10 years on in WA
Jul 14th 2005, 4:43 pm
#1
Dutch expat/Aus citizen
Thread Starter
Joined: Apr 2003
Location: South East, Perth (was Holland)
Posts: 5,789
10 years on in WA
he he, it's about 9, + 1, for me. (the 9 years were spent living in Perth(Maida Vale and Kalamunda), Bidyadanga(near Broome), Nullagine(near Newman/Marble Bar), and Bridgetown(south west) for the last 4.
1 year exactly for Pascal today, here in Perth.
Having a great time, bla bla bla, nothing's perfect bla bla
Good things:
- Friends (old and new)
- House/area, and that we'll be buying next year
- Country side/nature etc
- good things associated with bigger city: more 'entertainment', more choice in restaurants, more shops.
- bigger choice in supermarkets(it's surprised me that uk supermarkets must be much bigger and better than Dutch ones! I find supermarkets here brilliant, I guess the ones in the uk are even better then!
)
Not so perfect(but nothing so bad we hate it, though still whinge or think about it occasionally):
- things associated with big city(compared to quiet town we were used too); more crime, traffic, etc.
- hot in summer, cold in winter, in between is very nice though.
- work; I'm still working as a receptionist/ass. accounts etc, which is getting boring, but within the next month I'll most likely be starting as something like 'assistant to the maintenance manager', working on the new computer system, adding assets to it, and I think just working on long term maintenance plans etc. If it doesn't become anything good, I'll at last have good experience to apply for a proper 'facilities management' job.
- Pascal loves his job, but longer hours(these days usually 8.30 - 6.30, and yesterday to 9 pm!!)
- no family around (parents and brother are coming, see below, but other family is a bit far away, I'm thinking ahead to when we have kids. It'll be a shame, but they'll be right, and at least they'll have one pair of grandparents close by, and one uncle)
Anyway, just made these lists really quickly, so probably forgot heaps of stuff, and some points are a bit simplified.
So, my parents and brother(Maarten) are arriving in 3 weeks, to live here permanently(again, after being away for 9 years).
Dad is a builder, though recently more planner/calculator etc, he's already 54, but should be ok to find a job, especially as he has aussie experience, doing extensions, building whole houses etc.
Mum is a nurse, will have to do a course again to get her registration, and get her (vocational)English back up to speed(she never got her registration here previously, but worked as a carer, and other totally unrelated jobs). She thinks the course will be at Curtin, so they'll be living on the edge of Perth to start with(also for my brother), but would prefer to live in the Hills or southwest later on(Dad was talking about Sawyers Valley, I think that's Mundaring way...)
Maarten has just done his first year of business IT (or something like that)at uni in The Netherlands(and had already finished a 4 year IT course at a college(like Tafe)). He'll be looking at doing something similar at Murdoch from next year, so in the mean time he'll work I guess. He's still living at home, but he's 22, and people here seem to move out earlier as well, so I think he'll soon be living in a share house...
So, that's it. No photo's etc. Maybe one day
Look forward to seeing some of you in Northbridge tonight!!!
Simone
p.s I've asked for a pay rise, am very proud of myself (ok, they were reviewing everyone's pay anyway, but I thought it was a good time to actually ask for more. Have asked a few(new) colleagues what they earn, and looked at the salary survey on www.hays.com.au
Printed that off (showing a receptionist with + 12 months experience, can earn $35.000 in Perth), and also a few ads on Seek that were jobs I could get, and offering 35.000 - 40.000 ). So now asked for about 33.000, and I think I'll get it.... well I should, as colleagues are earning more, in only a bit 'higher' positions. Fingers crossed. I still then won't be earning what I could elsewhere, but it's going in the right direction, and I like working here(most of the time...).
argh, blabbing on again..........
1 year exactly for Pascal today, here in Perth.
Having a great time, bla bla bla, nothing's perfect bla bla
Good things:
- Friends (old and new)
- House/area, and that we'll be buying next year
- Country side/nature etc
- good things associated with bigger city: more 'entertainment', more choice in restaurants, more shops.
