Leaderboard

Yep!! Got a job offer so just submitting the paperwork now. Think id spent too long thinking about it and spending time worrying about every little thing that I just have to see for myself

Haha, Ballarat is already on top of a mountain, that's why it's so cool. The floods that make the news in Victoria are caused by the mighty Murray River and the Maribyrnong River, which overflow. Brisbane floods because it's on a river, too. Ballarat is nowhere near those rivers or any major rivers for that matter. Most flooding in Ballarat is FLASH flooding, which is when rain falls so heavily that the drains can't handle it fast enough. Obviously if you choose a house with a creek at the bottom of the garden, you might have a problem with water overflowing, but that's just common sense. I live in Victoria and we see reports about flooding in various towns all the time. I can't remember, in my six years here, ever seeing a news item about flooding in Ballarat so I doubt it has any serious problems. I know a couple who live there and they've never mentioned it either.

I've seen a fair chunk of Western Europe over the years, excluding Scandinavia, which I know I won't be retiring to! Spent a couple of weeks in Corsica back in the early 90s and although it was beautiful, it's not a place I'd go back to. The roads were terrible and the infrastructure was clearly in need of investment, so I can imagine some things would be expensive there. When I last visited France, which was about 5 years ago, I thought the supermarkets were on a par with the UK - maybe a little more expensive, but better choice than Austria, Germany and Switzerland, where they seem to have an obsession with cheese and sausages! Spain seems good value for property but the high rate of tax would hammer my pension income stream, so I think it would be out for that reason. Northern Portugal looks like the best bet at the moment, although again we'd need a visit, as I've only been around the southern half.

I know someone this happened to. It was much less severe of a false allegation, but touching someone's bottom is still sexual assault. If found guilty, the penalty was unlikely to result in a jail sentence, but would result in a conviction, being placed on the sex offenders register. That would have led to the loss of this persons job and they'd never have gotten another professional role again. They would have ended up losing their home, their children's lives would have been changed forever A couple of friends were character witnesses in court and one other who wasn't a witness sat through the whole trial. She described it as an absolute joke. The accuser was caught out in a lie on the stand and the jury deliberated for under an hour, including their lunch and acquitted. The impact on this person was profound. 18 months it took to get to court. 18 months of terror that his whole life could end as he knew it and his families for something that was blatantly malicious and false. He became withdrawn, depressed, was drinking more etc. Work performance suffered. Fear was the first thought he woke up with and never left. You can imagine. As he describes it, there was clear evidence from the start of malicious intent and clear evidence that the accusers story didn't make sense, but his solicitor said to him that in such cases at the time (over 15 years ago now) the prosecution service don't like to take a decision not to prosecute because there was bad press on the statistics for prosecution rates for sexual assault allegations and they prefer to make the jury decide not guilty rather then the CPS not prosecute. As well as undermining genuine victims, false accusations destroy people, even when (eventually) cleared. This person convicted yesterday is vile and deserves the harshest sentence possible. Please note, I'm in no way suggesting that most allegations are untrue. I'm sure they are not. I am quite sure that prosecution rates are terrible and that more genuine crimes go unpunished that false allegations happen.

Whilst Henry the hoover was out and about today I saw a big black spider in the corner of the room hidden behind a blind, it's body about as big as a finger nail, so I hoovered him up sharpish. Have I killed the spider or just made him really angry? I have hoovered up his web/home, imprisoned him in a really dark, dusty, windy place. Then he is held in this quiet dusty place, is he dead or is he alive? Will he climb through Henry's coiled up trunk and escape into the house?

This!!!! When you think that some of the actual perpetrators get less jail time than this it does make you wonder what the hell is going on.

Yeah that’s as I thought. To be honest I’d probably rather wait as well, as I want to see what’s what with areas etc first. I always think job hunting is a 2 way street - yes you need to be a good fit for the employer, but they also need to be a good fit for you. We are budgeting for 6 months living costs just to be safe. I’m not sure if it’s the same over there but applying for jobs in the Uk is a really rigorous process. Many hoops to jump through and time consuming. My current job I applied for in July, was interviewed in August but didn’t start until October - and that was fast! I don’t fancy the sponsorship route. That would be a last resort I think.

The process of getting a skilled visa can take a year or more. As you can imagine, not many employers are willing to wait that long. They 've got a vacancy to fill, after all, so they're more likely to settle for a second-best candidate than hang out for you. If an employer is willing to consider an offshore candidate, they will want to sponsor you on an employer-sponsored visa to get you out to Australia faster, rather than wait all that time for you to get your own visa. The downside is that you're then tied to that employer (and some employers exploit that) and it's likely to be a temporary contract. You could try applying for jobs from the UK, once the skilled visa is granted. Most employers won't consider you, though, for the same reasons as above. People apply for jobs claiming they can arrive and be ready to start work in three months' time, but then they can't sell the house or have trouble shipping the pets or whatever, and the employer is left high and dry. Therefore if you're going to apply, make sure you demonstrate that you really are organised and won't let them down. The majority of migrants just wait until they arrive before they start applying. For some occupations there's no choice because you have to be registered or do some local exams. Obviously, you need to budget for a few months' living expenses while you're looking for work in that case.

