ramot

Thank you for your very informative post, and sorry for the sad circumstances that have made you move back temporarily to UK. The comparison of the cost of living from someone actually living there will make interesting reading for posters.

If the 2 older children refuse to come, then change their minds a few years later, will they have lost the chance of being eligible to join you, and will have to get visas in their own right. There have been many sad posts over the years of children regretting not moving with their parents. Suggest you say give it a couple of years, then if it doesn’t work out we will support you returning to UK? I so often see the advice of leaving children behind to finish their education in UK and to stay with relatives during a very vulnerable age. As one of possibly the only posters who has had to actually cope with that situation, it’s an awful thing to have do, for both the child and the parents. We had no choice as there was no education past age 14 for expat children where we lived. I can’t tell you how many children said they felt abandoned! and in my case even though I was able to still spend some time in UK to support our daughter, it was a very difficult situation to cope with. I would never ever have done it if there had been a choice, honestly who really wants to live on the other side of the world from their children. Our 2 older boys were also in Uk age 19 & 21, both at university. When we retired we moved to Australia and all 3 were still in UK. The long term result was our middle son and daughter decided to come to Australia and it took them years of worry to be eligible for a visa to stay. Our oldest stayed in UK. All the best with your decision, it won’t be easy, but having been married to someone in the RAF and having been an expat, many of our friends and us have moved our children between schools, and though not ideal, children are resilient and cope better than you think. Our daughter moved mid GCSE’s and did remarkably well.

I had 2 British passports for a while. I can’t quite remember the circumstances, but I had new one issued by the British High Com while I was in Brunei, as I had no blank pages left in the active one, think I needed a new visa or something? Anyway I was issued a new one, but allowed to keep my active one. Many years ago a friend had 2 as he worked in both Israel and United Emirates, don’t know if that still applies.

I remember the last holiday we had in Cornwall, it rained almost non stop for 2 weeks. My husband couldn’t come, and I was stuck there in a caravan, with 3 bored moaning children and my aged mother, we never had another family holiday there again ( and I really love the place as my family is Cornish). If the weathers good, a great place, but that was one of too many soggy holidays.

Only my last move before Australia was expat, Some of us have to move because of our husband’s work, whether we like it or not, move and settle our children into yet another school, let alone the pain of of leaving them behind when overseas, that’s hard for them to keep adjusting, making new friends, cope without you. In service life you don’t always live in married quarters, you have to integrate into local settled life. I hope no one thinks that’s easy

When you have moved as much as I have, lost count after 17 moves before Australia, it’s sink or swim, life isn’t going to come to you, so best to learn to swim/adapt

U3A is thriving on the Sunshine Coast, over 100 courses on offer at our local one.

As an expat I completely disagree with your sweeping statement. Like any country, and Australia is the 5th country I have lived in, any country in the world you might find friendliness or unfriendliness. We retired as expats to Australia 19 years ago aged in our 60’s with no immediate family here, so you could say on the basis of the previous post the odds were stacked against us. On the contrary, we were made welcome, and made good friends. We have a good mix of Australian and other expat friends. Both our son and daughter have followed us to live in Australia,. We were joined by our son and his wife and a couple of their ( Australian) friends who were at university with him, plus their 2 small children on Boxing Day, what fun we had. We have known them and other of his friends for over 15 years, and I certainly don’t recognise the sweeping description of Australians. I think making friends in a large city or anywhere in the world, can be and is hard, some places are very likely harder than others, but the Sunshine Coast seems to be an exception by my experience, and confirmed by many people I know. Just remember no one place suits all.

It’s early days and a new country, I doubt it would be different if you were new to the UK. I had to learn by experience to adjust to somewhere new, from going to Africa on my own to work as a single female knowing no one, to then moving almost every 2 years for 20 years, as my husband was in the forces, and then Brunei for work. before retiring to Australia with no immediate family here. it’s not easy anywhere, I understand and sympathise, I’ve had some rough times, and I’m sure it’s probably harder if your partner is in their home country. No country suits everyone, it’s not just Australia, but to start with, if possible find an interest group you might enjoy, is there a group from your country who meet up? and don’t laugh, smile at everyone. I hope things improve for you, there are positives in Australia, but life in Sydney etc. is not the same at the moment because of covid. Wish you all the best, keep posting, you will get support, which I hope will help.

