We are off on New Years Eve but just had the worst Friday!!! My last day in work, shippers came and went with all our stuff, kids last day in school and hubby working away this weekend!! And now I'm getting scared!!

Leaving work was bad enough but when I went to pick the kids up from school it was terrible. Mum's, teachers and kids crying it was so upsetting. Then we came home and the shippers were packing like mad it was chaotic! They left about 6 and hubby left about 6.30!

Then the kids started 'I don't want to go!, Your taking me away from all my friends!, Sioned will marry someone else! (she's 8!), I won't know anybody!, Jake told me I was gonna die when a spider bites me in bed at night!, I'll never make anymore friends!, Everyone will laugh at my welsh accent!, Nobody will speak Welsh! (always hated the language before!), You and Dad go and leave us here with Grandma!, I hate you for ruining my life!!!!!'

One kid I could have coped with but 4!!!! Has anyone got ANY words of comfort for me??????? Please!!!!

And one more question - why are men never around when you need them most?????

Oh bless!!!! I can only sympathize with you. Yes, men!
I, too, am getting a bit twitchy, and I am going on my own. But friends are getting upset already, and my dear neighbours are falling out with me, tehe, not really. They are happy for me. Although I am 62, and they are in their early 30's with 2 young kiddies, we get on like a house on fire, having lived next door to each other for over 7 years. I left work recently, as a carer for adults with learning disabilities and that was quite upsetting, they didn't want't to go.
Your kids will be fine once they get there, honest! How old are they? Kids usually find it easier to integrate than the grown ups do. Remember, this too, will pass!!!

I think you just have to concentrate on the reasons why you wanted to go in the first place.

The kids will be fine once you get there.

And men are never around when you need them, well because they're men!

Wendy

Hi,
Know exactly how you feel, hones. You go through all the trouble and strife to get your visa and then when it gets close you start having doubts, I/we are and we have friends to meet and greet us, accommodation sorted and a job lined up...why should I be scared, be positive that's what I keep telling my/ourself.

Best Wishes

Keebs & Mrs Keebs.

Oh poor you Sounds as though you've had a hectic time of it recently! You'll look back on all this in a year when you're all settled and laugh. The kids will be fine in no time and they'll be glad that you went to Oz eventually when they settle at school and make all their new friends (prospective hubbies etc!) Good luck and if ya missing a Welsh accent just drop me a line!

- manic last night getting ready for the party ... husband spends half hour re-packing the dishwasher!

still hung over from last night - managed to put my tesxt in your text.....

starting again!



So good to hear that someone else is feeling the same! We leave on the 28th for Brisbane and had our farewell party last night. Boy that was difficult... Just why am I leaving fantastic friends and family???? Christmas is always such a difficult time. Where abouts in Brisbane are you going? We are heading to Holland Park West and have the kids booked in to schools. They ar 5 and 3. (boys) and have no real idea what it really means. Hope you are feeling better about it. I'd send karma but have know idea how so my thoughts will be with a fellow brisbane buddy! Michelle

Hi Michelle

We've got our party on the 29th and I'm wishing we hadn't bothered now cos I'm dreading it!!!! We are going to Manly and my kids are 15, 8, 5 and 3. The two youngest are fine like you say but they were just copying the other two!! I would love to hear how your getting on? Still got to sort out car hire are you doing that? Jo

Thanks guys for all your support! I'm really trying to stay focused! Hubby home and straight to the pub for his last quiz night so I'm sure I'll be feeling better tomorrow!

Hi there, we came over at the end of September with 4 kids aged 16,10,7 and 3 and they have settled really quickly. Our 16 year old has a girlfriend in Belgium (where we were living) so was not impressed with coming here and spends his time planning his escape . He is looking for a part time job (not all that hard though) and planning to go back on holiday March but we shall see whether he gets around to it, I am expecting that he will avoid getting a job (having too much of a good time with new friends) then give us grief for not paying the $2000 for the trip. All in all though it could be much worse as we only get the occassional strop and if those weren't about this then it would be somehting else . Our 10 year old didn't want to come as she was afraid of the change and our 7 year old had a rough time at first as he hates any change. However within a few weeks they all settled with new friends and interests and I really can't see them wanting to go back for more than a holiday. Let me know if you want your kids to chat to my lot at any time as our eldest lives on his MSN at the moment and would be happy to chat.
We hired a 7 seater car for a month when we arrived (the company paid for it :scared: ) but on arrival we also hired a smaller car to help transport the luggage as we live 3 hours from the airport and we paid for 1 way hire which was fine.
Good luck with it all, I have some old friends that moved to Manly a few years ago and we have lost touch with them so let me know if you run into Debs and Chris Allen with their 2 boys. (A long shot I know but this is a scarily small world at times).
Have fun.
Nicky

we promised ours a pool and a puppy, we got the puppy, the pool after christmas. It worked. Denise from sunny Morecambe

Hi Denise!

That would probably work but guess who would end up looking after the fully grown dog!!! I think I'll just stick it out till we get there! Anyone would think I was trying to take them to Morecambe! :scared:

At least our eldest hasn't got a boyfriend but we still have 13 days to go!!! I will look out for your friend - I'll be desperately looking out for any friends!!!!

they cant see any further thean the end of the road, my 12 yr old was terrible, my 18 yr old daughter was worse, but 12 months later, thet are as happy as pig in sh. and would not want to go back. Honestly you will be fine. Denise

It is worth all of this stress honestly, the kids will be fine once they settle at this end. I've not heard of many people that have had serious problems with kids this end and there are loads that have had stroppy kids not wanting to come.
Just keep going and enjoy the fact that you are nearly here, Christmas is especially hard as it is a time for family to get together and it can be hard to imagine leaving it all behind. Try to enjoy this Christmas and look forward to some serious summer when you arrive
Nicky