Sydney

Don't remember wearing anything of a thermal nature to bed all the years I was in Australia. Bad circulation to blame maybe ?

I first visited Hobart in 73 on a freighter. We docked at Salamander wharf and loaded one of the last cargoes of apples and took them to Hamburg via Cape Town. I had just turned 16 and couldn't believe the beauty of the place. After Britain entered the European Common market in the early 70s it severed trading ties with traditonal commonwealth countries and Tassy lost it's fruit industry. Interesting to see the UK foreign secretary in Oz earlier this year trying to talk up the importance of trade links with Australia and NZ now that relations with the Eurozone aren't the best. A great wee town Hobart. Good luck... Syd.

Good luck to you both. i hope Australia is good for you. A great country with opportunity for those not looking for the UK of the south seas. Below is a link to an article a friend emailed me, and although not entirely accurate, it defines a couple of the differences (lightheartedly) between the two countries. Good luck... Syd. http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2013/feb/25/emigrate-australia-be-warned

Tasmania is a beaut part of he world. Which part do you live ?

Are you sure you were in Brisbane ? Thermal underwear. Thermal PJs. Fleece blankets. Winter duvets.

HERE HERE............Syd.

If you have half your assets in each country then you can't lose. Well that's the theory.

If it's a sizeable amount get your accountant to set up a self managed super fund which will qualify as an ADF, which is "approved deposit fund". and transfer your existing fund to it. If you have no plans to return to Australia just take it with you. I would.

Never found Oz resistant to change. In the time I lived there it was constantly changing. Half the complaints on here about Oz say it's not as good as it was/good old days argument(again). in other words it's changed. The UK on the other hand struggles with adapting to change. Funny how two people see things so differently...Syd.

Been in the UK for a year now, and all's good really. Had a nice curry on the west coast of Scotland last year but find most have that muddy flavour. Glasgow is supposed to be famous for it's curry houses but here in Edinburgh the hunt goes on. Just what you get used to I suppose.

Goes with the territory mate. I'm fast gaining a reputation as a wingeing Aussie. Can't imagine anyone coming to the UK for the food or the weather though.

Curries in the UK are rank in my opinion. Haven't had a decent one in twelve months. Suppose it's what you get used to. Indian restaurants in Australia have a Pacific influence due largely to the Fijian connection of a lot of the Indians who live there. Having lived in Australia a long time it was easy to know a list of good restaurants, just takes time. Level of food/restaurants in Oz is far superior to the UK. Soon get fed up with " chef's own pâté, deep fried Brie, prawns in Marie Rose sauce etc ". No argument for me.

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Amazing the divided opinion on Thatcher, because she directly affected so many people. Just read in the press the funeral won't be screened in Edinburgh at Festival Square as they do with most national events because of the threat of protesters. Some of the most mild mannered people are being quite vocal about her.

utter p1sh....!!!!

At the end of the day I think they knew she couldn't win. According to reports she was acting "presidential" and even the Tories came to the conclusion she was out of touch. Amazing the different points of view on here. Goes to show politics isn't easy.

Thanks for that Stevie. Sounds like a flashback to the white Australia policy of Arthur Calwell. There's irony though, in a UK politician advising an Australian politician on immigration policy.

Don't think it's stupid at all. Thatcher suffered multiple strokes since being discharged from hospital earlier this year. Her death was hardly a shock to the press/media who had pre recorded tv shows/stories all ready to go to air. I'm sure her immediate family would have been aware of her condition too. They were overseas when she passed away.

Hiya Stacey. Interesting times and lots of opinions up here in Scotland. Can't imagine the good folks of Ravenscraig shedding a tear for Mrs Thatcher. I believe the area still suffers from the sudden closure of the steel mill. Also interesting to read the conflicting opinions on here. Hope all's well in your parts... Syd.

Glasgow perhaps !!

People will never agree on the merits of Thatcher as PM. The reference to Billy Bragg was quite right. Young morons filmed dancing in the streets should be embarrassed and might look back one day and feel ashamed, but if they don't, it just goes to show how divisive opinions are. When Hugo Chavez died a few weeks ago the press in the UK and USA were quite scathing and showed no respect for a world leader or his family, who unlike Thatcher, never set out to destroy whole communities in the name of making the rich richer. His biggest crime was protecting his country's interests from multi national companies. When Rupert Murdoch chose Britain to launch his own revolution and destroy fleet street he said he did so because it was the only western country where he could depend on the police to back his interests. It's interesting that some of the older unionists interviewed on tv appear more mellow than the younger protesters we see on the news. Just goes to show how strong that legacy is, and how it's been passed on. Most older people were affected by the Thatcher government in one way or another hence the strong views. I don't think we should condemn each other for having different opinions.

Thatcher disliked women and only promoted one female politician to a senior position in her eleven years as PM. When questioned on this she'd reply she couldn't find any that were good enough. Surrounded herself with subservient males. Died alone with no family present. Speaks volumes. Wouldn't wish anyone dead but public opinion continues to be divided. Anyway she's up there with Ronnie and Regie now.

If she's receiving an Oz pension now then that should continue when she moves overseas. If she contributed to NHI in the UK then she should already be getting a portion of the UK pension now if she's pension age.

Nothing racist in this mate. My reference to third world has nothing to do with race, more old fashioned methods of how things are done in the UK. As for going out of my way to be difficult, you must be joking surely.

Been back just over a year now and all's still good. Last week I received the renewal reminder for my tv license, £145. That's close to £300 since I arrived for the govt's permission to watch the telly. And I noticed in the small print that the govt. reserve the right to revoke my license at any time. Anyway, instead of renewing it online as the missus wanted to do, I thought I'd enquire if I could pay it while I was in the bank. The teller said if I had the giro slip it was no problem but as I didn't have it I couldn't renew it with them. I then headed up to the post office with some mail to post and found out from the teller at the PO that they no longer accepted payment for tv licensing. In fact the only place I could pay it was in an obscure little corner shop located on the road out of town. This is a town with a population of around 20,000 people mind you. Anyway still refusing to listen to Mrs Syd and pay the thing on line I found the shop and presented the renewal slip and the exotic looking lady behind the counter snatched it out of my hand while talking on her phone and put her hand out for the 145 quid. I gave her a credit card and she said she could only accept cash. I then gave her a cash debit card and again she refused to take it, and told me I'd have to go back to the bank for the money and come back again. I told her to forget it and I'd pay it online. She refused to give me the renewal slip back and said she had already put it through and to go and get the money. Having had enough of all this, not to mention having to tell the missus she was right and should have paid it online I decided to go to the pub a bit earlier than usual for my pre dinner pint and ponder this unexpected situation. Later on that night around 8.30 after tea and a couple of vinos the door bell went and Mrs Syd answered it. She said rather straight faced it's for you, the man of the house. Standing in the snow was this huge Pakistani chap looking for £145.50 payment for my tv license. Really enjoying the UK, but the unexpected "third world element" of how things are done that pops up now and again is perplexing. The wife can handle the bills from now on... Syd.