eljustino

hi all,

As those of you who are in the process or soon to be applying for visas to the land down under, we all relish (well at least I do) those stories of how you found your first few days/months, once you had got over the hassles of applying and waiting for the visa then moving down under.

If anyone has any stories, anything they found difficult to come to terms with, once it had hit them that they really were or are starting that new life down under.

please share, make us all envious and what to watch out for....Hope I am making sense, as i am at work, its quiet, its just past 12.10 in the morning

thought I would ask

eljustino

Oh and lukeamyofath, thanks for the 47sk editable version, while its quiet, time for me to start filling in the visa forms.......posting on march the 14th :scared:

Justin

boom_meringue

we blogged ours, we've been here for 4 months and have had a few ups and down - blog is in our sig

DebraH

had a good read and a nose at the pictures - house looks lovely. and i see that you used to live in bracknell. so did I! (great 'ollands). has the weather picked up it was cr*p when we were in perth in august.

worzel

Ditto

DebraH

once the in-laws have left later I'll give yours a nose too - I am nosy by nature

Mhairi

Hiya

Just spent a good 2 hours reading your story. Feel like you I've known you for years now!!

Good luck with the new job. If Perth is as small as you say, maybe catch up with you next year.

Mhairi

eljustino

Just printed both of the blogs off cant wait to read em both.....Keep them coming.

xshirleyx

Hi, Great thread! Really nice to read other ppls stories - even the good or bad times

Shirley.

suecroft

We arrived in April and had more downs than ups to start with.
2 winters in a row did'nt help.
Finding a job ( that paid decent money) was harder than we expected and the house prices have rocketed.
Weaqther was pretty shitty right up until December and even then not brilliant until now.
BUT we have had a great Xmas and Pimms by the pool on Xmas day is something we would never do in the UK.
Look us up www.familycroft.com

and 1 word of advice Do NOT move to Aus in May to September unless you want 2 winters in a row - depressing !!!!

Sue

eljustino

Wow what great stories, very informative and very well written. Sue good advice on the moving bit, I hopefully should be there after the summer of 06 so if all goes to plan should get 2 summers on the bounce.

keep them coming guys......

Justin

BartSimpson

Yes only one thing...
Salary (no matter how much you earn) v/s the expenses... Hell I miscalculated expensis before I landed here...
I dont think I shall be able to save for a house... and I dont dare to take a loan.

- Bart

boom_meringue

I've got to be honest, so did we. We were fortunate enough to have a little equity in the house to bring with us, otherwise we would not have been able to buy a house this soon.

We expected everything to be super cheap compared to England when to be honest the cost of living, if you retain the same lifestyle as in the UK, is higher here. The thing that makes it all worth while here is that there is so much you can do without spending money.

BartSimpson

And what is that?
<except fishing and good chicks >
- Bart

Amazulu

Agree with this. Cost of living comparable to the UK & more tax to pay as well. Still a great place though.