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-   -   Time flies...6mth update (https://britishexpats.com/forum/australia-54/time-flies-6mth-update-401571/)

glittababe Oct 10th 2006 7:14 pm

Time flies...6mth update
 
Well 7 mths actually but have been meaning to this for a month!

Ok, second time around for us 'ping ponging' back to oz so what have we learnt?

Accept help from mates! Landed April 4th, friends collected us from airport (thanks Lara) took us to our accommodation in Brisbane, supplied groceries and looked after kids overnight while Mark and I hunted down a rental - such a massive help!

No rose tinted specs on! Not sure I've ever owned a pair anyway, but it helped that we 'knew' what we were coming out too! It also helped that we decided to settle in an area we liked. Whilst Bayside was ok, it wasn't us, we need space and felt very claustrophobic there. The area we chose was Noosa, well 10 mins from Noosa! Settled kids at Eumundi school (very free spirited kinda place, suits our boys) and I found a job locally as a practice nurse covering med centres at Noosa,Imbil,Cooroy and Eumundi. Wonderful staff made me feel at home and they found work for Mark as a handyman for the surgeries.

What do I miss? Oooo on a good day nothing, on a bad day everything! We spent a lot of time outdoors anyway so our lifestyle hasn't changed that dramatically. We spend our days off socialising, bush walking and enjoying this beautiful area. I'm doing way more photography and the surroundings have inspired me to start painting again!

Mark misses Walkers Prawn and Cocktail crisps and his job! He's on a career break, so no real hardship there. During the day he'll do odd jobs for the surgery, in the evening he's stacks shelves at BigW! It was quite difficult to begin with as he's a very proud man, but now he's just grateful to be earning money! When you get here, be prepared to get down and do anything just to make your way! UK work experience means nowt here!

The kids miss........their friends of course and that can be really hard at times. They've all learnt how to use MSN messenger and are just thankful they didn't move out here before the internet was invented!

To sum up, its been challenging, frustrating and sometimes demoralising. On the other side of it though we've met and have some fab friends, we now feel part of the community here and we love and enjoy our environment. Just going for a run in the evening at Noosa national park, watching the sunsets with dolphins gliding in and out of the water is an amazing experience. We have the normal ups and downs of life but on the whole we're happy. :)

glittababe Oct 10th 2006 7:17 pm

Re: Time flies...6mth update
 

Originally Posted by glittababe
Well 7 mths actually but have been meaning to this for a month!

Ok, second time around for us 'ping ponging' back to oz so what have we learnt?

Accept help from mates! Landed April 4th, friends collected us from airport (thanks Lara) took us to our accommodation in Brisbane, supplied groceries and looked after kids overnight while Mark and I hunted down a rental - such a massive help!

No rose tinted specs on! Not sure I've ever owned a pair anyway, but it helped that we 'knew' what we were coming out too! It also helped that we decided to settle in an area we liked. Whilst Bayside was ok, it wasn't us, we need space and felt very claustrophobic there. The area we chose was Noosa, well 10 mins from Noosa! Settled kids at Eumundi school (very free spirited kinda place, suits our boys) and I found a job locally as a practice nurse covering med centres at Noosa,Imbil,Cooroy and Eumundi. Wonderful staff made me feel at home and they found work for Mark as a handyman for the surgeries.

What do I miss? Oooo on a good day nothing, on a bad day everything! We spent a lot of time outdoors anyway so our lifestyle hasn't changed that dramatically. We spend our days off socialising, bush walking and enjoying this beautiful area. I'm doing way more photography and the surroundings have inspired me to start painting again!

Mark misses Walkers Prawn and Cocktail crisps and his job! He's on a career break, so no real hardship there. During the day he'll do odd jobs for the surgery, in the evening he's stacks shelves at BigW! It was quite difficult to begin with as he's a very proud man, but now he's just grateful to be earning money! When you get here, be prepared to get down and do anything just to make your way! UK work experience means nowt here!

The kids miss........their friends of course and that can be really hard at times. They've all learnt how to use MSN messenger and are just thankful they didn't move out here before the internet was invented!

