autra

just got back two days ago from Adelaide, south Australia.this is why i am typing this at this time of night , body clock gone.
traveled out with Malaysian airways, very good , lots of leg room, good personal TV system. Arrived in to Adelaide international airport, which looked like an army air base, picked up car which we found cheaper to upgrade there. drove off to city, looking back at the airport, we saw that it was under construction, and in a few months would be a nice new state of the art airport, As we drove up to the city both me and my husband, were shocked, the main road from the airport to the city was a bit like an industrial road, of car lot after car lot, not impressive at all , then in the city, it was dull and very 1970 looking from the buildings, this was at 6.30am, made our way to Melbourne street, checked into all seasons meridian hotel for 16 nights, this hotel again looked like it was stuck in the 1980,s. in all ,not good first impressions, after a good sleep, we went back in to the city which had come alive, i would describe it like Manchester mixed with harrogate, it was great , looked around all shops found some same as u.k nine west, great shopping malls, great clothes, went into toys are us , everything same as u.k.just launching psp,in all found that it would be easy to shop and find wot u wont.at night the streets came alive with cafe bars, every body sat out drinking eating(god the foods good), then came the young in there fast cars cruising up and down,didnt see any street trubble. wot a life, for both us and the girls, over the next few days, we travelled from suburb to suburb, again like u.k. you get bad, ok ,nice and then the forget it very very nice, we liked a few, glen Osmond, mt barker, golden grove,gulf view heights,west lakes,but sort of settled on greenwith, which had a good choice on schools both catholic and state, with good priced houses,also a lot of rental properties to start with,shops not to far a way,all in all a nice mix.for new-cumers. we then went to car auctions, both private and government, and found the cars to be priced same as ours, every body getting big engines ones 2yrs old etc.found out you have to pay an on the road cost, every time you change your car.We then started to do the holiday things , mt lofty, held a Kuala, fed, the kangaroos, went to the beach, watched the dolphins,in the boat Marina,absolutely wonderful, could not wait to come for good in the Feb.everything we wonted not to busy , very laid back, too good to be true, YES, then came the stumbling blocks,we met up with an old work friend of my husbands, who had been out there, for 4mths, he hated it and just wonted to come back,said he was working longer hours as a basic electrician, there than he was, as a contracts manager back in the u.k. , we took it with a pinch of salt, we then met a couple that had been out there for 4 months, that loved it ,but again the work thing was not happening, he was a fully qualified electrician, on arrival he had to re register with the TRA,and had to have ever thing re checked and passed before getting the licence, which took three months,and he could not work till this was through, his wife also was struggling to find work in admin, but as it was just them two no children they were getting buy .we then met a family that had been over for 6 weeks she was a nurse, she started work the following week,but her husband was struggling to find work, the we met a BMW motor mechanic, and again he was waiting for his TRA licence that could take three months, of which he could not work, both these couples were stressing about paying out so much with nothing comming in . so i then started to pick up on the shop staff, the restaurant staff, the hotel staff, etc 99% of them were all Australian, then we looked in to my 18yr old who has just finished a course which is an NVQ equivalent to 4 a-levels,in Aus she might as well be 16 leaving school as they don't recognise the NVQ, and will have to start all over again at tafe.so punch line is for most families that are trade based, they will have to cope at least 4 mths with no income,having to pay evrything up front, such as house rental 3mths upfront etc .again this still never put us off, all good thing are worth working for.so we travelled on to Melbourne, which is very nice but to big for us, met up with a few home sick ex pats, that again was complaining about the work, money,etc.did Philip island, etc.Didnt hire a car as the transport is so good (sky link from airpor to hotel 13$) we went to a department of TRA, while we were there, to find out about this non working thing,and does it take 3 mths to get, this licence, to be told they are behind at the moment at its looking more like 4mths, and to be told that my husband can not go subcontracting till he has then take other licences, which leads up to another 18mths, so he will have to work for an electrical company for that period and the government set the hourly rate, which most companies stick to?.quite a lot to take on board for a fully qualified 42yr old that has fitted the most advanced fire systems through the u,k, to be told you have to re-train, with something you have been doing since you were 16.(a lot to think about does not do your selfe esteam good espesially when it will already be low due to the changes leaving family etc.) went to the beach on the sunday and the craft fairs, every body out walking on bikes etc, but again 80% of everyday staff australian.
On arrival back in to the u.k heath row(or should i say new Delhi) as you would never now the difference, and venturing back up north , to wake up to the cold dull day. i look at the u.k with different eyes, as my husband goes out to work, at the correct pay that he has worked so hard to get to, and my 18yr old sets of in her car to her job that in 3yrs time she can travel were ever she wont's in the world on th £, and my 11yr old starts her new yr at school and she runs and meets all her friends talking over wot she has done in the summer hols, telling me she has netball to night, and don't be late cos then she has guides. i come home call in booths pick up a few bits now exactly which isle they are on,and that i can buy them with out thinking about wot i am spending, with in reason.I then go to see my (sister cos i still can, who buy the way has looked after the children whilst we were on this fact finding trip,and my mother took them away to haven with the rest of the cossions,then my mother in-law had took them out.) to tell her our decision if .we had been 10yrs younger we would have not hesitated, we would have taken every knock and got up again fighting, but we are not 10yrs younger, and this is our life that we have worked hard for, it , were ever you are in the world children still need a roof and food and clothes and the odd toy,may not be great, but it could be a lot worse so we will look at wot we have got and make the most of it , for us it would be to stressful with work and education, i now most still do it and good luck to them , i wish them all the best, this is only my experience and my thoughts it does not mean its right,
good luck to all that go for it.

