Main reason for moving back?
Apr 18th 2008 | 7:22 pm
#226
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 631
From: Strawberry Hills(billy), NSW
cheeky sod ;-)
Apr 18th 2008 | 7:40 pm
#227
Home and Happy
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 94,305
From: Keep true friends and puppets close, trust no-one else...
Re: Main reason for moving back?
Not particularly missing family or 'friends' in the UK but can't see us staying here (Brisbane) indefinitely. Starting to think about heading back once/if we decide to go for citizenship
Reasons (in no specific order):
-Dark nights all year round & lack of activity after dark - we spend more time indoors now than we did in the UK! What is it with the Aussie hermits?
Reasons (in no specific order):
-Dark nights all year round & lack of activity after dark - we spend more time indoors now than we did in the UK! What is it with the Aussie hermits?
Group from work took me to the "best pub in Brisbane for culture and atmosphere" (their words not mine!) ....... Breakfast Creek hotel - long wooden tables sticky with old beer, and the floor awash with the same, cos of the Aussie habit of staring at the TV all the time and thus spilling their drinks.
I love the way I can relax when I get home for a couple of weeks. Here its a constant feeling of having to be wary of everything and everyone.
Apr 18th 2008 | 8:14 pm
#228
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 631
From: Strawberry Hills(billy), NSW
Re: Main reason for moving back?
Its terrible isn't it, I can't stand the way the guys at work all think I'm weird for wanting to go out in the evenings.
Don't get me started!!
Group from work took me to the "best pub in Brisbane for culture and atmosphere" (their words not mine!) ....... Breakfast Creek hotel - long wooden tables sticky with old beer, and the floor awash with the same, cos of the Aussie habit of staring at the TV all the time and thus spilling their drinks.
I was thinking that the other day coming up Gympie Road (north Brisbane) derelict shops, old hoardings, tacky billboards with SEX in eight foot high letters.
And the Aussies accept it, thats the worst thing.
Used to work for them - horrendous bullying culture at work, and they are some of the worst drivers around.
Goes with the corruption thing, I think
I love the way I can relax when I get home for a couple of weeks. Here its a constant feeling of having to be wary of everything and everyone.
Brisbane, most liveable city
Don't get me started!!
Group from work took me to the "best pub in Brisbane for culture and atmosphere" (their words not mine!) ....... Breakfast Creek hotel - long wooden tables sticky with old beer, and the floor awash with the same, cos of the Aussie habit of staring at the TV all the time and thus spilling their drinks.
I was thinking that the other day coming up Gympie Road (north Brisbane) derelict shops, old hoardings, tacky billboards with SEX in eight foot high letters.
And the Aussies accept it, thats the worst thing.
Used to work for them - horrendous bullying culture at work, and they are some of the worst drivers around.
Goes with the corruption thing, I think
I love the way I can relax when I get home for a couple of weeks. Here its a constant feeling of having to be wary of everything and everyone.
Brisbane, most liveable city
Just yesterday, here in the UK we heard about how big construction companies have been acting as a cartel to drive up prices for work tendered mainly to local Councils.
Also heard about woman with multi-million pound claim for sexual discrimination against her employer.
If Brisbane is boring then why not try Sydney or Melbourne. Both cities are awash with restaurants from around the world, all kinds of music, theatre, etc. etc.
Apr 18th 2008 | 8:39 pm
#229
Just Joined
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 26
Re: Main reason for moving back?
Not particularly missing family or 'friends' in the UK but can't see us staying here (Brisbane) indefinitely. Starting to think about heading back once/if we decide to go for citizenship
Reasons (in no specific order):
-Dark nights all year round & lack of activity after dark - we spend more time indoors now than we did in the UK! What is it with the Aussie hermits?
-The Media - cheesy at best but looks great on a 60" plasma
-Lack of sophistication/culture/class - lost your shoes mate? Love those white-framed sunnies <inserts w anker gif>
-Lack of culture - hotels - say no more. Southbank?
