Re: Almost 11 months in Perth.....
 

Flippen eck Jan! I remember you from the south beach thread months and months ago! Well we've been on sunshine coast, QLD for 6mths now! love it, had some ups and downs though like you. luckily though i dont have the child worries as 3 of my 4 are littlies and my 11yr old was homesick for a few months but it passed, she loves it now. (she left her half sister and Natural Father behind, but since we arrived he has gradually 'forgot' her, bastard!)

Any advice i would give to parents in the age, when to go dilema for kids, the younger the better so dont delay and get those flights booked today! :thumbup::D

jan, if you ever feel the need to crack open the meths, pm me, i'll ring you xxx;)

S-j xxx (lost 3 1/2 stone BTW, wasnt South beach though, Mooloolabah Beach & New Balance!:rofl:)

Re: Almost 11 months in Perth.....
 

Well done you on the weight loss - I miss the beach. Think we're going to go for a run to the beach on Monday when the weather fairs up a bit to have a long walk. I need the exercise. Unfortunately I didn't do the south beach diet either.

Re: Almost 11 months in Perth.....
 

Hi Jan,
By jinkie, you guys are made of strong mettle. Well done to have got through all this and to have hung on in there.
We are moving to Perth later this month (27th June)..............
I've been following the Kings Park meeting threads and it sounds like a great way to meet up with new peeps. I think that good mates can make all the difference.
We're going to make it to the first Kings Park picnic after we arrive, not sure if there is a date set yet but I'm looking out for it. My chums say it might be a bit parkie as it's winter in Perth. I dont care if we're done up like Eskimo Nell and Nanook of the North, we'll be there.
Hoping to meet you soon................I'd send you a PM if I knew how but I'm a newbie,
Sharie.

Re: Almost 11 months in Perth.....
 

Hi, I,m NOR as well - would love to meet up for coffee too. We are planning to go back to the Uk next June/July if our house here sells by then. Just had enough really of arguing with my hubby constantly and kids being unhappy. Miss family so much and cry frequently, just dont think living here is special enough to sacrifice all the folk back home.
Would love to meet up for a chat with people who feel like me. I'm fed up with everyone saying that we should stick it our for 2 years-why stay somewhere when you are the most unhappiest you have ever been. We lived in Spain for 8 years so its not even as if we are not used to living out of the UK - just think its the distance thing here, being so far away from everyone, and it being so expensive to get back.

Now almost 20 months in Perth
 

Okay, almost 20 months in now so thought I should update:

Surprise - we are still here in Perth living in the foothills.

In July last year I finally got the job I had been looking for. It's a government position and is a temporary contract but at least it pays the bills and I enjoy the work. I'm working full time and by the time I get home and have dinner I just unwind with a glass (or bottle) of wine and chill out for the night. Weekends are by in the blink of an eye but I'm on holiday this week so I have no excuse and have finally sat down to do this update.

The girls are both still in the UK. Their choice, which we have to respect, whether we like it or not. Both of them still living with tossers but again, nothing we can do about that either. Carrie (24) came over for 3 and a half weeks at the end of October and she loved it here. Unfortunately while she was here her "boyfriend" managed to land her in the shit with her work and she returned to the sack. She'd been working for the same oil company for almost 7 years and it's such a waste. She's now unemployed, signing the dole and living with a pot head. Just what every mum wants.....

Kim (22) returned to the UK last May and she now rents a farmhouse with her lad. He doesn't speak to us because we wanted Kim to stay here, but she keeps in touch. She only managed to get contract work on her return to the UK and now the contract is finished she is out of work. It's the first time ever that the girls have been out of work. They've both worked since they were at school. I can't help thinking that they have both made a mess of things but I have now reached a stage that I have to accept that it's their lives and they have to learn by their own mistakes.

Rob (OH) tore the ligament from the bone on his elbow so was unable to work for a few months while it healed. He's now mended but as yet has not managed to find work. Things are getting a bit tight here and jobs are few and far between. West Australians IMO can be very racist and always offer any jobs to locals first. (Sorry if that offends anyone, but it's just how we see it).

Our son Craig (17) is still not driving so he's making it harder for himself to get a decent job. He has applied to MacDonalds as it's fairly local and he can get there without a driving licence. Not exactly a career but at least it will get him out of the house and mixing with kids his own age.

It's been a very difficult time for us but I'm beginning to see the light. We were thrown in at the deep end when we arrived and stayed with Rob's nutty family (never, ever do that again). We seemed to have a really bad run of luck and every time we were getting on our feet, something came along and smacked us back down.

To be honest I don't think we realised just how difficult it was going to be leaving everyone behind. We miss the girls dreadfully and had always hoped they would have joined us here. Rob has suffered from depression, which I've found quite hard as he's always been the strong one in our relationship. Taking him out of his comfort zone really knocked him for 6.

We always had a great marriage and were best buddies. Last year we almost reached the divorce stage as we couldn't agree on anything. Rob could only see doom and gloom and I refused to believe things were so bad. I hate failing and wanted to make this adventure work. Eventually I had to stand back and really look at the situation. I agreed to go back to the UK for a 6 week holiday on the understanding we all gave it 100% on our return. I also agreed if, after 2 years we were still unhappy we would all return together. I love my husband and knew that I wanted to be with him, whether it was here or in a tent in the middle of nowhere. Things are now great between us and we talk about concerns before they turn into huge issues.

My parents have been awful (very long story, which I won't bore you with). The girls have messed us about with tales of "I'm coming" and "I've changed my mind". In the end it has turned out to be a blessing as it's made us decide to give things a good go here. Up until very recently Rob and Craig would both have jumped on the next plane to UK.

Craig still misses Aberdeen and his pals but Rob has no desire to go back at the moment. I'm not saying we'll never go back - but for now we're making the most of life here. We still don't have the social life we did in the UK but I guess it just takes some of us longer than others. Rob's family don't speak to us (PHEW) so really we have had to start fresh, knowing no one.

Summer is coming to an end here so we have a rainy winter to look forward to. At least we'll save on air con bills, there won't be as many flies and the grass with be green for a while. It just seems to be a shame when it's too cold to jump in the pool.

We have only had Carrie to visit since we moved here. I always thought we'd have had a queue of pals booking flights, but no. In fact my best pal doesn't even email me any more. :confused: Surprisingly people who were mere acquaintances have been better at keeping in touch.

I don't know what the future holds for us but I will never regret coming here. It has opened my eyes and made me really look at my life.

Has it been the best 20 months of my life? I seriously doubt it but I was looking for an adventure and I can't say it's been dull. After all, the obstacles thrown at you just add to the adventure.

Re: Almost 11 months in Perth.....
 

Hi Jan so glad to read that things are finally on the up for you :D and about time too!

Long may it continue X

Re: Almost 11 months in Perth.....
 

Hi Jan

Good to hear that you are hanging on in there. You should be so proud of what you have overcome in the last 20 months. :thumbsup:

Tina x