Wow, 2008 has been and gone and it’s now 2009
I’ve been a token Kiwi for over a year now and it’s time for another update.
The adventure continues and it’s been a very intense few months since I last updated you. Taking over the Auckland Region has been a real learning experience and has led me to change a lot of how I think and work. The marketplace is extremely competitive and Auckland customers are a lot more discerning when it comes to purchasing. The shift in the global economy has also had major impacts in the Retail sector and we’re seeing people spend less and be more selective. Christmas this year came very late as customers held on until the last minute. Every Retailer seemed to be offering deals upon deals and the choice was huge however, we were able to keep ourselves ahead and finished very strongly. In fact, we had our biggest day in history on Christmas Eve which was thrilling but also very draining. Auckland is a great city and is very diverse; each store has its own challenges and uniqueness. The Warehouse continues to challenge and inspire me and I’m loving it. I’ve also been selected for Leadership Development this year which will give me the opportunity to grow with this fantastic business. I ‘d like to utilise a lot of the skills that I brought with me and take on bigger challenges in the future and I’m being given the opportunity to do this.
We also moved house in December. The house in Albany was a great start for us to get settled however we wanted to get a bit more remote, closer to the sea and have more space. Having looked around for a few months and viewed a number of diverse properties, we decided on a move to West Harbour. The downturn in the housing sector also allowed us to look at houses that would have been outside our range when we first arrived. We’re still renting as I thought it prudent to wait until I have my residency before buying as the banks tend to be more favourable to you when you are a resident. We got a much bigger, more modern house with a massive garden and orchard with scenic views of the harbour and the city for the same rent that we were paying for the house in Albany. The sunsets are breathtaking.
It’s stunning and having a large garden means so much to the boys. They are out every night playing ball and jumping on their trampoline. I can also honestly say that we have found a home and are really settling in for the long term.
Caroline has changed jobs and is now working for Country Road, a high end apparel company in its Albany Mall store. She works 4 days a week from 9 to 2 which fits with the boys schooling perfectly. It’s great to see her have a little independence and make new friends. She also gets a large allowance and discount on all store clothes so needless to say she is loving it. I have never seen a wardrobe change so quickly!!!!
The boys finished their school year in December for the Christmas break, which is the equivalent of the summer holidays in the UK. Dylan did exceptionally well and got very high marks in his end of year exams at Pinehurst. He also received an award in Mathematics and has been put into the Academy classes in English, Maths and Science for 2009. We are so proud of him. Corey also did superb, winning the academic achievement award for the Junior School in Albany Primary. It’s amazing the impact that Dylan has on him and how much he pushes himself when Dylan does well. Corey is an absolute joy to have. I think back to my time in the UK and the pressure I was constantly under and how much this impacted on my ability to spend quality time with them. This move has been a revelation and the boys have grown so much this year and I have been there with them every step of the way. I would not have been able to say this if I had not made the move. That makes it worth it in itself.
With the boys having an extended break, we took the opportunity to explore more of Auckland. Out West is the Waitakere Ranges which is a huge area of natural forest, mountain ranges and stunning beaches about half an hour from the city. There are many hiking trails and our favourite was the Cascade walk which culminated in a huge waterfall at Fairy Falls.
We visited Auckland Museum and Auckland Zoo. The Museum is a great place to find out the history of New Zealand and about the Maori culture. There is also a fantastic War exhibition, which chronicles the part that New Zealanders had in Great War and World War 2. It’s amazing to see how many New Zealanders fought in the Wars especially given the distance to Europe in a time when all travel was done at sea. It was also good to give the boys a real understanding of the Country, its cultures and history. The boys loved exploring it and particularly liked the weapons exhibition.
The Zoo is also a great place to take the family. Rather than small cages, it has wide expansive enclosures that you walk around and you get very close to the animals. Corey loves animals and when I asked him what his favourite part was, he said “Everything!!!”
Christmas was weird this year as we celebrated it by having a BBQ with friends on a warm summer day. The Kiwi’s love Christmas and celebrate it exactly the same as back home but it’s strange to see Santa and Snowmen in 30 degree heat. Walking around in shorts and jandals with heavy sun block on listening to “Let it Snow” and “White Christmas” is a bit surreal. But I’d much rather have that than be cold, damp and dark back home.
Straight after Christmas, we took a week off and spent it in Omaha Beach which is North of Auckland about an hour from the city. We rented a bach, which is a Kiwi holiday home, a stones throw from the beach. The weather was glorious and the boys spent most days in the surf, body boarding and swimming.
Not far from Omaha is a marine reserve called Goat Island. You can go scuba diving and snorkelling there and the marine life is unbelievable. I took Dylan out and I watched him swim through shoals of fish. We saw manta rays, octopus, squid and numerous types of fish. We also went exploring the rock pools and Corey spent most of his time picking up huge starfish and crabs. He took a lot of convincing about returning them and not bringing them home as pets.
2008 was a year of tremendous change for us and we’ve achieved a lot in such a small space of time. We’re absolutely sure that the move we made was right and New Zealand has more than exceeded our expectations. If you’re considering a move here then hopefully in reading this blog, you’ll see how fantastic your quality of life can be. But I think the biggest impact on this is working for a Company that allows you to have the best of both. The Warehouse has lived up to every promise and my only regret is that I didn’t make this move years ago.
Bring on 2009!!!!!