-The wannabee American mentality - talking, spelling, TV :curse:
-*My* inability to relate to the Aussie rules/rugby culture and having no appreciation for Australian sporting legends
-Fozzies (fake ozzies) - poms who have been here 5 minutes and all of a sudden are ending their sentences in a raised-tone fashion and parading around Dan Murphy's in thongs and boardies before going home to settle down for their nightly episode of 'The Biggest Loser' or 'Big Brother' or who have suddenly become Bronco's/Lions season ticket holders and enthuse about the joys of sport despite never having attended as much as a school relay race in the UK and not knowing the tune to Match of The Day
-The eyesore of the urban environment - graffiti, cables. 5hithole as Liam Gallagher would say, but looks better with the sun on it
-Cowboy mentality - and that's just the police
-*My* belief that the whole country is corrupt from top to bottom - law and order is a sham and everybody is on the make - out of you!!
-Lack of road safety - we were nearly ploughed into by a RACQ car last night as it took a bend on 2 wheels
-Complete lack of faith and distrust of anyone in a position of power be it government, work or school
-Constant suspicion that you are being ripped off - tax, tax, tax.
-Feeling as though you have to be 'on guard' all the time
-Lack of variety in anything apart from fast food
-Being able to jump on a plane and experience a different way of life and being able to 'get away from it' for a while. I crave the greenery and freshness of The Lake District and the differing cultures within Europe - all an hour or two's drive/flight from our former home in the UK.
-Despite being fortunate enough to have (what some people would class as) an extremely generous income, home ownership and the possible need to have a fairly large mortgage (on what I class as overpriced property) is a constant source of worry and soul searching. It's hard, for the first time in my life, having to contemplate the thought of not owing one's home in order to 'live the Aussie Dream'. My end goal changes daily.
-Obsession with money and financial worth - we came here to get away from that (see above)
-Hidden costs of everything - You can have the simple life but it's gonna cost 'ya somewhere along the line.
-Living in a 'City' populated with country bumpkins
-Feeling trapped in a place where, for some reason, development and progression are crippled
-Brisbane (Bligh) - bigging up Brisbane and making out it's a rival to places like NYC, London etc when in reality, it's soooo behind the times in countless ways
There are many, many things I like about Brisbane and Australia but the things above, however trivial they may seem to others, *I've learned* are the things that matter to me
Reasons (in no specific order):
-Dark nights all year round & lack of activity after dark - we spend more time indoors now than we did in the UK! What is it with the Aussie hermits?
-The Media - cheesy at best but looks great on a 60" plasma
-Lack of sophistication/culture/class - lost your shoes mate? Love those white-framed sunnies <inserts w anker gif>
-Lack of culture - hotels - say no more. Southbank?
-The wannabee American mentality - talking, spelling, TV :curse:
-*My* inability to relate to the Aussie rules/rugby culture and having no appreciation for Australian sporting legends
-Fozzies (fake ozzies) - poms who have been here 5 minutes and all of a sudden are ending their sentences in a raised-tone fashion and parading around Dan Murphy's in thongs and boardies before going home to settle down for their nightly episode of 'The Biggest Loser' or 'Big Brother' or who have suddenly become Bronco's/Lions season ticket holders and enthuse about the joys of sport despite never having attended as much as a school relay race in the UK and not knowing the tune to Match of The Day
-The eyesore of the urban environment - graffiti, cables. 5hithole as Liam Gallagher would say, but looks better with the sun on it
-Cowboy mentality - and that's just the police
-*My* belief that the whole country is corrupt from top to bottom - law and order is a sham and everybody is on the make - out of you!!
-Lack of road safety - we were nearly ploughed into by a RACQ car last night as it took a bend on 2 wheels
-Complete lack of faith and distrust of anyone in a position of power be it government, work or school
-Constant suspicion that you are being ripped off - tax, tax, tax.
-Feeling as though you have to be 'on guard' all the time
-Lack of variety in anything apart from fast food
-Being able to jump on a plane and experience a different way of life and being able to 'get away from it' for a while. I crave the greenery and freshness of The Lake District and the differing cultures within Europe - all an hour or two's drive/flight from our former home in the UK.
