ub40fan

Well, 2 years ago today we landed in Perth, me, Steve and 3 kids (16, 14, and 10).

We had been for a couple of visits before that, which made us decide we wanted to come and live here. We have lived in other cities and continents over the past 20 years and so emigrating wasn't going to be the big culture shock that a lot of people experience.

We also had it easy compared to some in that we had rellies here, Steve's sister has been here for 10 years now so she helped an awful lot in getting schools organised, medicare, TFN, vehicles etc.

We stayed with the sister in law and family for 3 months, and then we managed to get a short term rental for 4 months. We came over before we sold the uk house and in the end it took a almost a year, but we finally sold and 8 days later we finalised the contracts on the house we bought here.

Steve is working for the same company he did in the UK, he travels an awful lot but seeing as he was in the British Army for 22 years it is something I am used to. At least these days he is unarmed, and not jumping out of planes in the dark when he goes overseas!!

The oldest (18) has a place at Uni he is going to take up once he has citizenship, he has 2 part time jobs to pay for that and he is driving, which means we can get him to pick us up after a night out! Payback time He has made a good group of friends and has a much better social life than he did in UK.

The middle one has just turned 16, he is doing much better at school here than he was in UK, he has has a few A grades, he also has a part time job and has made some good mates.

The youngest (almost 13 now) skipped most of y6 and is now in Senior High, getting good grades including some A's. They have all settled in well.

As for me, I got a part time job working nights (crap job - great money) within a couple of weeks of landing here. I recently quit and started an Admin/Reception job in a Phsyio practice. I am learning to ride a motorbike, have tried scuba diving and there are a lot of other things I am going to have a go at when I can find the time (rock climbing, golf, kite surfing etc)

Really, life goes on as normal as it would anywhere, we work, pay bills, drink beer (or wine) socialise, go out or stay in as we wish. We are living an everyday normal existence, it's just that we do it here in Perth rather than UK.

We are happy living here in Perth, we like the space here (on the roads, in the houses, the shopping centres, the beaches etc) we like the laid back feel it has here and after living in a couple of big cities it is nice.

I accept that Perth has it's faults and it certainly does polarise people, but what does annoy me is people who cannot accept that some people like living here, and that they are normal people with normal interests not people who came from the worst areas, who know nothing better or haven't been anywhere to compare it to, who had nothing before they got here and so are grateful for anything they have, or that they are boring people living in a boring place. They say travel broadens the mind, it should also help people to be more tolerant of other people and their ways.

I have made some great friends here, English, Irish, Welsh, Australian, Scottish, NZ, South African. I have also discovered that just because I see the best in people it doesn't make them good people. It upset me a little that people I thought of as friends used me, people I bent over backwards to help just discarded me. I now choose my friends more carefully, my friendships are 2 way streets, and I know who I can count on in a crisis.

I have found this site very useful and helpful, but this will be my last contribution as I have so much other stuff in my life I have very little spare time

framac67

Brill post. Good luck for more of the same.

ub40fan

I somehow hit the button that made the post final before I intended to, then I had to go to work so I couldn't edit it to add a bit. That bit should be.

Good luck to anyone deciding to try their luck over this side of the world, whether it be Perth, Adelaide, Brissy or wherever.

Emigration is not for everyone, but only you know how it can turn out, come and see for yourselves, give it a fair go and have no regrets.

You only get one shot at life, I am loving what I have done with mine so far

Shirley x

flump

ah, i'm feeling much better after reading your post, we fly out next wk, me, hubby and four children(17, 13, 9 , 8) we are all positive about the move but i still have a few worries, just regarding the kids i guess but i suppose any parent will have a few worries. reading about how your children settled and made new friends is brill, especially the older ones- i think you worry more about those, don't you.

anyway keep enjoying it.

claire
x

yanchep

ub40fan,

Great to hear you and your family are enjoying it over here and things have worked out for you.

We have only been here for 7 weeks at the mo. and we are loving it to.

This is a great site, especially when you are new here, and im sure your input has been well appreciated to.

Glad to know that you have found so much to do here that you are just going to go live it, good for you, hopefully in time I will be feeling the same.

I for one wish you happiness for the rest of your life here in Perth. Now stop reading this and go enjoy

bluekipper

Im so pleased that someone is finally sticking up for Perth,, alls we read about is how isolated it is and how boring it is,, but like you say there are many ppl happy with their lot and happy they made the move to Perth

Thanks for restoring my faith in changing my visa`s so as we can go to Perth

Bluekipper

Gems

Great post.
I agree we are in WA, and had lived abroad before coming here. We like WA and live North of Perth, which some people think we are mad. But yes we like living in rural WA.

Only thing I dont like is house prices

Gems

Sam

I found this to be very true too..........

But now like you i have some fantastic friends, an adopted sister and excellent work mates

and yes i like living in Perth too.... we have a very different life to the one in the UK and we like it...your right it's not for everyone but i'm pleased to read that it works for you and your all settled and happy here

an excellent update

mindblower

:[/QUOTE]

Congrats UB40 ,followed your posts for last couple of years - well done.

Friends in OZ, well you are lucky.

SalSa

congratulations on your 2 years
it's ours next week and we too love it here and have settled really well
best wishes!

storms

Hi Shirley

Great update, glad you enjoy your new job,

Bj

northernbird

Well done Shirley. I agree with every word.

nightnurse2

Great post S and I echo most of what you've said.
Best of luck,
Tracey x

DEEDEE01

What a lovely post.

Good luck Shirley and I'm glad everyhting has worked out for you.

It's posts like this that actually reassure me of what I a big decision we have both made to take the jump. I accept all good and bad comments but I'm sure I will only realise whether it is for us when we actually put it to the test.

Donna.
xx

PAP01

Great post