eggcatcher

My interview was part of the practical test. one full day at Accrington college. Unless things have changed, it was. Meet at 7;30. run through the day's events and what's expected from you. Build a saw horse to a plan given to you. construct a pitch roof with hip ends to scale on an 8 x 4 table, rip a piece of timber down the middle with a circular saw, then plane the rough edge with an electric planer. some written "exams" where about naming scaffold parts, naming parts of timber framing such as studs, noggins, joists etc. the interview, which everyone thinks is going to be a killer, wasn't so bad, just asked about the order in which things happen, asked what a mitre cut was and a scribe cut. most of it was about reading plans and health and safety. all straight forward really. they are trying to weed out the one trying to pull the wool over their eyes, they know the ones who can do it and the ones that can't.

You can do the test before you leave through a company call blue dog on the internet. I got a Western Australia white card though them and it is recognised across Australia. Unlike the CSCS card, it doesn't need renewing. As for work, well, it isn't great here in Sydney, going quiet at the moment. In my experience if your not working for an agency they start you off at $25 an hour for a trial period, then up it as time goes on, $30 - $35 an hour is about standard for a carpenter, $40 for one on the ABN but you have to sort your own tax and insurances and super out of that. I found it quite different out here at first, different terminology for things will catch you out more than anything. it all depends on what you do. here in Sydney framework houses are common but to make good money and keep the work coming you have to be fast, which when your new to it is hard, and hot as it's all outside. same with formwork. commercial is a bit more relaxed but still, they don't like you taking a minute to catch your breath. I haven't worked in Perth, so it may be more relaxed out there, I'm told Sydney is the hardest city to work in.

If the work is constant, which it hasn't been for a while now, Sydney can fine if you choose the right suburb, We live I Parramatta, which is getting more expensive by the day. Now we are flat broke it's a worry.

Got on that one last month, seems never ending.

I think we will go back to Leyland, not entirely sure as I am from Wigan originally. We had the good sense to keep our house and rent it out, because we couldn't get a decent offer, unfortunately, new tennents have moved in and we cant kick them out for a year. I know both the livesey group and john turners, but only by reputation, I was a house basher for redrow mostly. I thought liveseys went **** up?.

Wow, thanks for all the kind words, Yes there will be times when ill miss it I'm sure. in the two years we have seen and done thing others will only dream of, we haven't failed or fallen, just closing a chapter.

So, after two years and four months, the decision to return back to the U.K. has been made. Not an easy thing as we are a family of four, and all have our own opinions of what is best for our future. My wife has an elderly mother and the last few months has been up and down health wise, so that is a big concern for her. My eldest has just started high school, so he is starting to fit and settle a little more, and will probably miss Australia more than he realises, even though he didn't settle initially. My daughter has never really settled here, even though she made lots of friends very quickly, when relations left after their visits she was unconsolable for days. And that leaves me. At first it was hard, but an adventure. after a week I found work, being a carpenter it was a bit strange to adjust to Australian ways and terminology they use, and still is to be honest. But the building industry is always volatile, and jobs came and went. since December it has been an absolute nightmare, having worked only about six or seven weeks since mid December. Rent has gone up, as it does, bills come in, but work has dried up. We started talking about going back a few months ago, so we booked return flights, we said we would see how we felt after that. but now we see it as an opertunity to sort out schools and accommodation for when we go back for good. Yes Australia has warmer weather and an outdoor lifestyle. but it is unbelievably expensive, and despite the efforts of advertising campains across the world, not that friendly. I went to watch Wigan Warriors play the Roosters a couple of weeks ago, and it made me realise how much fun the brits are, and started to miss being there soon after the game. Push has now come to shove, and its time to start the process of returning to blighty. Will I regret it, possibly, that's what I've got to live with. but I wont be back.

Hi, noticed your comment on tradies. I'm a carpenter moving out to the central coast in november. is there work on the central coast or would i have to commute.

Hi all. We are moving out to Sydney in September and are looking for affordable places to live. I'm sue I speak for alot of people in the same boat by saying there is plenty of advice for those with plenty money. The north beaches looks fantastic, but rent starting at $700.00 a week makes it ridiculously expensive. when we research affordable areas, Parramatta, Penrith, Wollongong etc. all we find is stay out of the west, south west, south and so on. surely there must be some affordable suburbs somewhere.