h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

My Significant Other, known variously as HI (Her Indoors) or Remarkable Firefly, has departed this country for evermore, to set up a new life in New Zealand. I've been left behind to pack up the flat, let it, and get myself a visa so I can follow as soon as possible.

But tonight (and every night from now on until I get out to NZ) I'm on my own, and feelin' lonesome...

RF

What precipitated this remarkable relocation?

TRiG.

HI got a job with the NZ Treasury. I'm just going on her coat-tails, as it were. I'll find some work when I'm out there, but we have a medium-term plan to pack in this office-based work, buy some land, grow grapes and make . Although it'll probably be mostly but there ain't a smiley for that .

This is a plan we've had for a while, and we were originally looking at doing it in the UK (Kent, Sussex or West Country were prime candidates), but, with the changes to public sector work in the UK, and the opportunity to go NZ (where land is a bit cheaper, though not massively so), we decided to jump.

They say when you're tired of London, you're tired of life, but frankly it gets a bit wearing when you've lived here for 20 years. I've seen all the interesting bits now. Wellington consistently scores well in those "where's the best quality of life?" surveys.

RF

I'm so jealous! But you have an awesome opportunity so I wish you all the best. You will send me some samples of your vino collapso, right?

I hope everything goes swimmingly.

Make sure she has the Internet connection set up before you follow her!

TRiG.

When I have my first vintage there'll be a queue outside the door! You're welcome to join it (could be about 10 years, so don't hold your breath )

RF

that sounds like a great plan. I hope you get your visa soon - but even if you have just about had your fill of London, at least it's a good place to be if you are at a lose end.

I wondered what happened to your plans.

with it all.

Don't you think you'll end up with a constant headache, living your life upside down?

No problems, I'll just take some niripsa or neforpubi to deal with that.

RF

<- So, is this you?

I wish you both all the best with your plans. I bet loads of people are really jealous and wishing they could up sticks like that. Of course, to us on hootoo, there won't be much difference ... er.. you will still be here, won't you?

It's just that, of the 15 meets I have been to, in various countries, you have been there too at many of them. It won't be the same. Or are you coming back every time there's a meet?

Meet in 10 years in NZ. Good wine will be abundant. North or South Island?

Yup, I'm practising walking around on my hands.

I'll still be on hootoo, but probably won't make it to any meets in the near future. But, when I do return to the UK as I doubtless shall from time to time, I will if possible schedule it to coincide with a meet...or at least a mini-meet.

At the moment, this is my favoured location for a vineyard: http://www.newzealand.com/travel/destinations/regions/wairarapa/wairarapa.cfm

RF

Bel - there was the threat of Freddy's liver getting in the way for a while.

Glad the impending cirrhosis has abated, anyway.

B

Cheers, B. I completely missed that one.

>> there was the threat of Freddy's liver getting in the way for a while. <<

But after this nice doctor turned with with a bottle of chianti and some fava beans, everything worked out fine!

RF