To sum up, its been challenging, frustrating and sometimes demoralising. On the other side of it though we've met and have some fab friends, we now feel part of the community here and we love and enjoy our environment. Just going for a run in the evening at Noosa national park, watching the sunsets with dolphins gliding in and out of the water is an amazing experience. We have the normal ups and downs of life but on the whole we're happy. :)


ooo forgot to add Mark passed his aussie theory test and is now driving legally! Hurrah! (took 3 attempts tho)

angel17796 Oct 10th 2006 7:19 pm

Re: Time flies...6mth update
 
Great post. Good to see your all settling in okay. All the very best for the future :)

dakesojo Oct 10th 2006 7:26 pm

Re: Time flies...6mth update
 

Originally Posted by angel17796
Great post. Good to see your all settling in okay. All the very best for the future :)

all the best glad to see you are settling how about a 12 month update

FluffyTheCampfireSlayer Oct 10th 2006 7:33 pm

Re: Time flies...6mth update
 

Originally Posted by glittababe
Well 7 mths actually but have been meaning to this for a month!

Ok, second time around for us 'ping ponging' back to oz so what have we learnt?

Accept help from mates! Landed April 4th, friends collected us from airport (thanks Lara) took us to our accommodation in Brisbane, supplied groceries and looked after kids overnight while Mark and I hunted down a rental - such a massive help!

No rose tinted specs on! Not sure I've ever owned a pair anyway, but it helped that we 'knew' what we were coming out too! It also helped that we decided to settle in an area we liked. Whilst Bayside was ok, it wasn't us, we need space and felt very claustrophobic there. The area we chose was Noosa, well 10 mins from Noosa! Settled kids at Eumundi school (very free spirited kinda place, suits our boys) and I found a job locally as a practice nurse covering med centres at Noosa,Imbil,Cooroy and Eumundi. Wonderful staff made me feel at home and they found work for Mark as a handyman for the surgeries.

What do I miss? Oooo on a good day nothing, on a bad day everything! We spent a lot of time outdoors anyway so our lifestyle hasn't changed that dramatically. We spend our days off socialising, bush walking and enjoying this beautiful area. I'm doing way more photography and the surroundings have inspired me to start painting again!

Mark misses Walkers Prawn and Cocktail crisps and his job! He's on a career break, so no real hardship there. During the day he'll do odd jobs for the surgery, in the evening he's stacks shelves at BigW! It was quite difficult to begin with as he's a very proud man, but now he's just grateful to be earning money! When you get here, be prepared to get down and do anything just to make your way! UK work experience means nowt here!

The kids miss........their friends of course and that can be really hard at times. They've all learnt how to use MSN messenger and are just thankful they didn't move out here before the internet was invented!

To sum up, its been challenging, frustrating and sometimes demoralising. On the other side of it though we've met and have some fab friends, we now feel part of the community here and we love and enjoy our environment. Just going for a run in the evening at Noosa national park, watching the sunsets with dolphins gliding in and out of the water is an amazing experience. We have the normal ups and downs of life but on the whole we're happy. :)

Hey GB!
Great to hear you've setlled well....we're looking at Noosa (ish) as well now, so lock your doors and windows :D

Nicky & Dave Oct 10th 2006 7:39 pm

Re: Time flies...6mth update
 
Heck, time does fly - didn't think you'd been there 7 months already. Enjoyed your post and have been so pleased to hear that everything is going relatively well - but equally alot of that is down to your fairly pragmatic 'get-on-with-it' attitude! It's great that Noosa has proved to be the right place for you and the family - and I'm still insanely jealous of where you live! :D


Nicky
xxxx

Wendy Oct 10th 2006 7:42 pm

Re: Time flies...6mth update
 
Good to see you are all settling well GB.

Congratulations to Mark on getting his licence. :)

glittababe Oct 10th 2006 8:12 pm

Re: Time flies...6mth update
 

Originally Posted by FluffyTheCampfireSlayer
Hey GB!
Great to hear you've setlled well....we're looking at Noosa (ish) as well now, so lock your doors and windows :D

Christ the neighbourhoods gonna go downhill! :D

glittababe Oct 10th 2006 8:23 pm

Re: Time flies...6mth update
 

Originally Posted by Nicky & Dave
Heck, time does fly - didn't think you'd been there 7 months already. Enjoyed your post and have been so pleased to hear that everything is going relatively well - but equally alot of that is down to your fairly pragmatic 'get-on-with-it' attitude! It's great that Noosa has proved to be the right place for you and the family - and I'm still insanely jealous of where you live! :D


Nicky
xxxx

ah nicky you know you're welcome here anytime! Debs and Barry stayed with us a few weeks ago, they said we're almost completely normal ;)

glittababe Oct 10th 2006 8:30 pm

Re: Time flies...6mth update
 

Originally Posted by Wendy
Good to see you are all settling well GB.

