Les Avalook

Nigella was doing some wicked things with Marmite on her show last night.

Hope you didn't miss it Matt.

freddiem

Just got my co today ack last june 25th.Been waiting 5 years,long story.My wife and i decided many months ago we were not going to pay a crazy amount of money to the oz government and get nothing for it. This decision was made only because of the terrible exchange rate and apart from the fantastic weather not much different from the uk.Tried it in 2007 for a year on mornington penninsula fabulous weather but now house prices and utilities have gone crazy.We just dont want to give away tens of thousands of pounds for the visa and tens of thousands because of the rubbish rate. spoke to moneycorp in london,they say will be no improvment for years.we will get the same visa as our last visit and stay for two years as we wish.This is my honest view of things out there but good luck to you people who decide to spend all that money,if money was not the problem i would be in oz over the uk anytime.Three months ago my wife found a very small lump when having a shower,next friday she starts 3 weeks of radiotherapy in both breasts.Has been told she is clear.this was after we decided not to go,friends and family have been brilliant.my wife keeps saying what if she had been in oz .my reason for writing about the cancer is could you cope out there without friends and family.Also 5 years of two lots of pills at a cost of thousands,would the oz gov pay? freddiem

sandch

I'm sure you echo the feelings of many, Freddie, and our very best wishes to your wife for a full recovery.

I would just caution anyone to take any comments from currency traders with a truckload of salt. We might just as well check tea leaves. To borrow a Manuel phrase, when it comes to the future they "know nothing". If they can predict the future, why are they answering phones to the likes of us? Amongst other things such as political tinkering, the market is driven by (a) interest rate diferentials - simple maths here - and (b) human sentiment. The latter, even at fund trader level is the really volatile one which makes predictions so, well, impossible.

Having said all that, it is a fact that the rate (today) is about as crap as it could be and there is no news (today) that gives cause for optimism.

All the very best.

Steve

Barbaran

Did as you suggested but went straight to CO by email which seems to have upset our Agent. However, we now have an extension until the end of November, so we can breathe again and hopefully things will improve.

DaveandLinda

Thanks, will have a look at that.

DaveandLinda

Bet you are really looking forward to that. Unfortunately we don't think we will be over till maybe next June.

Barbaran

Hi Les,

Its probably the only time in our lives where money can buy extra time with the family and so worth it. OK so its a lot of money - you can't take it with you and there will be no "What ifs" and sliding into old age with a meagre pension being paid into the bank and staying in our little boxes for at least 6 months of the year due to unpredictable wrapped up in a "Snuggly" cos of the heating bills. I could go on...... yes we will have to still have private medical insurance (cheaper than here) but the medical attention we have experienced as a family is far superior than in the UK and we will probably live longer and experience a far happier time in our senior years. The glass is definitely half full and preferably with Aussie Shiraz.

Barbaran

I so agree Steve, nobody knows what will happen when. We only need a blip of exchange rates to rise and we will all ride the wave as and when it happens.

Barbaran

Hopefully there will be a few of us there by then so look forward to Kings Park and the Pips....

fiz

I sympathise with Freddie's view but still think its worth having a go...hope he's wrong about the exchange rate though! (Currency traders are notoriously unreliable, I hear...)

Only two above me on the tracker..though quite a big time gap so I guess it will be still several weeks till I get the coveted CO.

Just to hurry things along, I've done my police certificate and updated Form 80-can someone tell me where I send that?

Presumably I attach my file reference but should I send it by courier and if so to which address

thanks in anticipation

Fiz

framboy

We agree with Les's analogy, and it it brought a smile to our faces, but we certainly agree with your thoughts, you hit the nail on the head about the fact that you can't take it with you, and family is priceless

ileay

[QUOTE=fiz;8920984]I sympathise with Freddie's view but still think its worth having a go...hope he's wrong about the exchange rate though! (Currency traders are notoriously unreliable, I hear...)

Only two above me on the tracker..though quite a big time gap so I guess it will be still several weeks till I get the coveted CO.

Just to hurry things along, I've done my police certificate and updated Form 80-can someone tell me where I send that?

Presumably I attach my file reference but should I send it by courier and if so to which address

thanks in anticipation

Hi Fiz,

You need to wait for your personal CO to be allocated to you. Once that happens your own CO will request your meds, police check and Form 80. I hope this helps.
June

pemajoka

Looks like we will be having a great party Christmas 2011 could even run to a few marmite, er vegemite sandwiches

Barbaran

Hold on to that thought except the "V and M" sandwiches doesn't quite go with the bubbly!

fiz

Thanks June for your reply-

I can certainly wait for the CO but I thought I had read somewhere about sending the police check in advance-I have already done my meds prior to getting a CO, like many others have, so that has been sent to Perth-

should I send the Police check to Perth now, since I have it sitting here on my desk?!