Hi all,

I've not been around the forums much recently, tho I thought I'd now reached the 1 year milestone I thought I'd give an update.

I've been living in Melbourne since February 2009 and what a year it's been. I certainly don't regret moving over here and although there have been low points, there have been so many high points.

As I came over here on my own, the initial month or so was difficult. Arranging an apartment when you are not in the country is very difficult, so I ended up in a shared house. However, being stuck in a small room was not exactly good and I was glad when I got myself an apartment to live in.

I'm currently renting an apartment in St Kilda which is great. Furnished places can be found and the travel to the CBD each day is pretty easy. The public transport is great and certainly better than what I was used to in the UK.

I've certainly experienced a number of new things while I've been here. I've been to the Grand Prix, a number of concerts, met a heap of wonderful new friends and really settled into this great country. I've even got myself a wonderful girlfriend who puts up with my crazy englishness

I was initially planning to stay for 6 months and see how things go. Well, I think I'll be staying for a lot longer, as I've imported my car (yes, I am that mental - but for me it was cheaper than selling it and buying a similar one, after working out the figures)

Things are that good that I've even done the citizenship test and passed it

Of course, I miss my family in the UK, but we chat every week over the phone and I'll be visiting them for a couple of weeks, soon.

With AC/DC coming up and going to see my first cricket match on Sunday, I think I'm going to enjoy life "Down Under". I certainly wouldn't have missed these experiences for the world and I'm certainly glad I decided to apply for the Visa and give it a try.

All the best,

Rick (aka Hawkwind)

Lovely post Rick. Well done with Citizenship

Congrats on the citizenship test & on a lovely upbeat post!
Wishing you continued happiness

Wow, that sounds great. Congratulations

I hope things continue to go funkily for you

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Congrats, good progress.

Sounds like you're having a blast.

Enjoy the cricket.

Congratulations on the move and citizenship Rick.

Glad you are enjoying it. We have been here 3 years and 4 months and are loving every minute of it.

Off to see AC/DC at Brissie Entertainment centre on th 27th....should be awesome.

Ps LOVE the name..........................saw Hawkwind in Leeds many many moons ago and still freak the neighbours out with regular bouts of Space Ritual, Hall of the Mountain Grill etc

Loz x

hi ya Rick

Glad to hear everything is going well for you,sounds like the year has gone quick
I met you at the cambridge meet in st neots a while ago, i thought you were Perth bound then though
Hopefully i'll be in Melbourne by the end of the English summer, just dotting the i's and crossing the t's, at least thats my plan, it's bound to go pear shaped

All the best
graham

Blimey! has it been a year aleady since you went?
Great to hear you are doing well & that St. Kilda has worked it's magic for you

You passed citizenship after 12 months, so you must have been in Oz for four years total over your lifetime? correct.