One Year On.......
Feb 9th 2007, 8:26 pm
#1
Account Closed
Thread Starter
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 881
One Year On.......
Well we made it to the one year mark – but to say it’s been a rollercoaster ride is so very true! Here are some of the “Highs” and “Lows”
HIGH - seeing the Sydney Opera House & the Harbour Bridge for the first time…and thinking “Wow – we’re in Sydney!”
LOW – cooking dinner, then seeing a cockroach scurry across the worktop
LOW – seeing my children all excited for their first swimming carnival…………then having to console them when they came last in every race. (Aussies living by the ocean learn to swim at birth!)
HIGH – walking along the beach (Northern Beaches) after school most days
LOW – applying for several jobs I thought I was capable of ……then not hearing anything
HIGH – picnics on the beach, bushwalking
LOW – only being able to afford a rental that was upstairs (20 wooden steps– to be exact) no AC or flyscreen on the door. One door in – one door out. Teenagers living downstairs that enjoyed late night parties!
HIGH – making some great friends in Sydney – Aussie, German, NZ, Brits – even a family of expats* from my hometown in Manchester!
HIGH – ordering Robbie Williams tickets for December in Sydney
LOW – turning up at my first interview for Night fill at Kmart…….to be told “ The interview is tomorrow”…(when I knew it was TODAY)
HIGH – seeing my children make some great friends
LOW – going out on my first “Girl’s Nite Out” since arriving in Oz…….only to return home at 8pm as I didn’t feel confident enough to be out. (I was a very confident person in the UK)
LOW - realising that people in the Uk don't always keep in touch!
HIGH – seeing my children having fun swimming in the many rockpools by the ocean
LOW – seeing my OH happy at work for the first time in ages………………but realising that the wages are not enough for a Northern Beaches lifestyle.
LOW - cockroaches
LOW – nits (that you don’t need a magnifying glass to see!), worms, nosebleeds, impetigo, verrucas (apparently all due to change in weather!)
LOW – more cockroaches!
LOW – getting letters from school requiring money for “this and that” and realising we don’t have any!
LOW – cockroaches!
LOW – deciding we just can’t afford to live in Sydney – so do we cut our losses and return to UK…or try somewhere else?
HIGH – OH finds a job in Brisbane, and a lovely rental – so we decide to give it a go!
LOW – realising I might have to miss the Robbie concert in Sydney
HIGH – getting tickets for the Robbie concert in BRISBANE!
LOW – saying Goodbye to all the great friends I’d made in Sydney
LOW – watching my kids saying goodbye to all their friends
LOW – arriving in Brisbane…..and having no friends (apart from the ones from our hometown (see above*) who relocated in Brisbane just before us!
LOW – attempting to make friends in the playground – only to be “snubbed”
HIGH – not seeing any cockroaches in the rental – Hoorah!
LOW – seeing lots of ANTS…Boo!
HIGH – turning to BritishExpats for help…and receiving an offer to someones house for a BBQ – Thank-you, you were a lifesaver
HIGH – The Robbie Williams concert
LOW – my children saying they’ve got no friends…..why did they have to leave UK?….why did they have to leave Sydney? (Oh the guilt!)
HIGH – parents arriving UK for Christmas, bearing gifts….and lots of love
LOW – saying goodbye at the airport
HIGH – in-laws arriving 2 days later
LOW – missing the ocean on our doorstep
HIGH – seeing the childrens faces of delight at the Theme Parks
HIGH – watching the children enjoy a “Dolphin Experience” at Sea World
HIGH – all enjoying the water slides at Wet n Wild
HIGH – enjoying a relaxing Sunday at South Bank
HIGH – OH “enjoying” (I use the term loosely) his new job
LOW – consoling my son…when he said that all the kids in the avenue have fell out with him because “they don’t play with people who still believe in Santa”
LOW – hearing my son on the phone to his Grandma in the UK….saying he’d had the worst Christmas ever….because of the above (he asked us to tell him “the truth”)
HIGH - seeing my children playing out in the avenue with all their new friends
HIGH - realising that my friends from Sydney can still be my friends....just by fone or e mail
HIGH – getting a job….which I love….with all school holidays off (Yipee)
HIGH – getting letters from school for money….and it’s all so much cheaper than when in Sydney
HIGH – having a romantic meal overlooking the Brisbane river, followed by the Scissor Sisters concert in the open air…….and finally realising…..Life is Great!
And just yesterday…………….
HIGH – eldest son coming home…saying he’s been elected as “Class Captain” (not bad for 8 weeks at the school) …………..and saying he came 3rd in the Swimming Carnival
HIGH – other son coming home ………..and saying he came 3rd in one race….
and FIRST in another…..at the Swimming Carnival
So that’s it………one year in a nutshell. Hope you enjoyed this brief snapshot.
Now …off to wet n Wild to have some fun.
Have a great weekend everyone,
L-j
HIGH - seeing the Sydney Opera House & the Harbour Bridge for the first time…and thinking “Wow – we’re in Sydney!”
LOW – cooking dinner, then seeing a cockroach scurry across the worktop
LOW – seeing my children all excited for their first swimming carnival…………then having to console them when they came last in every race. (Aussies living by the ocean learn to swim at birth!)
HIGH – walking along the beach (Northern Beaches) after school most days
LOW – applying for several jobs I thought I was capable of ……then not hearing anything
HIGH – picnics on the beach, bushwalking
LOW – only being able to afford a rental that was upstairs (20 wooden steps– to be exact) no AC or flyscreen on the door. One door in – one door out. Teenagers living downstairs that enjoyed late night parties!
HIGH – making some great friends in Sydney – Aussie, German, NZ, Brits – even a family of expats* from my hometown in Manchester!
HIGH – ordering Robbie Williams tickets for December in Sydney
LOW – turning up at my first interview for Night fill at Kmart…….to be told “ The interview is tomorrow”…(when I knew it was TODAY)
HIGH – seeing my children make some great friends
LOW – going out on my first “Girl’s Nite Out” since arriving in Oz…….only to return home at 8pm as I didn’t feel confident enough to be out. (I was a very confident person in the UK)
LOW - realising that people in the Uk don't always keep in touch!
HIGH – seeing my children having fun swimming in the many rockpools by the ocean
LOW – seeing my OH happy at work for the first time in ages………………but realising that the wages are not enough for a Northern Beaches lifestyle.
LOW - cockroaches
LOW – nits (that you don’t need a magnifying glass to see!), worms, nosebleeds, impetigo, verrucas (apparently all due to change in weather!)
LOW – more cockroaches!
LOW – getting letters from school requiring money for “this and that” and realising we don’t have any!
LOW – cockroaches!
LOW – deciding we just can’t afford to live in Sydney – so do we cut our losses and return to UK…or try somewhere else?
HIGH – OH finds a job in Brisbane, and a lovely rental – so we decide to give it a go!
LOW – realising I might have to miss the Robbie concert in Sydney
HIGH – getting tickets for the Robbie concert in BRISBANE!
LOW – saying Goodbye to all the great friends I’d made in Sydney
LOW – watching my kids saying goodbye to all their friends
LOW – arriving in Brisbane…..and having no friends (apart from the ones from our hometown (see above*) who relocated in Brisbane just before us!
LOW – attempting to make friends in the playground – only to be “snubbed”
HIGH – not seeing any cockroaches in the rental – Hoorah!
LOW – seeing lots of ANTS…Boo!
HIGH – turning to BritishExpats for help…and receiving an offer to someones house for a BBQ – Thank-you, you were a lifesaver
HIGH – The Robbie Williams concert
LOW – my children saying they’ve got no friends…..why did they have to leave UK?….why did they have to leave Sydney? (Oh the guilt!)
HIGH – parents arriving UK for Christmas, bearing gifts….and lots of love
LOW – saying goodbye at the airport
HIGH – in-laws arriving 2 days later
LOW – missing the ocean on our doorstep
HIGH – seeing the childrens faces of delight at the Theme Parks
HIGH – watching the children enjoy a “Dolphin Experience” at Sea World
HIGH – all enjoying the water slides at Wet n Wild
HIGH – enjoying a relaxing Sunday at South Bank
HIGH – OH “enjoying” (I use the term loosely) his new job
LOW – consoling my son…when he said that all the kids in the avenue have fell out with him because “they don’t play with people who still believe in Santa”
LOW – hearing my son on the phone to his Grandma in the UK….saying he’d had the worst Christmas ever….because of the above (he asked us to tell him “the truth”)
HIGH - seeing my children playing out in the avenue with all their new friends
HIGH - realising that my friends from Sydney can still be my friends....just by fone or e mail
HIGH – getting a job….which I love….with all school holidays off (Yipee)
HIGH – getting letters from school for money….and it’s all so much cheaper than when in Sydney
HIGH – having a romantic meal overlooking the Brisbane river, followed by the Scissor Sisters concert in the open air…….and finally realising…..Life is Great!
And just yesterday…………….
HIGH – eldest son coming home…saying he’s been elected as “Class Captain” (not bad for 8 weeks at the school) …………..and saying he came 3rd in the Swimming Carnival
HIGH – other son coming home ………..and saying he came 3rd in one race….
and FIRST in another…..at the Swimming Carnival
So that’s it………one year in a nutshell. Hope you enjoyed this brief snapshot.
Now …off to wet n Wild to have some fun.
Have a great weekend everyone,
L-j
Feb 9th 2007, 9:02 pm
#2
Joined: Sep 2005
Location: Mount Tamborine
Posts: 17,426
Re: One Year On.......
That made me cry!