-Despite being fortunate enough to have (what some people would class as) an extremely generous income, home ownership and the possible need to have a fairly large mortgage (on what I class as overpriced property) is a constant source of worry and soul searching. It's hard, for the first time in my life, having to contemplate the thought of not owing one's home in order to 'live the Aussie Dream'. My end goal changes daily.
-Obsession with money and financial worth - we came here to get away from that (see above)
-Hidden costs of everything - You can have the simple life but it's gonna cost 'ya somewhere along the line.
-Living in a 'City' populated with country bumpkins
-Feeling trapped in a place where, for some reason, development and progression are crippled
-Brisbane (Bligh) - bigging up Brisbane and making out it's a rival to places like NYC, London etc when in reality, it's soooo behind the times in countless ways
There are many, many things I like about Brisbane and Australia but the things above, however trivial they may seem to others, *I've learned* are the things that matter to me
You are so right , they have a shallow lifestyle here in Brisbane , most people are in their pajamas by 8pm , the Brits are thinking about going out at this time.I fully agree with you on the dark nights all year round and they won't even look at daylight saving ! If they weren't so up themselves this would all be easier to handle.
Apr 18th 2008 | 9:09 pm
#230
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 3,521
From: Brisbane, Australia
Apr 19th 2008 | 3:01 pm
#231
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 845
From: Pine Rivers
Re: Main reason for moving back?
Don't get me wrong. I'm not the sort of bloke who spends the day whinging about this, that and the other and waxing lyrical about the UK - these are just my observations.
There are some days, most in fact, where I'm happy to be where I am and try to take the positives out of the good things that are available to me and my family:
- weekend walks with the dog on the beach
- watching the lad play and getting involved with his cricket and football teams
- playing backyard cricket
- watching the birds (feathered variety and the other sort
- all the other things that the wonderful climate allows us to do which would not be available to us in the UK
- the simple, uncomplicated (if slightly anal) Australian ways
- warm evenings at the Suncorp watching the Roar with a beer, hot days watching the test match at the GABBA with a few more beers, and lively evenings in our corporate box at the Suncorp watching the Broncos (saveme - take note
)
My gripes listed in my previous post are more about the things which have come as a shock to me and things which years of planning did not prepare us for.
There is no amount of planning or any computer program which will provide you with the answer as to whether or not you will adapt to Aussie life. It's very much a case of suck it and see in a lot of respects.
We envisaged work playing second fiddle to an outdoor life of adventure, social gatherings and exercise. In reality our life has become more about work and less about the fun stuff apart from at the weekend. I'm going to take up golf (driving range) and join the local gym as a means of filling the void which comes with weekday evenings in the belief that it will provide a worthwhile alternative to reality tv, coffee club and the 'puter.
Our plan over the next few months will be to decide whether Australia, given the reality of the situation, will provide us with the lifestyle outcomes we want in the long term, together with freedom (to travel) and the option to own our own home without being financially crippled by a huge mortgage.
If we decide we can't have/do these things here, then we'll do what's right for the kids and seek to obtain citizenship before going home satisfied that we did and made the best of the opportunity we were given. There will be no sense of 'failure' on our part just like there would be no sense of failure if we went to Benidorm for a fortnight's holiday, decided it was crap, and came home pledging that we had no desire to return.
Moving interstate would be an option if we weren't so weary. In the words of Celine Dion - "I've got nothing left"
Cheers
There are some days, most in fact, where I'm happy to be where I am and try to take the positives out of the good things that are available to me and my family:
- weekend walks with the dog on the beach
- watching the lad play and getting involved with his cricket and football teams
- playing backyard cricket
- watching the birds (feathered variety and the other sort
- all the other things that the wonderful climate allows us to do which would not be available to us in the UK
- the simple, uncomplicated (if slightly anal) Australian ways
- warm evenings at the Suncorp watching the Roar with a beer, hot days watching the test match at the GABBA with a few more beers, and lively evenings in our corporate box at the Suncorp watching the Broncos (saveme - take note
) My gripes listed in my previous post are more about the things which have come as a shock to me and things which years of planning did not prepare us for.
There is no amount of planning or any computer program which will provide you with the answer as to whether or not you will adapt to Aussie life. It's very much a case of suck it and see in a lot of respects.
We envisaged work playing second fiddle to an outdoor life of adventure, social gatherings and exercise. In reality our life has become more about work and less about the fun stuff apart from at the weekend. I'm going to take up golf (driving range) and join the local gym as a means of filling the void which comes with weekday evenings in the belief that it will provide a worthwhile alternative to reality tv, coffee club and the 'puter.
Our plan over the next few months will be to decide whether Australia, given the reality of the situation, will provide us with the lifestyle outcomes we want in the long term, together with freedom (to travel) and the option to own our own home without being financially crippled by a huge mortgage.
If we decide we can't have/do these things here, then we'll do what's right for the kids and seek to obtain citizenship before going home satisfied that we did and made the best of the opportunity we were given. There will be no sense of 'failure' on our part just like there would be no sense of failure if we went to Benidorm for a fortnight's holiday, decided it was crap, and came home pledging that we had no desire to return.
Moving interstate would be an option if we weren't so weary. In the words of Celine Dion - "I've got nothing left"
Cheers
Apr 19th 2008 | 3:27 pm
#233
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 1,095
From: Castle Hill, Sydney (previously Brum)
Re: Main reason for moving back?
No point moving interstate...it's all more of the bloody same!
Woke up this morning determined to 'try a new tack'. Went to a different church with family. They actually had parking spaces for those new to the church...how desperate is that? We went in, no one spoke to us. The 'band' (fairly woeful, attempting to look cool ... or like Roy Orbison anyhow) played 3 'hymns' which all sounded the same and were impossible to sing in the same key for longer than 3 bars. Then the Pastor invited everyone to greet each other, at which point everyone vaguely looked around, greeted only those they knew and then collapsed under the strain of having to be friendly for more than 10 seconds. This was followed by more dirgey songs, me falling asleep, then coffee and bickies with the congregation where everyone only spoke to those they knew.
Now we're a really friendly family....but I think I give up. Someone please tell me it's not like this in England now. We're been here in Sydney so long I'm terrified we'll go back to the UK and everyone there has forgotten how to make new friendships too.
Woke up this morning determined to 'try a new tack'. Went to a different church with family. They actually had parking spaces for those new to the church...how desperate is that? We went in, no one spoke to us. The 'band' (fairly woeful, attempting to look cool ... or like Roy Orbison anyhow) played 3 'hymns' which all sounded the same and were impossible to sing in the same key for longer than 3 bars. Then the Pastor invited everyone to greet each other, at which point everyone vaguely looked around, greeted only those they knew and then collapsed under the strain of having to be friendly for more than 10 seconds. This was followed by more dirgey songs, me falling asleep, then coffee and bickies with the congregation where everyone only spoke to those they knew.
Now we're a really friendly family....but I think I give up. Someone please tell me it's not like this in England now. We're been here in Sydney so long I'm terrified we'll go back to the UK and everyone there has forgotten how to make new friendships too.
Apr 19th 2008 | 7:41 pm
#234
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 631
From: Strawberry Hills(billy), NSW
Re: Main reason for moving back?
You are so right , they have a shallow lifestyle here in Brisbane , most people are in their pajamas by 8pm , the Brits are thinking about going out at this time.I fully agree with you on the dark nights all year round and they won't even look at daylight saving ! If they weren't so up themselves this would all be easier to handle.
Apr 20th 2008 | 11:01 am
#235
Home and Happy
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 94,305
From: Keep true friends and puppets close, trust no-one else...
Re: Main reason for moving back?
My gripes listed in my previous post are more about the things which have come as a shock to me and things which years of planning did not prepare us for.
There is no amount of planning or any computer program which will provide you with the answer as to whether or not you will adapt to Aussie life. It's very much a case of suck it and see in a lot of respects.
We envisaged work playing second fiddle to an outdoor life of adventure, social gatherings and exercise. In reality our life has become more about work and less about the fun stuff apart from at the weekend.
There is no amount of planning or any computer program which will provide you with the answer as to whether or not you will adapt to Aussie life. It's very much a case of suck it and see in a lot of respects.
We envisaged work playing second fiddle to an outdoor life of adventure, social gatherings and exercise. In reality our life has become more about work and less about the fun stuff apart from at the weekend.
No point moving interstate...it's all more of the bloody same!
Woke up this morning determined to 'try a new tack'. Went to a different church with family. They actually had parking spaces for those new to the church...how desperate is that? We went in, no one spoke to us. The 'band' (fairly woeful, attempting to look cool ... or like Roy Orbison anyhow) played 3 'hymns' which all sounded the same and were impossible to sing in the same key for longer than 3 bars. Then the Pastor invited everyone to greet each other, at which point everyone vaguely looked around, greeted only those they knew and then collapsed under the strain of having to be friendly for more than 10 seconds. This was followed by more dirgey songs, me falling asleep, then coffee and bickies with the congregation where everyone only spoke to those they knew.
Now we're a really friendly family....but I think I give up. Someone please tell me it's not like this in England now. We're been here in Sydney so long I'm terrified we'll go back to the UK and everyone there has forgotten how to make new friendships too.
Woke up this morning determined to 'try a new tack'. Went to a different church with family. They actually had parking spaces for those new to the church...how desperate is that? We went in, no one spoke to us. The 'band' (fairly woeful, attempting to look cool ... or like Roy Orbison anyhow) played 3 'hymns' which all sounded the same and were impossible to sing in the same key for longer than 3 bars. Then the Pastor invited everyone to greet each other, at which point everyone vaguely looked around, greeted only those they knew and then collapsed under the strain of having to be friendly for more than 10 seconds. This was followed by more dirgey songs, me falling asleep, then coffee and bickies with the congregation where everyone only spoke to those they knew.
Now we're a really friendly family....but I think I give up. Someone please tell me it's not like this in England now. We're been here in Sydney so long I'm terrified we'll go back to the UK and everyone there has forgotten how to make new friendships too.
When the family came over from the UK last August one of the things they really wanted to do was worship in an Aussie church - they are heavily involved in their church back home, and were interested in the differences/similarities etc. We went to Brisbane's Anglican Cathedral, and it was a truly fantastic day. They were engaged in conversation at once by the sidesmen, once they discovered the interest in the church they were made very welcome. The children were all invited to join in, carrying the collection in procession to the altar. Afterwards we were given a personal guided tour of the building, which took around an hour.
It was a fantastic trip, and they went home feeling that they had really been made part of the congregation.
Apr 20th 2008 | 12:43 pm
#236
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 1,095
From: Castle Hill, Sydney (previously Brum)
Re: Main reason for moving back?
Good to hear your folks got a warm welcome.....and the kind of the welcome you'd expect when you go to worship. Maybe it's just our area of Sydney...? Even our own church has few people we engage with and it's certainly not through any lack of effort on our part. Haven't checked in the mirror lately for three heads, cabbage in teeth and bogies hanging out my nose though!
I spent the morning on the internet looking at schools and areas...keep being drawn to Wootton Bassett....it's funny, we always said 'ooh, we'll live in Wootton Bassett one day' when we used to drive through there. Hubby said people commute to London from Swindon so we looked up train fares...........the cheapest we found was 170 quid per month!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!! Aaaaghhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Schools at Chippenham & W.B did well in Ofsted report though....if we could get a place - probably they'd have to get sent to an inner Bristol school or homeschool if our experience in Brum is anything to go by.
OK, now I'll do a positive bit - just to prove I can! I'm sorry it didn't work out for you - we had the opposite experience.
