martin1

why on earth are you staying in watching tv

jdt3000

I would make more of the time I had left in the UK. I don't think I really realised I was leaving the UK until we got to the airport, as strange as that sounds. I didn't really spend as much quality time with my family and friends that remained in the UK as I would have if I had fully realised, and I regret that...

Still, doesn't mean I don't love living in Australia, don't regret the move at all!

sunshinesarah

If I knew what I know now.....

1. I would have emmigrated sooner - Almost 2 years in and just love it.
2. I wouldn't have shipped all the furniture that I did. The 'pine' thing doesn't really look right in a modern Aussie home I find. We ended up selling loads to a second hand place as soon as it arrived and buying new as so cheap - would have got more doing a garage sale at home purely cos we would have sold in pounds back there.
3. I would have shipped my beautiful gas range cooker (I had heard that noone here cooks off gas - it's untrue). Gas range cookers here are a lot dearer.
4. I wish I had known of this blumin' website BEFORE I had arrived!!!.

Although I settled in pretty quickly, I think you have to give yourself a good 2 years before you start to feel like you're coming out of no man's land.

All the best and I hope it works out

Sunshine Sarah

Angelap

agents at the emmigration fair at York Racecourses 2002 explained it could be a very tricky business to do it without them & quoted 3500 pounds for our family permanent visa.(we both had jobs on "in demand"list) They justified this price by saying its the cost of your 2 week average family hol in July-and now you could have a PERMANENT holiday!!!! Dont know where they pulled that from Ive NEVER spent that sort of brass on MY hols!
Anyroad,being a tight Yorkshire person I downloaded forms off the internet & although its "stressful" in a way ,you just answer the Qs,and if you can get the info for your agent,you can do it yourself I reckon-we were in Perth 6 months later & 3500 pounds better off.

wmoore

Three-and-a-half-grand? Is that the going rate for an agent?

I've always been the sort to have a go at anything - from fixing the car to re-wiring the house - so I was happy to have a look at what was involved and to be honest, I didn't see it being that difficult. The key thing is to do your research before you start filling any forms in, use BE as a resource to help

Of course, there are cases that have complications, etc and maybe in those cases it's worth speaking to an expert.

Desire

Thankyou sunshine-sarah
I know it was a difficult question to ask, so many emotions a? I think the answer to my question was almost equal if not more favouring the move. Prehaps it depends on how long you have been here etc.
Mybe my dad was right for once! saying i was too old to emigrate! (40 yrs)
being out of my comfort zone and all that.
I shall keep my thoughts to myself, Hubby and kids are really happy

halcyon 52

With reference to some things its better to regret something you have done than regret something you haven`t done.

My agent charged around £1600.00 and my case is not straight forward. I did not know about this site then and maybe would not have used one but thats just life,chance e.t.c
I dont regret using them as without their initial consultation and positivity I would probably not have started the process.

lawlaw

Because, newsflash sometimes it rains in aus, and some days when you get home from work thats what you want to do.

I love australia and go out loads in the evenings but you cant be out every minute of the day

KAYJAS

Thanks for the info - after the initial application were you advised by Aus immigration what to do next i.e. medicals and police checks etc. Also did it make it awkward to get your sponsor to do their bit without an agent?

patmoss

Me 'n' Mrs P have been here 11 months and we totally relate to the no mans land comment. The place is awesome but the lack of friends and family is the killer. Whens the next Brizzy meet coz we need to socialise before we kill each other!!!

Mr & Mrs Patmoss

"Ever so sad sitting in on a Saturday night, can't even wear my slippers cos my feet will sweat, got good stuff in the pipe though "

Grayling

It also gets dark early.

G

Wendy

I think we must be really wierd, cos this is one of the things we are most looking forward to.

Me and the hubby hate the summer nights in the UK, too light for way too long. Much prefer the light at about 6am and dark about 6pm time of year.

Grayling

Yes

You are wierd

G

Wendy

Maybe it stems from having kids kicking footballs at our walls every evening, until it got dark for three years. We used to look forward to it being dark early just to get some peace.

We were so glad to get out of that house.

lawrenson

what are daylight hour Winter/summer on East Coast of OZ?