Living on the Gold Coast,our 5 week update.
Mar 9th 2007, 10:09 pm
#16
Master of verbal pish©
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 22,198
Re: Living on the Gold Coast,our 5 week update.
I must drive faster than you,then again a taxi driver always takes the long cut! 
Thanks to all who have replied and if i can help anyone out,let me know.
Scotschick,hope the rekkie trip went well and sorry we couldnt meet up but things were far more hectic than i thought they would be.Im sure we'll meet again at a meet soon.
Michelle,maybe we should all wear our avatars to any meets! That way we'll all recognise each other.Lol.Im sure we'll have a blether next time.We drove through part of Robina the other day,its very nice and def worth considering a move to.
Thanks to all who have replied and if i can help anyone out,let me know.
Scotschick,hope the rekkie trip went well and sorry we couldnt meet up but things were far more hectic than i thought they would be.Im sure we'll meet again at a meet soon.
Michelle,maybe we should all wear our avatars to any meets! That way we'll all recognise each other.Lol.Im sure we'll have a blether next time.We drove through part of Robina the other day,its very nice and def worth considering a move to.
Mar 10th 2007, 8:43 pm
#17
I've got time . . . . .
Joined: Apr 2006
Location: SE Queensland
Posts: 574
Re: Living on the Gold Coast,our 5 week update.
Great post, we're arriving on the 11th of April and your post has eased our nerves.
Not long now!
Not long now!
Mar 12th 2007, 10:29 pm
#18
Work to Live!
Thread Starter
Joined: Aug 2006
Location: Gold Coast Australia
Posts: 1,006
Re: Living on the Gold Coast,our 5 week update.
You'll love it here,the place is stunning,clean,everythings fairly nearby and the weathers hot enough to moan about it! 
Mar 13th 2007, 8:52 am
#20
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Joined: Aug 2006
Location: Gold Coast Australia
Posts: 1,006
Re: Living on the Gold Coast,our 5 week update.
Cheers mate,feel free to have a drink or 10 on us! Its not the best of stuff but drinkable!Lol.
That was another good day and Pauline did you proud with that bellybustin' meal.
Just get her a gravy boat next time!
One day we'll finally get around to buying a dining room table and start entertaining!
That was another good day and Pauline did you proud with that bellybustin' meal.
Just get her a gravy boat next time!
One day we'll finally get around to buying a dining room table and start entertaining!
Mar 13th 2007, 9:17 am
#21
Master of verbal pish©
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 22,198
Re: Living on the Gold Coast,our 5 week update.
Cheers mate,feel free to have a drink or 10 on us! Its not the best of stuff but drinkable!Lol.
That was another good day and Pauline did you proud with that bellybustin' meal.
Just get her a gravy boat next time!
One day we'll finally get around to buying a dining room table and start entertaining!
That was another good day and Pauline did you proud with that bellybustin' meal.
Just get her a gravy boat next time!
One day we'll finally get around to buying a dining room table and start entertaining!
see u soon
Mar 13th 2007, 12:36 pm
#22
Forum Regular
Joined: Feb 2007
Location: was Preston now sunny Perth
Posts: 158
Re: Living on the Gold Coast,our 5 week update.
Good to here you arived brido, wasnt sure if you`d gone or not yet, we are hoping to be in perth at the end of August.
All the best for the future.
The Brooks.
All the best for the future.
The Brooks.
Mar 15th 2007, 12:10 am
#23
Work to Live!
Thread Starter
Joined: Aug 2006
Location: Gold Coast Australia
Posts: 1,006
Re: Living on the Gold Coast,our 5 week update.
Hi Sam,we're alive and well and enjoying life over here.Hope your move goes to plan.
All the best when the time comes
All the best when the time comes
Mar 15th 2007, 12:34 pm
#24
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Jul 2005
Location: Poole, Dorset
Posts: 1,217
Re: Living on the Gold Coast,our 5 week update.
Great post. Glad everything is going well for you. Hopefully we'll be joining you on the Gold Coast soon.
Mar 21st 2007, 8:03 pm
#25
The Harlows
Joined: Jan 2007
Location: Great Yarmouth
Posts: 134
Re: Living on the Gold Coast,our 5 week update.
Hi all,just thought i'd share our experience of migrating to oz.
We flew out to Oz on Feb 1st from Glasgow to Perth with a 2 hour stop in Dubai,then a flight from Perth to Brisbane.It seems an odd way of doing it but we booked last minute as the sale of our house was dragging on.
