LKC

8 minutes ago, MelT said:

Lovely to read about your adventures today... Our friends in Scotland were planning to drive down to visit us tomorrow - However, with the arrival of so much of the 'white stuff' it has meant we cannot meet up this time (our planing trip to come home). Look forward to seeing our friends when we move back for good by Sept 18. They said Scotland had not seen snow like this for quite a few years... keep warm and safe xxx.

Yes, our neighbour said it hasn't been this bad since 2010.  Apparently, the next village along got 6 inches in an hour!  It is up to our kids knees in our back garden, and they are 9 and 11, so it is pretty deep!

Well, we were hammered today!  Saw the forecast for snow, but realised that the fridge was bare and that I'd have to go and get some supplies.  No problem, I thought, I'll go straight after I drop the kids at school and get enough shopping for the weekend.  It had started snowing when I took the kids to school, and by the time I was on the way to the supermarket it was coming down quite heavily.  I got to the supermarket and got a small trolley full of shopping, only to realise, once I was at the checkout, that I had taken my card out of my purse to order tiles for our new kitchen the night before, and hadn't put it back in.  So, I drive the 9 miles home to get my card.  The roads are starting to get pretty dicey at this point, but I got back without incident.  I then drove back along to the supermarket.  The roads are now completely white, and it is difficult to see too far ahead.  I get to a large traffic island just before the supermarket, and manage to get myself stuck in a big frozen rut of slush.  I oversteer in panic, the back of the car is snaking around, and for a second I thought I was going to have a bit of a mishap.  Luckily, I remembered the advice that my driving instructor had given me, and managed to regain control and get to the supermarket without further incident.

After paying for my shopping and getting back in the car, I notice that there is a text message from school, saying that they are closing at 12, and that I was to collect the children asap.  No problem, I have to go through the village with the school in order to get home.  I drive the few miles to school, on roads that are like ice rinks, with snow coming down thick and fast, but make it and get the kids.  Our village is about two miles from the village where the school is, and it usually takes five or so minutes to get between home and school.  Unfortunately, on my side of the carriageway a truck had broken down a few miles ahead causing a tailback, and on the other side of the carriageway several trucks had got stuck coming up the hill out of our village.  A gritting/ploughing vehicle was getting the trucks out, but it took almost an hour to get home.  We live up a tiny single-track lane, which is on a bit of a hill, so I was a bit worried that I wouldn't make it up to the house.  However, my trusty Volvo performed magnificently, and we reached the drive easily.  Once the kids were fed, I got my snow shovel out and cleared the drive ready for my OH, who was also on his way home from work.

When I had finished that, I went to have a look down the lane, and saw that my OH's car had got stuck on the hill.  So he, two neighbours (one of whom was stuck further down) and I set about clearing the lane.  An hour later it was much improved, and with the help of a random stranger in a Land Rover Defender who helped tow the cars, both OH and the neighbour made it onto their respective drives.  The four of us were stood at the bottom of our drive, congratulating ourselves on a hard job well done, when the local farmer drives by in his tractor, with a snow plough on the front, clearing the remainder of the snow in one easy sweep.  It was perfect comedy timing!

When I told people that we were moving from Australia to Scotland, they asked how we'd cope with the cold weather.  It is assumed that to live in such conditions, we must spend the best part of the winter indoors.  Mother Nature has thrown an absolute blinder at us today, but with the help of the local community (including the farmer who drove past with a smirk on his face), our difficulties were overcome, and we got to spend the remainder of the day building an igloo in the garden.  The weather is the weather.  You can't change it, you can just adapt your behaviour to it.  Today has shown me that the community we have chosen to live in is the right one for us, and I am so happy that we moved back, whatever the weather throws at us.

This is our igloo.  Sorry about the bad photo, it was dark by the time we finished 

School was open, and actually the roads weren't too bad.  Our road is a narrow, steep-ish lane, but I took it steady and got out onto the main road without any trouble.  I have to take a kitchen sink over to our new house at some point, so I might brave it later on, although that lane is steeper.

This is on the walk to school, from where I park the car.

14 hours ago, VERYSTORMY said:

My village taken this afternoon. My wife has said the road in is only now passable by tractor and we are expecting 3 more days of heavy snow. Me getting home on Friday is going to be interesting.

It's the same in our village.  The main road has been gritted and is mostly okay, but the road where we live is going to be a tricky drive.  OH had to help dig a neighbours car out yesterday evening, because he'd got stuck on the hill coming up to the houses.  We collected the kids from school early yesterday, and I'm kind of hoping the school is closed today so I don't have to go out.  

