One of the nice things of living in Oz

Enjoyed reading your memoires Carl.

I remember going into the Lounge in those days but you were always in there too.

This new life you've carved out is not a fluke you know.....you've made it what it is mate and long may it last

Is that something you could go around bragging about?

Great post though. Good luck with the business.

As it goes Bix, I agree with you....I take full responsibility for any screw ups I make, so why not take responsibility when things go right?

Hey Folks
Can you advise me what the best way is to secure s house in melbourne if just arriving with children. What did most of you (without contacts there) do, im sure it wasnt staying in a hostel
Thanks

Book into a short term before you fly out and find a rental in the first week or 2. Try posting a thread about this in the Aus Lifestyle forum and you'll get loads of links from helpful people.

Stayed initial 2 nights in hotel
Then 10 or so nights in short term apartment
Found rental in first 5 days but kept STP so we could unpack while daughter was in day care nursery. Getting her in to nursery was a godsend - allowed us to rush around and get other things done while she tired herself out with new friends.
We officially then moved in on a Saturday morning with her (3 year old) room unpacked with all her toys on her bed and surround. After 8 weeks travelling she was more than happy to sit in her bed and chat with all her dolls and teddies.

How do i access lifestyke forum

Just go to forum index and click on "Australia" rather than "The update forum".

No But I have

My God, has whole year passed since I wrote that

Well, not a lot has changed....the business has grown a little, my specs have got a little rosier still, and....I'm a citizen

On a serious note, the issue on home ownership is something that has come up this year. But we're happy where we live, and don't have kids to think about so we're staying in rental until we may be able to afford to buy in this area. The deal is, would owning a house make us happier, and the answer is only if it was near to here, and that is out of our price range at the moment.

However, couldn't be happier

You know what ?
I believe

Bix, as you know, happiness is a state of mind, and my mind is in nearly as big a state as yours

Now aint that the truth
But you should be worried

Do you dream about chess?.....when you do you'll be in as big a state as me