We found out 2 weeks before we left that the buyers mortgage had fallen through and we decided to fly out anyway with some financial help from our families.(This was the 2nd time the sale fell through)
We found the flights really easy and not as long and boring as we expected,had we known this we would have holidayed here before.
The day before we flew out we were going to our solicitor to leave everything to do with the house in his hands and 3rd time lucky,the couple who bought our place got another mortgage and we completed that day.
It felt so much better knowing everything was tied up before flying out.
We had read on here that the general feeling was to go to the airport alone and that was our plan,however,both sets of parents came to the airport as my mother had said,we cant stop them anyway!lol.
The airport was fine until we made our way to the departure lounge then the eyes welled up on everyone. Once in the departure lounge,we sorted that out with a couple of drinks and looked forward to coming to Australia and the Gold Coast in particular.
We had sent our dog over in advance to the Sydney Quarantine Center and we had to fly him with JAL Air from Heathrow as he is a Pug,they are a short nosed breed and anyone looking to send over a short nosed breed should use Ryslip Kennels in Bracknell,we checked out other companies and some would say they would get the dog on with Quantas ect.I did my own research beforehand and some of the companies had no idea what they were talking about as i had to tell them that most of the airlines wouldnt fly our breed of dog.
He struggled with the heat on arrival as it was over 40 degrees and the vets were great with him,cooling him down and getting cold packs ready for him when he arrived at the center.
We decided to fly to Sydney for the weekend and drive back up with our dog as we didnt want to put him in another plane.The drive back took 10 hours and we stopped a few times for a quick bite to eat and toilet breaks.I found the drive much easier than driving from Glasgow to London.
Darling Harbour in Sydney is lovely and full of restraunts and bars,its a must for anyone visiting the city,we also met up with friends who showed us the opera house and we had a few drinks in a bar across from it.
We had arranged accomodation through Doub on this site and he kindly allowed us to use his furnished appartment on Broadbeach even though we had our dog coming,most furnished accomodation wont take dogs.
We were 200m from the beach and you could hear the waves from the front door at night.The location was great and a 5 min walk had us in Broadbeach center where the restraunts were great,we were also a 5 min drive from Jupiters Casino and Pacific Fair shopping center,in the other direction we were about a 15/20 min walk to Surfers Paradise,which is loveley.We even sat and watched the beach volleyball tournament a couple of weeks ago,you cant do that in Glasgow!Lol.
The hardest thing is not knowing where anything is but all you have to do is ask.The aussies have been friendly enough and once we got a car it made everthing easier to find.
We had planned to rent in Adelphi Springs at Southport from the minute we decided to move over to the Gold Coast and as luck had it,the last available pet friendly house became available as someone gave up their lease early,so we grabbed it!
Its a beautiful complex and im suprised by how few people actually use the pools and spa,it also has a small gym too.
Then we spent a few days trying to buy furniture and managed to get it delivered on the same day we moved in.It was all in by 12:30 which left us the rest of the day to lay by the pool.
Onto the social side now,we generally head into Surfers at the weekend as its about a 5 min taxi ride away.
We also went to the expat meet at Pacific Pines and stood out like rabbits in the headlights when we went in.We were greeted by Soapy and had a good night.
You've been a great help Soapy in making us feel welcome,cheers mate.
We enjoyed the day at the spit and i never thought id be playing beach cricket!
We also had a good night at Soapy and Paulines for Paulines (ahem!)21st birthday and met a few good people who offered good advice.
All in its been great so far,ive not looked for work yet but we saw a nearby place yesterday that we may lease to start Julies Nails and Pedicure business,rather than her work for someone else.If we decide to take it then ill help get it off the ground before looking for a job.
If it goes well enough i could always stay in and watch the dog!
5 weeks on and still loving it.
Brian and Julie
We flew out to Oz on Feb 1st from Glasgow to Perth with a 2 hour stop in Dubai,then a flight from Perth to Brisbane.It seems an odd way of doing it but we booked last minute as the sale of our house was dragging on.
We found out 2 weeks before we left that the buyers mortgage had fallen through and we decided to fly out anyway with some financial help from our families.(This was the 2nd time the sale fell through)
We found the flights really easy and not as long and boring as we expected,had we known this we would have holidayed here before.
The day before we flew out we were going to our solicitor to leave everything to do with the house in his hands and 3rd time lucky,the couple who bought our place got another mortgage and we completed that day.
