any meets in essex

[frances]

Hi Kdal, Sorry I am sure that is not your name, My children have settled well really the 13 year old has started school and settled brilliantly, Stephen my son is 17 and he really misses his friends, the nightlife here on the coast isn't great well not like the UK anyway, I am not sure if it is good or bad but I think the kids get bored and they seem to close down the clubs when the oldies start to complain, which is a shame as they need these places to go at that age, they all seem to think here that the kids don't drink until they are 18 but i am sure they do on the beaches and parks etc just like they do in the UK. Stephen has made friends at College and he is very sociable so he does go to the pubs and places and seems to have a good time he is going to Sydney this weekend on a Cruiser to a 21st with someone from College and looking forward to it, so there are things for them to do if they go looking for it, and the same for us aswell you need to get out there to meet people. I normally work in Admin type work and I was working for Chelmsford Borough Council before I came here I had a lovely job there and they offered me my job back the other week but unfortunately i couldn't work from home here, I can't think why!!! i still keep in touch with them there, my husband works in the car industry as a sprayer, he was a Manager in the UK but has gone backwards to doing spraying here but he is always looking for jobs nearer to home as he has to travel about an hour each way and leaves early, which is what a lot of people do here, i have to get up at half four for my lovely job
in a Nursing home and I am working in the Kitchen wearing a lovely paper hat and cleaning, it is not great but keeps the pennies coming in, but I hate getting up so early as we are not early to bed people like they are here. Your children are similar ages to mine my son was 16 when we first came here and I know that given the chance he would go back to see his friends tomorrow, but to be honest we all feel like that it is only natural when you are starting your life over again Frances

[kdal]

Hiya Francis, My name is Kim (sorry I didn't sign of with it).

You must have been pretty fab at your job in Chelmsford if they have offered you to work from Oz!! Such a shame the Ozzie's can't see it. My OH keeps telling me not to worry and I will walk into a job no prob, but he is a real positive thinker and i'm not so positive. Like you my work is generally admin, although I have been a Director of Personnel for 4 years now, but to be honest it's alot of headache and work load and not sure I want it again, I just want a nice little admin job (suppose everyone does though!)

Glad to hear that your children are settling in and that your sons of to have some fun, as I know I loved my younger years and don't want them to miss out.

Funnily enough a friend of a friend their son went to St JOhn Payne School, they went to Melbourne in March and returned already! Their son would be 16/17 years old now as he was due to take his exams this May but left to go to live in Australia.

Bet you look lovely in your nice paper hat!! Good to know that the Aussies follow of the Food & Hygiene regs etc though! And there is only one 4:30 in my day and thats the PM one!! I'm not good a getting up before 6:30am I'm afraid.

I noticed when we came to Oz that everyone goes to bed early but then I suppose it gets light early too so you need to get your sleep in. The only thing I didn't like about Brisbane is that it was dark so early, and I do enjoy a nice summers evening.

I know it's early days for you , but do you think you will stay in Oz, and do you think your children would like to stay in Oz too!! But just come back and visit friends?

So nice to hear from you
Gd Luck
Kim
p.s. I bet your be off to bed soon then (lol)

[frances]

Hi again Kim,

I was joking when I said they offered me a job from here at the council (I wished), I cpoke to my old Manager yesterday on email and she thinks she is coming out here in December so it would be good to see her, but I think everyone wants to come at christmas but it would be good to see familiar faces especially at that time. Yes I do think we will stay in Australia I don't see the point of going through all that you have to do to go home unless of course you are really unhappy, then maybe, I hope the children want to stay here as I wouldn't really want them to go home but who knows my son is 17 now and he may want to go back one day, but even if he does I think he would probably come back, even though I get fed up with the job situation I will plod on until something else turns up I have to think positive as this is never an easy thing to do. What is your friends sons name Stephen probably knows them? so they didn't like Melbourne we were thinking of going there aswell, my friends sister lives there, have they come back to Chelmsford, what school do your children go to? where are you thinking of going to in Oz it is good to speak to you take care Francesxxxxxxxxxxxx

[kdal]

Hi Frances
The boy that has just moved back his name is Josh, not sure abt his surname but think they used to log on here under costworth123 or something like that. It's shame that they moved back so quickly and i'm not sure why but i'm sure they have their reasons. They lived in Maldon. My boys got to William De Ferrers, in SWF and so far can't wait for the move toOz.
LOL I thought you were serious abt the council job , I really do hope you get something soon, Fingers crossed for you!

Not sure were we are going yet it will prob be Brisbane but could be Adelaide. When we came to Oz the boys loved Brisbane so it might be an idea to settle where they are going to be happy and I should imagine that the work situation could be better there too.
Where exactly are you living?

Got to go to work now, so catch up soon
Kimx

p.s. Sorry The Greenwards as I know it's your thread, you may know some places we are talking about feel free to join in the conversation.. Perhaps we can all meet up in Oz when we get there

[the greenwoods]

Hi there Kdal you spoke to my husband Carl the other night. We're not quite sure which part of Oz to go to yet if we do come out as he has family in Wynnum, West Queensland and our friends moved to Perth about a month ago. We really need to go where he can get a carpentary job. Still very much undecided at the moment. I know deep down it will be great for the children and for us come to that but it is the thought of leaving family and friends at home here. Anyway, we're still researching and looking and very conscious of the fact that this is really our last chance because of our ages! Denise.

[kdal]

Hi Denise
Think so many people feel that way about missing family and friend and that is half the reason that so many people return to the UK too!
But as you say, time is against us too and it's a now or never situation for us. Our two boys want to live in Australia so much and my eldest wants to study marine biology or something to do with reptiles, so Australia will be better for him. We thought if we could apply for the visa now and get there on Darens merits and then at least the boys have the opportunity to live in Oz, as in the future it may be difficult for them to get in on their own.
So we will do the hard work now for them and then they have more opportunities!

When we visited Australia, I must confess I did wonder why we had never been before then perhaps we would be there already!

You never know when we get there to actually live it may not be what we expected, but hey Denise we are only here once and give yourself and your children that life time experience!!

Are you getting any closer to a decision? If I were you I know it costs you but get the ball rolling anyway.


Gd luck and keep in touch and let us know what your upto?

Kimx

[Curlysoo]

I only joined this site yesterday and i stumble across a thread talking about Chelmsford!! ..... coz WE LIVE THERE!!! ..LOL!..I am married to an Ozzie and we are moving out to Sydney next year ...though not sure what month yet.

I would be interested in an Essex Meet .... just to have a general chat about how people are doing and what they intent to do once they do the "big move".

Sue ....X

[KP Nuts]

Hi, we are also from Essex, (Romford) and just to confuse things more my name is also Kim, oh a roofer, i work for Sainsbury's in the personnel dept (so another admin job please). If you do have a meet can you please let us know.

At what time have you told your kids??? ours are 13, and twins of 10, thought we get the ball rolling quite away before telling them, just in case we don't get there, it's bad enough on a car journey are we there yet!!!!!

Hope to speak to you all soon

KP Nuts (Kim & Peter)
and three little nuts

[kdal]

Hi, Denise and Mr Greenwood
Looks like you got quite a response to your thread!!

Let us all know about a meet in the future as would be good to see what everyone wants to do etc.. when in Oz.

Hi Sue, Did you OH come from Sydney? Or is work taking him there? Have you ever been before?
How exciting for you. We hope to go next year depending on Visa, and hope to be there about September time. Frances who put a post in here was from Chelmsford and she is in NSW now!

Hi Kim, We have all ready told ours and your right they keep asking when?? So we have to tell them it's subject to the visa! Our eldest son (15) goes on the internet on realestate.com.au and calls me every now and then saying "Mum come and have a look at this house with a pool, can we buy it?". So your probably right to hold off!!!

Stay in touch everyone
Kimx

[kelly]

hi to the greenwoods, really sorry for the delay but no hubby aint got any offers yet, he has not applied for any, a chippy mate of his went over there a little while ago and said there are loads of jobs so will wait till we get there and he can look about a bit first,
hi kp nuts and welcome to pio, my nick name has always been kp nut as kp are my initials, my sister has always called me that so it was a bit funny seeing that there is another kp nut, we are in dagenham, just down the road from you,
if there any meet ups let me know and we will come,
good luck to everybody
kelly