One Year On.......
Feb 20th 2007, 11:08 pm
#31
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Nov 2003
Location: Noosa Heads
Posts: 3,507
Re: 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 21st 2007, 1:00 am
#32
Can't wait!
Joined: Aug 2005
Location: Sydney
Posts: 556
Re: 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
We are moving to sydney soon, and I found your post quite thought provoking!
Where were you living in Sydney?
Also if you don't mind me asking what does your OH do as a career? Also what do you do?
I am looking and researching areas in Sydney and Job sites for roles that I am interested in, but am slightly panicking now to be honest.
I think its just the nerves of moving and starting up again!
Anyway I hope you are still loving it in Brisbane. Also well done its not easy moving around with kids.
I have 2 and am thinking about how this massive move is going to effect them.
Hope they will adapt like your 2 sons have
Feb 21st 2007, 6:55 am
#33
Account Closed
Thread Starter
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 881
Re: One Year On.......
Hi L,J
We are moving to sydney soon, and I found your post quite thought provoking!
Where were you living in Sydney?
Also if you don't mind me asking what does your OH do as a career? Also what do you do?
I am looking and researching areas in Sydney and Job sites for roles that I am interested in, but am slightly panicking now to be honest.
I think its just the nerves of moving and starting up again!
Anyway I hope you are still loving it in Brisbane. Also well done its not easy moving around with kids.
I have 2 and am thinking about how this massive move is going to effect them.
Hope they will adapt like your 2 sons have
We are moving to sydney soon, and I found your post quite thought provoking!
Where were you living in Sydney?
Also if you don't mind me asking what does your OH do as a career? Also what do you do?
I am looking and researching areas in Sydney and Job sites for roles that I am interested in, but am slightly panicking now to be honest.
I think its just the nerves of moving and starting up again!
Anyway I hope you are still loving it in Brisbane. Also well done its not easy moving around with kids.
I have 2 and am thinking about how this massive move is going to effect them.
Hope they will adapt like your 2 sons have
please don't think that i was knocking Sydney...we loved it...living on the Northern Beaches...it was beautiful.
Unfortunately, my husbands wage (he's a skilled Sheet Metal Worker.....on the skills shortage list) didn't match the living costs of such a beautiful place.
Many who come to Sydney have a greater income and are therefore able to have a wonderful lifestyle.
Me.....I'm a Teacher's Aide - but was unable to find work that fitted round my kids (I have a daughter too!) so I took an evening job at Kmart.
Glad you found my post thought provoking. That's the purpose of these updates..i know I loved reading them when I was in the Uk.
Have a great day, Lj
Feb 23rd 2007, 7:50 pm
#34
Lisa
Joined: Jan 2007
Location: Nottingham-Sydney(we're here baby)
Posts: 780
Re: One Year On.......
I loved your post though its good that you have all finally settled.
Lisa
xxxx
Feb 24th 2007, 12:54 am
#35
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Aug 2004
Location: Rockingham, Perth
Posts: 5,170
Re: One Year On.......
Ell jay loved Sydney, she was naffed to leave it (bless her). It is very expensive there though. Having said that so is bloody Perth lol.
Not as expensive as the UK though. Just nerves for you guys. But as Elljay and I has proved if you don't like it or find it too hard or whatever then you can always move and the currency says the same lol
Good luck guys
hugs Lace xx
Not as expensive as the UK though. Just nerves for you guys. But as Elljay and I has proved if you don't like it or find it too hard or whatever then you can always move and the currency says the same lol
Good luck guys
hugs Lace xx
Feb 24th 2007, 2:32 am
#36
Banned
Joined: Jun 2004
Location: Manchester-Sydney August 07 and maybe Brisbane or Melbourne 08
Posts: 1,614
Re: One Year On.......
Ell jay loved Sydney, she was naffed to leave it (bless her). It is very expensive there though. Having said that so is bloody Perth lol.
