Are we Insane
 

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kate&mike
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Joined: Oct 2005
Location: Cornwall
Posts: 37 Are we Insane

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Hi

Kate & I were granted our visa (Skilled Independent 136 Plumber) on the 26 June 2006, having started the process in May last year.
Immediately after getting this news we booked the movers to come on the 20th July.
We then booked our flights, which cost £3549 with Emirate Airlines flying to Brisbane. This started off at £2650 when we started the online booking, but because our youngest son is 16months and we wanted him to have his own seat, we couldn't book online, so we had to telephone Emirates and book over the phone, by which time it was £3539, and because we hadnt had our Visas evidanced at the time we couldnt even get the 40Kg baggage allowance.
We then arranged a 6 birth Camper Van (not confirmed yet)so we can travel from Brisbane to Cairns to try and find a place to live.
We are currently living in a rented farmhouse in Cornwall after selling our house in sept last year.
I quit my job in May thinking that we would have our Visa soon afterwards.
We have never been to Australia before so only know what friends have told us and info from the Web, BE etc. Were going for the same reason as most people, lifestyle, weather etc.
We have had nearly 16months to plan ahead but now everything seems to be last minute i.e Bank accounts Money transfers Cleaning all our stuff,etc,etc.
I personally am usually a confidant non worrying type of pearson who knows that everything usually works out in the end, and really you can plan all you like but, in the end, you dont really know anything until you get there and experience it for yourselves. But I am now having serious doubts as to wether we are doing the right thing, just upping sticks and landing in the unknown, with nowhere to live, no job and no relations in Aus to call upon.
I know this feeling will pass, but had to share it with you, and ask if anyone has any thoughts or pearls of wisdom they would like to pass on to us. i pearsonally would be very greatfull.
sorry for babbling but am writing as Im thinking.

yours Mike, Kate, Grace, Isaac & Theo

Re: Are we Insane
 

DON'T PANIC !!!!
Im not there yet ..and really only just starting out ...but i read daily on here of people feeling the same way you do..and im sure at some point i will feel exactly the same.
All i can do is say to you what i would probably want to hear...
You made this decision for a reason ..and probably the main reason was a better life for the future of your family....so you have to keep remembering that.
Yes ..when you think about it ..it is nuts ...the cost, the risk ..the upheaval...its a major operation.But you sound deep down like the sort of person who will make it work no matter what.Its a long tunnel....but you'll come out the other side.
Go find youre family their utopia.Good luck
M J :)

Re: Are we Insane
 

Best of luck to you and your family!!

The unknown is what scares most people even with the best laid plans. Most people dont arrive with jobs, have any family here and have nowhere to live. Exactly the same boat!

Your not insane, or if you are your as insane as everyone else here who took the jump :)

Re: Are we Insane
 

Hi there Mike,
I would like to say that everything you have written rings very true, it was exactly how we were feeling 3 months ago just before we made the move to the GC.
No mater how much you plan and are organised, the last minute rush happens,we were the same. It all came together in the end but I did feel rushed, like I hadnt done something, hadnt seen everyone I wanted to see, etc, etc, etc. We had the best nights out with family and friends that we had ever had (which is a shame when the reason is that we were leaving) and did wonder what the hell we were doing.
But we thought I have come this far and we need to give this a go- if all goes wrong we'll be skint but can just go back.
So we set on off and I will never forget that surreal journey on the way to Mancester airport, we were all deadly silent, not excited like I thought we would be, taking in the views... cows, ikea, m & s! But seriously it was a very strange experience, I didnt get emotional, I had kind of shut off.

I just want you to know that what you are going through is totally normal, you have come so far just give it a go, and if doesnt work out that you have had a fantastc experience that not many people will ever get the chance to do.
And we are loving it so far by the way.

Good luck, feel free to pm me,

Donna xx

Re: Are we Insane
 

Mebe if you hadn't already done all the prep I would say stop and think again etc, but you have done everything except fly over - so at this point I would think you might as well go with it. You don't really have anything to lose. England isn't going anywhere and you can always go back. At worst you get to see Australia.

We are similar in that we are usually in control and manage things - but emigrating takes you out of your comfort zone, so immediately you think I need to get back there! I think you will gain from the experience - I learnt when I moved to England that you need to get out of your comfort zone every now and then. The move back to Oz has been no less stressful - but at least I had an idea about what to expect.

The only thing I said to Bert (who had never been to Oz either) and still do is that we can't expect to move over, fall into great jobs, a wonderful house and a utopia life cause it aint going to happen. Things will go wrong, set backs will occur - if you can accept that and still want to go then go for it!

S

Re: Are we Insane
 

Thanks M J

I will try not to panic im sure it will all work out

Good luck in your plans
Mike

Re: Are we Insane
 

Mike,

We too had very similar feelings just before getting on that plane :scared: , even when you are here you may wonder at times if you've done the right thing, but it's great place to live and bring up the family. I'm sure it will all work out for best....Good luck with it all :)

Re: Are we Insane
 

We more or less did them same as you (I'm a plumber too). Just turned most of our assets to cash and set off.
Life's too short to worry about trivial details like where you're going to live, where the kids will go to school, how you'll survive, find work etc.
Yes, you probably are insane to most of the people back home who always play safe and do nowt, but to anyone who's of a similar disposition to yourselves, it's no big deal :)

Re: Are we Insane
 

Maybe its plumbers who are insane then! where abouts are you on your world tour?

MIke

Re: Are we Insane
 

Done NZ now on the Sunny coast (very pleasant place to plumb)

Re: Are we Insane
 

Thanks for the reply Donna.
Nice to hear from so many people who have actually done it, and are there loving every minute.

Mike

Re: Are we Insane
 

Cant wait to try it for myself (if they will let me) did u have any diffculty geting Licences etc?

Mike

Re: Are we Insane
 

Hi Mike,

I know where you are coming from, we fly next wednesday :scared:

I'm not doubting our move at all, as I know that it's the right thing, but I know what you mean about it all seeming to get out of control. No amount of planning prepares you for the last few weeks when everything seems to happen all at once and you panic because you think you've forgotten something.

But it will all come good in the end I'm sure. Keep smiling and try to keep sane (else just drink lots like I'm doing :beer: :D )

Re: Are we Insane
 

Yes it's hard, but can be acheived if you have money to live on in the meantime. Endorsements to the licence are also required which take a lot of time to gain as well.
Don't come here to advance your career! :)

Re: Are we Insane
 

Thanks WendyC

Im not really doubting the decision, just panicing a bit, its great to read all the positive replies, I think most people who make the move are of the same mindset.
I think I will take your advice and just drink lots
Mike

Re: Are we Insane
 

Yep, panic has most definately set in for us too.

I've just transferred all our money out there and am panicking about that now as well :scared:

Re: Are we Insane
 

I just want to advance my life (my career can advance itself) Ive allready applied for a Provisional Licence which has been approved and have just got to send the photos and money, so should be able to work for a firm as a plumbers mate as soon as I can find one in the place we want to live. In the meantime weve got a few quid and ill probably just try to get any job I can.

Mike

Re: Are we Insane
 

Do you have a place to live in Australia, I looked into opening a Westpac account today, which we could, but we will not be allowed to use it until we have a perminant address, which we havnt, so Im a bit reluctant to transfer our money into it. I think I will need to investigate the whole thing in more detail.
Mike

Re: Are we Insane
 

We are staying in a caravan park for the first two weeks. I found it on www.big4.com.au

We have opened an account with ANZ, you can do this with a UK address and you can transfer money in at any time, however you can't withdraw anything until you get there and verify your identity. It was very easy to do as you download the form from their site and post it off. We had our account details within 10 days.

Re: Are we Insane
 

Mike, where are you in Cornwall?

Re: Are we Insane
 

Thanks WendyC Ill look into that one,
Mike

Re: Are we Insane
 

Just outside Launceston.
Mike

Re: Are we Insane
 

Hello mate, we're ex Falmouth.

Hope all goes well for you all.

Rich

Re: Are we Insane
 

Thanks Rich

Where in the world are you now? Is it better than Falmouth?

Mike

Re: Are we Insane
 

Hi Mike

We're at Cashmere (North West suburb).

Falmouth will always be home, after 40 years it's going to be. It's a lovely area don't get me wrong. I was out on my mountain bike yesterday and I saw my first wild roo, what an experience, phoned the missus straight away. Tried to get a picture using the phone but no such luck.

We've been here just over 3 months now and boy has it flown by.

Where are you hoping to settle?

Re: Are we Insane
 

Glad its all coming together now Wendy.
We chose to go with Visa Bureau in the end and were currently preparing my husbands TRA.Fingers crossed i'll be looking to you to calm me sometime in the future!! Good luck with the move...not long now!!! :)

Re: Are we Insane
 

aye, confirmed, my husband is a plumber too, and everyone thinks we are mad, but they just dont grasp it. Mike if you did not have doubts you would not be normal. We are feeling the exact same but it wont come to you , so go out and try it. I am sure it will all work out, life's too short

sarah-jayne

Re: Are we Insane
 

Hi Kate and Co,


I know exactly how you feel..I feel sick from the moment I wake up in the morning until I go to bed at night due to all the worrying.....only difference is..we leave in 7 weeks! :eek: :eek: :eek:
Tanya x

Re: Are we Insane
 

Hi Rich
Sorry for the delay in replying,
We are hoping to find somewhere in Queensland that realy appeals to us as soon as we see it.
We have been considering Cairns but until we actually see for ourselves we dont really know. But weve only got the Campervan for 21 days so hopfully we will have found somewhere in that time.

Mike

Re: Are we Insane
 

Thanks sarah-jayne
Im sure it will work out as well, just had a bit of a panic!
Where abouts are you heading for?
Has your husband looked into licences etc yet?

Mike

Re: Are we Insane
 

Thanks for reply and good luck in your new life
I'm sure the sickness will pass, and be replaced with all out terror :scared:

Mike

Re: Are we Insane
 

We going to Melbourne, to the penninsula hopefully if we can afford it. We got a sponsorship from the victorian government as skills shortage , so waiting on visa from dimia. My husband was a plumber by trade but now serves as a gas engineer for British Gas, although they are taking him through as a plumber. We have been advised that the scottish qualification is equivalent to Australian requirements. There is a 'B' type gas qualification which i think is same as here so I dont think he needs to resit licence, but not sure about the English licence if same rules apply.

sarah-jayne

Re: Are we Insane
 

We are having a bit of a dilema. We got a email from dimia today asking for medicals , hooray at last but on the flip side asked my husband to provide his training agreement evidence of time served as plumbers apprentice. We called snijib, scottish qualification board and they dont even have him listed in the archives, he called the old college and said it was bpec, who was the qualifying body at the time, so it appears that he does not have the scottish qualification even know all training was done here. We cant contact the bpec dept now until monday, stressed out as we thought when we got every last certificate certified and traced it all back it would have been enough, but apparently not.
try this website if it helps with your licence enquiry.
http://www.immi.gov.au/asri/occupati....htm#licensing

sarah-jayne

Re: Are we Insane
 

Hi Sarah-Jayne

Sorry for the delay in reply, its total chaos here.
I hope it all goes well with BPEC and they give you the evidence needed. The whole thing is a bit of an uphill climb but hopefully all worth it in the end.
I applied for a Plumbers licence for Queensland by email. The girl at the licencing dept was extremal helpful and she requested I fill the form out, email it along with all my Qualifications (City & Guilds, CORGI etc) and she would look into it. I did this and she got back to me and said I could only have a Provisional Licence. Then when in Queensland I would have to sit 2 courses and get a job as a Plumbers Mate for a while until i had enough experience in Aus plumbing. Then I would qualify for full licence.
Its never easy is it.
Anyway hope this helps a little but its defiantly worth contacting the State Licencing body before you get over there, there have been lots of horror stories on this web site about Trades struggling to get a job because of the licencing thing.
bye for now
Mike

Re: Are we Insane
 

I totally understand your concerns having moved my wife and 2 young boys to Melbourne last November. I left a great job, fab village, great friends, dodgy family! and what we considered to be a 'safe and comfortable' life, but we just needed something more..... I had that 'hamster wheel' feeling!!

Our visa process started in march last year and when I now look back, I can't believe what we have actually done/achieved in the last 16 months or even really sure what our motivations where apart from warmer weather.

... but what I can say is that for us there is no downside, its a fabulous family enriching experience (immediate family anyway!!!). It's not a forever move for us, but we have committed ourselves to 2-3 years to ensure citizenship and we will make sure we make the most of every spare minute whilst we are here.

It's a fab country and the climate (even in melbourne!) means that we have a so much more 'can do/will do' attitude to doing things as a family in our free time.

Good luck.... its a great adventure, and it sounds like your past the point of no return!

Regards

Jamie

Re: Are we Insane
 

Thanks mike,
were going to contact the victorian licencing dept, to see what they say, fingers crossed we can get the evidence we need.good luck in your new adventure in aus, and hope you do well in the plumbing industry, it will all work out in the end.

thanks again
sarah-jayne

Re: Are we Insane
 

Lots of work for plumbers further north (after that bit of a storm) if you fancy trying your hand at roofing work. I doubt very much anyone will have licence issues either due to demand outweighing supply of willing labour.