Id guess with a Henry, ' Incy' may well still be alive. I would be emptying Henry outside asap, just incase ' Incy ' is female and thinks that dark quiet spot is perfect for releasing a ton of little 'Incy's. lol Cal x

I agree, and in my opinion the biggest crime was the how this will detract from the scandal regarding the actual grooming gangs that is being swept under the carpet.

Don't let the removal guys unpack your chest of drawers, pack it full of socks, t shirts, bed linen. They will say they have to, because your socks might damage the chest of draws. Then throw a pair of socks at it and examine the damage.

I went to Croatia (Dubrovnik) for the first time last year. It reminded me of Italy and Corsica. The people were lovely - really ‘got’ the Scottish sense of humour!! it wasn’t cheap but i think things have changed a lot. Portugal is lovely and one of our fave places but is less developed than most of the rest of Europe and it is poorer. The people are fantastic though. We got lost in Olhão a few years ago and stopped to ask an old man directions - he actually said ‘follow me’ and physically took us to our destination. I am fortunate here, I work for the Civil Service and have a pension that can’t be beat. But I might not live to see it lol.

@calNgary thank you for the link, I’ve found this very useful, comparing affordable houses to where the flood areas are/waterways. I feel for people living in brissy, they don’t seem to catch a break with floods, and yet their housing prices are phenomenal! And their flooding isn’t just a bridge going over it’s houses fully submerged

It's very rare to get humidity associated with heat in Tasmania. I've lived in both northern New South Wales and Sydney and we don't get humidity like that. The odd 30+C days we get in summer are the result of strong northerly winds blowing down from inland mainland Australia so it's a dry heat. It cools as it crosses Bass Strait then heats up a bit again as it travels south over land (which is why Hobart has a few more 30C days than Devonport on the north coast where Toots lives. It may even be years since Devonport had one of those). Coastal areas generally get a cooling sea breeze in summer.

You don't have to be resident in Oz for 2 years before claiming. You can claim the day you arrive in Australia, but the catch is that you've then got to stay for 2 years, or it gets stopped.

Actually, all we know is that 30,000 fines were issued. We don't know how many people were fined as many of them may have been repeat offenders. Consequently, there were probably more than 6,650,000 people who went about their business without any hassles.

I went to Slovenia and Croatia back in the 70s, when they were still part of Yugoslavia. I remember my parents saying how cheap it was compared with the rest of Europe, although it was also quite backward as I recall. I guess they've moved on a lot in the last 45 years, and since joining the EU. Although given what's happening in Eastern Europe at the moment and the Balkans' reputation for instability as a region, I don't think I'll be moving there anytime soon.

Unless you have a very good government pension scheme in the UK, you won't be missing out by moving to Australia. Employers here have to pay a mandatory 10% of your salary (that's on top of your salary), into your superannuation, which is far more generous than most employers in the UK. Queensland government employees get 12.75%, and 18% if you're a police officer. You can also receive your UK state pension here once you get to retirement age, although it will be frozen in terms of the rate and is taxable.

Most any tourist area will have higher prices anywhere in the world. In France , best eat out if wanting a cheapish meal at a Pizzeria in the evenings , keeping other places for occasions. Vietnamese food bargains can be had if in Paris @the 13 th a, in Place D'Italie (China Town) Some good deals for lunch with 'Plat du Jour' during the day in most cafes everywhere. Eating out can be kept very acceptable doing this. Of course, as in a lot of Europe , things like breakfast can be kept at an acceptable price by standing at the counter, A table outside will cost more than a table inside as well. Then the tip adds to the cost.

You mean everything is expensive if you're a tourist. Fortunately we never eat out, so that's something we wouldn't miss. The French and Italians love to fleece the tourists, even those of their own nationality - they don't discriminate! I'm not sure if I really want to retire in Europe. Maybe it's just a fanciful idea and once I went there, I'd hate it. I know it will seem so busy when compared with here, which is something I wouldn't really like. We will have to go on a reckie at some point, just as you are doing

Yup, I asked my husband whether he thought Ballarat was flood prone and he was surprised I would think of asking! I think it is just the odd suburb on rare occasions.

Using Greater Brisbane as a guide, lots of areas that are listed as flood risk might just get some flash flooding that blocks low lying roads for a few hours, but not necessarily flooded enough damage to homes and property. I had a quick read for Ballarat and it say to avoid areas near Gnarr Creek ???? , so im guessing its the creek that is maybe prone to flooding. This is the council page for that area - https://www.ses.vic.gov.au/plan-and-stay-safe/flood-guides/ballarat-city-council Cal x

They've never mentioned it. Only time I ever saw it was a flash flood on the Creswick road which came and went. It was an odd year last year though and I vaguely recall a bit of flooding in Delacombe but my DH lived in Alfredton for years and never had any problems. Creswick had a flood problem but it seemed to have recovered by Christmas. It's not like Benalla or Albury which regularly get flooded. The rellies that still live there are outside the town and more concerned about bushfires than floods.

Oh no, I don't want them that close. They'll be popping in all the time! Half an hour is a good distance IMO

Just to update all - We paid 2nd VAC yesterday by BPay from our Australian Bank Account. Visa granted this morning for both of us. --------------------------- Just my pennies worth, as I mentioned earlier in our case, once the documents were submitted the files was not picked up until about 30/35 days afterwards. It also depends which Officer picks the file up and it was not the same Officer. Like someone else said, if it is straightforward file there is temptation to process that rather than a complicated one, which then may get pushed to the bottom of the pile again.