6 months in Perth - where has the time gone!
May 4th 2007, 11:31 am
#16
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Joined: Apr 2007
Location: north
Posts: 392
Re: 6 months in Perth - where has the time gone!
Well, I can't believe it, I have been here for 6 months.
We landed mid afternoon on the 3rd Nov 2006. All dressed in our warm gear we walked out of Perth airport to bright sunshine and 32 degrees of heat.
We stayed with rellies for the first 3 months and to be honest it was absolutely great. There was enough room for us all, and my sil really helped point us in the right directions for all sorts.
We got the kids in school pretty quick (within a week), apart from the eldest as he was going into year 12 and year 11 had already finished, so instead he went and got himself a full time job in a local cafe/restaurant.
We did TFN's online, sorted out the bank account, got mobiles arranged. Steve only had a week and had interviews almost every day. He had a job offer by the time he flew back to UK.
Once he had gone I did the Medicare stuff for me & the kids, got a WA licence, bought a car, got a casual job working occasional night, did all the christmas shopping, and got into a routine of daily stuff.
I also started looking at rentals, but they were either wanting a long term (up to 2 years), not nice enough to consider living in (really really yuckky) or not available anymore.
Meanwhile back in UK, Steve handed in his notice, arranged all the shipping, cancelling services, sold the car and tidied up the few loose ends we had left to do, and then set about arranging his flight back.
He then got a better job offer from his company in UK, who have an office here in Perth. Although his boss is over in Sydney he works out of an office here. Why couldn't they do that 6 months before when he told them he was looking at moving here and had they any positions available!!
Anyway, Steve was back for Christmas and had a couple of weeks off before he started work. That was nice, but it would have been nicer if the kids had gone back to school when he went to work. The Christmas school holidays seem to go on forever - I know they don't, but 7 kids together in a house for 7 weeks and even the most patient of people would want to kill them and eat them
The kids have all settled well, even the 16 year old, at least we think he has - his grunts seem happier!
The shipping left the uk on the 8th Dec (I think) and arrived on the 4th Jan (?) We used Doree Bonner who were absolutely fantastic in UK, they let Steve change the dates by bringing it forward a week. Our stuff cleared customs without a problem, and as we weren't ready for it Grace kindly stored it for us, for a small charge ($35 a week I think - it wasn't a lot anyway).
We finally got a buyer for the house, the buyer agreed to complete within 6 weeks so we looked for a short term rental. By some stroke of luck we found one, no mean feat in Perth I can tell you, we applied for it and were lucky enough to get it. A nice 4 x 2 in Sorrento, with a pool and views of the ocean from the bedrooms. When everything was delivered and unpacked there had only been 2 breakeages - one plate (that I had packed
) and cheap vase I bought in Hong Kong 10 years before - so no great loss. We had a full 20' container so we were pretty pleased with the condition of everything.
Steve had sold his motorbike in UK and had believed he would never own another Triumph. WRONG! He found a lovely (
) Triumph Legend that he is now the proud owner of. So apart from rainy days when I have to take him to the station that is how he gets into the city for work. He loves to ride back on West Coast Drive on a Friday night, he says you can't beat it.
The buyer for our UK house turned out to be a prat (putting it mildly) so that fell through, but we got another buyer and this appears to be going through ok. We have put an offer in on a house, which has been accepted subjected to the sale on the house in uk going through.
I suppose we were lucky in that Steve had a job guaranteed before he arrived, we have family here that we get on really well with and they helped us sort a lot of stuff out.
Since we have been here my dad has been diagnosed with lung cancer, and has had an operation for it, he starts chemo next week hopefully. He also had his 75th birthday, and my niece has had a baby girl, her first. These things I would have liked to be there for, but before we moved here Steve was in the army for 22 years (me for 6) and we moved around a lot, so I have long since accepted that there will be things we miss, and things that they will miss that we do.
We came here for a few reasons, one being that we want to give our kids a better life, already I think they have that. My daughter (11) is still a child, we find there is less pressure on them here to grow up quickly, less pressure on material things and she has a lot more friends too. My sons have both found friends with similar interests and have a better social life than I do
While I admit emigration is not for everyone, and judging by the amount of hate/love posts it gets neither is Perth, at the moment it is for us. We are happy here.
Shirley x
(sorry I think this is longer than I thought)
We landed mid afternoon on the 3rd Nov 2006. All dressed in our warm gear we walked out of Perth airport to bright sunshine and 32 degrees of heat.
