Originally posted by sembonor
You must have picked the wrong newspaper.

That does not tally with the fact in crimestopper website. And those crimes are daily events.

http://www.police.qld.gov.au/pr/news/media.shtml

Originally posted by floweroscotland
Hi everyone,

sorry i haven't posted for a few weeks, it's hard to belive i actually have a life now, not like the uk where i spent hours on the comp, thought i should give you an update on life so far on the Gold Coast.

Well it's still fantastic and i wake up every morning to sunshine thinking how lucky i am to be in such a beautiful place! I don't have one regret about leaving the UK, my kids have settled amazing, my 6 year old is loving school, made some lovely friends and she can't belive that no one is horrible, i have found that kids here are much more polite and friendly than at home to other children and adults. Her school is great, they are so laid back, have lessons outside, eat outside, get to wear shorts and t-shirt as their uniform and in the 8 weeks since we have been here i can count on one hand how many times it has rained!!!! the weather is fantastic.

My youngest daughter is 4, she has settled brilliant at kindergarten, and her confidence has grown brilliantly since we arrived here. We have something to do every night of the week here, the parks are fantastic for the kids, all with bbq's, we have 4 major theme parks 10 mins from our house, the beach is 10 mins away their is no way you can ever be bored.

My hubby is a carpenter and there are loads of jobs for all trades, he had his pick of work, i am at college and really enjoying it, thought it was time i actually got myself a trade!

I can honestly say with hand on heart it is the best thing we could ever have done moving here, we have no regrets and their is nothing i don't like about living here, apart from the insects and of course the way the australians drive, which is quite frightening!!! There is nothing i miss about home apart from decent food and family.

The cost of living i have found is more or less the same as the uk, some things are cheaper and some more expensive, groceries are much the same prices, petrol is a lot cheaper, i fill the car for half the price that i paid at home, rent is cheaper, and we have no council tax as the landlord has to pay tax and rates. Dental and medical fees are expensive as you have to pay every time you see someone, not like NHS. Here you pay to see a doctor (around $45) then you pay for the prescription on top of that. The Gold Coast is spotlessly clean, you never see pot holes in the road or litter on the streets, they take so much care of their country. It's facinating to pick up the newspaper and the top stories are 2 cars got broken into, at home i would pick up the paper to read how many had been stabbed, beat up and murdered, it's just not like that here. You can walk along the beach at midnight here, a female on her own and actually feel safe, you see females out power walking on their own all the time at night, it's a great feeling to feel safe, i'm not saying it never happens here, but no where in the same league as the uk.

The most important thing is i know my kids are going to have the best life i could ever offer living in Australia, i have seen a massive change in them since coming here, they are up in the morning around 6, as the sun is shining, they hardly ever moan they way they did at home, they are happier, and they are getting outside to play every day in the sun.

Sure i have some homesick days, but then i think of what i'm actually missing, not the place but the people, i would never go back. I know i will have some tough times here too until we settle and actually think of Australia as our home, but i also know its going to be worth it, for my kids sake.

For anyone that is having doubts all i can say is go for it, it may work or it may not for you, but at least at the end of the day you have tried it, i think the thing that doesn't work for most people is the homesickness for family, and it is hard, but you cope and it gets easier. Especially when you are waking up every morning in a beautiful country with the sun shining and thinking how lucky you are to be there !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Lisa

Originally posted by ABCDiamond
I couldn't find any Gold Coast Crimes on that web site.

Some in Ipswich, Townsville, Rockhampton, Inala, etc.

floweroscotland is talking about a local Newspaper, you quote State Figures and say they are wrong to read the local paper, to get local info !!

This thread is about the Gold Coast.

Just because someone finds a nice area, there has to be someone who trys to make it sound bad.

I can't understand some people .......

Originally posted by ABCDiamond
I couldn't find any Gold Coast Crimes on that web site.

Some in Ipswich, Townsville, Rockhampton, Inala, etc.

floweroscotland is talking about a local Newspaper, you quote State Figures and say they are wrong to read the local paper, to get local info !!

This thread is about the Gold Coast.

Just because someone finds a nice area, there has to be someone who trys to make it sound bad.

I can't understand some people .......

Originally posted by soapy
lisa can i ask where u came from in scotland, u made it sound so bad !

Originally posted by floweroscotland
Soapy,

I came from Inverclyde, I stayed in a nice area, but unfortunately the bad areas were only 5 mins from me, too many drugs, unemployment, crime, wasters, and worrying how my kids would turn out, and of course the weather didn't help. I totally love Scotland and it's a beautiful country and it will always be my home, but Australia is where my kids will be brought up and it has everything i could ever want and more.

Lisa