Good Morning!

Looks like you have a good chance of getting the school sorted - well done

Wet'n'Wild - thats the only Theme Park we didn't visit in June, will have to go there next time eh Looked cool! Our sons would love it as much as they loved Dreamworld me thinks!

Houses, if you are in a position to buy you are lost for choice aren't you?
Know where your wife is coming from m8! I just wanted to sign up there and then on a few viewings we made - but Bix, as always, brought me down to earth

Enjoy the rest of your visit - take care

Gill

Ok, we phoned all the schools b4, but to be honest Pacific Pines seemed VERY laid back about it all. They said we'd have to wait till gone 3pm as the kids will be about then, but we arrived at 3.05 and by 3.10 we was walking about on our own! I must admit, I wasn't too sure about that bit, just being left to our own devices, but it was fine, we just 'had a look around' !! ...lol

Helensvale I must admit seem to be the more, I dunno, questioning! I mean, PP said we'd get a place for both kids on the phone, not a lot else said, unlike Helensvale who said they want to see 2 school reports + satisfy an interview with the principal ..... hmmm!

PP currently has something like 6,000 ppl, and they plan it to hold 15,000 so maybe the school IS simply under subscribed! ..... I dunno, but they did come across like they'd take anyone which is a tad worrying.

On the plus tho, the school is only 5 yrs old, has about 1,000 pupils, and IS very nice, clean, and modern!

Today we spent at Sea World ..... WOW!

We're leaving it at this for now within the theme parks as we return in 7 days and already have a return booked for Dream World + Sea World again.

They do these deals once your in where you can return for another day (within 14 days) for a fraction of the original cost! so we took one for Dreamworld last week, and cos we didn't get to swim with the Dolphins today, we're booked to do it on Sunday, REALLY can't wait!! There'll be just us 4 in the water with a trainer and they'll show us how they train them etc.

We see all the shows today and I tell ya, I have hundreds of piccies for the memories

THIS PLACE IS AWESOME! ......... it REALLY is!!

Not just the theme parks, but just EVERYTHING here is just sooooo good

Anyway, I'm in the cybercafe and have both the kids with me. One each side! One cannot logg into Messenger properly, and the other has a dodgy mouse! ...lol

Time to exit and get drunk

Till next time.

Paul,

So glad everything is working out, brilliant to hear PP high school was good, I have printed some info for you, spoke to Nic today, I will drop it into the apartments for you tomorrow morning.

Take care

Lisa

OMG - you lucky b's!!!! Swimming with the Dolphins - thats what I wanted to do - one of my dreams - but didn't get any info about it when we went earlier this year? Totally agree with you though m8 - like I said in a previous post, SEAWORLD is AWESOME!!! How did you find out about the 'return' in 14 days deal? Some people said, you have to book months in advance if you want to swim with the Dolphins - proves how wrong they were then! Bummer! We really cant wait to go back there - next time we'll make sure we can PROVE we are LOCALS as they also get a bloody good deal with supermarket dockets but no-one told us Ironic thing is, we had a buy 1 get one free ticket given to us by a friend in Cairns, and in all the excitement of going on holiday, we forgot to take it!! Wont be that silly again

You will have a fantastic experience - seeing other people swim / interact with them while we were there was brilliant - I so wanted to be one of them though! Next time eh

I had a photo taken with the Exhibition SKI team - that was cool They were just AWESOME - such skill - ace!

Please let us know how it was - really would like to know

Gill

Hi Paul, Nic & Kids,

I am so happy that everything is going good for you! BTW: How is Kurt's toe???

Our visa appl got sent on monday so we are all of a shudder at the mo... and NO bubs hasn't come yet!

Hope to hear from you soon.

Claire
x

Hi Claire, EVERYTHING IS SWELL! ... inc Kurts toe! ...lol. Naaah, it did swell a lil, but is fine now He kicked the table in the lounge by accident, and was wabbling about for a few days, but fine now

I haven't heard from your mum for a few days. I know she had a bit of a Flu thing goin on, I hope she recovered ok ?!?

Good luck with the Visa, and the bubs of course too


On the Dolphins front, yeah I know we are lucky! All about timing tho. I know it's new to Sea World, but they do 2 sets a day. One the day we arrived at about 10.30AM and by then both for that day was already taken, but as I said we'd arranged to go on Sunday, and they drop the entrance fee for you. That alone woulda been $120 instead of the $180 odd it was (forgot exact, but roughly) for normal entrance (gettin away with 2 adults, 2 kids even tho over 14 is adult, and Ashley is almost 15, but NO ONE questions it!

I tell ya what tho, one thing I/we LOVE about Australia. They certainly look after their own! for example the 'adults for kids price' coupons they put on the back of Woolworth or similar shopping reciepts. There's 15% off this, and 2 for 1 with that. I got tipped off about it and that they only ask for your postocde as proof you are a resident ...lol .... errr .... lol, but yeah they do loads of lil deals here and there.

Back on the Seaworld, they also do 'swim with sharks' ...rofl, and what better time to do it, but when they are feeding!! ....lmao, altho I can see this as prob the safest time maybe as they'll be .... errr .... pre occupied ?!?! .... not sure on that one.

Funny thing is Sea World get you to sign a disclaimer for anything you do saying they hold NO responsibility ...lol

Anyway, had a bit of a crap day today. Well only for me ...lol. I took Nic and the kids to the hairdressing school so they could all get their haircuts. When we was there the other day, one of the students there grabbed Nic and asked her if she'd like to be her model for her final exam. Nic was totally taken aback, but it was cos Nic has her original colour hair, and it seems EVERYONE on the GC has it coloured in one way or another! ...lol, so she was snapped up! This was done today, and by a girl 2 weeks from finishing, so she knew what she was doin. Oh to cut it short, she got it all washed, cut, coloured, etc etc for free! ...lol, she LOVED the attention, and I was well chuffed for her The kids had to be payed for, but at a discounted rate as too, they was done by 'almost there' hairdressers. Cuts fine, just take a lil longer!

Ashley got cut and colour for $40 (I dunno, 16/17 quid) and Kurt got a cut for $8.50 (3.50 or whatever!) .... good value!

Oh and I say crap for me, as I've just been 'Cabbie Paul' all day ...lol, just can't get away from it! ...lol, altho DO prefer to drive over here. Ok, there is some nutters, and bad driving, but you can just travel miles ...... quickly! Big roads, big lanes, no traffic, even rush hour is pathetic compared to London and surroundings! PPl out here (expats) say they never see Road Rage! .... I haven't!

What else ?!?!

Well on the housefront we're taking a step back as one thing we've learned about Oz Estate Agents is they'll tell you that your I dunno, a martian if it'll get you to sign a contract on a house ...lol, I know their like that all over prob, but they REALLY are sommit else here! ....lol

We didn't even think purchasing was ever gonna be a possibility without PR so I never looked into it at all b4, but I WILL when back in the UK. I can't trust these Aussies!! ....lol

Weather - still good, altho see clouds today, which as crazy as it sounds for Winter, ISN'T the norm!! They tell me it, I've seen it!! Clear blue skies ARE the norm! .... well on the Gold Coast anyway!

As usual I COULD waffle on and on and on about how wonderful Oz is, but most of you know it from your own experience, and the others will I guess experience it one day soon

It IS an experience tho, I've never come across sooooo many 'happy' ppl!!

Oh and b4 I run, we got the Helicopter ride over Surfers Paradise to do, and then the Whale Boat Trip. Yup, go out on a boat for about 3 hours to watch Whales! .... how good can Aus / Gold Coast get!!

Oh and don't get me wrong, these things ARE expensive, and I'm tryin not to sound like I am bragging, but ppl WILL be interested in these things so I'm only too happy to give an honest opinion.

Also without going off on a bore about this and that. I'll just say it's VERY important to me that my partner & kids return from Oz loving it, and wanting to return! Oz DOES hold the key to OUR happiness. I appreciate this won't be the case for everyone, but I just know, I really do!!

5 or 6 days left, and then back to good ole Blighty!

Anyone wanna buy a nice house in Watford ?!?! ...lol

Till next time.

Sorry Lisa, missed this first time round

Yeah thanks for that, altho I/we was out early today and forgot, and they was gone downstairs b4 we returned so I'll pick em up tomorrow.

We visited Coomera today and Oxenford, but as I said in prev post I think we're gonna hold on the house for now, well until we can get confirmation from the FIRB (Foreign Investors Review Board). We will have to satisfy them we are wanting the dwelling for US, and to STAY IN!! .... not just buying for Investment. Personally with us at college and the kids in schools nearby I woulda thought an easy task, but we'll see on that one!

Nic & Ashley are now out at Pacific Fair as it's late night tonight as I'm sure you know. My phone should be ringing any sec, betta run!

Bi

[QUOTE=Jim2004]
I got tipped off about it and that they only ask for your postocde as proof you are a resident ...lol .... errr .... lol, but yeah they do loads of lil deals here and there.QUOTE]


Got tipped you only need to give them your 'POST CODE'??? Well Paul, I can tell you, we had PROOF of our POST CODE, our hired car invoice, but they still would not let us use the dockets!!! They actually said 'That could be a friends address that you are staying with'!!!! Must have had 'strict' cashiers thats all I can say! They wanted a 'Utility Bill' with our address on it! As if you bother to take that with you on holiday lol

So think yourself VERY lucky to have had the right people on the day you went m8!!!!

Enjoy the rest of your time here - sun shining in Cairns today too - must get in that pool

Take care
Bix and Da Boss

[QUOTE=Bix da Boss]
save some sun for us! will see you all soon...hopefully


Trish
xx

[QUOTE=jimtrish]
Hi Trish - LOL How are you - well I hope?

Unusual 'winter' in Cairns this year apparently! Typical eh! More rain than expected, more overcast days than expected - oh well the sun is out now so will make the most of it and get swimming in our pool

Will do our best to save you some though m8!! Really looking forward to meeting you all!

