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We are slowly getting the hang of this place. There are a couple of shops and takeaways nearby, squirrelled off down a little street. There's a noticeable price difference between the dairies/superettes ($7.50 for a loaf of bread and 2l of milk!) and the supermarkets.
We've been to see one house, and have two more viewings today; we've also started trying to get our heads around what's available at two of the larger malls nearby and the different ranges at the three major supermarket chains. I've got my IRD (tax file) number, which involved a rather long queue at an AANZ office [*] over towards the dusty, earthquake-battered side of town.
[*] Yes, the AA. Here they act as agents for Land Transport NZ for all your tasty driver and vehicle licensing goodness, as well as carrying out a number of services for the IRD, passport office and so forth. They offer mutual memberships from other AAs across the world... except the UK, whose AA cut themselves off from the others a few years ago. Duh.
Speaking of cars, we've also been to a car dealer to see what's around and available. We're contemplating a Mazda 2 or Mazda 3, if the price works out OK; there's something to be said for arranging a lease-like finance deal to cover the 2 year horizon we've set ourselves for deciding whether we're staying here long-term. Most cars in NZ have auto boxes as there just isn't the resistance to them here that we see back home. I have at times been a good bunny regarding this country's wacky right-of-way while turning rule - and also completely screwed it up at others.![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
rustica bought a copy of the Road Code, which I ought to study as well.
The motel room is nicely appointed with modern fittings, though (as ever) it's a motel room. The very new toaster beeps five times before springing up. I wonder if it's a relation of Talkie the Toaster.
And yes, it is 0730 here. The jet lag is slowly moving in the right direction, but I've still been awake since half past four. The first vestiges of Sunday's dawn are just starting to appear.
We've been to see one house, and have two more viewings today; we've also started trying to get our heads around what's available at two of the larger malls nearby and the different ranges at the three major supermarket chains. I've got my IRD (tax file) number, which involved a rather long queue at an AANZ office [*] over towards the dusty, earthquake-battered side of town.
[*] Yes, the AA. Here they act as agents for Land Transport NZ for all your tasty driver and vehicle licensing goodness, as well as carrying out a number of services for the IRD, passport office and so forth. They offer mutual memberships from other AAs across the world... except the UK, whose AA cut themselves off from the others a few years ago. Duh.
Speaking of cars, we've also been to a car dealer to see what's around and available. We're contemplating a Mazda 2 or Mazda 3, if the price works out OK; there's something to be said for arranging a lease-like finance deal to cover the 2 year horizon we've set ourselves for deciding whether we're staying here long-term. Most cars in NZ have auto boxes as there just isn't the resistance to them here that we see back home. I have at times been a good bunny regarding this country's wacky right-of-way while turning rule - and also completely screwed it up at others.
rustica bought a copy of the Road Code, which I ought to study as well.The motel room is nicely appointed with modern fittings, though (as ever) it's a motel room. The very new toaster beeps five times before springing up. I wonder if it's a relation of Talkie the Toaster.
And yes, it is 0730 here. The jet lag is slowly moving in the right direction, but I've still been awake since half past four. The first vestiges of Sunday's dawn are just starting to appear.