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Look at the time!
First year update here, second year here.
Third year here. http://imgur.com/1Auim.jpg Okay. Well, we're still very happy to be living in Australia is about the size of it. We live two hours south of Sydney in a seaside village which is pretty unremarkable save the fact that it's situated in the middle of a stunning beach seven miles long and at the mouth of a river that supplies about a tenth of all of Sydney's water. It's very nice. It suits us. There's no Waitrose, no Sainsburys and no Tescos (upper, middle and lower class - see what I did there), but we do have a small grocery shop and if you run out of milk or fishing bait in the evening the petrol station has a well stocked shop. For Friday big shops, we drive to a larger nearby town and stock up in Aldis and Woolworths. So yes, we live on the coast. We also enjoy living by the coast. Seems to me that lots of Brits move to Oz to live by the coast, despite the fact that they hate salt water and sand. We like salt water and sand and we like living near it. We are not bored of the beach, the surf or the whole general lifestyle. Despite suggestions that we'd rarely visit the beach after a few months, we're down there several times a week, whether it's to walk the dog, surf or just chill out. We moved to Oz not long after I'd begun to recover from a prolonged nervous breakdown for which I was prescribed some peppy pills. I came off all the medication the day we arrived and I have not gone back. Nor have I felt myself slipping back into lala-land. It's all good. I miss nothing but Wotsits. We've had a ****er of a year financially. Fortunately the bank was very understanding and when we came close to losing the house they gave us a three month break from the mortgage payments. That coupled with the government's stimulus payments enabled us to get back on our feet. The missus' web design business continues to keep the roof over our heads. I used to be a journalist but I tried a sea-change job (fixing PCs) which has had its ups and downs - mainly downs in the current economic climate - and I'm currently looking for fulltime employment again (watch this space!). Our son is settled at the nearby public school - he has some excellent mates and enjoys playing the piano and going to hip-hop classes. And that's about it really. We're happy. We're not going back. We accept the fact that we're living in another country by our own choice and that life doesn't come with any worry-free guarantees. It's Australia, not Narnia. |
Re: Look at the time!
Good post Hutch,
Love reading your positive post and the bit about not taking the happy pills since ya been here is excellent, done the same thing actually, I havent taken mine since I came here either, albeit Ive only been here 10 months but hey thats good that in 10 months I havent needed them either.:fingerscrossed: Were in Perth and loving it. Hope all continues to go well with you and your family :thumbsup: Lo. x (Yanchep) |
Re: Look at the time!
Originally Posted by Hutch
(Post 7734285)
First year update here, second year here.
Third year here. http://imgur.com/1Auim.jpg Okay. Well, we're still very happy to be living in Australia is about the size of it. We live two hours south of Sydney in a seaside village which is pretty unremarkable save the fact that it's situated in the middle of a stunning beach seven miles long and at the mouth of a river that supplies about a tenth of all of Sydney's water. It's very nice. It suits us. There's no Waitrose, no Sainsburys and no Tescos (upper, middle and lower class - see what I did there), but we do have a small grocery shop and if you run out of milk or fishing bait in the evening the petrol station has a well stocked shop. For Friday big shops, we drive to a larger nearby town and stock up in Aldis and Woolworths. So yes, we live on the coast. We also enjoy living by the coast. Seems to me that lots of Brits move to Oz to live by the coast, despite the fact that they hate salt water and sand. We like salt water and sand and we like living near it. We are not bored of the beach, the surf or the whole general lifestyle. Despite suggestions that we'd rarely visit the beach after a few months, we're down there several times a week, whether it's to walk the dog, surf or just chill out. We moved to Oz not long after I'd begun to recover from a prolonged nervous breakdown for which I was prescribed some peppy pills. I came off all the medication the day we arrived and I have not gone back. Nor have I felt myself slipping back into lala-land. It's all good. I miss nothing but Wotsits. We've had a ****er of a year financially. Fortunately the bank was very understanding and when we came close to losing the house they gave us a three month break from the mortgage payments. That coupled with the government's stimulus payments enabled us to get back on our feet. The missus' web design business continues to keep the roof over our heads. I used to be a journalist but I tried a sea-change job (fixing PCs) which has had its ups and downs - mainly downs in the current economic climate - and I'm currently looking for fulltime employment again (watch this space!). Our son is settled at the nearby public school - he has some excellent mates and enjoys playing the piano and going to hip-hop classes. And that's about it really. We're happy. We're not going back. We accept the fact that we're living in another country by our own choice and that life doesn't come with any worry-free guarantees. It's Australia, not Narnia. |
Re: Look at the time!
