theonetruechris

ooo looks like there's plenty enough for a week or so

Thinking about popping up to Cairns for my 50th at the start of October for a week. Is there much to do apart from the reef? Going to be flying solo - I'm not sure if that matters.

Hi peeps, so excited to be traveling to the UK next week for holidays via Hong Kong. Are there any restrictions or requirements other than international vaccine certificate? thanks in advance

Thanks for the comments I somehow missed the sticky post on depression so I’ve been looking through that. Think I’ve clarified the it’s over part. Moving back is my worst case scenario as I’d never think of it in a million years otherwise. Sorting out what we’re doing with the house once we can get into the bank so I’m stuck for another week at least. The current job doesn’t make me happy it’s been the opposite for a long time. I was pretty much relying on the one pillar. So all in all I think I’ve got some massive changes to make. To quote the wombats ‘jump into the fog’

I've just recently separated from my wife (we're still in the same house lots to be sorted out) of 22 years. we been here 12 years now and I've not managed to build a social network. This was my first real relationship and I haven't broke up with / been broken up with before. I'm feeling super alone & anxious. I'm not sure how I'm going to survive this. Panicky me wants to head back to England where family is but I have a 16 year old son here and there's no guarantee I'll find a job (I'm 48 and a draftsman). So background done, Rather than the generic advice of  join a club / volunteer / get yourself out there. I'm looking for specific ideas and tips to help me for access support services / make connections / develop a social circle. Also the situation can't get messy or nasty as its not right & I'm holding on to a slim hope she may take me back. I'm currently in South East Melbourne - Cranbourne area. Thanks Chris

10 minutes ago, Canada2Australia said:

And it's flamebait posts like these that start the inevitable sh**storm of personal attack comments towards other members simply because they share a differing opinion. Exactly the reason why I don't post in these types of toxic threads anymore (besides this post).

Flame bait??? New to me. If you want to suggest that inclusivity and diversity has caused the problems with the COVID 19 in Victoria then I consider the post to be somewhat toxic in and of itself. Also a little preemptive on the personal attack comments

46 minutes ago, Paul1Perth said:

There are too many people in power in Victoria who want diversity and inclusion at the cost of proffesionalism and ability. Trouble is, when it goes wrong they won't own up to it.

where to start Paul, where to start, who are these people you speak of and whom is in a position due to diversity and inclusion?

I can only assume you're a bit cross that jobs you see as being exclusively for straight white males (they're the best at anything / everything) have been denied them because they're not diverse enough and anyone else is bound by nature to fail because the best person for the job is.......

Its OK to be a bigot buttercup all society is a construct with the only truth being your own - don't let anyone tell you otherwise.

Going to look at a dog near Bendigo at the weekend. Is it worth pushing on for the afternoon? Whats to do there?

The smell bizarrely seems to only be noticeable in the winter I think it's because it's spent the summer warming up, but even then it's nowhere near a constant. Still if you smell it a couple of times thats enough for some people

Funny how everyone claim areas are 'rough' without living there.

I'm in Cranbourne East which ifs a couple of km's away. The main development Marriot Waters is far from rough. There's schooling on the site not sure of the quality - if its like ours its adequate but the parents tend to bitch and whine on facebook pages. Due to population growth schools are locking down catchment zones. For secondary schools the public ones with the best reputation are Elizabeth Murdoch in Langwarrin & Alkira (Cranbourne North / Narre Warren south) Primary schools seem to be much of a muchness.

Lyndhurst has easy access to city via train station Merinda park (they are currently upgrading the line so expect some bus replacements for part of the journey. Also the M1 (Monash) and the Eastlink (toll road) are in (relatively easy reach).

All in all an average to good area not fantastic. Reasonable ammenities and within easy reach of the city, Bayside beaches, Mornington Peninsula, Phillip Island and Dandenong Ranges.

Its the missus' 40th soon & I'm looking at getting her a dolphin cruise in the bay from Sorrento. Anyone done one? Any good? any recommendations?

the lighthouse at Airies Inlet is where they filmed round the twist. Have you ever, ever felt like this. Had strange things happen, are you going round the twist

There was me thinking I'd escaped the north. No, turns out it's still like on kes in deepest darkest frankston. And me with no falcon.

Seems smart monies on the hard wired type more capacity to heat and do the jets at the same time. I didn't realize you have to change the water every 3-4 months. Bit more research me thinks

Thinking real hard about getting a spa before the warm weather kicks in. What are they like to run? notwithstanding the initial set up costs with spa, lid, fencing. Do they cost a lot to heat, are the chemicals expensive / a pain to use? Also can you just decide to go in or do you have to wait ages for it to warm up.

Cheers

OK, so long(er) answer. At the start for me It was a very hard slog going from a steady job of 16 years to being out of work & being a house husband trying to settle my son in. We were on 457 with only my wife working & it was really eating into the savings. We got her work to sponsor us for PR & all of a sudden my CV's were being answered & interviews offered. Once the job was sorted dark clouds lifted & happy-ish days ensued, all thoughts of going back were put to the back of my mind. I would have to say though I'm the type of person where I need to know I have an out, and in for me its the thought that i could back to Blighty (at no point in the future would I envisage doing so but doesn't stop me wondering....)

As for the positive stuff, We have citizernship so they can't kick us out & New Zealands now an option if we need to try somewhere different. We spend a lot of time doing family stuff & we tend do something every weekend to the point my son moans about wanting to have a day on the couch. I can't say I've made any lasting friends apart from a couple of expats but casual acquaintances made through Auskick, footy etc. allow you to have contact with people outside of work. So for me B+ (and its better than the alternative which was work was going to send me to Bristol)

I miss a few old things I've tried plenty of new things. On balance B+

Time certainly does fly.

Corporate liability. The company / person being paid to install should be liable.

I'm still waiting for somone to tell me how its the governments fault some moron goes into a roof space and kills themselves through carelessness. Clearly the era of personal responsibility is over.

The curry secret by Kris Dhillion the recipies are easy-peasy and authentic (British takeaway authentic)

Now is it just me or does the earn or learn policy look like they're attempting to get the nations youth to pay for their own benefits? When they are made to wait 6 months for welfare but they can be loaned money if they go into training which they'll have to pay back with interest, and since courses are likely to go longer than the 6 months which you'd have to wait for the dole. I'm assuming you'd also have to wait another 6 months after coming off a training course.

Well paid liberals not only do you cook the books by removing massive numbers from the unemployed you actually make them pay for the privilege. So fair, how very anyone suggest otherwise.

Deary, deary me, I know the books need balancing but FFS can we not have a middle ground of actually looking after the needy without throwing money around?

On a side note why shouldn't student debts be serviced from deceased estates?

Perhaps RWD was not the basket to put eggs in.

The fact that they wouldn't develop the chassis to take a diesel speaks volumes for it as a manufacturer. The hints were there when they announced the Malibu which allegedly serviced a different market to the commodore