CPV Off-Topic posts - now sparkling lifestyle chat in Australia!!
Dec 4th 2010, 5:37 pm
#317
Just Joined
Joined: May 2010
Location: West Country
Posts: 19
Re: Contributory Parent Visa - now sparkling lifestyle chat in Australia!!
Just prior to leaving England in October, we noticed the post mentioned above where Phil Spencer from Phil Down Under was looking for likely candidates to take part in the next series. We applied and the following day were telephoned. The next day the film crew arrived at our rented accommodation to film us for 5 hours, including at they gym!
They then arranged to film us on arrival at Sydney airport and again the following day when we met up with our two grandchildren.
Last Monday filming started on the house search. Prior to this their researchers had checked out the details of over 100 houses, and narrowed it down to 30 which they physically visited. Finally coming up with a shortlist of 4 which we visited in person. To begin with we were very nervous but as time passed with the crew we became more relaxed. I have to say that Phil Spencer is as charming off screen as on screen. There was no pressure to buy at the end of the show.....but WE DID. We exchanged contracts on Thursday, 4 days after the search began. We are delighted with the house. The show goes out in England in January on Channel 4. Our show is based in NSW, the others are Adelaide, Melbourne, Perth, Canberra, central Sydney and one on the Gold Coast. We think ours was the only one for elderly folk joining their families, the others were youngsters leaving parents at home in England. The show will also go out in Australia in April - we think.
Julie and Ian
They then arranged to film us on arrival at Sydney airport and again the following day when we met up with our two grandchildren.
Last Monday filming started on the house search. Prior to this their researchers had checked out the details of over 100 houses, and narrowed it down to 30 which they physically visited. Finally coming up with a shortlist of 4 which we visited in person. To begin with we were very nervous but as time passed with the crew we became more relaxed. I have to say that Phil Spencer is as charming off screen as on screen. There was no pressure to buy at the end of the show.....but WE DID. We exchanged contracts on Thursday, 4 days after the search began. We are delighted with the house. The show goes out in England in January on Channel 4. Our show is based in NSW, the others are Adelaide, Melbourne, Perth, Canberra, central Sydney and one on the Gold Coast. We think ours was the only one for elderly folk joining their families, the others were youngsters leaving parents at home in England. The show will also go out in Australia in April - we think.
Julie and Ian
Really looking forward to seeing 'your' program, as everything normally is slanted towards 'the youngsters'.
Our daughter is in Russell Lea which is great for them, but far too expensive for us, so hope they choose to move further up the coast before we get to move to be near them.
Good luck with your new life.................
Pam
Dec 4th 2010, 6:52 pm
#318
Forum Regular
Joined: May 2009
Location: Woongarrah, Central Coast. NSW
Posts: 101
Re: Contributory Parent Visa - now sparkling lifestyle chat in Australia!!
Congratulations! It must feel great to have bought. it is interesting to hear about behind the scenes stuff from the programme as well.
If it isn't giving too much away, whereabouts in NSW were you looking to buy and how are the house prices at the moment? I hope to be doing the same in 12 months time, fingers crossed.....
regards
Fiz
If it isn't giving too much away, whereabouts in NSW were you looking to buy and how are the house prices at the moment? I hope to be doing the same in 12 months time, fingers crossed.....
regards
Fiz
Hope this helps.
Julie
Dec 4th 2010, 7:48 pm
#319
Forum Regular
Joined: Jun 2009
Location: Hastings Vic
Posts: 166
Re: Contributory Parent Visa - now sparkling lifestyle chat in Australia!!
Thank you Sue, Hope to go to NZ and back into Aus somewhere in mid Jan2011. at least then I will 100% legitimate. Another 2 years down the line and I can then become an Australian Citizen, so the circle will be complete.
Best Wishes
Elaine.
Best Wishes
Elaine.
Dec 4th 2010, 7:48 pm
#320
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Joined: May 2008
Location: NSW, Australia
Posts: 376
Re: Contributory Parent Visa - now sparkling lifestyle chat in Australia!!
Lovely story. Welcome to NSW.
Charlie
Charlie
Dec 5th 2010, 6:20 am
#321
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Joined: Jun 2009
Location: Wivenhoe
Posts: 595
Re: Contributory Parent Visa - now sparkling lifestyle chat in Australia!!
