7 year itch?
Apr 21st 2011, 3:34 am
#1
Master of verbal pish©
Thread Starter
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 22,198
7 year itch?
Not a chance!
On this day 7 years ago a slightly scared, overtired but adventurous family of five set foot in Australia for the first time. We had nothing to lose and everything to gain by move to the other side of the world. Some people called us brave, some called us crazy, but we just saw it as an opportunity to broaden our horizons.
Pauline had secured a job in a Sydney hospital before we left. The plan was that I would be the house husband and help the kids settle, then find work for myself.
When i say kids i meant teens. Oldest was 19 and was hoping that moving to the other side of the world would mean adventure. Our oldest daughter was 17 and had left school, but we decided that for her to get a real chance to settle she would stand a better chance if she went to school. We knew she wouldn't go back to school so we decided to spin a little white lie and tell her that it was part of the visa requirement that she would have to do at least a year of schooling. As luck has it she bought it. Our youngest daughter the 15 year old really hated the fact that we were dragging her away from all of her friends and she made sure we made it lol
The first couple of weeks were a holiday for the girls. Our son had secured work in a local bar through friends we had made on our first day we arrived.
Within a month Pauline and our son had settled into work, the girls had really settled into school and had a massive group of friends but i was still on holiday lol
After 3 months of living the life it was time to find work. It only took me a week to secure work as a dept head of the tools department for a mitre 10. i loved it!
2 years flew past and we decided that it was time we made the move to queensland where we had always wanted to be.
Pauline found a job and we headed north, leaving our son who was really settled in Sydney.
Again the two girls were not too happy about the move. I found work in the first week driving a taxi. It was perfect for me and i loved that too. Both the girls really struggled to find work and make friends. So much so that after 9 months our oldest daughter headed back to Sydney to live with her boyfriend. Our youngest was now on her own and i think this spurred her on to find work and friends. Withing a week of her sister leaving she had secured work in retail.
Both Pauline and myself were having a great time with the kids all doing their own thing.
It took us another two years to buy our own little bit of Australia. Just after that i changed my job and life stated to sail past.
Our son had begun to miss the family so moved back to live with us. Not long after this our youngest moved out to live with her boyfriend, then a few months later our oldest daughter moved back to our place. For a while there it was one in, one out lol
Since moving to Australia we have had a very active social life, but since buying the house and with all the renovations we are making this has come to a halt. I do miss the social life but you cant have everything. This year we have ripped out the old kitchen and fitted a new one, done the port Douglas road trip and also paid a quick visit to Sydney where we caught up with old friends.
To be very honest the last year has been the hardest for us. Being so far away from the Uk when you really need to be there has been hard. Both of our jobs had been threatened back in August so it has been a stressful year. There have been some good points but sometimes we wish that 2010 had never happened.
Our son headed north at the tail end of last year and found his way to Hook island, so far hes loving the lifestyle. Both our daughter seem to be very happy and just getting on with life. Most of the time its just Pauline and myself at home so its really easy to cook and clean. I still enjoy my work and still love playing golf (if i ever get the time) and Pauline is tinkering with a business idea of her own. On a whole we have had some fantastic times In Australia. We have made friends for life through BE. When i say friends i mean real friends, i might not sea them for months or years but i know we will pick up where we left off as soon as we meet. Its one of the reasons i love the BE meets. I want everyone to be as lucky as we have been over the years.
We have big plans for the next year ahead so things should be exciting!
If I was asked if I would do it all again, we sure would. There are a few things we would change though, but not too much.
We are very happy that we made the move and our only regret is that we didn't do it sooner. We didn't have the money at that time so its not worth thinking of really.
I'm now wondering where we will be at the 10 year mark. Life is always interesting in the soapy household and I don't think thats going to change anytime soon.
Good luck to anyone thinking of making the move, your going to need it lol
Oh and a big thank you to all the BE members who have made our journey much easier with you help and friendship. You all know who you are!
If your not bored out of your skull by now and want a more detailed update on a year to year update. Just do a search through my old threads.
thanks for reading!
Soapy and Pauline
On this day 7 years ago a slightly scared, overtired but adventurous family of five set foot in Australia for the first time. We had nothing to lose and everything to gain by move to the other side of the world. Some people called us brave, some called us crazy, but we just saw it as an opportunity to broaden our horizons.
Pauline had secured a job in a Sydney hospital before we left. The plan was that I would be the house husband and help the kids settle, then find work for myself.
When i say kids i meant teens. Oldest was 19 and was hoping that moving to the other side of the world would mean adventure. Our oldest daughter was 17 and had left school, but we decided that for her to get a real chance to settle she would stand a better chance if she went to school. We knew she wouldn't go back to school so we decided to spin a little white lie and tell her that it was part of the visa requirement that she would have to do at least a year of schooling. As luck has it she bought it. Our youngest daughter the 15 year old really hated the fact that we were dragging her away from all of her friends and she made sure we made it lol
The first couple of weeks were a holiday for the girls. Our son had secured work in a local bar through friends we had made on our first day we arrived.
Within a month Pauline and our son had settled into work, the girls had really settled into school and had a massive group of friends but i was still on holiday lol
After 3 months of living the life it was time to find work. It only took me a week to secure work as a dept head of the tools department for a mitre 10. i loved it!
2 years flew past and we decided that it was time we made the move to queensland where we had always wanted to be.
Pauline found a job and we headed north, leaving our son who was really settled in Sydney.
Again the two girls were not too happy about the move. I found work in the first week driving a taxi. It was perfect for me and i loved that too. Both the girls really struggled to find work and make friends. So much so that after 9 months our oldest daughter headed back to Sydney to live with her boyfriend. Our youngest was now on her own and i think this spurred her on to find work and friends. Withing a week of her sister leaving she had secured work in retail.
Both Pauline and myself were having a great time with the kids all doing their own thing.
It took us another two years to buy our own little bit of Australia. Just after that i changed my job and life stated to sail past.
Our son had begun to miss the family so moved back to live with us. Not long after this our youngest moved out to live with her boyfriend, then a few months later our oldest daughter moved back to our place. For a while there it was one in, one out lol
Since moving to Australia we have had a very active social life, but since buying the house and with all the renovations we are making this has come to a halt. I do miss the social life but you cant have everything. This year we have ripped out the old kitchen and fitted a new one, done the port Douglas road trip and also paid a quick visit to Sydney where we caught up with old friends.
To be very honest the last year has been the hardest for us. Being so far away from the Uk when you really need to be there has been hard. Both of our jobs had been threatened back in August so it has been a stressful year. There have been some good points but sometimes we wish that 2010 had never happened.
Our son headed north at the tail end of last year and found his way to Hook island, so far hes loving the lifestyle. Both our daughter seem to be very happy and just getting on with life. Most of the time its just Pauline and myself at home so its really easy to cook and clean. I still enjoy my work and still love playing golf (if i ever get the time) and Pauline is tinkering with a business idea of her own. On a whole we have had some fantastic times In Australia. We have made friends for life through BE. When i say friends i mean real friends, i might not sea them for months or years but i know we will pick up where we left off as soon as we meet. Its one of the reasons i love the BE meets. I want everyone to be as lucky as we have been over the years.
We have big plans for the next year ahead so things should be exciting!
If I was asked if I would do it all again, we sure would. There are a few things we would change though, but not too much.
We are very happy that we made the move and our only regret is that we didn't do it sooner. We didn't have the money at that time so its not worth thinking of really.
I'm now wondering where we will be at the 10 year mark. Life is always interesting in the soapy household and I don't think thats going to change anytime soon.
Good luck to anyone thinking of making the move, your going to need it lol
Oh and a big thank you to all the BE members who have made our journey much easier with you help and friendship. You all know who you are!
If your not bored out of your skull by now and want a more detailed update on a year to year update. Just do a search through my old threads.
thanks for reading!
Soapy and Pauline
Apr 21st 2011, 5:39 am
#2
Gutter Gob!!
Joined: Feb 2005
Location: Perth
Posts: 13,098
Re: 7 year itch?
You have the life you have because you all deserve it and worked hard to achieve it.
Well done to all the family and may the next 7 be equally as fantastic.
Had to laugh at the Head of Tools though, you are still Head Tool around BE
Well done to all the family and may the next 7 be equally as fantastic.
Had to laugh at the Head of Tools though, you are still Head Tool around BE
Apr 21st 2011, 5:48 am
#3
Crazy Cat Lady
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 65,493
Re: 7 year itch?
Nice one baldy. 
Apr 21st 2011, 7:56 am
#4
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Nov 2005
Location: Yorkshire - Queensland - NSW
Posts: 843
Re: 7 year itch?
Congrats on the 7 years 
Great update
Great update
Apr 21st 2011, 8:05 am
#5
Account Closed
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 4,374
Re: 7 year itch?
lovely update, your kids have done you proud making the most of life! There certainly is alot of coming and going in the Soapy household. Funny the BE thing you mention, i have met no real friends through it
when going to the meets i felt like the granny, maybe its a mlbourne thing that the peeps are younger, i remember when someone was arranging a mellie meet they had the cheek to put no one over 40, otherwish they would be as well socialising with thier mum
cheeky ******!
The last year for us has been the best, for me its coz at long last i have made a couple of good mates throug work (thier ozzie though, but you cant have everything
), and for anyone out there , they would find that funny and rib me for being a scot (and to get me swearing they would mention the fact i cant speak english)
when going to the meets i felt like the granny, maybe its a mlbourne thing that the peeps are younger, i remember when someone was arranging a mellie meet they had the cheek to put no one over 40, otherwish they would be as well socialising with thier mum cheeky ******!The last year for us has been the best, for me its coz at long last i have made a couple of good mates throug work (thier ozzie though, but you cant have everything
), and for anyone out there , they would find that funny and rib me for being a scot (and to get me swearing they would mention the fact i cant speak english)
Last edited by Margaret3; Apr 21st 2011 at 8:07 am.
Who was it, I'll get them for you. 
Apr 21st 2011, 9:13 am
#9
Crazy Cat Lady
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 65,493
Re: 7 year itch?
They (meets) don't happen for me either and I've been to a few that Soapy's been too, he loves them, I hate them. It's great that they do work for so many though.
Apr 21st 2011, 3:44 pm
#10
Banned
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 592
Re: 7 year itch?
Nice one mate, luck, you are awash with it, nice update.
Keith
Keith
Apr 21st 2011, 3:48 pm
#11
Home and Happy
Joined: Dec 2002
Location: Keep true friends and puppets close, trust no-one else...
Posts: 93,810
Re: 7 year itch?
Always funny, and always an inspiration Soapy; look forward to catching up with you soon
Apr 21st 2011, 7:45 pm
#12
Chocoholic
Joined: Apr 2005
Location: Betchworth, Surrey.
Posts: 2,899
Re: 7 year itch?
Wow, that 7 years has gone by quickly.
At first, looking at the title to your thread, I thought you were thinking of coming back. Should have known better
to the next 7 years.
Julie. x
At first, looking at the title to your thread, I thought you were thinking of coming back. Should have known better
to the next 7 years.Julie. x
Apr 21st 2011, 9:45 pm
#13
Master of verbal pish©
Thread Starter
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 22,198
Re: 7 year itch?
cheers pal
your right though, Australia is what YOU make it.