We stayed with rellies for the first 3 months and to be honest it was absolutely great. There was enough room for us all, and my sil really helped point us in the right directions for all sorts.
We got the kids in school pretty quick (within a week), apart from the eldest as he was going into year 12 and year 11 had already finished, so instead he went and got himself a full time job in a local cafe/restaurant.
We did TFN's online, sorted out the bank account, got mobiles arranged. Steve only had a week and had interviews almost every day. He had a job offer by the time he flew back to UK.
Once he had gone I did the Medicare stuff for me & the kids, got a WA licence, bought a car, got a casual job working occasional night, did all the christmas shopping, and got into a routine of daily stuff.
I also started looking at rentals, but they were either wanting a long term (up to 2 years), not nice enough to consider living in (really really yuckky) or not available anymore.
Meanwhile back in UK, Steve handed in his notice, arranged all the shipping, cancelling services, sold the car and tidied up the few loose ends we had left to do, and then set about arranging his flight back.
He then got a better job offer from his company in UK, who have an office here in Perth. Although his boss is over in Sydney he works out of an office here. Why couldn't they do that 6 months before when he told them he was looking at moving here and had they any positions available!!
Anyway, Steve was back for Christmas and had a couple of weeks off before he started work. That was nice, but it would have been nicer if the kids had gone back to school when he went to work. The Christmas school holidays seem to go on forever - I know they don't, but 7 kids together in a house for 7 weeks and even the most patient of people would want to kill them and eat them
The kids have all settled well, even the 16 year old, at least we think he has - his grunts seem happier!
The shipping left the uk on the 8th Dec (I think) and arrived on the 4th Jan (?) We used Doree Bonner who were absolutely fantastic in UK, they let Steve change the dates by bringing it forward a week. Our stuff cleared customs without a problem, and as we weren't ready for it Grace kindly stored it for us, for a small charge ($35 a week I think - it wasn't a lot anyway).
We finally got a buyer for the house, the buyer agreed to complete within 6 weeks so we looked for a short term rental. By some stroke of luck we found one, no mean feat in Perth I can tell you, we applied for it and were lucky enough to get it. A nice 4 x 2 in Sorrento, with a pool and views of the ocean from the bedrooms. When everything was delivered and unpacked there had only been 2 breakeages - one plate (that I had packed
) and cheap vase I bought in Hong Kong 10 years before - so no great loss. We had a full 20' container so we were pretty pleased with the condition of everything.Steve had sold his motorbike in UK and had believed he would never own another Triumph. WRONG! He found a lovely (
) Triumph Legend that he is now the proud owner of. So apart from rainy days when I have to take him to the station that is how he gets into the city for work. He loves to ride back on West Coast Drive on a Friday night, he says you can't beat it.The buyer for our UK house turned out to be a prat (putting it mildly) so that fell through, but we got another buyer and this appears to be going through ok. We have put an offer in on a house, which has been accepted subjected to the sale on the house in uk going through.
I suppose we were lucky in that Steve had a job guaranteed before he arrived, we have family here that we get on really well with and they helped us sort a lot of stuff out.
Since we have been here my dad has been diagnosed with lung cancer, and has had an operation for it, he starts chemo next week hopefully. He also had his 75th birthday, and my niece has had a baby girl, her first. These things I would have liked to be there for, but before we moved here Steve was in the army for 22 years (me for 6) and we moved around a lot, so I have long since accepted that there will be things we miss, and things that they will miss that we do.
We came here for a few reasons, one being that we want to give our kids a better life, already I think they have that. My daughter (11) is still a child, we find there is less pressure on them here to grow up quickly, less pressure on material things and she has a lot more friends too. My sons have both found friends with similar interests and have a better social life than I do
While I admit emigration is not for everyone, and judging by the amount of hate/love posts it gets neither is Perth, at the moment it is for us. We are happy here.
Shirley x
(sorry I think this is longer than I thought)
May 4th 2007, 11:46 am
#17
Where I want to be
Thread Starter
Joined: Jan 2005
Location: In my own head
Posts: 3,220
Re: 6 months in Perth - where has the time gone!
Steve was Royal Signals, and I was attached to them (WRAC)
Both did the same job for a while (Comcen ops) then when things changed he became an ADP Spec, hence he now works in IT.