Don't you have to wait 4 years now?
Dec 5th 2010, 7:17 am
#322
Forum Regular
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 183
Re: Contributory Parent Visa - now sparkling lifestyle chat in Australia!!
On a completely different subject - We heard a couple of weeks ago that our Granddaughter, Scarlett, had been asked to be "the face of the Royal Children's Hospital Good Friday Appeal 2011". She had a heart transplant in 2009 and is treated at the RCH, and its her 2nd birthday tomorrow. The Director of the Appeal, and photographer from the HS (popular daily newspaper, think "Hark the **** angels + big yellow globe in the sky!) came to their home today to take photos to be used for the Appeal and because its her birthday tomorrow, they decided to write an article for publication in tomorrow's paper. She will feature in a few articles over the next few months in the paper, and will be making public appearances at various Good Friday Appeal events as well as appearing on TV and in billboard advertising.
Fame, not as we would have chosen it, but for a great cause. Once again we can only express deep sympathy and thanks to all donor families and thanks to all the wonderful medical and support staff at the RCH and all other hospitals that treat children with life threatening illness.
Gill
(Very proud Nanny!!)
More info for anyone interested: we bought a car yesterday and thanks to our Australian son-in-law's amazing bargaining powers got $2K knocked off the asking price. Insurance through Coles has cost $405, we did this on line and didn't have any proof of no claims bonus but did have some boxes to tick about past claims (we've not had any claims in the last 4 years). I've also been trawling through looking for private health insurance. It's recommended that we do this and new migrants have 1 year from registering with Medicare to find insurance and qualify for the government rebate. We registered with Medicare when we came over to validate in April which in hindsight was a mistake but we still have until April to sort it out. The cheapest we have found so far is $160 per month for both of us, this includes 35% rebate as Tony is 69. That is for a very basic policy but I'm guessing that if we wanted to upgrade we could do so quite easily. We will certainly have to do some belt tightening, the cost of most things seems to have shot up. House price rises in Perth seem to have eased a little but they are still very expensive and I'm not quite sure what we will do. Atleast we seem to have finally conquered the dreaded jet lag and are feeling more 'normal'.
Cath & Tony
Dec 5th 2010, 4:56 pm
#323
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Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 623
Re: Contributory Parent Visa - now sparkling lifestyle chat in Australia!!
How wonderfull, you must be so proud and justifiably so. Maddy is becoming a little bit more sociable with me but I guess it will take time and that's something we're not short of now.
More info for anyone interested: we bought a car yesterday and thanks to our Australian son-in-law's amazing bargaining powers got $2K knocked off the asking price. Insurance through Coles has cost $405, we did this on line and didn't have any proof of no claims bonus but did have some boxes to tick about past claims (we've not had any claims in the last 4 years). I've also been trawling through looking for private health insurance. It's recommended that we do this and new migrants have 1 year from registering with Medicare to find insurance and qualify for the government rebate. We registered with Medicare when we came over to validate in April which in hindsight was a mistake but we still have until April to sort it out. The cheapest we have found so far is $160 per month for both of us, this includes 35% rebate as Tony is 69. That is for a very basic policy but I'm guessing that if we wanted to upgrade we could do so quite easily. We will certainly have to do some belt tightening, the cost of most things seems to have shot up. House price rises in Perth seem to have eased a little but they are still very expensive and I'm not quite sure what we will do. Atleast we seem to have finally conquered the dreaded jet lag and are feeling more 'normal'.
Cath & Tony
More info for anyone interested: we bought a car yesterday and thanks to our Australian son-in-law's amazing bargaining powers got $2K knocked off the asking price. Insurance through Coles has cost $405, we did this on line and didn't have any proof of no claims bonus but did have some boxes to tick about past claims (we've not had any claims in the last 4 years). I've also been trawling through looking for private health insurance. It's recommended that we do this and new migrants have 1 year from registering with Medicare to find insurance and qualify for the government rebate. We registered with Medicare when we came over to validate in April which in hindsight was a mistake but we still have until April to sort it out. The cheapest we have found so far is $160 per month for both of us, this includes 35% rebate as Tony is 69. That is for a very basic policy but I'm guessing that if we wanted to upgrade we could do so quite easily. We will certainly have to do some belt tightening, the cost of most things seems to have shot up. House price rises in Perth seem to have eased a little but they are still very expensive and I'm not quite sure what we will do. Atleast we seem to have finally conquered the dreaded jet lag and are feeling more 'normal'.