It felt so much better knowing everything was tied up before flying out.
We had read on here that the general feeling was to go to the airport alone and that was our plan,however,both sets of parents came to the airport as my mother had said,we cant stop them anyway!lol.
The airport was fine until we made our way to the departure lounge then the eyes welled up on everyone. Once in the departure lounge,we sorted that out with a couple of drinks and looked forward to coming to Australia and the Gold Coast in particular.
We had sent our dog over in advance to the Sydney Quarantine Center and we had to fly him with JAL Air from Heathrow as he is a Pug,they are a short nosed breed and anyone looking to send over a short nosed breed should use Ryslip Kennels in Bracknell,we checked out other companies and some would say they would get the dog on with Quantas ect.I did my own research beforehand and some of the companies had no idea what they were talking about as i had to tell them that most of the airlines wouldnt fly our breed of dog.
He struggled with the heat on arrival as it was over 40 degrees and the vets were great with him,cooling him down and getting cold packs ready for him when he arrived at the center.
We decided to fly to Sydney for the weekend and drive back up with our dog as we didnt want to put him in another plane.The drive back took 10 hours and we stopped a few times for a quick bite to eat and toilet breaks.I found the drive much easier than driving from Glasgow to London.
Darling Harbour in Sydney is lovely and full of restraunts and bars,its a must for anyone visiting the city,we also met up with friends who showed us the opera house and we had a few drinks in a bar across from it.
We had arranged accomodation through Doub on this site and he kindly allowed us to use his furnished appartment on Broadbeach even though we had our dog coming,most furnished accomodation wont take dogs.
We were 200m from the beach and you could hear the waves from the front door at night.The location was great and a 5 min walk had us in Broadbeach center where the restraunts were great,we were also a 5 min drive from Jupiters Casino and Pacific Fair shopping center,in the other direction we were about a 15/20 min walk to Surfers Paradise,which is loveley.We even sat and watched the beach volleyball tournament a couple of weeks ago,you cant do that in Glasgow!Lol.
The hardest thing is not knowing where anything is but all you have to do is ask.The aussies have been friendly enough and once we got a car it made everthing easier to find.
We had planned to rent in Adelphi Springs at Southport from the minute we decided to move over to the Gold Coast and as luck had it,the last available pet friendly house became available as someone gave up their lease early,so we grabbed it!
Its a beautiful complex and im suprised by how few people actually use the pools and spa,it also has a small gym too.
Then we spent a few days trying to buy furniture and managed to get it delivered on the same day we moved in.It was all in by 12:30 which left us the rest of the day to lay by the pool.
Onto the social side now,we generally head into Surfers at the weekend as its about a 5 min taxi ride away.
We also went to the expat meet at Pacific Pines and stood out like rabbits in the headlights when we went in.We were greeted by Soapy and had a good night.
You've been a great help Soapy in making us feel welcome,cheers mate.
We enjoyed the day at the spit and i never thought id be playing beach cricket!
We also had a good night at Soapy and Paulines for Paulines (ahem!)21st birthday and met a few good people who offered good advice.
All in its been great so far,ive not looked for work yet but we saw a nearby place yesterday that we may lease to start Julies Nails and Pedicure business,rather than her work for someone else.If we decide to take it then ill help get it off the ground before looking for a job.
If it goes well enough i could always stay in and watch the dog!
5 weeks on and still loving it.
Brian and Julie
great to read your news, its always so helpful as I seem to be wandering round in a daze most of the time. Please could you help me re the dog, I am so worried about flying him over and the quarantine, did you pick him up straight away or did you have to wait the 30 days, or did he/she go in kennels beforehand, my dog is only just 1 year and still a pup and I azm dreading it. I am so glad all is working out for you. Kindest regards, Nadine
Mar 21st 2007, 11:00 pm
#26
Work to Live!
Thread Starter
Joined: Aug 2006
Location: Gold Coast Australia
Posts: 1,006
Re: Living on the Gold Coast,our 5 week update.
Hi there
great to read your news, its always so helpful as I seem to be wandering round in a daze most of the time. Please could you help me re the dog, I am so worried about flying him over and the quarantine, did you pick him up straight away or did you have to wait the 30 days, or did he/she go in kennels beforehand, my dog is only just 1 year and still a pup and I azm dreading it. I am so glad all is working out for you. Kindest regards, Nadine
great to read your news, its always so helpful as I seem to be wandering round in a daze most of the time. Please could you help me re the dog, I am so worried about flying him over and the quarantine, did you pick him up straight away or did you have to wait the 30 days, or did he/she go in kennels beforehand, my dog is only just 1 year and still a pup and I azm dreading it. I am so glad all is working out for you. Kindest regards, Nadine
What type of dog do you have? if its not a flat nosed breed then theres a number of companies who will fly them like Ryslip,Ladyhaye,Green Arrow(i think thts right),Par air ect.
