Giving up on Oz
#31
Re: Giving up on Oz
Would I give up some humidity and in return get hot dry days, parched environment and far more extreme winters...not on your nellie....would others...of course. Personal preference comes into it, but I think it is very debatable from the statistics that the weather in Melbourne is "much more moderate" than Brisbane.
Last edited by fish.01; Jan 21st 2013 at 7:20 am.
#34
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Oct 2008
Location: Brisvegas
Posts: 460
Re: Giving up on Oz
Brisbane suffers from having very poor housing, terrible insulation and a high proportion of people who think nothing of making noise into the wee hours without concern for their neighbours. I became quite obsessive about finding somewhere to rent in Brisbane where you could sleep with the windows (screened) open. I can in my house - (just) as person opposite me has his telly on his balcony for some inexplicable reason. Previous house, lived in large nice town house but noise 24/7 - rent $640 a week thanks very much! Current house (very like the doss house I lived in at Uni in 1980's Britain!) costs us 50% of hubbie's salary when I can't work, and is nothing special, although close to CBD. Decent rentals are very hard to find in Brisbane and the quality of homes here is pretty shocking
Last edited by Chortlepuss; Jan 21st 2013 at 10:42 am.
#35
Re: Giving up on Oz
Brisbane suffers from having very poor housing, terrible insulation and a high proportion of people who think nothing of making noise into the wee hours without concern for their neighbours. I became quite obsessive about finding somewhere to rent in Brisbane where you could sleep with the windows (screened) open. I can in my house - (just) as person opposite me has his telly on his balcony for some inexplicable reason. Previous house, lived in large nice town house but noise 24/7 - rent $640 a week thanks very much! Current house (very like the doss house I lived in at Uni in 1980's Britain!) costs us 50% of hubbie's salary when I can't work, and is nothing special, although close to CBD. Decent rentals are very hard to find in Brisbane and the quality of homes here is pretty shocking
I don't have screens on my current house and I didn't even know the mossies had arrived until I read this thread. Our bedroom window has been open for months....as well as lots of other windows around the house. I guess each house and aspect makes a difference. On the bright side Brisbane house prices are more affordable (price vs salary) than Perth, Adelaide, Melbourne and Sydney so it could be worse
Last edited by fish.01; Jan 21st 2013 at 11:00 am.
#36
Forum Regular
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 200
Re: Giving up on Oz
Anyone, i guess many have. Been in Oz over a year, just had enough, the heat, humidity, keep getting bit, insects in the unit, just cannot settle. Noisy neighbours, our new neighbour plays his music so we can hear it clearly, asked him to turn it down, he is 20, lives there with two mates. Just takes no notice.
I feel bad for you that you are having a hard time, but Brisbane maybe wasn't the best idea if you struggle with heat and humidity.
As others have said, trying a different part of a Australia is a good idea. I've just come back to the UK for a bit but when in Oz I work between Brisbane and Melbourne and the difference is huge (especially in the winter).
You are also living in a very expensive part of Brisbane hence the rent being so much of your income. Why not consider another less expensive suburb and have more spare cash?
Hope things improve for you.
Last edited by big_matt; Jan 21st 2013 at 5:42 pm.
#37
Re: Giving up on Oz
That's a very interesting observtion. I've also observed that those British migrants complaining on this board tend to come from SE Queensland. Of course I have no facts nor could be bothered to look them up but just a general feeling I get.
I wonder if its a "nothing to do" or "lack of variety" or a "lack of opportunity" thing?
I wonder if its a "nothing to do" or "lack of variety" or a "lack of opportunity" thing?
My how things are changing.....
#38
Re: Giving up on Oz
It's always been a mystery to me that in Australia, particularly the hotter parts, that even upscale new build apartment blocks are generally built without ducted aircon and everyone is left to fend for themselves and clutter their balconies with ugly split systems.
As I have said before I don't think Brisbane has an extreme summer climate, but sleeping can be a difficult if you find yourself in the wrong environment.
Now, that's summer out of the way...let me hear about Melbourne's 'extreme' winters!
Did I mention Brisbane's 'extreme' lack of after work daylight!?