Originally Posted by Hutch
(Post 7734285)
First year update here, second year here.
Third year here. http://imgur.com/1Auim.jpg Okay. Well, we're still very happy to be living in Australia is about the size of it. We live two hours south of Sydney in a seaside village which is pretty unremarkable save the fact that it's situated in the middle of a stunning beach seven miles long and at the mouth of a river that supplies about a tenth of all of Sydney's water. It's very nice. It suits us. There's no Waitrose, no Sainsburys and no Tescos (upper, middle and lower class - see what I did there), but we do have a small grocery shop and if you run out of milk or fishing bait in the evening the petrol station has a well stocked shop. For Friday big shops, we drive to a larger nearby town and stock up in Aldis and Woolworths. So yes, we live on the coast. We also enjoy living by the coast. Seems to me that lots of Brits move to Oz to live by the coast, despite the fact that they hate salt water and sand. We like salt water and sand and we like living near it. We are not bored of the beach, the surf or the whole general lifestyle. Despite suggestions that we'd rarely visit the beach after a few months, we're down there several times a week, whether it's to walk the dog, surf or just chill out. We moved to Oz not long after I'd begun to recover from a prolonged nervous breakdown for which I was prescribed some peppy pills. I came off all the medication the day we arrived and I have not gone back. Nor have I felt myself slipping back into lala-land. It's all good. I miss nothing but Wotsits. We've had a ****er of a year financially. Fortunately the bank was very understanding and when we came close to losing the house they gave us a three month break from the mortgage payments. That coupled with the government's stimulus payments enabled us to get back on our feet. The missus' web design business continues to keep the roof over our heads. I used to be a journalist but I tried a sea-change job (fixing PCs) which has had its ups and downs - mainly downs in the current economic climate - and I'm currently looking for fulltime employment again (watch this space!). Our son is settled at the nearby public school - he has some excellent mates and enjoys playing the piano and going to hip-hop classes. And that's about it really. We're happy. We're not going back. We accept the fact that we're living in another country by our own choice and that life doesn't come with any worry-free guarantees. It's Australia, not Narnia. The best post I have ever read on here no bullxxxx to go with it either. Thanks for giving us the chance to read it. Carol |
Re: Look at the time!
Great update, I hope we're as happy 3 years down the line.
Does your return to the workforce mean a return to journalism? I hope so because your writings great. :) Heres to the next few years. :) Lindsay x oh and who needs wotsits anyway! |
Re: Look at the time!
Hello Hutch
Lovely post. Rational as always. Good to read. |
Re: Look at the time!
Good one H. Life goes on regardless of crap and walking the beach shows you how insignificant the crap is in the grand scheme of things.
Good luck with the job. |
Re: Look at the time!
Well done Hutch. Voice of reason as usual.
Glad to see that you're all still happy and settled and hope you find yourself a fulfilling job sometime soon. :) |
Re: Look at the time!
I guess its might be harder to get a journo job where you are, and you might not want it, but I reckon you'd have a few readers....hope next year is smoother financially for you - maybe you should take in new immigrants and teach em how its done :)
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Re: Look at the time!
Good on ya:thumbsup: More well written pearl's of wisdom from yourself...cant say I agree with your view's on OZ (think I may need happy pill's to stay here!:huh:) just wish I could see the light:unsure:
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Re: Look at the time!
Go back to journalism, I love reading your posts!:
Lou. |
Re: Look at the time!
Congratulations :)
Here's to the next 3 years! |
Re: Look at the time!
Great update Hutch!
Hope things pick up for you financially 'cos looks like you are sorted otherwise!:fingerscrossed::thumbsup: |
Re: Look at the time!
Nice post Hutch
:thumbup: |
Re: Look at the time!
Excellent post as always, you have so much talent you should write a book!
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Re: Look at the time!
It's Australia not Narnia, I love it. I may just have to change my '$5 for whining' statement below my avatar to this.
PS I think it is interesting to see the response rates to reasoned posts like these. The 'jeez this is shit, I am about throw myself off Craggy Point' ones seem to do better, so do the dolphin and butterfly posts. MMhhh. |
Re: Look at the time!
Originally Posted by busterboy
(Post 7747415)
It's Australia not Narnia, I love it. I may just have to change my '$5 for whining' statement below my avatar to this.
