One year in Australia

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Apr 21st 2005, 3:21 pm

#16

Siren & Brian

Joined: Dec 2003

Location: Hillarys, Perth

Posts: 3,973

Siren & Brian has a reputation beyond repute

Re: One year in Australia

Congratulations you two!!! Feels good, doesn't it???

Hard to believe a year has gone by so quickly!

Here's to the next

Siren xx

Apr 21st 2005, 3:28 pm

#17

Scossie

Scottish Aussie ©

Joined: Feb 2004

Location: Belmont, Perth, WA

Posts: 2,009

Re: One year in Australia

Quote:

Originally Posted by Siren & Brian

Get there early it will be packed

I know! We were there last year. Parked the car in West Perth at about 4.30am, & there were hundreds of people walking down the street.

The service was very moving. Made me even more proud to live here.
I was amazed at how a crowd of over 100,000 people, ranging in ages from the very young to the very old, can be so quiet...

Apr 21st 2005, 6:59 pm

#18

TheCrone

been there........

Joined: Dec 2004

Location: Perth, WA

Posts: 349

Re: One year in Australia

The 6am service at the Fremantle memorial is even more moving. It's dark when you get there, but you can see the lights of the docks, the ships out at sea. Gradually the light increases, the Ocean gradually develops that wonderful dark blue tone. You look around and realise you're surrounded by hundreds of silent people. There's such an air of reverence that it's almost tangible.

Apr 21st 2005, 9:00 pm

#19

Stormz

Superfreak!!

Joined: Jan 2004

Location: Thornlie, Perth, W.A.

Posts: 1,177

Re: One year in Australia

We went to the Frech battlefields of the Somme a couple of years ago for Anzac day. It was very moving.... all those poor kids who are buried there (from all nationalities). We went to a place where the Canadians practically got wiped out (they have left it as it was during the war, except of course it has grass now instead of mud... but all the trenches are still there, and the shell holes, and even some of the posts the barbed wire was on). We saw alot of memorials (including the big Anzac one), and we`re REALLY impressed with the way the French look after everything in honour of those who lost their lives there fighting with them. I`ve never seen so many gravestones in all my life, and never so many which don`t have any names on.

Apr 21st 2005, 11:10 pm

#20

Merlot

Guest

Posts: n/a

Re: One year in Australia

Quote:

Originally Posted by kath n kim

Touche' !!!

Long may it continue.
kath n kim

Have to say though, Timbuktoo, terrible place to find decent chocolate and loo roll.

M

Apr 21st 2005, 11:23 pm

#21

Bix

da Bonehead

Joined: Jan 2004

Location: Lion in da jungle

Posts: 22,767

Re: One year in Australia

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vegemite Kids

I gave my bosses boss a piece of my mind.

Doesn't leave much to spare then.

You know one day the chocolate will run dry and in that first sober moment you will find yourself in Perth, Scotland.

Good post Mairi...glad you are enjoying life

Apr 22nd 2005, 12:08 am

#22

DagBoy

Cheesy Member

Joined: Jul 2003

Location: Brisbane

Posts: 1,033

Re: One year in Australia

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stormz

...and we`re REALLY impressed with the way the French look after everything in honour of those who lost their lives there fighting with them. I`ve never seen so many gravestones in all my life, and never so many which don`t have any names on.

Got to agree about the way they are looked after. We went over to Paris when we were in the UK last year and on the way back to Calais we stopped off at a commonwealth war cemetry in a small town. It was not huge - not the lines of stones in rank upon rank - just 80 or so graves, but it was all immaculate. No mess, no weeds, trimmed grass, neat hedges. Then you walk along looking at the details and realise most of the people buried there were under 22. It always brings a tear to my eye.

This morning I sat in on our school's ANZAC day parade, listening to the school captains (11-12) telling us why ANZAC day is important and listening to a chap from the RSL talking about serving in the RAAF just after WWII. The entire school (360 odd kids) sitting silent throughout - no fidgeting, no talking, just respect for sacrifices that they really cannot comprehend. Made me proud to be an almost Aussie.

Cheers,

DagBoy

Apr 22nd 2005, 12:41 am

#23

Teresa

BE Enthusiast

Joined: Mar 2003

Location: Hands up if you like shopping !!

Posts: 876

Re: One year in Australia

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vegemite Kids

We have now been back in Australia for 1 year 2 hours and 10 mins (am I counting ? you bet I am ! )

Things have gone so much better then we had imagined

We knew it would be good but the reality has far exceed our expectations (esp mine)

We have made so many new friends, not only from this site but also neighbours, work collegues and people out and about.

Chris is working as an apprentice (something which would have been unachievable in Germany) I have a great job (even better since I gave my bosses boss a piece of my mind. Also today I found out that my pervy boss is being retrenched and there is a chance that I will get a promotion in the next few months)

We are hoping to settle with a house in the next month or so (just have to convince the bank in South Africa to release our money) and then we can get on with the purchase.

We've been busy just about every weekend we've been here and still havent "done" everything Perth has to offer. Why oh why did I think getting a job would be a good idea <shakes head>

Only 364 days 21 hours and 50 mins until Chris gets his PR, and 3 years 21 hours and 50 mins till he can become a citizen.

If time flies by as much as it has in the last year then citizenship will arrive before he knows it

mairi
(home again home again - I luuuuuuuuuuuurve Australia)

Another excuse to open and bottle...lol...congrats on your first year here, will toast to that

and to a fab couple xxxx