Rural Life after 18 mths!
Apr 21st 2008, 1:59 am
#1
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Joined: Mar 2006
Location: Riverland, SA - Beds/Cambs/Nhants was home in UK
Posts: 1,503
Rural Life after 18 mths!
Well I suppose it's time for an update, think it was about 1 yr ago I did last ... makes for interesting reading now we're another load of time in!
Background info & history ... we farm 50,000 acres of sand
. Growing potatoes and run 2000+ cows and 4000+ sheep. Did similar in UK without the stock and obviously smaller scale! We're 45 k from town/school/pub etc and 3 hrs from Adelaide. Husband came on RSMS.
Anyway what can I say? We're absolutely settled and very happy would be a good start!
We feel very fortunate that we have made some wonderful friends and we've been very welcomed into the community.
When we discussed moving to Australia it was to spend more time as a family, have a higher standard of living and be able to farm in a country that supports farming. After 18 mths we're pleased to realise that we've achieved all that and more! Although new government seems less keen!
Without doubt we've had some hard times, missing friends and family. We had some hard times at work (which when you're sponsored adds even more pressure). But we now look back with such a sense of satisfaction it's amazing.
We've been lucky to have been inundated with visitors, my parents 3 times, OH parents twice with another trip planned for November. My aunty arrives this week. One visit from best friend and another family member is due in October. All the guests does mean we've learnt we should be more strict as to when's convenient but apart from that we've managed well.
I'm now working nearly full time and this has definitely made a difference. I love working again and child care here means it's easy and straight forward although both my boys are now in school so it's just holidays when I need the extra help. My job (extra pay packet) means we're off to Whitsundays at the end of May for a true luxury holiday. We always promised ourselves we'd try to do it if we got to Australia and now it's booked I can't wait. It's our first proper big holiday over here so it'll certainly be memorable. Mind you having said that we're fortunate that we've probably averaged 2 weekends away in 5 all throughout the year. (plus 1 trip back to the UK).
We're 2 hrs from coast and 2 hrs from river so we're spoilt for choice. We've just decided to purchase a place (weekend home) at the coast so we can enjoy it even more. We can then still camp at the river (plus if we buy at the river and then the murray disappears we won't have negative equity). There's no way we could've even considered doing similar in UK!!
Anyway I've waffled enough ... if anyone's got any questions about life out of city please contact me! Happy to encourage more out into this great countryside!
Next step - citizenship! Only 6 mths to go!
Background info & history ... we farm 50,000 acres of sand
. Growing potatoes and run 2000+ cows and 4000+ sheep. Did similar in UK without the stock and obviously smaller scale! We're 45 k from town/school/pub etc and 3 hrs from Adelaide. Husband came on RSMS. Anyway what can I say? We're absolutely settled and very happy would be a good start!
We feel very fortunate that we have made some wonderful friends and we've been very welcomed into the community.When we discussed moving to Australia it was to spend more time as a family, have a higher standard of living and be able to farm in a country that supports farming. After 18 mths we're pleased to realise that we've achieved all that and more! Although new government seems less keen!
Without doubt we've had some hard times, missing friends and family. We had some hard times at work (which when you're sponsored adds even more pressure). But we now look back with such a sense of satisfaction it's amazing.
We've been lucky to have been inundated with visitors, my parents 3 times, OH parents twice with another trip planned for November. My aunty arrives this week. One visit from best friend and another family member is due in October. All the guests does mean we've learnt we should be more strict as to when's convenient but apart from that we've managed well.
I'm now working nearly full time and this has definitely made a difference. I love working again and child care here means it's easy and straight forward although both my boys are now in school so it's just holidays when I need the extra help. My job (extra pay packet) means we're off to Whitsundays at the end of May for a true luxury holiday. We always promised ourselves we'd try to do it if we got to Australia and now it's booked I can't wait. It's our first proper big holiday over here so it'll certainly be memorable. Mind you having said that we're fortunate that we've probably averaged 2 weekends away in 5 all throughout the year. (plus 1 trip back to the UK).
We're 2 hrs from coast and 2 hrs from river so we're spoilt for choice. We've just decided to purchase a place (weekend home) at the coast so we can enjoy it even more. We can then still camp at the river (plus if we buy at the river and then the murray disappears we won't have negative equity). There's no way we could've even considered doing similar in UK!!
Anyway I've waffled enough ... if anyone's got any questions about life out of city please contact me! Happy to encourage more out into this great countryside!
Next step - citizenship! Only 6 mths to go!
Apr 21st 2008, 2:59 am
#2
happy to be here!
