I have moved from Wellington to Auckland. This involved getting quotes from moving companies and selecting a company to move my things, packing everything, choosing moving dates and finding a way to get my car to Auckland. Oh, also working out how to get myself to Auckland.

Moving my stuff:
I asked people who they used and what they thought. I checked lots of websites and emailed or filled in online forms. After not much response I called companies. I learned that no one moves on Sundays in New Zealand. Or on Saturday afternoons. I found this hard to believe but had to accept that they were coming on a week day and I had to make arrangements for someone to meet them. I also learned that a good reputation and recommendations from several people does not mean they will get it right. My delivery was not correctly picked up (should have been labelled and a print out done at the house but that didnt happen) and then it was not delivered on the expected date with no phone calls telling me what was going on. They also managed to damage some items.

Getting my car to Auckland:
Tom put my car on the train and it seemed pretty easy. He rang and delivered it to them on the same day (Tuesday) and they delivered it on time (Friday) with an easy pick up. No damage, no hard stuff. Pretty reasonable price of $325 including gst.

Getting me to Auckland:
This got tricky. Although I had been living in Wellington, I had been working in Wellington, Christchurch and Twizel. As it turned out, my last two days of work (previous employment) were in Christchurch so I ended up flying direct to Auckland. It was cheaper than flying back to Wellington and meant I didnt have to take two flights that night. I made it with no hiccups.

The fragile stuff:
I had been a bit worried about getting my saxophones to Auckland and my plants. My saxophones (a tenor and soprano) I put into my car to go on the train, that was evidently a good idea as the car arrived on time with no damage, wish I could say the same for the truck. I also put a bag of clothes into the car thankfully so I had something to wear to work on my first day. My plants would not have survived the trip I don't think so I replanted them and left them with my flatmates in Wellington - as they are all edible plants that should be useful or them.

Finding my way around Auckland again after almost four years away has been made easier by getting Tom to drive or using the GPS when I do drive. I am struggling with the thought of driving in the horrific traffic up here after the joy of walking to work, biking, or taking the electric trolley bus. I thought I could try the train from work to home or to Tom's work but got very stressed when I tried to work out how to get there, so will have to attempt that again another day. There is parking at work so I can drive but I don't like the damage I do to the planet taking the petrol car, so hopefully we will have the electric car road certified soon (or I will have worked out public transport options). 

It is great to be closer to family again. My sister is 5 km down the road and my parents are both also living in Auckland so will be good to see them more often as well as my old friends after so long away.