shaunkaren

Agree with the above but you missed one category as follows 5. Poms in Australia who love it so much that they pretend its bad to keep it all to themselves!!!:wink:

Have just received the email that Air Asia have suspended all flights to London as of April 1st, we are due to go in June and flying with them (or not now!!):arghh:. I have been informed to await an official email so that I can then rearrange our flights, supposed to be able to move to another airline at no extra cost.....lets hope that happens smoothly.....

Agree with most comments, we have Foxtel and would be lost without the movies and sport on it. The adverts are a killer on normal telly, usually find I can't stay awake for the news as the schedules always run late. Never watched as many cop programmes in my life NCIS followed by NCIS LA, followed by Rush and Hawaii 50 - although on the upside each of the programmes have some really fit males in....... who needs a story line!!!! Do miss the comedy shows out here though although have found a few miss shows like 'Have I got news for you' and similar ones to that - I think it is the banter that UK people have between them and this is something that I have personally found Aussies are shy to do!!

I think the big difference between the UK and Aussies is attitude towards things - the UK media appear (from reports on here as not seen them personally) to have made a big thing of POM's returning to the UK. All I have heard from this end is a comment on the 7PM Project when they appeared more upset that the POM's didn't love Australia anymore! A two minute news story and they moved on which I have to say is the media here through and through, when we lived in the UK I was engrossed with the GFC and potential security threats that may or may not hit the UK, hearing those two phrases on a daily basis. Since moving to Australia I hardly ever watch the news and love the fact that I am ignorant to everything else going on. Life is for living, you get one chance and whilst some would say that Australia is 20 years behind the only thing I can confirm in respect to this is the fact that kids can be kids for a lot longer here. Other than that Next delivery my favourite clothes for free, we get Amazon books/dvd's and cd's delivered for free, Top Shop are opening in Melbourne soon and I have a lovely Mum in the UK who regularly tops up my supply of Bisto Gravy granules - simple life and simple needs. The only thing that would make this move perfect would be a Star Trek style teleport in the lounge so that we could have weekend family/friend visitors from the UK!!!

Ok so far it looks like a private audience with about 8 PIO members - I will happily share Mark!!!! I reckon that Kate could officially 'represent' us poor lost Pommies without our beloved Take That and speak to their media team on our behalf???!!!! Would start a FB page about bringing them to Australia but have absolutley no idea how to do it lol!!! For now I will go on dreaming about Mark.......

Totally trivial topic but wondered whether there were enough Take That fans amongst us that could sign a petition and send it to the official Take That website and get them to come out in concert???!!! Realise this is probably one for the ladies but just think guys if you sign up the lady in your life will always be indebted to you!! I have emailed once but maybe if we can get enough together - social media power may do the trick!! If it doesn't work then I will just have to keep dreaming!!!

Maybe the future won't be so bleak - with all the Aussie kids getting apprenticeships over here the tables on migration may be turned in years to come!! I really hope the UK sorts itself out as still have lots of friends and family over there struggling and worrying about what is to come, not all of them are in the fortunate position we were in.

Welcome and good luck with the move - weird to think I was a newbie a LONG time ago!! Don't get on the site that often as too busy working and (some would comment) partying!!!

Agree with a large part, except with the fact that it has saved benefit money (maybe for the future though), we only ever received child benefit from the tax man and I have a feeling that that too would be disappearing in the near future - also have a number of POM mates here who also never received a penny and would certainly refute the label of dole bludgers :frown:- between us a substantial amount of tax went into the UK system and is now going into the aussie system, which also manages on the most part to give us a bonus refund at the end of the year. Yes I am aware that the current economic climate will mean more people on the dole in the UK would increase the cost of benefits paid out and also the unemployment figures. The cost of emigrating, if paying for things yourself would make it pretty doubtful that you would be able to afford to do so on benefits on either side of the world, which could also hold back a whole bunch of people who may feel trapped. As for the apprenticeship training and future prospects - definitely one of the main reasons we left. A better future for the kids and ourselves.....hopefully, so far so good.

Maybe the UK are trying to keep all the skilled labour in the country and have begun to realise that Australia has slowly taken a large number of taxpayers away??

Well having just popped on here to reply to a message I need to put in my two penneth worth. I wish that all my family and friends keep happy and healthy and that I can still be sharing many a happy day by the barbie with them. I hope that my children grow up to be responsible young adults and are able to follow their dreams (whatever they may be). I hope my OH finds a job he really enjoys and loves going along to everyday. For myself I hope to have completed a Masters/Post Grad qualification in Youth Mental Health and be hopefully helping to get better resources for Early Intervention for those experiencing their first episode of psychosis. Big hopes and dreams so in five years time I will hopefully be around to tick some of those things off the list. On another note I see myself still living in Melbourne but hopefully in our own home rather than a rental, with the obligitary pool/spa of course!!!

We paid an extra $11 for each leg of the journey for in flight entertainment - in hindsight I should have left it for the first part as we leave at 00.45!!! The only entertainment will be me snoring lol!!

We used the ABC rule when choosing our team - Anything But Collingwood!!!! We barrack for Hawks - chosen mainly to wind up a Collingwood fan initially and the choice just stuck.