Congratulations to Mark on getting his licence. :)

I know bless his heart he was so determined not to drive illegally he got on and just kept doing it until he passed! I just know I'm never going to get passed the give way questions so whats the point? (besides the obvious legal thingy)! I can act the tourist ;)

Nicky & Dave Oct 10th 2006 8:34 pm

Re: Time flies...6mth update
 

Originally Posted by glittababe
ah nicky you know you're welcome here anytime! Debs and Barry stayed with us a few weeks ago, they said we're almost completely normal ;)

If they said that, given they're both completely bonkers, I'd be worried if I were you! :D

glittababe Oct 10th 2006 8:40 pm

Re: Time flies...6mth update
 

Originally Posted by Nicky & Dave
If they said that, given they're both completely bonkers, I'd be worried if I were you! :D


hehe! They survived a few nights with us! They're doing ok, they have a pc up and running so hopefully they'll do an update. Can't believe they've been here 9 weeks already. Debs starts work tonight bless her X

Issie Oct 10th 2006 8:42 pm

Re: Time flies...6mth update
 

Originally Posted by glittababe
Well 7 mths actually but have been meaning to this for a month!

Ok, second time around for us 'ping ponging' back to oz so what have we learnt?

Accept help from mates! Landed April 4th, friends collected us from airport (thanks Lara) took us to our accommodation in Brisbane, supplied groceries and looked after kids overnight while Mark and I hunted down a rental - such a massive help!

No rose tinted specs on! Not sure I've ever owned a pair anyway, but it helped that we 'knew' what we were coming out too! It also helped that we decided to settle in an area we liked. Whilst Bayside was ok, it wasn't us, we need space and felt very claustrophobic there. The area we chose was Noosa, well 10 mins from Noosa! Settled kids at Eumundi school (very free spirited kinda place, suits our boys) and I found a job locally as a practice nurse covering med centres at Noosa,Imbil,Cooroy and Eumundi. Wonderful staff made me feel at home and they found work for Mark as a handyman for the surgeries.

What do I miss? Oooo on a good day nothing, on a bad day everything! We spent a lot of time outdoors anyway so our lifestyle hasn't changed that dramatically. We spend our days off socialising, bush walking and enjoying this beautiful area. I'm doing way more photography and the surroundings have inspired me to start painting again!

Mark misses Walkers Prawn and Cocktail crisps and his job! He's on a career break, so no real hardship there. During the day he'll do odd jobs for the surgery, in the evening he's stacks shelves at BigW! It was quite difficult to begin with as he's a very proud man, but now he's just grateful to be earning money! When you get here, be prepared to get down and do anything just to make your way! UK work experience means nowt here!

The kids miss........their friends of course and that can be really hard at times. They've all learnt how to use MSN messenger and are just thankful they didn't move out here before the internet was invented!

To sum up, its been challenging, frustrating and sometimes demoralising. On the other side of it though we've met and have some fab friends, we now feel part of the community here and we love and enjoy our environment. Just going for a run in the evening at Noosa national park, watching the sunsets with dolphins gliding in and out of the water is an amazing experience. We have the normal ups and downs of life but on the whole we're happy. :)


Great post GB........here's to many more happy years in Australia :beer: :)

Nicky & Dave Oct 10th 2006 8:46 pm

Re: Time flies...6mth update
 

Originally Posted by glittababe
hehe! They survived a few nights with us! They're doing ok, they have a pc up and running so hopefully they'll do an update. Can't believe they've been here 9 weeks already. Debs starts work tonight bless her X

Say hallo from me next time you see her and my best wishes for her new job.

glittababe Oct 10th 2006 8:49 pm

Re: Time flies...6mth update
 

Originally Posted by Nicky & Dave
Say hallo from me next time you see her and my best wishes for her new job.

Will do! Looking forward to you getting here! XXX


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