8 hours ago, Marisawright said:

Only you can decide, but my gut feeling says, go for it, and the sooner the better.

From reading these forums, the most common reason people go home is because they miss family.  I see a lot of people for whom it wasn't an issue when they emigrated - but as soon as you have a child of your own, it changes your whole attitude.

Once you start to feel that way, the feeling seems to get stronger as time goes by - so even if you put it off, you'll probably end up going eventually, so why not bite the bullet.  Right now, your daughter is tiny and she will adapt to life in the UK without a qualm. You won't have all the angst of moving schools and leaving friends.   Delay your move until she's, say, 10 or 12 or 15, and she'll have rosy memories of her life in the sun, so when she's grown up she's more likely to head back to Oz, leaving you behind (of course, she may go anywhere in the world, but an attachment to Oz makes it more likely).  

A lot of people don't settle back in the UK, but that's often because they were discontented with life in the UK before, and they go back to the same problems.   You say that's not an issue, so it sounds like it should be fine.

I agree with most of this.  We loved our time in Sydney, and there are things we miss, but found that as time went on, and the cons started to outweigh the pros, the feeling of wanting to return just got stronger and stronger until the point that we decided it was time.  Like you, we left the UK because we had the opportunity for an adventure, and whilst we loved Sydney, we love the UK too.  We didn't leave because we didn't like the UK, and we didn't return because we didn't like Sydney.  They are both fantastic countries, and we are lucky to be able to live in either.

For what it's worth, we moved here when the kids were 1 and 2, and moved back when they were 9 and 11, and they settled well on both occasions.

Someone more knowledgeable might be along in a minute, but as far as I know, when a new visa is issued it overrides the old visa.  Therefore, when the visitor visa is issued, the 457 would become invalid and your partner will have to stop work at that point (because you can't work on a visitor visa).  I think the eVisitors are issued fairly quickly, so you should be okay to do it once she has finished work.  

2 hours ago, Parley said:

Is a sledge the same thing as a sled ?

Is sledge a pommy expression ?

Probably, since I'm British.  It'd be a bit odd if I used Aussie words in preference to British ones, having lived only one fifth of my life in Australia, no?

It rained up here all day yesterday, but we had a beautiful Boxing Day walk.  Just a slight dusting of snow on the top of the hills, but more forecast for the end of the week.  Of course we got the kids a sledge for Christmas, so we'll not actually see any more snow than that this winter!

On 19/12/2017 at 12:43, Sandgroper said:

My Doctor here is from England, of Indian descent but born and raised In England. He loves GP work but said what was expected of him in the UK was ridiculous 60-70 hr weeks with the prospect of every other weekend as the practice he worked at was being forced to open at weekends. 

He's loving it in Australia he can work set hours at a busy practice which he enjoys and acknowledges the better lifestyle available is beneficial for him and his young family.

It's sad that professionals that are passionate about there work are having that passion stifled by ridiculous working conditions and cuts to budgets, the NHS will end up staffed by migrants (not knocking them) and all privatization will achieve is a lowering of standards. We have two family members who work in aged care (NHS) one has over 30 years service, in the last couple of years all the NHS aged care homes in our area have been privatized and staff forced to TUPE over to a company called Care UK the way they have been treated is shocking they have been forced to take up new T&C's, lost current pensions, had pay cut considerably it really is sad to hear them talk about it.

At our GP surgery in Australia, out of six GP's three were from the UK.  I went to see one of them just before we moved back to the UK, and he commented about the NHS in a rather non-complimentary way. 

Having said that, we've had no problems with the NHS since we got back.  I needed to take eldest daughter to see a GP a couple of days after we got here, and they saw her the same day.  I booked an appointment for something and could be seen same day if I wanted, although I opted to book for a couple of weeks later because it wasn't urgent.  Eldest was referred to an occupational therapist by school, and less than one month later I had the appointment letter in my hand for next month.  I wonder how much this has to do with us being in Scotland though.  I know family members in other parts of the UK are always moaning that they can't see their GP until weeks later than they'd like.

It came down quite heavily in Birmingham from what my mum and grandma said, but we've not even had a single flake in our bit of Scotland.  I believe that there is plenty in the areas around where we are, and I can see some on the hills out the front of our house, but we are right on the western edge of Fife, which seems to have a climate of its own.  The kids are quite disappointed!  We had a beautiful blue sky yesterday with very few clouds, but today there are some clouds around.  They keep asking if they're snow clouds, but they aren't!

12 minutes ago, bristolman said:

Not even a speck of the white stuff here, nothing lol

We don't have any either just a bright blue and mostly cloudless sky, though it is very cold.

It was quite mild when I dropped the kids at school yesterday morning, about 8° or so, but it didn't feel cold.  There was a really cold wind when I picked them up, though, and it was getting dark with the street lights on as we were driving home.  I think we're set for a few very cold days, temperatures around freezing but feeling much colder with an arctic wind.  It looks like we might get some snow over the weekend too.  We're ready though.  Cold weather in Scotland in December is pretty normal, I'd have thought!

Today's weather...beautiful but with a very hard frost this morning (couldn't open the car doors), and now snow!  The kids are going to be beyond excited!

I watched a TV series a while ago, that had been filmed in one of the London hospital trusts (I can't remember what it was called, but I'd seen it recommended on PIO).  What was surprising to me, something that I hadn't really thought of, was that oftentimes the surgery lists can be 'blocked' by shortages of beds further up the hospital.  For example, patient on a ward who can't go home although ready to because there is nobody to look after them there and no residential care, meaning that someone who is ready to go from a more high-dependency unit area to the ward can't, meaning that someone who needs transferring from intensive care can't move to the high dependency unit and so on.  So although it looks like nothing is going on with the surgery lists, it only takes a couple of blockages further up the hospital, or a couple of emergency admissions to scupper things.

Both the NHS and social care are chronically underfunded unfortunately, which does have an effect on numbers of hospital beds and how they need to be used.  Having said that, I do love the NHS and have had mostly positive experiences with it.

We had snow this morning, it settled on the hills but not in the valley where our village is.  It was pretty cold, about -1° when I took the kids to school, but it was fine as we wrapped up warm.  We have bright blue sky now.  Gorgeous!

Just now, VERYSTORMY said:

Stunning Autumn day here in Scotland today. Cold and crisp but crystal blue skies. Just about to take the dog for a walk in the park. 

It's beautiful, isn't it!  Not a single cloud in the sky.  We're just heading over to Linlithgow for a walk round the loch and a look at the palace.  Once I can persuade the kids to get dressed, that is!

Just now, bristolman said:

16c here, still in shorts and t-shirt, comfortably not to prove a point lol

I had to put gloves on this morning!  Some of the kids at school are still in shorts, though!

9 minutes ago, bristolman said:

Another absolutely glorious day today. Not a cloud in the sky, Autumn is a beautiful time of year. 

Similar here.  Bright blue sky, a few white whispy clouds, gorgeous sunshine.  It has been chilly, was about 2 degrees first thing and there was a frost on the grass in some places, up to about 12 degrees this afternoon, but it really has been a beautiful day.  Not that I mind the drizzle when it's here, though!

12 minutes ago, bunbury61 said:

now that is stunning ...scotland ????

Yes, Scotland.  I took this one out the back of our house.  We've ended up in a really beautiful area!

This was taken on my morning walk yesterday.  It was about 12 or 13 degrees, but beautiful .  

I was thinking about this whilst having my morning walk (in the drizzle), having read the other post this morning.  We didn't move either way for the weather, although it was something we thought about before we made the decision to move back (a small piece of a much bigger picture).  Some people (like us) find the heat and humidity draining.  We found that doing the things we like to do (walking/hiking, geocaching) far more difficult in the heat of summer in Australia than in the depths of winter in the UK.  Other people find the rain/cold/dark oppressive, and thrive in the heat and sun.  Rather than the weather being better in one place or the other, it is just different, and different people are differently suited to different types of weather.  We don't mind putting on warm and waterproof clothing and getting on with it, come rain, hail or shine and never feel shut in here.  Other people don't like to do that, so I can completely understand why they'd feel like they were permanently indoors for months in the winter.

The weather here (Scotland) has been pretty good since we moved back.  We have had some wet days, but it hasn't stopped us from going out.  I'm still doing my morning walk in just jogging bottoms, t-shirt and light, unpadded bodywarmer if it is dry, or a light waterproof jacket if it is wet, the temperatures here have been between 11 and 15 degrees most mornings, and although it was drizzly this morning (for example) it is still entirely possible to have a good walk out in the fresh air.  Having said that, we've not done a winter here yet, so I may well change my tune!

9 hours ago, Quoll said:

Only 2 more get ups for LKC!