PS I think it is interesting to see the response rates to reasoned posts like these. The 'jeez this is shit, I am about throw myself off Craggy Point' ones seem to do better, so do the dolphin and butterfly posts. MMhhh. |
Re: Look at the time!
Jessssuss 3 years, wow.
Well done :thumbup: Glad to hear things are good and fingers crossed the financial bits all fall in to place soon. Take care. xxx |
Re: Look at the time!
Originally Posted by busterboy
(Post 7747415)
It's Australia not Narnia, I love it. I may just have to change my '$5 for whining' statement below my avatar to this.
PS I think it is interesting to see the response rates to reasoned posts like these. The 'jeez this is shit, I am about throw myself off Craggy Point' ones seem to do better, so do the dolphin and butterfly posts. MMhhh. Hutch, Haing read your boaty posts in the past I'm wondering whether there is potential for some kind of skippering angle on the work front? I am toying with the idea of working my way through the RYA motor cruiser or power boating courses in blighty with a view to making living of it out in Oz. I've done nothing other than dream (including zero research), wondered if you'd considered it is all. Great post and your journalistic past definitely shows through, entertaining as always, I don't always agree with you but you do get me thinking. good luck. |
Re: Look at the time!
Originally Posted by katsmajic
(Post 7751546)
Jessssuss 3 years, wow.
Well done :thumbup: Glad to hear things are good and fingers crossed the financial bits all fall in to place soon. Take care. xxx
Originally Posted by busterboy
(Post 7747415)
It's Australia not Narnia, I love it. I may just have to change my '$5 for whining' statement below my avatar to this.
PS I think it is interesting to see the response rates to reasoned posts like these. The 'jeez this is shit, I am about throw myself off Craggy Point' ones seem to do better, so do the dolphin and butterfly posts. MMhhh.
Originally Posted by rinkerdink
(Post 7752677)
Haing read your boaty posts in the past I'm wondering whether there is potential for some kind of skippering angle on the work front? I am toying with the idea of working my way through the RYA motor cruiser or power boating courses in blighty with a view to making living of it out in Oz. I've done nothing other than dream (including zero research), wondered if you'd considered it is all.
Great post and your journalistic past definitely shows through, entertaining as always, I don't always agree with you but you do get me thinking. good luck. The current economic envrionment doesn't help either. My brother's an area manager for PADI and his patch takes in Queensland, Papua New Guinea and the Northern Territories. He knows lots of skippers with dive boats and many of them have put the boats in dry dock until the upturn because they can't afford to keep them on the water. |
Re: Look at the time!
It's Australia, not Narnia.[/QUOTE]
Love this.:thumbsup: |
Re: Look at the time!
Wise words mate:thumbup:
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Re: Look at the time!
Love it H, if only you could get warm, flat beer eh?;)
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Re: Look at the time!
Howdy, all's good down here thanks, loving it - still leaping over hurdles but thats life - not missing ole glos, hear they have floods again this week, but cant believe how cold it gets down here - prob the only negative we can log!
martin is at bunnings and enjoying it - cant get toolmaker job as engineering/manufacturing is dire down here, so a job is a job... on the plus - were building a new home and life is good :D you all take care xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx |
Re: Look at the time!
Originally Posted by katsmajic
(Post 7798216)
Howdy, all's good down here thanks, loving it - still leaping over hurdles but thats life - not missing ole glos, hear they have floods again this week, but cant believe how cold it gets down here - prob the only negative we can log!
martin is at bunnings and enjoying it - cant get toolmaker job as engineering/manufacturing is dire down here, so a job is a job... on the plus - were building a new home and life is good :D you all take care xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx |
Re: Look at the time!
Sorry to hear you guys have hit some hard times this year mate, but I'm thrilled to see you're riding the wave and hopefully seeing some light at the end of the tunnel.
Best of luck with the job hunt :fingerscrossed: |
Re: Look at the time!
Originally Posted by herrchook
(Post 7802892)
Sorry to hear you guys have hit some hard times this year mate, but I'm thrilled to see you're riding the wave and hopefully seeing some light at the end of the tunnel.
Best of luck with the job hunt :fingerscrossed: |
Re: Look at the time!
Originally Posted by Hutch
(Post 7804261)
Cheers m'dear - new era has begun with my return to fulltime employment. Onwards and upwards. ;)
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Re: Look at the time!
