what we are doing.

I had a funny turn last week. It finally dawned on me that we now live in New Zealand, that we are not on holiday and that we are not going 'home' to the U.K. in the near future.

I play golf with my uncles once a week, was wednesdays now tuesdays. Surprisingly i still have a lot of my ability, I seem to be able to hit the ball a vast distance but lack the control but it will come with a little more practice.

Ellis is loving school, Harvey has started 'kindy', and Claire is eager to start some sort of job, maybe after christmas.

We just had halloween, a little surreal going trick or treating in the middle of spring, normal you expect to freeze your tits off!!!

Harvey usually doesn't sleep during the day but the other day was different, he got a pillow a blanket and crawled under the dining room table!!

How bloody cute!!

This weekend I am working at the local home and garden show, I will post pictures of our stand later.

Our shipping has arrived in Auckland, now I need to travel to the airport and visit customs and MAF (ministry of agriculture and food, blah blah blah whatever). I need to get clearance from both for our stuff and all being well I then go to the shipping company and collect our stuff. OR travel back to Rotorua, wait for MAF to arrange an inspection, travel back to Auckland to witness the inspection and then hopefully collect our stuff. What a ball ache. The excitment is reaching fever pitch from Ellis, his bike, playstation, roller blades, bedding etc. are in there and he can't wait.

Thanks to everyone who has been in touch since we arrived, keep up the emails and watch out for us on skype.

Anyone interested in buying our house yet!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rotorua Ekiden

Somehow, I managed to get roped into participating in the Rotorua Ekiden. Esentially it is a marathon relay around the beautiful Lake Rotorua. Our office entered three teams of six, two running and one walking. Thankfully I was on the walking team.

So, togged out in a pair of my fathers size ten trainers with two pairs of socks on to ensure a snug fit, of i went at 7.30am to meet up with my team mates. Only to find I had the 8.1km leg with a continous 2km gradient to overcome. Bloody lovely.

But overcome I did, in a suitably impressive time of 1hr and 9 mins. Not bad for an ageing 35 year old!

Photos of the day are still being digitally enhanced, but will be posted at a later date. Official photos of the day will be available on the Ekiden website, link above, soon also.

Best thing was the BBQ after at my bosses amazing house, that is for sale, and we could afford if our house in the UK would fu**ing sell. Oh, and the cool reebok t-shirt and medal. Yes, a medal. Whoever said that i wouldn't amount to anything!!!!!!!

life in NZ so far.

It has been a long time since my last post, so this will be the mother of posts

We have been here for about 3 weeks now. The first was taken up with silly things, like getting IRD numbers (NI numbers), bank accounts etc. Once that was all done, we paid a visit to my new office, APR Architects. we washed our 'new' car, for those interested it is a Mitsubishi RVR, 2.4litre, permanent 4WD, automatic thing. Actually it is really good.

We also have my dad's camper van. This is 'my' car for the time being, or until i can afford my mitsubishi Evo 5.

We are living in my Mum and Dad's house for the next year. It is lovely, clean, relatively warm and cosy but best of all, BIG. The boys have their own bedrooms, which is fantastic. Our bedroom is the size the two large bedrooms in our old house, which is still for sale if you have a spare £150,000.

What have we been doing, I hear you ask, mainly shopping. There is stuff that everyone needs.

Harvey needed a new bike, we all needed things like shoes and stuff. We bought the kids tons of toys. The house needed bits and pieces, things that make it feel a little more homely.

And what else? Fun stuff, like visiting the local lakefront, where there was a gypsy market, quad bikes to ride, planes to see. But most important was a trip to the LUGE. This is the best ride in the world! Firstly you travel up the mountain in a gondola, then speed down it on a tea tray then travel back up on a chair lift.

And most importantly this week, Ellis started school. He is now fully enroled at Ngongotaha Primary School. And in two weeks Harvey starts at kindergarten.

And just for my Mum, a picture of some flowers in her garden that she never see's bloom because she is never in the country.

That is about it for now, I promise i will update more regularly now.

Thank you to everyone who has emailed in the last three weeks, we miss you all loads, keep in contact and start saving your money. You are all welcome to visit anytime.

oue epic journey part 2, OZ and NZ

So, after leaving Dubai on Tuesday morning we prepared ourselves for a 17 hour marathon journey to New Zealand. The four of us and my mother, who was travelling with us so she could teach us all we needed to know about our new home.

Sat in what would be home for the next three quarters of a day, we were blessed with a 600 channel entertainment system, The food was good the kids behaved fantastically, and Claire hardly spoke to me the whole time, almost like heaven.

We arrived at Melbourne Airport twelve and a half hours later, at about 6.00am. Our plane was then prepared to leave at 7.10am. So a quick security check and a trip to the toilet later and we reboarded for the final leg of our journey.

A little over two and a half hours flight and we arrived in Auckland to a very emotional welcome from my sister and her family. Her account of the day can be seen on her blog, Life today.

our epic journey part 1, Dubai..........

