northernbird

3 hours ago, DrDougster said:

So I reckon I owe you a beer or two!

The person I spoke to on the 'phone at BUPA was clueless. They told me we need overseas visitor health cover with a 457 despite me saying that we are from the UK and have a medicare card with reciprocal cover. Combined with their "offer" on private hospital cover the bargain was $420/month...

No OVHC and cover from HBF to avoid the MSL = $62.80...

Easily enough saving to pay a tax accountant!

 

This used to be true, in fact my cousin had to take it out before her 457 could even be issued.  Obviously the rules have changed since then.

A pure holiday assuming money no issue would be between SA and TAS.  No interest in anywhere else.

7 minutes ago, Martinbjulieb said:

As usual a topic has gone completely off track from “Quality of life for kids” to a debate about U.K/Australian weather, U.K/Australia bashing and talk of general “failure” of anyone who has the audacity to return home. Hardly helpful for the original poster or anyone else who had an interest in the topic to begin with!!

I agree with this sentiment.  Not everywhere is for everyone.  The UK lovers also need to remember this and not insult the intelligence of those that enjoy living in Australia as seems to happen just as often too

Depends where you want to be in Canada.  I lived in Alberta and Nova Scotia.  The extremes of cold can be as limiting as the heat depending on what you like to do so that's a consideration.  It can also get pretty hot in parts of Canada in the summertime too.  

On 3/11/2018 at 05:24, RMG said:

If I suggested to my husband or kids that we tidied the house at weekends there would be a riot.

we work to live, enjoying life, travelling, having fun as a family ( writing this on our way to Thailand). Both of us work, kids get lots of attention and interaction. 

Different people enjoy different things, no way is right or wrong as long as the people doing it are happy.

Then you are very lucky.  Weekend is the only time there is for me to do all those mundane household things.  Thank goodness for online grocery shopping otherwise that would be another job to fit in.

I don't get the British mentality that they always have to be doing something, going somewhere.  I haven't had a holiday in 8 years.  Haven't had time or money.  It's definitely a british thing because Australian friends of mine don't seem to have the same yearnings. I didn't feel the need to do something or go somewhere every weekend when I lived in the UK, US or Canada.  Life just takes over when you work full time so I would love to know where everyone finds the time.  Weekends are for shopping, housework and other mundane crap.  

One size does not fit all.  I have lived in 3 countries and had experience of education in all 3.  They are all much of a muchness to be honest.  My kids and I are happier here than the UK, does that make it better than the UK no of course it doesn't just better for us.

I've only been here 13 years and I have had very good experiences with friends.  No different really to the UK.  I think I've said here before but the hardest move I made was when in 1990 when I packed up my suitcase and headed down the M6 from Lancashire to London.  Man, those Londeners were unfriendly!!

my household contents insurance covers up to 5 incidents of accidental damage in 12 months with just $100 excess.  I recently had to claim for a new iPhone for my teenager as she ran the damn thing over in her car!!  That's with RAC WA but I am sure other insurers would do similar coverage.

On 10/9/2017 at 19:52, Pura Vida said:

I do recall aspects of your story. It is extremely sad when a relationship of such duration concludes as it did. I did suspect at the time knowing the country involved and more to the point how men behave in such situations.

While very comforting to have two dogs, I do trust you have a little more interaction in your life. We all deserve something more and try not to judge all possible future relations on a incredibly bad and unfair experience. Most of us have felt pain. I can only imagine after so many years have marriage you must have felt. Good luck.

Thanks, appreciate the kind words.  

11 hours ago, Pura Vida said:

Fine being single up to a certain age. I'm afraid I don't see much fun in the age though of being alone. Although obviously we can never tell the future and will have to grin and bare it if it arises. Part of the meaning of life is surely sharing experiences? Relating them to another when older? When younger though far better to be single with lots of friends with assets.

My observations are that it gets ever harder over the years. Those not used to sharing a life can find it near impossible. I really question how many are truly content or who just realise that they have likely missed the boat. Saying that being ' connected' but living apart, with perhaps weekends together and holidays may prove the more ideal option. Especially perhaps for women, whom often appear to do the solo living thing better. 

My comments are not specifically Perth related to which I maintain is somewhat difficult in the friendship stakes.  

I spent 25 years with 1 person and was dreadfully hurt by them.  I will not put myself in that position again.  I have older teenagers and I am now comfortable living in poverty in suburbia with my 2 dogs 

On 10/4/2017 at 15:55, Pura Vida said:

Well I don't know about like minded people but met my partner outside a post office, previous belles in situations ranging from beaches, cafes, hostels to name a few so I suppose there must be something there.

Usually its in the unexpected places and situations. Friends some what harder than lovers though. Or has the app world changed all that?

No idea, resolutely single for the rest of my living days!!

On 9/12/2017 at 20:13, Pura Vida said:

School gates tend to make acquaintances and seldom long lasting if what I am told holds sway longer term.  Small talk tends to be similar from place to place. Does that infer 'friendships'? I think not. Surely something more akin to a meeting of minds is more sustainable with similar cultural pursuits.

The rest I'd term ' normal daily human interaction'.

You can meet like minded people in lots of situations.   I met my best friend in Canada in the line at McDonalds.   It's very difficult meeting new people in any location but you open yourself up for success if you have school age children because you may just meet 1 person that you click with. 

No personal experience of the primary school but I did live in Sorrento for 12 months and had many friends who had their kids at the local school.  Hear very good things.  The suburb is lovely, close to all things and you won't go far wrong living there if you can afford to

2 hours ago, Rob-oz said:

Hi, I've never had issues regarding any type of ID, I've only ever been known by my current surname ever at the very start of primary school which I was probably registered with my medical card at the time which was also my current name. 

Im pretty sure my mum used my known name since I was about 2 years old.. 

 

 

 

 

the you possibly won't have any issues going forward.  He had issues when he applied for a passport which followed him when we got married and had our children.  He was born in 1968 so perhaps things have changed in recent years.

On 9/3/2017 at 16:44, Rob-oz said:

Hi all, 

 

I've submitted my documents to TRA via an agent, and I'm expecting (hopefully) a positive outcome within the next few weeks.

It dawned on me that although my birth certificate has a different name to everything else, I don't think this was ever done legally.

I'm 37 years old now, I have only ever been known by my current name since starting school, I have never had to mention my brith name other than when I joined the army, and I simply then had to fill in a form to state what name I wished to be known by (perhaps this changed it legally?)

My medical card, and school documents I may still have, national insurance card, HM Forces papers, driving license, passport etc all use my current name, only my birth certificate is different.

 

Is this likely to cause an issue? Should I be looking to get this registered by DeedPoll now just in case, or would it be acceptable as is considering I've only ever used my current surname (first and middle names remain the same)

Thanks

 

 

Did you have any issues when you first applied for a passport?  This is the same situation as my ex-husband.  His step dad never legally adopted him but when he applied for his first passport he had to jump through hoops to provide supporting evidence as to why his name was different.  He paid for a stat dec after that which accompanied all those documents if it was ever questioned.  All his official documentation now says Joe Bloggs, formerly known as Joe Smith.

I've said it before but the hardest move I ever made was from Lancashire to London in 1990.  Nothing prepared me for how hard that was.  3 different countries over the years were easy compared to that.

9 hours ago, Home and Happy said:

Indeed, if it works for you then great, at least you got in at a good time.    Don't you miss being able to take off in your car somewhere different for a weekend  tho ?  Personally I just love being British.

When I lived in the UK I never had the time or money to just take off as I don't here.  I still love the UK just choose not to live there as I love living here more.

On 8/14/2017 at 03:13, Home and Happy said:

If you have the money to get out of that place and get back to UK then go for it. 

A few years of Perth boredom will drive you nuts.

12 years in and I am still not bored or nuts!! Each to their own.

My local pharmacist told me that people are stocking up already.  My painkiller of choice is a mix of Ibuprofen and Codeine, works best for me.  I have started to buy a pack a week so I don't have to waste $85 seeing my GP just to get a script!!

Brought my kids out here when they were 7 and 3.  As an oil and gas family we had moved a lot so it wasn't a big deal for them and they settled with no issues.  As Quoll says if you are used to being around family and have a close knit group of friends they may find it harder.

I have an opposing view to the others.   I think you should try and get sorted with schooling straight away so that he (and you) can try and build some friendships before the long school holidays.  Arriving in early October would still mean you would have at least half a term.  I'm in the getting in a routine as early as possible camp.  We arrived on a Thursday and my daughter started school the following Monday.  Just my two cents.  

I know of many parents who are granted disability living allowance for their kids with type 1 diabetes ... so my apologies if I confused the two ... carers v disability living allowance, DLA requires the two year residency rule as I posted previously. I am saddened though at the usual comments, Diabetes is a major 'issue' ... children die of this disease. Parents have to change their working life/hours/commitments to take care of their children when other adults refuse to step up and assist. Too many schools are lax in their care of a type 1 child with a general huge misunderstanding of the disease. I speak from bitter experience which I would willingly trade with Sammy who seems uninformed. So, as with most life experiences, if you have no knowledge and only opinions ... then please think before you speak ... you literally have no idea

I know a few parents who have kids with type 1 diabetes and they have not had to change their working life/hours/commitments massively. Not enough to warrant a benefit payment anyway. Obviously it is a serious disease for a child to contend with but with all the modern medicine, technology etc then it's certainly a lot more manageable. I worked in a primary school for a number of years and the diabetic kids had no more parental phone calls than the kids that were sent to school with bad colds.

there are some good rail journeys through the Rockies I believe. Mil loved it. Never been myself. I'm afraid of bears.

Lived in Canada for 4 years, many trips across the country and didn't see 1 bear!! Very disappointed.

I am a firm believer in the smell of food. I don't tend to buy pate much but if I do I buy Maggie Beer and it's OK. If I am feeling adventurous I make my own as chicken livers are so very cheap.