British Expats - Our first anniversary, 1 year in WA

Well where do i start, at the beginning i suppose.
Sept,2004- Lets go to Oz, I lived there for 4 years as a child, well 11-15 in Mt Isa Queensland, my dad worked in the mines, they took us back to uk , homesick. My mum never really settled, but stuck it for 4 years, well they regretted it for a long time after.
3 visas failed before we got a sponsor here in Bunbury, thought about giving up a few times but my hubby would not.
Then we got a sponsor, David being Gas/plumber. So we brought David , Dale and Liam, and left Kevin scott and Michelle behind, Michelle could have come with us, but being 17 at the time of application well nearly 18, she was being bloody awkward and wanted to stay. Scott 22 at the time gave us his blessing and so did Kevin, my family was so pleased for us, especially my mum and dad, Davids family they did not bother really.
We paid for the older ones to come over on hols at Christmas and they loved it.
So 6 months later Michelle come out on a student visa, and she loves it here, i have now applied for residency.
Scott comes over with his partner on the 2nd Jan . he is going to Perth Uni, they will live in Perth. Kevin has just gone back after another holiday, and plans to live here in a couple of years.
So thats me happy, as i could not have stayed if they had hated it.
FACTS:
Weather, well winter was the worst they had here, so the locals say, we did not find it that cold. Summer here now, its great
Beaches- just stunning ,went to surf club this morning 1 st time, and loved it. They teach them safety as well.
Rental. very nice , 250 per week. 4x2, we bought our block of land back in Jan, and move into our new house in 3 weeks. We found it cheaper to build, prices have gone up so much here the same as Perth.
Parks- I have not seen dog muck or any kind of mess in the parks they are kept clean, and there is so much open space.
Isolated-never felt isolated in the slightest, there are so many places to go North and South of us. The shops i find great, coming from Morecambe, we did not have many shops, but i have noticed how quick this place is growing, the amount of construction work around.
FOOD, the important one, well we have missed nothing really, my daughter misses Lancashire mild cheese, thats all. You have to get used to the different taste. It is not cheaper than Uk, but i find it much fresher.
Domestic bills- a bit cheaper than UK i find, rates cheaper.
School- In my opinion absolutely fantastic, cant fault them at all. Mind we have not experienced high school here yet, but will next Feb. kids settled from day 1, teachers and pupils lovely.
Hubbys work, he loves it, but he does earn half what he did in UK. But we get centrelink, so thats a good help, thats family allowance ,but its means tesed here which i agree with. I went to college, and go back in Feb.
we have made some lovely friends here, English and Aussy, spanish and South African. Oh, and southerners [ha ha]. all very nice, i did find some of the mums at school a bit clicky, but you wil get that anywhere.
Lifestyle- well thats just to our liking, we go out as a family and we socialise a lot at home, we do go out without the kids sometimes, but not very often.
The sports we enjoy are , soccer , cricket, surfing, tennis, and we do enjoy aussy rules as well. I cant think of anything negative because it is what you make it. I miss family and some friends, but speak all the time, web cam is brill. I dont ache for them any more.
So would i do it again, the headaches, the stress, sleepless nights, arguments , worry, weight loss, hair falling out. TOO BLOODY RIGHT I WOULD. Its the best thing we ever did. So dont give up ever, follow your dream, if it does not work for you, then you can go home, nothing wrong with that, at least you tried, but do giveit your best shot, or you might regret like my mum and dad did.
Have a lovely day, Denise xx and gang :beer: