Cyn(ical) city

Let's make no bones about it - no matter how much Auckland and Wellington - the two best known cities in NZ - try, they will never offer the kind of buzzing metropolis that cities such as London or Paris do. These cities, steeped in history, offer the sort of cultural experience (and stunning architecture) that the land of the long white cloud can only dream of.

But, with that vibrancy comes huge compromise. Let's use London as an example since that's where I'm writing from - the compromises that go hand in hand with living in London - crowds, overpriced everything, attitude, dirt - are not in evidence in New Zealand.

Maybe I've just had enough of London itself. They say if you are bored of London then you are bored of life itself - thus you are a boring old fart.

I have come to the conclusion that I am indeed a boring old fart because I am bored with London. I am mind-numbingly, monumentally bored with the elements that accompany living in London.

A city where there is so much to do and so much to see that we spend every weekend driving out to the countryside to escape the crowds and the congestion. I'm almost embarrassed to admit that, for me, the excitement and fun of living in the Capital has become vastly overshadowed by the hassle.

Yes, I am well aware that I am turning into the kind of whingeing Pom that I loathe.

NZ is not without flaws - it's a hell of a way away from family and friends and very expensive to get to from Europe. Gone would be the days of nipping over to Europe for a weekend mini break if you lived in NZ. There's not the same breadth for career progression as there is in London. Nobody ever talks about ‘making it in New Zealand.' It rains. A lot. Winters are pretty grim I hear. Auckland traffic is easily as bad as London.

But look at what you get in return. It's undoubtedly the most beautiful place I have ever been to. It's uncrowded, with just four million people in the space in which we have packed in more than 60 million. It's far less materialistic and people take you for who you are not where you live or what you do/wear/drive.

Nowhere on New Zealand's North Island (where we were) is far from the beach even if you are living very close to Auckland city centre. Food, clothes and houses are far cheaper - you can get a four bedroom detached family home with a big garden within walking distance to central Auckland for the price of a teeny terrace over here. But then wages are lower so that probably cancels itself out.

Cliché alert - people are happier to be alive than they seem in London. They are friendlier - in shops, in restaurants, in general. There isn't that degree of suspicion that surrounds strangers like there is over here- or maybe that's just in London. I found this so unusual it grated on my cynical city nerves the first few days, until I got used to it and realised it was genuine.

Let's take a typical (summer) weekend as an example.

New Zealand - walk/drive to the beach in ten/twenty minutes. It's virtually empty. Unload your boat (which you don't need a licence for). Go fishing/swimming/surfing. Drive home (no traffic unless you are driving through Auckland). Light the barbecue, cook your freshly caught fish. Drink some New Zealand pinot.

London - get stuck in traffic on the motorway trying to get to Brighton for the day. Arrive. Can't find a parking space or a free spot on the (pebble) beach on which to lay your towel. Pay a fortune for a sandwich for lunch. Get stuck in traffic driving back into London. Have an argument over whose turn it is to go to Tesco's to buy dinner.

Or is that just us?

The dilemma is, if I had no family/friends/work ties here, I would move to somewhere like NZ like a shot. It's not the UK as a place that is keeping me here. It is, of course, all the people that I love here and that's something no amazing beach could ever match. So, when it so happens that one of those people is from NZ and keen to move back, what on earth do I do then?

Stay? 

Or go?

Answers on a postcard please...