So, we left for Birmingham airport at 10am on friday 14th september. Bound for our intermediate stop over in Dubai. A 'short' 7 hour flight to the middle east and four days with my parents. Arriving at just past midnight, to be greeted by temperatures of 30c+, and an average daily temp of almost 40c.

Saturday morning saw us visit the beach near the 7* Burg Hotel, and then to the Mall of the Emirates, the largest mall in the history of the world, apparently or something, who cares. It is just full of designer shops that I will never afford to shop in, and the most amazing indoor ski slope. But, we did get some new sunglasses, from NEXT.

Saturday night was spent at a friend of my parents, Phil and Tikka, who were having a BBQ, so after swimming in the private pool on the housing complex we ate and drank.

Sunday 16th, saw a trip to the local water park, and the hottest day of the four, 44c! imagine that if you can. It was just a little bit too hot to really do anything. Then that evening Claire, my Dad and myself drove to a desert wasteland to enjoy the HASH HOUSE HARRIERS. A quick 3mile brisk walk followed by a bonfire, lots of beer and joviality. The Hash is something not to be missed, look it up in your area and turn up, you WILL enjoy it.

Monday 17th, was a day of rest, with a trip to another beach, again a little bit too warm to have much fun but just nice to relax. A grown up meal at the local hotel while the kids were looked after by Tikka, gave a nice end to the stopover.

Tuesday was then time to leave for New Zealand. and part 2 of our epic journey.

i am new to this

hello claire here, i have not used this yet but why should iain be the only one telling you things!! the shipping company phoned today the final price for shipping was less than we expected so thats good news and the boat that it is going on is leaving next week so ellis will get his playstation back sooner than expected hurrah!!

i have been out for lunch with my mum and dad today which was lovely we topped it off with a walk around colwick park, it is so nice there but very hot.

we are going to my cousins wedding in london tomorrow, it will be nice to see that side of the family before we go. we are borrowing my brothers car and i have to drive as iain is not insured so it will take us much longer than it should and i will need a bucket of red wine when we get there for my nerves!!!!!

nothing else to report at the mo speak again soon.

claire x

they will be dead soon

Just checked my mothers blog, and she shows you a lovely picture of her orchids back home in NZ. Only two weeks 'til they are dead when we arrive with our children and our ability to kill any plant.

You have been warned mother.

about bloody time.

Finally, with one week left 'til we move, we have a viewing on our house. Friday night at 8.10pm, so fingers crossed everybody this is the one.

Female looking for three bedroom semi, in a nice area, no upper chain and mortgage in place. Sounds perfect. If only there were a god, then I would be praying for the next 48 hours.

On a different subject, the transport company came today and collected the eleven boxes that are being shipped to NZ, just waiting for the final price.

Can take 14-16 weeks to ship depending on how quickly the container is filled. Now just need a freight forwarder in NZ. Hopefully shipping will arrive around christmas then we wont have to buy the kids many presents!!!!

Look forward to seeing you all soon.

and so the nightmare continues.....................

we have started packing up our life ready for shipping to new Zealand, surprisingly there is not as much as we first envisaged. But, it is one hell of a job sorting stuff into boxes, making sure they are not over the weight limit and making lists of what is in each box.

ouch.

Claire and I have both had some more tattoos done. Claire's stars are to represent our two 'delightful' children and mine is a little more self explanatory.

When we get to New Zealand we will want more so we will be looking for a decent tattoo studio.

Bank holiday day out

Today being a bank holiday, we took the sprogs to Chatsworth house. Those of you who have visited know what a lovely place it is. After many years of scraping by, they have transformed it into a fantastic, but slightly expensive day out.

House and gardens, same as they used to be, very boring, mainly for the grey haired amongst us. The recent inclusion of a childrens farm and play area is our main area of visitation.

So, with Emily and J, and sprog Charlie, off we toddled. We met a friend of emily's Nick and his wife Kelly and their three children.

Nick and family are also emigrating to NZ, about october time, they are moving to Whakatane, so we look forward to hooking up with them again very soon.

All in all, we had a great day, the kids loved it and they all got on like the proverbial house on fire.

scalextric

About five years ago, I got my hands on a load of old, rusty scalextric track and accessories. With about £25 spent at a car boot sale, I had a rather large selection. With the imminenet move, it all had to go to a good home.

So, I sold all the cars for £40 at car boot, and tried to sell the rest for a further £40. Nobody was interested.

it was time for EBAY, so list it I did, starting price of 99p, after 9 days it had hit a lofty £31. Not bad, very happy. We then went out for the evening to a friends place for tea, and stayed over.

In the morning the computer appeared and I checked my ebay account, and then nearly fainted

£105.99p

holy bloody sh#t. All for a few pieces of rusty old scalextric.

ha ha ha ha ha ha ha

Pregnant.

When I was six months pregnant with my third child, my three year old came into the room when I was just getting ready to get into the shower.

She said, "Mommy, you are getting fat!".

I replied, "Yes, honey, remember Mommy has a baby growing in her tummy".

"I know", she replied, "but what's growing in your butt?"

one of my favourites.

