HI, thanks for that great insight. We are coming over to Perth In a few weeks to do a research trip. Do you have any tips, we ned to look at housing, schools, job situations ( hubby is a sheetmetal worker). I am worried that we will not be able to fit it all in. Which areas are best to avoid, and which are the nicer areas. What are the average 4 x 2 house prices.

Also is anyone else from Sussex (worthing) area going to perth or hoping to. All advice welcome.

Thanks

Sara

well done, I like the nice stories, Yes Perth is beautiful, but even better when the skies are blue.
All the very best to you.
Denise

Hi SJ

We fly 13 October to Melbourne, then Adelaide and on to Perth to see Nicky 3rd November.

Joex

Nice post. Glad you are enjoying your time in Perth.

I'll be honest.............your story started to irritate me early in the piece as you spoke of things like 'cutting your losses', so early in the process.

So many British folk I know have done, exactly that..............gone back, cried to get back, and can't!!!!!!!

Well done for not giving in.

It's good to hear a realistic view........

No, employers aren't waiting on the tarmac to sign you up...........you have to work to FIND work, but it is out there............and Steve has done well. Credit to him.

Yes, it also gets 'cool', not 'cold' in Perth.............but let me know what you think in February when you're sweating your bum off and are fed up looking at sunshine.

Just remember...........this is as bad as the weather really gets..............a bit of wind, rain.............and warm days again in September. This is GREATTTTTTTTTTT for Winter.

Enjoy it..............and be thankful.

It's not Iraq............it's not Ethopia.................just go and see the great selection of meat, fruit, and veg, in local shops.

You can have a great life here...........and you WILL!

If you look at the house you have in Ellenbrook.....................think how much that would cost back in your home town.

Houses feel colder cos, generally, they are tiled..............no insulation, etc.

As I said, let me hear you complain of the 'coolness' in February. lol

I love the sun..........but the wind, when it gets going, scares the living daylights out of me.

Oh, so do Huntsman Spiders.......................I hate them most of all. Nobody warned me about them...........or I may have thought twice. I didn't even like housespiders back in the UK.

A Huntsman, in case you haven't befriended one yet...................and you'll KNOW it when you see it.................can outsprint any Olympian. lol

Okay, I'm exaggerating.............and I'm also scanning the walls to see if there is one there.

Gordon

lol you are spot on.
Denise

Thankyou for your comments. I was indeed trying to point out, for those about to make the move, that although there is a skill shortage, that there are still many hoops to jump through when you arrive here and that there won't be a job waiting for you. Not that we expected it. It still remains a rollercoaster ride and there are times when you question what you have done and have concerns over your future, but if you stick with it, grit your teeth and get on with it, then you can reap the rewards.
The 'cold' weather, yes I should have perhaps used the word 'cool', it is mainly on the evenings. It just suprised me how much I felt it having coming from the UK winter, I thought it may just feel cold once you are acclimatised, having said that, I was sat out in the sunshine yesterday enjoying the lovely winter sun and thinking 'if this is winter, bring it on'.

Nicky

It's not all beer and skittles over here........ hey...... but it's not too bad. At the end of the day it boils down to what you make of it and how much effort you put into it to make it work.

We arrived with 3 young boys aged 1 year, 3 years, and 4 years. It helped because our kid lived in Beldon which was lucky; as Beldon is north of the river. Had he lived south of the river we would have probably ended up living SOR and I'm so happy we didn't.

Unfortunately times were tough when we first arrived and try as I may; I couldn't find work.......... talk about soul destroying. It really wasn't the best of times and it was a huge strain on our marriage; not to mention our finances because for the first time ever.......... I was unemployed.

We gave it our best shot........ sure we felt homesick and almost threw the towel in several times ......... but we didn't. Our boys have now grown up (19, 21, and 22). I'm confident their schooling and upbringing here was far superior to what we could have expected back in the UK. I say that with mixed feelings because I have the red rose of Lancashire proudly tattooed on each shoulder............ I have been so proud to have been British on my travels..... yet when we visited Lancashire within the last few months........ we hated it and couldn't get back here quick enough.

Give it a go over here........ learn to ride the punches........ trust me; you won't look back.

(Sorry for rambling on......... it's the red wine after making a sale today in for want of a better word....'humpty' weather)

[QU
All in all, we are starting to feel settled here now. It has been a rollercoaster few months and I am sure it will continue to be so, for a while yet. I haven't yet felt homesick. I don't think I will get homesick for the UK, but perhaps I will for family and friends, although I do phone on a frequent basis. My sister is pregnant and is due in August, so I think that may be tough. We have frinds visiting in November, our first visitors, Mark'n'Joe from BE, and we can't wait to see you!! Steve's parents are coming for xmas. I think this is all preventing any homesickness, knowing people are coming out.
Life is good, Perth is beautiful and up to press we are loving it. We are spending more time together and feel less stressed. I am looking forward to the next year and really exploring our new homeland.

Nicky xx[/QUOTE]

Great post! & well done for sticking with it, it must have been hard to start with.
What do you think of Perth? We have been considering it but I'm not sure endless suburbs appeals. Is it like that in reality especially with all the new builds?
Sally