I'm a part-time payroll wench and me hubby is a returns/service support technician at a computer building warehouse. I'm doing exactly the same as I did in the UK, but for Hubby it's been a bit of a step back but he basically took his job to get back in the workplace before he too got too comfy with the old constant holiday thing. Going to be looking for something he enjoys more in the new year, once he's decided what that is!

we have been granted a visa on the basis of my partner being a carpenter and joiner therefore he will be doing joinery.

Life in Sydney is great. I got a job before I arrived in the same field but as a contractor. Less work, free beer on Friday from 3 but 25 % less money compared to the UK.

Sadly, I left this contract job for a permnant job and I am having a stressfull job. But still no regrets coming to Sydney. 7 months !

Beautiful place isn't it ? I've been for the TT 3 times. Last time stayed at my mates in Douglas for the TT and the World Cup was on from S.Korea. How cool was that? get up, watch football! Would've loved to live there but the weather ain't up to much, not much work for me and your kids are gonna grow up hating you for making them leave all their mates back home to go and live in a 1950's timewarp and then leave to go and live and work on the mainland !

I have a mate who lives in douglas now. He loves it and has had a kid since moving there.

Oh, and I made them do me chips, cheese and CURRY. Much better !!!

Don't diss the National dish home ...

Port Erin is ... errr ... shall we say ... quaint

Reckon I could take you at checkers ! ...

Yeah, not sure I could live there either....could murder a pint of okells, though

Checkers and chess are kids games....get yourself to Melboune and I'll challenge you to a game of Subbuteo (if I can find it here)

hi possums-anybody bought your effing house yet-any sign of a moving date?

I packed up my job working for the R&D department of a contact lens manufacturer, and came over to Oz.

1st job a temporary position with the government, then a job with a company developing new floor polish and disinfectants .

I was then head-hunted, and now work for ........

the R&D department of a contact lens manufacturer.

Different company, different country, but working with 15-20 people I worked with in the UK! Go figure!

It must be quite clear to you now

AMO / Allergan? I did a lot of work with them 4-5 years ago.

I just started a new job last Wednesday. I work for the laboratory of a company that manufactures concrete. I enter all their test results onto the computer. At the moment I am working 30 hours per week...but this will increase to 38 in the new year. I am enjoying it so far.....much less stressful than the admin job I did back in the UK.

Wendy

Hydron, in Farnborough; Hydron was formed when Allergan sold off their lens making business in about 1994. You worked up in High Wycombe?

I thought AMO came out of Allergan lens side of the business in about 02-03?

I was doing application integration for a logistics company that handled the distribution of the lenses. I spent a lot of time dealing with the IT depts in Dublin and France when the business was splitting in two.

I was working on the national program for IT within the NHS back in the uk .. implementing software ... and was extremly well paid ..

as i was 35 .. 457 sponsorship was my only way into oz .. so i took a step back and moved back into software development (i have a niche skill) .. i earn a lot less than i did in the uk but the company have said they will sponser me for ENS after 6 months .. i'll serve my time here for a few years and then hopefully get back on track ..

like i've said in many a post .. the cash doesn't matter .. it'll be a while before we're back to where we were in the uk and a while before we can buy a house .. but my life is much better here .. i see more of my wife and daughter and the sun shines nearly every day ... worth it !!!