calNgary

12 hours ago, Parley said:

It is weird how so many poms moved to Perth. I had no idea until I joined this forum. I still have no idea why it is other than people acting like lemmings and doing it because everyone else does.

Bit late now buy you may have enjoyed other cities like Melbourne, Sydney or Brisbane much more.

Perth was our second choice if things didnt work out in QLD. Nothing to do with being lemmings for us, hubby had visited years ago and said it was his next fav place after QLD and also we wanted sun and heat so weather wise QLD and WA were our choice on that front.

 15 years here and not got to Perth yet,lol. too much to see and do in QLD

 Cal x

15 hours ago, carly baker said:

Hi

I want to get a new iPhone soon, looking at the iPhone 13, should I buy before i go from Apple £779 or will i get cheaper or more expensive in Austrlia. Also my contract with 3 ends just before I leave mid March, how can i keep my UK number, I have looked at companies that port numbers through an app, has anyone done this or is there an easier option. I will get an Oz number and contract but want to keep my current number as its linked to my banks for security codes etc

Any help much appreciated x

An Iphone 13 is currently $1348 over here. I bought our daughter one from JB Hi Fi for xmas she has a cheap $40 pr month plan but it doesn't include the phone. The only place they may be cheaper is on line with Kogan but last time hubby bought one from there it wasn't new, just reconditioned.

  Cal x

If you leave Aus prior to gaining citizenship just make sure you have plenty of time left on your visa or a RRV in place.

  Cal x

6 hours ago, Burnsy100 said:

Right, loads of great advice there. Thanks everyone. 

If you are thinking of going to a different state i would keep all the applications and any knock backs for the State you applied for. At least they will show you genuinely tried and could help IF you are questioned at any point in the future.

 Cal x

12 hours ago, JJJ89 said:

thank you all, I opted for "any" as my points you can see it is very low.

Unfortunately ticking any does seem to go against you. I would book an appointment with a reputable agent (W Russel replied above his contact info is at the bottom of his post) and see if they can help you rectify or reapply. Good luck i hope you get it sorted

 Cal x

4 hours ago, JJJ89 said:

Dear All,

I have applied EOI for Australia Migration for 189 Visa with 70 Points, 190 with 75 & 491 with 85 points. Please suggest me the chance of invitation ( Jan 2022 scheme ) or any chance of getting invitation with the above score recently. My age is going to get deducted soon.

Which option you suggest to move forward as my Profession is ELECTRICAL ENGINEER. Which place will be better?

May be worth having a look at some job sites such as Seek.com to see which States seem to have most vacancies in your line of work.

Having a chat with an agent about what to do with your current applications wouldn't go amiss either.

 Cal x

4 hours ago, Quoll said:

100+km actually.  Most of it on the Westgate Freeway which can be very good or not so good depending on the traffic and the other drivers.  They reckon about an hour and a half into central Melbourne.

I just went off Google .

  Cal x

1 hour ago, Marisawright said:

Gosh, that's a long trek.  

70 ish km?  Hubby has done a similar distance twice daily for 15 years, 2 girls i work with do a similar length commute,,  plenty of people drive an hour to work so its not that long really to be fair.

 Cal x

22 hours ago, MARYROSE02 said:

I thought Noosa would be busy? I looked on Booking.com for accommodation and there seemed to be plenty, no skyscrapers I guess.  I love looking at the towers but I'm scared of heights or rather scared of the balconies so I'll request a low level room if I don't stay in a 3 level place.

If my brother had chosen Noosa, or somewhere else I'd have gone there.  I don't think he likes Surfers despite going back. He stayed in Redcliffe for a few days and he liked it there. 

I don't crave crowds and noise but do like having all the services within walking distance of where I live.

There's a surf club at Noosa isn't there.  Guy I know in Surfers told me it's good.  Add in a few restaurants  bars, shops, doctors and dentist and I'm set.

I don't like having to get into a car to drive to a shopping mall.  I use my corner shop here below my unit. 

Its only busy with tourists the majority of the time.

Worlds apart and much more built up but again with some lovely areas is Caloundra. Caloundra IMO is more like Recliffe, more shops, eaterys and overall choice.

Cal x

2 hours ago, Parley said:

I would be worried having such a high mortgage payment on your annual salaries. I think it will be a struggle.

If one or other of you lose your job, you will not be able to maintain your repayments and could even lose your house.

It might be better to rent for a few years.

With the deposit they have , they should only need a small mortgage to buy a nice house in Sunny Coast if they select their area carefully. Of course if they want Millionaires row in Noosa or Mooloolaba or a Mc manshion on the river it would cost more but a simple 4 bed brick lowset can cost around the Hi 5's - $6  upwards..

Cal x

On 21/09/2018 at 09:05, klr81 said:

Hello all,

We might have the opportunity to move to Orange and I'm trying to find out the realities of living that far out from Sydney. We are not a city family, we like a weekend there occasionally but we are really looking for outdoor lifestyle, beautiful walks, access to good food - and seasons for my husband

It looks to me like Orange has enough facilities and services to make it not a problem to b 4 hours out from Sydney, but looking to hear from those who live/ have lived there. We are currently weighing up a few areas in NSW and VIC.

Cheers!

Jx

Apologies for your post being taken so far off track.

  Cal x

15 hours ago, Blue Flu said:

To CalNgary. I thought you were a nurse.?  If wrong that will perhaps go part of the way in explaining why you found the above post homourless. I doubt if too many working on the front line in any medical situation would find the impact of those inflicted by methamphetamines to be in any way a laughing matter. 

It's impact on society is severe and as I have mentioned it all around me in its manufacture. The main reason I want to move out of the inner city to a more 'normal'  living environment. My contacts tell me it is everywhere, perhaps not as extreme as present but has become mainstream. 

 

I giggle because you refer to drugs in 90% of your posts like its the worst place on earth. I giggled because when / if you do go back to the UK you will likely get a massive reality check where drugs are concerned and then you will understand why i giggled at your post.

I totally agree about the front line. Do you watch Ambulance, A & E after dark, the Interceptors, any UK shows like that? If not i think you need too as it will show just how bad the problem is and has been for years in many, many areas across the UK.

 oh and no im not a nurse.

 Cal x

2 hours ago, Bulya said:

You didn’t answer the question.  Why can’t you buy booze in the supermarket where you live?

If he was referring to Surfers Parodies he is correct, Supermarkets here do not sell alcohol. They tend to have a BWS or similar nearby.

 Cal x

If you liked Surfers i do think the Sunny Coast areas would be too quiet. Noosa is pretty much one small street, Mooloolaba not much bigger. Stunning places but worlds apart from Surfers Paradise.

Cal x

Tewantin  is beautiful, all of the Noosa area is, but it also carries a nice price tag, especially since Covid hit and lots of people have moved to QLD. Have you had a look on realestate.com to check out whats available? It will give you a guide to rental and purchase costs of Tewantin and surrounding areas (Noosaville is nice too, Perigan springs and Coolum a bit further down are also quite  popular areas).

 Cal x

3 hours ago, Bobj said:

The only beach I ever liked in England was Blackpool Pleasure Beach! (1956)
Spent more time on Rotto beaches than Perth beaches, that was in 1964. Some of the beaches around Bussleton/Dunsborough are really beaut. 
Cheers, Bobj.

We took the kids there when we first when back as they were too young to remember it. I said this was our equivalent of Dreamworld when we lived there,lol

As for nice beaches, Abersoch had a lovely beach and i vaguely remember  visting Morecombe (?) beach as a child and from memory that wasn't too bad either,  I think there was one near Poole in Dorset we went to that was a bit like an alcove and although not big ,was lovely.

 Cal x

3 hours ago, Kristie said:

Also, would this be case if applying 190 ? 

I found this link see if it helps you.

https://education.nsw.gov.au/teach-nsw

and here is the link for Seek.com to give you an idea of what vacancies are out there -   https://www.seek.com.au/Education-Teacher-jobs/in-NSW

  Cal x

I guess what goes ahead may well depend on our friend Covid,lol. Have a look through these links to see if you get any ideas but also keep an eye on any local Facebook pages for things being advertised.

https://www.finder.com.au/valentines-day-sydney

https://allevents.in/sydney/valentines-day

  Cal x

2 hours ago, RandL said:

Now that Covid is kicking off in Australia , does anybody know how to transfer your NHS vaccination records to Medicare ? 

This should help a little - https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/overseas-immunisations?context=22436

If you’ve received an approved or recognised COVID-19 vaccine while overseas, you can have it recorded on the AIR when you get to Australia. It will then appear on all of the following:

• your COVID-19 digital certificate
• your International COVID-19 Vaccination Certificate
• your immunisation history statement.

2 hours ago, Rija said:

Are they going to advise further tests or can we do tests on our own with any medics like GP and submit the results.

Its a been a few years now but when i was sent for ''further investigation'' it had to be with a DR they stipulated (at your cost of course). However if this is issue is new for hubby it may well be worth going to your GP to see if it is an infection and if he can be given antibiotics so hopefully it is cleared by the time you have to see one of Immi's specialists. 

 Good Luck

   Cal x

 Its funny, we used to get lots of reports in mods saying any thread about MBTTUK was hijacked, we started a section just for MBTTUK to post away and vent (within the rules) as much as peeps want and now its a complete reversal.

Sadly and with apologies to the OPwill now close this thread as yet again it has been taken off track. 

Here is a refresh of the Forum Etiquette EVERYONE agrees too when they sign up to PIO.  The full rules can be found here - 

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11 hours ago, Loopylu said:

You’ve been here all of 5 minutes. Let’s see how you feel after several years of living isolated from family. My children have not seen their grandparents for 3 years now due to harsh travel restrictions. 

16 years almost for us and i agree with the majority of her post.

I think sometimes the trick is learning not to blame your personal hard times on a whole country.

 Cal x

9 minutes ago, Bulya said:

Trams in Canberra, Newcastle, Sydney.  

Dont forget the Gold Coast

 Cal x

1 minute ago, DIG85 said:

But Australian rego includes insurance. In the UK, car insurance is very expensive - more than the equivalent of $800 usually. 

Yes but that is only a very basic 3rd party insurance. I pay another $800 for fully comp insurance on my car. so Ins and Rego all up is around $1700 a year x

  Cal x

39 minutes ago, Blue Flu said:

And not forgetting the greater distance travelled by auto in this country. Or probably the lack to a greater extent the availability of public transport that, at least in the bigger cities, allow something of a choice. 

Who wants public transport when we have all these roads to travel and places to explore without being stuck in a traffic jam?  Half of the best places we have stumbled across when exploring at weekends since arriving here have not been on public transport routes. We drove Adelaide to Brisbane a couple of years after we arrived and used all the in land roads, it was amazing to see, even more so for the kids when they saw Emu's running alongside us. I love the road trips here.

You mention the distance people travel and you sure do put in the miles over here , hubby worked 9KM from home in the UK and because he had to cross town it took pretty much the same time it takes him here doing 57KM !!! 

  Cal x