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-   The Update Forum (https://britishexpats.com/forum/update-forum-107/)
-   -   One Year On - and still lovin' it! (https://britishexpats.com/forum/update-forum-107/one-year-still-lovin-417020/)

OzWannabee Jan 5th 2007 10:37 am

One Year On - and still lovin' it!
 
Hi Everyone

Just thought I would update as we have now been here a year!! We left on NY Eve and arrived on 2nd Jan. I found that a very emotional time to leave but the fares were cheap and there was 6 of us!!

Hubby loved it as soon as he stepped off the plane and nothing has changed! He has never felt homesick once, he doesn't miss anything about the UK at all. Once he was really pushed for an answer and after a long thought he said the Chinese food wasn't as good as the UK!!! He has started his own gardening business and luckily always seems to have work. Nobody has said they wouldn't use him because he's British - in fact one old lady once paid him in advance and then said she wouldn't have done that if he'd been an Aussie - and yes she was an Aussie!!! He can count on one hand the number of days he has gone without a beer and he definately loves that part of it!

I was expecting to be very homesick and miss my friends but I waited and waited for it to kick in and it never really has. I have the odd day when all our friends have gone on a night out but I speak to them regularly on the phone and a lot on MSN!! I work 3 days a week (which I love) as a Home Loan Consultant for a bank and received fantastic training as I had never done it before. It feels very weird advising Aussie's on home loans but again I have only had one 'Get back the UK' comment and that was only after the bank had refused his application. I was also worried about the heat in the summer but it is not that bad and you do get used to the flies and the mozzies however the cockroaches are taking a little longer!!

The children love it out here and it has been great watching their confidence grow and having a more outdoor life. Even our eldest, who was 15 when we came and only agreed to do 2 years if we let her go back to the UK to go to Uni, is looking at Uni's in Brisbane now so I'm keeping my fingers crossed!! They have all made friends and settled well. I'm especially pleased for my son who has Aspergers. They still want to go back to the UK but now they just say for a holiday!

We have made some good friends - mainly from this site but a few Aussies and some Kiwi's. It definately helps you settle when you have friends you can talk to who are in the same boat. I read a lot of posts on this site about people who hate it and people who love it and I have no idea why some settle and some don't but we definately didn't come over here expecting anything other than an adventure and if they took our visa's off us tomorrow I would do it all again because it has been an amazing one!

To everyone waiting for their visas, hang on in there 'cos I think its worth the wait!!

Jo

kiwi_child Jan 5th 2007 10:43 am

Re: One Year On - and still lovin' it!
 

Originally Posted by OzWannabee (Post 4251245)
Hi Everyone

Just thought I would update as we have now been here a year!! We left on NY Eve and arrived on 2nd Jan. I found that a very emotional time to leave but the fares were cheap and there was 6 of us!!

Hubby loved it as soon as he stepped off the plane and nothing has changed! He has never felt homesick once, he doesn't miss anything about the UK at all. Once he was really pushed for an answer and after a long thought he said the Chinese food wasn't as good as the UK!!! He has started his own gardening business and luckily always seems to have work. Nobody has said they wouldn't use him because he's British - in fact one old lady once paid him in advance and then said she wouldn't have done that if he'd been an Aussie - and yes she was an Aussie!!! He can count on one hand the number of days he has gone without a beer and he definately loves that part of it!

I was expecting to be very homesick and miss my friends but I waited and waited for it to kick in and it never really has. I have the odd day when all our friends have gone on a night out but I speak to them regularly on the phone and a lot on MSN!! I work 3 days a week (which I love) as a Home Loan Consultant for a bank and received fantastic training as I had never done it before. It feels very weird advising Aussie's on home loans but again I have only had one 'Get back the UK' comment and that was only after the bank had refused his application. I was also worried about the heat in the summer but it is not that bad and you do get used to the flies and the mozzies however the cockroaches are taking a little longer!!

The children love it out here and it has been great watching their confidence grow and having a more outdoor life. Even our eldest, who was 15 when we came and only agreed to do 2 years if we let her go back to the UK to go to Uni, is looking at Uni's in Brisbane now so I'm keeping my fingers crossed!! They have all made friends and settled well. I'm especially pleased for my son who has Aspergers. They still want to go back to the UK but now they just say for a holiday!

