Originally Posted by Basil Brush (Post 8437764)

Devon was one of the places we thought would be a nice place to live

Originally Posted by lunny (Post 8434915)

My main reasons for wanting to move are lifestyle & weather. OH is just completing a HDip in Sports Mgmt, currently working 2 pt jobs, my job has long hours - as far as teaching jobs go (8-5.30) not including what gets brought home. When I'm coming in the door, he's leaving for his evening job, and he works weekends!So basically, while we are ok financially, quality of life is s*it at the moment.

Originally Posted by canadaeh (Post 8437963)

Where in my comments did I say I wanted to live in Summer Bay? Or anwhere near the beach for that matter!

Seriously, why do people still think Australia has a lower stress level of life, with more free time to spend? Or that the weather is always sunny? Lower cost of living? Bla bla bla.
I never said I'd have more free time to spend, just that evenings would not be dark/pouring with rain 75% of the time, nor did I say anything about 365 days of sunshine.


Australians on average work longer hours than the UK. (A study a while ago even said Aussies work longer and harder than any western nation).
Clearly that was conducted in Australia, and is a generalisation.

Oh, and it also rains here.
Obviously, it rains there.

People here still have to work full time, still have to pay bills, still find things expensive, still do over time, still get stressed out – it’s like the UK, only without the cheap weekend breaks to Europe.


Think realistically, if you are coming here just because you want better “lifestyle and weather” then you’ll be in for a shock.
So why do people move to Australia?

If you’re coming because you want to spend a year on a WHV having fun, then go for it. (Remember a WHV is only temporary and if you can’t secure a Permanent Visa you’ll still have to go back, you are also limited to working 6 months in the one job, and will only get the second year if you do things like fruit picking).

Also, don’t know if you and the OH are married, but if so then you don’t qualify for the WHV.
No we are not

I have loads of friends who came here on a WHV, and even though they had experience, could not get a job in their areas, simply because they were seen as a “Backpacker” and limited to a time frame. They all got stuck with basic, low paid backpacker jobs.

Like I said, if you want fun and adventure for a year then go for it. If you have a fantastic career option for both of you, have already been here and loved it then go for it. But if you just want to escape the lifestyle and weather of the UK then you best stay put as they are the wrong reasons for coming.

Good luck either way. :)

Originally Posted by lunny (Post 8436073)

WestVic, I wouldn't mind long hours, if it meant the evening's were bright/not lashing with rain and you could conceivably do something after work

Originally Posted by Grayling (Post 8438208)

Perhaps you ought to check the sunset times in various parts of Australia if light evenings are important to you.

Much of the year it will be dark when you finish work and dark not much later than 8.30 pm in the summer (6.30 ish in Queensland).

http://members.iinet.net.au/~jacob/risesetmelb.html

Originally Posted by teepee (Post 8440300)

cornwall if you can put up with the natives. never found a decent one yet but be prepared for trouble. arson when they find out where you live (happened in wales in the 80s) language issues... they want their own language like the welsh, politics... they want to be a separate state and of course they dont like outsiders or tourists even tho without them there would be no economy down there.

not much different in oz but at least in cornwall you can tell them to wind their necks in a put up with being part of england.

ho hum... (lighting blue touch paper and standing well back!!!)

Originally Posted by ripcantrell (Post 8439846)

I'm not from Cornwall but lived there for 3 years prior to Perth WA. I would vote Cornwall because as per previous post its horrible working here in the heat. Also, its not that easy to get into teaching as you have to earn points working in remote rural areas or doing supply in the city before you can apply for jobs!!

Oz is not as fantastic as people make out and I would suggest you do a reccy first out here before commiting yourself. As for Melbourne?, its a massive place and ideal if you're from a big city but otherwise you might want to consider more rural if after VIC.

Originally Posted by The_Wookie (Post 8440465)

Cornwall's probably one of the warmest places in the UK due to the gulf-stream.

