Gold Coast - One Month In
 

We're here :thumbsup:

Ok, well was all very stressful before we left, hellish in fact. All long forgotten now though :)

Arrived in Brissie 3rd Jan. Had a week's holiday rental booked at Kangaroo Point. Spent the first week trying to find a car to buy and a rental.

We had absolutely no idea where we wanted to live having only actually spent 2 days in GC on our recce.

Anyway, we got a lovely rental in Maudsland - we hadn't got a any jobs to come to so didn't really have anything by way of id or proof of income for the rental application. We had to be very insistent to get a viewing as there is a real 'no rush' attitude with the EA's, which is nice and laid back but can be frustrating when you're trying to find somewhere to live. When we arrived at property viewing there were a few others too but we'd bought a folder and taken photo copies of our passports, driving licences (uk), bank statements (uk one and the oz one was just a screen print we got the bank to do), uk credit report and two oz refs (thanks girls :D). I had also been to the rental agency and picked up a rental application form prior to the viewing, filled it all in so everything was ready to hand over at the viewing. No-one else that came to view it had any paperwork so I think this put us at an advantage. We also offered 3 months up front rent, but they didn't ask for it when they offered us the rental.

We got a car, second had, really expensive and I hate the thing but it works and will do for now.

Dale didn't phone for jobs for a couple of weeks, then got the first one he phoned (carpenter) working direct for a small Australian family company. They're really nice and it's going well, money's a bit crap but can't expect too much without a licence. Hoping to get the licence sorted now.

The boy started school, it's a brand new one and very nice. I'm not sure whether he'll stay in the class he's in, I'm hoping they'll move him up as the class is mostly prep and he's year 1 but intelectually should be year 2 really. Although maybe more play less work will do him good. We'll see.

I've not felt homesick yet but obviously it's very early days.

Still got loads to do and still settling in but we're enjoying it.

Oh we went to sort out medicare and the first office we went to told us that we needed to provide proof of our intent to remain in Australia as we validated last year. We had our rental agreement but it wasn't enough, they wanted a letter off the bank or the school or a utility bill - none of which we had. When we got car insurance we thought we could use that. We went back to a different medicare office and they didn't ask us for any of that information, just processed the application and were very helpful.

We didn't ship anything over, just came with our suitcases 20kg each. Was hard bringing so little but it's really nice to go out and buy new stuff. We've been suprised at how cheap the new furniture, tv's etc are - we've never had new furniture before so it's been really nice kitting out the house and at a good price too. Although we're still waiting for some stuff to be delivered but it shouldn't be much longer now.

We have also now purchased a bbq :thumbsup:

That's about it I think, will update again soon..ish :D

So...no complaints, it's all good - except the tv, now that really is crap :rofl:

Re: Gold Coast - One Month In
 

Lovely update & great to hear that all is working out so far:thumbsup:

Re: Gold Coast - One Month In
 

Great to hear you are enjoying your new lives down under :thumbsup:

Re: Gold Coast - One Month In
 

Great update!:thumbsup:

Glad to see you back and to hear that the trauma was worth it.

You got an awful lot done in a short time - do you think you'll manage to do as much now you have the internet and BE???:rofl::rofl::rofl:

Re: Gold Coast - One Month In
 

Hi Cath,
Remember me from the July thread! Great to hear you have arrived on Australian soil and are settling in well. We are still here trying to sell the house :curse:. Keep us updated as I will be following your thread and trying to get as much info as possible. Good luck!
Anne xx

Re: Gold Coast - One Month In
 

Hi there,
Thats a great post. Glad you have gotten things sorted so quickly.

Hope you dont mind me asking a question!

We are also considering the gold coast and my OH is also a joiner so to here your OH got a job so quickly is reassuring. Can you explain about the licence he has to get. I did not think you needed this in queensland or is your OH wanting to be self employed.

Thanks
Shabee

Re: Gold Coast - One Month In
 

Gday Kath,

Good to hear your settling in. weather been a bit shit eh:frown:about the licence for your hubby it takes a while to get i been here 7 months and i finally hope to get mine this month:DIts a long process and costs about £1200 its like applying for the TRA all over plus you have to do a managment course too:frown:And you finally have to be assessed which is'nt as bad as it sounds.
Give us a shout if need any info...