The price they bought the house for was the highest a house has ever sold locally, An eye watering amount, so I have a feeling, not based on any information that the potential sealed bid applicants were perhaps contacted, to bid against each other, Otherwise someone wanted the house very badly. Lots of people seem desperate to buy on the Sunshine Coast from Sydney and Melbourne

Haven’t seen many if any auctions around where I live on the Sunshine Coast for a long time as houses sell almost as soon as the go on the market. The house close to us only took sealed bids! and I’ve heard of what I think a worrying trend, that estate agents are contacting ‘say 5 interested buyers’ and pitching them against each other to ‘up their offers’ to get the property, much easier than holding an auction.

I have seen so much incorrect advice and misinformation given (however well intended) since I joined, with never ever a rider added saying I am not an agent this is only my opinion, that it could fill a thread on its own.

You wear a dress?

We have used Wise to transfer money monthly for years and years, as all our income comes from UK. We can’t fault the service, never had a problem, and money usually in our Australian bank account the next day.

I can’t remember are you in Brisbane? I’m fairly sure there is a Brisbane British Club, BBC, that I think has meet ups. xM

Plus one, perhaps unwittingly you have touched a nerve. Most posters reply with with the intention to help, sometimes it’s not what the OP wants to hear or replies can be misinterpreted. Hundreds and probably thousands of posters have received help over the years I have been a member, but unless the poster replying has details in their signature that they are registered immigration agents, then the rest who reply are only trying to help, to the best of their knowledge. Good luck with your application when you apply.

The Sunshine Coast Qld is regional, so as Cal says above check where the regional areas are and you might be surprised

Of course we have air conditioning, but perhaps a strange concept to you like many here we prefer fresh air in the house. Fresh air is free! You might not be aware unless you live here on the Sunshine Coast, that most of the year the weather is lovely, there is absolutely no need for aircon, so most people only use it during a few months in summer Have hardly needed it yet this year, fans and fresh air more than adequate.

We get more fresh air in the house, because doors and windows can left open all day, with mesh keeping the bugs out, with little fear of anyone breaking in through a wide open window in the front of the house while in the back garden. We have security mesh so can leave windows open all night safely, and keep the house cooler. Children bought up here just accept the mesh doors as normal.

Not all beaches, the main beaches are.

Sensible people keep their screen doors shut, and have screens on their windows, but yes you are right it does happen,, they are around if you are careless, or seems to happen if your cat brings one in through the cat flap, but we don’t live in fear of them.

Depending on your occupation, finding work on the S Coast can be a problem, and commuting to Brisbane to work is not much fun due to the heavy rush hour traffic,

Well I would never live in Melbourne because you never know what the weather will be’4 seasons in one day’ or always either very cold, very wet or occasionally 40’ so too hot, if you believe everything you’re told. No offence Marisa. Ive lived on the Sunshine Coast almost 19 years and still alive, having successfully missed all of your fears. The beaches are beautiful, water sports enjoyed by by many, but like anywhere in the world take sensible precautions, eg respect the sea, swim on patrolled beaches between the flags. No crocodiles this far south, except in Australia zoo, or jellyfish apart from blue bottles occasionally as mentioned. I have seen 3 snakes in our garden, all tree snakes, and believe me I check. Yes there are bull sharks in the rivers and canals, doesn’t seem to stop people water skiing at all, you hardly ever hear anything about them or to be honest any of your sisters scare stories. Lots of Children cycle to school carrying their surf boards to school to go straight to the beach after school, I have no intention of leaving the Sunny Coast, this is the 5th country I have lived in, so plenty of experience of different places, and I’m not moving again. The reality of life is of course that no one place suits everyone, so we all have to decide where we hope we will be happy, and live without fear.

Seen it. It was average

I agree, so It must depend then on where you live. It’s so social here on the Sunny Coast over the Christmas season, from social gatherings, Christmas lunches for the interest groups you belong to, to annual street party.