LozTom Blog

Well, beein in Wellington for a couple of months now and we decided to go for permenant residency as we love it here so much. so... round the roundabouts of medicals and forms..all going well...except...153 over 110...hmmm..the old blood pressure a bit high .. I blame the wife and two kids :-)

Well, doc being such a nice lady told me to come back later in the week and we'd try again, good stuff I thought. So.. No Wine, no fags, running around the field, drinking loads of water .... one week later, I get off the train from work (a little stressed, worrying about the whole medical thing), and sit down in the waiting room ready for doc.

The wife and two kids walk in just as doc calls me in, cool will only be a second I thouht and I'll be back home..... not so Blood pressure reads exactly the same) ...bugger !!

Doc (being ever such a nice lady), says take a lie down, relax, chill out for 10 mins and she'll take a couple of readings ...

so I'm lying there, my head pounding, trying to think of something soothing, and not about the hole in my sock which has appeared and is making me feel intesly self concious, and then of course because I've drunk so much water, I'm tryin to hold back a torrent ...doh !!!

She takes another reading after a couple of mins .. not good
After another 5 mins the kids start playing up ...and I can hear their little footsteps exploring the depths of the off limits area of the doctors surgery in which I am lying down.....ok...keep calm...They'll go away...think of something soothing...a pastel flower blowing in the breeze on a nice summers day...doc takes another reading ... and walks out again ... things are not looking good....

About 10 mins later, have managed to calm myslef down and the throbbing veigns seem to be quieter, I'm more relaxed...a bit more hopefull...then.....

HOW LONG YOU GOING TO BE, I LEFT THE POTATOES ON !THE HOUSE IS PROBABLY ON FIRE ALREADY!! HURRY UP!!!...

The wife's standing in the door, giving me a stern look as if to say why are you taking so long to have low blood pressure..it's all your fault..and the house is probably on fire !!!

!!!!!!!!!!! D.O.H !!!!!!!!!

Then the doc walks in

Blood pressure 135 over 90 ... Phew !!!

Well, winter is approaching fast here and whilst not as bad as the UK, we've had a few of those grimy days which are cold. Still had a wonderful weekend (ANZAC), where we went wine tasting and had a party in the evening out on the veranda. Was a great day but both Stasia and myself paid dealy with a hangover on the following days.

Jared and Roan are doing well, although Jared is now running scared of Roan as he has now learned the power of the tool...to be more precise he's picking up stuff and hitting jared with it because he knows it hurts more ! Seems the more we tell the boys not to fight the more fighting they do !

Work trundles on and as we settle in we learn more of the dramas which effect our friends lives. I am just glad that we're happy and not effected by any of this. The main drama in our life at the moment is the ...well, there isn't one...we're quite happy !

We're all really enjoying ourselves here in New Zealand. Stasia is making loads of friends as are the boys. Roan has started toddler Gym and is putting all the other kids to shame. Jared is in Kindy and is really enjoying it there which is a releif because he hated school in the UK. My work with Telecom is going well (if a bit slow), and I have made many new friends.

We have rented a place in Whitby which is just north of Porirua. We're thinking of buying now but have to go through the pain of submitting the Emmigration forms for permenant residency here; something we should have done in the first place to save us a fortune.

I have managed to update the olde Thomas Family Tree as a result of all the fact finding I had to do for the first application and you can see it here (any updates from family please eMail me).

As you can see from the photo below, Jared and Roan are getting on better than ever. Here in Aotea Lagoon they went on a not so minature train and just love playing here as it also has a brill playground and ducks and gardens ..well it's got all a kid could need !!).

Well, been accepted for a role in Telecom New Zealand and we've managed to get here, find a car and will move into rented accomodation at the start of March. I's been a great couple of weeks and we both love New Zealand. Wellington for a capital city does not feel like a big city at all. The people are friendly and we have met many new friends on BritishExpats

Start the new Job tomorrow and am looking forwards to getting into some routine. Have applied for Permenant residency via the New Zealand Web site (blimey, want to know how often you blow your nose!!). This should take a few months to get sorted but when this is complete we'll start looking for a house to buy. Hopefully will be close to a beach and facilities etc and not a long commute ...tall order but hey, land of opportunity.