Originally Posted by lunny (Post 8434915)

Hi folks,

I know the title to these kind of threads is usually 'Sydney or Melbourne, Perth or Melbourne etc. But I'm looking for opinions of the wise here......

I'm Irish, doing my first teaching year in the Midlands, UK. Currently in a secondary school, but am planning to switch to primary teaching at the end of the academic year. I have decided and reconsidered and decided and reconsidered moving to Oz around 1000 times....

My main reasons for wanting to move are lifestyle & weather. OH is just completing a HDip in Sports Mgmt, currently working 2 pt jobs, my job has long hours - as far as teaching jobs go (8-5.30) not including what gets brought home. When I'm coming in the door, he's leaving for his evening job, and he works weekends!So basically, while we are ok financially, quality of life is s*it at the moment.

We do not have kids/mortgage(serious stuff), I do however, have student loans to be repaid at home-€400 max. per month. I have been in contact with agencies in Mel, and they seemed fairly confident they could get me supply in primary if/when I go - ideally September, as I have read that term is best for relief work. I would be going over with limited funds, so would be on the job-hunt from day 1. If I cannot secure relief teaching, I will do any other job, no problem at all-I've got lots of bar/restaurant & retail work experience, and am a grafter.

So, my question is this...Do we take a leap of faith, so to speak, or would I be better of taking the 'safer' option and head to Cornwall? I've been looking at jobs there and doing my research, and while I have no doubt that quality of life could be improved there, and the Summer will be nice. It aint exactly Oz, is it?!

Also, any ideas how my OH would be fixed-work wise? His main area is football, but like me is not too fussy,if it pay's he'll do it. He was looking into fruit picking! Oh yeah, we will be on a WHV.

Sorry for the essay, any comment - however blunt/realistic will be appreciated :)

Originally Posted by teepee (Post 8440300)

cornwall if you can put up with the natives. never found a decent one yet but be prepared for trouble. arson when they find out where you live (happened in wales in the 80s) language issues... they want their own language like the welsh, politics... they want to be a separate state and of course they dont like outsiders or tourists even tho without them there would be no economy down there.

Originally Posted by Bix (Post 8440534)

.... It's a lose:lose for the Cornish which may explain a bit about the attitude you perceive.

Originally Posted by Bix (Post 8440534)

vast amounts of real estate bought up as holiday homes meaning locals cannot afford property.

It's a lose:lose for the Cornish which may explain a bit about the attitude you perceive.

Originally Posted by MartinLuther (Post 8440736)

And there was me thinking it was a misplaced superiority complex. :unsure:

Originally Posted by lunny (Post 8440865)

Oh, Like the one some Engish people have towards Irish people?:huh:

Originally Posted by Kat_uk (Post 8441663)

Cornwall sounds just like the Lake District! Wet, full of Tourists, locals can't afford to live there, but very scenic. :rofl:

Originally Posted by Nu-Shooz (Post 8441667)

Never rained when i went. I must be lucky.:rofl:

Originally Posted by Kat_uk (Post 8441691)

You were, takes a lot of water to keep them lakes full :rofl:

Originally Posted by canadaeh (Post 8437963)

What makes you think your lifestyle will be any better here? It’s not like Home and Away.

Seriously, why do people still think Australia has a lower stress level of life, with more free time to spend? Or that the weather is always sunny? Lower cost of living? Bla bla bla.

Australians on average work longer hours than the UK. (A study a while ago even said Aussies work longer and harder than any western nation).

Oh, and it also rains here.

People here still have to work full time, still have to pay bills, still find things expensive, still do over time, still get stressed out – it’s like the UK, only without the cheap weekend breaks to Europe.

Think realistically, if you are coming here just because you want better “lifestyle and weather” then you’ll be in for a shock.

If you’re coming because you want to spend a year on a WHV having fun, then go for it. (Remember a WHV is only temporary and if you can’t secure a Permanent Visa you’ll still have to go back, you are also limited to working 6 months in the one job, and will only get the second year if you do things like fruit picking).

