Well I have not put a post or update anything since 4 days before we left for Perth 10 month ago, was having a little think to myself at what has happened since we have been here so thought I could give you an update. may bore some people may help others either way here it is !!

So leaving Perth after spending 2 and a half months living back at my parents I felt greatful having spent the time with them although think it was harder for Phil bless him he says he has never studied so hard (diff IT exams) think it allowed him to have some peace. I decided against a huge party but had a leaving do from work which was going to be a few beers in the local pub and over 50 people turned up needless to say a few tears from the both of us and about 5 million drinks we crawled home at 4am with the reality of SHIT we have left brilliant paid jobs, a fantastic bunch of friends and family for what ???? saying goodbye to Phils family and my family was difficult as you would expect, I had a hug from my dad and brother and didn't think they would let go of me ! I just kept saying its only a plane ride away don't be daft,we pretty much held it together. We both decided to work until 12 the day before we left had lots of party food at work which was so lovely and unexpected, so then the cry marathon began, bye to the family that morning, bye to my work mates, sat on the metro to the airport to meet Phil at hotel cried when I got there. Got up next day went to the airport, got there and cried when the lady told me my luggage was overweight and I had to pay 300 pound couldn't stop crying so she reduced it to 140 (theres a tip for ya !) took off in the plane cried we got off the ground landed in Perth cried that we had arrived. So then our new life began.....

I was so excited to be in Perth, we had arranged a holiday rental for about 6 weeks thought this is time to get a rental. My main concern was being out of work I was not prepared for the feeling of not having a job, I have worked since I was 15 and I have never been out of work, Phils a little more laid back as he was a contractor in UK. I however was not and felt stressed at the thought. The first week we sorted out HBF cover for ambulance dentist etc and medicare cards told this was important was really easy and quick !

After having a week off to get recovered from jet lag we went about applying for work. I just could not relax fully seeing the savings go down and not having an income. My background is in finance I was a mtge advisor in UK but I was determined not to go into sales or work in a bank needed a change and a more relxed job. Phil is a joiner by trade and also works in IT so he had 2 choices. Did my cv and for 2 weeks I just got rejection emails (that was if they could be bothered to send me one) same old crap some of the jobs I could have done with my eyes shut but just did not seem interested. I signed up with an agency and what a parcel of shit they were trying to explain what I did in UK I might as well have said I was a brain surgeon ! Then I got a call from AAMI insurance (if you have seen the ads with the swans thats them !!) interview x 2 and job within a week of applying, so it took 3 weeks to get full time perminant job no sales targets alot of customer service and admin and a great starting salary, would not get the equivilant in uk.

Then Phil did the same applied for various roles went for an interview got a job within the first week, first day he realised it was a crock of doo doo, they lied about the job role sold him a role which would be suitable and really was not. So here he was stressed that he would be turning a job down full time on a decent wage or being miserable and baisically a dogsbody for the office sat at a desk facing the wall, in fact no one in the office even spoke to each other, felt so bad for him I have the most fantastic team and he was miserable. Next day he goes into work for 1 hour then sees the boss tells him not for me see you later !!! I told him he was not to worry we had my income and he had to find a suitable job and it would happen, at the end of the day you have to think of the bigger picture, we came to Perth to experience a happier more relaxed lifestyle being stuck in a job miserable is not part of the deal. So it took another 10 weeks to find a job, panic was setting in Phil was getting worried that he would not get a job. Do not think you can come here with all your experience and land a job they view you differently because you are not Australian I had to really sell myself (well not literally it didn't get that bad ) make sure your cv is going to be noticed and a good covering letter helps heaps. Anways, Phil got a job working as an IT manager, he has a good team, it is stressful at times but he loves it and has a wicked salary and super. When we look at money we are actually earning the same as we were in uk which is amazing and we never thought that would happen and it is giving us the lifestyle we wanted.

So in between looking for a job we had to find a rental I was panicking (again) that we would not get one as we didn't have jobs but we went to see a three houses in clarkson I could get the train to work in osborne park and it only took 20 mins (make sure you get a transperth card, you top it up by direct debit and you get a discount when you travel on the train or bus saved a fair bit for me once I worked out what I was doing, costs $10 and you get it from any of the main outlets). The rentals 2 of them we liked and you baisically had to fill in the form while we were in the car and race to the estate agent to lodge application, there was that many people wanting them ! We offered to pay 6 month rent up front to get away from the fact we did not have jobs and it worked. We signed a 6 month rental agreement, got moved in and settled. After 2 months of no air con realised we needed it !! winter hit and it was bloody freezing, bring your jackets from home for the winter it does get cold and rainy although most days we could still wear sunnies! We went about setting up the house, got furniture from ikea, house ware stuff from kmart, Big W, etc I discovered manchester is the bed linen and not a brand and a dooner is duvet! learn something new everyday usually by embarrasing yourself asking lol.

