretty much has it all, just get on your bike and go out and get it.

Oh congrats to you too, excellent choice of country to emigrate to, you must be really clever like me.:


Yup - but I have to look at the bright side: 18,000 kms from my family and friends back home also means 18,000 kms from my mother-in-law. It's a fair trade!

No argument dude.

[Mikkel]

Mate, watta trip, Jersey to Gatwick, Gatwick to Heathrow, 9 hours waiting for Heathrow Aukland flight.

Ah, so a farewell tour of the south-eastern reaches of ol' Blighty was the culprit.

You used to live on Jersey?

Ah ya got me, it wasn't the Hakka, I was kissing the ground like the pope.

And the uniformed fellas thought your tongue action was a bit over the top or...?
Did you drop your cap/sunglasses in doing so?

Speaking of the pope - he mustn't trust modern technology much...

[Street Gerbil]

12 Months ago today after a 56 hour journey, I blagged my way through Immigration and customs at Auckland airport and burst out into the early morning sun and a new life in New Zealand.

Happy anniversary, mate! It is 2.5 years for me.
I have to admit it, it was not an easy journey. Everything was different from any place I ever visited. The cars were on the wrong side of the road. Everybody was talking with the funny accent, with the exception of few americans who didn't have an accent at all :-). Then, I bought myself a motorcycle and started riding around and getting in touch with some nice like-minded people. I don't know whether it was their influence, or just a coincidence, but I started feeling better. Life went on. My missus found a permanent position. And finally her bubbly attitude towards everything that is New Zealand has started rubbing off on me. I bought myself a wee motorboat (a very lucky buy - you cannot buy a self-propelled motorcycle for the amount of money I paid for it) and started going out fishing into the Gulf. I think the pivotal moment was as I was fishing by David rocks last summer. It was a sunset, and all the rocks and islets around me turned into molten gold. I suddenly realized that it is one of the most beautiful and breathtaking sights in my life. Something in my mind has finally clicked in that evening. Moving out of New Zealand? Thanks, but no thanks! I am here for good.

[martybabe]

Happy anniversary, mate! It is 2.5 years for me.
I have to admit it, it was not an easy journey. Everything was different from any place I ever visited. The cars were on the wrong side of the road. Everybody was talking with the funny accent, with the exception of few americans who didn't have an accent at all :-). Then, I bought myself a motorcycle and started riding around and getting in touch with some nice like-minded people. I don't know whether it was their influence, or just a coincidence, but I started feeling better. Life went on. My missus found a permanent position. And finally her bubbly attitude towards everything that is New Zealand has started rubbing off on me. I bought myself a wee motorboat (a very lucky buy - you cannot buy a self-propelled motorcycle for the amount of money I paid for it) and started going out fishing into the Gulf. I think the pivotal moment was as I was fishing by David rocks last summer. It was a sunset, and all the rocks and islets around me turned into molten gold. I suddenly realized that it is one of the most beautiful and breathtaking sights in my life. Something in my mind has finally clicked in that evening. Moving out of New Zealand? Thanks, but no thanks! I am here for good.

What an awesome tale and tribute to our new homeland, well told mate. I think my bling buckets empty but I owe you one.

I know exactly what you mean about peeps from back home not having an accent to our ears, funny innit.

[GurlRacer]

I know what everyone is saying about the tropics/cold. I was walking around outside in short shorts and a singlet the day I got back and thought it was summer (Although it was middle of winter) but started shivering when I walked into the house. The houses here are freezing!!! And everyone laughed, because I was telling tales of walking to school in snow at -10.

Mikkel - I presume you're from Sweden? Denmark?

[Mikkel]

Mikkel - I presume you're from Sweden? Denmark?

Denmark. Moved here with my partner in December 2006. We're currently applying for residency.

[ukbandit]

good for you! it will be 5yrs for me this november love the country and people.
i honestly can say i dont miss london one bit, i think i am a kiwi at heart just born in a different country.

[martybabe]

good for you! it will be 5yrs for me this november love the country and people.
i honestly can say i dont miss london one bit, i think i am a kiwi at heart just born in a different country.

Yea, I think it was a geographical error on behalf of the angels, I love the mountains and the great outdoors and I hate crowds, so they stuck me in one of the flatest most built up overcrowded citys in Europe.

No hard feelings, I got to godzone in the end.

[GurlRacer]

Denmark. Moved here with my partner in December 2006. We're currently applying for residency.

Ahh! Lykke til! Jeg har vaert i Copenhagen... hvor i Danmark?

Btw, you talk funny in Danish

[martybabe]

Btw, you talk funny in Danish

Well he has got an injured knee.