Melbourne 10 days in
Jun 9th 2004, 5:14 am
#1
Forum Regular
Thread Starter
Joined: Oct 2003
Location: Melbourne
Posts: 151
Melbourne 10 days in
We have been here since last sunday and everything has been going better than I could have imagined. First off, we LOVE Melbourne. After being in the sticks of Maine for 2 years the choice of bars, cafes and restaurants is just amazing. Food in the markets is so cheap and good, the city is clean, people are friendly and it is so easy to get around on the tram & train. And what's all this talk of Melbourne's weather being crap? OK, it's raining today but we have been able to eat outside most days this week, even in the evenings when the bars and cafes have these great heater things going.
We found a house to live in after just under a week of looking. It is in Kensington, to the North of the city and on both the train and tram lines. We did check out Williamstown (thanks OT!) but it was a bit too far for us. Looking for a flat was the only difficult thing to do on foot as it was often a long walk between properties, but there are a lot available. We had no problem getting the house, although my hubby is working so this obviously helped and we brought references with us which also sped up the process. They have this great system for connecting the utlilities where one comapny (connect Now) just call you up and organise it all which is a lot less hassle. We are able to get broadband cable too for around $50 a month and a 50 installation fee after rebates which seems like a really good deal to me.
In our first week, in addition to possums and parrots, we saw wild kangeroos and koalas when we went to visit friends who
live outside the city - very cool!!
I have just come back from a trip to the good guys to look at fridges/washing machines and should be able to get a good deal. There are lots of bargains about and I have just asked lots of people where the best place to go is. Actually, more often than not people offer up the information (the advantage of travelling on the tram I suppose).
The info that I got from this site has been invaluable so cheers and good luck to all of you who are waiting to come here. It's worth the wait!
Cheers Helen-notinmaineanymore
We found a house to live in after just under a week of looking. It is in Kensington, to the North of the city and on both the train and tram lines. We did check out Williamstown (thanks OT!) but it was a bit too far for us. Looking for a flat was the only difficult thing to do on foot as it was often a long walk between properties, but there are a lot available. We had no problem getting the house, although my hubby is working so this obviously helped and we brought references with us which also sped up the process. They have this great system for connecting the utlilities where one comapny (connect Now) just call you up and organise it all which is a lot less hassle. We are able to get broadband cable too for around $50 a month and a 50 installation fee after rebates which seems like a really good deal to me.
In our first week, in addition to possums and parrots, we saw wild kangeroos and koalas when we went to visit friends who
live outside the city - very cool!!
I have just come back from a trip to the good guys to look at fridges/washing machines and should be able to get a good deal. There are lots of bargains about and I have just asked lots of people where the best place to go is. Actually, more often than not people offer up the information (the advantage of travelling on the tram I suppose).
The info that I got from this site has been invaluable so cheers and good luck to all of you who are waiting to come here. It's worth the wait!
Cheers Helen-notinmaineanymore
Jun 9th 2004, 6:01 am
#2
The Godfather
Joined: Feb 2004
Location: South East Suburbs of Melbourne
Posts: 7,336
Glad your settling in well Helen, we have been pretty lucky with the weather so far ( apart from today ) Look forward to seeing you at next Ex Pats meet.
Jun 9th 2004, 9:21 am
#3
Crazy Cat Lady
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 65,493
Re: Melbourne 10 days in
Originally posted by helenmaine
We have been here since last sunday and everything has been going better than I could have imagined. First off, we LOVE Melbourne. After being in the sticks of Maine for 2 years the choice of bars, cafes and restaurants is just amazing. Food in the markets is so cheap and good, the city is clean, people are friendly and it is so easy to get around on the tram & train. And what's all this talk of Melbourne's weather being crap? OK, it's raining today but we have been able to eat outside most days this week, even in the evenings when the bars and cafes have these great heater things going.
We found a house to live in after just under a week of looking. It is in Kensington, to the North of the city and on both the train and tram lines. We did check out Williamstown (thanks OT!) but it was a bit too far for us. Looking for a flat was the only difficult thing to do on foot as it was often a long walk between properties, but there are a lot available. We had no problem getting the house, although my hubby is working so this obviously helped and we brought references with us which also sped up the process. They have this great system for connecting the utlilities where one comapny (connect Now) just call you up and organise it all which is a lot less hassle. We are able to get broadband cable too for around $50 a month and a 50 installation fee after rebates which seems like a really good deal to me.
In our first week, in addition to possums and parrots, we saw wild kangeroos and koalas when we went to visit friends who
live outside the city - very cool!!
I have just come back from a trip to the good guys to look at fridges/washing machines and should be able to get a good deal. There are lots of bargains about and I have just asked lots of people where the best place to go is. Actually, more often than not people offer up the information (the advantage of travelling on the tram I suppose).
The info that I got from this site has been invaluable so cheers and good luck to all of you who are waiting to come here. It's worth the wait!
Cheers Helen-notinmaineanymore
We have been here since last sunday and everything has been going better than I could have imagined. First off, we LOVE Melbourne. After being in the sticks of Maine for 2 years the choice of bars, cafes and restaurants is just amazing. Food in the markets is so cheap and good, the city is clean, people are friendly and it is so easy to get around on the tram & train. And what's all this talk of Melbourne's weather being crap? OK, it's raining today but we have been able to eat outside most days this week, even in the evenings when the bars and cafes have these great heater things going.
We found a house to live in after just under a week of looking. It is in Kensington, to the North of the city and on both the train and tram lines. We did check out Williamstown (thanks OT!) but it was a bit too far for us. Looking for a flat was the only difficult thing to do on foot as it was often a long walk between properties, but there are a lot available. We had no problem getting the house, although my hubby is working so this obviously helped and we brought references with us which also sped up the process. They have this great system for connecting the utlilities where one comapny (connect Now) just call you up and organise it all which is a lot less hassle. We are able to get broadband cable too for around $50 a month and a 50 installation fee after rebates which seems like a really good deal to me.
In our first week, in addition to possums and parrots, we saw wild kangeroos and koalas when we went to visit friends who
live outside the city - very cool!!
I have just come back from a trip to the good guys to look at fridges/washing machines and should be able to get a good deal. There are lots of bargains about and I have just asked lots of people where the best place to go is. Actually, more often than not people offer up the information (the advantage of travelling on the tram I suppose).
The info that I got from this site has been invaluable so cheers and good luck to all of you who are waiting to come here. It's worth the wait!
Cheers Helen-notinmaineanymore
Jun 9th 2004, 9:26 am
#4
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: May 2004
Location: Birkdale QLD
Posts: 7,642
Re: Melbourne 10 days in
Originally posted by helenmaine
OK, it's raining today but we have been able to eat outside most days this week, even in the evenings when the bars and cafes have these great heater things going.
OK, it's raining today but we have been able to eat outside most days this week, even in the evenings when the bars and cafes have these great heater things going.
From Daily Mirror:
"1. GAS-POWERED PATIO HEATERS
Patio heaters are possibly the most environmentally unfriendly objects on the planet.
Almost all the heat they generate disperses instantly into the atmosphere, so they are incredibly inefficient.
Using a standard 13kg canister of natural gas, outdoor heaters will warm an area of up to 25sq metres for 12 hours.
A gas fire can heat an equivalent area indoors with the same canister for 10 times longer."
Still at least you get to sit outside
JTL
Jun 9th 2004, 9:44 am
#5
Class 2 Guru
Joined: May 2004
Location: Where the stars look very diff-e-rent today... and tomorrow!
Posts: 1,124
Re: Melbourne 10 days in
Hey, welcome back to the madhouse Helenvictoria! Glad to hear you're loving Melbourne.
JTL, I totally agree about the heaters. Horribly embarrassing things. (Not that I would normally use the Daily Mirror as reference material!) I think their prevalence in Melbourne must be the Melburnians' way of compensating for a cooler climate than any other major Aussie city. (Not knocking Melbourne, should be lapping it up in the not-too-distant future!)
JTL, I totally agree about the heaters. Horribly embarrassing things. (Not that I would normally use the Daily Mirror as reference material!) I think their prevalence in Melbourne must be the Melburnians' way of compensating for a cooler climate than any other major Aussie city. (Not knocking Melbourne, should be lapping it up in the not-too-distant future!)
Jun 9th 2004, 10:02 am
#6
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Nov 2003
Location: Scotland
Posts: 7,949
Re: Melbourne 10 days in
Originally posted by helenmaine
We have been here since last sunday and everything has been going better than I could have imagined. First off, we LOVE Melbourne. After being in the sticks of Maine for 2 years the choice of bars, cafes and restaurants is just amazing. Food in the markets is so cheap and good, the city is clean, people are friendly and it is so easy to get around on the tram & train. And what's all this talk of Melbourne's weather being crap? OK, it's raining today but we have been able to eat outside most days this week, even in the evenings when the bars and cafes have these great heater things going.
We found a house to live in after just under a week of looking. It is in Kensington, to the North of the city and on both the train and tram lines. We did check out Williamstown (thanks OT!) but it was a bit too far for us. Looking for a flat was the only difficult thing to do on foot as it was often a long walk between properties, but there are a lot available. We had no problem getting the house, although my hubby is working so this obviously helped and we brought references with us which also sped up the process. They have this great system for connecting the utlilities where one comapny (connect Now) just call you up and organise it all which is a lot less hassle. We are able to get broadband cable too for around $50 a month and a 50 installation fee after rebates which seems like a really good deal to me.
In our first week, in addition to possums and parrots, we saw wild kangeroos and koalas when we went to visit friends who
live outside the city - very cool!!
I have just come back from a trip to the good guys to look at fridges/washing machines and should be able to get a good deal. There are lots of bargains about and I have just asked lots of people where the best place to go is. Actually, more often than not people offer up the information (the advantage of travelling on the tram I suppose).
The info that I got from this site has been invaluable so cheers and good luck to all of you who are waiting to come here. It's worth the wait!
Cheers Helen-notinmaineanymore
We have been here since last sunday and everything has been going better than I could have imagined. First off, we LOVE Melbourne. After being in the sticks of Maine for 2 years the choice of bars, cafes and restaurants is just amazing. Food in the markets is so cheap and good, the city is clean, people are friendly and it is so easy to get around on the tram & train. And what's all this talk of Melbourne's weather being crap? OK, it's raining today but we have been able to eat outside most days this week, even in the evenings when the bars and cafes have these great heater things going.
We found a house to live in after just under a week of looking. It is in Kensington, to the North of the city and on both the train and tram lines. We did check out Williamstown (thanks OT!) but it was a bit too far for us. Looking for a flat was the only difficult thing to do on foot as it was often a long walk between properties, but there are a lot available. We had no problem getting the house, although my hubby is working so this obviously helped and we brought references with us which also sped up the process. They have this great system for connecting the utlilities where one comapny (connect Now) just call you up and organise it all which is a lot less hassle. We are able to get broadband cable too for around $50 a month and a 50 installation fee after rebates which seems like a really good deal to me.
In our first week, in addition to possums and parrots, we saw wild kangeroos and koalas when we went to visit friends who
live outside the city - very cool!!
I have just come back from a trip to the good guys to look at fridges/washing machines and should be able to get a good deal. There are lots of bargains about and I have just asked lots of people where the best place to go is. Actually, more often than not people offer up the information (the advantage of travelling on the tram I suppose).
The info that I got from this site has been invaluable so cheers and good luck to all of you who are waiting to come here. It's worth the wait!
Cheers Helen-notinmaineanymore
It's very nice to hear from you and to see that you and hubby have settled in so well and have found life to your liking.
Kensington was 'yuppified' in the last 10 to 15 years. The proximity to the city and the old terraced houses attracted 'new money'. They also built a lot of new townhouses and so on where the old saleyards (livestock) used to be around Racecourse Rd (a friend's daughter and husband bought one of them so I know the area quite well).
You won't be near South Kensington station on the Williamstown/Werribee line but must be near Macaulay or Kensington stations? Hubby is close to Melbourne Uni and I fully appreciate why 'Willy' might be too far out for you.
There are meant to be some really good eating establishments in Kensington and North Melbourne so it will take you a while to eat your way through them without going further afield!
OzTennis
Jun 9th 2004, 1:39 pm
#7
58.38264% - Extreme Geek
Joined: Jan 2004
Location: The Place To Be
Posts: 2,270
Re: Melbourne 10 days in
Originally posted by helenmaine
We have been here since last sunday and everything has been going better than I could have imagined. First off, we LOVE Melbourne. After being in the sticks of Maine for 2 years the choice of bars, cafes and restaurants is just amazing. Food in the markets is so cheap and good, the city is clean, people are friendly and it is so easy to get around on the tram & train. And what's all this talk of Melbourne's weather being crap? OK, it's raining today but we have been able to eat outside most days this week, even in the evenings when the bars and cafes have these great heater things going.
We found a house to live in after just under a week of looking. It is in Kensington, to the North of the city and on both the train and tram lines. We did check out Williamstown (thanks OT!) but it was a bit too far for us. Looking for a flat was the only difficult thing to do on foot as it was often a long walk between properties, but there are a lot available. We had no problem getting the house, although my hubby is working so this obviously helped and we brought references with us which also sped up the process. They have this great system for connecting the utlilities where one comapny (connect Now) just call you up and organise it all which is a lot less hassle. We are able to get broadband cable too for around $50 a month and a 50 installation fee after rebates which seems like a really good deal to me.
In our first week, in addition to possums and parrots, we saw wild kangeroos and koalas when we went to visit friends who
live outside the city - very cool!!
I have just come back from a trip to the good guys to look at fridges/washing machines and should be able to get a good deal. There are lots of bargains about and I have just asked lots of people where the best place to go is. Actually, more often than not people offer up the information (the advantage of travelling on the tram I suppose).
The info that I got from this site has been invaluable so cheers and good luck to all of you who are waiting to come here. It's worth the wait!
Cheers Helen-notinmaineanymore
We have been here since last sunday and everything has been going better than I could have imagined. First off, we LOVE Melbourne. After being in the sticks of Maine for 2 years the choice of bars, cafes and restaurants is just amazing. Food in the markets is so cheap and good, the city is clean, people are friendly and it is so easy to get around on the tram & train. And what's all this talk of Melbourne's weather being crap? OK, it's raining today but we have been able to eat outside most days this week, even in the evenings when the bars and cafes have these great heater things going.
We found a house to live in after just under a week of looking. It is in Kensington, to the North of the city and on both the train and tram lines. We did check out Williamstown (thanks OT!) but it was a bit too far for us. Looking for a flat was the only difficult thing to do on foot as it was often a long walk between properties, but there are a lot available. We had no problem getting the house, although my hubby is working so this obviously helped and we brought references with us which also sped up the process. They have this great system for connecting the utlilities where one comapny (connect Now) just call you up and organise it all which is a lot less hassle. We are able to get broadband cable too for around $50 a month and a 50 installation fee after rebates which seems like a really good deal to me.
In our first week, in addition to possums and parrots, we saw wild kangeroos and koalas when we went to visit friends who
live outside the city - very cool!!
I have just come back from a trip to the good guys to look at fridges/washing machines and should be able to get a good deal. There are lots of bargains about and I have just asked lots of people where the best place to go is. Actually, more often than not people offer up the information (the advantage of travelling on the tram I suppose).
The info that I got from this site has been invaluable so cheers and good luck to all of you who are waiting to come here. It's worth the wait!
Cheers Helen-notinmaineanymore
We'll be over in Melbourne before long ourselves - end July-ish.
Hope to see you & family at an Expats meet up sometime!
Cheers
Anya.
Jun 9th 2004, 2:10 pm
#8
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Aug 2003
Location: New Zealand
Posts: 2,389
Re: Melbourne 10 days in
Helen
good to hear your news re- settling into Melb.
I made do with a lovely parcel of goodies from the Aussie shop instead of a visa to oz - for now anyway- H.
good to hear your news re- settling into Melb.
I made do with a lovely parcel of goodies from the Aussie shop instead of a visa to oz - for now anyway- H.
Jun 9th 2004, 3:54 pm
#9
¤¤¤ • ¤¤¤ • ¤¤¤ • ¤¤¤
Joined: May 2004
Location: Frankston South, Victoria
Posts: 2,867
Re: Melbourne 10 days in
Helen,
Really glad to see you're settling in OK. We're moving to Melbourne as well but for us it seems such a long way off!!
Keep the posts coming
D D
Really glad to see you're settling in OK. We're moving to Melbourne as well but for us it seems such a long way off!!
Keep the posts coming
D D
Jun 9th 2004, 4:24 pm
#10
Good news everyone...
Joined: Jan 2004
Location: Menzies Creek, Melbourne
Posts: 132
We are going to Melbourne early in 2005 and now I've got the visa I'm starting to worry if I'd like it in Oz or not as I've never been before and the wife only lived in Brisbane for 8 years, but this post has realy cheered me up and has me wishing that I could go a lot sooner.
Keeps us informed of your progress.
Dave
Keeps us informed of your progress.
Dave
Jun 9th 2004, 10:31 pm
#11
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Aug 2003
Location: New Zealand
Posts: 2,389
Originally posted by davidclifford
We are going to Melbourne early in 2005 and now I've got the visa I'm starting to worry if I'd like it in Oz or not as I've never been before and the wife only lived in Brisbane for 8 years, but this post has realy cheered me up and has me wishing that I could go a lot sooner.
Keeps us informed of your progress.
Dave
We are going to Melbourne early in 2005 and now I've got the visa I'm starting to worry if I'd like it in Oz or not as I've never been before and the wife only lived in Brisbane for 8 years, but this post has realy cheered me up and has me wishing that I could go a lot sooner.
Keeps us informed of your progress.
Dave
I've sent you a pm
Jun 9th 2004, 10:51 pm
#12
Class 2 Guru
Joined: May 2004
Location: Where the stars look very diff-e-rent today... and tomorrow!
Posts: 1,124
Originally posted by davidclifford
We are going to Melbourne early in 2005 and now I've got the visa I'm starting to worry if I'd like it in Oz or not...
We are going to Melbourne early in 2005 and now I've got the visa I'm starting to worry if I'd like it in Oz or not...
