Originally Posted by mono

But it's not sometimes with you, is it.

Earlier you were trying to argue that Australia's isolation isn't in fact a problem because the flying time to LA is only slightly longer than London to LA.

Originally Posted by ABCDiamond

You are wrong again. I didn't say it wasn't a problem. You are changing the words again. Look back...

You said that "Australia is Long way from absolutely everywhere."
and
"it's a pain to have to fly several hours to pretty much any destination"

I disagreed with you on that point. Proving it is pretty much the same as the UK in some cases.

If people want to travel back to the UK, then they must be aware of the distance. But just because it is a long way to the UK, does NOT mean it is a Long way from absolutely everywhere.

Originally Posted by mono

In comparison to most other comparable nations, yes it is.

There are dozens of places easily accessible if you live in the UK.

The UK is not the only place that's a long way from Australia. Minimum travel is about a 3 hour flight. Absolute minimum.

Originally Posted by Hino

Oh Dear

Twenty years of having to suffer this overheated and overpriced hell hole, my heart bleeds. It seems that you must suffer from the same deficiency in navigational skills that effects my poor wife. She can't find the exit from a shopping centre car park without four orbits of the entire complex, and you apparently can't find the nearest international airport and and the exit to pommyland despite being here for "twenty years"

Super expensive rents ???

I'm presently paying $160 a week for a one bed roomed unit close to town, with ground maintenance, water and hot water charges thrown in. My previous unit was two bed roomed, again within easy walking distance to town with a double garage and ground maintenance and cost $200 per week.

Now this might be extremely expensive by your reckoning but I think it's very reasonable. When I check the present price of rental accommodation in UK, I can't say that I'm immediately impressed by how "cheap" it is. Are you still using the prices that were current when you left "twenty years" ago as a benchmark ?

As for relatively high prices for some goods and services compared with other countries ? I really don't want to shock you, but the reason that Oz is a twenty-four hour flight from Europe, is because it's a very long way from Europe to OZ

Despite what you might have heard on internet forums, it's got nothing to do with Qantas flying really really slow so that their useless, ignorant, racist staff have more time to subject their once colonial masters to every imaginable indignity.

As a result of this relative isolation, some products have to travel a really long way to get here. Especially HP sauce, Branston's Pickles, tripe, pigs feet, Danish Bacon, black pudding and of course 'real' beer and 'real' fish and chips. Even when they are available, many of these delicacies will attract a high cost premium, making them outlandishly expensive and out of the financial reach of many UK immigrants.

As for " The banks are shockers and fleece Aussies big big time.". May I suggest that you change banks ? This is not quite the challenge that finding the exit to this country obviously presents you with, and the good news is that the staff at your new bank will be happy to guide you through the process.

I have a total of six accounts with the CBA and none of these accounts attract charges of any kind apart from my credit card's annual charge ( I'm working on that one ), so I can really recommend their service. Their branch service, internet service and support, plus 'free' use of their ATM network and all for 'nothing', just can't be beat as far as I'm concerned. Though I suspect that you have a long list of pommie banks that will provide a far better service for less

It does seem from the tone of your post that you are most unhappy here and as an Australian I can only emphasise and hope that you will eventually learn to adapt to Australian ways and the Australian people. Though as you have been a guest of this country for over twenty years without apparently finding one redeeming feature in your whole experience, perhaps it might be better if you called it a day, and returned to UK's green and pleasant land.

We would like to thank you for your efforts, we share your disappointment that this venture did not have a more fruitful outcome and we wish you all the best for the future.

If you are strapped for the return ticket price, I'm sure the forum would be able to arrange a 'whip round', though failing that, I believe that Centerlink are able to arrange emergency repatriation for desperate cases such as yours.

Please ensure that the door doesn't hit you on the arse on the way out.

Originally Posted by mono

Characterless - you can drive for hours and it'll all look the same. Tasmania is an exception to that though - much more like England/Scotland/Ireland in terms of ever-changing scenery. Otherwise it can be very flat and barren looking.

Originally Posted by Dreamy

This may be the case in the parts of Australia where you have dwelled -but its definitely not true for the two areas of Australia where I've lived! Even on the drive down from north of Brisbane to the west of Sydney I loved the changing scenery - I'll definitely be taking Himself on a drive back up that way sometime.

Originally Posted by mono

The drive from the north of Brisbane to Sydney is a huge distance! I'd bloody well hope it changed during that time!

I wasn't referring to driving interstate. I was talking about driving more common, reasonable distances.

You can drive no distance at all in the UK - the scenery changes all the time. Everywhere is different.

Drive from outer Melbourne into the country and the scenery will hardly change until you have been on the road for a couple of hours at least. The scenery does not change frequently.

I did not say there was NO pleasant scenery in Australia.

Originally Posted by mono

I wasn't referring to driving interstate. I was talking about driving more common, reasonable distances.
Drive from outer Melbourne into the country and the scenery will hardly change until you have been on the road for a couple of hours at least. The scenery does not change frequently.
.

Originally Posted by DeadVim

The scenery changes more on my current 1 hour commute (Semi Rural ---> Urban) than it did from Chatham to London (Sh*t ---> Cr*p).

But hey, I can't hang around here 'cos I'll get knocked down by all these generalisations a-sweeping ...

I love this forum, has not changed 1 iota in 6 years.

Originally Posted by ABCDiamond

I used to do that trip aswell. I was beginning to wonder if they had knocked down a load of houses and put some forests or parks in there since I left.

Originally Posted by mono

You can drive no distance at all in the UK - the scenery changes all the time. Everywhere is different.

Drive from outer Melbourne into the country and the scenery will hardly change until you have been on the road for a couple of hours at least. The scenery does not change frequently.

Originally Posted by furkew

what a load of cobblers.

as an example, leave ferntree gully and head for the dandenongs, reach belgrave and enter the forests with 40m high gums, 10 minutes later reach Monbulk. Rich green & lush. one of the highest rainfall areas in Vic.

another 5 minutes, reach Silvan. The earth changes from deep red to a sandy red. Ideal for the market garden horticulture in the area.

Turn off and head for Healesville passing through Seville. Undulating hills, plenty of green open fields or bush.

If you didnt turn off to head for Seville, you can always head for the Yarra Valley. Its 15 minutes and you are in the middle of the wine region.

I can go on and on about the diverse scenery in victoria in all directions, but I cant be bothered.

Who fancies chipping in to the "BE bugger off back to blighty fund".

Originally Posted by DeadVim

Mount Tamborine is clearly the same as Beenleigh which is patently just Coolangatta without the water.

40 minutes to any of that from my place ... I've had sex that's lasted longer ... it was just me though.

"It's just sooooooo boooooorrrrring" ... "Muuuuuuum, I'm borrrrrrred" ... "Son, YOU ARE boring".