Hmachanick

Makes me even more homesick today But gorgeous pics!!

This is a great post and shows that home is definitely where the heart is.

I have to admit I am very jealous that you have found it

I've not been on here a while but wanted to give you all an update.

 

Myself and my three young children left Oz on 1st December, it was not possible for hubby to come with us due to work commitments and we will not see him again until April, but is is a life we have led for years and a sacrafice we have made.

 

We arrived in Scotland on the cold frosty morning of the 2nd December after the journey of hell with 2/3 travel sick kiddies and were met by my entire family at arrivals, it was just perfect and what a beautiful day to arrive home.

 

During the first 3 weeks I bought a car, sorted car insurance, registered at doctors and dentist, got kids into school, viewed numerous houses to buy but eventually decided to rent for a few months and moved into an apartment 1 week before Christmas. I also attended 2 job interviews and was delighted to be offered the job last week to commence in January.....which if course I have accepted.

 

Compared to Australia I am loving the Scottish weather, even my children are commenting that they are not sweating and that houses are warm when it's cold outside.

 

Shops are heaving, lots of people seeking bargains including myself. People are friendly, cheery and no one i personally know is out of work, life is good. The icing on the cake will be having my husband home later next year and moving into our own family home.

 

So far it's been non stop but it's all positive and I do not regret leaving Australia at all, coming home has made me realise how completely miserable I actually was.....I smile more now, I actually grin now and I can say Hand on heart my life has changed for the better.....and I've changed too and will not take friends and family for granted, you can replace cars, homes and general materialistic things but you can never replace people or that genuine feeling of coming home and belonging.

 

All the best for the new year peeps, make the most of it!

 

A very happy Julz

Thanks for all your responses, input and for the understanding No-one said it would be easy to move countries lol.

We are down to excel spreadsheets of pros and cons and hopefully can make some sort of decision based on that. I would either need to be here to have the baby or back in the uk, as I wouldn't be covered by medical aid in south Africa. Our visa was granted in December 2012 so we have five years from then I gather?

I sometimes wonder why on earth we left the UK. We both had good job opportunities, great support network and lifestyle. So now we sit in perth, which although hubby likes, I really dont. I have also just found out i am pregnant again and tbe idea of a toddler and a new baby scares the you know what out of me...

So one of our options is to go back home to south africa after bubs is born here - family, friends, support, chrap childcare etc are all the benefits. Only thing i am not sure of is on a 175 visa, can we come back to oz at some point in the future if we need to escape SA. Ie, is it valid for 5 years? Any advice appreciated here

​and apologies for the whine and moan

Hi, this is the same move that we are thinking of making. Are you definitely going to go for it?

Yeah its hard to have to make new friends twice!! We are lucky that we have a few sets of friends there already, but still keen to expand horizens. At least Perth has given me some practice in new friend making I am not sure where in Melbourne we would go to, haven't done much research yet. I have also thought about the UK (found myself wondering why on earth we left) but my husband hates it and would never go back

We lived in South West London, how about you?

Life is a journey, they say..... not a destination???

Thanks Surfy Brit, will definitely get in touch with them

Also looking into this, would be interested to see what others respond...

We used Transfur to come to Perth, am sure they can do the other way too. They were great and very reasonably priced

We have been here since Jan 2012 so 15 months...we are seriously considering the move across east, my hubbys employer has their head office there and he needs to be closer really as since we have been here he has been to Melbourne 18 times! Not including all the other trips east....we live in secret harbour but quite honestly would prefer more going on and things to do...we have exhausted beaches and parks!...without sounding ungrateful!...also we aren't happy with the education, our 9 year old has gone seriously backwards and what topped it for us is unless we move to the city and pay $$$$ we can't get either daughters into private school near us....feeling very torn and don't want to start slagging places off...can I ask what your reasons are for moving east as 4 months is a short time?:arghh:

I feel the same as you... its very quiet and very expensive (not really sure what we are paying for...) We have a lot of friends in Melbourne with young familes and seeing as I just found out I am pregnant again.... the idea of being isolated here is a very scarey thought for me. Also when I am ready to go back to work, at least there will be more options there, whereas Perth is just giving me nothing. However that said, we want to do a trip to melbourne first to see what we think, and if hubby can land a job before we go... When are you thinking of going?

Hi Sumbler

Thanks for the info, are you also making the move then? I will contact crown too. I had a look at taking the car and it seems Great Southern Rail can do it (without insurance) for 676.

We have been here 4 months, how about you?

Sounds great, currently SOR but happy to travel

Hi all

I am hoping for some advice on shipping between states (Perth to Melbourne) and hoping someone can help?

Is shipping furniture and boxes the cheapest way of getting our stuff to perth? Can anyone recommend any companies?

Also, we want to to take our car, on the train I assume? Anyone got any recommendations?

Its still all in the initial investigatory phase as Perth hasn't really worked out for us. Any help appreciated!!!

Oooh boy, I can relate to this. We have been in Perth 3 months, and just found out I am pregnant (I have a 10 month old too). I am really not happy in Perth and feeling really alone and isolated. We have friends in Melbourne, and could consider moving to melbourne, but concerned we still won't like it there. Worse still, being originally South African, our UK visa expires this year in June.... decisions decisions decisions. I do know I don't want to stay in Perth.

​I hope things work out for you, whichever way it ends up...

Hi all

We are just looking into travel insurance as we are going to Oz via South Africa - does anyone know of any good insurance companies that cover multiple destinations?

Thanks in advance

Just an update, finally got it all done, even the South African police clearances (used an agency to get these quicker), shew Now just waiting for referred medicals

Quick update from me, not posted since page 40!

 

We've got a definitive response from my OH's oncologist, and this is a direct counter to the moc's opinion noted in the failed letter ( letter of natural justice). We sent this yesterday and hopefully we are not at the back of the queue again! Fingers crossed.

 

Frog

Hi Frogstercouk, apologies if this has already been stated above, but what kind of cancer did your OH have and is the person in remission now? My OH has been referred, he had cancer 5 years ago, am feeling quite worried...

TB, Cancer, AIDS and in need of organ transplants are the ones they are really looking for.

Hi all, sorry to butt in on this post... Roger2shirts, my oh has just had medicals referred, which we guess is because he had cancer 5 years ago, but is now all clear... I see you mention cancer above as a possible problem one - do you know what they look for in cancer cases, or previous cancer cases? Feeling a bit worried here

I read up before my test and got some tips like:

1. Make sure you have an introduction paragraph, body and definite conclusion paragraph

2. In the body, try to link each paragraph to the one before.

3. Try not to repeat words

Hope thats helps...

Hi all

Just thought I would give an update on where we stand but still some frustrations ahead...

Our 175 application was on hold while we waited for a passport from South Africa for our baby, born in May. We finally got it on Thursday and have now been given the go ahead to get the medicals done - yay! We got the police checks done a few months ago.

The frustration now is for our cat. She had to have all the rabies shots and blood tests to come to the UK from South Africa and now we are trying to find out if she has to have them all again to go down under. She is still within the timelines, but we have been tasked by the AHVLA to ask our vet if what she had in SA complies with this huge long document they provided. Our vet is not really keen to give an opinion:(

It would be great if she doesn't have to have all the tests again as we can get down under sooner...

Well, hopefully doing medical tests in the next 2 weeks - does anyone know if the forms can be filled in online or must be printed and filled in?

Thanks all

:biggrin:

Thanks Cal Felt a bit better after venting Everything else seems to have gone quite quickly and smoothly so cant complain

Just need to vent - after all the hassle of filling in police clearance , getting photos signed and writing checks - it now seems to have gotten lost in the post so we have to start all over again!!!

Note to anyone else submitting these, get them couriered!!!

Sorry for the vent...

Thanks very much lebourvellec, that really helps! We have let the case officer know I am pregnant.

So you think we should wait with the pcc as well?

Hi all

Woke up to a fab email this morning on our 175 application requesting police clearances and medicals (hip hip hooray!):biggrin:

However there are a few questions based on the fact that I am 7 months pregnant...

I have read on previous posts that you can ask your case officer to put your application on hold until baby is born, and then add him to the application (so as to avoid paying the extra $2000 for a baby visa) - has anyone done this?

Secondly with regard to police clearances, can we apply for those now or do we need different ones as "parents" in 8 weeks time? My only concern is we have lived part of the last 10 years in South Africa, and the police clearances can take quite a while and we want to get down under asap, so I would love to start those now!

Any help or advice would be a huge help! Sorry if these questions seem a bit silly.

Thanks

Heather

Hi everyone!

 

I applied and paid for my GSM in October of 2011

 

I was wondering if anyone else had been assigned a case worker yet? I thought I may have heard something by now?

 

I'mjust wondering how long this whole process is going to take under the new rules?

 

i'm usually very patient, and optimistic but am feeling a little fed up of not hearing anything!!!

 

does anyone else have some positive news to share with us?

 

thanks

 

Lou

x

Hi Lou

We were in the same boat as applied for 175 at end of October, however we just got brilliant news this morning that we have a case officer and have been asked for medicals and police clearances - am holding thumbs that yours comes quickly now too!!!