Techno Freak

TV license is about £11 per month
Sky TV starts about £18 ish up to £40 odd
We pay £17.99 for 1mb NTL cable modem
Our phone bill is usually around £20 ( we don't use it much )

aaron8123

Everything that is written above is sooooooo true. Isn't it scary how so many people have very similar views on the negatives of Oz, but there is such a variation on the pros. It must say something!!

Also isn't it funny how most of the people who write about their experiences that are supposed to be positive are usually writing after being here for 1, 3, 6 or 12 months and 75% of the thread concentrates on the bad things that have happened i.e trying to get anything done in oz and the last paragraph says oh but the worst over it will get better.

Just my observations of reading many BE posts

Shellfish

Well, it shows how different people are. We left the UK because we didn't want to raise children there. We live in Melbourne's inner suburbs and I think it's a fantastic place to raise kids. There are parks all over the place to take kids. The aquarium and zoo and not to mention various museums are considered some of the best in Australia. There are lots of schools near to us and I take the tram with these kids, who in general behave extremely well (a big relief). I can actually walk on the streets without the concern that someone who mistakes themselves for a footballer is going to spit on me. I always see sporting events taking place in the area, formal or informal from footy, rugby, cricket, netball etc. My sister walks with her daughter to the royal botanical gardens all the time, it is free and it's gorgeous, a really nice way to spend the day.

Yes, the tv is crap. Good! I don't want my children spending their days glued to the TV. I would rather spend the day driving them up the mountains to go taboganning in the snow (in the winter) or to the beach (in summer). I am sorry but there is an old saying, only boring people get bored.

pinkpanther

Well we must all be boring then if we spend our days contributing to a forum instead of getting out there and enjoying ourselves!

Exile

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think that's a complete load of bo***cks. Like a lot of old sayings, in fact.

I'd say the opposite is true in many cases. People who are satisfied with a dull routine in soul-crushing suburbia tend not to be the most interesting individuals, in my experience. But they're certainly not bored. Lucky them.

Have you never been bored? Anywhere?

Each to their own, I guess...

BadgeIsBack

lol. I agree. I didn't bother whining about the things to do - you just do them.

That the negatives are so similar is a good thing, the pattern means that some people can identify if they are 'high-risk', if that makes sense...

BadgeIsBack

I've often thought of trotting that one out myself, but have thought the better of it seeing as I figured it would not stand up to scrutiny, as you say(!) I recall that was one of the first sayings my mother said that I was able to repudiate.

All I know is, you either find things not worth staying, and this will not sway you, (infact you will probably get more focused that way), or by circumstances you'll do OK. I've noticed that the unhappier people really come fixated by the same things, no matter the actual degree of reality vs perceived unhappiness. Only a return home will prove it.

Shellfish

Well, perhaps you can tell me exactly how you think a 3 year old child should be spending their time. I think playing in the park, tobogganing, a trip to the toy library, a trip to the book library for a story, aquariums, zoos, a visit to a childrens farm, swimming (in a pool or in the sea), concerts in the park are all quite nice but if one day my children inform me that they are tired of 'soul-crushing suburbia', I will get in touch with you and perhaps we can all go off and watch a drive by shooting

I would be willing to bet that you have actually spent very little time in Melbourne, if ever.

Exile

Sorry, I wasn't referring to your life or to Melbourne (I have been, by the way, and quite liked it).

I just take issue with your rolling out of the platitude "only boring people get bored", and the implication that anyone who finds their situation less than exciting must have a problem. Not everyone wants the same things.

northernbird

I like this statement. The sooner everyone reaslises this the better. You can't say Australia is boring, its just not true. You have to say "I find Australia doesn't offer me the life experience I want it to" I love soul crushing suburbia because it beats commuting to London and having a row with my mother in law!!

woodyinoz

I fully agree that Melbourne has a lot to offer the younger child.
I am now finding however that my kids are getting to the age where they need a little more from life. They wish to head to France to experience another language and culture and the obvious Disney Land! They can't wait for the English theme parks, Madame Tussuad's and a massive choice of museums. Let alone the youngest already booking out every weekend that Granddad did have spare to go rally driving and banger racing.... girls hey ;-)
I guess that for us the UK offers more things that are of interest. We are all different and enjoy different things in life.

Exile

I agree with you here.

We lived in Tokyo for five years, and I came here to slow things down. For the first six months or so, working from home here in Perth certainly beat commuting in Tokyo, but now I'm not so sure. I've started to miss the bustle.

Sometimes you have to be careful what you wish for. You may find you start missing your mother-in-law soon

northernbird

doubt it, even the old man doesn't miss his mother

jugsy

It sounds like a lovely life for a child but one that can be had both in Australia and Britain.

Techno Freak

At least in Oz you won't be freezing your nuts off for 10 months of the year doing it, ( probably be frying them instead ).