Cornwall or Melbourne :)
Mar 23rd 2010, 2:19 pm
#61
Just Joined
Joined: Feb 2010
Location: Melbourne
Posts: 29
Re: Cornwall or Melbourne :)
Cornwall sounds just like the Lake District! Wet, full of Tourists, locals can't afford to live there, but very scenic. 
Mar 23rd 2010, 2:42 pm
#65
Forum Regular
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 38
Re: Cornwall or Melbourne :)
I came down from Manchester to work in London, and have worked in Texas, Dubai and Russia.
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
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
Mar 23rd 2010, 4:31 pm
#66
not sure...
Joined: May 2007
Location: out in the boonies
Posts: 1,537
Re: Cornwall or Melbourne :)
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.
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.
To the OP if you want better weather etc or the typical perception of OZ then maybe think about the Gold Coast? From what I read on here the weather is generally good and it's spacious with nice beaches etc. I say Cornwall will still be there but go have some fun in Oz first while you're young!!
Tx
Mar 23rd 2010, 7:01 pm
#68
Account Closed
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 3,533
Re: Cornwall or Melbourne :)
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
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
You've not spent a long period of time in Australia have you?
Mar 23rd 2010, 8:42 pm
#73
Forum Regular
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 38
Re: Cornwall or Melbourne :)
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
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
Mar 23rd 2010, 8:59 pm
#74
Forum Regular
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 38
Re: Cornwall or Melbourne :)
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
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
Mar 23rd 2010, 9:00 pm
#75
Forum Regular
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 133
Re: Cornwall or Melbourne :)
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?