hayleyearth

Since 2003 basically I haven't lived in the same provinces as any of my family members, and saw my folks max 2 or 3 times a year the last 4 years. For me coming to a new place where I have no family or pre-known friends really (met a few on this thread back home but we never did anything together there) is the easy part at this moment. When my folks need me now it is still for simple things, however when they get older /sick /injured it will be a different story. I'm lucky that the Potgieters are here though. Hanging out with them and stopping by for a short 5 min coffee (okay, it's never just 5min) on my way home from work gives me my family feel dose. It seems my sis will also visit the whole of the Dec and Jan holiday and I will probably visit home in August next year. (that's if my folks don't come before that)

I was more talking to the okes saying their racing will end here in NZ. Also the group rides I mentioned isn't those kuier types, it's basically 'fastest around'.

What do you guys want from r the races you are looking for? The chance to be on a podium and get a finishers medal or a big organized ride (where trust me these okes I've seen don't do those as "coffee rides"), cause there's plenty of the later. I've joined groups on Strava and fb and get invited to a few (haven't been to any of the road ones cause my bike is on a ship somewhere)

Na I don't think that's the reason. What I really like about NZ is that the guys (well most of them I have met) are so 'useful'. They cook, clean, shop etc etc and are pretty good at it too. Like a general thing some of my colleagues will say is "I cleaned yesterday and did the laundry" (which in their terms also means ironing)......All this is pretty unusual to SA okes. Most days I chat to my closest colleague about what he is making for lunch or activities he did with his kids etc. And then also being invited to dinner at some other okes house (where he stays alone) and hence has to look after the house and he cooked plus it is on a farm which he looks after himself and all this is on top of having a normal job.... I think spoilt little brats from SA needs to be send here to come see what chores are. These guys gets :thumbup:

It seems you are getting to the point I was trying to make, in SA it is 'normal' for a engineering manager to get over R900k a year. Most I think it's over R1m now (in jhb especially). If you put it in NZ$ that's say $100k, which seems like the equivalent to what people get here..... Which in everyones mind now should be lights going off.... Cause things here like housing is I think 10 times more than back home and eating out about just over double etc etc. So for most it will not make financial sense to move here. (well that's my view)

I was taken for dinner the other night. The bill was $79 (without tip), just 2 of us. The oke insisted on paying as it seemed like it was a normal thing for him to do. I guess R800 for a dinner for 2 here is normal. Back home for me that was a lot. (I would also not have let anyone back home pay that for me I guess). The way I see these people socialise I think they must either have lots of debt (house, car, furniture, boat, etc etc) and /or have no savings and living their whole salary out on socializing. It's BIG here to do things "with mates". Dinners, drinks and coffees. I'm still to have a week here that I'm not invited to such with someone new (never mind my return visits).

I'm the wrong person to ask. I was maybe a little over paid in SA cause if I put my CTC of SA over directly in NZ $ then I'm not earning much more now even though my eexpenses has to be multiplied by 10+ (this might not make sense to many). I am working for a good company here too (with plenty of 'extras', but unfortunately I came from one that gave even more), so moving here for me was not a financial move at all, i.o.w earning $ doesn't put me in a better spot at all. I have gained in many other ways though, people/relationships in my life now is a big gain which I lacked BIG time back in SA. And of course to ride where ever when ever by myself.

It seems like the ritual at work has become trails ride after work on a Wednesdays and beers after work on Fridays....which is a good and a bad to NZ....flip ONE beer is like $9.50

Some of the okes at work has told me about this....I think I am going to look into it! EDIT: why oh WHY would they let the MTB leg be the climb leg and the road leg be the DH leg...

oh no, this is Kiwi land - "work life balance is important" ....that was drilled into me from the 1st interview. Like my manager told me yesterday "as long as you clock your 40hours for a week and the people you working with on projects are happy with your times here then I am quite flexible to your flexi time" I am also starting a course at the University on the 12th September which will have evening classes on Mondays and Wednesdays from 4-7pm, and work allows me then to leave early on those days and they are also paying, so yip, here they are really all about personal growth and like they all say "a good work life balance". It is generally like an evacuation drill at 4:30pm. The general working hours here are 8-16:30, I thought about changing mine to my hours back home 7-:15:30, but then I realized I can now get a ride in in the morning without having to wake up at 4am like I did back home (I am planning to ride in the mornings from next week - till this week I have still been doing house things shopping etc directly after work, so needed my car here.)

I am going to ride with some okes from work tomorrow after work at Maraetai, we plan to leave work at 3pm. Who ever of you can join should join.... (Night Rider?) Apparently the trails are running nice and dry there and should be good before the next rain comes (on Thursday).

You going to keep it at Botany Airport right? Hand to keep myself from laughing out load now! Soooo many laughs last night!

Here's another one.... Taken today...

From the coast over a few hills into the farm lands. ..

Whooohooo...we may braai! http://ourauckland.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/articles/news/2016/06/winter-warmth-wins/?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=ourakl_edm&utm_content=Winter%20warmth%20wins%20%7C%20OurAuckland&utm_term=&uid=

Anyone here fitted a towbar before somewhere in Auckland or know of a good place (suggested by someone you know)? Otherwise I will just Google.

I can mention a good/bad thing about NZ... I don't like the taste of Cadbury here, I can actually remember that from the previous time I was here (well only after I actually bought a chocolate and started eating it) - I guess it is goo, because It is getting my to think twice about all chocolates (do not mention the good types please). Chocolate is really one of my addictions, not as bad as ice cream, beer and speeding, but up there.

Then I will rather go with one of the 3 Kiwi's that the work peeps suggested...

After hurting my tailbone very badly in December in Canada snowboarding I think I'm just going to drink beer that weekend.... That said. ... https://www.torpedo7.co.nz/community/t7events/massive-snow-sale/

Okay, so this might sound like a joke, but it is actually serious... Does anyone of you here in Auckland have a single male friend that will be willing to go with me to my works ball on the 13th August at Sky city - it is a masquerade ball... The guys that my work colleagues are suggesting is just not suitable and I just don't know how many times I can say no before sounding 'picky' ....

Oz? I will assume that was a typo from nz and you didn't mean Australia....

I got to tick all my riding goals for the weekend (didn't do any admin things though).. Saturday = Woodhill and Sunday = ride into the city. i nn posted some pics in the 'Where has your bike taken you today' thread. .. https://community.bikehub.co.za/topic/93073-where-has-your-bike-taken-you-today/?p=2907899 https://community.bikehub.co.za/topic/93073-where-has-your-bike-taken-you-today/?p=2908182 Coming weekend (weather depending) I might want to go ride at W-island ..... that's if I can find enough info on the tails before then. ...and If I find a bed before then. .

Today another awesome day on the bike, this time some road riding on my mtb... mission = ride into Auckland city/harbour (57km)

And I just hope he doesn't post on the same page than me, but that seems to never be the case anymore. ..hahaha #justkidding