I know its down to personal choice, but how much do people take with them? Is it realistic to just take a suitcase and start a fresh, no furniture? I thought we could send out our books, photos etc but ditch everything else! Thoughts?

Melx

Hi there, we thought that we would not take much with us but the list is starting to become never ending! We have started the de-clutter process and have decided that we are only going to take things that we know we will use/need. We told our son (who is 8) that he can take his things so long as he has played with them in the last twelve months otherwise we will do a car boot and he can replace some things with some new ones once we arrive. We have just about decided on what we are taking so it is down to the shippers to see how much more they can squeeze in and if they can't it will have to go.

This is purely personal.

I took everything. I am so glad that I made that decision. On the day that it all arrived, I immediately felt like I was home. I set the kids rooms up with everything they had in it at home, even those crappy little toys that never seem to come out of their drawers (but when asked, 'no I want to keep that') That was one of our best days. I even loved finding my under the sink cupboard box with rubber gloves, shoe polish, the usual collection of stuff and bin bags! each time I use the tin foil (big costco one) I smile. Nostalgia is a wonderful thing. These things will eventually run out and I will replace them with aussie stuff but its like a nice gradual process and that has made it enjoyable. Not having to find suitable products all at once.

If I did not have the kids, I would have considered just a suitcase but my priorities were to settle them as quickly as possible and having their home transported here worked a treat.

Good luck,

Vics x

We're taking everything as well. Our daughter would be well miffed if we asked her to part with anything (even the stuff at the back of the cupboard ).

Ann

Hi

We brought a 20ft container of all main items of furniture (except beds), big tv, hi-fi, crockery, cutlery, personal stuff, books, etc. It was far cheaper to ship these things than to replace everything when we got here, especially if you have good quality furniture as it can be quite expensive to replace everything.

I think we paid around 3,500 pounds for packing and shipping, to replace our furniture, tv, kitchen items, etc would have cost around 3 times that much.

Although, it is personal and very much depends on what you have accumulated, what is worth actually shipping and what you just can't live without.

Good luck
AJ

We took everything and ended up pretty much replacing everything anyway except sofas, dining room table, computer kit and the like.

Of course a 3 month hold up in customs thanks to the strikes a couple of years back kinda pushed our hand on that one.

having said that to replace what we still have kept would have cost more than the container. Was worth it to bring Mrs Centurions shoe collection which I think took up about half of it with the other half for her clothes. Quite why we brought the 12 winter coats is still lost on me....

Get a price with a little and a lot. Interesting how the shipping companies don't really change the price. Vasically if you ship you will pay for half a container

We are still not decided about what to do with all our stuff but as we are only doing the TRA at the moment we still have loads to time to decide. We go between taking everything to just taking our suitcases. I think really we will end up taking some stuff but will probably be quite ruthless especially with furniture as we don't have anything that great. We've got ages to change our minds again. We will probably get quotes to see what the difference is between just taking some boxes to a whole container and then work out what we really need.

Thanks for replies everyone. I didn't realise you could take tv's, is it just a case of using an adapter plug?? How dense am I . What about laptops, pc's, are these compatable too? Sorry to be such a girl

Melx

TVs may/may not work - if it doesnt buy a digibox there (make sure you hace scart on the back of the tv). All power plugs need to be changed.
Computers are fine. You may have a problem with the phone socket if you are dialup but thats about it and need an aussie adaptor. Also change the plugs.

Interesting thread.

Can anyone recommend any shippers/removal agents.

We have just had my OH TRA back yesterday and it's a positive - I'd actually come on line to ask questions about the visa's and have got carried away with this post....

ta very much,

Shelley

We had Allied Pickfords in today and thus far they have been great - they're coming back again tomorrow any way! Of course we will have to wait and see how much arrives at the other end...

We aren't paying for our container ( !!) so are taking everything - and it still only needs a 20ft container. (3 bed house)

We are going with the shirts on our backs, some fresh skiddies, our laptop, XBOX360 and our photos!

We want to start a whole new life in the very literal sense of the word!

It also depends on the TV. We had a large screen Phillips, with surround sound etc. When we plugged it in here, the menu asks your location and sets itself up for wherever you are in the world. You can also buy a cheap vhs and run your tv through that as they have a built in tuner. Laptops and pcs are fine here.

AJ

Alternatively you can bring an extension lead and just plug that into an adaptor. Works for us, at least it gives us time to get round to changing leads etcs for the computer and peripherals