Just read entire post with interest (and a hangover, at a 25th wedding party last night) I think it all boils down to what suits one person doesn't necessarily suit another. The only way to get a true comparison is to try it and see. Lots of things are doing to make the difference, age, job, area you live in. I think it is too hard to generalise. We know we are still going to have to work, don't think anyone is going to Oz thinking they can sit on their backsides all day. But as a few of you have said it you don't try it you'll never know.
Can I just say that your post is spot on. I wish I have seen your post before making the decision, so then I can analysis / research this matter in details. Husband and I visited Oz before and hubby loved it, so we thought we would come out here and make a go of it. I don't regret my decision at all because it's part of the adventure and I'm more fortunate than others but I'm looking to move back to England in the future. I love my country life in UK too much and how I wish I don't have to travel more than a hour on the train / bus into work.
People have suggested for us to move closer to the CBD but I love to be away from the hectic lifestyle on my days off. Am I moaning too much? I wonder how many people are feeling the same out there.
We are planning to stay in Sydney for at least 2/3 years and see how it goes. Hopefully I'm all settled in by then and will be able to refer Oz as my home. Thanks
I'm going to Melbourne in Sept and I sat down and looked at what was better, England or Oz and listed all the good things and bad things. I do agree that if you think that Oz is the best place in the world ever then you are sorely mistaken, drugs and murder happen in every city and every nation, so you need to get used to and if you can't then move to a place like the Falklands!
I currently live in Watford and work in the centre of London. Every week I see drugs, drinkers, fights (I saw somebody on Saturday throw a glass at somebody in a pub) and that’s just in Watford! London is very much the same. I also feel very isolated in London; it's strange that sometimes being in a crowded place can make you feel like the loneliest person alive. London is a great city and I will miss the place but it does grind you down to the point of complete frustration and you must think that their must be a better place, more relaxing, better weather, better food, less pollution, less cars, better schools, better housing, less noise etc… If Melbourne has this then it’s the place for me, if it doesn’t then I will return to England.
I have spent 5 weeks in Melbourne with family and never experienced the same feelings of danger as I do in London or Watford. Am I naïve?
Life will never be the one big beach party no matter what country you move to. At times, the differences will annoy you but isn’t that why so many go to a different country? To experience a different way of life? To see what the unexpected throws up?
I’m I still going? Yes, but I’m keeping an open mind and remembering that moving countries is the same as moving house, you still need work and pay the bills.
I'm going to Melbourne in Sept and I sat down and looked at what was better, England or Oz and listed all the good things and bad things. I do agree that if you think that Oz is the best place in the world ever then you are sorely mistaken, drugs and murder happen in every city and every nation, so you need to get used to and if you can't then move to a place like the Falklands!
I currently live in Watford and work in the centre of London. Every week I see drugs, drinkers, fights (I saw somebody on Saturday throw a glass at somebody in a pub) and that’s just in Watford! London is very much the same. I also feel very isolated in London; it's strange that sometimes being in a crowded place can make you feel like the loneliest person alive. London is a great city and I will miss the place but it does grind you down to the point of complete frustration and you must think that their must be a better place, more relaxing, better weather, better food, less pollution, less cars, better schools, better housing, less noise etc… If Melbourne has this then it’s the place for me, if it doesn’t then I will return to England.
I have spent 5 weeks in Melbourne with family and never experienced the same feelings of danger as I do in London or Watford. Am I naïve?
Life will never be the one big beach party no matter what country you move to. At times, the differences will annoy you but isn’t that why so many go to a different country? To experience a different way of life? To see what the unexpected throws up?
I’m I still going? Yes, but I’m keeping an open mind and remembering that moving countries is the same as moving house, you still need work and pay the bills.
Location: Tassie, South of Hobart on the D'Entrecasteaux Channel
Posts: 360
Let's Be Honest - Not Offensive
Well Said:
Big Up Plymouth! (But not too loudly, as everyone will want to move there!)
Have to agree on the tax issues; Government taxes' us with impunity & we never make a murmur in this country. We're from S Devon, but to be honest it's priced us out, (which is why we're up N & applying to emigrate!) some towns there, have over 50% 2nd home-owners, so people like ourselves cannot afford to even rent let alone buy; infrastructure is rubbish, roads clogged with traffic, crumbling from want of investment, repair & upgrading to at least 20th century standards, making life a nightmare for everyone,(not least business trying to service customers & clients, as their vehicles can be stuck in traffic jams & narrow lanes for half the day.)
And as you say, if you can afford to live there, life can be blighted by wanton acts of vandalism & criminality, whether perpetrated by local jobs or the imported variety, yet our criminal justice system seems impotent to prevent it!
Have you ever been in Torquay, Plymouth or Newquay on weekend nights, they are not pleasant places to be, with teens & jobs of all ages crawling around on the pavements & fighting in the streets, peeing in shop-fronts & rolling around in their own vomit, which just happens to be in someone else's front garden. When I returned from the States in the mid-90's to this, I could NOT believe it (probably 25% of kids in the niteclubs were under age & paralytic), & to be honest, in spite of what the Government says, it has gradually gotten worse, and this general lack of respect, together with any possibility of getting on the property ladder here, is what is driving us to Oz.
I suspect that any Big City, wherever/whenever, has problems - I've lived in London & Chicago, so I know this, which is why we prefer to live as far from those environments as poss, but even so, Life can be very good in cities for those seeking an immediate, exciting lifestyle, so I suggest that wherever & whenever you have vast numbers of people living in relatively small areas one can expect pockets of trouble (perhaps with the exception of Dubai, where a massive mix of ethnic minorities overwhelm the indigenous population by around 80 - 1, I think, & crime is a virtual NO-NO!) Yet country residents are not immune from crime either, with theft of farm equipment, garden plants/furniture, animal rustling, & my families' business was ram-raided over the May bank holiday & the safe taken...
I'm sure Gags' speaks from his personal experience, as do I, & I take on board his observations, as I hope to learn & avoid some of the problems he encountered, just as others have only positive things to say. I don't think it is helpful to snipe & attack each other, any more than it is to make overblown-generalizations based on media hype rather than personal experience. I'm sure what we are all looking for is a decent quality of life, whether we can find it here or Abroad, and the benefit of PIO, is that people in the know are willing to share their personal experiences for the benefit of others, good or bad, positive or negative; it's a learning & sharing forum from which we all can benefit.
Now can some one tell us what it's like in Hobart, or Victor Harbour, SA....
Thank you,
Herbster - A Bear Come in From the Sunshine - yea, it really is sunny Up North! X
Know what you mean about London, we lived there for seven years and it took 5 before I felt like I could call it home. Seems crazy that somewhere so busy can feel so lonley. I have been in Melbourne since March and so far have a much better social circle than I had in London, although to be fair I am 7 years older and have more confidence and have put a lot more effort in here than I ever put in when I first moved to London.
To avoid slipping back into my old life I have joined a sports team and taken a few bold steps calling some complete strangers that friends of friends from the UK suggested I call, all of which so far have paid off. Socialising has seemed to mean more time in the pub though, and I understand what people mean when they say there isn't enough to keep them occupied. I find that travelling around and sight seeing is keeping us occupied but if we want to have a weekend at home or if the weather isn't so good there isn't much to do but go to the pub or eat out. Can't understand why people here aren't all a bunch of obese drunkards! :-) Speaking of food it's really good and cheap to eat out. In the CBD there is a heavy Aisan influence, Thai and Vietnamese coming out of your ears but I have found a few good Indians and Greek and Italian are pretty strong here to. Victoria market is cheap and very good for a variety of fresh foods and deli products are good in the indoor market. Try not to rely on supermarkets so much if you can as they are expensive and have less in the global food market.
So far I have felt much safer in Melbourne than I did in London but perhaps it's because it's not so big and therefore feels less intimidating. Trams do get quite a few winos riding them but haven't as yet experienced any violence as a result. I used to have to get across to the SE of London catching trains terminating at Gravesend, Gilligham and Dartford and I used to be really scared on the late trains because of the yobs.
I also think I feel less alone because people seem to be ready to help out so if I did end up in a tricky situation someone (I think) would come to my aid. I have been on the receiving end of many good samaritans already within just 2 months, whether it's just for directions when I'm wandering around in circles or to help when a lady collapsed in the street at my feet.
I am definitely finding it more relaxing mostly because it's a little slower. There seems to be less people on your heels when walking down the streets, again probably a product of being less crowded and people having a litle more personal space and people seemed a little more chilled out.
Where do you think you will be looking to live? I am living quite close to the CBD so I have less experience of the outer suburbs. I do find even 15 mins out of the CBD things quiten a lot and if you are used to London you may find it a bit quiet to be too far away although this may depend if you have kids or not. Also the further away the less efficient the public transport system becomes from what I havebeen told, I find being close to the tram network hugely beneficial. If I can answer any questions you have on central Melbourne ask away. Best of luck with the transition, not long now.
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"Stop worrying, nobody gets out of this world alive":cute:
Visited Maru wildlife park fed the kangaroos, koalas and wallabies v.cute and a must for all tourists. Penguin parade was also fab but as you say freezing! hired a car and headed of down the great ocean road a few weeks ago and really enjoyed it and stopped off on the way back at Geelong which seems like a really nice place, good balance between city and seaside, will go back on a Sat as all shops shut there on Sunday. Just come back from Mt Buller skiing, best snow in 10 years apparantly! Any other hidden treasures you recommend?
Really interested to know why Perth? Based on your previous experience what are you hoping to get from Perth that Melbourne wasn't able to provide? Have friends with kids moving out next year and we are trying to scope out as much about Melbourne as possible to help them make a decision on where to settle so trying to gather as much info as possible.
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"Stop worrying, nobody gets out of this world alive":cute:
Hi Herbster,
There are many rural and regional towns and cities throughout Australia. One of our sons went to university at Orange Orange NSW Central Tablelands, Central West NSW Australia. Australia's 'Colour City' in the central west of NSW. We got to know the area quite well and I belong to an investment group which is building houses there. We often drive out there for lunch but have to make a booking even mid week because it is always busy and definitely not some sleepy little backwater. It would take about 3 hours to get to the outskirts of Sydney from there and another 1 1/2 hours or so, more in peak hour, to get into the CBD.
Plenty of other towns like Orange. Rural Victoria is lovely and in such a small state you're never far from Melbourne.
Don't give up on Oz just because you don't want to live in a city.
Well Limeychick. Have you been out to Belgrave and have a go on Puffing Billy? Nepean Highway and drive on down to Frankston (Great Chippy there on the left hand side,that does the best burgers in the world,but that wasn't last year now) Drive on out to Mornington,Rosebud and away out to portsea. On the other side of the of the Peninsula there are beaches but you have to down small roads/tracks to get to them.At Portsea there's a ferry that takes you over side (can't remember it) and you can drive round to Geelong. Been to Warrnambool?My mother's Brother went there,and there's a big clan of them now. Sovereign Hill I only been there on the off chance and I can always remember it to this day.People walk round in old dress and you can pan for GOLD if you want. The Arts Tower in the city Seen Billy Connelly there.There's a tram that goes along the sea front at or around St Kilda <<<<< it's a meals on wheels Restaurant. Never been on it though. But I've been to Wilsons Promontory.Big hills in the background sand dunes and long grass on your left and the sea on your right.There's a car park with wild birds,take your camera and wild bird seed. This drive and place could make you home sick.What about a drive up in the Dandenong Hills.There's a look out,and on a good clear night you can see the sea!never mind Melbourne City.There's a big dam/lake at the back of it.Plenty of tea houses.I got lost one day near Dandenong Gardens one day it was spring << still have the pics.Met George Best,Denis Law and Bobby Charlton<<<<< yes still have them pics. Been to Knox City? Big shopping place.It must be a city in it's own way by now.Take it you've found the Vic Bitter and the fried Dim Sims.
Perth.Well I've a mate there for the past two years and he loves it.The only bad thing he has to say about it is the gold mines,but he don't work there now.So that's gone.Another friend and her hubby moved out about five years back,and they love it.<<<Hubby works for himself now (spark) They are back about March for wedding <<<<<<<<< taking the pics I am. I hear Perth is not as fast as Melbourne another reason.There are more millionaires per head of population than any where else in Australia. That's good for selfemployed<<<<< taking pics.Perth seems to be big enough but not too big.The south west of WA seems to be from what I hear is some place.have you tasted their wine Perth has the climate that California think it has. As a welder I don't I don't want to work at it for the rest of my life<<<< Rather for myself ! You might have worked that bit out by now.If not try >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> http://www.shamrockphotos.net/photo_1186331.html << not fully working yet.Well that's the plan any way. If only Adelaide skills would just say YES!!
Who needs loney planet :)! Some are on the list but you have reminded me of a few things I wanted to do but had forgotten and a couple of extras to add, ta.
Best of luck with the new business, looks good so far. Stay positive even when things get tough. Look forward to seeing how it all goes.
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"Stop worrying, nobody gets out of this world alive":cute:
Let's Be Honest - Not Offensive
Perth has the climate that California think it has. As a welder I don't I don't want to work at it for the rest of my life<<<< 
Rather for myself ! You might have worked that bit out by now.If not try >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> 
