Stellathedog

Thanks again Linday - great minds think alike, this is the way we have been thinking during the last few days. It all seems to be very pressing at the moment as we are on the last few days of our visit here - I really don't want to say goodbye and it sort of helps if there's a plan in mind, however tentative! Will be doing a lot of thinking during all those cold winter days to come in the UK. :-)

I so agree that it's great to have something to look forward to when you are leaving!

John and I are coming back in March for 3 months and it's making the thought of my leaving here in less than two weeks bearable.

I think I might actually be able to do what has been suggested here and apply for a 103 and just stretch the timings wherever possible.

As has been said, then if circumstances change, at least part of the waiting has been done. My change of circumstances would be my other daughter and her family emigrating too, not on the cards at the moment.

How did the house swap go this time? I might well follow that path for next year and take your previous suggestion to offer one less bedroom and use that to store "stuff"

Good luck in whichever path you choose.

Oh Phoebe! I can't help I'm afraid with whether this will stop you continuing your dream, but just wanted to say how sorry I am to hear of yet another health scare for you.

The good old NHS does seem to pull its finger in these situations, so hopefully you'll (other half ) get a good result and pretty quick.

I'm sure someone will come along with some help soon, just wanted to say 'thinking of you'

Cheers Pam

NAB were quick with me too, but quick to ask why I wanted the account:laugh:

They did the deal really quickly after that, impressive I thought!

Now you need the rate to rise again to make it worth moving money in................

Can I just ask you ladies another question re banking in Oz. did you just open the classic account or the retirement one (for over 55's)

 

Phoebe

As Angie has said, the only two accounts available to us then were the classic current and linked i-saver.

Just to add, I often move stuff around from one to the other for various reasons and it is a doddle, no different to online banking here.

Pam x

Didn't seem right to 'like' your last post as there is so much to not like.

Obviously wish you the best outcome with the consultants and your next holiday that it changes hubbies mind.

Sorry I'll leave you with the dogs, I don't like heights ha ha ha

Phoebe, I've just seen your post that says your hubby is coming round to the idea. You lucky lady! If it works for you I will just have to buy three dogs for our neighbours.............

Thanks ladies :biggrin: I was thinking about NAB as there is one close to my daughter but on their web site it is saying you have to be intending to move to Oz within 12 months.......was that not a problem for you Pam?

 

Also did you just collect devit cards etc when you went on holiday, do they send your statements etc to your home in the UK? Sorry for all the wuestions :swoon:

 

Phoebe

Just after I sent the online application, I had an email from them asking about when we were going. I just explained that we wanted the account for when we visited and that it would be at least once every year and that we wanted it for buying 'stuff' for our grandchild (now grandchildren).

They were fine with this and within a day or two it was all set up. We were given the account numbers etc so that we could pay in, but we couldn't take money out until we had validated the account.

This was straightforward, we nominated the branch we wanted to go to (they gave us a choice I think?) and we went in on our next holiday. Were given debit cards straight out and were offered and accepted visa type cards, that were delivered to our daughters house within the week.

We also opened a savings account attached to the current one and the rate was an excellent introductory one for the first six (?) months, but still a good rate now.

The only downside as such is that we gave them our daughters address as a contact address. This means when I pay money in to fund my holiday next week, my daughter can see it. She then gives me hassle saying I don't need money, she will look after me etc etc

All in all, we have had no problems and I would recommend them. As to them sending statements to the UK I really don't know but a quick email to them would sort that out.

Pam

Hi Everyone

I am sure this had been covered in the past but can't find the thread!

 

Were any of you able to open an Australia bank account before you moved out there or has anyone still in the UK have an Aussie bank account?

 

Thanks

 

Phoebe

Hi Phoebe

We opened a NAB account online from here ages ago and just had to go into a branch to validate it when we first arrived,( Sydney for us)

It was very easy and I still keep an eye on the Forex sites, so, if the rate goes up, I just transfer some more.

They do know that we are in UK and that we are not 'actively' seeking a visa and it was no problem.

Also worth thinking about the interest rate too, a lot higher over there!!

I'm sure all the Oz bank accounts are similar, as Val has said.

Good luck with your choice.

Cheers Pam

Wonderful news, Pam.

Maybe this deserves more than a coffee when we meet up in November?

Enjoy the new grand-daughter!

John & Eirian

Thank you for the good wishes.

I hope you all have a great meet up on the 27th, I will be at home in a state of panic/excitement, but may use both as a reason for "more than a cup of coffee"!!!

Mike and Sue, I hope you won't mind recounting your travels again if we can all meet up in November?

I see elsewhere on PIO that you are having some beautiful weather at the moment, let's hope it's here to stay now.

Cheers all, Pam

Sorry Fiz, won't be there until 31st, but thank you for the invite. I have Marians mobile number, so hope to get together in the time I'm there. Welcome back to Mike and Sue!

Thanks again Pam

Hello All

Just had to spread the good news.........

I am a Grandma again!!

About 5pm in Sydney, Lauren Grace was born, weighing 3.55kg and wearing a shock of dark hair!!

As she is a little early, I tried to change my Singapore Airlines flight to one a week earlier, but they came back with a price of an additional £648

Needless to say, I will be travelling on the original dates and will be in Sydney until 22nd November should anyone fancy a coffee.

Sorry this isn't about visa, but just HAD to tell the good news.

Cheers Pam

Hi Gina

I don't know from experience about taking your car over, but there are a lot of posts on the main forum. Worth doing a search.

Just brought my granddaughter back from hospital, so a bit distracted, but will look later for the links.

Good luck

Pam

Thanks again Alan.

I do realise that was a 'how long is a piece of string' question!

Appreciate your reply.

Cheers Pam

http://www.minister.immi.gov.au/media/cb/2012/cb189680.htm

 

Not sure whether this has been made known already ... extended tourist visas for parents of Australian citizens and permanent residents to enable them to visit their family in Australia for longer periods of time ...

 

Best regards.

As Fisher1 said, many thanks for this Alan.

I had not heard anything of this and I think it will make a difference to a lot of people, including me!

"As with all tourist visa holders, they will be expected to spend some time outside Australia between visits to their families."

Can I just ask your opinion on what constitutes 'some time'?

Thanks again for pointing it out to us.

Pam

Hi Val and Matt,

So sorry to hear of your buyers 'blackmail'

It's such an awful feeling to have 'given in' to them, but just a point in your favour......the pound/dollar exchange rate is going up at the moment, so you may not be losing as much as you thought????????

Hope all goes well on Friday, please keep breathing until then!!!!!!

In 12 months time, you'll be back on here and telling us all how fantastic life is out there. All the hassle and pain will be forgotten, a bit like childbirth eh?

Chin up, nearly there......

Cheers Pam

Congratulations Angie and Ted!!!

Have you still got the mile wide smile??:biggrin:

I expect everyone will be wondering what you've been up to!!!!!

Here's to your new life, enjoy...........

Cheers Pam

Thank you all so much for all of the wonderful threads i have been reading over the last few days, it has been like a breath of fresh air hearing all of your stories the ups and the downs, ive laughed and cried at some of the stories and i feel like ive got to know you all.

Its so much better than reading books because i can relate to it.

I havent started with the whole journey yet, (husband isnt convinced its the right thing to do, needs more work i think) but when i do i will know exactly how to do it all, heres hoping!, the advice given has been enormous.

I also watch everything Oz, i didnt dare tell anyone before ha ha ha.

good luck to you all in your new lives in Oz and thanks x

 

Tab x:notworthy:

Hi Tab

You and I are in the same boat, my husband isn't convinced either! (Apart from the fact we would still have a daughter and two granddaughters here!)

I am going to Sydney in October on my own and keep threatening not to come back........watch this space:biggrin:

In March next year we are both going and I have booked 'flexi' tickets, so they can be changed and are valid for 12 months (I wish!)

There are some lovely people on here, so do keep popping in. We actually met some lovely PIOers that have made the move and hearing their positive stories did sway my OH a little bit. You know what it's like though, you get back into same old routine and the positivity sort of faded.:cry:

Anyway, two trips booked with Singapore Air and a 5 day stopover in Singapore on the second one with OH.

