It's been exactly 8 weeks since we arrived in OZ. Me my husband and 2 boys arrived in Brisbane and stayed a few days with some friends to get over the jet lag. They helped us to sort out banks, medicare etc which was a great help. We then flew to Mackay. OH's company had hired us a car for a week and had paid for the first months accommodation at a beach house at Blacks Beach and it was perfect. Spent the first few days looking for a car and brought a laptop. Once we were mobile OH started his new job. Me and the boys spent our days walking along the beach and just relaxing. We then started looking for a permanent rental. Found the process very stressful as most of the time there were 20 other people looking at the same property. A work colleague of my OH had just completed the building of a brand new house in Walkerston and gave us first option to rent it. We went to see it and it had the WOW factor. It wasn't in the area we wanted but as time was running out we decided to accept his offer. We settled into the house but with only 1 car it was difficult to get about. The boys started at the local school and have settled in very well. We got a 2nd car so that I could be mobile. Our furniture arrived last week and I am binging to feel more settled. I feel quite lonely most of the time and haven't found the other mums at the school very friendly. Once the kids go back to school after the summer break I will look for a job and maybe help out at the school in my spare time. I miss my friends and family loads. OH loves his job, Kids love their school I just need to meet people so that I am not so lonely. I miss having people to talk to but I'm hoping to make some friends in the next few months. So far I am 50/50 about how I feel about Australia. I find myself thinking about what I left behind but then remember why we wanted to come to OZ. You can't make a new life in 8 weeks. This is just the beginning!!

I agree, we have been in Mackay 10 weeks, still early days for us at the mo. You get the good days and bad days......its worth it tho I think.

Ste

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Sounds all familiar, hang in there.