Both did the same job for a while (Comcen ops) then when things changed he became an ADP Spec, hence he now works in IT.
May 4th 2007, 12:17 pm
#18
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Nov 2005
Location: at the bottom of a wine glass
Posts: 28,176
Re: 6 months in Perth - where has the time gone!
Time flies doesn't it. Glad your all settled, and I hope your house sale goes through OK. 
May 4th 2007, 12:29 pm
#19
Look at moi!!!
Joined: Jan 2006
Location: Magnolia, TX
Posts: 2,762
Re: 6 months in Perth - where has the time gone!
Great post Shirley. Time certainly goes too fast in those first few weeks doesn't it? we'll be 6 months too before you know it
Lou
xx
Lou
xx
May 4th 2007, 12:37 pm
#21
Where I want to be
Thread Starter
Joined: Jan 2005
Location: In my own head
Posts: 3,220
May 4th 2007, 4:38 pm
#22
Grace and gratitude
Joined: Mar 2007
Location: Somewhere else
Posts: 6,407
Re: 6 months in Perth - where has the time gone!
Well, I can't believe it, I have been here for 6 months.
We landed mid afternoon on the 3rd Nov 2006. All dressed in our warm gear we walked out of Perth airport to bright sunshine and 32 degrees of heat.
We stayed with rellies for the first 3 months and to be honest it was absolutely great. There was enough room for us all, and my sil really helped point us in the right directions for all sorts.
We got the kids in school pretty quick (within a week), apart from the eldest as he was going into year 12 and year 11 had already finished, so instead he went and got himself a full time job in a local cafe/restaurant.
We did TFN's online, sorted out the bank account, got mobiles arranged. Steve only had a week and had interviews almost every day. He had a job offer by the time he flew back to UK.
Once he had gone I did the Medicare stuff for me & the kids, got a WA licence, bought a car, got a casual job working occasional night, did all the christmas shopping, and got into a routine of daily stuff.
I also started looking at rentals, but they were either wanting a long term (up to 2 years), not nice enough to consider living in (really really yuckky) or not available anymore.
Meanwhile back in UK, Steve handed in his notice, arranged all the shipping, cancelling services, sold the car and tidied up the few loose ends we had left to do, and then set about arranging his flight back.
He then got a better job offer from his company in UK, who have an office here in Perth. Although his boss is over in Sydney he works out of an office here. Why couldn't they do that 6 months before when he told them he was looking at moving here and had they any positions available!!
Anyway, Steve was back for Christmas and had a couple of weeks off before he started work. That was nice, but it would have been nicer if the kids had gone back to school when he went to work. The Christmas school holidays seem to go on forever - I know they don't, but 7 kids together in a house for 7 weeks and even the most patient of people would want to kill them and eat them
The kids have all settled well, even the 16 year old, at least we think he has - his grunts seem happier!
The shipping left the uk on the 8th Dec (I think) and arrived on the 4th Jan (?) We used Doree Bonner who were absolutely fantastic in UK, they let Steve change the dates by bringing it forward a week. Our stuff cleared customs without a problem, and as we weren't ready for it Grace kindly stored it for us, for a small charge ($35 a week I think - it wasn't a lot anyway).
We finally got a buyer for the house, the buyer agreed to complete within 6 weeks so we looked for a short term rental. By some stroke of luck we found one, no mean feat in Perth I can tell you, we applied for it and were lucky enough to get it. A nice 4 x 2 in Sorrento, with a pool and views of the ocean from the bedrooms. When everything was delivered and unpacked there had only been 2 breakeages - one plate (that I had packed ) and cheap vase I bought in Hong Kong 10 years before - so no great loss. We had a full 20' container so we were pretty pleased with the condition of everything.
Steve had sold his motorbike in UK and had believed he would never own another Triumph. WRONG! He found a lovely ( ) Triumph Legend that he is now the proud owner of. So apart from rainy days when I have to take him to the station that is how he gets into the city for work. He loves to ride back on West Coast Drive on a Friday night, he says you can't beat it.
The buyer for our UK house turned out to be a prat (putting it mildly) so that fell through, but we got another buyer and this appears to be going through ok. We have put an offer in on a house, which has been accepted subjected to the sale on the house in uk going through.
I suppose we were lucky in that Steve had a job guaranteed before he arrived, we have family here that we get on really well with and they helped us sort a lot of stuff out.
Since we have been here my dad has been diagnosed with lung cancer, and has had an operation for it, he starts chemo next week hopefully. He also had his 75th birthday, and my niece has had a baby girl, her first. These things I would have liked to be there for, but before we moved here Steve was in the army for 22 years (me for 6) and we moved around a lot, so I have long since accepted that there will be things we miss, and things that they will miss that we do.
We came here for a few reasons, one being that we want to give our kids a better life, already I think they have that. My daughter (11) is still a child, we find there is less pressure on them here to grow up quickly, less pressure on material things and she has a lot more friends too. My sons have both found friends with similar interests and have a better social life than I do
While I admit emigration is not for everyone, and judging by the amount of hate/love posts it gets neither is Perth, at the moment it is for us. We are happy here.
Shirley x
(sorry I think this is longer than I thought)
We landed mid afternoon on the 3rd Nov 2006. All dressed in our warm gear we walked out of Perth airport to bright sunshine and 32 degrees of heat.
We stayed with rellies for the first 3 months and to be honest it was absolutely great. There was enough room for us all, and my sil really helped point us in the right directions for all sorts.
We got the kids in school pretty quick (within a week), apart from the eldest as he was going into year 12 and year 11 had already finished, so instead he went and got himself a full time job in a local cafe/restaurant.
We did TFN's online, sorted out the bank account, got mobiles arranged. Steve only had a week and had interviews almost every day. He had a job offer by the time he flew back to UK.
Once he had gone I did the Medicare stuff for me & the kids, got a WA licence, bought a car, got a casual job working occasional night, did all the christmas shopping, and got into a routine of daily stuff.
I also started looking at rentals, but they were either wanting a long term (up to 2 years), not nice enough to consider living in (really really yuckky) or not available anymore.
Meanwhile back in UK, Steve handed in his notice, arranged all the shipping, cancelling services, sold the car and tidied up the few loose ends we had left to do, and then set about arranging his flight back.
He then got a better job offer from his company in UK, who have an office here in Perth. Although his boss is over in Sydney he works out of an office here. Why couldn't they do that 6 months before when he told them he was looking at moving here and had they any positions available!!
Anyway, Steve was back for Christmas and had a couple of weeks off before he started work. That was nice, but it would have been nicer if the kids had gone back to school when he went to work. The Christmas school holidays seem to go on forever - I know they don't, but 7 kids together in a house for 7 weeks and even the most patient of people would want to kill them and eat them
The kids have all settled well, even the 16 year old, at least we think he has - his grunts seem happier!
The shipping left the uk on the 8th Dec (I think) and arrived on the 4th Jan (?) We used Doree Bonner who were absolutely fantastic in UK, they let Steve change the dates by bringing it forward a week. Our stuff cleared customs without a problem, and as we weren't ready for it Grace kindly stored it for us, for a small charge ($35 a week I think - it wasn't a lot anyway).
We finally got a buyer for the house, the buyer agreed to complete within 6 weeks so we looked for a short term rental. By some stroke of luck we found one, no mean feat in Perth I can tell you, we applied for it and were lucky enough to get it. A nice 4 x 2 in Sorrento, with a pool and views of the ocean from the bedrooms. When everything was delivered and unpacked there had only been 2 breakeages - one plate (that I had packed
) and cheap vase I bought in Hong Kong 10 years before - so no great loss. We had a full 20' container so we were pretty pleased with the condition of everything.Steve had sold his motorbike in UK and had believed he would never own another Triumph. WRONG! He found a lovely (
) Triumph Legend that he is now the proud owner of. So apart from rainy days when I have to take him to the station that is how he gets into the city for work. He loves to ride back on West Coast Drive on a Friday night, he says you can't beat it.The buyer for our UK house turned out to be a prat (putting it mildly) so that fell through, but we got another buyer and this appears to be going through ok. We have put an offer in on a house, which has been accepted subjected to the sale on the house in uk going through.
I suppose we were lucky in that Steve had a job guaranteed before he arrived, we have family here that we get on really well with and they helped us sort a lot of stuff out.
Since we have been here my dad has been diagnosed with lung cancer, and has had an operation for it, he starts chemo next week hopefully. He also had his 75th birthday, and my niece has had a baby girl, her first. These things I would have liked to be there for, but before we moved here Steve was in the army for 22 years (me for 6) and we moved around a lot, so I have long since accepted that there will be things we miss, and things that they will miss that we do.
We came here for a few reasons, one being that we want to give our kids a better life, already I think they have that. My daughter (11) is still a child, we find there is less pressure on them here to grow up quickly, less pressure on material things and she has a lot more friends too. My sons have both found friends with similar interests and have a better social life than I do
While I admit emigration is not for everyone, and judging by the amount of hate/love posts it gets neither is Perth, at the moment it is for us. We are happy here.
Shirley x
(sorry I think this is longer than I thought)
May 5th 2007, 3:05 pm
#23
Just Joined
Joined: Mar 2007
Location: from the Thames to the Swan river
Posts: 15
Re: 6 months in Perth - where has the time gone!
Great to hear that you are still enjoying your new life in Perth.
We are moving to mandurah (50k south of perth) you probably know it and my hubby was really pleased to hear at least there is one other biker in the perth area.... as he was beginning to think he would be the only one.
Currently trying to sell our house, had a few viewings so hopefully it will be the right house for someone, we love it but we can see what we will be able to get in Oz.
lollynpete
We are moving to mandurah (50k south of perth) you probably know it and my hubby was really pleased to hear at least there is one other biker in the perth area.... as he was beginning to think he would be the only one.
Currently trying to sell our house, had a few viewings so hopefully it will be the right house for someone, we love it but we can see what we will be able to get in Oz.
lollynpete
May 6th 2007, 4:14 pm
#24
Living the Dream!
Joined: Sep 2005
Location: Cleveland
Posts: 6,515
Re: 6 months in Perth - where has the time gone!
Wonderful update Shirley, so glad that things are working out for you. Long may your happy wonderful new life continue!
Jackie x
Jackie x
May 15th 2007, 8:59 am
#25
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Jan 2004
Location: Adelaide
Posts: 812
Re: 6 months in Perth - where has the time gone!
Hi Shirley
Sounds like you've really settled in OK.
Look forward to read your 12 months update.
Graham
Sounds like you've really settled in OK.
Look forward to read your 12 months update.
Graham
May 15th 2007, 10:37 am
#26
Where I want to be
Thread Starter
Joined: Jan 2005
Location: In my own head
Posts: 3,220
Re: 6 months in Perth - where has the time gone!
Hows it going down in Adelaide - time to do your 12 months one in a couple of weeks! Can't believe you've been there that long.
Pommybird - Thanks
Shirley x
May 15th 2007, 12:29 pm
#27
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 4,337
Re: 6 months in Perth - where has the time gone!
May 15th 2007, 12:37 pm
#28
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Joined: Jan 2004
Location: Adelaide
Posts: 812
Re: 6 months in Perth - where has the time gone!
It's going good here in Adelaide and yes it won't be long before we do our 12 months update.
We've got Sara's mum & stepdad with us at the moment. They have been with us for almost 2 months and go back on monday. Been really busy showing them around.
Look out for our update in a few weeks.
Graham
May 15th 2007, 12:42 pm
#29
Where I want to be
Thread Starter
Joined: Jan 2005
Location: In my own head
Posts: 3,220
Re: 6 months in Perth - where has the time gone!
None at all. I did Guildford, Catterick, Rheindahlen, NI, and Berlin and was kicked out for daring to get pregnant.
Steve did CAtterick, Rheindahlen, Emblem, Falklands, NI, Berlin, NI, Hong Kong, Loughborough, NI, NI and ended up in Nuneaton.
Steve did CAtterick, Rheindahlen, Emblem, Falklands, NI, Berlin, NI, Hong Kong, Loughborough, NI, NI and ended up in Nuneaton.
May 15th 2007, 12:43 pm
#30
Where I want to be
Thread Starter
Joined: Jan 2005
Location: In my own head
Posts: 3,220
Re: 6 months in Perth - where has the time gone!
Hiya
It's going good here in Adelaide and yes it won't be long before we do our 12 months update.
We've got Sara's mum & stepdad with us at the moment. They have been with us for almost 2 months and go back on monday. Been really busy showing them around.
Look out for our update in a few weeks.
Graham
It's going good here in Adelaide and yes it won't be long before we do our 12 months update.
We've got Sara's mum & stepdad with us at the moment. They have been with us for almost 2 months and go back on monday. Been really busy showing them around.
Look out for our update in a few weeks.
Graham
Take care
Shirley x