Been in Melbourne 2 weeks....

KazzE · 29-09-2008, 09:25 AM

And lovin it!
the weather has been varied, nice and warm one day and a bit of a chill the next, evenings are still chilly enough to have a fire on. We have also had a couple of very windy days and some rain - well they do say you can get all four seasons in a day in Melbourne.

We are living with my sister in Essendon, a short walk to the Keilor Road with a good range of shops, banks, post office, library, everything you need.

We have sorted out medicare and taxfile numbers
No worries about accomadation or car as these have been sorted by my sis, very lucky for us.

We have contacted agencies about jobs, hubby is a welder/fitter and I work in childcare, all looking positive so far................................

Had to take my niece to A&E after she had an accident when a carousel ride broke at the Melbourne show jarring her back, she was seen within 15 mins of our arrival by triage and by a Doc about 10 mins after that, very similar to our experience here in the UK but the waiting room was not as busy and the wait was shorter, can't remember which one we went to but not the one near the city, so that may have had an impact on the waiting times.

oh and I found out that they have Nurse on call which is like the UK nhs direct, you can call and ask advice.

Dad also had to go to the Doc's yesterday as he came back from the UK coughing, we finally got him to go on Sunday, to a walk in clinic in Moonee Ponds - he was seen within about 10 mins (cost him $60, of which he will probably get $30 back from medicare) he is on a year tourist visa. He has been for a chest x ray today and then back to the Doc's after waiting half an hour for his x rays.

The difference here is the paying and claiming back and the need to have private medical insurance to cover ambulance etc I am not very clued up on that yet so any info would be gratefully recieved.

Driving around is ok, still getting used to the fact that people undertake and it is OK ! and I need to remember to watch for trams on certain roads but I think I am going to have a lesson with an instructor just to familiarize myself with Oz highway signs and markings and the hook turn! would rather have my first go at that with someone who knows what they are doing in car.

I love the markets, the veg is good quality and I have been able to get wheat free products much easier here, most of the cafe's we have been in have the option for gluten free bread or toast. The fresh meat and fish is good quality and a good price, especially if you are there near closing and it is Grand final day! they were giving it away on Sat!

Bank account was easy, started the process in the UK and went in to the bank to show our I D a few days after arriving, no money over here yet! hoping for good rate over the next few weeks, but we have our cards and we are ready to go.

can't think of anything else now, will check back in a few days, it is surprising how little I seem to get on the computer these days, the waiting game is over - time to start living the dream LOL

Karen X

sanders family · 29-09-2008, 09:35 AM

Hi Karen it is lovely to hear that everything is going great, With the summer coming up it will only get better. Hope you sort out some jobs soon and then it will be plain sailing. Please keep us all posted on life in melbourne.
Take care Kim

moving2melbourne · 29-09-2008, 09:42 AM

Karen
What a super post, I think you summed everything up perfectly. Sorry to hear about your niece, is she ok now?
Hope you enjoyed yourself at the show before the incident and didn't spend to much on show bags. I was there running the Wildlife Victoria Stall.
Take care and please keep up with the updates as they are very valuable to the people waiting to come over.
Good luck with the job search.

tess · 29-09-2008, 11:07 AM

hi karen thanks for your brilliant post, were moving to melbourne in jan and the nerves are starting to get the better of me. your post just reminded me of my trip to oz in june especally the markets, which when reading gave me a warm feeling about moving in jan 09 tess xx

Lunarz123 · 29-09-2008, 11:10 AM

Really great to hear that you are happy with your move so far - we move to Melbourne in 8 weeks, so it's really helpful to hear what day to day life has been like for you so far. Hope it stays really positive for you

KazzE · 29-09-2008, 12:10 PM

Hey peeps thanks for replies

It is a huge move and not to be taken lightly (not that I think anyone does but...)

I have to say that I think it has been easy for us as we have come to family and we do not have young children to settle into schools etc

We have however left our grown up children in the UK - one has just started working after finishing his degree and the other is just starting Uni, tomorrow! she wanted an English Uni education, despite the fact that she could have done a very similar degree here in Melbourne, in fact, still could, she has a Common Wealth assisted place for next semester starting in Feb/March 09 but that is another long story.........................

But we are looking on this as a 4-5 year adventure, we want to get citizenship, and we will see where we all are then, hopefully the kids will have joined us (they both have permanent residency visas as they were dependant at the time of application and approval)

If anyone wants to meet up for a coffee or something give my a PM would love to meet some fellow PIO ers

Karen X

The York Clan · 29-09-2008, 12:33 PM

It is so great to hear something positive about Melbourne - so many threads on here are the complete opposite! We move to Melbourne in 5 weeks and we are nervous but excited too! Thanks for the post- makes me feel better about the whole thing!

jonseywife · 29-09-2008, 01:01 PM

Hi Karen
Glad u made it!!!!

As for your Ambulance cover query, you can actually go into your local Post Office and join. Your and your family will be covered immediately. We paid about £120 for all 6 of us, which is'nt bad. I recommend you get it asap as Ive heard the charge for Ambulances are really really expensive here.
Good luck, and if your ever down Mornington way, PM me. There are quire a few PIOers down here!!
Sally-ann x

TaniaColin · 29-09-2008, 01:32 PM

Hi Karen
Great post glad you are settling in to your new lives. Keep us updated
Tania X

EvieB · 29-09-2008, 07:20 PM

Hi Karen - great post, I hope you manage to keep us up to date with how you are doing. It was good for me to hear about you having to leave your adult children behind because I suspect we will be in that position and it is the one thing that causes me problems. It doesn't matter how old they are, they are still your kids, aren't they?
Please will those of you going in a few weeks try and let us know how you are doing? It helps so much!
X