Also, don’t know if you and the OH are married, but if so then you don’t qualify for the WHV.

I have loads of friends who came here on a WHV, and even though they had experience, could not get a job in their areas, simply because they were seen as a “Backpacker” and limited to a time frame. They all got stuck with basic, low paid backpacker jobs.

Like I said, if you want fun and adventure for a year then go for it. If you have a fantastic career option for both of you, have already been here and loved it then go for it. But if you just want to escape the lifestyle and weather of the UK then you best stay put as they are the wrong reasons for coming.

Good luck either way. :)

Originally Posted by Nu-Shooz (Post 8436077)

I'd live in Cornwall like a shot if the we had work down there. Such a lucky place to be.

Originally Posted by Sarah Jayne (Post 8441741)

I live in Devon now because the south west is so beautiful ..... BUT..... outside of Exeter you're struggling for culture, yes the beaches are nice, but sometimes you want a little more than that, especially in the winter in the South West -- which can be BORING (oh dear, I'm going to upset so many people by saying that).

We're hoping to go to Melbourne to get the best of all worlds - work, beaches and culture. Plus the aussies are a lot more laid back and you don't suffer as much from "accent snobbery" as happens in southern UK.

Go to OZ -- have an adventure :thumbsup:

Originally Posted by TraceyW (Post 8442398)

Lol, oh, I'm sorry.....the South West - V - Melbourne for culture!!!!:rofl::rofl:
You've not spent a long period of time in Australia have you?

Originally Posted by Sarah Jayne (Post 8442553)

I have spent a while in Devon - and a long long long long winter - its DULL

Originally Posted by Lord_Farquar (Post 8442596)

What has weather got to do with culture? :huh:

Originally Posted by Sarah Jayne (Post 8442615)

when did I say it did?

Originally Posted by Lord_Farquar (Post 8442620)

It was your response to a post about culture.

Originally Posted by Sarah Jayne (Post 8442656)

I believe I said I've just spent a long winter in Devon - which is dull due to a lack of culture not due to weather.

The summers down here are great because of the coastline, the winters are not -- dinner parties discussing the relative merits of Cameron vs Brown and house prices, pubs serving similar fayre and gymkhanas are not exactly exciting. Exeter has more going on compared to the rest of the county, but even there everyone heads to London if they want to experience a good music and arts scene.

Deepest Devon is dreary in winter

Originally Posted by TraceyW (Post 8442398)

Lol, oh, I'm sorry.....the South West - V - Melbourne for culture!!!!:rofl::rofl:
You've not spent a long period of time in Australia have you?

Originally Posted by Mike 3G (Post 8442715)

Not being a culture vulture as such can someone give me their definition of culture in a British sense. Also it strikes me that people who have a bash at Australia for being devoid of culture haven't been to Melbourne which in my eyes would be second only to London in the UK in terms of available culture/arts. Now I would suggest the food/wine side of Melbourne and its surrounding cournty side would be ahead of what London has to offer. It can't compete with London in historical terms not many cities in the world can. Melbourne also has a thriving arts scene and a good local music scene granted the international acts tour less frequently than most would like.

Taking London out of the argument lets combine the cultural offerings of Glasgow & Birmingham or any of the large regional cities in the UK do any of them trump Melbourne in terms of access to the arts or the amount of free festivals and events that are available?

Originally Posted by Nu-Shooz (Post 8441667)

Never rained when i went. I must be lucky.:rofl:

Originally Posted by TraceyW (Post 8442398)

Lol, oh, I'm sorry.....the South West - V - Melbourne for culture!!!!:rofl::rofl:
You've not spent a long period of time in Australia have you?

Originally Posted by Lord_Farquar (Post 8442620)

It was your response to a post about culture.

Originally Posted by MartinLuther (Post 8442776)

It's like that all the time. It's never rains there. ;):sneaky: