Re: How outdoorsie is Melbourne/Brisbane REALLY for a family?
 

More of the Great Outdoors: Vic has great destinations but if you are a walker/hiker then get used to the idea that a lot of waking in AU has limited vis at times. Loads of scrub for miles, or all day. Trees.

The UK has a lot more moor, open and rolling landscape. That said the VIc and Nsw alps are more 'advanced' than some of the low lying UK areas. I go to these places for more views. Twice the height of Mt Snowden for example.

Ski touring in NSw and vic : more on offer than say Wales or Scotland.

National park walks are well signed in the majority.

It's all well organised here. Loads of programmes whether it's surf rescue or basketball.

Re: How outdoorsie is Melbourne/Brisbane REALLY for a family?
 

It's still like that here, Beoz.

I'm sure they all still disappear indoors at the end of the day to watch the telly, play with their playstations and troll the world on their electronic devices - but while it's light, they're out in the street, terrorising the neighbourhood :D

Re: How outdoorsie is Melbourne/Brisbane REALLY for a family?
 

Awesome. Good to hear. Fresh air is good.

Re: How outdoorsie is Melbourne/Brisbane REALLY for a family?
 

It's surprising though how children adapt. After attending such a school (which only goes until age 14) there is still time to pick up experience with technology and I'm sure most of the children would get at least some exposure at home, even if it's discouraged. My little ones, although only 6, 5 and 2 don't have iPads and neither will I get them one. My husband has one for work which belongs to his work and on that my eldest does mathletics which is an app for schools for maths. He goes on it maybe once a week. They do watch television but just CBeebies or anther childrens channel as that has Peppa Pig and Paw Patrol. But they don't watch any adult shows (only a bit of Children In Need and Comic Relief once a year). My wish for them isn't to do a computer based job in life unless they WANT to. They've shown no interest. But I something makes me feel uneasy about a life lived sat behind a desk, in an office, all day every day as I did for years and years. I would look outside the window and just think, "this is my life. Time is literally ticking away...my life is ticking away...and I'm behind a desk in an uncomfortable chair all day, every day. And I actually liked where I worked and loved the people there. My eldest wants to be a doctor (surgeon eventually...I can only wish!) and my middle child wants to be a palaeontologist. So while obviously they'll need to know how to use a computer, if they achieve their dream jobs, they won't need to know how to write computer programmes and the like. My friend and her sister, to my surprise, (I've known her nearly 20 years and only found out a few weeks ago), never attended school. They chose to go to college and university with their parents support and encouragement but prior to that they never went to school. Both are highly accomplished in their careers, with a first rate degree and a masters degree. So long as the parents encourage learning and discovery, reading (which studies show should be done around age 7) and self development, commitment and concentration, I think children will be fine so long as they do go on to get formal qualifications. That I believe is vital. Television, iPads and phones etc. do teach children to not be able to just sit and play using concentration, imagination, being peaceful, sitting still and relaxing. Three have been a lot of links with technology and ADHD, lack of concentration and stress and anxiety in children. It's really interesting when you look in to it.

Re: How outdoorsie is Melbourne/Brisbane REALLY for a family?
 

I found that I have to do different activities. Yes its too hot here in the summer to go outdoors. Yes this is mostly a very boring ugly country with a lack of water. Plan accordingly.

You cannot pack a picnic and go into the wilds and expect a lovely experience. Try the beach or a park instead.

Creepy crawlies aren't THAT much of a problem but you will want to swap your activities around to take into account the seasons.

I used to mountain bike (f**k that), now I kayak. I used to forage in hedge rows, now I do a brisk walk on the promenade in the evenings when its cool enough.

I used to drink lots of ale but now I've switched to wine. I used to eat curry now I BBQ wallabies. You get my point.

Re: How outdoorsie is Melbourne/Brisbane REALLY for a family?
 

Technology is great but I like to put it in its place: there is actually something quite vulgar about people that obsess with it.

Programming : it will become low paid possibly, only Indians and low paid migrants will be prepared to handle all the fuss with all the frameworks....who knows...

Re: How outdoorsie is Melbourne/Brisbane REALLY for a family?
 

Where do you live? Sounds miserable?

Re: How outdoorsie is Melbourne/Brisbane REALLY for a family?
 

Hmmmm. Only when they learn to work in a team, learn to say "no I can't do that", give you an accurate deliverable date, understand programming is as much about user experience as it is about the ones and zeros.

Until then, go local every day of the week.

Re: How outdoorsie is Melbourne/Brisbane REALLY for a family?
 

The most powerful Indian technologists in Silicon Valley
https://www.theguardian.com/technolo...silicon-valley

Re: How outdoorsie is Melbourne/Brisbane REALLY for a family?
 

Two things make him distinct.

He's not in India and he's paid very well.

Re: How outdoorsie is Melbourne/Brisbane REALLY for a family?
 

Not every office job is the same! I don't know how to write computer programmes. Mine isn't advertised as a 'computer based job'. Its a weather based job - I look out of the window and see the rain that pays my wages :lol: But every shift involves use of numerous computer programmes, some for the weather, some for reports, some for mass communication. Four screens per desk, 12 hours of computer-based work. And our actual meteorologists have even more programmes to manipulate than we do!

Your eldest will have to deal with a huge amount of developing technology in the medical profession, even if he isn't sat at a desk. Technology, computers, phones, ipads etc isn't restricted to sitting at desks these day, its far more wide ranging, and I honestly believe that kids entering the job market now with little or no technological skills will be at a disadvantage. Thats not saying I agree with it, its just saying its a fact of life.

Re: How outdoorsie is Melbourne/Brisbane REALLY for a family?
 

Yeah, that's me, vulgar as muck.

:whistle:

FYI Computer programs tend to with the american spelling ....

Someone needs to get used to virtualising those programs on windows of one desktop ....

Reality is that 50% of today's jobs will disappear (and I'd say that many doctor type jobs will be amongst them) and those that remain will often be employing, or overseeing, AIs doing much of the work. By the time today's youngsters are wanting to earn a living, they will need an understanding not only of what we have now, but how and when they can add value to AIs that might have narrow focus, but that are as smart as they are.

For the teenagers of today, now, I'd be saying get up to speed on deep learning and connecting together AI services to advantage. The days of being able to get by on a little Word, a little Windows, is rapidly passing by. Talk cloud and big data instead.

Re: How outdoorsie is Melbourne/Brisbane REALLY for a family?
 

My laptop has an aversion to American spelling :sneaky:

Wouldn't work, we need the large screen areas to be able to constantly compare various sites, and we have to be actively monitoring and able to see several different windows on a large scale simultaneously.
IT did mock up something for us a year or so back in an attempt to reduce the number of screens on the desk, but we all voted to retain the four screen setup. Having all the screens visible at once is preferable for monitoring job queues and alerts for 000 and SES for instance.

Re: How outdoorsie is Melbourne/Brisbane REALLY for a family?
 

Yep, but like metre and meter - as things have turned out computer code gets one spelling and TV shows another, generally.

https://www.dailywritingtips.com/get...the-programme/

We went through similar back in the day - but today you'd generally run a 4K TV as a monitor - resolution + size at a cheap price with greater flexibility.

Re: How outdoorsie is Melbourne/Brisbane REALLY for a family?
 

We are talking about Queensland government.....they have just discovered Outlook 2010.......:blink:....and the only clouds round here are the ones we are watching on the radar :ohmy::sneaky: