dj nee

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!

finona

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.

dj nee

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.

Just to clarify! None of my above comments were complaints This place rocks and it's just a case of adjustment.

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!

moneypenny20

I initially read this as any nipples which make me look 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

northernbird

were you never taught to check over your shoulder before moving into a different lane?

Timber Floor Au

Have a nice day

moneypenny20

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.

lil_ol_wine_drinker_me

That's to stop old ladies sticking their fingers in the pram & touching your baby!

Timber Floor Au

Intersections are the main issue, but i agree.. all poms should take a test, cannot see why they dont, just because brits drive on rhs of the rd, shouldnt be a pre-requisite for not doing at least a theory test

moneypenny20

No one tried that with my kids in the UK. Are old ladies different here?

MartinH

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

dj nee

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

why

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

Bordy

Thats no baby. Thats the latest DVD Recorder they knocked off from K Mart.

Sandra

[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