warren&liz

So sorry to hear of your loss. Our sincere condolences. xxx

Have wanted to attend a meet up since we arrived. Keep missing it. Unfortunately, can't come this year either. Will be leaving for UK on 8 April. Got a wedding to attend. Will try for next year.

When we were coming to Oz I was told by numerous people "Oh I would love to go there". When I said why don't you apply they replied "oh I couldn't leave (family, friends & other excuses)". These are the people who say there is nothing in the UK. As said before they haven't walked in your shoes.

As you have been here for three years I would stay and get your citizenship. You don't know what the future may bring. Always have a back up plan. As for the passport. I applied for mine 25/1/2017 and received it 13/2/2017 so just over 2 weeks to get it bearing in mind Australia day and weekends. Not long at all.

Why are you angry at other people? You seem to be the one who made the decision to leave. This was your idea not theirs. You do sound like you are being very selfish. Looks like people give in to you because you are likely to have a meltdown. If you don't pull yourself together you could lose everything.

Kells, N. Ireland.

Sorry it turned out like this for you. Living somewhere is always different to the holiday experience. You didn't do the wrong thing returning home. You just did what you had to do at the time. Australia isn't for everyone. Just because English is the language spoken here doesn't make it the same. Sometimes I think it would be easier if it was another language as you wouldn't have preconceived ideas of how things will be. Good luck. Life is full of surprises some good, some not so much. You gave it a go. A lot of the people who will tell you that you should have stayed would probably have never had the courage to go in the first place. None of their business.

Hi Nikki So sorry to hear about your troubles. Would your partner be willing to sign his half of the house over to you? Could you afford the mortgage if he did? Then sell, if only to keep your name from being blacklisted. I really hope you get things sorted. Hugs

Hi Pixie Have a look at the citizenship timeline thread to get an idea of application times. You do have to be here for interview and citizenship ceremony. If you are given a date for ceremony you can defer it, but you must do it within a year of approval or you have to start again.

Hi Kitter Welcome to Poms in Oz.

Really pleased that everything has fallen into place for you and you family.

I have to agree with most of the comments here about Perth. Jobs are NOT abundant at the minute. Just heard on the radio that unemployment is on the rise. House prices are still high. If you want to live by the ocean you will pay very high. Distance is a major factor in where you live for work too. Some lovely places but just too far away to commute. You have a very young child. If you are used to family and friends nearby you may feel lonely. Of course the + with having a baby is you will meet people at childcare and school in a few years so easier to meet new friends, and you are very young (so jealous) :-))) which helps. Good luck with whatever you decide.

Yes, my DH had the same problem. We ordered a new full certificate online. Was here in less than 2 weeks.

That is just dreadful. I would deliver a formal letter to the agent telling them that if it is not fixed within 2 days of today's date you will get someone to fix it yourself and the bill will be deducted from your rent. Take a copy of the letter. Dated and signed. Also, get someone to witness it if possible, then they will know you are serious. We did this once and it worked. Also, next time there was something broken they didn't drag their heels.

Seems awfully unfair you have to travel to London. When we had our medicals done when applying for Oz we had to go to London or Dublin. We are from Northern Ireland. Seems the powers that be don't realise the expense and hassle people have to go through simply because they don't live in the main city. Hope you get sorted.

The pain for us is we have to go to London to even renew them Why do you have to go to London? Surely you can fill in the relevant forms and post them. We had our passports renewed from Oz by post, so why not Scotland.

When our packers came in they packed up my Mum's knitting by mistake. Came here without a problem. Also, the kids heat packs came. No problem from customs.

I whinged at the husband for little nothings at the weekend, then my daughter came home from the stables where she keeps her horse to tell me that the son of the lady who runs the place had died of a brain tumour on Saturday morning. He was 26. His brother died 2 years ago. Puts things in perspective. If anyone is having a drink later please raise your glass and toast Jake. So very sad.

Congratulations on your visa grant Purplesparkle. :-)))))

1. Date applied: January 2016 2. City/Council area: Kalamunda, WA 3. Online/Paper: Paper 4. Date received acknowledgement: 26 February 2016 for Husband - Me 10 May 2016 (due to having to send to UK for new marriage certificate) 5. Date of Citizenship Test: Husband, 24 March 2016 - Me, 4 August 2016 6. Approval letter: Husband 19 May 2016 - Me 11 October 2016 7. Date of ceremony: Husband, 10 August 2016 - Me TBA 8. Type of ceremony: Normal

For us at the minute things are pretty grim. Warren is a diesel mechanic with his own business. Lately (past 6 months or so) there has been a noticable drop in the amount of trucks coming in to be worked at. Also, in the in the industrial area the workshop is located at we have noticed quite a lot of other businesses, approx 30% have closed due to lack of business. I work in the office and this past 2 weeks I have only went in for 5 working days out of 10 due to nothing happening. I used to be run off my feet. I think I am going to have to look for work elsewhere, but jobs are quite scarce.

Unfortunately, there is no easy answer. We have friends who have ping ponged 4 times for various reasons. They are now in the UK and returning to Oz next year for the 5th time. I don't think they know themselves any more. It seems that once you have lived in 2 countries some people are then torn between the 2.

I miss Ariel washing powder. Can get it at the local English shop but it costs $99 for a 80 wash box. I would bring loads of it. Mostly you can get everything you need. It's more the odd British food item I miss. Once you find your feet you will discover most of the shops you will need to get similar items.

Doesn't sound like you are considering his feelings at all. Maybe he is feeling imprisoned here. He is only asking for 1 years parole.