- bigger choice in supermarkets(it's surprised me that uk supermarkets must be much bigger and better than Dutch ones! I find supermarkets here brilliant, I guess the ones in the uk are even better then!
)Not so perfect(but nothing so bad we hate it, though still whinge or think about it occasionally):
- things associated with big city(compared to quiet town we were used too); more crime, traffic, etc.
- hot in summer, cold in winter, in between is very nice though.
- work; I'm still working as a receptionist/ass. accounts etc, which is getting boring, but within the next month I'll most likely be starting as something like 'assistant to the maintenance manager', working on the new computer system, adding assets to it, and I think just working on long term maintenance plans etc. If it doesn't become anything good, I'll at last have good experience to apply for a proper 'facilities management' job.
- Pascal loves his job, but longer hours(these days usually 8.30 - 6.30, and yesterday to 9 pm!!)
- no family around (parents and brother are coming, see below, but other family is a bit far away, I'm thinking ahead to when we have kids. It'll be a shame, but they'll be right, and at least they'll have one pair of grandparents close by, and one uncle)
Anyway, just made these lists really quickly, so probably forgot heaps of stuff, and some points are a bit simplified.
So, my parents and brother(Maarten) are arriving in 3 weeks, to live here permanently(again, after being away for 9 years).
Dad is a builder, though recently more planner/calculator etc, he's already 54, but should be ok to find a job, especially as he has aussie experience, doing extensions, building whole houses etc.
Mum is a nurse, will have to do a course again to get her registration, and get her (vocational)English back up to speed(she never got her registration here previously, but worked as a carer, and other totally unrelated jobs). She thinks the course will be at Curtin, so they'll be living on the edge of Perth to start with(also for my brother), but would prefer to live in the Hills or southwest later on(Dad was talking about Sawyers Valley, I think that's Mundaring way...)
Maarten has just done his first year of business IT (or something like that)at uni in The Netherlands(and had already finished a 4 year IT course at a college(like Tafe)). He'll be looking at doing something similar at Murdoch from next year, so in the mean time he'll work I guess. He's still living at home, but he's 22, and people here seem to move out earlier as well, so I think he'll soon be living in a share house...
So, that's it. No photo's etc. Maybe one day
Look forward to seeing some of you in Northbridge tonight!!!
Simone
p.s I've asked for a pay rise, am very proud of myself
(ok, they were reviewing everyone's pay anyway, but I thought it was a good time to actually ask for more. Have asked a few(new) colleagues what they earn, and looked at the salary survey on www.hays.com.auPrinted that off (showing a receptionist with + 12 months experience, can earn $35.000 in Perth), and also a few ads on Seek that were jobs I could get, and offering 35.000 - 40.000 ). So now asked for about 33.000, and I think I'll get it.... well I should, as colleagues are earning more, in only a bit 'higher' positions. Fingers crossed. I still then won't be earning what I could elsewhere, but it's going in the right direction, and I like working here(most of the time...).
argh, blabbing on again..........
Jul 14th 2005, 4:48 pm
#2
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Mar 2003
Location: Hands up if you like shopping !!
Posts: 876
Re: 10 years on in WA
Congrats again to you both and thank you for being my own personal tourist guide to WA
Jul 14th 2005, 4:53 pm
#3
Dutch expat/Aus citizen
Thread Starter
Joined: Apr 2003
Location: South East, Perth (was Holland)
Posts: 5,789
Re: 10 years on in WA
Originally Posted by Teresa
Congrats again to you both and thank you for being my own personal tourist guide to WA
And anyway, I think you guys are doing a great job of exploring WA on your own now
Had you been to Mundaring Weir yet?
Jul 14th 2005, 5:02 pm
#4
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Mar 2003
Location: Hands up if you like shopping !!
Posts: 876
Re: 10 years on in WA
yes we went on Sunday, was lovely day too then had drink at Mundaring Weir Hotel, we were too early for lamb spit so will go back again another time then went onto Kalamunda and had lunch in the hotel and explored rest of area, great views of city coming down the hill from there, it was fab thanks
Jul 14th 2005, 5:03 pm
#5
kneading my cushion
Joined: Oct 2004
Location: Perth
Posts: 743
Re: 10 years on in WA
Happy anniversary Simone. I hope the next year brings a successful house purchase and the job you want and continued happiness. Keep it up!
Jul 14th 2005, 5:13 pm
#6
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Aug 2003
Location: Near Duloc
Posts: 4,638
Re: 10 years on in WA
Good luck with the pay rise and have a fab weekend, catch up soon!
Jul 14th 2005, 9:41 pm
#7
BE Enthusiast
Joined: May 2005
Location: Kirkcaldy Fife to Kingsley Perth
Posts: 854
Re: 10 years on in WA
Originally Posted by Simone
he he, it's about 9, + 1, for me. (the 9 years were spent living in Perth(Maida Vale and Kalamunda), Bidyadanga(near Broome), Nullagine(near Newman/Marble Bar), and Bridgetown(south west) for the last 4.
1 year exactly for Pascal today, here in Perth.
Having a great time, bla bla bla, nothing's perfect bla bla
Good things:
- Friends (old and new)
- House/area, and that we'll be buying next year
- Country side/nature etc
- good things associated with bigger city: more 'entertainment', more choice in restaurants, more shops.
- bigger choice in supermarkets(it's surprised me that uk supermarkets must be much bigger and better than Dutch ones! I find supermarkets here brilliant, I guess the ones in the uk are even better then! )
Not so perfect(but nothing so bad we hate it, though still whinge or think about it occasionally):
- things associated with big city(compared to quiet town we were used too); more crime, traffic, etc.
- hot in summer, cold in winter, in between is very nice though.
- work; I'm still working as a receptionist/ass. accounts etc, which is getting boring, but within the next month I'll most likely be starting as something like 'assistant to the maintenance manager', working on the new computer system, adding assets to it, and I think just working on long term maintenance plans etc. If it doesn't become anything good, I'll at last have good experience to apply for a proper 'facilities management' job.
- Pascal loves his job, but longer hours(these days usually 8.30 - 6.30, and yesterday to 9 pm!!)
- no family around (parents and brother are coming, see below, but other family is a bit far away, I'm thinking ahead to when we have kids. It'll be a shame, but they'll be right, and at least they'll have one pair of grandparents close by, and one uncle)
Anyway, just made these lists really quickly, so probably forgot heaps of stuff, and some points are a bit simplified.
So, my parents and brother(Maarten) are arriving in 3 weeks, to live here permanently(again, after being away for 9 years).
Dad is a builder, though recently more planner/calculator etc, he's already 54, but should be ok to find a job, especially as he has aussie experience, doing extensions, building whole houses etc.
Mum is a nurse, will have to do a course again to get her registration, and get her (vocational)English back up to speed(she never got her registration here previously, but worked as a carer, and other totally unrelated jobs). She thinks the course will be at Curtin, so they'll be living on the edge of Perth to start with(also for my brother), but would prefer to live in the Hills or southwest later on(Dad was talking about Sawyers Valley, I think that's Mundaring way...)
Maarten has just done his first year of business IT (or something like that)at uni in The Netherlands(and had already finished a 4 year IT course at a college(like Tafe)). He'll be looking at doing something similar at Murdoch from next year, so in the mean time he'll work I guess. He's still living at home, but he's 22, and people here seem to move out earlier as well, so I think he'll soon be living in a share house...
So, that's it. No photo's etc. Maybe one day
Look forward to seeing some of you in Northbridge tonight!!!
Simone
p.s I've asked for a pay rise, am very proud of myself (ok, they were reviewing everyone's pay anyway, but I thought it was a good time to actually ask for more. Have asked a few(new) colleagues what they earn, and looked at the salary survey on www.hays.com.au
Printed that off (showing a receptionist with + 12 months experience, can earn $35.000 in Perth), and also a few ads on Seek that were jobs I could get, and offering 35.000 - 40.000 ). So now asked for about 33.000, and I think I'll get it.... well I should, as colleagues are earning more, in only a bit 'higher' positions. Fingers crossed. I still then won't be earning what I could elsewhere, but it's going in the right direction, and I like working here(most of the time...).
argh, blabbing on again..........
