"You’re nuts, daft, crazy, why do you want to go to the other side of the world” they said. The concern from friends and family was enormous, but like thousands of other hard working Poms, I’d had enough of the UK and craved a new challenge.
So off I went to New Zealand to follow up some leads I had obtained from a previous visit with my two children. I came, I saw, I went back home loaded up with the possibilities of about 40 different careers. Back in the UK every time I discussed my possible move one name always came up – Green Acres. Could these people really be as nice as they seemed and were the offers genuine! My instinct said ‘go for it’.
After what seemed like a life time of paper work, negotiations and payments on both sides of the world, I awoke one morning to a phone call from the immigration agent. “How would you like a visa to work for Green Acres?” he said.
Time is ticking by and I know the Dorn family are waiting for me. It’s only two weeks before I leave for New Zealand and I visit the New Zealand expo in Manchester on a typical cold and rainy late summer day. I introduce myself and the children to the two blokes on the Green Acres stand. “Yo, lads! How’s it going? I’m John – John Hood. I’m off to New Zealand to work with you lot. What’s it like?”
“I’m Logan and this is Andrew. We’re the big cheese, the head honchos, the owners of Green Acres,” came the reply. “We’ve been expecting you. Welcome on board.” A bit of nervous laughter from me and a reassuring hand shake from them and I’m on my way.
A few days later and the Dorn family welcome me to New Zealand and it’s all go. Mowers, blowers, trucks and tools, bank account, GST – everything had to be done in a few weeks (sorry – in this case, a few days).
It’s a hard week, it’s flat out and food and drink are taken on the move. And when the rain came down I saw Lisa and Rob grit their teeth and carry on, so I follow suit. “Get your style right and smooth and the speed will follow,” they tell me.
A week or so later I’m introduced to other Green Acres franchisees at the annual Dorn family knees-up. I sense a closeness and friendship among these people I have only ever seen in the coal mines of the North East of England, and I get the feeling that these people will help me should I fall.
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