Originally Posted by ChickChock

for gods sake, yes we KNEW IT WAS HOT AND HUMID!!!!! we get it, I am just saying that he didnt want to work in it, actually experiencing it is different than a number on a computer.

Originally Posted by stevenglish

I see Hutch and Vag the stampede have managed to beat the OP into submission. Bloody shame this always seems to happen doesn't it. To the OP, don't let people like this get to ya, for anyone who doesn't get on out here it's an expensive lesson to learn, and at the end of the day it's been a leap of faith for every single person on here apart from those with dual citizenship from birth. Anyone who says otherwise is a fibber

Originally Posted by Vash the Stampede

Excuse me? I haven't even said anything to the OP. I've made one lighthearted post (which someone else laughed at) and that's all. So what's the big deal?

You've got a right nerve accusing me of beating the OP into submission when I haven't even said anything to her.

Originally Posted by ChickChock

....your visas!

Having never been to oz before..

Appox 2 years ago we came up with idea of emigrating to Australia, we researched loads of areas, from both the internet and friends who are/have been there. We had our rose tinted glasses firmly attached. Thinking it was the best thing for our family, moving to the sunshine, beach lifestyle with friendly auzzies, better education, etc.

We went to court to get permission to remove our kids, promising the judge that Australia was the promised land, where we would all benefit from moving to, going to the beach at weekends, and doing more family stuff.

We got our visas after 12 months of waiting and decided we would validate by taking a 2 week holiday.

We had already spent approx £10,000 on getting up to the stage of visa grant, we then paid an additional £3500 for our validation trip.

We were so excited on the plane wondering if our expectations would be reached.

How wrong we were.

Everything about the place is the opposite to what we had been told. The aussies we came accross were racist, as soon as they heard a non aussie accent they didnt want to know, taking all their effort just to crack a smile. Hubby went on a building site where there were 8 brickies building a garage, and out of the 8, the only one to acknowledge him was a brit. The guy had heen there for 5 years and had been in melbourne. He moved to Birsbane for work, but there is nothing about. He told us that he was earning $15 and hour, $20 if he did alot of work. They are awkward, en example we went to a zoo, my kids had waited 20 mins to hold a rabbit, which they did, they went back 5 minutes later,the woman was still in the pen, and no other kids in sight, my kids asked if they could hold a different rabbit and were told 1 hold per child, how petty. This happens in many petting zoos due to the welfare of the animal and not the child. Animals can get quite distressed when handled too much and the idea is that each child gets the experience of holding/petting an animal and the rules are in place for the animals comfort.

EVERYTHING is expensive, meals, drinks at bars, general shopping at woolworths, a pack of mushrooms was $6! clothes are expensive. It is expensive that's for sure.

We were told that if we got PR we would get free medical care, wrongo! i got ill and had to get some antibiotics, it cost me $65 just to see the doctor, and then $15 for tablets, even with medicare. you can claim back half apparently. I don't think health care is free anywhere in the world - you pay for it in one way or another. Personally I prefer the system here although if I need a steroid inhaler it sets me back quite a bit and it can be a pain finding the spare cash to see a doctor but we have incorporated a certain amount into our budget to allow for this. Every health care system needs financial support - it costs to maintain it and someone has to pay for it.

Schools - you have to pay for books approx $200

Hubby got arrested for breaking up a fight, the police told him to go, and because the argument had been settled and they were going for a drink, he got arrested for not following a direction. he was the only one of 4 to get arrestedm even though 2 of the others started the fight and hit hubby. the officer took great delight in abusing him, calling him a pommie prick, and making sure the handcuffs were extra tight. I always stay away from policeman To be honest, if a copper asked me to go then I would go and not get involved - probably a sign of the times but I wouldnt argue with them. There are bad police everywhere though, my brother fell victim to that in the UK - the old saying 'good and bad everywhere' springs to mind but it isnt very nice being on the receiving end of a bullying policeman

Yes it is sunny, but it is also very humid, it was uncomfortable to walk around in, never mind working outside in it, and it wasnt even summer. Took me ages to adapt to the weather but I love it now.

houses are expensive, gone are the days where you can get a massive bungalow with a pool, and loads of land for peanuts, all you can get now is a static caravan coated with wood on stilts for £150k in a decent area. I have heard the term 'cashed up POMS' before, some people expect to buy the massive house with the bpool and lots of land for peanuts, fair enough - I just wanted to own my own home - I have never had anything before and Australia helped me get this dream with the first home buyers grant and the REIBA grant, not to mention the tax bonus from the government that I received last week - we never had anything in the UK but we have our own little house - it isnt a mansion, we dont have a pool or even a car but a home and my husband is what is important to me, not the trimmings that go with it.

We hated the place, and people so much that we begged our airline to get us out, even though we had paid for our hotel in brisbane, we booked a hotel in dubai and spent the last 4 days there in instead.

I cant believe it had cost us so much and the country/people left us so disappointed. We hurt family and friends with our decision to emigrate. Spent £14k, and almost gave up our home and everything. Huge decision to leave family and one that should take careful consideration, time, and planning - don't ever underestimate that. People sickness hurts big time. But really, you never gave it up because you can go back and rebuild those bridges

I am soooo glad we only went one way, the moment those plane wheels left australian runway was the best part of the trip.

ADVICE - It is not the promise land where you can stroll along the beach all day, if you have never been go for a holiday first, we found out the hard way. I would agree about going for a holiday first but even then that isn't always a true indicator.

Everone has their opinion, some love it, others such as ourselves hated it. This is our opinion based on our personal experience.

Originally Posted by Vash the Stampede

Excuse me? I haven't even said anything to the OP. I've made one lighthearted post (which someone else laughed at) and that's all. So what's the big deal?

You've got a right nerve accusing me of beating the OP into submission when I haven't even said anything to her.

Originally Posted by stevenglish

Fair enough mate, I apologise for tarring you with the same brush. I did think your comment about getting arrested to make himself feel at home was a bit off though. meant as a joke or not

Originally Posted by Vash the Stampede

No worries.

It might have been close to the edge, but with all the stick poms give Aussies about being "convicts", it was hard to resist that one.

And what better way to fit in with convicts than to get yourself arrested?

Originally Posted by scottishcelts

Just saying what i've seen Hutch. Yes this IS an open forum and anything goes - that's fine, we all know that, but is there anyone on here you haven't had a run in with?

Originally Posted by steve`o

he`s making a list he`s checking it twice we going to find out whos naughty whos nice

Originally Posted by stevenglish

I see Hutch and Vag the stampede have managed to beat the OP into submission. Bloody shame this always seems to happen doesn't it. To the OP, don't let people like this get to ya, for anyone who doesn't get on out here it's an expensive lesson to learn, and at the end of the day it's been a leap of faith for every single person on here apart from those with dual citizenship from birth. Anyone who says otherwise is a fibber

Originally Posted by Vash the Stampede

Excuse me? I haven't even said anything to the OP. I've made one lighthearted post (which someone else laughed at) and that's all. So what's the big deal?

Originally Posted by stevenglish

Shit, 2 apologies in one night, I thought you were having a pop at him for something. I'm tired, I've had a hard day, and I'm going for a smoke

Originally Posted by Centurion

Me - I'm a personal one man Hutch fan club. Never had a run in with him over the years.

But then - maybe because I think the same people are twats as him usually.

You did ask

Originally Posted by Hutch

Don't hurry back.