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Any niggles?
Please look at this post light-heartedly! It's amazing here, so the last thing i want to do is sound like a whinging pommie!! It's just there's a few things that im finding funny / weird / bizarre etc and just wondered if anyone shares these views on certain things :)
Feel free to add your own! 1. Bank account Getting to grips with it, but why the Savings or Credit? I just find that weird! Paying money each month to have an account! No Visa DEBIT card with Commonwealth bank....u gotta be kidding me. 2. Speed limit We have bought a great car...but can't really 'drive' it due to the speed limits. I agree that 60 is fair play in built up areas, but a max of 110 on deserted freeways is ridiculous. Does anybody actually have accidents here? If so...HOW??! It's weird as i actually find it more tiring driving at these low speeds.. has anyone else found that too? 3. Bin night! We bought new kitchen appliances when we got here....but silly me forgot to get the delivery men to take the packaging. 7 weeks on and i'm still trying to cram bits of polystyrene into that tiny bin! I have tons of cardboard waiting for space in the recycle bin too! I can't wait for the fun that awaits me when our container arrives from the UK in December, as pretty much EVERYTHING is packed in cardboard boxes, which in my estimation i will still be ripping and putting in the recycle bin until late 2014. Anyone know of a better way of clearing recyclables without paying? 4. Road signs Anyone else struggling with these? I must admit, the UK deffo got it right with junction numbers on motorways. The amount of times i've found myself going the wrong way!! A lot of the time you don't see the signpost until you are right on top of it....so you do a u-turn and go back...only to find that then you can't turn right..aaaargh!! Well....happened to me in Melbourne anyway! 5. Food prices If we wanted to live on Hungry Jacks we'd be sorted! Im quite suprised how expensive 'proper' food is. Bread / Milk / mushrooms / peppers etc...well pricey. It probably evens out with other stuff here being cheaper than the UK though....i guess time will tell. As for beer prices....i've had to start the home brew up! It's someone elses turn now! :) |
Re: Any niggles?
Driving here is much scarier than home. Get in my car and hope I don't lose my life. The signs are confusing (maybe because I'm fairly new) but everybody seems to weave in and out and tailgate you. Have become fairly aggressive and adept at using hand signals now. Apart from that not much to complain about at this moment in time.
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Re: Any niggles?
Originally Posted by finona
(Post 5605594)
Driving here is much scarier than home. Get in my car and hope I don't lose my life. The signs are confusing (maybe because I'm fairly new) but everybody seems to weave in and out and tailgate you. Have become fairly aggressive and adept at using hand signals now.
Originally Posted by finona
(Post 5605594)
Apart from that not much to complain about at this moment in time.
Finding out yesterday that i might be allergic to mozzie bites was a bit of a downer though...lol I had a few when i got here and they were fine....but lately they've been getting well bad, to the degree where my whole arm / leg swells up. The doc gave me some pills, so we'll have to wait and see i guess! |
Re: Any niggles?
