Hi Jodyl
I'm Susanne from Melbourne and I "accidentally" found your report about your planned move from the UK to Melbourne.
I am from Germany where I grew up and my husband and I have lived in Cambridge for 3 years before we moved to Australia in December 2006. (Sorry about my English - it's still not perfect
)
My family and I (two boys, 10 month and 2,5 years old and my husband) are just about to plan our move back to the UK in January 2009. We have been living here in Australia for 1,5 years now (one year in Brisbane and since January 2008 in Melbourne). We are living in Altona which is close to Point Cook and had a peek around the Point Cook area a few month ago as we had considered to move to this area as well when we had planned our move from Brisbane to Melbourne.
This area is a newly developed area and we personally think we are quite happy that we have chosen not to move to Point Cook. Though you will find plenty of spacious houses to rent or to buy for a reasonable price, we think it's quite far away from many amenities like shopping facilities, schools, kindergartens and so on. Even a playground is hard to find or a recreation ground to go for a walk with your German Shepherd might be difficult.By the way - what's going to happen to your dog? Is it going in quarantaine
pure dog?????
And as you can imagine in a newly developed area you rarely can see many trees, bushes or shrubs - just many many houses, loopy roads and many many cars.....
Apropos cars - rush hour traffic can be horrendous in this area as so many people are commuting to and from this area every day!
When you look for a house bear in mind to buy or rent one with AC
AND heating as it gets very hot in the summer (40 degrees and more) and cold at night during winter time (we have sometimes 2-5 degrees at night at the moment).
About your jobs - I don't know much about the IT sector. I spent the time at home to look after our children (but wouldn't have a problem to find a job as a nurse which is my profession - despite the fact that I wouldn't pass the English test) and I'm pretty sure you, as a midwife will find a job very quickly.
If you're still in the process of moving to Melbourne or are coming to Melbourne later this year and need some advice or even white goods (bought in January 2007) or an 18 years old very reliable car for peanuts - just give me a shout.....We will start selling everything from December onwards!
Would love to hear from you again!
Good luck for you and your family!!!!!!!!!!!!!