A man walked into a cafe, went to the bar and ordered a beer.
"Certainly, Sir, that'll be one cent."
"One Cent?" the man thought.
He glanced at the menu and asked, "How much for a nice juicy steak and a bottle of wine?"
"A nickel," the barman replied.
"A nickel?" exclaimed the man
"Where's the guy who owns this place?"
The bartender replied, "Upstairs, with my wife."
The man asked, "What's he doing upstairs with your wife?"
The bartender replied, "The same thing I'm doing to his business down here."

So, my sister likes jokes.

Check this site out for jokes, slightly riskee, but altoghether funny.

Bye.

Spot the children.

They are both in there somewhere, email with results.

Kids day out to Ferry Farm Park

Claire and friend Emily, took the young scamps to Ferry Farm Park today. I stayed at home, tidied up, went to the bank, cooked dinner etc.

Chaos and destruction ensued! then some peaceful undertakings by ellis, avec pony.

Ellis wanted to hold a kitten, but unfortunatly it had a broken pelvis! Claire loved the one day old piglet, or future bacon sandwich !

Favourite places

It would appear that we all have a favourite place in life, Ellis' is just slightly more unusual from everybody else. When we move and donate the sofa to some poor deserving soul, it will be imprinted with Ellis' outline. What a shock this boy is in for when we get to NZ and he only has five channels to choose from!

Now this may not be Harvey's favourite place but at least for today he was quite happy to sit at the table and eat his lunch. Normally he gets through about 6 mouthfuls and declares 'me full'. Closely followed by 'me pudding', and when informed that he didn't eat all his lunch and won't be getting any pudding we hear 'yes did'.

Keeping up with my sister

In a vane attempt to compete with my older sister, who obviously has too much time on her hands, now she only works like three hours a week.

I am now going to update our blog as often as possible, as I too am now 'sans' employment.

So Sis, I challenge you to a 'BLOG OFF', may battle commence.

5 weeks to go.

35 days and counting, not long till the 'great breadmore adventure' begins.

5 days left at work, then 4 weeks of packing, telephone calls and lots of other rubbish.

Farewell party on the 2nd September, all welcome.

Oh My Goodness, we are on our way.

So, our visa's have arrived. We have tendered our notice to our respective employers. The house is on the market and very soon the flights will be booked.

If the weather weren't so bloody appalling, we would have done the most monstrous car boot sale in history, in a vane attempt to sell our life! Yet every weekend we are foiled by the 'finest UK summer on record'.

Anyway, on a positive note, we are flying to Dubai on the 14th September, with the intention of spending 3-4 days with the old folks, then a short 16 hour hop to New Zealand and a new life working for an architects firm! Don't ask me what I know about marketing or architecture, but I learn quick!

Ellis has finished school for the summer and is looking forward to moving, on the loose promise of a quad bike and a go-kart and a boat and a fishing rod and a skiing trip and other stuff. Nothing like bribing young children.

Harvey doesn't know any better, so he just nods his head in agreement and gets on with making a mess.

Claire I think is getting quite apprehensive, it is a big move and going to be very emotional, she has a lot of very close friends and will miss then dearly. Her mother and father have assured us they will visit next year and Claire's brother and his family have already planned a fact finding tour for January next year, with the intentions of following us within a couple of years.

Other than them, there is me, I am just excitied and can't wait to arrive and start work and enjoy my new life.

We look forward to seeing you all before we leave, and say hello to you all when we arrive.

southampton visit

We all visited Southampton at the end of last month, mainly to visit our bestest friend Andy Tourell, to try and blag on trip on his million pound yacht (see piccies), and to relax.

We left on Friday night, arriving to Soton at about 7.30pm, a quick bit of fabulous dinner prepared by Andy's lovely other half, Bonnie. Then mucho amounts of lager.

Saturday prompted some shopping in Gunwharf Quays in Portsmouth and then a trip to the Royal Navy Base and the historic ship yard, to see Admiral Nelsons boat, HMS Victory, and to our surprise HMS Invincible and HMS Ark Royal, the Navy's aircraft carriers. Then onto an interactive science centre, which Ellis and Harvey loved.

Back to Andy's house for more food, lovingly cooked by Andy and myself then more beer!!!

On Sunday we drove to Gosport visited the beach, played in a park, see piccies, and took a gander at Andy's 'project' , HUGO BOSS, the vessel that will take his lucky arse around the world to all the hottest and coolest spots, Monaco grand prix cool enough for you?

A trip to the park followed to play football, frisbie and some general larking around then prepare for the drive back to Nottingham.

Weekend done.

news

As you all should know, we are planning a move to the other side of the back of beyond, New Zealand here we come.

After our recent visit to London village to the NZ embassy, we expect a reply in the next 4-6 weeks.

Not long to go now, assuming we can sell our house!!!1

christmas pictures

And a happy Harvey on christmas day

A very happy Ellis on christmas morning.

welcome one and all.

Welcome to the inaugral blog from BREADMORES UK.

We consist of Iain (dad), Claire (mum), Ellis (son 1) and Harvey (son 2)

Currently living in Nottingham, but applying for a dream move to New Zealand.

Not much to say right now, but keep coming back.

Bye.