Siren & Brian

As much as I would love to read your post, my eyes are struggling to focus on the line I am trying to read.

May I suggest that you edit it slightly into paragraphs to make it easier on the eyes?

Siren

Hels

I found the same thing...but did persist.

It was well worth the read. The post was really honest and I can definatly understand your decision.

Moving across the world is a MAMMOTH decision...with children it makes it even greater and if you belive your family would not be better off moving here then good for you.

At least it sounds like you had a great holiday and you can look forward to coming over again for another holiday!!

MrsB

What job do you do? I hope you are not a teacher.

I enjoyed reading your post and hearing all about your holiday. I am not being picky, but you really do need to do something about your grammar and spelling. As the other posters said, reading that was a struggle!!!

autra

yes sorry it is my down fall one of many, so sorry again for how i spell and explain things, don't worry were not teachers, as you can tell . my husband is an electrical subcontractor in the u,k specialising in fire, refrigeration installations and control's, sorry don't now how teachers stand with verifying your qualifications etc.

ozzieeagle

I read it fine, well done, You've definitely made the right choice for you, as the points that you pick out are the important ones. The fact that your hubby is getting what he should be earning, and wont be able to here, without a major struggle. The fact that your daughter will be able to go anywhere in the world, in 3 years, as her future is brighter there.

Great testimony to the fact that you actually came and researched and found it wasn't for you.

MrsB

Nonetheless, it was an interesting read..........

Hutch

Yep - definitely sounds like the right decision to me. You've saved yourself a lot of money and a great deal of heartache by the sounds of things. I could point out the usual (did you consider other areas) kind of stuff, but to be honest, judging from some of the other comments you made - I don't think you or your family are emigrating material anyway. Good luck to you.

autra

thank you for your reply yes considered all different options still the work thing,
we have emigrated before to south Africa when my children were very young , only the crime alone, brought us back , so we sort of now wot the pit falls are and wot to look out for ,and the biggest in all occasions is jobs ,no job ,no money, does not matter were you live it will make you miserable, if you are worrying about jobs and money, thanks again

toon williams

I think you are being a little picky, an excellent thread with lots of information included!!

Yes I agree a little hard to read but worth it by the time I got to the end!! So what the spelling and grammar were not up to spec at least she took the time to sit and write about her experiences so others like myself could gain valuable information from it!!

spalen

Great post - ignore the english teachers ;-)

It certainly seems like you looked at everything objectively. It takes a lot of courage to walk away from something like this after the time I can imagine you've put into wanting to come in the first place. It sounds like you've made the right decision for yourselves and your family.

Stitch

Thanks for your post.

It was really good, not speaking through rose tinted specs or slating it to death. Just your opinion and it was much appreciated.

Cheers

ginny