I was wondering whether those who have made the move down under would share with the rest of us, who are still going through the process, what differences day to day you've noticed since moving.
Just thought it would be interesting, and maybe enlightening, if you could give us an outline of what an average day used to be like for you in the UK and what it is like now. You know the sort of thing - school run, shopping, socialising, outings, meals, etc. Do you see more of each other or less?
I'm just being nosey really but hope you will indulge me!!
Tracey x
__________________ VISA GRANTED 30/10/07 House still not sold 20/06/08 Finally on our way 23/06/08
I don't think our life has changed that much. We were pretty lucky in the UK, the children walked to their schools, were near enough the parks and shops that they had a good level of independence; we had lots of good friends; we were friends with our neighbours and shared a good sense of community.However, my husband had a relatively short commute into London where he spent a long week in an atmosphere of back-stabbing and politics (and he was just the window cleaner!!:laugh: )
So, now..kids still walk to school, still live near reserves and shops, but my son plays more sport and daughter feels more challenged at school (she was at a 'good' grammar school); Paul leaves later and comes home earlier after spending a more pleasant day in a job he enjoys - and only works five days; I'm still not working whilst looking for the 'ideal' job / having lots of coffee and walks on the beach... and generally enjoying myself. (Tee hee! See, told you I'm lazy!). I help out at school and we still have that feeling of community, which I love.
Otherwise, Adelaide has lots of things going on -it is the city of festivals after all! We've spent evenings with friends, bbq's, moonlight picnics, been to rugby, footy, the Clipsal, oh loads of different things. We went to loads of things in the UK too, but travelling in SA is much less stressful and more straightforward.The children are getting to the age where they don't always want to spend time with us (but they do), but we do have more family time because Paul spends less time at work.
Generally it's a sun-filled,relaxed, pleasant life for us, but everyone is different and when all's said and done, it really is just life and to some extent, what you make of it.
OMG, have I gone serious? What is this site doing to me? LC
Location: From Bury,Manchester To Jimboomba, Brisbane
Posts: 6,446
Hiya as a family we are now spending more time together ,probably because im not working evenings like in the uk and hubby is only doing a 3 or 4 day week.School runs???we rented near enough to the school so we could walk to and from but with a 3yr old in tow some afternoons its just too hot to walk ,makes a difference from being too cold!!Zak sometimes goes on his bike or walks alone with friends ,but when Jodi is in nursery its easier to go in the car as its next door to the school. I still go up to Woolys twice a week shopping (food) but because there isnt as many ''goody'' shops i dont go clothes shopping etc half as much,we have met lots of friends and havnt yet had a day where ive been lonely,we are doing lots of work on our new house so people keep coming round to help and chat which is great and breaks the day up ,we have made my son a bmx track out back and all the local kids have discovered it so i have a house full most weekends ,,just like the uk ,,i love it !!We havnt really been out for any meals etc but do visit the beach at weekends when tied up with the house reno's,and i have a good friend in Ipswich who i met on here we often visit for BBQ's etc ,as a family we get on much better Zak's attitude level has dropped slightly and we dont argue half as much(school is pretty strict here).Overall i'd say we still have to do the boring stuff like work and school but when it comes to weekends and evenings we are alot more relaxed and chilled ,the kids can play out happily without threat and we can relax knowing they are safe.We personally feel we were lucky to choose this area as everyone is friendly and down to earth ,a spade is a spade with these guys,theres a lot of ex poms settled around here and the estate seems to focus on the community,,we are loving it !!!!
if i can help anymore please ask
Cal x
Hubby and I are still working full time in the same type of jobs we did in UK. I'm working on the wards at the moment rather than community, but the flexibility with shifts is great when it comes to school holidays. Hubby was on call in UK once or twice a week in UK and had to go out all hours (and still expected to be in work at 9am), here they don't go out after 9pm for a call out so it doesn't ruin your evening.
The big difference for my kids is that they can both walk to school together, my eldest used to walk but I didn't trust my 7 year old to go with here, cos of busy roads, etc., it's working out fine here. Also, Alex went to the cinema with her friends and we just dropped her off and picked her up after - something we wouldn't have done at our local Vue or UCI
We don't eat out much either, but take picnics to the beach or park or prepare everything for a barbie when we get home. Alex (who we used to joke wouldn't even know we'd moved as she spent all her time in her bedroom), spends more time outdoors.
Like Cal, I don't get way laid shopping with all the clothes etc. like in Asda and just buy the food. Shops close at 5.30 (except for late night) although we do have a local store who stays open until 10pm. I used to do the shopping late in UK and it now means we're together as a family more in the evenings, as I'll do it on my way home from work, hubby loves this.
