Hi there Just cutting into your reply - i forgot to mention on the thread before - but Andy came home from work one day last week with a copy of the Australian News newspaper (i think it's published for Australians living in the UK). In it was a small article which funnily enough was about the cost of living - and it mentioned Tasmania on its own - saying that Tasmanian's generally paid more for their purchases than mainlanders...
The paper was also talking about the Federal Governments new grocery watch website..... do you guys know about that??? I guess it's probably been in your newspapers over there...
Cathy

^^^^ again it would depend on where you shop, Coles, Woolworths, Kmart Big W, Target - all their prices are the same nationwide - go to the little corner store run by the local chinese family and yes I am sure you would pay more because they don't have the buying power of the big guns


here is a comparison - difference of less than 5%
http://www.grocerychoice.gov.au/Basket.aspx?region=22

http://www.grocerychoice.gov.au/Basket.aspx?region=59

or where I used to live in WA (actually dearer than Tassie)

http://www.grocerychoice.gov.au/Basket.aspx?region=53


5% more to live here or live in crowded Melbourne? I know what I'd choose

HI is it an aussie site? could you give me a link please

was thinking of buying a load of stuff from uk and getting someone to ship it to me.

I buy scrapbooking stuff, you will need to do a search for your particular craft supplies or you could try eBay.

oh right sorry I thought you used a particular site for art supplies.

We would have dropped in, but it was dinner time, I thought it might be a bit inappropriate to drop in unannounced at that time, plus we were all gagging to get some yummy grub down our throats! So we headed for Salamanca for some Greek fodda.

I didnt realise that the big stores hold the same prices nationwide - from the way the article was worded it sounded like they bumped them up a bit more in Tas.
I agree it's worth the additional cost to live somewhere lovely - but in this day & age you shouldn't be penalised so much for being an Island state - the UK's an Island and we're not! although i know we probably can produce more of what's needed here ourselves....

Interesting that you think WA was more expensive....i'll have to tell Andy's sister that next time she's going on about the downsides of living in Tas!

Hi Possums what kind of materials do you use?
this is a good website :- www.discountart.co.uk
I imagine they'd post to Australia - although have never done a comparison of prices to other sites....

I thought you guys might like to know that Beth and Andrew made an appearance into Tassie today! Beth was over come with emotion when she arrived and totally loves it here, she said it reminds her of Wales a little.

Unfortunately Andrew forgot his drivers licence so they couldn't hire a car, but they found a lovely taxi driver with a mini bus to take them up to Mnt. Wellington tomorrow, so it's all good. And luckily she booked into the Grand Chancellor so they are in a very central location for doing all the boat tours and stuff. They couldn't have picked a more beautiful day to arrive the sky was blue and the sun was shining and there is snow on Mnt Welly, you couldn't have hoped for a better day to arrive!!

Hi Kerry. Glad Beth&All made it over ok I'm sure they'll have a great time whilst they're in Hobart. When you see them again say hi from me!
Sounds like Beth & Andrew will have some tough decisions to make...i was reading some other threads where the guys they met up with in Brisbane etc had posted about their stay with them and they had said that they had loved it over there too.... Dont envy them having to make a decision. I hope it's an easy one for them!

Hi Cathy mainly oils and acrylics but its not just the paint its the supports, brushes etc I'll have a look at that site thank you

Sorry been a bit out of the loop here, thought Beth and Andrew werent going to Oz now, have they migrated or just validating???

Hope you had a good Bank Hol weekend. I survived my first camping trip with the kids!!!! 5.5 months pregnant and sleeping on an air bed for 3 nights is not recommended!!!! he he.

Hi

Beth and Andrew have been unable to sell their house so have decided to validate and try again next year to sell. They are still undecided where they will choose but Tas certainly put on a good show for them yesterday with beautiful sunshine and snow on Mt Wellington

Camping, kids and pregnancy - you're brave

Sam

he he he, I know!! Brave or Mad not sure yet!!!!! Good to hear Beth and Andrew are still considering Tas. Hopefully they wont find it too hard to sell once they get back. C x

Hi Corinne, you were brave - camping 3 nights on an air bed!!! Where did you go ? did you get to see any of the Mersea Regatta at the weekend?
We went to a lovely park in Billericay Saturday - called Lake Meadows - ever been there? really nice for the kids - it's got swings etc, lake (obvious by the name i guess! ), lovely little tea-room/cafe, nature trail - so many friendly squirrells running up to you - our two were amazed. We get them in our garden but obviously those ones scarper as soon as they spot you. It was one of the nicer parks we'd been to recently...

I see Sam answered your question about Beth & Andrew. I've got my fingerscrossed for them too for when they put the house up for sale again after Christmas. I hope things have picked up a bit property wise by then....for all our sakes!

One of the houses that went up for sale the same time as ours in our area - similar house for almost same original asking price - we believe has now sold for more than £20k less than what we were both asking for earlier in the year...
We'll be interested to see on rightmove's sold price website in a few months what the actual sale figure was....

Cathy