Lots to look forward to, oh yes and a new granddaughter in Sydney by the time I get there:biglaugh:

Cheers Pam

Fantastic news Val!

Congratulations and enjoy your early birthday celebrations!!!!!!!!!!

Yes, what's all this about a glass of wine? Whenever we sit down, a whole bottle seems to disappear pretty fast!! :arghh:

 

Mike & Sue

I'm glad you posted this!

I wanted to, but I got such dirty looks yesterday at Fat Club, when I laughed as someone suggesting freezing leftover wine!!

Didn't know there was such a thing............

Cheers Pam

Hi Val

How scary that all your money went'missing'!

Glad it was sorted and you are back on track.

Happy birthday for Tuesday (might not remember then!) and I hope the champers is in the fridge ready for whatever time of day you hear that email click "VISA".........

Cheers Pam

Still living the dream and very upbeat in spite of the coldest wettest winter in adelaide for 30 years! We bought a house 2 weeks after we arrived in early October (not as foolhardy as it sounds as we had been looking on line for months and had narrowed down the areas on previous holiday visits) We moved in just a month later and had fun refurnishing (we brought very little stuff with us and it didn't arrive until Christmas).

 

Clive has joined Probus and the local Bowls Club and I have taken up quilting and aquaerobics - new country, new life and new hobbies! We don't see the grandchildren as often as we thought we might but have meals with the family every couple of weeks, do the odd school run and babysit occasionally. We look after the girls more in the Summer holidays and make use of their pool too. I expect we will dog sit/walk too as they now have a new puppy.

 

We joined a local church and they made us so welcome - we had many offers of meals in the early day and have made many good friends there - Aussies and Brits. They have a cafe which serves up to 500 meals a week and I help in the kitchen most Fridays - its great fun and I get a free meal and lots of Lattes to keep me going. We walk most days and there are lots of footpaths near our home - its a bit hilly but it keeps us fit. The beach is only 15 minutes away too and we make frequent trips to nearby McLaren Vale for winetasting and the great Farmer's Markets. We've had short breaks (thanks to travel Auctions) to Clare Valley where we cycled the Reisling Trail - not bad as we hadn't been on a bike for 50 years!, Victor Harbour - whale watching, Goolwa - boat trip up the Coorong and are off to the Yorke Peninsular in a couple of weeks and Barossa in early October.

 

Our son is coming out for 5 weeks in December so the family will be together for Christmas for the first time in 7 years. I still pinch myself when I wake up on a sunny morning or drive round the beautiful Adelaide Hills seeing Koalas and Kangaroos. We've seen and done so much more but I won't bore you with all that. If you want links to picture albums/blog or Facebook please PM me.

 

So yes, we are still living the dream and have no regrets ....... good luck to the rest of you still waiting to get over that last hurdle.

Thanks for this.

I have pmd you, but forgot to ask can you give me your blog, facebook links please.

I am such a saddo, I watch anything and everything to do with Oz!! Even repeats of Border Security!!!! So new photos would be good.......

Cheers Pam

Cheers Jane and Clive!!

How is life for you now? I see your 'line' reads Living the dream. How is that dream going?

Do you often have your grandchildren to care for?

Spanish inquisition ended........sorry!!

Enjoy your wine......

Cheers Pam

I'm joining you with that glass of wine!!! Cheers!! ::cute: Angie x

I have no excuse or reason, but I'm joining you with the glass of wine! Cheers ladies!!

Actually the fact we have had the grandchildren from 7.30 this morning could have something to do with it???????????

Hi MKF,

That sounds so awful!

Linday mentioned friends appealing against the decision and I just wondered how long that appeal might take.

If you were to appeal and it take 6 months or so (I really have no idea) that would then take you to May 2013?????

I hope I haven't missed something, but maybe worth a try??????????

Cheers Pam

Hi Marian

That would be great, thank you.

There seems to be so much going on at the moment, that I think I'll wake up one morning and find I'm flying that night!!

I do look most days at the weather comparison and your spring is warmer than any of our summer, in fact your winter was warmer........aaarrgghh

Nearer the time Ill pm you

Cheers Pam