Strange thing, listening to the radio, if you were to take away the accent the topics they cover seem to be exactly the same as the UK. There seems to be a concern over the number of people leaving for Australia, the number of people not being able to afford their own house and the rate of tax and the economy !!

Still there is a real difference in the perceivable culture. Whilst the queen still appears on the currency, and there are the manditory McDonalds, the traditional culture is palpable. The people are all really friendly and there seems to be a far more trusting and positive feel to the people.

One of the buig things to get used to is the geography and the buildings. I liken it to when I went to live in Leeds (UK). Initially I thought it was grim (it was the middle of winter when i arrived). but when you get used to the architecture and the landscape, you start to overcome you pre-conceived ideas and begin to appreciate the place. We've only been here a couple of weeks but I'm confident that we have made the right decision and that we'll stay here.

The kids are having a great time. There is loads to do here and unlike the UK, the playgrounds do not get burnt down a couple of months after they've been built. they are also a far better quality than those found in the UK.

Well, I'll keep on updating the gallery with photos as and when I can and will report on how the work is (cannot be worse than the UK!!). There is a real skills shortage over here so I suppose if I hate the job I can always find another role quickly. There seems to be very few locals in the IT industry...they're probably in the UK or OZ earning the money !

Well, we now have acceptance for Victoria sponsorship, whilst at the same time it looks like I have an offer for New Zealand ! Should be getting a contract through soon and if acceptable we're looking at possibly February 2008 !! Not long at all.

Stasia has been doing her internet investigations about Wellington, looking into the lifestyle on the EX Pat Web sites and looking at the housing market.

Have booked the Medicals which are not in-expensive (£90 each for XRays and 650 for the Medical tests etc.). The diabetes may add to this (will have to see).

Am really looking forwards to this now, however the move will be a nightmare.We have to pack up all the gear in the house and either throw it out or take it with us .... not to mention all the financial stuff !!

Will all be worth while in the end I'm sure :-)

Had a great time in Bulgaria. Went to the Royal Park hotel in Elinite. The kids did not want to come home and we had a great time !

Continue reading "Back from Bulgaria" »

It's September already and I've been busy with the old photos. Spurned on by a recent interest in family history I've been scanning like mad and have now updated the web album with all the old and more recent pictures I could get my hands on.

Continue reading "September !! ... already !" »

ok, so I've been very slack and have not updated this blog for absolutly ages !! So here goes...

I have created a gallery as it makes no sens putting all the pictures in here. Just go to http://www.loztom.com/gallery to see all our photos.

Since Christmas quite a few things have happened, notably my marriage to Stasia. A great day was had by all at the King Arthur Hotel on the Gower and the day was a big hit with the kids and adults alike.

If anyone wants a child friendly wedding I suggest you talk to Stasia. She did a brilliant job putting party packs together, ballons, bouncy castles etc... and the wedding atmosphere was both relaxed and enjoyable.

Stasia managed to organise the wedding so well and she just proved to me once again how lucky I am to have her as a wife.

The boys ... well... what can I say ... they look like angels, and perhaps I should stop there..:-) They're fine with Jared talking more and more and Roan learning fast of Jared and fast forwarding into his terrible twos already .. my oh my how time flys !!

Anyway...going to start to put some pictures on the site now and will endeavour to add more to this later.

We've all had a great Christmas this year. The kids are well and we've all been spoilt rotton (thanks to everyone). Stasia cooked a great Christmas meal and we all drank too much :-)

December 2006
Roan has been walking for over a month now, chuffed as anything with himself !
Jared is his usual self and has now linked Christmas with the receiving of presents ... my bank balance will never be the same again !

Have created a new Web site www.LozTom.com to advertise Web development and IT Consultancy in South Wales to make a bit more cash on the side. Work is as usual a combination of panic and stress.

Am now officially old as my 37th birthday has just passed and I'm well on my way to the big 40 (goodness it's a little frightening !).

Stasia is beautiful as always and is looking forwards to going to work next year for one day a week ! We're both looking forwards to the big wedding day and I'll be so happy to be part of Mr and Mrs.