Hi All

Well we arrived just over 6 weeks ago on a 457, Jason started work one week after arrival so we had a very busy first week, looking at areas to live, picking up bank cards, organising medicare and a TFN, but we did it. I think it is fair to say that so far things are going well for us, (well apart from the Crown Fiasco) we were lucky to find a rental in the first week, first one we saw and applied for, we moved in a couple of weeks later, no point in rushing as we had paid accommodation in the CBD and didn’t relish sleeping on air beds.

We have been to 2 BE CBD meets and thoroughly enjoyed both, we met some lovely people who have given us some fantastic advice and recommendations and we are thankful to those for that, we have also had some PM’s asking if we want to meet again and we will. I have had emails from others on BE giving me phone numbers and suggesting a meet, I will be contacting you real soon to make those arrangements.

Jason’s job is going well, project management seems to be more or less the same the world over.

2 youngest (11 and 7) have been in school nearly 3 weeks and have settled in well, Mollie has been invited to a birthday party on Saturday, Sam refuses to invite anyone to the house until our furniture arrives, think he is a little embarrassed, I can understand why. He did make me laugh yesterday, they were discussing the weather in school and most of the Australians in his class haven’t seen snow, he was amazed.

Eldest (16, 17 in October) had an interview at Chisham TAFE today for a 6 month bridging course, which will hopefully lead to him being accepted into a diploma course for computer engineering. The bridging course is for those without the VCE, there is a booklet available showing you what options are available if you don’t have a VCE, handy for those just leaving school in the UK and who don’t want to go back to school. We were told he would have an interview and maths test, he had neither, it was an informal chat and he has been accepted on the actual Diploma course and doesn’t need to do the bridging bit. He is soo pleased and so are we, it is what he wants to do so hopefully he will commit to it.

We live in Mount Martha, but are very close to Mornington, it is a long commute for Jason, but he had a long commute in the UK so it used to it and thinks that it is worth it to live where we do. He gets the bus from home to Frankston then the train into the CBD, the train back on a night and we pick him up from Frankston, not ideal but we can’t afford a second car yet. I also like the CBD, we haven’t seen that much of it, but are looking forward to exploring what it has to offer.

I have had my ups and downs emotion wise and in the first couple of weeks could easily have gone back, I have even had a couple of wobbles here in Mount Martha, but at the moment believe those wobbles are to do with missing close family and friends, my dad cries whenever we speak to him and that is hard, my best friends mum has just been diagnosed with cancer and I am not there it give her a hug. I miss them, but not home, and I can’t believe that I am saying that as I loved my house in the UK, it was my forever home, but now I can’t wait to sell it. It isn’t easy and I am not going to say it is, it is amazing how resourceful you become when you are living with limited resources, sleeping on airbeds, watching the same old DVD’s on the lap top which is perched on an old box, while sitting in cheap BIG W deckchairs, is only fun for a short time the novelty soon wears off.

I love Mount Martha, the Mornington Peninsular and the surrounding area, it is so beautiful, we have seen kangaroos sunbathing at the side of the road and have signposts on our road telling us to watch for the koalas, how great is that.

Shopping, having found Aldi, it is now OK, I also look for special offers in the supermarkets and local farm type shop called Tully’s, meat is expensive, but we like pasta and if you plan what you are going to cook and buy accordingly it is not that bad. I LOVE Dan Murphy’s and cannot get over how cheap that is, it makes up for the food being expensive. We haven’t barted for anything yet, too tired and with a great need for what we bought, we just found the best deal that was being offered. We have found The Good Guys to be good for electrical and after another wobble where Jason was given an ultimatum one morning, that he either spend money on a bed or a flight home for me we went to Fantastic Furniture and did a deal with them, for $2400 we got a 3 seater sofa, 2 seater sofa, TV stand, coffee table, side table, queen bed and sprung mattress, 2 bedside cabinets and a slim boy, personally I thought that was fantastic value and they couldn’t help us enough, going through stock and showing us what we could take away with us. Jason had to strap the mattress to the roof of the car but I didn’t care as long as we had a good night’s sleep and we did. The kids are still on air beds, but they are lighter, weight wise than we are and can cope better.

Spiders, we saw a red back when we first moved into the house, but it was dead, we have bombed inside and sprayed outside and not seen any others. I can’t say I am looking for them though we are just getting on with daily life and when we see one will tackle it then.

Driving, we had heard that there are lots of bad drivers here, don’t think it is that they are bad but very inconsiderate, we stick to the speed limit which doesn’t go down well with whoever is behind and they drive that close that if you had to break suddenly they would be on your lap, but you get used to not letting them intimidate you, we have had some not so great hand gestures and are now in the habit of saluting back.

Weather has been great, don’t know if this is usual for this time of year, we have had some rain which is needed, but mostly lovely sunny days, maybe a little breezy, but we haven’t had to wear a coat yet and it is winter, no sign of 4 seasons in one day, but it is early days.

We have novated a lease through Jason’s employer on a car, a Kia Rondo, it was cheap and had the space we needed with 3 kids, until we sell in the UK ,financially things are not going to be easy and I have to get a job too. Kia at Mornington again were great and let us have a courtesy car until ours arrived.

Jason has a job offer for 2 year and a 4 year visa, at 18 months if we want to stay the company will apply for PR for us, at the moment I think we will stay, but who knows, I don’t have rose tinted glasses on and know we have been lucky so far and things may change, for example I need to get a job and I know that can be hard, but no regrets so far, we are all happy and that is all that matters. Who knows what the next 6 weeks have to offer but I can’t wait to find out. We were told we were embarking on a roller coaster journey when we first started this, how true this statement was, for any one still waiting for their visa hang in there it is worth it and for those still waiting to sell their house in the UK, it will happen eventually, we left ours for sale and don’t regret making that decision - yet.

I would like to thank all the BE contributors, this is a great site, we did our research on here before arriving and know that has helped us tremendously, you are a friendly bunch both via posts and in real life too.

Sorry for the ramblings, I tried to cover some of the questions we have been asked since we have been here.

Tracy & Jason

So so glad thing are woking out for you Tracey, lets hope they continue to do so and you never know you might even get an offer on the house. Fingers crossed.
Such a lovely post to read, it has made me all excited about going again.
take care and keep us all informed

emma

Good for you guys.

Mount Martha is a lovely area and if Jason can stand the commute that's even better. Winter is a great time to arrive IMO.

Buzzy

Great update Tracey
I had been having wobbles but it's full steam ahead again!

Hi Emma

Shouldn't you be here by now I thought we got our visas about the same time.


Thanks Buzzy, it will be easier for him when we have a second car as the buses are a little unreliable, but it is OK for now.

It has to be said we are enjoying the winter so far

I am sure everyone has wobbles, just get here and see for yourself.

Tracy

Hi Tracey, yes we did get our visa's around the same time, but we cannot afford to go until we have sold the house. The last sale fell threw. We will get there soon hopefully fingers crossed

I thought we had, really sorry about the house sale, but on the brightside at least you have had some interest in your house and will hopefully have more interest and a sale soon so you can make the move. Will keep fingers crossed for you.

Fantastic post well done I am so glad to see you are enjoying it. I am a bit overwhelmed with all the preperation as we have (fingers crossed) sold the house and there is so much I need to do but cannot until we exchange then it is full steam ahead trying to find accomodation for a few weeks and booking flights etc. Glad to hear you are having a great time. Long may it continue and I hope you sell your house soon. The papers say that the house market is not as gloomy as has been predicted and that prices have not fallen. Although to sell I think you do have to make yours more attractive than the rest in order to stand out from the crowd.
Good luck with it all.

We are enjoying ourselves thanks. There is lots to do getting ready for the move, but it is worth it. It won't be long before you exchange and you can move into full steam ahead.

We are move attractive than the exact some house next door, as we are £45,050 under the price they are asking

Have fun

Tracy

Fab read Tracy , am so pleased its going well .

Thanks for the update ,

Hi IC

I forgot to mention the drive though off licence type places, you drive in, open window, tell man what you want to buy, open boot, pay and he places in boot, no messing here.

Also the radio advertising bits seem to be mostly for premature ejaculation resolution products, my 11 and 7 year haven't asked yet, but I am just waiting

Tracy
xxx

Hey i like the sound of the drive thro bit .... do they sell Guinness ?

your kids will be asking soon enough ...

Will have a look next time, not that we do it that often, I am sure you understand

I know, we have started going to school in silence, just in case

Hi Tracy
Wonderful post thanks.........will read it every time I feel 'I-can't-do-this-anymore'!!!!
Thanks for the pm's........will send you another when I have 10 mins to myself ok.
I've been wondering how we will manage for beds before our container arrives Guess airbeds are a good idea though
Still no viewers our end......fingers crossed things pick up soon for the both of us!!!!
Beth x x

Great update Tracy. So glad that you are happy and starting to settle. It sounds wonderful.

I have my fingers permanently crossed that you will sell soon.

Keep the updates coming!