#39
Banned
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 3,300
Re: Giving up on Oz
I agree. The Adelaide winter is amazing. Days of 12 - 20, sunny much of the time, but also really good cold days when the clouds roll in from the southern ocean. Leaves fall off the trees and blow along the roads. Dark around five thirty. Best time of year and without a UK equivalent to compare it too. Never been to Brisbane but I know they they don't get all that. Also way too many English in Brisbane/SEQ for me. Adelaide has the smallest number of all the cities I think, or close.
#40
Re: Giving up on Oz
Thanks for your comments, taking the time to reply, its appreciated. I think if it gets too bad, we will break lease, our unit ain't all that bad, we should rent it easily, will only have to pay one weeks rent, and advertising fees. But i cannot have many more weeks like the last few. I will break, when you are walking around just knowing its not right, but also knowing it might be worse in the UK, and the Oz dream has vanished for good. Its our own faults, should have done two years in the five years we had our visa's, no one to blame but ourselves.
You should be aware that in the 10 years I have lived in Brisbane climate conditions like the last month have been few and far between. In fact, I would go so far as saying that I don't think it has been this bad since that summer of 04/05. So I would suggest you try and tough out this period of bad climate and you might find your outlook changes on what you deem to be unbearable. I would lay money on you looking back and thinking it wasn't as bad as you initially thought
#41
Re: Giving up on Oz
I agree. The Adelaide winter is amazing. Days of 12 - 20, sunny much of the time, but also really good cold days when the clouds roll in from the southern ocean. Leaves fall off the trees and blow along the roads. Dark around five thirty. Best time of year and without a UK equivalent to compare it too. Never been to Brisbane but I know they they don't get all that. Also way too many English in Brisbane/SEQ for me. Adelaide has the smallest number of all the cities I think, or close.
British: Adelaide 8.5% vs Brisbane 5.3%. (Wiki)
#42
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 10,375
Re: Giving up on Oz
You should be aware that in the 10 years I have lived in Brisbane climate conditions like the last month have been few and far between. In fact, I would go so far as saying that I don't think it has been this bad since that summer of 04/05. So I would suggest you try and tough out this period of bad climate and you might find your outlook changes on what you deem to be unbearable. I would lay money on you looking back and thinking it wasn't as bad as you initially thought
I am no fan of summer since that year.
However for the OP, regarding bugs, brisbane has NOTHING compared to the flies of WA, Victoria, Adelaide etc.
Try walking down the street and swotting the 40 odd trying to get in your nose, mouth ears, eyes. And the other 200 on your back This isnt just in the country, Melbourne CBD was one of my worst experiences with this, Kiama NSW was another, all these lovely empty BBQ's and quite serioulsy several thousand flies appeared once food came out, we ended up running back to the car, dumped the food. Totally disgusting.
#44
Re: Giving up on Oz
Well it is wikipedia so there is a good chance you're right
Edit: Here's the 2006 ABS figures the Adelaide wiki figures come from I think:
Adelaide:
English: 7.3%
http://www.censusdata.abs.gov.au/ABS...=PL&action=401
Matching Brisbane ABS stats:
English: 4.5%
http://www.censusdata.abs.gov.au/ABS...tversion=false
Edit: Here's the 2006 ABS figures the Adelaide wiki figures come from I think:
Adelaide:
English: 7.3%
http://www.censusdata.abs.gov.au/ABS...=PL&action=401
Matching Brisbane ABS stats:
English: 4.5%
http://www.censusdata.abs.gov.au/ABS...tversion=false
Last edited by fish.01; Jan 22nd 2013 at 2:06 am.
#45
Re: Giving up on Oz
Yes I agree, sometimes it can affect sleeping... especially if you live in a crappy rental ...similar to being under heated in a dodgy Melbourne rental....my question was just in response to the comment that Melbourne is "much more moderate" when comparing the worst months from both places. If you just compared Brisbane's worst months vs Melbourne's best than yes of course but I was talking about using the figures to compare the whole year. I think it is very debatable from the BOM figures. Of course personal preference could sway you either way.