Well here we are 6 months down the line and boy its had lots of ups and downs. On the 15th August 2007 we left the North East of England in waves of tears that I thought would never stop and my heart felt like a ton of bricks. My children had no idea what was happening and what we were doing due to their age so were oblivious to the emotion. We chose to leave from Manchester airport rather than Newcastle and this was a very good choice in my book. By the time we had drove the 2 and half hours to get there things had settled down somewhat. We flew with Emirates who were fantastic and even being 30 kg over weight we were very very lucky and did not get any penalty fines.
We arrived in Brisbane on the 17th August and collected our hire car. I took us 3 hours from departing the plane to getting through passport control and immigration to getting the car keys. Quarantine wanted to check the bottoms of all our shoes and of course I didn’t pack them together so that was a bit of a mare. We managed to squash all the cases and the 2 kids and 2 pushchairs into an estate style car how I’m not sure. The next 7 days rained so hard I couldn’t believe it, we spent the time sorting Medicare, bank accounts, car buying and looking for rentals. We were lucky that we got to stay with family and loan one of their cars.
We found a rental within 3 weeks after viewing about 15 properties in different areas of different price range. We upped our budget slightly and managed to secure a 3 bedroom house. We decided that we would have to make do for 12 months and no way were we going to get ourselves into financial problems by trying to have too much too soon. We are 7 minutes drive from the beach, 10 minutes from Michael work and 5 minutes from the shopping centre and have a small park behind us. We are paying $350 week, with no air con or ceiling fans. We wanted to live close to Michaels work so that we only needed to purchase one vehicle.
We found the cost of 2nd hand cars very expensive and eventually settled for a Hyundai Elantra which cost $13,250 2 & half years old with a high mileage from a dealer. Petrol is about $1.24 litre at the moment and has gone up from $1.08 when we first arrived, a few weeks ago it hit $1.39. Car Rego is $500 year here as you have to pay compulsory CTP (3rd party) insurance and then they sting you again if you want to insure it full comp which cost us another $500.
We found a problem with the internet when first getting into our rental and we were unable to connect via ADSL through the phone line as the exchange was too crowded, we eventually got connected with 3 mobile on a wireless service for $49 per month for 2GB download with is enough for us. Our telephone is with Simpliciti and cost $26 per month rental and calls to the UK as $1.97 for half an hour, our average monthly bill is now about $55 although the first couple months it was much higher lol. We have just received our first full 3 months Electricity bill and it was $280 this can be higher if you are running a pool I believe.
I do find price of food shopping about the same as the UK but with less choice, however it does seem more expensive due to the lower income. Beer is also quite expensive (so he tells me) paying $35-40 for slab of 24 bottles beer rather than 2 for 20 quid in asda!!
My 3 years old settled almost instantly, the baby however was another story, she was very unsettled. She managed to get 2 sets of teeth in all whilst we were trying to settle in which made life very hard. My husband was working and I was home every day with the girls with no support. In early December my mams sister became very ill, she had fought cancer and it had come back, within 10 days she died. This was very hard time as I did have lots of guilty feelings for not being there to support her and just give her a cuddle. On the 17th December my hubby managed to snap his Achilles tendon playing football what a nightmare. He was advised that he would be in plaster for 3 months. My roll then changed to becoming carer for 3 people. This was over the Xmas period and I have to say was the most stressful time ever. Thankfully for us he could still work otherwise we would have been really in the crap. During this period I did have feelings of wanting to run away, having no help with the children and having to look after him really made me question how much more I could take on. This is the one thing I have found difficult, having no one just to give you an hour break. I think this on top of the events with my mam did nearly push me over the edge, thankfully I gave myself a good talking to and my hubby and we pulled together and worked through it (after Id murdered him)!! Up until then he had been going to work on his push bike which took 15 minutes each way, he would leave at 7.30am and be home for 4.30pm every day and life had been going really well, o well I think it was our way of being tested to see if we wanted it badly enough!
So I think the things that I have found that have disappointed me would be the amount of mozzies, I wanted that out door living lifestyle and have found once the evening comes you cant sit outside without getting eaten alive, have tried everything to prevent it but nothing works (if anyone can suggest anything Id be grateful)! How you can start watching a series on tv and it just disappears mid way though and you never see it again lol. The cost of children’s medication!
The things that have surprised me would be how many lovely people I have met and friends I have made, how much my girls just love every day and always want to know what we are doing today or where we are going today with such enthusiasm. How fantastic the sales are here, when they have a sale they really do. Oh and seeing my husband on a pushbike!
I have tried to cover everything I can think of. Most of our time here has been high but I have had some very low points too, especially the pressure of having to do all the extra work that comes with having one adult out of action. Mark my words if you are used to having a helping hand with the kids then its hard going, mine are 3 & half & 1 and my oldest will not start prep year until 2010. Everything said, we are really really happy here and feel for us as family it’s the best thing we ever did. We get so much more family time together, weekends are spent at the beach or parks or exploring further afield. On Fridays I collect my hubby from work and we take the girls to the park, have a walk to the eateries and have a drink and early dinner and wander home again. Fantastic!!!
I hope some of this info helps people who are waiting to make the move. Life here really is what you make it, make sure you both want it 99% as it takes both parties to make it work. My advice is just go for it and tackle anything that comes your way head on. (o yeh and dont forget, get some good mates for night out on the town, thanks girls x)
Em, enjoyed reading your post, we live in South Shiields and it was interesting to read especially knowing you are from up here, my husband is from Sunderland....just thought I'd remind you of how cold it is here today.
hi em,brilliant post,makes me soooo excited.i thought the first year to be the hardest.we have 4 boys but never gave any help.my mum getting on a bit and o/h's parent can't cope with them for long.and they are good boys,quite calm for boys,well they have their moments of course.just me and hubby.glad you seem happy because thats what its all about after all.good luck to you,tracy.xx.
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TRACY 35,STEVE 33 (PAINTER & DECORATOR),GEORGE 10,LEWIS 7,MAX 4 ,CHARLIE 2. 4/4/08 175 SKILLED VISA GRANTED!!!!!! WAHOO!!!!!:jigg FLIGHTS BOOKED 26TH NOVEMBER!YIPPEE!GOLD COAST HERE WE COME!
Bless you Em, it really has been a bumpy ride for you but I really hope you enjoy your trip back to the UK in a few weeks and that the next 6 months are much more steadier!
Sending you hugs ((((((0))))))
Lyn x
Hi Em, Thanks for the thread it was good to read, The only downside I can see is that myself and OH were looking forward to the evenings sat outside and did think you would get a few mozzies but not so many that it is unbareable and makes you want to go inside. When we were in Greece they sold some little rings that you lit and put on the table and floor (they would burn), they were great for keeping the mozzies away not sure if they have them here, also someone else did mention a while ago about taking a certain vitamin not sure if you read it or tried it. Pesky mozzies whats there purpose in life??
What a good post. Had a low day today so your post has really put a smile on my face and reminded me why it is we want to go!!! Thanks and congratulations ! x
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Lareina, Stuart, Maddie (5) and Nathan (1) hope to be in Melbourne this year!! lol!:jiggy:
Em, enjoyed reading your post, we live in South Shiields and it was interesting to read especially knowing you are from up here, my husband is from Sunderland....just thought I'd remind you of how cold it is here today.
Alison
Hi Alison,
I am heading to the UK with my 2 little ones in couple weeks so trying to decide what to pack lol, my 3 year old is already telling me shes not wearing jeans, she has turned into a right girly girl here with all the lovely summer clothes. PM me if you fancy meeting up for a coffee.
