the munros

Hello everyone,
I am interested to know all about your new life down under? What kind of things do you do on a weeknight and weekends that you never used to do (due to climate perhaps)?
We are keen to move from the UK, at the moment it appears we spend about 95% of our life in our house trying to keep warm, it's too dark and cold to go out. I am quite looking forward to having more options open to us. We feel OZ could offer us an improved life style.
We have two little kids (2 years and 4 years) so we would love to hear from people who have young family. It would be interesting to see how your life has changed since moving?
We do feel quite restricted in the UK with young kids! It would be nice to be more sociable and have more options...
Looking forward to any responses, thanks very much in advance folks.

Timber Floor Au

in summer we spend 95% of our time indoors trying to keep cool !

Welcome to the forum, use the search facility above, and search for threads about " our life downunder " etc

the munros

ha ha...different worlds! Cheers for reply x

Dorothy

On weekdays we go to work, come home, have dinner, clean up, wind down a bit and get the kids into bed for school the next day. Weekends we clean the house, do the laundry and do all the grocery shopping. Sundays are usually spent doing something together, but not always.

Like TFA says, in summer we spend most of our time inside trying to stay cool. It's not very comfortable to be outside when it's 40 degrees in the shade with a UV in the extreme range. Winter is usually spent indoors trying to stay warm or dry. Although 10 degrees in winter may sound warm to you still in UK, it's bloody freezing when your house has no insulation and your body is used to 20+ degrees.

ellie10990

I agree we had big ideas of how wonderful life was going to be.But in reality its exactly the same chores,work etc in fact longer hours.
I spend more time inside here than I ever did as do the kids.No kids play out here and no pavements for them so walking to school is not even an option

Nerine

Hi, it's summer now and we've not been here for a full winter yet so not really sure how cool it gets but i think it's more wet season/dry season than distinct summer/winter in Queensland.

We spend a fair time indoors (not just in the house though) because of the heat and humidty. A lot of the shops, offices and entertainment facilities are air conditioned so its quite easy to stay cool. But then again, we did the same in NZ because the UV was either too strong to go out for long or the weather was crap.

If we're going to do much outside its usually early morning, I'm awake by 5.30am and mornings are good for doing most things. We tend to stay out of the sun (a habit we got into in NZ) during the highest UV part part of the day 11-3pm ish. That phrase "mad dogs and englishmen....." being an example of what not to do! I can see why the Med. countries have an afternoon siesta

Sometimes we swim in the pool after dark which is really nice, it is still very warm at night so very easy to sit outside at a restaurant or home BBQ. Haven't quite got into the work/school run thing yet because we're off until the end of Jan. then i suspect life will revolve around school and child centred activities much the same as it did back in the UK.

superchick

We live in Brisbane so have a good climate. During the week we work and ferry the kids around to various after school activities (which are mainly outside as the weather is better). Chores fit around this organised chaos. In the evenind i must admit we like to wind down in front of the Tv but also sit out on the balcony. Most weekend we go out for picnics to a beach or play area so that is definately an improvement on Uk life.
I guess life is pretty much normal as it was in the UK but the option to be outside and enjoy the climate is here if u want it. Lots of people walk or run in the evening or early morning to avoid the heat, there are also lots of cycle tracks. The main downside is that at the moment it gets dark at 7pm and in the winter 4 pm and it does get cold in the winter evenings as the houses are not insulated. If it stayed lighter later i think more people would get out and about after dinner.

Timber Floor Au

CLimatic differences are exactly what you would and would not expect, when your in the uk, looking yearning and dreaming of Oz.


In reality, the fact is mostly, its cooler outside than inside during summer, and vice versa in winter.

Climate can change even across Brisbane, with vast noticeable differences.

The brightness and vibrancy of everything is the most contrasting change in my opinion.

WInters here are bush fire season, and arent cold ( brisbane that is ) albeit southsiders , can hit frost some mornings.

Storms are a wonder to behold, and you just cannot wait to see your next one, albeit hail is always a concern, especially driving and you spot the green clouds !

The humidity is by far the strongest "piss you off " climatic difference.

Some fringes of SEQ had snow, last winter... which was quite a shock !

In summing up, lol.. its the VIBE !

Margaret3

yep, just about sums it up for us, except we do have pavements so kids can walk to school

Timber Floor Au

I think for poms, in uk.. to get to grips with QLD summer, they need to do this.

Put the tv/vcr on top of the oven, whack a load of spuds in ovemn, and ramp up the temp.

Pop Croc Dundee on, or Kangaroo Jack.

Run a hose attached to the HOT tap, and insert it in the collar of your OVERCOAT that you is wearing.. and set to mild mist.

Sit right in front of the OVEN/TV and watch the film.

Turn the heating right up, and then... release 40,000 flies in your poky kitchen...

THen open the oven, and sit their like a twat drinking luke warm beer, which will give you brain freeze !

Margaret3

alternatively they could come to melbourne

themerlin

Last winter seemed cold, we seem to feel it. Use the heating a lot more in winter then the air cond in summer.

Timber Floor Au

Your kidding?

Last Winter was mild compared to winters on the southside. We had frost most mornings.

The westerleys were something I hadnt experienced till moving up northside but.

Ive never had heating on on the northside, but the a/c is getting a good run for its money last few days lol

sel

Come on though peeps, its not all doom and gloom

My kids are out playing most of the time when they get home from school. Their mates either come to us or they go off to play there. My kids have a freedom here that they would never have had in the UK. Yes the temps peak in the 40's but it isnt all day everyday (Perth), but if you cant stand the heat when it is in the high 30's then this is not the place for you.

Routine is the same as the bills have to paid etc etc ... we have the river/beach 5 mins away and weekends are spent either swimming, fishing walking the dogs or we will have a day out somewhere. We do alot more camping because of the weather being more predictable and alot more socialising (we happen to like the BBQ culture ).

We have a brilliant community spirit where we live and have made some very goods friends. It hasnt been easy and effort is required as its not handed on a plate.

I have said before that where we are reminds me alot of where we lived in Devon but with alot more sunshine (so not as green but beautiful in its own right). I guess we are some of the lucky ones that knew exactly what we wanted and found it.

The main thing I would advise is to think long and hard about leaving family and friends behind. If you have a close family and rely on them alot for childcare help etc it can be very hard to suddenly find yourselves without any support network and also very lonely. Dont move just because you are bored, you have to be very honest with yourself and each other thats it is what you really want as it can be a very emotionally draining and a very expensive mistake to make.

Good luck

Wendy

When it's 35+ outside, I'm in the pool Didn't have one of them in the UK