Against the odds....................so far.
Oct 24th 2009 | 8:33 pm
#16
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 21,434
From: Tropical North QLD
Re: Against the odds....................so far.
Really great update Ren, K sent!
Will you still love it after the fancy dress party though?
Will you still love it after the fancy dress party though?
Oct 24th 2009 | 10:38 pm
#17
Thread Starter
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 1,331
From: Helensvale - yipeeeeeeeee!!
Re: Against the odds....................so far.
Thank you all. Dreading the fancy dress party though!! Although the Kath n Kim suggestion might be worth a try.
Oct 24th 2009 | 11:11 pm
#18
'Made in Ulster' Member
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 6,578
From: Brisbane, QLD. (Though an Ulster girl through and through!)
Oct 25th 2009 | 8:19 am
#19
Thread Starter
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 1,331
From: Helensvale - yipeeeeeeeee!!
Re: Against the odds....................so far.
Oct 25th 2009 | 3:30 pm
#20
Forum Regular
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 115
From: Wimmera/Mallee
Re: Against the odds....................so far.
Maybe they are a fan of the natural look up in Qld but my God do they favour botox and blonde hightlights down here in Vic! Drives me batty. In fact I rarely watch free to air tv cause it's pure shite but you'll find that out for yourself.
I too still marvel at the free bbq's in parks! And i'm here 5 years. Only the other day I was in the local park with my toddler marvelling at how bloody clean and shiny they were, no joke it was cleaner than my fecken oven.
So glad to read you're getting on well!
PS I changed the plug on my UK straightners, worked for 5 years but they blew up in Adelaide at Easter. Maybe it couldnt handle the voltage down there or maybe I just needed to buy a new one! lol!
I too still marvel at the free bbq's in parks! And i'm here 5 years. Only the other day I was in the local park with my toddler marvelling at how bloody clean and shiny they were, no joke it was cleaner than my fecken oven.
So glad to read you're getting on well!
PS I changed the plug on my UK straightners, worked for 5 years but they blew up in Adelaide at Easter. Maybe it couldnt handle the voltage down there or maybe I just needed to buy a new one! lol!
Oct 25th 2009 | 7:06 pm
#21
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 1,289
Re: Against the odds....................so far.
.I love it here. The birds, the bats, the sun, the rain (real rain worth waiting for, not that fine stuff that gets you wet). Meeting new people, hearing new accents. I love it that it makes the news when ONE boat of about 20 people is intercepted when it tries to get in. I love it that they have odd looking old people presenting the news and morning programmes when in the UK they would have been booted off years ago.
I love the irreverence of the news reporters and the refreshing notion that the world does not revolve around Obama. I love seeing people walking around without shoes and without fear of treading in dog shit. I also still marvel when I see a bbq in a park for public use. This could never happen in my local park in the UK.
I love the irreverence of the news reporters and the refreshing notion that the world does not revolve around Obama. I love seeing people walking around without shoes and without fear of treading in dog shit. I also still marvel when I see a bbq in a park for public use. This could never happen in my local park in the UK.
! Karma sent.Yes, I love all the above as well - and lots of other things that put a smile on my face
.
Nov 1st 2009 | 8:55 am
#22
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 673
From: Hampshire - soon to be somewhere between Brissie and Gold Coast!!!
Re: Against the odds....................so far.
Hello all,
Not quite ready for a full on update yet but I was just thinking.
We came here 9 months ago. Hubby aged 51 on a 457 visa. Hoping to get PR after 2 years.
Bought a house with FIRB approval (yes, still on temp visa).
Granted mortgage (I know!! Even on a temp visa after being in the country only 2 months).
Left all our family in the UK including my lovely parents who I am really close to.
I have found a job I enjoy and seem to be doing well (even though on a temp visa).
My kids have settled really well and seem to be doing well in school and making friends (even though the eldest is 15 and has a mind of his own).
We have made lovely friends.
I changed all my English plugs for Australian ones myself and we are not dead yet.