After 2 month in the rental we get a letter from the landlord saying he wants to sell the house and we had to let people in and out for viewings ! how annoyed were we, so we spent the next 4 month being totally hacked off having to go out on Sat and suns so they can view the house having to make sure things were put away and tidy how rude ! as soon as they told us this we felt unsettled and becuase of this I asked for a rent reduction from 380 a week to 360 as it was an inconvenience to us ! they agreed and reduced it.

I fell ill on my birthday (march), which is scary when you are in a new country and made me homesick I got diagnosed after seeing 10 diff docs then the top eye specialist in Perth with something called posterior uvitits(rare typical I get it), it can cause blindness if not treated PANICK I was in so much pain, however medication and check ups I am fine. Using my medicare card (they ask for it all the time when u go to docs so make sure you get it first) was really easy to get seen to in the docs and hospital it only cost me for my prescription which was about $50.

When we came to Perth on holiday we new one couple we had met them a few times through a friend of a friend on this forum ! they lived in Clarkson to and helped us get settled into the ozzie lifestyle definatly helped me out when I was ill as to where to go and what we had to do docs etc.They were going through the process off building a new home (took them 18 month for a 2 storey), somehting we were toying with do we go for old house with more land or a new one or do we build our own. Now we did not come to Australia with a massive lump sum we had money to fit our house out and get a car so we had to save, this was our plan for the next 2 yr save up and buy our own place. So one sunday afternoon we decided to go view the show homes these are amazing withing 3 hrs we had signed up to build our own !!

So here we are in our our next adventure begins, in our 3rd rental, we moved to yanchep after the house was sold we have signed a 12 month contract and although we are a 40 min drive from the city it is just beautiful, leaving our doorstep to the waters edge is not even 10 minutes !! We are both loving our jobs although it is tiring getting up early it is totally worth it. We have our home fully fitted out we didn't bring anything other than 4 boxes and our cases, we have bought a car for work to.

The day we signed up for our house and land package,( pm me if you want to know who with etc), we were told we could apply with a low deposit we had to wait for Phil to be in his job for 6 month, paperwork has been submitted and we are now awaiting for our pre approval. FINGERS crossed in fact everyting crossed, we were not planning on having our own home for 2 yrs but it is definatley worth a try, and it just feels right. Yes we will have a bigger mortgage than what we would have done in UK but you definatley get a lot more for your money and we figured if we can do it now why not, the land has increased by $15k in just 6 months.

Thats it in a nutshell I could write for days and day lol there is that much that has gone on in 10 month, on reflection did we make the right move???? yes we did, do we get homesick??? of course we do, do we think of going home, only once and I could have got on the plane, but to what 8 of our friends we worked with in uk have lost there jobs ! we came at just the right time and I am a big believer in things happen for a reason. Are the streets paved with gold ??? no they are not but it is beautiful the weather is amazing the things you can do for free are endless, we came here to be more relaxed less stressed and it worked ! Do not think you can come here and it will be easy, it isn't we are human afterall, do your research and ask 4 million questions no matter how small. If you are thinking of making the move, do it we did have our doubts but you know what you never know unelss you try

Amanda and Phil xxx

Good one!

QUOTE]

All sounds like the typical starting off experiences, well done, your getting there.

Thanks for the update.

Best luck in the future.

Gere

Great update really enjoyed the read thanks

very sensible, level headed post about some of the ups and downs of starting out in a new country - should be helpful to newbies thinking of making the move

Good update thanks!

Amanda!!!!!!! Great to hear you are doing so well!!

Fantastic update, many thanks xx

Sounds like you're having fun
Good luck for the future.

Julie. x

Hope you continue to enjoy it.Well done.

Hi Amanda,
Absolutely great story! My husband and I have been discussing emigrating for ages now..we are still unsure of what to do. We spent 7 months in Oz last year on a WHV, most of which was in Perth..we loved it!!! We lived in south Perth and it was fab. Can you tell me how long it took you from START to FINISH getting your visa through?? I am a Hairdresser which is on the list of Jobs in demand and my husband comes under the trade of a Drainer which is also on the list.
Any help you can give me would be fab
Thanks alot!
Emma x

Hi Amanda

Loved reading your story. We are still in the oooming and ahhhing stage of whether to emigrate or not - coming out for a reccie in March so I guess we will know more then.

Emma, thanks for your comments

Spending that time in Perth will have certainly given you the bug it did us ! It took us 18 month to get our visa through however I understand it has changed now no really not sure of timescales and the process ! sorry bout that. You should def go for it, it really does feel like home to us although we do miss the uk in 5 weeks time we have been here for a yr cannot quite believe it. Pm me if you need any info see if I can help

A xx

Do not ooh and ahhh go for it, when you get here in March you will probably either love or hate it that seems tobe what happens ! do lots of research and get the feel of the place it helps, good luck !

A x