There are 3 quarantine centers in Oz,Sydney,Melbourne, and Perth so just pick the nearest one to you and apply for a permit within 6 months of travelling but you must have an address in Oz before applying.I used a friends address in Sydney but if you do this,get the person to write to the quarantine station before your dog leaves the UK to explain that you are the dogs owner and to give your contact details too.
We had a bit of trouble getting info on our dog initially as they wouldnt accept we were the owners even though we sent him.
It was sorted out in a few hours but it was an unneccesary hastle.
Your dog will do 30 days in quarantine and should be fine,you should send it 2-3 weeks before you head out as we did,it means you can sell up/move in with friends/family for the last week or so and then get your dog back once your settled in Oz.
***IMPORTANT***
If your dog is due vaccinations DO NOT get the Leptospirosis part of the vaccination.
I had ours done in May and he failed the blood test because of it in December!
He had another test done later and was ok but its another stressfull thing when you've booked up and find that they wont take your dog until he passes.
You can also contact a company called dogtainers who will collect your dog from the quarantine station and deliver it to you if you live too far from the center.
Ours had problems on the journey so we didnt want to stress him by putting him on another flight so we drove him from Sydney to the Gold Coast.
Finally,dont worry about your dog either,my wife couldnt bear the thought of letting him go and it was a bit upsetting giving him away,i even tracked his flights from uk to Oz via Japan!lol.
But theres nothing better than picking him up at the other side and he was so happy to see us.There was a queue of people picking up their pets and they were all teary eyed to get them back.
You will also be given a mobile number to call the person in charge of your dog.Theres a website called telesavers.co.uk which is free and has codes to call Oz landlines for 1p/per min and oz mobiles for 10p/per min.
Our friends and families in the uk use these codes to call us and my parents got the phonebill in with no hidden costs on it,they were really pleased at that.Lol.
I hope thats enough info for you and let me know if theres anything else.
Good luck with the move.
I almost forgot,any reputable kennels will keep your dog for 1 night only before transferring him to the airport,anymore than that is not neccesary.
Mar 22nd 2007, 4:04 am
#27
Master of verbal pish©
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 22,198
Re: Living on the Gold Coast,our 5 week update.
hi brido, i nipped down to the shopr the other day and couldnt find it.
i have a price list for jules
i have a price list for jules
Mar 23rd 2007, 5:17 am
#28
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Oct 2002
Location: Bayside Brisbane
Posts: 321
Re: Living on the Gold Coast,our 5 week update.
Hi Brian & Julie,
It's great to hear everything is going so well for you! How can you not love the GC though.
All the very best for the future and good luck with the new business ....
Mark
It's great to hear everything is going so well for you! How can you not love the GC though.
All the very best for the future and good luck with the new business ....
Mark
Mar 23rd 2007, 8:30 am
#29
I've got time . . . . .
Joined: Apr 2006
Location: SE Queensland
Posts: 574
Re: Living on the Gold Coast,our 5 week update.
[QUOTE=brido;4544200]
Ours had problems on the journey so we didnt want to stress him by putting him on another flight so we drove him from Sydney to the Gold Coast.
[QUOTE]
How was the drive? I'd like to do this one day (or three days! )
Ours had problems on the journey so we didnt want to stress him by putting him on another flight so we drove him from Sydney to the Gold Coast.
[QUOTE]
How was the drive? I'd like to do this one day (or three days!
)
Mar 23rd 2007, 11:00 pm
#30
Work to Live!
Thread Starter
Joined: Aug 2006
Location: Gold Coast Australia
Posts: 1,006
Re: Living on the Gold Coast,our 5 week update.
Still not met solicitor yet,it seems Queenslanders are happy to put you off as long as possible.:curse:
We've been around almost all local shops for prices and sussing out distributors and buyers.Next week will be busy with decorating and buying up stock,im also going to apply for jobs from today, as Julie should be up and running soon.I'll have to do something with my spare time!
Hope you guys are all keeping well and our tables coming today so we will be able to entertain!