Profile
Blog
Photos
Videos
Hello there,
Long time since I have been on here to update our news but thought it only correct to let you all know we have now been living in New Zealand for one year this week.We can hardly believe it ourselves how quick time has gone by.
There have been lots of highlights such as the trips we have taken eagerly exploring our new homeland.
We have visited Waiheke which is a beautiful picturesque island just a short ferry ride from Auckland.
Also on our travels we have just returned from our first camping adventure(yes I did go in a tent-took a lot of persuasion I can tell you!)We visited Napier the Art Deco capital of the world I believe?with its amazing rows of fabulous buildings. We enjoyed 5 nights exploring this region before moving onto Taupo for a further 5 nights where we fell in love with the amazing views of Lake Taupo and the stunning range of mountains nearby.We drove to the highest point of Mount Ruapehu possible in a car and was not surprized to hear they had, had snow the night before, as we had been freezing in the tent and had all had to get fully dressed to get back off to sleep.Don't forget its our summer here for those of you who have forgotten and are deep in the depths of snow yourselves at the moment.Saying that the weather in the day was 25 degrees and more which we were lucky to have as its been the wettest summer on record here.
Other areas we have explored have been Northland where I insisted on driving right to the top of the country literally, where we did the customary walk to the lighthouse at Cape Reinga unfortunately the day we went was cold and rainy and infact reminded me of the trip Andy and myself took to Lands End mid July one year when it was cold and foggy!!Our trip to Ninety Mile beach was also cut short by a storm that seemed to appear from nowhere.
Paihia and Russell in the Bay of Islands has been one of our favourite areas to explore with stunning 360 degree scenery.
We have of course been down to see Eve and Simon and family in Rotorua and will be visiting again soon to carry on with the many sight seeing opportunities there are available in the area.
The main highlight of the year for all of us was having Norman (Andy's Dad)make the long journey over to see us for a month and enjoy sharing our first Christmas and New Year here in New Zealand.It made it extra special for us to have him with us at this time and we had some memorable times taking him out and about sightseeing with us.
Now as 2012 makes a speedy start the girls have returned to start a new school year which will prove just as successful as the last one hopefully with many new opportunites to be had in and out of school.
Its hard to believe that in a few weeks I will have been working as a midwife at North Shore Hospital for a year too.I am very much enjoying my work there made all the easier by the wonderful group of colleagues I get to work with.
Andy continues to seek a permanent position but gets plenty of temp work in the meantime.
We love our life here, living close to the beaches which gives us many chances to spend hours by the sea, swimming,snorkelling,fishing and kayaking or just relaxing on the beach at the weekend.
We have also recently welcomed two new additions to our family who are Leila and George our new kittens.
Life has been made much easier to adjust to here with the help of other expat friends like Catherine,Kevin and family who we see on a regular basis as they live just 5 mins up the road and Eve and Simon who are a 3 hour car ride away and new friends we have met since arriving.
Also the email and skype links have made the distance between family and friends seem so much less as we are able to keep in touch and constantly update with each other.
It was also lovely to catch up with Theresa and Bruno whilst on their trip here during the Rugby World Cup and they were our first official visitors from the UK and we look forward to welcoming many more in the future.
For anyone who's thinking of taking the plunge and emigrating to another country I'd definitely say Go FOR IT!!! There's a huge wide world out there to explore and moving here has made me realise that even more.
Life is for living, so get out there and see some more of this amazing world we live in!!!!!
We love to hear all your news so do keep in touch.
Lots of Love
Louisa xxxx
- comments
Nicola Maynard sounds like you are really enjoying life its lovely to hear all your updates. we are all well and looking foward to the summer after all this snow. we are also off to Florida for 3 weeks we have been saving for a long time so our last few years summer hols have been spent camping good fun thou it all so seems like we had a simiular day in july at lands End ha ha take care Nicola
caroline Hi all of you, Lovely to hear from sorry I haven't been in touch but working full time is killing me!!. Glad your enjoying it there. Thinking of coming over next year to see my brother will let you know. Give my love to the girls and will call you soon. Love Caroline and the gang
CAROLE I soooooo miss you guys!!! We all do. It may take quite some time but we will be over at some point! sounds wonderful, so glad work is going well. love ya mate xxxx
sue Hi Lovey, glad you are still having fun and that everything is going well, are you coming home for a visit anytime soon, miss you xxx
Judith Staff Oh Louisa, it all sounds really brilliant, I am so happy for you all. Please please please email me!!! As you know, I came off facebook last year (County Council scary e-Safety training!) and I don't have your email address!!! Take care, love to you all xxxxxxxxxx
Dianne Hi Louisa glad that it is working out for you and that you are having such a great time. Yes your right life is for living and you only get one chance good on ya. Take Care Love Di say hello to Mel if you see her. xx
Janet flue char Lovely to read all yourFantastic news Louisa really pleased for you all