1 year exactly for Pascal today, here in Perth.
Having a great time, bla bla bla, nothing's perfect bla bla
Good things:
- Friends (old and new)
- House/area, and that we'll be buying next year
- Country side/nature etc
- good things associated with bigger city: more 'entertainment', more choice in restaurants, more shops.
- bigger choice in supermarkets(it's surprised me that uk supermarkets must be much bigger and better than Dutch ones! I find supermarkets here brilliant, I guess the ones in the uk are even better then!
)Not so perfect(but nothing so bad we hate it, though still whinge or think about it occasionally):
- things associated with big city(compared to quiet town we were used too); more crime, traffic, etc.
- hot in summer, cold in winter, in between is very nice though.
- work; I'm still working as a receptionist/ass. accounts etc, which is getting boring, but within the next month I'll most likely be starting as something like 'assistant to the maintenance manager', working on the new computer system, adding assets to it, and I think just working on long term maintenance plans etc. If it doesn't become anything good, I'll at last have good experience to apply for a proper 'facilities management' job.
- Pascal loves his job, but longer hours(these days usually 8.30 - 6.30, and yesterday to 9 pm!!)
- no family around (parents and brother are coming, see below, but other family is a bit far away, I'm thinking ahead to when we have kids. It'll be a shame, but they'll be right, and at least they'll have one pair of grandparents close by, and one uncle)
Anyway, just made these lists really quickly, so probably forgot heaps of stuff, and some points are a bit simplified.
So, my parents and brother(Maarten) are arriving in 3 weeks, to live here permanently(again, after being away for 9 years).
Dad is a builder, though recently more planner/calculator etc, he's already 54, but should be ok to find a job, especially as he has aussie experience, doing extensions, building whole houses etc.
Mum is a nurse, will have to do a course again to get her registration, and get her (vocational)English back up to speed(she never got her registration here previously, but worked as a carer, and other totally unrelated jobs). She thinks the course will be at Curtin, so they'll be living on the edge of Perth to start with(also for my brother), but would prefer to live in the Hills or southwest later on(Dad was talking about Sawyers Valley, I think that's Mundaring way...)
Maarten has just done his first year of business IT (or something like that)at uni in The Netherlands(and had already finished a 4 year IT course at a college(like Tafe)). He'll be looking at doing something similar at Murdoch from next year, so in the mean time he'll work I guess. He's still living at home, but he's 22, and people here seem to move out earlier as well, so I think he'll soon be living in a share house...
So, that's it. No photo's etc. Maybe one day
Look forward to seeing some of you in Northbridge tonight!!!
Simone
p.s I've asked for a pay rise, am very proud of myself
(ok, they were reviewing everyone's pay anyway, but I thought it was a good time to actually ask for more. Have asked a few(new) colleagues what they earn, and looked at the salary survey on www.hays.com.auPrinted that off (showing a receptionist with + 12 months experience, can earn $35.000 in Perth), and also a few ads on Seek that were jobs I could get, and offering 35.000 - 40.000 ). So now asked for about 33.000, and I think I'll get it.... well I should, as colleagues are earning more, in only a bit 'higher' positions. Fingers crossed. I still then won't be earning what I could elsewhere, but it's going in the right direction, and I like working here(most of the time...).
argh, blabbing on again..........
Great update hun and congrats to pascal for his first year.
We will have a drink tomorrow to celebrate and for Teresa landing a job in her fav place lol.
xxxxx
PS also have to have a drink for Warren as its his birthay on Sunday
xxxxxxxxxxx
Jul 15th 2005, 12:21 am
#8
Master of verbal pish©
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 22,198
Re: 10 years on in WA
congrats on pascals 1st year.
u dont half rabble lassie
great post really, but i cant be that nice lol
u dont half rabble lassie
great post really, but i cant be that nice lol
Jul 15th 2005, 12:37 am
#9
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Apr 2004
Location: Queensland
Posts: 744
Re: 10 years on in WA
Yayyy Simone! I was expecting this post! already a year, amazing!!!
