Hi Folks,

well its a little over 3 years (end of June) but it wouldnt have been such a great update if I had written it then. The first 6 months (out of the last 12) were great, promotions for me and Paul got into a company he thoroughly he enjoyed and we were in a great place, we felt secure for the first time. Kids were all ticking along well in life too. Things were shall I say really really good.

Then something happened which I suppose puts the last 3 years into perspective. Since we landed after the initial struggle of getting into a rental, everything we touched turned to gold, jobs,promotions galore, schools, our eldest emigrating (still on temp visa mind) tons of stuff basically everything we had talked about we would like to happen - did happen.

Then 6 months ago, everything started to fall apart and it was the worse 6 months of our emigrating experience. My job I had problems, Pauls contract wasnt renewed, health issues - you name it life through it at us.

But you know the one thing at the other end what keeps us going, is walking down to the beach - in the sun - and remembering why we came - that puts things back into perspective massively. Yeah we are now struggling, which feels like we have gone back 20years and are budgeting again to help our eldest stay in the country and get through his courses. But at the end of the day, we chose to wake up everyday with the sun shining and the blue skies and have our son with us. Although people say hes an adult and can fight for his right to stay independantly as a family I cant do that.

I have had friends who have come out of the woodwork I never realised were true true friends. They have shown to me what true friends are when you emigrate. They are all aussies mind - but at the end of the day when the chips were down and we needed help they were there. As some of you know its hard to judge if people are just someone you know/friends when you emigrate as rebuilding that history with people takes a long time and also in some cases the opening up to share things with what were total strangers,when the chips are down.

Today I sit here with the sun shining, knowing I will be going to the beach with my visiting family and friends - I handed in my notice at work for a better job with renewed prospects last Thursday and putting the past 6 months to one side as shall i say a 'learning experience'??

Paul starts work back at one of the farms next week for some chill out time. My eldest has rung immi to discuss his future (with hairdressing being pulled off the list) and with their help has worked out a 5years plan, which will cost ultimately $150k through studying. But if I have to sell everything to get him to pay for them costs, then so be it. I couldnt give a toss if we are in a rental with nothing (as we tend to do when we emigrate, been there done that haha)

Fingers crossed though they will put hairdressing back on the list!!

Things are still changing for us all the time and the flick back to it being connected with emmigrating I thought would stop, but it hasnt. Its all connected still. But we face it all as a family who want to succeed and every step is as hard as they have been. This past 6 months have put us as we stand today in a better place.

and smiling as a family.

Ultimately, out of the last 3 years we have had 6 months that were the worst ever, but we are moving on. Tucking it away and seeing our future with the smiles and support, and we are determined to have our next 3 years as good as our first 2.5. and our future continuing with our dream.

I used to say dont just dream it - do it, well we are back on track to do just that. Our next dream has begun.

sounds like a incredible journey, i hope all pans out for you in the future, good luck. its good to hear you have made some true friends, i know we have been lucky with people we have met here.
john

Fantastic update

Life can throw sh*t at you whichever country you are in & as you say, you really find out who your true friends are.
Fingerscrossed that you are over the worst of a bad 6 months & better fortunes are on their way

Whoa Cath didn't know you have had all these struggles lately Shows how strong a family unit you are though, you're coping and you will be ok

Glad you have good friends to lean on and fingers crossed that you can turn your back on the last six months now Hope it works out for your son too

xxx

As you say, at the end of the day life has got to come better again. Good luck mate

$150k for studying Is this because your son needs to have a student visa to stay here

nice to hear from you, we all applied together early/mid 07. so glad your son decided to go over to you and trying to make a go of it! good luck to all of you x

Kath & Paul

Sorry to hear things have not been so good for you all. It as been along while since we spoke and saw each other round Linsey house. We have been having similar problems i lost my job, also last 18mths - 2 years illness which took over and medical bills. we felt we have gave so much up and as if our life as gone back 20 years and no security. You end up having to plan carefully and avoid going out because you not sure what else will come up.

Jessica went to college which we had no funding for and she since got her diploma, but no job. Eventually she managed to be taken on as a receptionist in real estate office and they was going to train her, but then only to be finished the last day of her 3 months trial period. Was it a blow. I give our daughter credit she keeps a smile on her face and keeps telling us things will get better.

Things are not a bed of roses and I wished things would change quicker, but we are holding on. Our wishes to you all, you are a strong family and hope things come good soon for you all. You know where we are.

Annette & Paul

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Your savvy and a fighter Cath....you will be fine.

I remember the golden period described, character building stuff the shitty end of the stick isn't it.

Hang in there...good luck.

wow cath what an update! its funny how you think nothing can go wrong when things are going right. life can sure give you a kick in the knackers lol
this is a great update to read because most people either post that its all fantastic or all just a pill of pish
you have a great mix in here for others to learn from.
having met you both im saddened to hear that you have had bad times, but i'm sure you guys as a couple are strong enough to take anything on and if that means selling everything, then so be it.
you will get it all back in time and even if you dont.............
at least your eldest will be with you.
i hope the new job works out because theres no point in being in a job when you are having issues. other things like personal health just get worse.
onwards and upwards guys, and kick some ass on the way

Congrats on the 3 years
Heres to the next 3

Good Luck on everything

Thanks Guys, I tend to keep it inside and dont share the problems when we are going through them, the release of having written the update has really helped, especially with the refocusing on moving forward. Thankyou for the compliment on the mix of post Soapy x x x Its been good seeing some 'old' names on here to. Miss some of em x and thank you for the replies to the 'newer' names off the forum I havent 'met' (hello).

The money for our eldest to stay is the course fees and visa switches over the next 5 years, he will be using his 2nd year of his WHV from Dec this year then flick back onto a student visa for the next 4years its quite complicated what immi have gone through with him, but it has given him the hope of being here until hes 28 then we will need another plan.

Had struggles Kath for sure, but cant post on facebook x there is one person on the BE website that has helped keep my vision, but I cant remember her user name. Thats the lady from Tamborine Mt who came over with nothing and has made a new life and living as time has gone on. I think she made her own business in the end. She is always in the back of my mind when the financial side of problems hits.

I have already looked into selling my aloe vera plants (as the plant I have can be split into 16) as we live on a main road and there are always people selling bits and bats...plus garage sales and ebay, I will be looking around for bargain stuff to resell as a profit at other peoples garage sales too to put towards the student fees account. You never know I maybe the next entrepreneur haha.

x x x x x x

wholeworldwindow is the username your talking about. i dont thinks theres been an update for a while, but im sure she might be planning one lol
last one has had more hits than any other update lol

Really wishing you all the very best, you always come across as such nice people in your posts and if attitude is anything to go by you'll do good xx

thats because they are very nice wendy lol