I would second the above comments, we have been in Melbourne since Jan 10 and absolutely love it (except the weather). I have a couple of friends who are nurses and they have found that they have gone back in time in regards to how nurses are viewed, although attitudes are slowly changing I believe. Check out www.realestate.com.au which will give you ideas on the cost of rentals, we are in Berwick Victoria and find the rents reasonable (about 45 mins from city), the closer you get the more expensive it is. As for making the right decision it really is up to you, come out with as much money as you can though. We had $12k and got by (just) until OH got paid but it wasn't easy. Add to that the stress of settling in, it won't be easy. All that said we made the move for a new adventure and have learn't so much about what we really can do when we put our minds to it - I know that you can do it and survive!! We have made a great bunch of mates and have a better social life here than we ever did in the UK. PM me if you want to know any more, good luck with the decision whatever you decide. Karen x

Travelling back next June and got flight for $580, thought that was a bargain shame it wasn't $400!!! Karen

I have been searching the DIAC site (as directed by Auspost website) for information about getting visa replacement stickers in renewed passports but can't find the actual link. Does anyone know where I can find out how to go about this as will be renewing the kids passports for a holiday next year? I would really like them to be allowed back into the country with us!! - although on second thoughts lol!!:biggrin: Karen

Sorry guys - a bit late in saying thanks. We have now booked flights (not until next year) so will get on and renew them. Karen

Well I take it all back we finally have booked our flights - one way to London though!! So we will have to go through the whole process again for the return trips when they are on promo. Advice to anyone else doing it - patience and persistence required!!! Lucky for me my OH had both of those as per the previous post I had given up!!!

Still no luck, keep trying to log in and get so far then the website crashes - at the point of giving up and beginning to wonder whether we want to fly with a company that can't even sort out its website - we may have to flap our arms to assist with the take off if this experience is anything to go by!!!

Thanks Susie - friends of ours travelled with them before too and said they were ok. Just frustrating not knowing as want to tell everyone that we are travelling back - still patience is a virtue so the wait goes on!! Karen x

Thanks SiamSusie I have tried that number and they are "experiencing a high number of calls" - there is an email quoted aax_aus_support@airasia.com (for anybosy else in the same boat) which isn't on the website so I have sent one to that address. The flight prices were really good so don't want to miss out, although pretty mad as only booked one way so far - the promotion period doesn't cover our return journey, we could end up stuck back in England lmao!!!! We have turned into real risk takers since coming out here - still plenty of other airlines who will be prepared to take our money.... Karen x Lets just wait and see what happens - biggest concern is that they do a runner with our hard earned money, don't believe that will happen

I was wondering whether anybody else has been attempting to book flights with the new promo that Air Asia are currently running? We managed to (eventually) get logged on to the site, choose our flights and then input the credit card details - at this point the system went into error and we now have no way of knowing whether the flights are booked or not!! Anyone dealt with them before and also know who to contact via email as the link on the site states "whoops this page has flown away" - now worried what has happened to our money and may cancel the credit card payment. Any advice from those seasoned travellers - we booked with them upon recommendation from a friend so know that they do actually exist (or at least they did!!) Thanks Karen:arghh:

Sorry to tag on to your thread but we are needing to get our two children's passports renewed soon as they run out in July, however they will both turn 16 before the five year period is up. I have done a bit of research on the government website and can't quite work out whether I just renew them as children or whether I have to get adult ones - anyone know what is the best approach?? My son is 13 and my daughter will be 12 next month. Karen

I would like to bring to members attention that we have had a bad experience with DHL and a recent parcel delivery, followed by a somewhat lack lustre customer service response. My parents sent out a parcel full of UK goodies/books for a course and it cost a small fortune to send, having previously had a good service from DHL we used them again. Everything went really smoothly at the UK end and within 3 days the parcel had landed at Melbourne airport, my Dad was tracking the parcel so we eagerly awaited the knock on the door sometime soon. We gave allowances for the Easter/ANZAC public holiday and expected the parcel around Thursday/Friday last week. I was actually home all day Thursday and Friday and was disappointed that nothing arrived. I phoned my parents at the weekend to see where it was and the website stated that they had attempted delivery on the Thursday - noone knocked on the door (unless they knocked like a mouse because I was sitting in the front room at the 'alleged' delivery time), the courier used also did not leave a card. I called the DHL depot in Melbourne only to be told that the parcel was at our local Post Office (as they use a third party courier aka Australia Post to deliver here). I complained that as I did not have the shipping details or a card stating an attempted deliver how was I to know where it was? I received a pathetic excuse back from them stating it was all the third parties fault, I will be pursueing this one further!! My Dad has complained at the UK area and received a message back that they have to use couriers in "remote" areas of the world - Melbourne suburbs???? Never thought we had moved to the Outback back according to DHL thats where we are apparently. Anyway my Dad will also be pursueing this one further!! So if any of you lovely POM's out there know of a decent, reliable courier service that doesn't use Australia Post that would be great - I need a reliable source for my chocolate supplies in the future!!! Incidentally on the very same day we had a deliver from Amazon (via Australia Post) just dumped outside the door without so much as a knock!! Anyone else using DHL beware of the Australian end because they don't deliver. £77 for a parcel and we had to collect it from the Post Office - so not impressed!!!:arghh: Cheers Karen

I think my parents paid about £45 for the box which contained books, clothes, chocolate, shoes - not sure how much it weighed though. It may have been expensive but it was door to door in five days and that was after being delayed at Heathrow by the snow for a day. Compared to Royal Mail delivery times I think it was money well spent, but it all depends on how much and how urgently you want the stuff. I needed my college books sent out quickly so I could get on with my course too.