Fingers crossed for that pay rise... u did the right thing to ask!!!
oxoxo
fabie
Fingers crossed for that pay rise... u did the right thing to ask!!!
oxoxo
fabie
Jul 15th 2005, 1:13 am
#10
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: 10 years on in WA
Crikey [said like Steve Urwin ]
Well done Simone. And Pascal. One year already!
Time flys when you're having fun
]Well done Simone. And Pascal. One year already!
Time flys when you're having fun
Jul 15th 2005, 1:43 am
#11
da Bonehead
Joined: Jan 2004
Location: Lion in da jungle
Posts: 22,767
Re: 10 years on in WA
A Dutch trader once promised to send me some black tulip bulbs as a thanks for helping him set up a large barter deal with the Ukraine. I never knew there was such a thing but he didn't deliver anyway 
You remind me of a black tulip Simone. You stand out.....but you do deliver.
Glad you and Pascal have enjoyed your first year. May it continue
You remind me of a black tulip Simone. You stand out.....but you do deliver.
Glad you and Pascal have enjoyed your first year. May it continue
Jul 15th 2005, 3:31 pm
#12
Dutch expat/Aus citizen
Thread Starter
Joined: Apr 2003
Location: South East, Perth (was Holland)
Posts: 5,789
Re: 10 years on in WA
Thanks guys 
Having a great time(though I would nearly everywhere), I think I sound more 'negative' on here than I actually am and feel in 'real' life
Bix, yes, black tulips exist, can't remember ever seeing any though...
Not sure what you mean about standing out etc.... Bordy can now also tell you I don't really in 'real' life, and I'm glad of it!
Ahh, was great meating them yesterday, and other 'newbies', and I even spoke to Hevs on the phone!(for 1 second, and couldn't hear her over the noise, but anyway... )
Good luck to all of you with your plans for the future
Having a great time(though I would nearly everywhere), I think I sound more 'negative' on here than I actually am and feel in 'real' life
Bix, yes, black tulips exist, can't remember ever seeing any though...
Not sure what you mean about standing out etc.... Bordy can now also tell you I don't really in 'real' life, and I'm glad of it!
Ahh, was great meating them yesterday, and other 'newbies', and I even spoke to Hevs on the phone!(for 1 second, and couldn't hear her over the noise, but anyway...
)Good luck to all of you with your plans for the future
Jul 15th 2005, 10:40 pm
#13
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Jan 2004
Location: Was Sydney, now Somerset
Posts: 400
Re: 10 years on in WA
Hi Simone,
Liked reading your post, and you must be so happy about your family coming to Perth too - I wish mine could!
Good luck with the pay rise request!
Catherine
Liked reading your post, and you must be so happy about your family coming to Perth too - I wish mine could!
Good luck with the pay rise request!
Catherine
Jul 15th 2005, 11:41 pm
#14
da Bonehead
Joined: Jan 2004
Location: Lion in da jungle
Posts: 22,767
Re: 10 years on in WA
[QUOTE=Simone] Bix, yes, black tulips exist, can't remember ever seeing any though...Not sure what you mean about standing out etc....QUOTE]
I was not being cheeky Simone
I meant you are a rose in Hawthorn
I was not being cheeky Simone
I meant you are a rose in Hawthorn
Jul 16th 2005, 1:50 am
#15
High in the Dandenongs
Joined: Apr 2003
Location: Listening to Puffing Billy
Posts: 9,183
Re: 10 years on in WA
Originally Posted by Simone
I even spoke to Hevs on the phone!(for 1 second, and couldn't hear her over the noise, but anyway... )
)Nice to SHOUT at you
Good luck for the coming year to you both. Hxx