I initially read this as any nipples which make me look :D
Originally Posted by dj nee
(Post 5605560)
Please look at this post light-heartedly! It's amazing here, so the last thing i want to do is sound like a whinging pommie!! It's just there's a few things that im finding funny / weird / bizarre etc and just wondered if anyone shares these views on certain things :)
Feel free to add your own! 1. Bank account Getting to grips with it, but why the Savings or Credit? I just find that weird! Most people I speak to call Savings, Spendings Paying money each month to have an account! No Visa DEBIT card with Commonwealth bank....u gotta be kidding me. 2. Speed limit We have bought a great car...but can't really 'drive' it due to the speed limits. I agree that 60 is fair play in built up areas, but a max of 110 on deserted freeways is ridiculous. Does anybody actually have accidents here? If so...HOW??! It's weird as i actually find it more tiring driving at these low speeds.. has anyone else found that too? No different from 70 on a deserted motorway in the UK 3. Bin night! We bought new kitchen appliances when we got here....but silly me forgot to get the delivery men to take the packaging. 7 weeks on and i'm still trying to cram bits of polystyrene into that tiny bin! I have tons of cardboard waiting for space in the recycle bin too! I can't wait for the fun that awaits me when our container arrives from the UK in December, as pretty much EVERYTHING is packed in cardboard boxes, which in my estimation i will still be ripping and putting in the recycle bin until late 2014. Anyone know of a better way of clearing recyclables without paying? Our bin's not small. Seems to take a fair amount. Mind you we don't drink gallons. Maybe your bin is full of empties ;) 4. Road signs Anyone else struggling with these? I must admit, the UK deffo got it right with junction numbers on motorways. I love the junction numbering system here. It makes so much sense (to me anyway) The amount of times i've found myself going the wrong way!! A lot of the time you don't see the signpost until you are right on top of it....so you do a u-turn and go back...only to find that then you can't turn right..aaaargh!! Well....happened to me in Melbourne anyway! 5. Food prices If we wanted to live on Hungry Jacks we'd be sorted! Im quite suprised how expensive 'proper' food is. Bread / Milk / mushrooms / peppers etc...well pricey. It probably evens out with other stuff here being cheaper than the UK though....i guess time will tell. Where are you shopping? All that stuff is quite reasonable at markets etc As for beer prices....i've had to start the home brew up! It's someone elses turn now! :) |
Re: Any niggles?
Originally Posted by dj nee
(Post 5605643)
I had a close call where i didn't check the left hand mirror enough and went from middle lane to left lane and nearly went into someone. Thinking about it though, in the UK i didn't really use the left mirror that much really as you knew nobody was going to undertake you.
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Re: Any niggles?
Originally Posted by dj nee
(Post 5605560)
1. Bank account
Getting to grips with it, but why the Savings or Credit? I just find that weird! Paying money each month to have an account! No Visa DEBIT card with Commonwealth bank....u gotta be kidding me. what is your point? its not benidorm 2. Speed limit We have bought a great car...but can't really 'drive' it due to the speed limits. I agree that 60 is fair play in built up areas, but a max of 110 on deserted freeways is ridiculous. Does anybody actually have accidents here? If so...HOW??! It's weird as i actually find it more tiring driving at these low speeds.. has anyone else found that too? many ppl get killed on the roads here each yr 3. Bin night! We bought new kitchen appliances when we got here....but silly me forgot to get the delivery men to take the packaging. 7 weeks on and i'm still trying to cram bits of polystyrene into that tiny bin! I have tons of cardboard waiting for space in the recycle bin too! I can't wait for the fun that awaits me when our container arrives from the UK in December, as pretty much EVERYTHING is packed in cardboard boxes, which in my estimation i will still be ripping and putting in the recycle bin until late 2014. Anyone know of a better way of clearing recyclables without paying? get a recycle bin, or pop down the tip, and get rid of it ALL in one go 4. Road signs Anyone else struggling with these? I must admit, the UK deffo got it right with junction numbers on motorways. The amount of times i've found myself going the wrong way!! A lot of the time you don't see the signpost until you are right on top of it....so you do a u-turn and go back...only to find that then you can't turn right..aaaargh!! Well....happened to me in Melbourne anyway! i think they should reintroduce tests for poms when they get here 5. Food prices If we wanted to live on Hungry Jacks we'd be sorted! Im quite suprised how expensive 'proper' food is. Bread / Milk / mushrooms / peppers etc...well pricey. It probably evens out with other stuff here being cheaper than the UK though....i guess time will tell. As for beer prices....i've had to start the home brew up! not sure what planet you are on, or indeed what shop you go to, but 30 bucks for a carton of piss, is cheap It's someone elses turn now! :) |
Re: Any niggles?
I firmly believe everyone should do the theory test here before switching their licences over. There are just too many rules that are different here from the Uk that expats now have no knowledge of.
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Re: Any niggles?
Originally Posted by moneypen20
(Post 5605792)
I initially read this as any nipples which make me look :D
There was something that occurred to me when we first got here. I still haven't worked it out. People with babies in buggies - why, even inside shopping malls, are the buggies covered with a blanket/towel/whatever? I can under shelter from sun but complete blocking, even indoors - WTF is that all about |
Re: Any niggles?
Originally Posted by moneypen20
(Post 5605835)
I firmly believe everyone should do the theory test here before switching their licences over. There are just too many rules that are different here from the Uk that expats now have no knowledge of.
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Re: Any niggles?
Originally Posted by lil_ol_wine_drinker_me
(Post 5605852)
That's to stop old ladies sticking their fingers in the pram & touching your baby!
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Re: Any niggles?
We have lived in Germany for the last 8 years so let me tell you - you have no idea how SLOW driving anywhere else feels. Bad driving is bad driving wherever it is but when there is a danger that a Merc / BMW / Porsche may come past you at 250 kmh + then believe me its tends to focus the mind (on checking mirrors before moving).
I am hugely against unnecessary speed limits on Motorways as it leads to lack of concentration / dowsiness etc (check the accident statistics in Germany you will see they are no worse than anywhere else). However, it is impossible to raise speed limits as there are too many poor drivers around (who don't check mirrors / don't indicate / purposely block faster drivers - delete as applicable) and there would be carnage. I'll get me coat :blink: |
Re: Any niggles?
Cheers for the replies everyone :)
To Timber Floor Au, i was used to paying £9.99 - £12.99 for a 24 pack of Carlsberg from my local Asda in the UK. And they were the big cans (550ml??) At the moment im on the VB which is about $36 for 24 375ml cans. (actually its not really that bad.... i'd been going on the lazy method of just halving it and saying £ in front....but $36 is about £15...which despite the tiny can - size is ok) Ignore me...im mostly drunk... lol |
Re: Any niggles?
driving in Australia is "different" but the roads in UK make sense and are more organised...BUT you never get over 5 miles an hour anyway as it's traffic jams everywhere.....when i was there last year i was surprised to find just as much bad driving in UK as Aus...it's drugs alcohol and bad tempered impatient people and yes just general all round bad drivers of all ages and sexes
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Re: Any niggles?
Originally Posted by moneypen20
(Post 5605792)
I initially read this as any nipples which make me look :D
There was something that occurred to me when we first got here. I still haven't worked it out. People with babies in buggies - why, even inside shopping malls, are the buggies covered with a blanket/towel/whatever? I can under shelter from sun but complete blocking, even indoors - WTF is that all about |
Re: Any niggles?
[QUOTE=dj nee;5605560]
3. Bin night! We bought new kitchen appliances when we got here....but silly me forgot to get the delivery men to take the packaging. 7 weeks on and i'm still trying to cram bits of polystyrene into that tiny bin! I have tons of cardboard waiting for space in the recycle bin too! I can't wait for the fun that awaits me when our container arrives from the UK in December, as pretty much EVERYTHING is packed in cardboard boxes, which in my estimation i will still be ripping and putting in the recycle bin until late 2014. Anyone know of a better way of clearing recyclables without paying? QUOTE] Check neighbours for extra bin space :) I mean ask not creep round in dead of night filling them up Also check on local council website - there maybe clearance days where you can get any old crap taken away for free if you book in. Also check council area for use of free tip - some only operate on postal codes otherwise they charge, learn postal codes and use once in a while for free dumping! Organise an advice party with neighbours - invite for free expensive small beers and ask them how they manage - asking advice and listening taught us loads. Mainly how to get pissed over a bbq and forget good advice by next morning! I still carry post it notes in my bag - when I hear a good tip, I get someone to write it down. Still have no clue in morning why for some of it but usually find a use for some gem advice. The rest of your niggles - I still have after five years, apart from looking overshoulder when driving ! Just taught son to drive and be sure they do know how to kill themselves on the roads here. Have fun enjoy even the niggly bits :) |
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