Small update re my return to work. I'm working for Surf Life Saving Australia in Bondi, Sydney. It's my first time in fulltime employment in 15 years (!) and it has been something of a shock to the system, but I'm settling in now. The money's good and since SLSA are a charity I can take $16,050 of my salary in a tax free form every year and also claim for $5200 worth of sit-down meals. I get four weeks paid holiday, plus every public holiday (Queens b'day, labor day etc), plus 10 sick days, plus a couple over Xmas - basically works out at just under two months off!
There's some weekend work involved, which is fine (I knew about it when I went for the interview) for which I get a day in lieu rather than overtime. And I can work from home for the 3 days out of 5, which is brilliant. At the moment (for the first three weeks basically) I'm travelling up everyday while I get acquainted with the job. The commute takes two hours each way thanks mainly to the fact that I have to drive via the airport - the last 40km of my 140km journey take an hour. But it's cool - I have my iPod in the car and loads of good podcasts on it to while away the time. Come a week monday I'll only have to travel up on Wedsnesdays and Thursdays and I'll do that by train rather than car so it's not 'wasted' time. It's great working for an organisation I have a vested interest in (I'm an active patrollling surf life saver) and it certainly helped me to get accepted quickly as most of the people in the office are 'clubbies' too. Every lunch time I walk downstairs and swim some laps in the (accurately named) Bondi Icebergs pool. Then I buy a latte from the club cafe and eat a packed lunch watching the surfers do their thing at South Bondi. The people I'm working with are a sound bunch - there's a couple of other Brits in the office too. At some point I'm going to be starting doing training courses natioanlly and internationally. SLSA's software, merchandise, policies etc have been adopted all over the world (including by the RNLI) and we support that on-site. So there's trips to surf branches around Oz and international trips to Thailand etc. It's been a bit different not being at home all the time - my son misses our chats to and from school - but that can all resume in a week's time. So yes, I'm basically counting my blessings - we were a heartbeat away from bankruptcy (indeed we still are with regard the UK side of things) but there's money coming in now and we feel we've turned a corner. Life is indeed what you make it. |
Re: Look at the time!
Gee, it's a tough life, isn't it? Many people would give their right arm to have to commute to Bondi.
Anyway, glad to hear things are improving on the work front. :) |
Re: Look at the time!
Nice update :)
|
Re: Look at the time!
Originally Posted by NickyC
(Post 7866180)
Gee, it's a tough life, isn't it? Many people would give their right arm to have to commute to Bondi.
Anyway, glad to hear things are improving on the work front. :) |
Re: Look at the time!
Thats great news, well done on the new job.
Onwards and upwards xxxx |
Re: Look at the time!
Originally Posted by Hutch
(Post 7866804)
Have to admit, there's a couple of great moments in that commute. The first bit when I'm tooling down the Bondi bypass and you can see the harbour bridge and the city beyond. Then there's the bit through the airport and that moment where you drive right under the runway and there's usually these ****ing great jets taxiing across them in front of you. I used to commute into London and it beats the Hammersmith flyover, that's for ****ing sure. I shall remind myself of this next time I'm bumper to bumper on southern cross drive.
Carol |
Re: Look at the time!
Originally Posted by Hutch
(Post 7865790)
Small update re my return to work. I'm working for Surf Life Saving Australia in Bondi, Sydney. It's my first time in fulltime employment in 15 years (!) and it has been something of a shock to the system, but I'm settling in now. The money's good and since SLSA are a charity I can take $16,050 of my salary in a tax free form every year and also claim for $5200 worth of sit-down meals. I get four weeks paid holiday, plus every public holiday (Queens b'day, labor day etc), plus 10 sick days, plus a couple over Xmas - basically works out at just under two months off!