Haggis

Re: Gold Coast - One Month In
 

Wey hey matey.:)

Sooooo glad everythings goin well so far. Really glad Dales found work so soon and A is settling in school.

Think we have finally decided to go for Qld too so hopefully meet up again in the not so distant future. Mark seems to be itchin to go sooner rather than later now :eek:

Alll the best chick

Joe xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx


ps sorry if any shite spelling but the brandys kicking in now xxxx:thumbsup::thumbsup:

Re: Gold Coast - One Month In
 

Hey Haggis

Hope you all okay. Can you give us any info on what youve had to do for the license. Give Jacqui hug.


Joex

Re: Gold Coast - One Month In
 

Good on ya glad to hear you are settling well and happy, here's to your new life downunder:thumbsup:

Re: Gold Coast - One Month In
 

Glad your settling in.

We are moving to GC & fly out on the 7th of Feb.
Have not got a clue where to look for a rental or schools!!

Have fun

Jim & Nic

Re: Gold Coast - One Month In
 

:thumbsup:hey clippies
glad to hear all is well, great update, keep us posted.
kate

Re: Gold Coast - One Month In
 

Hi Kath, great to have you on the same side of the world again!!! Glad you've settled in ok but knew you would!!! :D

BTW its not very often I'm called a girl these days!!!!! ;) C x

Re: Gold Coast - One Month In
 

Thank ye :D

[QUOTE=Fly Away;5874264]Great update!

Glad to see you back and to hear that the trauma was worth it.

You got an awful lot done in a short time - do you think you'll manage to do as much now you have the internet and BE???[QUOTE]

Ooh see, I may be a slow starter but once I get going I'm well rapid :rofl:

Yes the internet, will my house ever be clean again I wonder....

Hellooooo! Yes of course I remember, I thought you were in Oz now! what's happening?

I don't know much about the licence Shabee - you can work for someone else under their licence which is what my husband is doing at the moment but you can get a lot more money if you have a licence

Lol yeah I've never seen so much rain! Thought Glastonbury got a hammering :rofl:

Will definitely be giving you a shout on the licence info, a where to start would be good :eek: How is the mrs? say hello to her for me

Woohoooooooooooo! helloooo chicky - come to Qld, you know it makes sense :thumbsup: xxx

Thank you :)

Hello fellow brummy lass - anything you wanna know give me a shout, I'll help if I can, there's a few of us brummies (and black country) kids out here :D

Will do :) hello!
Hello chick :D Yes now I just need a car so we can meet up more often :)

Re: Gold Coast - One Month In
 

Great post and sounds like you're settling in well K :thumbsup: :lol:




























see you in the morning ;) X

Re: Gold Coast - One Month In
 

:thumbsup:

Couldn't have settled in so well without my brummy/black country girls :D

Oh and I should add on here that Curly also lent us some loungers and gave us a single mattress as we had absolutely no furniture to sit on when we got in our rental so that was a great help :thumbsup:

See you in the morning, are we walking? Oops sorry, keep doing that tonight I'm the off topic queen - send me a pm :rofl:

Re: Gold Coast - One Month In
 

Great to hear from you clipps:thumbsup:

I was wondering how you were getting on!
Great to hear about the quick job find;)
What made you decide on Maudsland? We've looked at that area too, some areas seem to be far too expensive on gold coast now - particularly south gold coast!

We are finally coming over on 10th March (2 night stop over singapore and arrive 13th)
I think we're experiencing the stress and hell you went through now:( can't wait till it's gone!

Anyway, keep us up to date!
and hopefully we'll pick some sun up on the way and bring it over:D

Sam xx

Re: Gold Coast - One Month In
 

Hellooo have been wondering how you were getting on :)

I don't envy you the stress but honestly it seems such a long time ago now that I was like that :)

No idea why we chose Maudsland, just saw a rental and liked it :) We needed to get in quick and this one was vacant and within walking distance of the new school which meant we only need one car initially

Re: Gold Coast - One Month In
 

Great to hear that you are settling in well :)

Re: Gold Coast - One Month In
 

Thanks chick :)

Re: Gold Coast - One Month In
 

glad to read your all settled, definetly is a very laid back attitude here but one that is easy to get in to, more relaxed here than i have ever been although agree with you when you need a rental urgently, we had to wait a week before a viewing for ours.

