Two pieces of paper

The result of 3+ year's research, time, effort, worrying and more than a few tears.

Some people can tell you where they were when Kennedy was shot or how they stayed up late to watch Kennedy's pledge to put a man on the moon come true. Well, it may not be on the same world-rocking scale but I'll always remember where I was when I learned we had been granted indefinite residence in New Zealand. It was the rather mundane and unglamourous men's toilet of a conference venue because SWMBO has an unerring habit of calling me whenever I'm otherwise engaged.

Earlier today, exactly eight months to the day from the day we flew into Auckland as a family of emigres, I walked out of the Immigration New Zealand office into the crisp Kiwi winter sun, clutching passports with residence permits and returning resident's visas for 4 of the 6 of us. The last two permits and visas will be issued when the passports concerned are renewed in a month or so. I shall be using my newly enhanced passport next week when I travel to Melbourne and Perth on business but, for now, I'm just happy to relax and drink a glass of Pinot and be thankful for the outcome of our hopes and labours.