Guess us Colonials cant be so bad after all! Wide open spaces out here, a land of only about 4 millions humans!! Why live in the old country when you can spread your wings out here! Cost of living cheaper... houses especially... I have an old colonial cottage built 1882. just being restored... bought for about $80.000. eleven years ago, when we moved up from Wellington.(Capital) now living in rural area.. Not near Happy Valley where Maureen is, over the Rimutaka's in the Wairarapa...best place to be! To think the family home in London, had we still owned it, would be worth over 1 million pounds. Had my pen friend over here the other year from Purley, we took her for a drive to Martinborough, she spent most of the time looking behind, then I said what are you looking at.. she said, no other cars on the roads, I said this is New Zealand its always like this! Now in England. where can you drive and not have another car behind you or in front!! In your dreams !! New Zealanders are generally a helpful, cheerful bunch...and chatty... We have hot hot summers, and cold cold winters...but love it. love the lifestyle.. so bye bye for now, raining for the first time in months. not mowed lawns for about 3 months!!! I have an acre of land as well, orchard. goats. hens. cat. and dogs!! We had Hot Air Balloons last week.. lovely to watch over the cottage... adele in Clareville