Originally Posted by CathnPaul

Cheers folks for those you have asked for our update...no pearly we havent fallen off the planet, and have thought about what to write in the update. Our story has been quite challenging and have started an update sooo many times and deleted it as it was soo naff.

Here we go then, warts an all - I apologise if its not as smooth - but this is our story.

We landed at the end of June on the same flight as another BE family at Brisbane airport...the emotion I felt when that stamp was put in my passport was amazing. I felt so elated.

We then stayed at a lovely house in Bridgeman downs (near Brissy) for a week, but we did a daily drive up to the Sunshine Coast...that made me realise I couldnt do it for work from the coast down to the Brissy CBD on a daily basis, so started to focus on working on the coast.

We then struggled getting our TFN, driving licences as we met every awkward person going...we rung the TFN people after their website was down and was told that we cant go into anywhere anymore to be issued with our number and that we had to either have paperwork posted out or do it online....that was challenge number 1 - as you all know you can go in and get it done, but we did as we were told and thought everyone else had it wrong (sorry folks).

On the back of this we went into our ozzy bank and were told not to move our money over until we had our TFN as we would be charged 40% interest...so that waited a month too!! But apparently we could have had it backdated as a fellow BEer told us a month later...typical for us though.

Then we couldnt get driving licences on our rental address because it wasnt a permanent address, but again as people know you can get licences even if you are in a hotel!! so that was another challenge.We waited 3months to get them as we were fed up.

Then we had a nightmare finding somewhere to rent, we would get approval eventually on about 5 properties, for the owners to then choose people who were moving interstate. I started to get really low at this point and a really kind and lovely BE mate gave me a call as she could tell I was starting to get upset... (Thankyou Elljay) she got us down to her house and lifted our spirits more than she will ever know. We then restarted looking again with a renewed vigour...then we found somewhere with the help of my uncle having a word in a real estate ladies ear. So we moved into our rental house.... its a nicish house...but is near a motorway, which means we can hear the traffic when we are out by the pool. But its a ok. Not too much.

The challenges have kept coming and coming... the next one was enrolling with a job agency...the first one we went into said I was to take off all my managerial experience, my degree means nothing and my CV isnt worth the paper its written on and that I will start a job on the coast irrelevent of my experience as a 16-18yr old would. I came out of there and cried, wondering what on earth I had done. The next day, i woke up smiled and had the f*** it attitude, i rung a job coach and spent money seeing him to told me to ignore the agency and that my skills are valuable etc....that was a boost i needed. I got a job the week after on cracking money (well sort of)

I am telling you the challenges are not negatives in our experience, they are just that challenges and we have continually hit them. I started work with this company on the coast, who lied to get me into the role promising me a cracking salary package, put on a limo to drive me down to brissy for me to complete my finance licence... but the company is only just setting up so it will take time for the money promised to come in. I went to hand in my notice a fortnight ago and the boss talked me out of it promising me more money. It worked, i stayed - well i am just.

Paul on the otherhand has landed on his feet. He is now a real estate agent in Caloundra, he got the job without any experience and just completed his course - he is sooo happy.

My middle son - is doing really well, he has settled into school and has had some funny stories from school. There hasnt been a fight in 3yrs allegedly. Whereas at his UK school it was on a daily basis. He stays out at weekends at friends and is happy as larry (whoever larry is).

My youngest son Alex - he has just won a chess competition :
http://www.schoolzine.com.au/schools.../story_14.html he has a nice bunch of friends and its as though he has always lived here. He has surfin lessons for PE on a friday. He stays out a friends houses too regularly and he smiles lots and lots.

We have made some fab friends and were welcomed last weekend to a beach get together, truely lovely time was had.

I am nearer to my family and some live just round the corner. That has been strange to go to family get togethers with everyone playing volleyball (except me) or cricket.

To cut a long story short, Paul and the kids have settled, I have found it more challenging, but all the way through there is no way I would go back the UK. I know this is my home and is where I belong.

It will just take me a little time to settle more... but every day as it comes eh???

Originally Posted by sallyclaire

Glad to hear that your luck is on the upturn
What is the rent allowance?

Originally Posted by CathnPaul

You can claim part of your rent back if your within their income bracket and have enough kids etc. Its not a huge amount, my cousin is getting $50 a week towards his.

Originally Posted by Weasy

That's only if you have a PR visa though.........

Originally Posted by egghead4

hi cath
I am really pleased that you and your family are getting sorted after all the struggle. your children seem to be thriving and settling in well. whereabouts have you settled?
keep us updated
bec

Originally Posted by CathnPaul

We are at Mountain Creek on the Sunshine coast Becs..our kids are crackin kids and have settled really well. Thankfully.