Mercedes

Since some of the posters in Australia seem to have problems in making genuine friends or even friends at all in some cases. Maybe those who have been successful in doing it can give the others some tips in how they successfully made good friends when they arrived not knowing anyone.

It's not always easy starting from scratch if you never done if before...

Over to you....

Wendy

I just talked to anyone and everyone Nowt new there then

wmoore

Not exactly a revelation that one

Good advice though. And take up every offer of a barbie, beer, knitting circle, whatever it is. You'll probably find for starters that your friends are people from work but over time - remember that one because it won't happen overnight - you'll have met friends of friends, etc and hopefully will have your own little circle.

Ian & Sharon

I just be myself and if people like me great, if people don't great at least I've made friends with people I can relate too.

Ian

BadgeIsBack

My top tip: Join a volunteer organisation which involves teamwork and where there is a need for operational efficiency and focus. (so you don't die of boredom or get a bunch of misfits which a lot of orgs attract!).

These teams seem to create friendly, focused, decent people who will introduce you to the same. In a year or so you will have a network of like-minded people. It's quite refreshing! I went to a event on Saturday and met some more interesting people who are as far from the usual suspects that people complain about as you can get...

I did that 2 years ago and have never looked back - I have some fantastic friends with beautiful children and we have great times as a result. I've had yet another weekend with people who share, and do so much and have so much energy. Plans were made, not just for 'next weekend', but for sharing the raising of our kids 'between families' so we can all juggle commitments and work loads etc - we're laying down foundations for the health and welfare of our kids. F*** me its good!

cheers

BadgeIsBack

Agree! Another word to the wise: anyone who rejects an offer from a knitting circle (or some other innocuous craft activity) as being below them may just miss someone who is a real cracker. Leave no stone unturned! My wife said one of the reasons she married me and came over here on my idea was because she knew I'd get us 'out of trouble'(!)

It's harder talking to everyone when you don't have that first arrived natural exuberance. So start talking on arrival and make the most of the honeymoon period because it might get harder later on - although you might 'lose friends' along the way much the way all the people you met in your first term at Uni might not have been the mates you had in Year 3(!)

wmoore

Out of trouble?

BadgeIsBack

[of any that we might find ourselves in, inadvertently or otherwise!].

wmoore

Gotcha

Brisben

Albeit a knitting one

iPom

Um, I talked to people at the park, at school, helped in the school for a while, talked to my neighbours... invited them round for a bbq.
Hub picked up some new friends by doing a one day creative writing course... I have got friends through school and suggesting a night out. If I hadn't they wouldn't have done it...
I dunno... just talking to people, finding out what they do, inviting them for a drink.
We're great friends with our neighbours, the couple from the writing course, a pair up the mountains, about 8 people at school... It's not fast but I'm doing ok. Getting there.

wmoore

Oi! Any more of that and I won't share my Arran cardigan pattern with you.

Brisben

I am truly sorry buddy !

BadgeIsBack

Got any Norwegian fisherman's ones. The one I bought on a skiing trip is so effing itchy I've never worn it again despite having shaved off the wool on the inside with an old razor blade.

Pollyana

Those long evenings must just fly by with such useful tasks to do ............(whats the code for the winking smilie now?)