thanks Sam
What kind of a nuisance had your neighbours been? hope it was stuff you could easily ignore! I guess you never know what your neighbours are going to be like no matter in the world you end up!
at least in Oz you have more distance between your two houses than over here!!!

Your day out yesterday sounds lovely. How long is the journey to Bruny Island? do you go from Hobart waterfront to get there ?

Cathy

Hi Kay Have you been ski-ing since you've been in Tas? seems weird for there to be ski-places in Australia!!!

I know the kids will get easier to entertain (or rather they can amuse themselves more) once they get a bit older.... At least Eden will take herself off upstairs to draw/colour in etc or read her books... Jared's the one that's hard to keep amused indoors!

To be honest, we're kind of glad that not many people realise how nice a place Tas is... Although Andy was a bit disappointed by their reaction as everyone hopes that family/friends will be pleased for you, we know it'll be their loss! We did like some of WA when we visited last year...but it was a place i couldnt imagine myself living in. Perhaps if i'd been in my 20's and without the kids (i could imagine myself working in Perth City) - but not now...
The parts we could envisage living in around the river we couldnt have afforded to live in - and the suburbs we could afford were a bit personality
free for my liking and a long way from even local shops...
and i think the heat would have got to me!

whereabouts did you live in WA ? did you go there 1st before deciding to move to Tas ?

Cathy

Hi Cathy

The neighbours have apparently been causing problems for some time according to the estate agent who we are renting from, its 2 lads, playing music at 3am, revving the utes for hours on end and deciding to practice their guitar playing at 6am!! As there is no double glazing, its does get a bit loud and as we are in a town house unit, we don't have any garden between us really.

From what I've seen, unless you can afford a larger property and plot, there is very little privacy between you and your neighbours, unless you are in a rural spot, like Kerry, and then you have the stars and wallabies for company Definitely a good reason to live in the country.

You get to Bruny Island via a ferry which goes from Kettering on a regular timetable, it only cost $25 return for the car, so I thought that was really good value. I think there are also various boat cruises you can do down to Bruny in the summer but I'm not sure if you go on the island or just sail around. It was really lovely and only took about 20 minutes to get to Kettering from here, so nice and handy to do again when the children have their holiday in Sept.

Hope you are all OK.

Sam

Hiya no never been ski-ing always fancied having a go though, friends of ours who live in Sydney always go to Thredbo in NSW they've offered to take us so hopefully one day I'll get to have a go I fancy going with someone who knows what they are doing http://www.thredbo.com.au/

we stayed with Cols cousin in WA a place called Ellenbrook near the Swan Valley, but we did a lot of touring around WA whilst we were there, it was whilst we were there that we started looking into emigrating to Oz but found that Col was too old to get a 136 visa, the only option was to go down the state sponsered route. One of the things with Tas is they like you to have visited so we got a plane over from WA and Col had a meeting with the government and it all went from there really

that sounds a nightmare Sam where abouts are you? thank god he's evicted them

Oh no, noisy neighbours! i know what that's like - the guy next to us is always revving his car up and his big petrol lawnmover thingy really early in the morning! At least it's not late at night though - that would be annoying!
So the estate agent neglected to tell you about the troublesome neighbours before you moved in then?

I thought houses were more spaced out - and from the sqm sizes on realestate.com the plots seem 2-3 times more at least than what we have here. Perhaps it's just where i live now!

That sounds good about your Bruny island trip, the price is good - and if the journey's not too far i guess it makes you more willing to go visit again if the place was so nice...

We're all ok thanks. Andy has picked up our car from the garage this morning - it cost £390.00 but now wont start now that he's got home! It also needs the clutch doing soon and the guy said that would be over £400! Cars can be such money pits!

Eden has had a great morning - one of her school friends Mum's took her and her friend to an Arts Centre this morning where they were on a course to make a Mermaids outfit! She had a great time as Arts&Crafts are her thing...
Andy took Jared with him to get the car - which meant i had a chance to do some ironing and ring a friend! Going out tonight for a meal after work with two friends at a restaurant called La Tasca - so looking forward to some Tapas!

Cathy

Hi, I like watching ski-ing - tried having a go once - but i'm too clumsy and accident prone! Definitely better if you're with someone who knows what they're doing or if you have those beginner lessons!
I've heard of Ellenbrook, i know it's meant to be nice there - we originally planned to visit the Swan Valley whilst we were staying in Perth but never really got a chance to - we also wanted to see the Margaret River area but never had time to go there either...the 3 weeks just ran away from us really.
Good that you managed to get State sponsored. I dont know why they dont increase the age limit really....most people have to work till they're 60plus nowadays so they're still going to get plenty of working years out of people when they arrive!

Cathy

Crikey it's been quiet on here this week.....

I know it's winter over there guys - but are you all hibernating?!

The sun has actually decided to come out the last day or so here (amongst the odd shower) - but what a surprise according to the weather report a short while ago - we're having rain at the weekend!

So what's everyone been up to ?

Cathy

Hi Cathy

Might be a good idea to hibernate again as it has been chilly this week

The children's school was closed on Wednesday due to snow closing some roads, we didn't have much here really, only a dusting but the kids enjoyed a day off school! As they were then off again on Friday as a "student free day" they had an easy week.

We have just been to some open homes today, they certainly need a few lessons on how to present their houses here Interesting to see what we can get though, we are still undecided whether to have privacy and peace in the country and the lack of privacy but all the convenience of being in the town - as we only have one car and don't really want the expense of buying and running two, then I think it will have to be a town setting. But we've got plenty of time as we are renting until Jan 09.

Hope the weather has improved for you, especially for the children as its so hard to keep them occupied in the rain.

Sam

Hi Sam Does seem strange hearing about snow when Australia is being talked about! Sounds like us here in the UK doesn't it - totally unprepared for any snow when it falls with the school having to shut. No wonder the kids were pleased having two days off in a week! Are you expecting more snow or do you reckon that's it ?

I've seen some unusual tastes in decor on realestate.com.au - so i can only imagine what some of the houses are like when you come to view them.

It must be hard to make a decision as to where to live, but like you say you have plenty of time to have a good look and a good think about it all.
At least it's an easier decision for me as i am a towney and i know i'd want to be walking distance from stuff if possible and i like people watching!

The weather over here has been really good the last couple of days. Quite warm when the sun's out - but a bit chilly when the clouds come over. Thankfully no rain - so yes the kids have been able to play outside and have been to the park for a run around today which is a relief as they ... We also went shopping earlier as i received my 20 year service vouchers from work - i was going to buy a laptop with them but have decided it's not worth getting one yet if it's just going to sit in the box till we move - so we just had a bit of a spend up instead - but i haven't spent all of them....we just bought the kids new toys each (Eden has a microphone that plays High School Musical tunes that you sing along to and a Sticker maker machine - i think i'll have a headache by bedtime tonight ), and Jared got a thomasthetank engine toy thing so i now need to sort out some of the toys they've both outgrown and see if i can put them in the loft for the next car-boot sale - they have so much between them and we know they cant bring it all anyway... We also bought a new rug for the dining-room, some voile for the dining room, another big CD holder from Indonesia from The Pier and a few other bits and bobs...

Anyway, i hope you enjoy the rest of your weekend whatever you've got planned.

talk to you during the week!
take care
Cathy

Hello my fellow Taswegians!!

Have been up to Mnt Field National Park today, there was loads of snow and discovered they have a ski resort up there. There were loads of peeps skiing, we played it safe and had a snow ball fight It was really funny because there were some drifts of up to 3-4 feet and you just didn't know what was underneath, Alex kept disappearing, bless im! But it was a little disconcerting even for me at a modest 5'2".

It's great that something like this is only 45 mins from our house. I bought a year pass for the national parks today, I'll think we'll get our money's worth somehow and at $66 I think is a bargain, considering they charge $22 per car to go up the mountain.

^^^ Kerry the national parks pass is great value. Good that there was snow up there, we might have to investigate next weekend or something.

Hi Kezza, Do you see lots of ski wear/equipment for sale in the sports shops?
Sounds like living in Tas you are in an ideal spot really.....short drive from the sea, short drives from lakes and rivers, and short drive from ski-resorts in the winter!
When will you start planting up your vegetable plot do you reckon?

Say hi to Beth&all when you see them soon.....

Cathy

http://stsa.webbed.com.au/


Here is a website with snow reports, so you can check before you depart. But to be honest it's worth a visit with or without snow. There are also some great walks to do.

Can't say that I've looked for ski equipment to be honest, but I am sure if you look you will find it somewhere. There are some very good sports shops here, as you know Aussies are well into sports. But some how Cathy I can't seem to picture you skiing!!!

I have just discovered on the snow report website you can hire ski's from Hobart.

I was wondering more for Andy & the kids! I have been ski-ing before and it isn't me at all! I'm far too big, clumsy and accident prone to be suited to the sport! I'm more the Apres-ski kind of girl (ie, the drinking and relaxing part!!!!).... Andy has been ski-ing many times with his mates before but has never really bought his own equipment but i think he would love to introduce the kids to ski-ing one day...