Well after reading my mates update (Mrs JFW) I can only follow her sentiments really... bit of background for everyone:

We, being myself, Paul and only 2 of our 3 kids, came out in June07 and found finding somewhere to live in the area we wanted quite difficult, but after a couple of months we did and moved into a lovely rental for 12 months.

I got a job whereby I was chauffered around (yep chauffered! can you imagine how that felt, I felt damned bloomin important I can tell ya) and gave financial advice to people on buying a home. I left there after 6months and went to work for a bank. Not having done retail banking before it was a little scary, but now I totally love it and have done well over my 13months with them.

Paul went into Real Estate and sold some amazing houses, a total change from working at Royal Mail for 20yrs as you can imagine. He was lapping it up. Recently the housing market has slowed as we know and the houses are taking longer to sell. He has decided to go into helping building the sodding things and works on building sites as a labourer..damned hard work but worth it.

Mid son, has finished year 12 and has decided to take a gap year or might not go back at all yet into education, he isnt sure, but he is working and now drives which means i dont see my car anymore!!

Youngest son, he is at school and smiles all the time, growing up fast..he has bouts of missing the UK friends and family still, but we deal with them times as they happen.

Both lads have had some amazing opportunities, including mid son going to Fiji for schoolies and running into the sea in uniform on the last day of school, wake boarding, fishing, camping, you name it our lads have done it. All with the sun shining on them and big smiles.

Our biggest thing has been our eldest has now joined us a fortnight ago. Boy do we feel complete now. He is still on a temp visa though, but when he finishes his course he will be able to apply for PR...he had missed us too much and needed to get here. He landed on a friday, got his driving licence, medicare, bank accounts etc sorted on the Monday, got a job on the Tuesday which he started on the Wednesday, joined a fire spinning group which meets on the beach weekly and has only just started to slow down!! yep it feels like it was all in one big breath. haha

But my family is complete, we bought a house in June 08, which we are doing up to sell on next year, but basically everything is hunky dorey as they say. Had its ups and downs, but overall we have achieved our dreams and smile everyday for what we have x x

Fantastic, well done!

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Hi Cath..

I knew you would make a big success of it, congrats..

Dave/Wendy

A 'feel good' update - congrats and enjoy

Glad things are working out. There is a fair bit of doom and gloom around at the moment, so it's good to remember that for many, it does work out. Glad your son could join you took - must make all the difference. Good luck for the future.
Lorraine

Good luck to ya
Sounds like your doing great

Lace

great to hear everything is going so well for you. It must be wonderful having the whole family back together again. I hope my son makes the same decision one day in the future. keep on having fun and smiling x

Superb, well done and good luck for the future!

I have a huge smile reading this Cath. So so happy for you guys

Hey Cath

I remember you from the good old 139ers days when we were all nervously waiting on our visas!

So glad to hear that it has all worked out for you and that you are enjoying life in oz.

Cheers
Jo

so happy for you all, living your dream! U were the first people to reply to me on Expats in the early days of our application. I read your posts with interest - and yours too 'daunted' lol. - take care x

what a great update, made me smile all the way through too.
what age is your oldest?

Nice post.............good luck for the future

Hi Soapy, he's 21 now, he was at uni when we put original app in and decided not to carry on his education which meant him coming off app. So we helped him move out, set up home and taught him how to deal with budgeting etc before we left.

Since I did this update, I have also been offered my own branch and take over at the beginning of May!! Living the dream??? Im sure I am still dreaming! ! ! Its all too surreal! From being chauffered around to having my own branch for an Australian Bank. Im just a little old girl from Manchester.

Too all the old crew, totally unbelievable where we all are up to now. All the familiar names are still around, although we just read and dont post anymore, I think the BE crew will always appreciate what we have ALL been through or are going through. Good to hear from y'all, including those am still in touch with on facebook. Long life friends x x x very very special x x

Since I did this update, I have also been offered my own branch and take over at the beginning of May!! Living the dream??? Im sure I am still dreaming! ! ! Its all too surreal! From being chauffered around to having my own branch for an Australian Bank. Im just a little old girl from Manchester.


Hi, I live in Buderim at the minute but (hopefully) moving to Mountain Creek in the next 3 weeks - if we can get someone to take over our rental. Reading thru your thread you have done well - congrats I'm finding it hard to find work - any chance of a job in your new branch??????

Lynn xx