When the family came over from the UK last August one of the things they really wanted to do was worship in an Aussie church - they are heavily involved in their church back home, and were interested in the differences/similarities etc. We went to Brisbane's Anglican Cathedral, and it was a truly fantastic day. They were engaged in conversation at once by the sidesmen, once they discovered the interest in the church they were made very welcome. The children were all invited to join in, carrying the collection in procession to the altar. Afterwards we were given a personal guided tour of the building, which took around an hour.
It was a fantastic trip, and they went home feeling that they had really been made part of the congregation.[/quote]
I spent the morning on the internet looking at schools and areas...keep being drawn to Wootton Bassett....it's funny, we always said 'ooh, we'll live in Wootton Bassett one day' when we used to drive through there. Hubby said people commute to London from Swindon so we looked up train fares...........the cheapest we found was 170 quid per month!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!! Aaaaghhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Schools at Chippenham & W.B did well in Ofsted report though....if we could get a place - probably they'd have to get sent to an inner Bristol school or homeschool if our experience in Brum is anything to go by.
OK, now I'll do a positive bit - just to prove I can! I'm sorry it didn't work out for you - we had the opposite experience.
When the family came over from the UK last August one of the things they really wanted to do was worship in an Aussie church - they are heavily involved in their church back home, and were interested in the differences/similarities etc. We went to Brisbane's Anglican Cathedral, and it was a truly fantastic day. They were engaged in conversation at once by the sidesmen, once they discovered the interest in the church they were made very welcome. The children were all invited to join in, carrying the collection in procession to the altar. Afterwards we were given a personal guided tour of the building, which took around an hour.
It was a fantastic trip, and they went home feeling that they had really been made part of the congregation.
[/quote]
Apr 20th 2008 | 1:33 pm
#237
Gutter Gob!!
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 13,098
From: Perth
Re: Main reason for moving back?
Good to hear your folks got a warm welcome.....and the kind of the welcome you'd expect when you go to worship. Maybe it's just our area of Sydney...? Even our own church has few people we engage with and it's certainly not through any lack of effort on our part. Haven't checked in the mirror lately for three heads, cabbage in teeth and bogies hanging out my nose though!
I spent the morning on the internet looking at schools and areas...keep being drawn to Wootton Bassett....it's funny, we always said 'ooh, we'll live in Wootton Bassett one day' when we used to drive through there. Hubby said people commute to London from Swindon so we looked up train fares...........the cheapest we found was 170 quid per month!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!! Aaaaghhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Schools at Chippenham & W.B did well in Ofsted report though....if we could get a place - probably they'd have to get sent to an inner Bristol school or homeschool if our experience in Brum is anything to go by.
OK, now I'll do a positive bit - just to prove I can! I'm sorry it didn't work out for you - we had the opposite experience.
When the family came over from the UK last August one of the things they really wanted to do was worship in an Aussie church - they are heavily involved in their church back home, and were interested in the differences/similarities etc. We went to Brisbane's Anglican Cathedral, and it was a truly fantastic day. They were engaged in conversation at once by the sidesmen, once they discovered the interest in the church they were made very welcome. The children were all invited to join in, carrying the collection in procession to the altar. Afterwards we were given a personal guided tour of the building, which took around an hour.
It was a fantastic trip, and they went home feeling that they had really been made part of the congregation.
I spent the morning on the internet looking at schools and areas...keep being drawn to Wootton Bassett....it's funny, we always said 'ooh, we'll live in Wootton Bassett one day' when we used to drive through there. Hubby said people commute to London from Swindon so we looked up train fares...........the cheapest we found was 170 quid per month!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!! Aaaaghhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Schools at Chippenham & W.B did well in Ofsted report though....if we could get a place - probably they'd have to get sent to an inner Bristol school or homeschool if our experience in Brum is anything to go by.
OK, now I'll do a positive bit - just to prove I can! I'm sorry it didn't work out for you - we had the opposite experience.
When the family came over from the UK last August one of the things they really wanted to do was worship in an Aussie church - they are heavily involved in their church back home, and were interested in the differences/similarities etc. We went to Brisbane's Anglican Cathedral, and it was a truly fantastic day. They were engaged in conversation at once by the sidesmen, once they discovered the interest in the church they were made very welcome. The children were all invited to join in, carrying the collection in procession to the altar. Afterwards we were given a personal guided tour of the building, which took around an hour.
It was a fantastic trip, and they went home feeling that they had really been made part of the congregation.
That 170 quid wouldn't be for peak commuting hours either. My husband used to commute from Huntingdon to Kings X and that used to cost almost 400 quid a month 3 years ago for peak travel with tube. Back in 1998 it used to cost me 250 quid a month for Flitwick to London. They have you by the short and curlys with regards to peak trains.
Apr 20th 2008 | 2:12 pm
#238
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 1,095
From: Castle Hill, Sydney (previously Brum)
Re: Main reason for moving back?
I think my hubby pays around $30 per week from Pennant Hills to Sydney. Hang on... at 400 quid per month, that's generally around $240 per week....either he earnt a bloody good wage or had to supplement his income with a turn down the docks! No idea where Huntingdon is...presuming from the fare it must be somewhere in the Orkneys!
That 170 quid wouldn't be for peak commuting hours either. My husband used to commute from Huntingdon to Kings X and that used to cost almost 400 quid a month 3 years ago for peak travel with tube. Back in 1998 it used to cost me 250 quid a month for Flitwick to London. They have you by the short and curlys with regards to peak trains.[/quote]
That 170 quid wouldn't be for peak commuting hours either. My husband used to commute from Huntingdon to Kings X and that used to cost almost 400 quid a month 3 years ago for peak travel with tube. Back in 1998 it used to cost me 250 quid a month for Flitwick to London. They have you by the short and curlys with regards to peak trains.[/quote]
Apr 20th 2008 | 2:15 pm
#239
Gutter Gob!!
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 13,098
From: Perth
Re: Main reason for moving back?
I think my hubby pays around $30 per week from Pennant Hills to Sydney. Hang on... at 400 quid per month, that's generally around $240 per week....either he earnt a bloody good wage or had to supplement his income with a turn down the docks! No idea where Huntingdon is...presuming from the fare it must be somewhere in the Orkneys!
Apr 20th 2008 | 2:39 pm
#240
Home and Happy
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 94,305
From: Keep true friends and puppets close, trust no-one else...
Re: Main reason for moving back?
Good to hear your folks got a warm welcome.....and the kind of the welcome you'd expect when you go to worship. Maybe it's just our area of Sydney...? Even our own church has few people we engage with and it's certainly not through any lack of effort on our part. Haven't checked in the mirror lately for three heads, cabbage in teeth and bogies hanging out my nose though!
I spent the morning on the internet looking at schools and areas...keep being drawn to Wootton Bassett....it's funny, we always said 'ooh, we'll live in Wootton Bassett one day' when we used to drive through there. Hubby said people commute to London from Swindon so we looked up train fares...........the cheapest we found was 170 quid per month!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!! Aaaaghhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Schools at Chippenham & W.B did well in Ofsted report though....if we could get a place - probably they'd have to get sent to an inner Bristol school or homeschool if our experience in Brum is anything to go by.
I spent the morning on the internet looking at schools and areas...keep being drawn to Wootton Bassett....it's funny, we always said 'ooh, we'll live in Wootton Bassett one day' when we used to drive through there. Hubby said people commute to London from Swindon so we looked up train fares...........the cheapest we found was 170 quid per month!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!! Aaaaghhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Schools at Chippenham & W.B did well in Ofsted report though....if we could get a place - probably they'd have to get sent to an inner Bristol school or homeschool if our experience in Brum is anything to go by.
(excuse me while I do a brief minute of wallowing in homesickness!!!)Some of the Swindon schools have quite a good reputation locally - Ridgeway in Wroughton is good too, and a lot of the villages around Wootton Bassett feed into Ridgeway.
Depending on how far you would want to go, if you end up being towards Bristol St Mary Redcliffe is on the edge of the city and is excellent, with good strong links to the church as well.
