chels

Biggest differences:

I no longer have a permanent job and I earn less than I did in England.
I don't own my own home
My social circle is smaller
I don't sleep so well because of the hot nights, neighbours' kids, and noisy birds
I eat outside less because of mozzies etc
I do less walking etc because it's too hot in the middle part of the day to do that kind of thing, and when's starting to cool down it gets dark very quickly
Clothes dry a lot quicker
I watch less television as the choice is limited
I watch less football as I can't face staying up till 4am
I spend a lot more time online and gmailing
I eat more healthily
I drink more wine, and less vodka

BadgeIsBack

For me, its TOTAL quality of life - which cannot be costed or compared.
Little things. My mates popped around the other day, causing me to rush out of the shower with baby in tow, they saw I was busy, dropped off their youngest kids to babysit without being asked, who changed the nappy and dressed her, and then told me to drop around for a cuppa later.

Dropped by with Chief to find some other mate already there, then he and I took their kids to feed their horses up the hill because the kids begged us to come with them. These kids are great - you get a 10 yr and an 8 yr old feeding, rugging up, whilst me and the other guy watched. They are incredibly mature.

I know it could happen in any country, but standing in a paddock on a hill as the late afternoon sun comes in knowing you own a piece of it which still is very cool after 3 years.

If I lived in a new estate there would be none of those little moments just like that.

Finding out all the social circles and being part of it yourself in a tight knit community. Heading to the oval at 6am because a load of people you know from all the others things you do are all there keeping fit. Gets easier and easier.

Complete strangers coming up to you and greeting your daughter who cannot even speak their name. You then know other community events have been on without you but you're still known.

Rellies visiting from OS, taking your daughter to the shops and everyone asking where Mummy and Daddy is, and stopping them in the road.

arkon

For me it's the constant sore chuff. You know the bit of skin at the top of your legs on the inside where they rub against your gingangoolies or even the other leg. If I spend a day outside working the land I have to take the next day off lying up, not moving my legs. It's like adult nappy rash, or a 3rd degree burn. I've tried 3B, Sudocream and even going out in the buff (to keep the heat down)

Something I never ever suffered from in the UK, but here it's just another day in paradise.

Dorothy

Don't know if you can get it here, Arkon, but in N. America we had something called Gold Bond powder. It's an absolute Godsend for chafing skin. If you can find it in the chemist then give it a try. If not, the American store in Melbourne might have some.

The Koalas

Just out of interest Wol what exactly are the sort of things you can't get here?

Wendy

Bisto and Aunt Bessies

Wol

One example: our new kitchen is to have Corian worktops: we used to have Corian with inset Corian sinks. Here, you are only allowed to have two whiteish colours for the inset sinks - not a continuation of the worktop colour. There's no logical reason for it except that it's too much trouble for the company.

Another example: the NSW government in its wisdom has decreed that our house must have "dedicated" fluorescent light fittings. We have just discovered replacement GU10 fitting globes which are fluorescent - and after a week know far more about these than any retailer - except where to get them, or the 240v connectors! We must have done several hundred Km trying to source them, to no avail - what price energy saving <g>?

The Koalas

Oh so its just the little things that you miss, I am still trying to get marmite, got it once when we first landed but I can not remember where it was now. I am sure it was Bi-Lo in Logan. I do not like vegimite and only marmite will do.

What about a tube of rowntree fruit pastels? Mmmm my taste buds are tingling now!

Wendy

I'm a vegemite girl

Can honestly say I don't miss anything like that at all. Maybe I'm weird (no don't answer that )

Bix

Me too .....but not the wierd bit

Took a while to get used to not haing vinegar on me chips though.

louise4

did it make much difference having bbq sauce instead of brown sauce with your zebra

Wendy

You can buy HP here

Bix

I used to have fruity sauce in the UK

Now I'm a BBQ sauce convert.
Especially nice when replacing the tomato base on a zebra piza

louise4

hubby loves the bbq sauce there



do you get funny looks when you order at pizza hut

The Koalas

We got ours from ebay
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/GU10-energy-s...QQcmdZViewItem

Got sick of replacing ordinary ones.