Not as expensive as the UK though. Just nerves for you guys. But as Elljay and I has proved if you don't like it or find it too hard or whatever then you can always move and the currency says the same lol
Good luck guys
hugs Lace xx
Not as expensive as the UK though. Just nerves for you guys. But as Elljay and I has proved if you don't like it or find it too hard or whatever then you can always move and the currency says the same lol
Good luck guys
hugs Lace xx
You never know but we are preapared to look with our own eyes rather than read others accounts of things and get scared. I must admit i do read these for encouragement now and again andf the negativity sometimes makes me question my decision.
Then i realise that no one, and i mean, no one is like me.
I cant wait now.
let me at em
al
Feb 25th 2007, 10:09 am
#37
Suncream, I need suncream
Joined: Jan 2006
Location: Sydney
Posts: 1,316
Feb 25th 2007, 2:04 pm
#38
Banned
Joined: Jun 2004
Location: Manchester-Sydney August 07 and maybe Brisbane or Melbourne 08
Posts: 1,614
Re: One Year On.......
LOL
I have the motivation to make it work if i want it to, or we can pick the easy option of Brissie.
I thought after you met me that it would be the other way round!!
yes, i generally am like that, just generally with less beer inside me most of the time.
In my defence, it was a world cup and expats meet that day though so not your average day!
Youll be sick of the sight of me after 6 months lol.
My mates are having a leaving do to make sure im going
al
Feb 26th 2007, 7:51 am
#39
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Jun 2005
Location: Morphett Vale...for now
Posts: 491
Re: One Year On.......
Aw LJ, only just seen this thread, glad everything seems to be working out for you and your lovely family, hope your second year is all highs and no lows
See you soon Lol, Keith n Kidz xx
See you soon Lol, Keith n Kidz xx
Feb 26th 2007, 6:46 pm
#40
Account Closed
Thread Starter
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 881
Re: One Year On.......
Mar 6th 2007, 9:42 am
#41
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Apr 2005
Location: Cremorne, Sydney
Posts: 706
Re: One Year On.......
Hey Hun
Oh my god, your in brissie now. Sorry you have had some lows! Me and the hubby have too. I finaly succombed to the dreaded home sickness, thought about returning home etc, still do sometimes. I agree Sydney is hard, you can feel like your at the bottom of the pile income wise and buying a house is near impossible unless you came with lots of equity.
Anyhow me and hubby have decided to enjoy it for now and maybe buy a unit end of the year in Dee Why or something.
We'll see how it goes.
Hope everything works out well for you chick, keep smiling
Oh my god, your in brissie now. Sorry you have had some lows! Me and the hubby have too. I finaly succombed to the dreaded home sickness, thought about returning home etc, still do sometimes. I agree Sydney is hard, you can feel like your at the bottom of the pile income wise and buying a house is near impossible unless you came with lots of equity.
Anyhow me and hubby have decided to enjoy it for now and maybe buy a unit end of the year in Dee Why or something.
We'll see how it goes.
Hope everything works out well for you chick, keep smiling
Mar 6th 2007, 9:48 am
#42
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 4,918
Re: 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
Mar 8th 2007, 8:22 pm
#43
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Sep 2005
Location: Sunny Brisbane
Posts: 421
Re: One Year On.......
great update Elljay
Glad you've finally settled, sounds like its been a very trying 12 months.
We've been here just over a year, bought our house in Sept & are still "living the dream"
Glad you've finally settled, sounds like its been a very trying 12 months.
We've been here just over a year, bought our house in Sept & are still "living the dream"
Mar 12th 2007, 1:37 am
#45
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Aug 2004
Location: Rockingham, Perth
Posts: 5,170
Re: One Year On.......
Hope your much closer now Keith&Lol
nice to see you on here too woogle hope your having the best time in QLD
hugs Lace xxxx
nice to see you on here too woogle hope your having the best time in QLD
hugs Lace xxxx