2.5 weeks in!
Jun 30th 2010, 11:39 am
#1
Forum Regular
Thread Starter
Joined: May 2003
Location: Berkshire, UK for now... flying to Brisbane 11th June!
Posts: 95
2.5 weeks in!
Well, we have been here (North Brisbane) for 2 weeks now so thought I would update. The flight over with Cathay Pacific was excellent, couldn't fault them. When we arrived at Heathrow our luggage was overweight by about 5kg a bag (will never buy luggage scales again) and as we had 4 bags that made us about 20kgs over, but they didn't even mention it, just let us have the extra weight. We were also over weight on the hand luggage, so they just asked us to buy another bag and spread the load, which we did.
We stopped over for 1 night in Hong Kong which was fab, really enjoyed it and really glad we did it. I also think it helped with the jet lag, as we didn't really suffer at all once we arrived in Oz.
We have been non-stop since we have been here, we bought a car within the first week (a Ford Fairmont), and have secured a 4 bed rental which we get the keys to tomorrow. The kids are almost signed up for school, just have to finalise everything once the holidays are over, but all the uniform is bought ready to go. Hubby hasn't started work yet, but that is mainly down to wanting to settle into the house, get the kids into school etc first, so hoping to start on July 12th.
We have both got our Queensland driving licences which were easy to sort out, have got our temporary Medicare cards, have filed for TFN numbers, bought some private medical insurance as well.
We have met up with several people that we had 'met' on here and on another expats site, and they have all been great and really friendly, in fact everyone has been really friendly and genuinely interested in us, and how long we have been here, where we are from etc. We bought some furniture on Sunday which is due for delivery on Friday, and the sales lady told us that a couple of bits would take a couple of weeks as they weren't in stock, and she said that she would delivery them to us herself as she has a large car to save us paying for two lots of delivery! How nice was that!
So far we are all loving it here, and have no moans and groans. I know people moan about the driving here, but we have had no problem at all, and so far find the driving very steady and much slower than the UK, have seen less idiot moves here than UK. I also quite like that fact that when you go into a shop they ask 'how are you doing', so sorry, can't moan about that either!
Anyway, as I say, we're only 2 weeks in, but if everything carries on as it is, then we're gonna LOVE it here.
Jane
We stopped over for 1 night in Hong Kong which was fab, really enjoyed it and really glad we did it. I also think it helped with the jet lag, as we didn't really suffer at all once we arrived in Oz.
We have been non-stop since we have been here, we bought a car within the first week (a Ford Fairmont), and have secured a 4 bed rental which we get the keys to tomorrow. The kids are almost signed up for school, just have to finalise everything once the holidays are over, but all the uniform is bought ready to go. Hubby hasn't started work yet, but that is mainly down to wanting to settle into the house, get the kids into school etc first, so hoping to start on July 12th.
We have both got our Queensland driving licences which were easy to sort out, have got our temporary Medicare cards, have filed for TFN numbers, bought some private medical insurance as well.
We have met up with several people that we had 'met' on here and on another expats site, and they have all been great and really friendly, in fact everyone has been really friendly and genuinely interested in us, and how long we have been here, where we are from etc. We bought some furniture on Sunday which is due for delivery on Friday, and the sales lady told us that a couple of bits would take a couple of weeks as they weren't in stock, and she said that she would delivery them to us herself as she has a large car to save us paying for two lots of delivery! How nice was that!
So far we are all loving it here, and have no moans and groans. I know people moan about the driving here, but we have had no problem at all, and so far find the driving very steady and much slower than the UK, have seen less idiot moves here than UK. I also quite like that fact that when you go into a shop they ask 'how are you doing', so sorry, can't moan about that either!
Anyway, as I say, we're only 2 weeks in, but if everything carries on as it is, then we're gonna LOVE it here.
Jane
Jul 1st 2010, 12:36 am
#2
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jun 2007
Location: Tropical North QLD
Posts: 21,434
Re: 2.5 weeks in!
Good start & hope all continues well for you all
Jul 1st 2010, 12:38 am
#3
Lets Rock !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 599
Re: 2.5 weeks in!
Gidday and welcome to Brissie
Jul 1st 2010, 6:47 am
#4
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Jul 2007
Location: Brisbane
Posts: 2,949
Re: 2.5 weeks in!
Welcome to Brisbane!! Sounds like you're settling it great and you'll be saying How You Going instead of Doing before you know it 
.
.
Jul 2nd 2010, 9:58 am
#5
Forum Regular
Joined: Mar 2008
Location: Melbourne
Posts: 94
Re: 2.5 weeks in!
Positive start. I'm envious, keep us posted on you progress. All the best, H.
Jul 2nd 2010, 1:11 pm
#6
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 591
Re: 2.5 weeks in!
Welcome to Oz!!
Don't worry about what others think and just enjoy it!
We all moan a bit but overall, Oz has its good points too.
You will find things like surfing, fishing, canoeing and diving as fantastic as you can do these here during summer, without having to take a flight to another country to do them in (like Spain from UK!!!)...
Welcome again and settle in and enjoy!
Don't worry about what others think and just enjoy it!
We all moan a bit but overall, Oz has its good points too.
You will find things like surfing, fishing, canoeing and diving as fantastic as you can do these here during summer, without having to take a flight to another country to do them in (like Spain from UK!!!)...
Welcome again and settle in and enjoy!
Jul 5th 2010, 11:18 pm
#7
The Mango King
Joined: Nov 2005
Location: Pullenvale, Brisbane
Posts: 246
Re: 2.5 weeks in!
Welcome to Brissie.
Great post.
Great post.
Jul 12th 2010, 8:39 am
#8
Forum Regular
Joined: Feb 2008
Location: Brisbane Queensland
Posts: 168
Re: 2.5 weeks in!
Well, we have been here (North Brisbane) for 2 weeks now so thought I would update. The flight over with Cathay Pacific was excellent, couldn't fault them. When we arrived at Heathrow our luggage was overweight by about 5kg a bag (will never buy luggage scales again) and as we had 4 bags that made us about 20kgs over, but they didn't even mention it, just let us have the extra weight. We were also over weight on the hand luggage, so they just asked us to buy another bag and spread the load, which we did.
We stopped over for 1 night in Hong Kong which was fab, really enjoyed it and really glad we did it. I also think it helped with the jet lag, as we didn't really suffer at all once we arrived in Oz.
We have been non-stop since we have been here, we bought a car within the first week (a Ford Fairmont), and have secured a 4 bed rental which we get the keys to tomorrow. The kids are almost signed up for school, just have to finalise everything once the holidays are over, but all the uniform is bought ready to go. Hubby hasn't started work yet, but that is mainly down to wanting to settle into the house, get the kids into school etc first, so hoping to start on July 12th.
We have both got our Queensland driving licences which were easy to sort out, have got our temporary Medicare cards, have filed for TFN numbers, bought some private medical insurance as well.
We have met up with several people that we had 'met' on here and on another expats site, and they have all been great and really friendly, in fact everyone has been really friendly and genuinely interested in us, and how long we have been here, where we are from etc. We bought some furniture on Sunday which is due for delivery on Friday, and the sales lady told us that a couple of bits would take a couple of weeks as they weren't in stock, and she said that she would delivery them to us herself as she has a large car to save us paying for two lots of delivery! How nice was that!
So far we are all loving it here, and have no moans and groans. I know people moan about the driving here, but we have had no problem at all, and so far find the driving very steady and much slower than the UK, have seen less idiot moves here than UK. I also quite like that fact that when you go into a shop they ask 'how are you doing', so sorry, can't moan about that either!
Anyway, as I say, we're only 2 weeks in, but if everything carries on as it is, then we're gonna LOVE it here.
Jane
We stopped over for 1 night in Hong Kong which was fab, really enjoyed it and really glad we did it. I also think it helped with the jet lag, as we didn't really suffer at all once we arrived in Oz.
We have been non-stop since we have been here, we bought a car within the first week (a Ford Fairmont), and have secured a 4 bed rental which we get the keys to tomorrow. The kids are almost signed up for school, just have to finalise everything once the holidays are over, but all the uniform is bought ready to go. Hubby hasn't started work yet, but that is mainly down to wanting to settle into the house, get the kids into school etc first, so hoping to start on July 12th.
We have both got our Queensland driving licences which were easy to sort out, have got our temporary Medicare cards, have filed for TFN numbers, bought some private medical insurance as well.
We have met up with several people that we had 'met' on here and on another expats site, and they have all been great and really friendly, in fact everyone has been really friendly and genuinely interested in us, and how long we have been here, where we are from etc. We bought some furniture on Sunday which is due for delivery on Friday, and the sales lady told us that a couple of bits would take a couple of weeks as they weren't in stock, and she said that she would delivery them to us herself as she has a large car to save us paying for two lots of delivery! How nice was that!
So far we are all loving it here, and have no moans and groans. I know people moan about the driving here, but we have had no problem at all, and so far find the driving very steady and much slower than the UK, have seen less idiot moves here than UK. I also quite like that fact that when you go into a shop they ask 'how are you doing', so sorry, can't moan about that either!
Anyway, as I say, we're only 2 weeks in, but if everything carries on as it is, then we're gonna LOVE it here.
Jane
Fantastic to hear great post we have been here for 8 weeks and loving it too where are you in Brissie?
Long may it continue
Carl
Jul 12th 2010, 9:07 am
#9
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jan 2009
Location: Brisbane
Posts: 20,821
Re: 2.5 weeks in!
Great update. Thanks for sharing.
Jul 12th 2010, 1:07 pm
#10
Just Joined
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 28
Re: 2.5 weeks in!
Well, we have been here (North Brisbane) for 2 weeks now so thought I would update. The flight over with Cathay Pacific was excellent, couldn't fault them. When we arrived at Heathrow our luggage was overweight by about 5kg a bag (will never buy luggage scales again) and as we had 4 bags that made us about 20kgs over, but they didn't even mention it, just let us have the extra weight. We were also over weight on the hand luggage, so they just asked us to buy another bag and spread the load, which we did.
We stopped over for 1 night in Hong Kong which was fab, really enjoyed it and really glad we did it. I also think it helped with the jet lag, as we didn't really suffer at all once we arrived in Oz.
We have been non-stop since we have been here, we bought a car within the first week (a Ford Fairmont), and have secured a 4 bed rental which we get the keys to tomorrow. The kids are almost signed up for school, just have to finalise everything once the holidays are over, but all the uniform is bought ready to go. Hubby hasn't started work yet, but that is mainly down to wanting to settle into the house, get the kids into school etc first, so hoping to start on July 12th.
We have both got our Queensland driving licences which were easy to sort out, have got our temporary Medicare cards, have filed for TFN numbers, bought some private medical insurance as well.
We have met up with several people that we had 'met' on here and on another expats site, and they have all been great and really friendly, in fact everyone has been really friendly and genuinely interested in us, and how long we have been here, where we are from etc. We bought some furniture on Sunday which is due for delivery on Friday, and the sales lady told us that a couple of bits would take a couple of weeks as they weren't in stock, and she said that she would delivery them to us herself as she has a large car to save us paying for two lots of delivery! How nice was that!
So far we are all loving it here, and have no moans and groans. I know people moan about the driving here, but we have had no problem at all, and so far find the driving very steady and much slower than the UK, have seen less idiot moves here than UK. I also quite like that fact that when you go into a shop they ask 'how are you doing', so sorry, can't moan about that either!
Anyway, as I say, we're only 2 weeks in, but if everything carries on as it is, then we're gonna LOVE it here.
Jane
We stopped over for 1 night in Hong Kong which was fab, really enjoyed it and really glad we did it. I also think it helped with the jet lag, as we didn't really suffer at all once we arrived in Oz.
We have been non-stop since we have been here, we bought a car within the first week (a Ford Fairmont), and have secured a 4 bed rental which we get the keys to tomorrow. The kids are almost signed up for school, just have to finalise everything once the holidays are over, but all the uniform is bought ready to go. Hubby hasn't started work yet, but that is mainly down to wanting to settle into the house, get the kids into school etc first, so hoping to start on July 12th.
We have both got our Queensland driving licences which were easy to sort out, have got our temporary Medicare cards, have filed for TFN numbers, bought some private medical insurance as well.
We have met up with several people that we had 'met' on here and on another expats site, and they have all been great and really friendly, in fact everyone has been really friendly and genuinely interested in us, and how long we have been here, where we are from etc. We bought some furniture on Sunday which is due for delivery on Friday, and the sales lady told us that a couple of bits would take a couple of weeks as they weren't in stock, and she said that she would delivery them to us herself as she has a large car to save us paying for two lots of delivery! How nice was that!
So far we are all loving it here, and have no moans and groans. I know people moan about the driving here, but we have had no problem at all, and so far find the driving very steady and much slower than the UK, have seen less idiot moves here than UK. I also quite like that fact that when you go into a shop they ask 'how are you doing', so sorry, can't moan about that either!
Anyway, as I say, we're only 2 weeks in, but if everything carries on as it is, then we're gonna LOVE it here.
Jane
All the best
Jul 12th 2010, 9:06 pm
#11
Forum Regular
Thread Starter
Joined: May 2003
Location: Berkshire, UK for now... flying to Brisbane 11th June!
Posts: 95
Jul 13th 2010, 10:51 am
#13
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Sep 2008
Location: Scotland-South Africa-Sunshine Coast
Posts: 1,333
Re: 2.5 weeks in!
Well done Jane,you guys seem to be very organised for such a short time there so far.Can only hope that we too have as smooth a journey later on this year!
Jul 13th 2010, 11:24 am
#14
Forum Regular
Thread Starter
Joined: May 2003
Location: Berkshire, UK for now... flying to Brisbane 11th June!
Posts: 95
Re: 2.5 weeks in!
Glad to hear that you are loving it as much as we are. Yes we are about 30 mins from you, we often pop over that way, and are hoping that the boys will join Nippers when the season starts again in September at Redcliffe.