Cath & Tony
That's interesting. So, are you saying that if you register with Medicare when you come over to validate then the 1 year countdown starts then? I assume that if you come over on visitor's visa and register with them then this doesn't affect anything?
Dec 5th 2010, 5:21 pm
#324
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Joined: May 2008
Location: NSW, Australia
Posts: 376
Re: Contributory Parent Visa - now sparkling lifestyle chat in Australia!!
Charlie
Dec 5th 2010, 10:16 pm
#325
Forum Regular
Joined: Jun 2009
Location: Hastings Vic
Posts: 166
Re: Contributory Parent Visa - now sparkling lifestyle chat in Australia!!
from when my daughter arrived here, upon checking this, they changed it in 2007, so yet another long wait.
Location wise , I am very happy and settled here in Hastings, no regrets in the slightest.
Will only move when destiny beckons.
Kind regards
Elaine
Dec 6th 2010, 1:28 am
#326
Forum Regular
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 183
Re: Contributory Parent Visa - now sparkling lifestyle chat in Australia!!
Hi Cath and Tony
That's interesting. So, are you saying that if you register with Medicare when you come over to validate then the 1 year countdown starts then? I assume that if you come over on visitor's visa and register with them then this doesn't affect anything?
That's interesting. So, are you saying that if you register with Medicare when you come over to validate then the 1 year countdown starts then? I assume that if you come over on visitor's visa and register with them then this doesn't affect anything?
Cath & Tony
Dec 6th 2010, 6:41 am
#327
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Joined: Jun 2009
Location: Wivenhoe
Posts: 595
Re: Contributory Parent Visa - now sparkling lifestyle chat in Australia!!
Spot on, Thanks for the prompt, clearly I am still in the past, from when my daughter arrived here, upon checking this, they changed it in 2007, so yet another long wait.
Location wise , I am very happy and settled here in Hastings, no regrets in the slightest. Will only move when destiny beckons.
Kind regards
Elaine
from when my daughter arrived here, upon checking this, they changed it in 2007, so yet another long wait.Location wise , I am very happy and settled here in Hastings, no regrets in the slightest.
Will only move when destiny beckons. Kind regards
Elaine
, you maybe need to move from Northampton to Hastings. Go to the top of the page and click on the My Profile box.
When that opens you will see a list on the left, look down that and you will a group headed Settings & Options .
Clip on Edit Profile .
Scroll down the page and under Additional Information you will find a box with Location - where you live.
Ages ago you put in Northampton so you could change (or add) that to Hastings Victoria.
Can you tell I'm bored?
Dec 6th 2010, 10:15 am
#328
Forum Regular
Joined: Jun 2009
Location: Hastings Vic
Posts: 166
Re: Contributory Parent Visa - now sparkling lifestyle chat in Australia!!
Hi Elaine, the location I refered to is on your avatar , you maybe need to move from Northampton to Hastings.
Go to the top of the page and click on the My Profile box.
When that opens you will see a list on the left, look down that and you will a group headed Settings & Options .
Clip on Edit Profile .
Scroll down the page and under Additional Information you will find a box with Location - where you live.
Ages ago you put in Northampton so you could change (or add) that to Hastings Victoria.
Can you tell I'm bored?
, you maybe need to move from Northampton to Hastings. Go to the top of the page and click on the My Profile box.
When that opens you will see a list on the left, look down that and you will a group headed Settings & Options .
Clip on Edit Profile .
Scroll down the page and under Additional Information you will find a box with Location - where you live.
Ages ago you put in Northampton so you could change (or add) that to Hastings Victoria.
Can you tell I'm bored?
As my daughter signed me up into the Expats thread. I have not given it a thought since. so well spotted.
Best wishes
Elaine
Dec 6th 2010, 1:57 pm
#329
We're on our way!!
Joined: Sep 2010
Location: West Yorkshire
Posts: 14
Re: Contributory Parent Visa - now sparkling lifestyle chat in Australia!!
Help!! Where's the CPV thread gone? I know they were splitting it up but I can't find the other half.....
