as much as i dont like the look of that - it's rather clever isn't it with that lid it makes!

when we go to our citizenship ceremony and take the oath of allegiance, that revokes our PR visa so yes we'll need an Aussie passport to re-enter the country-more bl**dy dollars i suppose....

It must be cheaper than renewing a British passport though, I'd have thought anyway. How much does it cost to get your Citizenship?

The application fee is $240, it took 9 days from applying to the grant letter.

yep we've always rang them up to book just to make sure of all the details, conditions of ticket etc

I know theres been times when they said there would be a charge to change return date but from this end we've not had to pay? got to pay this time though but we pay on departure.

bloody hell how do you pack for 10 days in Uk and 6 in Singapore!

Hi... I think we'll probably do that when our time comes....
I wouldnt mind paying a small charge in order to change a return date. I will be 40 in April 2010, so depending on when we get out to the Island in 2009, if we didn't need to return for any other reason my birthday may fall in the time that we would have on return tickets....That way we could possibly come back to the UK or do a trip to celebrate my 40th.....(not sure i'll be celebrating as such being 40 but can't avoid it! )

I can see you buying a couple of jumpers when you arrive! We were in Tesco earlier - and they have jumpers from £4 - nice ones as well - so you'd probably be better off not bringing too much and picking up what you need when you get here.... The weather's so changeable - but i do think it'll stay pretty cold for the next couple of weeks or so... You can always use any shorts you might pack for Singapore as thermal underwear over here!

reckon somewhere like Fiji would be nice for your 40th but tickets are good to have if you need them

bloody hell 4 quid oh how I miss UK prices! yes will do that sales will be on after boxing day as well might get one for 2 quid

forgot to say yesterday Australia...the movie.. is brilliant, dont know why Kidman has had such bad reviews I think she was really good but the little boy stole the show he was fantastic... take your tissues

it is really clever.. dont want one though

Hmmm....Fiji - now that would be a nice destination! Dont give me idea's - otherwise Andy will be hiding the credit cards! He got in a panic the other night when he walked past me on the computer and i was looking at holidays! (only checking to see if the credit crunch was affecting the price of holidays during school holidays - but no - they're not any cheaper!)
Clothes over here seem to be getting even cheaper...and none of the big stores are waiting to have their sales - a lot of them have started already.
Did you all hear about Woolworths going bust? they've been doing 50% off sales on a lot of their stock... I wonder if that'll have any affect at all on
Woolies in Oz ? They're still one of your major supermarket chains aren't they? Me and Andy said how weird it would be not to see Woolworths in the UK - nearly every parade of shops we know in Essex has a Woolies!
I reckon if you plan to do shopping whilst you're over you'll get some right bargains in all the big stores!

Glad you enjoyed the Australia film... I'm definitely going to see it after Christmas...

Having a good old moan about the NHS today....my GP surgery in particular.
I was off work all last week with this cold/cough thing that's going around over here. Haven't gotten any better really so definitely need some anti-biotics or something....So last week made an appointment to see GP at 11am this morning. Walk 20mins to our GP's surgery - only to be told there's no record of my appointment - and they've had to book me in again for 5.30 this evening :curse: Bearing in mind i'm due back in work this afternoon - i am not impressed! Have had to tell my manager i'll not be in again today....
Looks like i wont be meeting my year end targets having so much time off this month. Oh well!

So is the weather starting to warm up nicely for you guys over there?

Cathy



Cathy

Weather not been overly fantastic so far, very cloudy and we've had a lot of rain. The up side is the countryside is greening up nicely and the vegies are doing very well. But if I remember correctly December last year wasn't that great either.

I can sympathize with your cold symptoms, I'm suffering myself too at the moment, must be the change in temps with the weather. I am feeling very sorry for myself today sitting here with a hot lemon and honey drink and a box of tissues.

I don't think that the woolies here have anything to do with the Uk woolies, there have been no reports of companies going under here, so far anyway. I read in the Mercury the other day that retail sales were no different from last year and some were actually up on last year, I guess the test will be after Christmas. It helps that Kevin Rudd is dishing out money for eligible family's and pensioners, we will be getting $1000 for Alex, it's a grand for every child. So that will help pay for his school uniform next year.

Kerry

EACH?

hope you feel better soon Kerry!!

Thanks Donna me too.

How's that entertainment area coming along?

eh... a bit slower than hoped for!! Will have to have a post Xmas party I fear. We only have next weekend free before we go up to St. Helen's on the 20th and the girls have got a girl guide's Xmas carol thingy on

I think I'll make a yearly thing of a party at mine after "The Taste of the Huon"

Cool, when is taste of huon on?