There's some weekend work involved, which is fine (I knew about it when I went for the interview) for which I get a day in lieu rather than overtime. And I can work from home for the 3 days out of 5, which is brilliant. At the moment (for the first three weeks basically) I'm travelling up everyday while I get acquainted with the job. The commute takes two hours each way thanks mainly to the fact that I have to drive via the airport - the last 40km of my 140km journey take an hour. But it's cool - I have my iPod in the car and loads of good podcasts on it to while away the time. Come a week monday I'll only have to travel up on Wedsnesdays and Thursdays and I'll do that by train rather than car so it's not 'wasted' time. It's great working for an organisation I have a vested interest in (I'm an active patrollling surf life saver) and it certainly helped me to get accepted quickly as most of the people in the office are 'clubbies' too. Every lunch time I walk downstairs and swim some laps in the (accurately named) Bondi Icebergs pool. Then I buy a latte from the club cafe and eat a packed lunch watching the surfers do their thing at South Bondi. The people I'm working with are a sound bunch - there's a couple of other Brits in the office too. At some point I'm going to be starting doing training courses natioanlly and internationally. SLSA's software, merchandise, policies etc have been adopted all over the world (including by the RNLI) and we support that on-site. So there's trips to surf branches around Oz and international trips to Thailand etc. It's been a bit different not being at home all the time - my son misses our chats to and from school - but that can all resume in a week's time. So yes, I'm basically counting my blessings - we were a heartbeat away from bankruptcy (indeed we still are with regard the UK side of things) but there's money coming in now and we feel we've turned a corner. Life is indeed what you make it. Good news on how the job is panning out. Can I ask will you defo take the 10 days sick or only when you actually are sick. I never understood the sick entitlement when my staff told me they were taking a sick day.....my questions on if there were sick and what was wrong went down "well". |
Re: Look at the time!
Originally Posted by Hutch
(Post 7865790)
Small update re my return to work. I'm working for Surf Life Saving Australia in Bondi, Sydney. It's my first time in fulltime employment in 15 years (!) and it has been something of a shock to the system, but I'm settling in now. The money's good and since SLSA are a charity I can take $16,050 of my salary in a tax free form every year and also claim for $5200 worth of sit-down meals. I get four weeks paid holiday, plus every public holiday (Queens b'day, labor day etc), plus 10 sick days, plus a couple over Xmas - basically works out at just under two months off!
There's some weekend work involved, which is fine (I knew about it when I went for the interview) for which I get a day in lieu rather than overtime. And I can work from home for the 3 days out of 5, which is brilliant. At the moment (for the first three weeks basically) I'm travelling up everyday while I get acquainted with the job. The commute takes two hours each way thanks mainly to the fact that I have to drive via the airport - the last 40km of my 140km journey take an hour. But it's cool - I have my iPod in the car and loads of good podcasts on it to while away the time. Come a week monday I'll only have to travel up on Wedsnesdays and Thursdays and I'll do that by train rather than car so it's not 'wasted' time. It's great working for an organisation I have a vested interest in (I'm an active patrollling surf life saver) and it certainly helped me to get accepted quickly as most of the people in the office are 'clubbies' too. Every lunch time I walk downstairs and swim some laps in the (accurately named) Bondi Icebergs pool. Then I buy a latte from the club cafe and eat a packed lunch watching the surfers do their thing at South Bondi. The people I'm working with are a sound bunch - there's a couple of other Brits in the office too. At some point I'm going to be starting doing training courses natioanlly and internationally. SLSA's software, merchandise, policies etc have been adopted all over the world (including by the RNLI) and we support that on-site. So there's trips to surf branches around Oz and international trips to Thailand etc. It's been a bit different not being at home all the time - my son misses our chats to and from school - but that can all resume in a week's time. So yes, I'm basically counting my blessings - we were a heartbeat away from bankruptcy (indeed we still are with regard the UK side of things) but there's money coming in now and we feel we've turned a corner. Life is indeed what you make it. |
Re: Look at the time!
Originally Posted by Olibeneli
(Post 7871985)
Good news on how the job is panning out. Can I ask will you defo take the 10 days sick or only when you actually are sick. I never understood the sick entitlement when my staff told me they were taking a sick day.....my questions on if there were sick and what was wrong went down "well".
|
Re: Look at the time!
Originally Posted by northernbird
(Post 7872170)
My husband takes his sick whether he is sick or not. His salary is calculated in such a way that he actually pays for his sick days so he sure as hell is going to take them.
I am totally intrigued - please explain how this works. How can a salary be calculated that takes in to account someone taking or not taking sick days. I have a professional interest in understanding employment costs and absence and performance of staff - yes very dull but you seem to know a bit. |
Re: Look at the time!
Originally Posted by northernbird
(Post 7872170)
My husband takes his sick whether he is sick or not. His salary is calculated in such a way that he actually pays for his sick days so he sure as hell is going to take them.
|
Re: Look at the time!
Originally Posted by Hutch
(Post 7876494)
Yea I'll be taking them too. Like you say, it's factored into your salary. When I mentioned it in the office, how I found it weird that they actually pencilled in 10 sick days per employee, they all looked at me strangely and looked very puzzled when I said there was no such arrangement in any job I held while working in the UK.
New job sounds great:thumbsup: Cooler |
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