Emigrating to New Zealand and Back Again
Emigrating to New Zealand 7 years ago, Jonathan and Rebecca started a new life at 45 an 39. Baby Millie was 9 months old, now joined by twins Lucy and Jessica. They have known each other for just 8 years. This is their story.
Thursday, 2 September 2010
Wednesday, 7 July 2010
New Zealand
I was watching a show on TV about two lovely guys who started a campsite on Harris, the Scottish Island, to visit their site click here.
It's such a lovely life, or so it seems, they had money worries they probably had arguments, they probably had days when it was bad. To many New Zealand looks like a place that you'd never come back from, look at the photo! But you know there were days when it rained, and rained and rained. There were days when it took me an hour to get over the bridge because the traffic was so bad. Money was tight, its an expensive place to live. It is a long way from any where. Yes it is simply stunning in parts and I guess if we had owned a camp site on the South Island and taken a 180 degree change in out lifestyle we may have stayed. Perhaps our mistake was to try and do there what we do here. In the end our parent our here, our culture is here our hearts are here in the uk. I love taking the girls to the tower of London, I know about it and the people who lived there. I loved the culture of the South Pacific but I love baguettes, cafe noir and pain au chocolait , it doesn't make me french!
Now I am faced with doing here what we should have probably done there, in New Zealand, what enterprise shall I choose?
Wednesday, 30 June 2010
A:3K skills event postponed following withdrawal of England flops Wayne Rooney and Steven Gerrard - News - MirrorFootball.co.uk
Here we goRooney and Gerrard pull out of A:3K skills event
Published 11:22 30/06/10 By MirrorFootball
A:3K, the star-studded skills event due to take place at London's O2 Arena on July 17, has been postponed following the withdrawal of Steven Gerrard and Wayne Rooney.![]()
The England duo were due to compete in a series of Gladiators-style challenges with global football stars Cristiano Ronaldo, Cesc Fabregas, Didier Drogba and David Villa.
See the ring of fire where Ronaldo, Rooney, Fabregas, Drogba, Gerrard and more will test their skills - exclusive picture special
Director of A:3K Terry Byrne said “Both Steven Gerrard and Wayne Rooney have made it clear they believe it would be inappropriate for them to participate in A:3K at this time.
"We fully understand and respect both players’ decisions. We could have replaced them with two other players but feel the players involved are six of the best in the world - and that is what we promised we would deliver. "
Organisers hope to reschedule the event with the same line-up in June 2011.
Rooney will earn £500k for one night's work in A:3K skills challengeChoose your Fantasy World Cup team and win a share of £25,000 - click here
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Tuesday, 29 June 2010
My Word
Friday, 25 June 2010
A3K
Monday, 23 November 2009
John and Edward leave X factor
Sun Hat v Umberella
It is at this time of year one does question the wisdom of a return to the UK. However, as we head to Christmas, and simply because its what we know, a cold Christmas seems right. Jessica and Lucy are going to be "stars" in their nativity play and Millie is going to be an "angel." I think the essence is my term "its what we know." Sure hot summers were an adventure and great to experience, but they were not "what we knew" and therein lies the difficulty in emigration. The new experience has to out do what you know my a huge magnitude for it to be worth giving up what you know. We humans love what we know, we cant even give up things we know to be bad for us let alone the things we love. I love an English Christmas, it is what I know, it is where my family are it is I guess where my heart is, and the lovely days spent on the beech in December didn't compensate. However the friends we made in New Zealand and that we enjoyed all the holiday breaks with are so sadly missed.
But I am so looking forward to seeing Jessica and Lucy as Stars and Millie as an Angel, even if it is blowing a gale and pouring with rain. And I think Grandma is too!
Saturday, 21 November 2009
Stacey Solomon x factor 21 Nov 2009
Sunday, 15 November 2009
Olly Murs Xfactor 2009 Queen
Its about time that Simon lost one of his over 25's. Jamie was good but I think was going down hill from a great start.
Tuesday, 10 November 2009
Simon Cowell defends x factor voting
Sunday, 8 November 2009
X Factor UK Lucie Jones
Saturday, 7 November 2009
X Factor ITV London Olly Murs
Thursday, 22 October 2009
This is What I do for a Living!
Sunday, 12 July 2009
Thursday, 18 June 2009
England v New Zealand
This is the village green where I live in the UK, steeped in history it's called a George V playing field, a huge charity was set up as a lasting memorial to King George the V. there are about 470 protected open playing fields in the UK. You can see the cricket green, there is a children's playground with all wooden elements, it is fenced and basically run by locals. Early morning and late evening it is a joy to walk past.

This is the park in Devonport New Zealand, we called it the Tunnel Trees as Millie christened it, because of the tunnel in the playground and the trees that surround it. It is across the harbour from Auckland city, surrounded on 3 sides by water. I loved it.

This is a fantastic Cafe in Clerkenwell London, hidden down a back street it is run by 2 young women and it serves fresh organic food at very reasonable prices. It is an oasis of calm and peace in a mad busy bustling city.

And this is the Cafe in Devonport we used to visit with the kids. Run by two asian people it surved great coffee and muffins and was a cool oasis in what could be the harsh NZ sun. The children were welcome and it was as friendly as you could find.

Now you spot the difference and tell me where to live!!
Friday, 12 June 2009
Straight Teeth - Invisalign


All thanks to a marvelous system called Invisalign. I had been told that I'd need train tracks for 18 months, teeth extractions, pain and grief. Instead no one knew, no teeth were extracted and it took just 6 months and 2 weeks. Fantastic and it didn't cost the earth either. Thanks to Izzy my dentist who is top.
Sorry had to share if I can help just a few people from the extractions, bent and misaligned teeth only twists are much harder. But talk to a dentist anout the system before committing to having healthy teeth removed.
Television
The thing everyone would miss is the big events like Idol or the Apprentice and Whereever's Got Talent. NZ tries them but it is a country with a population of just 4 million, finding talent is hard, you need a lot of people to get the cream of the crop.
So rejoice in doing other things, talk and visit with friends, have fun with the family. Look at the lack of TV as a plus, you could even talk to your partner or play with your children!!



