My NZ anniversary, today.

[martybabe]

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.

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.

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

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 and this is where KB has been a blessing.

I've had a thousand questions to ask and no one to ask but the good folk on here have always come up with the goods no matter how puerile or nooby the question. I've laughed myself to the point of bladder weakness and shed a tear or two for some of the sad tales and some of the guys that aint with us anymore, I've learnt stuff I had no intention of learning and made a few cyberbuddies along the way.

So to the twisted, warped, friendly, helpful, funny, sad crazy community that is KB, from a slightly insane Englishman, a long way from Home ....... THANK YOU, For being there!.

[007XX]

Excellent! Happy anniversary sir

Tis always a pleasure to have someone with your sense of humour around.

["D" FZ1]

Glad to hear that you are enjoying NZ. Plenty of good riding around the Naki.

[GurlRacer]

It is daunting being away from home, and starting out all alone, but you soon make friends and enjoy the new life you're living!!! I loved Norway so much, but it is always good to come home

I'm glad you like NZ, I simply love it. Travelling half way around the world certainly makes you appreciate home a lot more

Congrats!! I know how hard it is, so have a beer on me

[MSTRS:Me]

So when are you gunna venture outside the 'Naki? Or are you on some form of home detention?

[gmh]

Congrats on your year. I am also just more than a year here and can agree with every word you wrote, it has been an interesting time. One thing for sure is that the bike has defnitely given me some great times. I had to wait 9 months to get the bike, but since then i met some of the coolest guys and seen the best rides. Thanks to you all out there and looking forward to meeting much more in the future.

[alanzs]

Just about four years for me. Great place, glad I'm here, not back in the US.
Congrats!

[martybabe]

Congrats!! I know how hard it is, so have a beer on me

Ah, you in particular , It's people like you that make this a such a special thing to be part of, It's great that you've stuck around, your courage and your plight in recent times has really touched me. Your an awesome woman and I'd be honoured to drink a beer with ya.

So when are you gunna venture outside the 'Naki? Or are you on some form of home detention?

Sir,?? I've ventured aplenty Cape R down to welly, New Plym to Hawkes bay and a mega mighty tour of the south Island is being planned for November as we correspond.

Congrats on your year. I am also just more than a year here and can agree with every word you wrote, it has been an interesting time. One thing for sure is that the bike has definitely given me some great times. I had to wait 9 months to get the bike, but since then i met some of the coolest guys and seen the best rides. Thanks to you all out there and looking forward to meeting much more in the future.

Well congratulations to you too, here's to a great spring/summer of riding.

[Number One]

Congrats on your anniversary and welcome to the hood!

[sinfull]

Hey there Marty, Glad ya loving it here so much ! Good on ya
HRH and myself will be up in the Naki this weekend for her daughters birthday ! Jump into my profile page and grab my contact details and give us a text or call ! See if we cant arrange a catch up sometime !
Oh and your Trip down south !! You should have a look through this thread ! We're Planning on doing this (fingers crossed) Should be plenty of KBers heading down to it i'd say ! If ya havn't made solid plans yet, it be worth thinkin about !
Cheers Bill

[portokiwi]

Way to go mate, You must wear gumboots on the bike.
one year. The cost of living is so expensive in the EU, we should be greatfull for what we have.
So are you an offical KIWI yet.

[MSTRS:Me]

Sir,?? I've ventured aplenty Cape R down to welly, New Plym to Hawkes bay and a mega mighty tour of the south Island is being planned for November as we correspond.

Well then, now that you've 'met' some of the natives etc...it's time you did it again (properly).

[Number One]

I've ventured aplenty Cape R down to welly,

OI! Where was my visit??????

[Dave-]

....bubbling stink holes, and two and a half million things I can't pronounce, I am truly privileged to be here.

haha, I love English comedy.

glad to have ya dude.

[martybabe]

You should have a look through this thread ! We're Planning on doing this (fingers crossed) Should be plenty of Kjers heading down to it i'd say ! If ya havn't made solid plans yet, it be worth thinking about !
Cheers Bill

Cheers Bill, I'm going to some hippy beads and tantric sex fair or summat but apart from that I'm free. It'd be nice to meet ya, I shall txteth ya. Thanx for the link too, I shall study it later. All the best.

Way to go mate, You must wear gumboots on the bike.
one year. The cost of living is so expensive in the EU, we should be grateful for what we have.
So are you an official KIWI yet.

You must be psychic Porto, just purchased some mega thin gum boots this morning for pulling over my normal boots. Three separate rain storms on one twenty minute ride the other day, may as well get a spiggin wet suit. $ 3.37 dollars a litre for Diesel back in pom land, yep it aint too bad here eh

Just about to start the official Kiwi thing, if I get residency will I understand rugby?

Well then, now that you've 'met' some of the natives etc...it's time you did it again (properly).

Define properly, it doesn't involve going into bikers houses and taking my boots off does it, that's a little too Kiwi/kinky. A gentleman should keep his boots on at all times, especially when meeting new folk or having sminky pinky.

OI! Where was my visit??????

I did call round! I saw the curtains twitch and heard some muffled panicky voices but no one answered the door. I get that a lot.