Enjoy your journey.

Sarah

Re: Gold Coast - One Month In
 

Thank you :)

Yes I had to really push to get a viewing. Most I phoned just said they'd call me back and never did. I was quite sure I wanted this one though so I pushed it and got a viewing the same day. That happened twice actually, another one I liked I pushed and got a viewing the same day after I explained I needed to be in like now!

Re: Gold Coast - One Month In
 

Yep no sense of urgency here, we are still on the books for a rental from one company who never came back at all thats been since october good job i wasnt relying on them. shame about your car we brought a second hand one to panicking as we only had a week left on hire car. Turned out to be the biggest heap of junk ever still you live and learn traded it in the end after it broke down once i had no confidence in driving it again.

Re: Gold Coast - One Month In
 

sounds good mate :thumbup:

Re: Gold Coast - One Month In
 

Lol, yup sounds like our car :rofl:
Yip yip :thumbsup:

Re: Gold Coast - One Month In
 

oh nooo your talking the lingo already :ohmy: :p :lol:

Re: Gold Coast - One Month In
 

:lol: yip, too easy :rofl:

Re: Gold Coast - One Month In
 

HI, REALLY ENJOYED READING YOUR POST. I THINK IT WILL HELP US WHEN WE ARRIVE.I WAS WONDERING IF YOU COULD EXPLAIN ABOUT THE LICENCE NEEDED. MY HUSBAND IS A JOINER AND MY ELDEST SON WILL HAVE FINISHED HIS CARPENTRY AND JOINERY APPRENTICESHIP FOR WHEN WE FINALLY ARRIVE. CHEERS TRACY

Re: Gold Coast - One Month In
 

5 weeks and counting!
It's getting a bit mad though all our friends and family want to see us at the weekend, so we're almost fully booked up until we leave. It's made us realise that some people really do like us:rofl:

Did it feel really hot when you first arrived from the UK or was it not too bad?
What else have you been up to?

come on tell us more!!

Re: Gold Coast - One Month In
 

Hi Tracy have a look at this link

http://www.immi.gov.au/asri/occupati...or-4411-01.htm

it gives you info for all states as you dont need a licence in some :)

Re: Gold Coast - One Month In
 

HI, THANKS FOR THE LINK. GIVEN IT TO MY OH TO READ.:)

Re: Gold Coast - One Month In
 

great post and you sound like your really settling on the GC, I live in maudsland too and my kids have started the new park lake s.s my hubby is also a carpenter so if you need any info let me know, your hubby will def need a licence in QLD especially if he wants to make any kind of decent money, we have been here 4 years and fingers crossed my hubby has never been short of work, there is plenty out there.

Good luck in your new life down under

Lisa x :)

Re: Gold Coast - One Month In
 

Ah yeah I know what you mean, we were just completely booked up before we left - it was non-stop and I didn't half pile some weight on with the goodbye drinks and meals :eek:

Didn't feel too hot to be honest, we have got air con in our rental but we've never put it on, just have the ceiling fans on :) It does get a bit humid but stick the fan on and it's fine. Or take a cold shower, so long as it's no longer than 4 minutes :D

Ooh that's the same school my son goes to! We must pass each other in the morning :D

Will have to bend your ear on the licence then :)

Kath x

Re: Gold Coast - One Month In
 

How do you get a licence ?:thumbsup:

Re: Gold Coast - One Month In
 

Great to hear the update Kath.

I've just realised too that you've altered your user name :D

Re: Gold Coast - One Month In
 

hi this licence thing thing seems to be a pain in the asssss !!!, sure there is some info at HIA its a licence place for trades, hope it helps.

Re: Gold Coast - One Month In
 

Helllooooo :thumbsup:



Right, just thought I'd add this on for the few that are asking licence info on Chippies - there's a brilliant post that gives loads of info and I've just dug it out:

CLICKY CLICKY HERE FOR LICENCE INFO

Big thanks to rod for providing such great info :)

Re: Gold Coast - One Month In
 

so you madeit at last:D


nice update pal, and good luck from me:)

Re: Gold Coast - One Month In
 

Lol, yep

Thanks :D

Re: Gold Coast - One Month In
 

Just realisied it's Clippies too :) Lovely update, best wishes :thumbsup: