Originally Posted by TheColebecks

I'm also sure that there are great things in Oz that I can never even begin to imagine and cant wait to experience.

Originally Posted by Merlot

If I was going through the processes of giving up the LOT in the UK and moving to Australia, I would WANT to hear this.

Yes it is only one person's view but a valid one.

Long live more balance. Room for all.

M :)

Originally Posted by NKSK

The trouble is of course, for those of us who have given up the lot and for whom there is no going back, it can be a bit of a frightener.

Doesn't change much but you do find yourself desperately searching for some kind of alternative view after you've read something which makes you wonder whether you've just damned the family to an eternity in the hell that is Australia!

Originally Posted by tiredwithtwins

Dont mean to argue ( ;) :D ) but surely the OP should be allowed his opinions? as i said before, anyone who writes an 'I love it here' gets a pat on the back - post anything different and you get slated. Dare to say you dont like something and all you get is 'well go back to the uk then'.


its only his/her opinion ffs!


sorry, as i said, i dont want to pick arguements/fights :(

Originally Posted by gazf

HI,
I have been here now about 9 weeks and have to say I am not very impressed so far. The house prices which by UK standards are still quite cheap have put most 4x2 above $300000 and in most cases well above. Now as I said compared to the UK still quite cheap but if you do compare to the UK you realise that what you get for your $$$ is a very basic house No double glazed windows or doors, no insulation in the loft, the list is long,poor finishing which you most certainly would not accept back in the UK.

Then there are the schools Fantastic, brand new in some cases but a long long way behind the UK in the level the children are educated. My Child is 6 years old and will be 7 in August, this means she is now in year 1 over here and is being taught how to spell words like THE, HAS ,HAT,DOG, CAT, etc
when we left the UK she was getting towards the end of year 2 and was spelling words like SCULPTURE,CAUGHT,etc .As for maths i,d rather not go there. Please remember the state does`t provide writing books or any stationary at all, parents( and any passing pervert ) will be sat outside the class room 20 Min's before the kids are let out chatting and disrupting the class. there are no restrictions on who is hanging about the schools,and no controls about who picks the children up. There seems very little to choose between the state and private sectors unless you want a religious backdrop to education, private fees are reasonable but waiting lists are long, the state seems to rely on a large private sector taking children off its hands.
Hospitals again nice and modern in general but for gods sake don`t take ill unless you have very expensive medical insurance, and then hope is not a mental illness (acute lack of funding in this area ) or your troubles will really begin.
If you are a tradesman or have any formal qualification be prepared for the locals to tell you you need to either start at the bottom or retrain to Australian standards ( in general far below British & European standards). On the plus side this creates employment and safeguards the jobs of the local population.

What next? oh yes TV and radio - well I came here to get outdoors anyway so won`t bore you with that one.
Food not bad I have to admit.
Cars New very cheap used overpriced in comparison to new, petrol and car insurance very reasonable.
The beaches great , the parks Great , the people are nice and friendly.
I am sure this post will annoy or upset some people but it is how I preserve the situation here in Perth. :(

Originally Posted by google

I guess it's all about making trade-offs.

I left China to settle in Sydney this year and found to my great dismay that the service standards and I.T infrastructures in Australia are lagging far behind that of China.

one simple example:
We ordered a sofa from Harvey Norman in early April, but it took 5 weeks to arrive. I guess the furniture stores here are not at all well stocked. In most large Chinese cities, the goods are normally delivered on the same or next day. I figure this is a result of the sparse population here.

But dont get me wrong, I still prefer to stay in Australia, which is a democratic nation.

Originally Posted by Banksia

If it isn't in new houses and there are few if no businesses which retro fit it, it could be because the locals see no or little need for it. Double glazing is unknown in Sydney too.

As to the rest of your message, post on. There is no point in people coming to Australia on false knowledge. There are plenty who find it to their liking. More, in fact than there are places for them.

As to temperatures, let see how you feel by next February.

Originally Posted by hedgehog-girl

Oh and lets not forget about the water shortage! How come the UK and mainly London which is far smaller and no where near as arid as Australia can come up with the idea to recycle water for 90% of domestic/business use and Australia can't?....London uses water from the Thames (and I would hate to think of what has been in that!) which is then filtered before sending to the taps of derek trotter...Sydney on the other hand has refused to do this so far and is sticking to using freshwater but at such a cost....mind boggles...


Oooh I love a good whinge! he he he he