Just one more now!  Currently sat in an almost empty house thinking about the packing and cleaning I have to do before tomorrow.  We're sending a couple of boxes of air freight of the kids quilts, soft toys, some lego and books which we hope will help them settle in at the other end, which I need to pack today.  Everything else needs to go in the suitcases.  The lady who bought our washer and dryer has very graciously agreed to collect tomorrow morning so I can keep up with the washing rather than take a suitcase of dirty clothes.  We had a goodbye dinner last night with my best friend here and her family (cried buckets).  I'm not sure what our plans are for today, maybe a trip out somewhere.

I think I've felt every possible emotion over the past few days!

I've only just seen this thread.  

We leave Australia on the 4th September, so a week tomorrow!  I can't believe how quickly it has all happened.  The kids had a last play date with a couple of friends today which made me feel somewhat teary-eyed.  This week is going to be pretty full-on, I have various appointments and have to pack our suitcases on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.  Thursday the shippers are in to pack (although most of it is done) and I am having a lunch out with a couple of friends, then on Friday the container is being packed, I'm having lunch with a few of the school mums, and it is the kids last day at school - this will be by far the most emotional day I think.  Saturday and Sunday we will mostly be living in a house with no furniture and so will be going out and about on a couple of day trips.  Monday our cats will be collected in the morning, and then we head to the airport in late afternoon, via our solicitor who will hold the house keys until settlement.

I'm still having 'have we done the right thing' moments, but I think they are pretty normal.  I know things will work out in the end, I just feel bad because we are making the kids say goodbye to their friends.  I know logically that in a couple of months they will have started at their new school and will have a heap of new friends.

We had an email overnight to say that our TOR had been approved and the URN, so that's one thing off my mind at least!

1 hour ago, suesmalls said:

Hi @LKC

I haven't been on the forum since arriving in England 27 July.  We had quite few unexpected snags back in Perth with house settlement & last 4 days were manic chaos. 

But we got thru. Little rattled but on one piece.  We sorted the TOR  by phone call.  The cats went with Dogtainers on Emirates. I rang the HMRC  from phone # given from Chess. Waited 30 minutes on hold but eventually got through.  Explained the date we sent off TOR email (& we used both email addresses too). 

He said it was taking 3 weeks.  Which at that time we were into the 3rd week.  He then asked if we had animals.  When I told him we had 2 cats he said well I'll sort it now.  Within 10 minutes of that phone call we got TOR number emailed thru.  Worth making a phone call. 

The ARC also require a local phone number here in England. We used Mother in Law.  When they found out at the ARC we were landing at 1pm and cats landing at 7.40pm and we were going to wait for them they also sent us email to advise they would come through around 9 to 10pm. We got told by Dogtainers usually it takes 4 hours so expect midnight.  We got to ARC 9.30pm and had to wait 15 mins while they sorted out a terrier from Chilli. Then they got cats (2)  through. Everything went well. 

Wish the last 4 days in Perth went better.  But looking forward now. 

Are you putting 2 cats in 2 carriers? We put our 2 in one carrier.  I was genuinely surprised and pleased how well they coped  with the flight.  My 14yr old girl with hyperthyroidism doesn't liked our temporary house on main street in Whittlesey. Neither do I.  So noisy.  Traffic.  Grrr. 

Our rental in Longthorpe near Peterborough city isn't available until 26 September. Container arrives 26 August. 

Hope you get your TOR sorted. 

Sue 

Thanks for this @suesmalls.  It's interesting to note that you sent the two cats in one carrier with that particular pet transport company.  We decided to go with an oft mentioned company after some glowing reviews on here, but we've not been impressed so far.  It took multiple attempts via email and phone to even get quotes, which they did for both Glasgow and Edinburgh (which involves an extra flight from LHR), we sent the quote acceptance back for Glasgow route (since it is only 10 minutes more drive from our new home, and two flights must be less stressful for them than three) only to have them email and say they'd arrange our pet transport via Edinburgh.  We asked if we could send two cats in a bigger carrier when we initially spoke to them, and were told that they wouldn't do that and that the airlines won't allow it in case they hurt each other on the flight.  When we initially contacted them back in March we were told they'd only need a couple of weeks to organise things, but we're getting closer and closer to our departure and still don't have things organised.

I'm finding the whole process somewhat frustrating, not to mention stressful.  We fly on the 4th of September and were hoping that the cats would fly on the 5th so time is getting on.