Joined: Aug 2003
Location: Ellenbrook, WA
Posts: 2,732
Re: Rural Life after 18 mths!
Lovely post!
Pleased you've settled into rural life. It's not for everyone, but can see you love it. Good luck
Tracey
Pleased you've settled into rural life. It's not for everyone, but can see you love it. Good luck
Tracey
Apr 21st 2008, 8:24 pm
#3
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jun 2007
Location: Tropical North QLD
Posts: 21,434
Re: Rural Life after 18 mths!
Really interesting post, such a different experience from the cities.
Sounds like you are really making the most of it.
Well done
Sounds like you are really making the most of it.
Well done
Apr 21st 2008, 10:14 pm
#4
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Joined: Mar 2006
Location: Riverland, SA - Beds/Cambs/Nhants was home in UK
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Re: Rural Life after 18 mths!
It is different guys, I have to laugh when people moan about struggling to find a good curry etc. We have a take away shop 45 k away so have to take a hot bag with us if we want to eat it warm when we get home and there's little choice, closest curry house is about 2 hrs away!
Thank goodness we're not fussy!
Thank goodness we're not fussy!
Apr 22nd 2008, 4:04 am
#5
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Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,905
Re: Rural Life after 18 mths!
Great update.
Sounds fab, we would love a few acres of rural land.
We are in rural town so its great to here rural updates.
How are you doing regarding droughts? Keep hearing about this, although here WA is supposed to be less effected than say Victoria.
Gems
Sounds fab, we would love a few acres of rural land.
We are in rural town so its great to here rural updates.
How are you doing regarding droughts? Keep hearing about this, although here WA is supposed to be less effected than say Victoria.
Gems
Apr 22nd 2008, 4:15 am
#6
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Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,672
Re: Rural Life after 18 mths!
What a fab update, we live in Adelaide and love it, its nice to visit the country areas...but to live there....nope not for me!!!!!!I am to soft
jacqui
jacqui
Apr 22nd 2008, 9:26 am
#7
Sunny Sydney
Joined: Aug 2005
Location: Sydney
Posts: 6,241
Re: Rural Life after 18 mths!
Wow, sounds like you guys have got a good thing going. Can't be easy being a farmer in Australia. Well done for making it work, enjoy your holiday.
Apr 22nd 2008, 9:27 am
#8
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Location: Riverland, SA - Beds/Cambs/Nhants was home in UK
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Re: Rural Life after 18 mths!
It's not too brackish or salty and we use that to irrigate. We will receive cut backs but are definitely in a stronger position than many.
This years been better than last but that's partially through experience and therefore better management of the little rain we have received. We running higher numbers of cattle and acheiving better results through the sale yards.
Apr 23rd 2008, 8:19 am
#9
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Re: Rural Life after 18 mths!
Apr 24th 2008, 4:25 pm
#10
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Sep 2005
Location: Somewhere South... Not Telling YOU
Posts: 10,959
Re: Rural Life after 18 mths!
Great to hear from some one who is not a, on the coast and b, in a city..
Apr 25th 2008, 6:02 am
#11
Forum Regular
Joined: Mar 2006
Location: Melbourne again !
Posts: 103
Re: Rural Life after 18 mths!
Hi Jo
Great update ! Best wishes from North QLD from another RSMS family, as you probably can remember, we talked before
Glad to hear everything goes well, same here. Looking forward to moving to Victoria soon though, the heat and humidity is too much for me.
Katie
Great update ! Best wishes from North QLD from another RSMS family, as you probably can remember, we talked before
Glad to hear everything goes well, same here. Looking forward to moving to Victoria soon though, the heat and humidity is too much for me.
Katie
Apr 25th 2008, 6:33 am
#12
Forum Regular
Joined: Nov 2007
Location: At home with my feet up...
Posts: 156
Re: Rural Life after 18 mths!
Great post and and a really interesting read. We live in a small village in the Adelaide Hills and we were in your neck of the woods (well sort of) last weekend when we took a drive along Coorong NP as far as Salt Creek.
Apr 26th 2008, 9:40 am
#13
Happy migrant
Joined: Oct 2006
Location: Newcastle , NSW
Posts: 6,756
Re: Rural Life after 18 mths!
Fascinating update Jo. As others have said - it's great to read something a bit different.
Would love to hear a bit more if you have time
Would love to hear a bit more if you have time
Apr 26th 2008, 9:26 pm
#14
Niamh,Paul + 4 :)
Joined: Jul 2007
Location: sunshine coast, now back home in Ireland :)
Posts: 1,861
Re: Rural Life after 18 mths!
Well I suppose it's time for an update, think it was about 1 yr ago I did last ... makes for interesting reading now we're another load of time in!
Background info & history ... we farm 50,000 acres of sand. Growing potatoes and run 2000+ cows and 4000+ sheep. Did similar in UK without the stock and obviously smaller scale! We're 45 k from town/school/pub etc and 3 hrs from Adelaide. Husband came on RSMS.
Anyway what can I say? We're absolutely settled and very happy would be a good start! We feel very fortunate that we have made some wonderful friends and we've been very welcomed into the community.
When we discussed moving to Australia it was to spend more time as a family, have a higher standard of living and be able to farm in a country that supports farming. After 18 mths we're pleased to realise that we've achieved all that and more! Although new government seems less keen!
Without doubt we've had some hard times, missing friends and family. We had some hard times at work (which when you're sponsored adds even more pressure). But we now look back with such a sense of satisfaction it's amazing.
We've been lucky to have been inundated with visitors, my parents 3 times, OH parents twice with another trip planned for November. My aunty arrives this week. One visit from best friend and another family member is due in October. All the guests does mean we've learnt we should be more strict as to when's convenient but apart from that we've managed well.
I'm now working nearly full time and this has definitely made a difference. I love working again and child care here means it's easy and straight forward although both my boys are now in school so it's just holidays when I need the extra help. My job (extra pay packet) means we're off to Whitsundays at the end of May for a true luxury holiday. We always promised ourselves we'd try to do it if we got to Australia and now it's booked I can't wait. It's our first proper big holiday over here so it'll certainly be memorable. Mind you having said that we're fortunate that we've probably averaged 2 weekends away in 5 all throughout the year. (plus 1 trip back to the UK).
We're 2 hrs from coast and 2 hrs from river so we're spoilt for choice. We've just decided to purchase a place (weekend home) at the coast so we can enjoy it even more. We can then still camp at the river (plus if we buy at the river and then the murray disappears we won't have negative equity). There's no way we could've even considered doing similar in UK!!
Anyway I've waffled enough ... if anyone's got any questions about life out of city please contact me! Happy to encourage more out into this great countryside!
Next step - citizenship! Only 6 mths to go!
Background info & history ... we farm 50,000 acres of sand
. Growing potatoes and run 2000+ cows and 4000+ sheep. Did similar in UK without the stock and obviously smaller scale! We're 45 k from town/school/pub etc and 3 hrs from Adelaide. Husband came on RSMS. Anyway what can I say? We're absolutely settled and very happy would be a good start!
We feel very fortunate that we have made some wonderful friends and we've been very welcomed into the community.When we discussed moving to Australia it was to spend more time as a family, have a higher standard of living and be able to farm in a country that supports farming. After 18 mths we're pleased to realise that we've achieved all that and more! Although new government seems less keen!
Without doubt we've had some hard times, missing friends and family. We had some hard times at work (which when you're sponsored adds even more pressure). But we now look back with such a sense of satisfaction it's amazing.
We've been lucky to have been inundated with visitors, my parents 3 times, OH parents twice with another trip planned for November. My aunty arrives this week. One visit from best friend and another family member is due in October. All the guests does mean we've learnt we should be more strict as to when's convenient but apart from that we've managed well.
I'm now working nearly full time and this has definitely made a difference. I love working again and child care here means it's easy and straight forward although both my boys are now in school so it's just holidays when I need the extra help. My job (extra pay packet) means we're off to Whitsundays at the end of May for a true luxury holiday. We always promised ourselves we'd try to do it if we got to Australia and now it's booked I can't wait. It's our first proper big holiday over here so it'll certainly be memorable. Mind you having said that we're fortunate that we've probably averaged 2 weekends away in 5 all throughout the year. (plus 1 trip back to the UK).
We're 2 hrs from coast and 2 hrs from river so we're spoilt for choice. We've just decided to purchase a place (weekend home) at the coast so we can enjoy it even more. We can then still camp at the river (plus if we buy at the river and then the murray disappears we won't have negative equity). There's no way we could've even considered doing similar in UK!!
Anyway I've waffled enough ... if anyone's got any questions about life out of city please contact me! Happy to encourage more out into this great countryside!
Next step - citizenship! Only 6 mths to go!
My Dh was in the Whitsundays this time last year he says you will love it and take a day trip to Hamilton Island its a beautiful place
we are heading over as soon as we book flights next week and cant not wait im living for it now
May 6th 2008, 10:39 am
#15
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Location: Riverland, SA - Beds/Cambs/Nhants was home in UK
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