Re: Contemplating moving to Australia...
 

What a silly comment. What about moderators, and other people who've been members for years? Is there a limit to the number of posts you think people should make before they stop helping others?

I think that anyone who bothers writing a meaningless comment like that either has no life or takes themselves and their opinions far too seriously!

Re: Contemplating moving to Australia...
 

We like to drink after conferences. Reminder for next time. Change of clothes.

Re: Contemplating moving to Australia...
 

We sometimes go for a quick meal as it quick and reliable and open later than other places. Free parking there and walkway to the convention centre.

Re: Contemplating moving to Australia...
 

Myself and my hubby were just chatting about Aus! Decided to look a little into what people had to say and was interested in the questioned ask but all I can say is the majority of what I read wasn't exactly warming or informative. I thought Ex pats supported each other, this thread has put me off and I have only made a few posts.

If the good advice was to make a pro's and con's list then this site would be quite.

Re: Contemplating moving to Australia...
 

If you take Brisbane out of the equation then your list wouldn't look so bad.

Re: Contemplating moving to Australia...
 

Being serious though, many people on this forum have lived in Australia for a long time, therefore the novelty of moving to another country, and the expectations of what that brings has worn off. Going to the beach after work for a swim or a sunbath is just something you do - as an example.

Personally, I moved for a change of scenery, and the money on offer was more than I was getting in the UK, so 3 years in I'm enjoying it. If I reflect on what I enjoy I can boil it down to one thing - more exposure to sunshine. That's about it I think. I got cabin fever in the UK. Summers were great but they just weren't long enough, meaning more time indoors than out. What I would miss terribly now if I went back to the UK are the 9 months of the year I couldn't do the beach, had to rug up, leave the shades in the sock draw, etc. But if I had to move to the UK tomorrow, it wouldn't bother me. There's plenty of things I enjoy doing in the UK too but because of the climate I find them a little more of an effort to do.

Re: Contemplating moving to Australia...
 

Do you want warming or do you want informative? Your sentence about ex-pats being supportive is correct. Ex-pats are supportive and do support each other. With reality. The reality is that Australia is just another first world country with first world problems like any other first world country. We have shite weather (it's storming this morning - not just storming, but bucketing down rain with gale force winds), crime (both petty and not so petty), drugs (don't get me started on the availability of drugs here! :rolleyes:), unemployment, taxes to pay, etc. We mostly work the same long hours as back "home", we commute on packed trains or busy freeways, we cook and clean and all the other things people do every day no matter where they live.

Would you prefer if this site was filled with everyone saying "Come to Australia! It's absolutely paradise where nobody needs to work and it's sun, sand and surf 24/7"?

Re: Contemplating moving to Australia...
 

Just quietly, the weather in Sydney is amazing this morning. You can have that stormy gale force shite. I'm sure it will come this way in a few days :)

Re: Contemplating moving to Australia...
 

It seems to like me. Last weekend I was in Adelaide and it rained pretty much every time I ventured outside. We got absolutely soaked on Friday morning - complete with hail - while walking to uni. I had to sit all morning in dripping wet clothes. :thumbdown: Of course there was another torrential rain while I was waiting for the bus to take me to the airport so had to travel back to Perth in soaking wet clothes/shoes.

Seems the sun is out here now, but since I don't have a window in my office I only know because I went out to grab coffee about a half hour ago.

Re: Contemplating moving to Australia...
 

It belted down in the hills all night - I was woken by thunder around 4am

Re: Contemplating moving to Australia...
 

I have accrued a few posts over 10 years.:rofl:

I've actually reduced my BE activity a bit in recent years...then I have a relapse and post...then subside...

I won't get the time back - that is for sure. I am not 100pc sure why I even started posting - but initially I think I was amazed at the antics of Expats and sort of felt a bit of redress was needed...that's my excuse.

Re: Contemplating moving to Australia...
 

warming AND informative would be nice. Your additional information was helpful for a reader so all those thing can go on the con list then!

And I wouldn't 'prefer' anything apart from helpful reading.

Re: Contemplating moving to Australia...
 

We moved to NSW almost a year ago, and generally we are very happy. We didn't have unrealistic expectations and so we haven't been disappointed in any way.
We didn't dislike the UK either and I think that's important.

Things I love about Australia:
The weather. It doesn't get too hot for me.
The wildlife
Beautiful beaches and bush
Sitting outside for much of spring and summer.

Things I'm not so keen on:
Distance from family and friends
TV - so I don't watch it.
Cold winter mornings with no central heating.

Other things, like healthcare and schooling, are different. Not better or worse, it depends on individual circumstances.

OP - you've got youth on your side. I say go for it!
(As long as you don't rely on family for child care etc)

Re: Contemplating moving to Australia...
 

I actually do see where you are coming from BUT when you read some posts from potential migrants you realise that a large dose of reality is necessary FOR SOME.

Re: Contemplating moving to Australia...
 

Not sure what your problem is to be honest. OP came on here muttering about wanting to move for a better life, being fed up with the UK and asking for advice.

On basis of that information, do you not think it would be worth somebody sitting down and really thinking about their reasons for moving? A bit of soul searching costs nothing and seemed like good advice to me. After 5.5 years on the forums I have read many success stories and many not so successful stories, a lack of research and unrealistic expectations is often the downfall of a an emigration story and I would like to help prevent this from happening to anyone. I am sorry if this is not agreeable to you and spoils your reading.

You might think that clichés about a "better life" are a good enough reason to spend ten of thousands of pounds, leave family and friends behind, a home and perhaps a decent job? But I do not.

Many people that have commented on this thread are very happy with their lives in Australia, including me, but you will rarely hear people that have actually made the move trot out these silly notions about a better life. .

If the thread had not asked for advice but rather had just asked for happy stories about how we all have a better life, how bills pay themselves, toilets are self cleaning and we all magically became more "outdoorsy" on the flight over then I would have commented accordingly ... but it did ask for advice.

I once started a thread asking for advice on what to wear for a particular occasion. I probably didn't agree with a couple of the suggestions as they didn't suit me, but I didn't abuse the person offering that advice in good faith.