Tr1boy

Mrs Triboy has had her Settlement Visa approved.

Took 3.5 wks. I can't make out why JAJ keeps saying the BHC is rubbish (well actually I can, reading all his other anti UK diatribes). It's far far superior to any dealings I've been unfortunate enough to have with the Aussie mob. ( I paid extra for the so-called 'express service' when remewing my Oz passport and it still took 3weeks.

My British passport took 8 days door to door with no 'express fee'

Mummy in the foothills

congratulations

Nu-Shooz

Many many congrats Triboy

And Mrs triboy

Fleaflyfloflum

We know just how u feel today!! Mr Flea was walking on air for days!

So pleased for u both.

Bevm

Congratulations! So when are you coming back?

Bev

dunroving

Congratulations to both of you.

brits1

What a lovely early Christmas present to you both...well done and the very best wishes for your future...

Sally Redux

Nice one.

Tr1boy

Thanks all.

Bev, the final hurdle is waiting for Mrs Triboy's final exam results which we will get on Dec 16th and then we have to give 4wks notice, so the earliest would not be until Jan 16th, but there is one final cycle race I'd like to stay for which is a 200km race I do in the Victorian Alps every year on the Sunday closest to Oz Day. Next year it is Jan 24th, so unless a job offer is forthcoming I'd say we'll be there end Jan, very early Feb.

Bevm

Though it's a shame to miss Christmas, skipping January in the UK for a sunnier place sounds okay to me. By the time you're settled in February, spring will be on the way!

Bev

Jules Europe

Congratulations

Are the Victorian Alps anything like the Swiss Alps?

Tr1boy

Not really Jules, but the 'Alpine' as the race is known is no pushover, especially in the heat at that time of year. Profile here:

Jules Europe

This is a demanding course and I certainly wouldn`t like to do it unless I was in really good shape. Its even harder given the heat there as well, which makes it a lot tougher. What type of time will you expect to do this in?

Tr1boy

I'm a TT type guy so I'm far from a good climber, I'm in the 10.30-11hrs region ( usually average about 18/19kph on this one). I won't be descending in my usual Savoldelli style (years of motorbike racing being put to good use ) as I'll be protecting my shoulder. So it'll be a slow day, but lots of my tri friends are going and we more or less take over one motel, so the weekend is always lots of fun.

There is the small matter of Canberra Half Ironman on Dec 13th to get through first.

Jules Europe

When fit, I`m actually a good climber and also TT well (despite not competing like you) not so good on undulating terrain though. I`m also a good distance runner on any terrain, especially on hilly terrain. My big problem is that I`m crap at the swimming part, despite having a large pool in my weekend home. I tend to splash around and not get too far that quickly, its good for blowing up my muscles but thats about it

Problem is, in Spain that the level of cycling is very high and taken very seriously, so whenever you go out to train you end up racing with somebody because nobody likes to get overtaken here.