We have made some good friends - mainly from this site but a few Aussies and some Kiwi's. It definately helps you settle when you have friends you can talk to who are in the same boat. I read a lot of posts on this site about people who hate it and people who love it and I have no idea why some settle and some don't but we definately didn't come over here expecting anything other than an adventure and if they took our visa's off us tomorrow I would do it all again because it has been an amazing one!

To everyone waiting for their visas, hang on in there 'cos I think its worth the wait!!

Jo

Am glad it seems to be working out for you all Jo, but swear to God, I dunno how you cope with the humidity in that part of OZ lol

Donna&Neil Jan 5th 2007 10:45 am

Re: One Year On - and still lovin' it!
 
Hi Jo a great read. Many thanks for taking the time. It is so good for us 'still in the uk' to hear how things have faired for you guys who have already taken the leap. We are patiently awaiting word re our visa but fingers crossed hopefully we will be in Brisbane by the middle of the year. :)

Many thanks again for sharing. Best wishes :)

Donna & Neil

OzWannabee Jan 5th 2007 10:47 am

Re: One Year On - and still lovin' it!
 

Originally Posted by kiwi_child (Post 4251256)
Am glad it seems to be working out for you all Jo, but swear to God, I dunno how you cope with the humidity in that part of OZ lol

I love it!! I had a fleece and a big blanket over me on NY Eve outside - it was a bit chilly!!

mindblower Jan 5th 2007 11:46 am

Re: One Year On - and still lovin' it!
 

Originally Posted by OzWannabee (Post 4251245)
Hi Everyone

Jo

Really pleased for ya, glad your loving it.

Dave

Rosie Cheeks Jan 5th 2007 12:06 pm

Re: One Year On - and still lovin' it!
 

Originally Posted by OzWannabee (Post 4251245)
Hi Everyone

Just thought I would update as we have now been here a year!! We left on NY Eve and arrived on 2nd Jan. I found that a very emotional time to leave but the fares were cheap and there was 6 of us!!

Hubby loved it as soon as he stepped off the plane and nothing has changed! He has never felt homesick once, he doesn't miss anything about the UK at all. Once he was really pushed for an answer and after a long thought he said the Chinese food wasn't as good as the UK!!! He has started his own gardening business and luckily always seems to have work. Nobody has said they wouldn't use him because he's British - in fact one old lady once paid him in advance and then said she wouldn't have done that if he'd been an Aussie - and yes she was an Aussie!!! He can count on one hand the number of days he has gone without a beer and he definately loves that part of it!

I was expecting to be very homesick and miss my friends but I waited and waited for it to kick in and it never really has. I have the odd day when all our friends have gone on a night out but I speak to them regularly on the phone and a lot on MSN!! I work 3 days a week (which I love) as a Home Loan Consultant for a bank and received fantastic training as I had never done it before. It feels very weird advising Aussie's on home loans but again I have only had one 'Get back the UK' comment and that was only after the bank had refused his application. I was also worried about the heat in the summer but it is not that bad and you do get used to the flies and the mozzies however the cockroaches are taking a little longer!!

The children love it out here and it has been great watching their confidence grow and having a more outdoor life. Even our eldest, who was 15 when we came and only agreed to do 2 years if we let her go back to the UK to go to Uni, is looking at Uni's in Brisbane now so I'm keeping my fingers crossed!! They have all made friends and settled well. I'm especially pleased for my son who has Aspergers. They still want to go back to the UK but now they just say for a holiday!

We have made some good friends - mainly from this site but a few Aussies and some Kiwi's. It definately helps you settle when you have friends you can talk to who are in the same boat. I read a lot of posts on this site about people who hate it and people who love it and I have no idea why some settle and some don't but we definately didn't come over here expecting anything other than an adventure and if they took our visa's off us tomorrow I would do it all again because it has been an amazing one!

To everyone waiting for their visas, hang on in there 'cos I think its worth the wait!!

Jo

Loved reading this, so joyful, what a great first year. I especially liked the bit about lady who paid in advance, what a lovely thing to do and say!

Where abouts in North Wales are you from?

All the best.

marvinc Jan 5th 2007 12:35 pm

Re: One Year On - and still lovin' it!
 

Originally Posted by OzWannabee (Post 4251245)
Hi Everyone

Just thought I would update as we have now been here a year!! We left on NY Eve and arrived on 2nd Jan. I found that a very emotional time to leave but the fares were cheap and there was 6 of us!!

Hubby loved it as soon as he stepped off the plane and nothing has changed! He has never felt homesick once, he doesn't miss anything about the UK at all. Once he was really pushed for an answer and after a long thought he said the Chinese food wasn't as good as the UK!!! He has started his own gardening business and luckily always seems to have work. Nobody has said they wouldn't use him because he's British - in fact one old lady once paid him in advance and then said she wouldn't have done that if he'd been an Aussie - and yes she was an Aussie!!! He can count on one hand the number of days he has gone without a beer and he definately loves that part of it!

I was expecting to be very homesick and miss my friends but I waited and waited for it to kick in and it never really has. I have the odd day when all our friends have gone on a night out but I speak to them regularly on the phone and a lot on MSN!! I work 3 days a week (which I love) as a Home Loan Consultant for a bank and received fantastic training as I had never done it before. It feels very weird advising Aussie's on home loans but again I have only had one 'Get back the UK' comment and that was only after the bank had refused his application. I was also worried about the heat in the summer but it is not that bad and you do get used to the flies and the mozzies however the cockroaches are taking a little longer!!

The children love it out here and it has been great watching their confidence grow and having a more outdoor life. Even our eldest, who was 15 when we came and only agreed to do 2 years if we let her go back to the UK to go to Uni, is looking at Uni's in Brisbane now so I'm keeping my fingers crossed!! They have all made friends and settled well. I'm especially pleased for my son who has Aspergers. They still want to go back to the UK but now they just say for a holiday!

We have made some good friends - mainly from this site but a few Aussies and some Kiwi's. It definately helps you settle when you have friends you can talk to who are in the same boat. I read a lot of posts on this site about people who hate it and people who love it and I have no idea why some settle and some don't but we definately didn't come over here expecting anything other than an adventure and if they took our visa's off us tomorrow I would do it all again because it has been an amazing one!

To everyone waiting for their visas, hang on in there 'cos I think its worth the wait!!

Jo

I do like happy endings, all glowing this end :)

Stitch Jan 5th 2007 1:09 pm

Re: One Year On - and still lovin' it!
 

Originally Posted by OzWannabee (Post 4251269)
I love it!! I had a fleece and a big blanket over me on NY Eve outside - it was a bit chilly!!

Yeh and the rest of us were in strapless dresses and t shirts!

Cheers

Ginny

Scott Jan 5th 2007 3:29 pm

Re: One Year On - and still lovin' it!
 

Originally Posted by Stitch (Post 4251726)
Yeh and the rest of us were in strapless dresses and t shirts!

Cheers

Ginny

loved reading that , there is so much excitement on this forum & it just keeps you buzzing !

leechy100 Jan 5th 2007 3:37 pm

Re: One Year On - and still lovin' it!
 
Lovely post, thank you for sharing. May your life continue to get better and better.
Nicky x

Issie Jan 5th 2007 3:43 pm

Re: One Year On - and still lovin' it!
 

Originally Posted by OzWannabee (Post 4251245)
Hi Everyone

Just thought I would update as we have now been here a year!! We left on NY Eve and arrived on 2nd Jan. I found that a very emotional time to leave but the fares were cheap and there was 6 of us!!

Hubby loved it as soon as he stepped off the plane and nothing has changed! He has never felt homesick once, he doesn't miss anything about the UK at all. Once he was really pushed for an answer and after a long thought he said the Chinese food wasn't as good as the UK!!! He has started his own gardening business and luckily always seems to have work. Nobody has said they wouldn't use him because he's British - in fact one old lady once paid him in advance and then said she wouldn't have done that if he'd been an Aussie - and yes she was an Aussie!!! He can count on one hand the number of days he has gone without a beer and he definately loves that part of it!

I was expecting to be very homesick and miss my friends but I waited and waited for it to kick in and it never really has. I have the odd day when all our friends have gone on a night out but I speak to them regularly on the phone and a lot on MSN!! I work 3 days a week (which I love) as a Home Loan Consultant for a bank and received fantastic training as I had never done it before. It feels very weird advising Aussie's on home loans but again I have only had one 'Get back the UK' comment and that was only after the bank had refused his application. I was also worried about the heat in the summer but it is not that bad and you do get used to the flies and the mozzies however the cockroaches are taking a little longer!!

The children love it out here and it has been great watching their confidence grow and having a more outdoor life. Even our eldest, who was 15 when we came and only agreed to do 2 years if we let her go back to the UK to go to Uni, is looking at Uni's in Brisbane now so I'm keeping my fingers crossed!! They have all made friends and settled well. I'm especially pleased for my son who has Aspergers. They still want to go back to the UK but now they just say for a holiday!

We have made some good friends - mainly from this site but a few Aussies and some Kiwi's. It definately helps you settle when you have friends you can talk to who are in the same boat. I read a lot of posts on this site about people who hate it and people who love it and I have no idea why some settle and some don't but we definately didn't come over here expecting anything other than an adventure and if they took our visa's off us tomorrow I would do it all again because it has been an amazing one!

To everyone waiting for their visas, hang on in there 'cos I think its worth the wait!!

Jo


Excellent post ....may you continue in your new happy lives :)

tracey.d Jan 5th 2007 4:01 pm

Re: One Year On - and still lovin' it!
 
Lovely post. It's great to hear positive stories like yours.

Tracey

thewoodz Jan 5th 2007 4:10 pm

Re: One Year On - and still lovin' it!
 
yes what a great post. we have just got our visas and so i love reading these x amount of time in threads. x

suebrennan Jan 5th 2007 5:45 pm

Re: One Year On - and still lovin' it!
 

Originally Posted by OzWannabee (Post 4251245)
Hi Everyone

Just thought I would update as we have now been here a year!! We left on NY Eve and arrived on 2nd Jan. I found that a very emotional time to leave but the fares were cheap and there was 6 of us!!

Hubby loved it as soon as he stepped off the plane and nothing has changed! He has never felt homesick once, he doesn't miss anything about the UK at all. Once he was really pushed for an answer and after a long thought he said the Chinese food wasn't as good as the UK!!! He has started his own gardening business and luckily always seems to have work. Nobody has said they wouldn't use him because he's British - in fact one old lady once paid him in advance and then said she wouldn't have done that if he'd been an Aussie - and yes she was an Aussie!!! He can count on one hand the number of days he has gone without a beer and he definately loves that part of it!

I was expecting to be very homesick and miss my friends but I waited and waited for it to kick in and it never really has. I have the odd day when all our friends have gone on a night out but I speak to them regularly on the phone and a lot on MSN!! I work 3 days a week (which I love) as a Home Loan Consultant for a bank and received fantastic training as I had never done it before. It feels very weird advising Aussie's on home loans but again I have only had one 'Get back the UK' comment and that was only after the bank had refused his application. I was also worried about the heat in the summer but it is not that bad and you do get used to the flies and the mozzies however the cockroaches are taking a little longer!!

The children love it out here and it has been great watching their confidence grow and having a more outdoor life. Even our eldest, who was 15 when we came and only agreed to do 2 years if we let her go back to the UK to go to Uni, is looking at Uni's in Brisbane now so I'm keeping my fingers crossed!! They have all made friends and settled well. I'm especially pleased for my son who has Aspergers. They still want to go back to the UK but now they just say for a holiday!

We have made some good friends - mainly from this site but a few Aussies and some Kiwi's. It definately helps you settle when you have friends you can talk to who are in the same boat. I read a lot of posts on this site about people who hate it and people who love it and I have no idea why some settle and some don't but we definately didn't come over here expecting anything other than an adventure and if they took our visa's off us tomorrow I would do it all again because it has been an amazing one!

To everyone waiting for their visas, hang on in there 'cos I think its worth the wait!!

Jo

Great to read a positive post. Happy 1st Anniversary!

Sue

OzWannabee Jan 5th 2007 8:47 pm

Re: One Year On - and still lovin' it!
 

Originally Posted by Rosie Cheeks (Post 4251539)
Loved reading this, so joyful, what a great first year. I especially liked the bit about lady who paid in advance, what a lovely thing to do and say!

Where abouts in North Wales are you from?

All the best.


Wrexham but don't hold that against us!!


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