My thoughts from a year in Perth
Sep 24th 2008 | 5:52 pm
#16
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,560
Re: My thoughts from a year in Perth
Well that was a quick year, can't believe its come round so quickly!
I thought I'd just share my observations from my year in Perth. Please note these are just my observations, as my posts always seem to upset somebody who take them out of context or read more into what I'm really saying.
In no particular order of good or bad....
* The climate is truly amazing. Although air con in summer is mandatory, I repeat mandatory!
* The beaches are stunning and so close to the city and the suburbs.
* The driving standards are appalling and there is a complete dependence on motor vehicles (it does my head in cycling past so many cars on the way to work with single drivers)
* The flies in November and December - ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh:curse:
* Shops not opening on a Sunday is just a joke and embarrassing.
* Everyone complaining about daylight saving - again joke and embarrassing.
* Peoples small mindness and opposition to any form of change whatsoever
* Public transport is fantastic - on time, cheap, clean. If somewhat over crowed in rush hours
* The amount of parks and open spaces are truly mind blowing - and with bbq's and play equipment for the kids
* Although everyone seems friendly why does it feel so clicky?
* (This could upset a few..) I find Australians from other states and people from overseas to be so much more friendly then born and bred West Aussies
* WA teams are exceptional crap at any sport you care to name*
* Can someone please reprogram the awful traffic lights!!!
* There are so many lovely holiday destinations within WA (although its time consuming and expensive to go to them)
* Health and safety from UK would have a field day here - Gloucester Tree anyone?
* TV is awful
* Internet speeds and capping/prices are awful.
* Couldn't believe how little income tax I paid - sweet!
* Couldn't believe how much I had to pay doctors/hospital fees!
* Wildlife = amazing
* Wife won't like this - but aussie woman are so much fitter than UK woman
* Its a long way from anywhere but oddly I don't feel isolated
* I don't feel homesick at all - I feel people sick
* Second hand cars are a rip off (4 * price of UK), new cars are a bargain
* Utility bills are ridiculously cheap - especially water bill
* People here work hard and very long hours (40 hour week minimum) but 3-4 hours overtime is expected on top
* From a software development view IT systems and working practices are 5+ years behind europe/US. Not good for your career.
* Air fares are comically high
* Heat in summer can act just like rain in winter in UK - you wont leave the house!
* There should be lots to outdoors but for some reason its sometimes hard to actually find anything to do (Maybe that dullsville tag is deserved)
* I don't think Australians really feel connected to the world and as such define themselves by sport
* I don't like the way Aboriginal people are treated on the whole and all the people complaining when Kevin Rudd said sorry are just pathetic
That's enough for now, there's loads more stuff but the post is getting to long!
Now please I don't want to offend anyway these are just my feelings (I'm not saying the above is fact - Its just the impression I've got)
In all though its been a brilliant experience, made some great friends (Aussie, Brits, Italian, Romanian, Kiwis, Swiss, Polish) - but I can't wait to get back to UK and Bristol now.
I thought I'd just share my observations from my year in Perth. Please note these are just my observations, as my posts always seem to upset somebody who take them out of context or read more into what I'm really saying.
In no particular order of good or bad....
* The climate is truly amazing. Although air con in summer is mandatory, I repeat mandatory!
* The beaches are stunning and so close to the city and the suburbs.
* The driving standards are appalling and there is a complete dependence on motor vehicles (it does my head in cycling past so many cars on the way to work with single drivers)
* The flies in November and December - ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh:curse:
* Shops not opening on a Sunday is just a joke and embarrassing.
* Everyone complaining about daylight saving - again joke and embarrassing.
* Peoples small mindness and opposition to any form of change whatsoever
* Public transport is fantastic - on time, cheap, clean. If somewhat over crowed in rush hours
* The amount of parks and open spaces are truly mind blowing - and with bbq's and play equipment for the kids
* Although everyone seems friendly why does it feel so clicky?
* (This could upset a few..) I find Australians from other states and people from overseas to be so much more friendly then born and bred West Aussies
* WA teams are exceptional crap at any sport you care to name*
* Can someone please reprogram the awful traffic lights!!!
* There are so many lovely holiday destinations within WA (although its time consuming and expensive to go to them)
* Health and safety from UK would have a field day here - Gloucester Tree anyone?
* TV is awful
* Internet speeds and capping/prices are awful.
* Couldn't believe how little income tax I paid - sweet!
* Couldn't believe how much I had to pay doctors/hospital fees!
* Wildlife = amazing
* Wife won't like this - but aussie woman are so much fitter than UK woman
* Its a long way from anywhere but oddly I don't feel isolated
* I don't feel homesick at all - I feel people sick
* Second hand cars are a rip off (4 * price of UK), new cars are a bargain
* Utility bills are ridiculously cheap - especially water bill
* People here work hard and very long hours (40 hour week minimum) but 3-4 hours overtime is expected on top
* From a software development view IT systems and working practices are 5+ years behind europe/US. Not good for your career.
* Air fares are comically high
* Heat in summer can act just like rain in winter in UK - you wont leave the house!
* There should be lots to outdoors but for some reason its sometimes hard to actually find anything to do (Maybe that dullsville tag is deserved)
* I don't think Australians really feel connected to the world and as such define themselves by sport
* I don't like the way Aboriginal people are treated on the whole and all the people complaining when Kevin Rudd said sorry are just pathetic
That's enough for now, there's loads more stuff but the post is getting to long!
Now please I don't want to offend anyway these are just my feelings (I'm not saying the above is fact - Its just the impression I've got)
In all though its been a brilliant experience, made some great friends (Aussie, Brits, Italian, Romanian, Kiwis, Swiss, Polish) - but I can't wait to get back to UK and Bristol now.
Sep 24th 2008 | 6:05 pm
#17
Crazy Cat Lady
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 65,493
Re: My thoughts from a year in Perth
I don't mean its embarrassing that there not open - its the arguments it sets of that are. I see the merit in not opening Sunday the main reason being it should be family time. But Saturday is family time as well yet pretty much everyone is forced to go shopping due to the restrictive hours during the week.
Did I say the climate was good? - sorry everyone its my fault its tipping it down
Did I say the climate was good? - sorry everyone its my fault its tipping it down
It's beautiful over here, blue skies, sun shining and a cool breeze blowing
Perfect Spring weather.
Sep 28th 2008 | 7:24 pm
#18
Forum Regular
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 279
From: North Beach
Re: My thoughts from a year in Perth
Hi All,
Good post.
Flying out to Perth 24/10/08 looking forward to it.
Hope I will embrace all that is good and ignore all that is bad.
Thanks all.
M
Good post.
Flying out to Perth 24/10/08 looking forward to it.
Hope I will embrace all that is good and ignore all that is bad.
Thanks all.
M
Sep 29th 2008 | 7:42 am
#19
Forum Regular
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 197
From: Bicton, Perth
Re: My thoughts from a year in Perth
Loved the post!! We're arriving in Perth on 1st Dec. Hope to meet up with some of you.
Really looking forward to it now - apart from the flies, are they really that bad? I was expecting them to be better near the coast?
MANDS
We're arriving in Perth on 1st Dec. Hope to meet up with some of you.Really looking forward to it now - apart from the flies, are they really that bad? I was expecting them to be better near the coast?
MANDS
Sep 29th 2008 | 4:00 pm
#20
Thread Starter
Account Closed
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 199
Re: My thoughts from a year in Perth
I'm afraid the flies are that bad :curse: It is better though on the beach. The worst case scenario in Perth is getting a wind from inland blowing the flies into the city and out to sea - then the Freo Doctor blowing them back in, in the afternoon - Double Trouble!!!!
Sep 29th 2008 | 4:51 pm
#21
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 23,400
Re: My thoughts from a year in Perth
Thank you everyone who liked the post!
I'm afraid the flies are that bad :curse: It is better though on the beach. The worst case scenario in Perth is getting a wind from inland blowing the flies into the city and out to sea - then the Freo Doctor blowing them back in, in the afternoon - Double Trouble!!!!
I'm afraid the flies are that bad :curse: It is better though on the beach. The worst case scenario in Perth is getting a wind from inland blowing the flies into the city and out to sea - then the Freo Doctor blowing them back in, in the afternoon - Double Trouble!!!!
Sep 29th 2008 | 8:01 pm
#24
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 23,400
Re: My thoughts from a year in Perth
Mr PP saw loads at the Royal Show yesterday but I never noticed anything really as we were around the pigs/goats and thought it was normal.
However, I HATE the cockroaches and really would like someone to tell me their purpose in life.
I have great pleasure in spraying them with heaps of Baygone and watching them die.
I have to use the odourless spray as it affects my breathing.
I wonder if you can get odourless bombs to do the house?
Sep 29th 2008 | 8:02 pm
#25
Sharon
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 571
From: Woodvale WA (But Ill always be a Norn Iron Gurl )
Re: My thoughts from a year in Perth
Don`t they Call that the Australian wave (swatting the flys with ur hands lol) I agree i think they r very clicky it is unreal but to be honest i find it not with just australian`s but with irish,british .Especially were i live its unreal.As 4 the aussie blokes bein fit they r all about bloody 7 ft tall lol to high 4 me im only 5ft 1ins lol
Sep 29th 2008 | 8:25 pm
#26
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 3,318
From: WA but NOT Perth!!!!!
Re: My thoughts from a year in Perth
The native ones wont do you any harm so no need to spray (unless they're in the house of course!)
Sep 29th 2008 | 8:48 pm
#27
Tribu dei Chihuahua
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,414
From: Port Kennedy -near the dolphins
Re: My thoughts from a year in Perth
my experience with the flies is that it really depends on where you are-I have found that there can be a few one day and more the next. I went to next town one day with kids for day trip to fun fair and I swear I had never seen so many flies in all my life we had to take refuge inside a shop, but my friend from the town (no I'm not naming names) said that it was a total one off and that the next day there were virtually none. I reckon its just like the mozzies, it depends on when and where you are and how hot the day is. Try and keep dry and not too sweaty as the flies like the protein in your sweat - they need it to reproduce.
I really dont find they are as big a problem as people make out once you are used to them. yeah sometimes they are a nuisance but the majority of the time they are not.
I really dont find they are as big a problem as people make out once you are used to them. yeah sometimes they are a nuisance but the majority of the time they are not.
Sep 29th 2008 | 9:03 pm
#28
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 308
Re: My thoughts from a year in Perth
I sincerely hope the Aussies are friendlier than that.
Sep 30th 2008 | 2:16 pm
#29
Thread Starter
Account Closed
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 199
Re: My thoughts from a year in Perth
Here's another thing that I find really odd (where is everybody after dark?)...
Last night I had to drive my cousin into Perth to a hostel she was staying at. I left at 7pm and drove through Scarborough, Wembley Downs, Churchlands/Woodlands, Floreat, Wembley, Leaderville, Northbridge.
And how many pedestrians do you think I seen?
On the way it took until Northbridge to see 2 people walking into a bar!
On the way back we seen an old couple walking in Churchlands and 1 person walking a dog by Lake Monger
5 People and a dog!!! In a city of 1.2 million! Does that not seem odd to anyone?
Last night I had to drive my cousin into Perth to a hostel she was staying at. I left at 7pm and drove through Scarborough, Wembley Downs, Churchlands/Woodlands, Floreat, Wembley, Leaderville, Northbridge.
And how many pedestrians do you think I seen?
On the way it took until Northbridge to see 2 people walking into a bar!
On the way back we seen an old couple walking in Churchlands and 1 person walking a dog by Lake Monger
5 People and a dog!!! In a city of 1.2 million! Does that not seem odd to anyone?
Sep 30th 2008 | 4:28 pm
#30
Account Closed
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 8,913
Re: My thoughts from a year in Perth
Here's another thing that I find really odd (where is everybody after dark?)...
Last night I had to drive my cousin into Perth to a hostel she was staying at. I left at 7pm and drove through Scarborough, Wembley Downs, Churchlands/Woodlands, Floreat, Wembley, Leaderville, Northbridge.
And how many pedestrians do you think I seen?
On the way it took until Northbridge to see 2 people walking into a bar!
On the way back we seen an old couple walking in Churchlands and 1 person walking a dog by Lake Monger
5 People and a dog!!! In a city of 1.2 million! Does that not seem odd to anyone?
Last night I had to drive my cousin into Perth to a hostel she was staying at. I left at 7pm and drove through Scarborough, Wembley Downs, Churchlands/Woodlands, Floreat, Wembley, Leaderville, Northbridge.
And how many pedestrians do you think I seen?
On the way it took until Northbridge to see 2 people walking into a bar!
On the way back we seen an old couple walking in Churchlands and 1 person walking a dog by Lake Monger
5 People and a dog!!! In a city of 1.2 million! Does that not seem odd to anyone?
That's how people seem to like it over here, the quietness etc.
On a weekend we sometimes go for a drink in Joondalup. Saturday night there is like a ghost town, very weird. No buzz at all, but you get used to it.
Maybe when we go back to UK we won't like all the hustle and bustle, who knows.