So pleased you ended on some highs
So pleased you ended on some highs
Feb 9th 2007, 9:33 pm
#3
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Nov 2006
Location: From Scotland to Brisbane
Posts: 1,604
Re: One Year On.......
Hi me too. So glad Brisbane has made a difference to you and your family and life is full of 'high's'. May year two be all you hoped for. 
Donna & Neil
Donna & Neil
Feb 10th 2007, 9:13 am
#4
Living the Dream!
Joined: Sep 2005
Location: Cleveland
Posts: 6,515
Re: One Year On.......
Fantastic post lindsay!
hope to be joining you at wet n wild soon, we didn't go there when we were in Bris. We ran out of time. hope that kettle is still on the boil for me?
hope to be joining you at wet n wild soon, we didn't go there when we were in Bris. We ran out of time. hope that kettle is still on the boil for me?
Feb 10th 2007, 9:40 am
#5
Account Closed
Thread Starter
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 881
Re: One Year On.......
Feb 10th 2007, 9:44 am
#6
Account Closed
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 2,199
Re: One Year On.......
Good post!!! seems like you are enjoying yourselves.
Feb 10th 2007, 11:05 am
#7
Birds of a feather . . .
Joined: Oct 2004
Location: In my own home! Northern Beaches, Sydney
Posts: 1,788
Re: One Year On.......
Good one! See, it just gets better and better and that is down to attitude more than anything.
I am so pleased for you! Keep doing what you're doing.
Love to all.
B x
I am so pleased for you! Keep doing what you're doing.
Love to all.
B x
Feb 10th 2007, 11:41 am
#8
member
Joined: Mar 2006
Location: Newport,Redcliffe,Qld
Posts: 321
Re: One Year On.......
Hi,
What a great post !It made me laugh and nearly cry!
Its great you decided to give it a go in Brisbane and i am so pleased you have found it was a good move.
Good luck in all you do
Andy
What a great post !It made me laugh and nearly cry!
Its great you decided to give it a go in Brisbane and i am so pleased you have found it was a good move.
Good luck in all you do
Andy
Feb 10th 2007, 1:41 pm
#9
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Feb 2005
Location: Mountain Creek,Sunshine Coast
Posts: 3,596
Re: One Year On.......
Gosh Mrs that has certainly gone quick LJ!!!! loved the comparison with the kids swimming. x
Feb 10th 2007, 4:38 pm
#10
Just Joined
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 26
Re: One Year On.......
hi linzi
fab post everything in a nut shell, we will be there in 2 weeks eek!!!! but i'll be ok cos i'm counting on you to listen to me wingeing and crying even if you don't want too!!!!!
glad the job is fab will have to meet for lunch seeing as you are over the road, i am inthe hospital for 2 weeks and then out in community from then on, so will have to meet up
take care see you soon mel x
fab post everything in a nut shell, we will be there in 2 weeks eek!!!! but i'll be ok cos i'm counting on you to listen to me wingeing and crying even if you don't want too!!!!!
glad the job is fab will have to meet for lunch seeing as you are over the road, i am inthe hospital for 2 weeks and then out in community from then on, so will have to meet up
take care see you soon mel x
Feb 10th 2007, 8:35 pm
#11
BuggerMan
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 149
Re: One Year On.......
Great post
I identified with many of your high and lows. Good luck with your life in Brisbane.
It is a great place
I identified with many of your high and lows. Good luck with your life in Brisbane.
It is a great place
Feb 10th 2007, 11:41 pm
#12
Ok this isn't so bad
Joined: Aug 2005
Location: Dundee (Scotland) now Bayside Brisbane
Posts: 4,824
Re: One Year On.......
Wow. Here's to you r next year of highs and lows (they make the highs soooo much sweeter)
Cheers
Ginny
Cheers
Ginny
Feb 11th 2007, 9:27 am
#13
Banned
Joined: Feb 2007
Location: London Suburbs
Posts: 71
Re: One Year On.......
Fascinating Reading....just an interested Londoner but Thanks..hope it works out well for you all!
Feb 11th 2007, 9:51 am
#14
Never going back
Joined: Mar 2005
Location: New South Wales!!!!!!!
Posts: 3,656
Re: One Year On.......
hi missus!!! yaaayyy, great to hear......cant believe it has been a year already. sooooo pleased you have now settled honey, i was worried about you. whats this about a job with school holidays off?? please tell me more....... i love updates, especially ones that tell all, warts an all. i know you have struggled. but look from where you have come from,,,,,,alkrington, deciding one day in the car,,,,,,,,,,i want us to go to oz..............xx
Feb 12th 2007, 5:59 pm
#15
Former Resident Visa
Joined: Nov 2005
Location: Mornington Peninsula
Posts: 2,887
Re: One Year On.......
You are certainly one of lifes survivors and I rekon you are finally winning!
Good luck with the future and thanks for your honest post.
Cheers,
J x
Good luck with the future and thanks for your honest post.
Cheers,
J x