Ali
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"POZZIE" - HAPPY AND LOVIN IT!
I'm sick of following my dreams, I'm just going to ask them where they're going and hook up with them later
The biggest change for us is most definately the time we spend together.
Paul is a bricklayer and goes where the work is, the same as in England. He could be 10 mins' away or an hour and 10. The difference here is that hes not working as hard. When he gets home he has time for other things. In England it would be dinner then a kip on the sofa untill bedtime, now he will still have a sleep when he gets home.........he's up some mornings at 4:30 so I do let him.......but when he wakes up he takes the boys over the driving range or just to the park to kick the ball about.
I was a teaching assistant in UK but now I'm not working at all. Proffesional shopper is probabley my new job title but not clothes shopping, well not much, its more shopping for household stuff as we didn't bring much with us. My eldest son is 20 and I have worked since he was four so its really nice now to meet with friends for coffee and lunch. This move has allowed me to do that.
We had a good social life in England and some really close friends who we had known for many years but in the short time we have been here we have made some great friends already and tend to go to each others houses rather than to restaurants, which is easier and much more relaxed.
The best thing for us tho' has been getting to know our 18 yo again. In the Uk he would pop home for a shower and a clothes change and we we would get 3 words out of him. Now he spends time with us.....not because he hasn't got any friends, he has, he has made friends at college and friends with the boys from his football team and he still falls thro' the front door at 4 in the morning at weekends, hes just changed and even takes his little brother to the park....unheard of in UK. He's happier, calmer and although he's missing his mates from England big time, he's loving the Aussie way of life..he even said this morning that he feels sorry for his mates in England and thanked me for making the move down under, I had a little cry and said no problem Hes just in a good mood because Man Utd won 7 1 last night.
All in all we are happier, more chilled and relaxed and have plenty of time to spend together doing whatevers on offer, which is usually plenty.
Lesley
fab posts all
its great hearing about life from each of you in different states, but they all have one thing in common, the quality of family life, and as that is our main reason for going (as well as the others mentioned in other posts but we wont get into that again ) it has just heightened our desire to go
& lc getting serious again thats what you get for becoming a senior member
anyway think it will be adelaide for us from that seems thats where they house the other nutters
donna
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arrived in adelaide 14th may 08
lc getting serious again thats what you get for becoming a senior member
anyway think it will be adelaide for us from that seems thats where they house the other nutters
donna
Dearest Monkey-Features,
I only came back on here to see your darling puckered up face, but thanks for the advice, and WELCOME to sunny, sick SA!!! There'll always be a welcome in the hillside for you.
Mwah mwah:wub:
I was wondering whether those who have made the move down under would share with the rest of us, who are still going through the process, what differences day to day you've noticed since moving.
Just thought it would be interesting, and maybe enlightening, if you could give us an outline of what an average day used to be like for you in the UK and what it is like now. You know the sort of thing - school run, shopping, socialising, outings, meals, etc. Do you see more of each other or less?
I'm just being nosey really but hope you will indulge me!!
Tracey x
:D Well done for that thread Tracey, I like being a wee bit nosey too!
Thanks to all the poms 'IN' oz for your stories, it made lovely reading, and gives you that little added boost that you need every now and agian!
Hi Tracey
Having been in Sydney for just over 7 months now I can say that life is so much better than in UK in lots of ways. Even though my OH is working longer hours (his choice at the moment!) he is enjoying working life so much more and find the people he has to deal with so much easier! We eat out far more than we ever did in UK, over here it's part of the culture and people do eat out a lot more and at weekends it's very popular to go out for breakfast. I find that we also eat far more healthily because the choice of fresh fruit and vegetables has to be seen to be believed and also meat is so much tastier. We rarely eat anything out of the freezer, apart from ice cream and paddle pops (I'm addicted to banana ones!) and also hardly any tinned food. We are never short of places to go to or things to do. We live in a small complex of townhouses and everyone is so friendly and there's a real sense of community, the neighbours are more friendly here than those I lived with for 5 years in UK and they have been very helpful to us since we arrived. Only thing missing for me at the moment is to make some friends - hopefully that will come in time.
Last but not least.....the weather!!!! It's now autumn and we still have temperatures in the 20s and you can still spend a day at the beach!!!! Enough said.....
Then and Now!!
and generally enjoying myself. (Tee hee! See, told you I'm lazy!). I help out at school and we still have that feeling of community, which I love.
LC
) it has just heightened our desire to go
Differences