Opened a bank account from the UK which we still have now without any problems.
Sourced and organised shipment of a full container of our stuff from the the UK to the Gold Coast and it arrived with only one cheap plate broken. (and a bowl of pot pourri and a jar of garlic that thankfully customs missed).
Seamlessly transferred my youngest from Marmite to Vegemite without him noticing the difference.
Sampled lots of Australian alcoholic drinks to come to the conclusion that I like them all so am not pining for half a Carling.
And finally, have started calling football soccer and the sky has not fallen down.
So, there you go. Not showing off at all, just letting anyone know that might be worrying about moving that it can be done. Even by a no hoper like me, just bumbling through. Even if on paper you don't appear to tick all the boxes or you are a bit old or skint or inept.
Its not been easy, but its been easy enough to manage. We still have the stresses we had in the UK, jobs, money, kids schools etc. Same shit shinier bucket. The weekends are great. We do every weekend what we would save up all year in the UK to do on holiday.
I love it here. The birds, the bats, the sun, the rain (real rain worth waiting for, not that fine stuff that gets you wet). Meeting new people, hearing new accents. I love it that it makes the news when ONE boat of about 20 people is intercepted when it tries to get in. I love it that they have odd looking old people presenting the news and morning programmes when in the UK they would have been booted off years ago.
I love the irreverence of the news reporters and the refreshing notion that the world does not revolve around Obama. I love seeing people walking around without shoes and without fear of treading in dog shit. I also still marvel when I see a bbq in a park for public use. This could never happen in my local park in the UK.
I know some will disagree but for me and my family so far all is good and fingers crossed, I hope to say the same when I get round to my proper update.
Ren xx (Love it!!!)
Not quite ready for a full on update yet but I was just thinking.
We came here 9 months ago. Hubby aged 51 on a 457 visa. Hoping to get PR after 2 years.
Bought a house with FIRB approval (yes, still on temp visa).
Granted mortgage (I know!! Even on a temp visa after being in the country only 2 months).
Left all our family in the UK including my lovely parents who I am really close to.
I have found a job I enjoy and seem to be doing well (even though on a temp visa).
My kids have settled really well and seem to be doing well in school and making friends (even though the eldest is 15 and has a mind of his own).
We have made lovely friends.
I changed all my English plugs for Australian ones myself and we are not dead yet.
Opened a bank account from the UK which we still have now without any problems.
Sourced and organised shipment of a full container of our stuff from the the UK to the Gold Coast and it arrived with only one cheap plate broken. (and a bowl of pot pourri and a jar of garlic that thankfully customs missed).
Seamlessly transferred my youngest from Marmite to Vegemite without him noticing the difference.
Sampled lots of Australian alcoholic drinks to come to the conclusion that I like them all so am not pining for half a Carling.
And finally, have started calling football soccer and the sky has not fallen down.
So, there you go. Not showing off at all, just letting anyone know that might be worrying about moving that it can be done. Even by a no hoper like me, just bumbling through. Even if on paper you don't appear to tick all the boxes or you are a bit old or skint or inept.
Its not been easy, but its been easy enough to manage. We still have the stresses we had in the UK, jobs, money, kids schools etc. Same shit shinier bucket. The weekends are great. We do every weekend what we would save up all year in the UK to do on holiday.
I love it here. The birds, the bats, the sun, the rain (real rain worth waiting for, not that fine stuff that gets you wet). Meeting new people, hearing new accents. I love it that it makes the news when ONE boat of about 20 people is intercepted when it tries to get in. I love it that they have odd looking old people presenting the news and morning programmes when in the UK they would have been booted off years ago.
I love the irreverence of the news reporters and the refreshing notion that the world does not revolve around Obama. I love seeing people walking around without shoes and without fear of treading in dog shit. I also still marvel when I see a bbq in a park for public use. This could never happen in my local park in the UK.
I know some will disagree but for me and my family so far all is good and fingers crossed, I hope to say the same when I get round to my proper update.
Ren xx (Love it!!!)
