Harder than I thought 3 months on living in Brisbane
#61
Marie
Joined: Nov 2006
Location: Thornlands, Brisbane
Posts: 83
Re: Harder than I thought 3 months on living in Brisbane
Hi Val and Mick
Marie and Dom moved to Brisbane in September (am friend of Maria's from Ireland) but I haven't heard from them since but can't wait to hear how they are getting on. Last I heard from Maria, Dom had a job in Brisbane and was renting 5 bed house with pool and tennis courts and with 5 boys under 10 they will need the space, can't wait to hear how they are liking Brisbane as we are hoping to move there next year if we ever sell house.
Marie
Marie and Dom moved to Brisbane in September (am friend of Maria's from Ireland) but I haven't heard from them since but can't wait to hear how they are getting on. Last I heard from Maria, Dom had a job in Brisbane and was renting 5 bed house with pool and tennis courts and with 5 boys under 10 they will need the space, can't wait to hear how they are liking Brisbane as we are hoping to move there next year if we ever sell house.
Marie
#62
Forum Regular
Joined: Nov 2007
Location: Bayside Brisbane
Posts: 50
Re: Harder than I thought 3 months on living in Brisbane
Hi Val and Mick
Marie and Dom moved to Brisbane in September (am friend of Maria's from Ireland) but I haven't heard from them since but can't wait to hear how they are getting on. Last I heard from Maria, Dom had a job in Brisbane and was renting 5 bed house with pool and tennis courts and with 5 boys under 10 they will need the space, can't wait to hear how they are liking Brisbane as we are hoping to move there next year if we ever sell house.
Marie
Marie and Dom moved to Brisbane in September (am friend of Maria's from Ireland) but I haven't heard from them since but can't wait to hear how they are getting on. Last I heard from Maria, Dom had a job in Brisbane and was renting 5 bed house with pool and tennis courts and with 5 boys under 10 they will need the space, can't wait to hear how they are liking Brisbane as we are hoping to move there next year if we ever sell house.
Marie
Val
#63
Marie
Joined: Nov 2006
Location: Thornlands, Brisbane
Posts: 83
Re: Harder than I thought 3 months on living in Brisbane
Hi Val,
We thought we would already be living there by this Christmas but unfortunately huge change in housing market in Ireland and very difficult to sell houses at moment, we have gone ahead and booked a reccie trip for February 9th for 3 weeks and will at least validate visa and get to see the place, can't wait. Most horrible miserable wet day here today and would love to be where you are but someday soon hopefully. Maria lived on the next road to us here in Navan and I can't wait to hear how she is finding Brisbane but she mustn't have got connected to broadband yet, she moved end of September. How long are you both there and are you enjoying yourselves? We are hoping to check out suburbs and get a feel for the place in February so any advice would be welcome. Thanks and talk soon! Marie
We thought we would already be living there by this Christmas but unfortunately huge change in housing market in Ireland and very difficult to sell houses at moment, we have gone ahead and booked a reccie trip for February 9th for 3 weeks and will at least validate visa and get to see the place, can't wait. Most horrible miserable wet day here today and would love to be where you are but someday soon hopefully. Maria lived on the next road to us here in Navan and I can't wait to hear how she is finding Brisbane but she mustn't have got connected to broadband yet, she moved end of September. How long are you both there and are you enjoying yourselves? We are hoping to check out suburbs and get a feel for the place in February so any advice would be welcome. Thanks and talk soon! Marie
#64
Forum Regular
Joined: Nov 2007
Location: Kent
Posts: 34
Re: Harder than I thought 3 months on living in Brisbane
G.day boys and girls. My wife and I spent a lot of time reading the forums before planning our trip down under. We planned for years to make the move after my wife had spent 9 months on a working visa here, three holidays and research trips and I was sold the idea.
We sold it to our kids too...17, 15 and 13...we looked at our lives in the most beautiful part of the UK in Devon and said "its great in our large house looking over to Dartmoor but how are our kids going to afford a house here, get a worthwhile paid job that gives them satisfaction in what they do without moving....".
There is not a great deal of well paid jobs in Devon, crime is on the up and I was struggling to find paid employment after running my own businesses for 15 years.
Did not t feel that I could afford to buy/create another business and risk losing what I had already got. With so many years of experience at managing business and people and no recent qualifications we thought "hey, life is short....lets do it...lets try for new life and opportunity down under where our money will spread a little further and our kids could experience a different life and hopefully have a better chance at the future. Oz is booming with jobs and opportunity.
Without permanent visas, we have 4 years to buy/make a business turn a profit and employment of Ozzies and apply for residency visas for those that have not looked at this before. As we have no permanent status, we have to pay for everything....no home in the uk...no nhs reciprocal arrangement no medicare as such.... we will have to pay for our daughters university fees...we get no family taxation benefits ?
We arrived her on the 16 April 2007 after a very long and expensive progression through the business visa 463 application, house unsold and loan in the bank to tied us over until the house was sold. We sold or gave away all the furniture that we had collected over the years, chucked all those accumulated nick naks. A bit of a gamble but the house is now under offer......
But hey, were still doing it...
So we are here....
Lets get on with it...get the kids into the best school we can find that matches my kids high UK academic achievements...
Rent a house....buy a car....get some second hand equipment like fridges etc.
Wife gets a low paid job eventually...me I can’t....I have to sign on with agencies for temp work until we can find a business and I have the money. Its not that easy....the work is poorly paid, its sporadic and although applying for s*** jobs.....they don't want to know. Yet I am honestly the most flexible and adaptable person going with a range of practical, physical and admin skills going ?? whinge..
Anyway..life goes on, its not a problem. The sun is shining every day whilst it tiddles down back in the UK. We have already done all the theme park stuff, we have walked on the glorious beaches...got lost in Mount mee state forest whilst 4wd ing, scary but fun..lesson learnt there.
Youngest daughter back doing horse riding lessons over here....loving it.
Eldest struggled at first with school because we came her at such an awkward time in her education and really did not want to come here in the first place when her mind was set on UK university. But, paid for lessons from a trainee teacher and she is back up to top of the class and she really loves it here.
My son (15)...the most positive one about coming here is the problem.....he has tried really hard to fit in, but can't. He was a bit of a legend back in school in the UK. He is a mature, well built lad with a great personality. Well into 'freeriding' downhill biking and always up for a challenge, had got a massive group of friends who still tell him how much they miss him.. He just can't make friends here at school, quite a few friends outside that he hangs with but misses his mates in the UK and now his self confidence is taking a knock. 10 weeks in and all he wants to do is go home...does not want to go too school and hates everthing about it.
As for the super friendly Ozzies, well we have struggled a bit too. We have family here...that helps but no one seems to do anything but work...drink beer till they fall over or indulge in rock n roll dancing at the geriatric clubs !!!
Talking to people at the various work places I have been at, they all seem to want to go to europe ???
When the Ozzies hear the english accent..and I can't help that...there seems to be a barrier that goes up. The most friendly people I have spoken to so far are the South African business people who have told me how hard it has been to get up and running....
Sorry guys......don't meen to be so negative but seeing my son go so disheartened and dejected to school is breaking my heart and I wonder what the hell we have done......does that make any sense to you guys.
Does it get better than this ? are we just going through a pain barrier.
We sold it to our kids too...17, 15 and 13...we looked at our lives in the most beautiful part of the UK in Devon and said "its great in our large house looking over to Dartmoor but how are our kids going to afford a house here, get a worthwhile paid job that gives them satisfaction in what they do without moving....".
There is not a great deal of well paid jobs in Devon, crime is on the up and I was struggling to find paid employment after running my own businesses for 15 years.
Did not t feel that I could afford to buy/create another business and risk losing what I had already got. With so many years of experience at managing business and people and no recent qualifications we thought "hey, life is short....lets do it...lets try for new life and opportunity down under where our money will spread a little further and our kids could experience a different life and hopefully have a better chance at the future. Oz is booming with jobs and opportunity.
Without permanent visas, we have 4 years to buy/make a business turn a profit and employment of Ozzies and apply for residency visas for those that have not looked at this before. As we have no permanent status, we have to pay for everything....no home in the uk...no nhs reciprocal arrangement no medicare as such.... we will have to pay for our daughters university fees...we get no family taxation benefits ?
We arrived her on the 16 April 2007 after a very long and expensive progression through the business visa 463 application, house unsold and loan in the bank to tied us over until the house was sold. We sold or gave away all the furniture that we had collected over the years, chucked all those accumulated nick naks. A bit of a gamble but the house is now under offer......
But hey, were still doing it...
So we are here....
Lets get on with it...get the kids into the best school we can find that matches my kids high UK academic achievements...
Rent a house....buy a car....get some second hand equipment like fridges etc.
Wife gets a low paid job eventually...me I can’t....I have to sign on with agencies for temp work until we can find a business and I have the money. Its not that easy....the work is poorly paid, its sporadic and although applying for s*** jobs.....they don't want to know. Yet I am honestly the most flexible and adaptable person going with a range of practical, physical and admin skills going ?? whinge..
Anyway..life goes on, its not a problem. The sun is shining every day whilst it tiddles down back in the UK. We have already done all the theme park stuff, we have walked on the glorious beaches...got lost in Mount mee state forest whilst 4wd ing, scary but fun..lesson learnt there.
Youngest daughter back doing horse riding lessons over here....loving it.
Eldest struggled at first with school because we came her at such an awkward time in her education and really did not want to come here in the first place when her mind was set on UK university. But, paid for lessons from a trainee teacher and she is back up to top of the class and she really loves it here.
My son (15)...the most positive one about coming here is the problem.....he has tried really hard to fit in, but can't. He was a bit of a legend back in school in the UK. He is a mature, well built lad with a great personality. Well into 'freeriding' downhill biking and always up for a challenge, had got a massive group of friends who still tell him how much they miss him.. He just can't make friends here at school, quite a few friends outside that he hangs with but misses his mates in the UK and now his self confidence is taking a knock. 10 weeks in and all he wants to do is go home...does not want to go too school and hates everthing about it.
As for the super friendly Ozzies, well we have struggled a bit too. We have family here...that helps but no one seems to do anything but work...drink beer till they fall over or indulge in rock n roll dancing at the geriatric clubs !!!
Talking to people at the various work places I have been at, they all seem to want to go to europe ???
When the Ozzies hear the english accent..and I can't help that...there seems to be a barrier that goes up. The most friendly people I have spoken to so far are the South African business people who have told me how hard it has been to get up and running....
Sorry guys......don't meen to be so negative but seeing my son go so disheartened and dejected to school is breaking my heart and I wonder what the hell we have done......does that make any sense to you guys.
Does it get better than this ? are we just going through a pain barrier.