Diane

I don't get the big hype about fireworks - what's so special about flashing lights, fire and loud bangs? It's just burning money as far as I'm concerned (which could probably be much better spent on something with a more lasting effect). We went to the cricket on NYE, so for us, Adelaide were definitely the winners over Sydney - quite convincingly too!

Excuse me if this is offensive to anyone, but I have a 19 and 22 year old and if I wanted to move to a different country, I would make the decision based on the fact that they are now adults and independent - or should be working towards that aim - and wouldn't expect them to move with me. I know maybe I'm a bit less dependent on them being near me than some parents obviously are, but for goodness sake, they are adults, they make their own choices, if they end up living in a different country to me either through their or my choices, then they can visit for holidays, or I can visit them. If they wanted to move to the same country as me at some point in their future, then it would be up to them to train or apply for a visa in their own right, not constantly hang on my apron strings. If being in different countries than them was such an issue for me, then I wouldn't move to another country, but stay in the one that they have a right to live in already. I wish agents that push the 457 visa would make it really clear to applicants that this does not give them permanent rights to live in the country, and if they choose to bring their children and their children have all their friends in Australia, then at some point they are going to have to leave those friends and make new ones in the country they DO have permanent residency in, because they don't have rights to stay here forever and that's something they should go into with eyes open.

If you are not too worried about being near a beach, then the Eastern suburbs are generally considered to be the best, in terms of schooling, accessibility etc. As far as private schools are concerned, bear in mind that even if you are not religious you can still attend a religion- based school. My two went through a good church-based school and successfully emerged as confirmed - albeit with an educated knowledge of the alternatives - atheists! The education here I think is as good as - if not better than - the uk, so don't be put off by negative comments by those who may not have had success here.

Welcome to the forum and good on you for learning something new! Have you considered doing what a couple of people I know do, which is spending half the year in Australia (on a tourist visa) and the other half back in the UK? I have one friend who has a house here and rents in the UK when she is there, and another couple I know have a house in both places, but you could probably rent in both maybe, or keep your house in the UK and rent in Australia when you are here... Hope it works out for you anyway, one way or another.

And to you, enjoy the break!

Looks like her party is imploding in the same way as previous niche parties have. Culleton just resigned and Hanson accused him of being "addicted to publicity" Pot, meet kettle?

I am sure your age and skills will stand you in good stead, but don't forget that with the demise of the automotive manufacturing industry in Australia, there is currently a surfeit of experienced manufacturing engineers, process engineers and project managers on the market here in Australia who are looking to move into new areas, so that will be your main competition.

Rather than buy - and be bought - 'stuff' this Christmas, I'd like to get everyone charity gifts - i.e. buy a chicken or a goat on their behalf for a village in Africa, or pay for a meal on their behalf for someone at a homeless shelter.... but I've read so much about how a lot of these charities use a high percentage of any donation for admin costs, or to pay a huge salary for their CEO, so I'd really like some way of finding out which charities to use to ensure the maximum possible percentage goes to the end user, and not to buy another Mercedes for some rich boss! Anyone know of any place I can find this out? Obviously it's not something the charities themselves advertise, particularly the less generous ones!

I can't help a lot, but I think if you are working as a contractor (subcontractor?) you may need an ABN instead of a TFN. A TFN is what you give to an Australian employer, but if your employer is not Australian, you will need to get an ABN for your tax reporting and stuff...I think!

Australian banks make huge profits and somehow get away with charging for things that would be unheard of in the UK! Every time I hear of another Australian bank announcing its annual profits in the billions, I want to scream at the radio! There was some traction in calling for a Royal Commission into banks here, but unfortunately in both main parties there is too much of a vested interest to ever bite the hand that feeds them in that way. My ANZ Platinum card gives free travel insurance, but we have to pay an annual fee to hold one. That's about the closest you get here.

Ain't never gonna happen! The Aussies are even recruiting poms to play for them now too!!

Yes and yes. Certainly stopped me wanting to hibernate half the year!

Are you legally separated or divorced from the mother? I am thinking maybe once you get your citizenship by descent, you could look at getting a spouse visa for her and your children, then all move over here 'together'. I know you are not officially 'together' but is there any way of being a 'couple' (even as friends) until you all have the right to live here if you wish? Would she want to live in Australia? Obviously it would mean leaving any sort of support network she has in the UK, or any new partner she has, but I am just thinking for the children it is surely better if both their parents are in the same country. Your relationship with the mother may have ended, but your relationship with the children has not.

Brrr - sending my babies off on a trip back to the homeland tonight for three weeks - hope they don't freeze!

We have lived here in Adelaide for about 12.5 years now, what would you like to know? :wink: Ok, it's a great place to live and bring up kids. Everything is within easy reach (if you don't base yourself too far out in any direction - still can't get why so many people move to what is really a large town and then go live an hour's drive away!) We live in one of the Northeastern suburbs and we are about 30 minutes from the Barossa, 30 minutes from the Adelaide Hills, 35 minutes to the beach, 15 minutes to the city. This weekend, my husband and I had a weekend in the Clare Valley wine region which is about 1.5 hours drive away. If you like wines, you are so spoilt here. There is also a growing craft beer industry and a couple of distilleries ... but I'm not an alcoholic, honest! Workwise, Adelaide is challenging. It is very much a 'who you know' type of place for work, and with Holden closing down in Australia for good in 2017, there has been, and will be, a lot of people who have lost their jobs if they are in any way associated with the motor industry. If you work in Hospitality though, there seems to be a growing and thriving restaurant and bar scene in the city. Many people say Adelaide is a bit of a backwater, and many young adults do head off elsewhere at the end of their education - but a lot come back when they have families of their own, so as I say, good for families. Maybe not so good for couples or singles without kids though. We have three universities and the city is buzzing on summer days - never more so than during one of our fabulous festivals in "Mad March" - the Fringe Festival with the Garden of Unearthly Delights on a hot summer evening is an experience truly made in Heaven! If you like your sports, there is lots of that on offer - both organised and independent, and the Adelaide Oval is a world class venue that hosts cricket, AFL and soccer through the year. House prices are still fairly sensible here (although rents seem high to me) but it costs a little more to go on holiday abroad from here as not as many airlines fly direct from Adelaide, which bugs me a little! I hate having to go via Melbourne or Sydney! Climate is generally hot and dry in the summer, cold in the winter - you will still need your gloves here and some sort of heating - as well as air conditioning - is a must. Good mix of nationalities - both European and Asian migrants have made Adelaide their home over the past years - bonus is great food choices! Power costs are high compared to elsewhere though, and our speeding (and other motoring) fines etc are about the highest in Australia I reckon! We have some great schools, to suit all budgets - and even some of the great private schools here are much cheaper than their equivalents interstate. You do still find with people you meet as an adult though, that where you went to school (if you grew up here) has a bit of weight in a conversation, which is a bit weird! Also I don't know how anyone manages to have an extra-marital affair in Adelaide as once you've been here a short while, you always bump into someone you know, wherever you go! It's not a "bright lights, big city" type of place - Adelaide's charms are more subtle and relaxed. You can go to somewhere like Morialta which is just ten minutes from the city, and feel like you are in the middle of a gorge in France - apart from the koalas and brightly coloured birds you will see! Don't know if this is the sort of thing you wanted to know, ask away if you wanted anything specific and not just ramblings!