Originally Posted by MrsDagboy

Dear NKSK,

I dont know where you are heading to, but I can tell you what its like here in Brisbane. Yes, winters here are liveable, I dont know of anyone who has perished of hypothermia in their homes for a couple of years now at least . Winter days here are generally around 20 degrees (celcius, in case you were thinking that that may have been a little chilly ) & evenings get down to single figures when its cold. Until last week it was still in the mid teens (minimum temp, usually the last hour before dawn) at night, it has now dropped & is in single figures as it is for about 2-3 months during winter. Never seen ice on the inside of the windows (or the outside for that matter!) & cant remember when we last ever had a frost.

The problem occurs when people from the UK come here & somehow expect it to be 25 degrees year round. Its not. We have a season here called winter. The next problem arises when migrants from the UK expect houses here to have central heating. They dont. Australians here in Brisbane heat their homes using electric heaters. Close the doors, pull the blinds & curtains, put on a fleece & turn the heater on. Considering that it is only cold enough to need heating in the evenings for 2-3 months of the year explains why central heating really doesnt strike most Aussies in Brisbane as a high priority. Please dont throw away all your warm clothes thinking that you will never need to wear more than a pair of speedos or a bikini again, cos you will be surprised that in fact 10 degrees here is the same as 10 degrees in the UK - you will need a jumper!

I have lost track of the number of people who used to read this forum before they moved here but now they are here say how things on here are blown so out of proportion. Lost track of the amount of times Im told "Dont know where some of those posters live, but its not the same Australia that I live in" .

Its a different country, of course things taste different, things are done differently, there are different rules & you wont be able to buy Walkers crisps in the local supermarket. If you dont come to Australia expecting the UK with sunshine or the equivilent (weather & otherwise) of your annual holiday in Spain, Im pretty sure you will be OK . Believe it or not, despite what you read on this forum, there are actually lots of people who live here that love it .

Come & try it - you might even find you like it .

Originally Posted by Badge

Bloody hell MrsD- best post on winter I have ever read!!
A top tip is to close curtains and blinds it does make a difference. Sydney and Melbourne get colder - although extremes in Sydney can interestingly match Melbourne for a while- probably less cloud cover. Anyhow, with a good heater - we have one wood burner which is great fun - we often only light the fire because we love it- good exercise, keeping active, heating you bedroom with a quick efficient heater 30mins before you go to bed - and in the case of the Chief of staff - turning on her side of the leccy blanket that hevs bought her - thanks mate - you'll be right. Chuck a load of insulation inthe loft cavity we have about 3 inches.

In the morning it can be a bit of mind over matter - just ignore the cold and get showered and dried off quick and hey - remember games at school? - suddenly it's fine. I do chores - pool, mowing, filling the wood chute, splitting, you soon warm up. The best warm clothing I have, as I have discovered, is my Country Fire Authority turnout structural jacket but I can't wear it all the time as I'd get funny looks.

There's no ice anywhere here inside or out either - maybe a bit of condesation - I've just checked theres none - it is 12.4 degrees (9pm) outside in Australia's 2nd "coldest" city.


badge

Originally Posted by MrsDagboy

Dear NKSK,

I dont know where you are heading to, . . . .

Originally Posted by sponge bob

Stay put save your money, there far more to life than a bit of sunshine,
and the amount of money you are about to spend will buy a lot of sunshine holidays . Australia ( Perth ) in general is a good 20 years behind the uk in most things that matter but not in drugs and crime.


THINK ON !!!!!!!!!!!

Originally Posted by MrsDagboy

Its a different country, of course things taste different, things are done differently, there are different rules & you wont be able to buy Walkers crisps in the local supermarket. If you dont come to Australia expecting the UK with sunshine or the equivilent (weather & otherwise) of your annual holiday in Spain, Im pretty sure you will be OK

Originally Posted by sponge bob

and the amount of money you are about to spend will buy a lot of sunshine holidays . Australia ( Perth ) in general is a good 20 years behind the uk in most things that matter

Originally Posted by sponge bob

but not in drugs and crime.

Originally Posted by Simone

Because it's not good to sleep with it on, I'm sure
And if you only have it on before you get in: it doesn't solve the undressing bit, and for the cold bed you might as well use a hot water bottle, cheaper.

Originally Posted by MrsDagboy

Electric blankets are used mainly to heat the bed up before you get in it. Too hot to sleep with one on, we always turn ours off when we get in bed. Hot water bottles heat a really small circle in the middle of the bed, electric blankets heat the whole bed, so you can stretch out your feet & be warm & toasty & :zz: . It only takes about 1/2 hr to warm it up so the cost is minimal.

As for the undressing bit, dunno how long it takes you to undress, but Im in bed in less than 5 seconds :-p - feels lovely too being so warm :-D .

Originally Posted by alkristensen

But you are a pom, watered down though. Shame for you. Is that where all this pom bashing attitude comes from, the fact that you want to be one sooo much, but will never be, but just a mongrel that decended from the very people that you are trying to insult, and just jealous.

And cause we are better at cricket!

For a day anyway.x

Originally Posted by janeyray

Buy a house in the UK and the chances are it will have central heating. Buy a house in OZ and the chances are it wont have any heating. Of course you can put heating in as ABC suggested

I think a lot of people from the UK go to OZ knowing the weather will be great for most of the time. Of course they know it gets cold over there (don't they? )

BUT

I think what they 'dont' expect it to have to go back to the 1970's UK when we used hot water bottles, electric blankets, shut the curtains/blinds to keep the draughts out (no double glazing) and had to sleep in socks, jumpers and lots more extra clothing. Thats all, thats what they don't expect.

To be perfectly honest (yes I'm stupid, nieve, whatever whatever...) we didn't expect to have to go to those extreames just to keep warm in the house. One expensive gas fire didn't heat up the whole house, especially as they are open plan. We didn't have enough money to have reversed cycle air con which seems only to be pre-installed in the new build houses. It's not really stupidity, its just not knowing because we've never experienced it.

Not sure where I would go to get a hot water bottle from in the UK? lol Oh I think boots sell 'Pooh Bear' ones at Christmas.

Originally Posted by janeyray

I think what they 'dont' expect it to have to go back to the 1970's UK when we used hot water bottles, electric blankets, shut the curtains/blinds to keep the draughts out (no double glazing) and had to sleep in socks, jumpers and lots more extra clothing. Thats all, thats what they don't expect.

Originally Posted by MrsDagboy

Simone - LOL the whole thing is insulated, so I dont think it could have actually burnt a hole unless it was faulty. Just remember to turn it off when you go to bed if you are worried. If you are going to get one, there are 2 types, fitted ones (easier to put on but more expensive) & the ones that you tie on. Tie on ones are fine (we have one), just not as "neat" & are cheaper. You also pay more for washable ones (which we have got) I dont know what they cost over there (going on some of Kalas prices, I dont want to know either!), but our queen sized one (we couldnt get a king sized!) cost about $70 or $80 from memory. You should be able to get them from Kmart, BigW, Target etc.

Trust me, once you have one, you will never go back to a hot water bottle or being cold again :-).