Must get off the PC!!! Getting worse than Bix lately - just wont do

Take care
BFN
Gill

[QUOTE=Bix da Boss] Wow! ...... that sounds crazy! Well all I can say is that's how easy it was. You can ask Floweroscotland or Jonah's_mummy as it was Claire's mum who we're renting the apt from, and Lisa (Flower) who both said it was easy and i'll only need to give my postcode. I've given 2 different ones on 2 diff occasions and all they've done was write it on the back of the ticket and bung into the till!

I'm putting my money on you having a 'jobsworth' unfortunately on your till that day

We tried a 'adult for kids ticket price' one when we went to Seaworld, but it ran out end of July but we thought we'd give a go. That they wouldn't accept and simply said it had ran out, but was worth a shot! ....lol


we're running out of days now, boo! ...lol, and are hittin Dreamworld again for our 2nd time. When there (and all the others too) you can get a 2nd day ticket for a fraction of the cost of normal entry. I can't remember exact, but it's like 25% odd. You have to use it within 14 days so as we enjoyed it there, we got em.

Sun is out, clear blue skies again (was cloudy yesterday) and it's lookin like it's gonna be a lovely day!

Oh I love this place!

[QUOTE=Jim2004]

So do we Love this place

Yeah, we have a TYPICAL winters day in Cairns too, blue skies, lovely sunshine, 26-28deg c - not bad eh

Yeah, I took in what you said in previous post about the 14 days bit. Like you say, we obviously went to SEAWORLD on the wrong day! Will know better next time though! Hopefully will have an Australian Drivers Licence by then so all will be fine - me thinks Enjoy DREAMWORLD! My sons cant wait to get back there!! Yes, I do know about most of the 'special return deals' etc. Looked on their website before going.

Don't forget to let us know what Sunday goes like Paul - really looking foward to reading that post m8!!!

Gill

Ok, well we all swam with dolphins today

We only endid up with about 25 mins in the water with them, but it was enough We got used to the one we had which was a 27 yr old male (forgot his name ...lol) and just patted & stroked him. This was to let him get used to us as much us get used to him! There was 2 sessions goin on at the same time and the other family had their dolphin so to put it. We then had a picture taken as a family, then they'd get you to crouch in shallow water and the dolphin would swim upto you and rest its head on your arm (out already) and they took a pic. There was a bit where you'd do this movement with your hands and it's start nodding and making that funny squeaky noise ...lol, but we'd feed them fish after they did good! We all got to give it a kiss ...lol, and shake it's fin and all kinds of other stuff. They gave you goggles so you could put your head under the water too and see them move, wow! ... they are fast!

As I say it was only for 25 mins, and that flew to be honest, but how many times can you get into a pool/lake type thing with dolphins!! excellent!

Money is fastly diminishing so the helicopter ride got shelved, well ditched really ...lol. The Dolphin thing was $500 alone and the helicopter was gonna be $350 odd for 10 mins so the dolphins won when we had to decide what to ditch!

Everything else is still the same, still absolutely loving the place, and everything it has to offer!

We spent the afternoon at Coomera looking at houses and the local State School. This is one of those 'super schools' where kids go to from Kinder - Year 12, altho only year 10 for now. Massive it is, and only 2 years old. We've had very good reports about it there, but we'll see on that one.

I phoned the Foreign Investment Review Board yesterday and spoke to a guy there. He confirmed we COULD buy a house in Oz without residency, but can ONLY buy brand new! ..... fine! .... altho not sure about a mortgage, gonna hopefully speak to someone who might confirm this tomorrow. As we speak I have heard conflicting stories, one agent tells you you'll get it no prob, the next says "no chance!" ...lol, so we'll just have to see, but at least we've had the chance to have a good look around at all the places with decent schools. Where we settle will be anybodies guess, but as long as the local State school is ok, we'll be ok!

Bout it from me for now.

I phoned the Foreign Investment Review Board yesterday and spoke to a guy there. He confirmed we COULD buy a house in Oz without residency, but can ONLY buy brand new! ..... fine! .... altho not sure about a mortgage, gonna hopefully speak to someone who might confirm this tomorrow.

Hi Jim,

I spoke to the FIRB several times .This is the info I got out of them.

If you have a temporary visa that allows you to stay for LESS than 12 months .

You can buy a new house that has never been lived in, but the seller must have built another house, or started to build another house during the construction period of the house you want to buy.
This is due to a 50% rule which stops developers selling more than half of there properties to foreign investors.

You can buy a block of land and build a house , but you must start major continuous construction within 12 months of purchase .

I was also informed if you have a temporary visa that allows you to stay for MORE than 12 months you can purchase a previously occupied home.

You still have to get FIRB approval but I was advised it was a formality.

Hope this helps.

Ian

Good Morning guys!

BRILLIANT - glad you posted about your swim with the DOLPHINS! Sounds like a really good experience for you all We saw this when we visited in June, there were two lots of children 5 or 6 in each group, watched the interaction / tricks that the Dolphins did with them. They were awesome creatures to watch - so intelligent - they're just great aren't they Can't wait to go back!

Have fun

Gill