fantasia

Hi, I am relocating back to Sydney from Central Queensland. House I have been renting is furnished, but have accumulated a few things since I've been here (as you do) and would like to send the stuff to Sydney. Have been looking at these Pack and Send places, but the tea chests are quite small and they charge per Tea Chest - not weight and would probably need 4 or 5, which makes it quite expensive. I'm sure there must be cheaper way of doing this. Its only a few items of clothing, a bit of kitchen stuff, books, etc. Has anyone got any clever advice, re a very cheap way of sending my stuff. Cheers

Hi, Sorry can't help, I'm in the same situation, but looking to move a few household items, clothing etc. from Central Queensland to Sydney. Really not that much, but shipping/haulage firms only seem to supply smallish boxes and charge per box. Has anyone any suggestions of a 'cheap' alternative to these Pack and Send sort of places? Thanks.

Hi, Is your stuff still available? I will be returning to Sydney from Central Queensland at the end of January, but could arrange for friend to take a look and collect. How much are you asking for everything and do you have a sofa and tables and stuff, as I have nothing at the moment? Thanks.

I agree with this poster 'cos it has affected me personally... my partner has to move back to Sydney at the end of September as his promise of a full time role after contracting for 18 months has gone. I have a job still in Central Queensland but I will be up here on my own .... hoping that once the dust has settled the job will materialise.. he was asked to provide his certs etc which were in Sydney so he flew back to Sydney at own expense and now all turned to dust.

I'd was half listening to this interview in bed and I was embarassed for him.....

I know what my family would say "love to but can't because..... excuse excuse...... " you'll be fine just get on with it. Sorry got to go - take care byeee..... " but that's my family - always were a bit of a disappointment - one of the reasons I came to Oz in the first place all those years ago. Guess can't expect people to just drop things I suppose.

I lived for around 15 yrs in Sydney, well the outskirts as couldn't afford to live 'in Sydney' and although I bought a house and felt kind of settled, after a trip back home (uk!) to visit my family I just couldn't settle back in Oz - actually felt a bit depressed and found it hard getting out of bed in the morning. So much so that I made the decision to make plans to return, so organised pets rabies shots, waited 6 months for the quarantine period to end and fixed up the house to sell. I left in February 2010 and arrived at Manchester airport, carrying huge amount of luggage and wasn't even met by my family! It was snowing and heard cries from the back of the plane "turn around" as we landed with a bump on the tarmac as couldn't see the ground due to fog - the ground staff were hosing the ice of the plane wings! But I didn't mind, although wasn't equipped with warm enough clothing I really enjoyed looking out of the train window at the snow covered fields. I was met at the railway station by my family and drove to my mother's house for a nice warming casserole. To cut a long story short, after the 'honeymoon' period had gone and my family reverted to their own lives (obviously), and it became apparent that the job market was 'scarey' and then my pets arrived from Oz and my mother decided she couldn't have them in the house so I had to find a rental and pay 6 month's rent up front 'cos I had been out of the country for so long. I found a bit of temp work - 6 pounds 50 p per hour......fab!!!! And the proceeds of the sale of my house were dwindling rapidly - I made the decision to return to Oz - well I really didn't have much choice as couldn't afford to renew the lease and could only go and live back at mum's if I got rid of my dogs and cat - which I couldn't do - I had to rehome one of my dogs anyway (to an excellent home but it still really hurts seeing his face out the back of the car as they drove off with him)! I returned to Oz with around $1000 and luckily found a job within the first week through the agency I used to work for in Sydney. I had to stay in a shared flat which at my age really isn't great - did the flat sharing thing year's ago but after having your own house... not good! I moved to Central Queensland last year and now live in a rented house, which on a clear day - not today - I can see the Keppel Islands. I have found a permanent job which I quite enjoy and the money is really good too. My furniture and one dog is still in the UK and the storage fees are astronomical - my dog is in boarding kennels as he failed his Erlichia virus test, my cat and other dog returned (I took 3 dogs and a cat back to the UK) - my cat has since died - and I plan to bring Casper back in October as the rabies rules changed in Oz and he couldn't come back until he has waiting 6 months after his blood test. The whole episode has been extremely costly - both financially and emotionally. I have to say that given the choice, I would prefer to be back in the UK, but cannot afford to. I miss my family and everything English, the countryside, birds - as you say church bells - M&S (although buy on-line), English pubs, even the English Summer as bad as it is..... but I just can't afford to return. If the economy picked up over there and I have saved up a bit I would return if there was a sniff of a job that paid a liveable wage! A friend of mine (Australian) met an English guy and went to the UK a couple of months ago. She emails me all the time and she said the job market is just awful - she has registered with agencies and hasn't even had a single day's temp work. She met an English lady who relocated from Manchester to where she is living in Stourport, Worcestershire and it took this lady 6 months to find a job - wish a massive pay cut and which she hates but can't afford to leave as it could probably take another 6 months to find a replacement. So there it - my experience - bit long winded with terrible grammar I can see. I plan to go to visit next Summer and that kind of keeps the homesickness at bay and you never know, I might one day be in a position where I can return - hopefully whilst my mum is still alive! I'll keep buying the lotto tickets and fingers crossed.

Was in meeting today and heard that the housing development who are building on Curtis Island are struggling to find tradespeople to build the village ready for workers on the gas pipeline... not naming names but work for a company involved. Builders, plumbers etc. apparently $26 billion being spent - project 2 years.... I know it isn't ideal but paying big... may I suggest that those looking to earn a bit and see a bit of Oz contact the agencies and companies concerned