ramot

53 minutes ago, ramot said:

 I think lots of us have an unrealistic memory of UK Christmas. I have posted photos before of my last one in Bristol. I had a badly broken arm and shoulder, was totally house bound as too scared to venture out and risk more damage slipping on icy pavements, and unsalted roads. 
After almost 30 hot Christmases, this is my norm, breakfast outside, leisurely swim in the pool, walk by the beach watching everyone enjoying themselves, late full roast turkey with all the trimmings, usually eating outside and still chatting away and possibly drinking!!? hours later under the stars. Beats a cold Christmas for me.

where ever you are, make the most of it, don’t let memories of past Christmases spoil this one.

Happy Christmas 
 

 I think lots of us have an unrealistic memory of UK Christmas. I have posted photos before of my last one in Bristol. I had a badly broken arm and shoulder, was totally house bound as too scared to venture out and risk more damage slipping on icy pavements, and unsalted roads. 
After almost 30 hot Christmases, this is my norm, breakfast outside, leisurely swim in the pool, walk by the beach watching everyone enjoying themselves, late full roast turkey with all the trimmings, usually eating outside and still chatting away and possibly drinking!!? hours later under the stars. Beats a cold Christmas for me.

where ever you are, make the most of it, don’t let memories of past Christmases spoil this one.

Happy Christmas 
 

Wonderful night watching QLD Ballet showcasing a selection of ballets by Li Cunxin, who is retiring as the Artistic Director. To make the night extra special I found myself standing right next to Li Cunxin and his wife while waiting at the traffic lights, and had a quick chat and they kindly agreed to a photo. 
Anyone moving to Brisbane and concerned it is a backwater culturally, as mentioned recently, the quality and variety of the shows that I have seen this year have been excellent .

19 hours ago, ramot said:

Would you get extra bereavement leave if you worked in UK ? 

Obviously I meant if the reverse situation. Work in UK parents in Australia

My husband was refused bereavement leave when my mother died as it was his MIL. Had to take annual leave

2 hours ago, Nemesis said:

So that would be the same public sector that allows you 2 whole extra days on your mingy bereavement leave because you have to travel halfway round the world? And even then you have to beg for it. Trust me, they give you nothing unless you have achieved Superstar-Godlike status.

Would you get extra bereavement leave if you worked in UK ? 

I have a smart watch, cost me $39 from Aldi 2 years ago. Bought it as a bit of a joke, thinking this won’t last 6 weeks. Obviously it doesn’t do as much as an Apple Watch, but I haven’t regretted buying it, and the functions are pretty accurate and linked to my iPhone.  My heart has been misbehaving for several years, so it has been useful to keep a heartbeat and blood pressure record, I have a certain number of daily steps programmed in as a goal, and most days I try to make sure I reach it. Was useful and encouraging after I had a pacemaker fitted a few month ago to see the number of my steps start to improve. Yes it does tell the time as well.

So it’s not just young and trendies that make use of modern technology, I only use an iPhone and have a new iPad as well , perhaps it’s good for our brain to keep up to date as we get older.
 

6 hours ago, Blue Manna said:

I just use my father's concession card. No one has ever questioned it. Not sure if I should be worried about that?

Perhaps you should question yourself if you aren’t entitled to use it

18 hours ago, rammygirl said:

When buying tickets online I have never been asked for proof when entering. Sometimes I feel dismayed they don’t ask me to prove I’m old enough anymore…….

A friend of mine, age 80,  who is an artist, wanted to buy paint in Bunnings that apparently is popular with graffiti idiots. She had no proof of age that she was over 18 with her and so was refused her purchase. Had to go back later with proof!! 

1 hour ago, DrDougster said:

Would being visibly clearly in your 80s +/- a passport to prove it be ok to get into events as a concession ticket in Aus? I am thinking of taking my parents to the Big Bash on Boxing Day and while I've always just bought adult tickets for things in the past I saw concession was an option.

My husband organises theatre tickets etc for our Probus group, and it does state to be in possession of a concession card or seniors card to be eligible for seniors concession. Everyone in Probus is eligible!!! no surprise there, but no one has ever been asked for proof on arrival anywhere. 

1 hour ago, Blue Flu said:

I thought I'd give you the curtesy of replying to the post you responded to mine. Yes Euro rail travel was big back in that era. I know/knew Norfolk rather well in the past. It has a large retired population . I was thinking Cromer or Sheringham could be ideal places to meet like minded places, on the coast with easy access to Norwich, one of the better English cities. 

But Cyprus, that's a place I've been looking at, only been there once, but keep in mind Northern Cyprus. It is cheaper than the main part, with loads of English retirees decamped there. You could get a cheapish flight from UK to Cyprus and book into a B & B or take a room in a house . There are a number of activities aimed at the Brits retired there and you can get an idea online as what it offers. 

Have no knowledge of Gloucestershire or Czech Republic but both easily doable. So much more to do in that part of the world. Travel can seem more difficult as we get older. For me, it is the increasingly inability not to be spontaneous. Having to prebook so much in fear of missing out or paying too much in season. 

My brother has lived retired in Cyprus for over 20 years and seems happy enough. I have visited several times. and I find the countryside stony and bleak, and much as I love him the expats I have met are not for me.  Tax rate was low when he moved there, don’t know if still low. Avoid places like Ayia Napa at all costs plus be careful of other inclusive holiday spots. Fares are not cheap from UK,  winter fares eg January cheaper. 

1 hour ago, calNgary said:

I think the issues you have come across must be area specific.

  I cannot really fault the Healthcare in QLD, both public and private. There is no charge here in QLD for Ambulances. Dr appointments cost around $86 then you get the Medicare rebate so ends up cosring you very little. I have noticed over the last few years when you ring the DR its normally a day or two before you can get an appointment (unless its an emergancy) compared to years ago when you could get in on the same day. .

 The public hospitals i have been in both as patient and vistor have been clean and the staff great, same for Private.

      Cal x

        

I use family Dr to book an appointment at my Dr surgery, much easier than ringing the surgery, if it’s on that system, a list of appointment times available show up and you book. It’s a really good system 

11 minutes ago, Marisawright said:

We're fortunate in Melbourne that most GPs offer bulk billing or reduced rates for seniors

Is that with a seniors card or a concession card? or just because a patient is over a certain age? It only seems to apply to a concession card holder here. eg ia state pension 

8 minutes ago, Marisawright said:

Wow, even after your Medicare rebate?  That's ridiculous.  There are still bulk billing GPs in Melbourne and even the doctors who charge, aren't charging as much as that. 

$90 charge from my Dr. on the Sunshine Coast before Medicare rebate

Sorry your wife had such a bad experience, and I hope she has now recovered.  Was the $100 charge before the Medicare rebate or after?

Both my husband and I have had a pretty rotten time health wise this year, and we can’t fault the treatment we have received, from the professional but also caring  paramedics to the hospital care. I accept I was in A&E for 24 hours due to bed shortage, but I was well looked after. My husband broke his ankle, and has been very well cared for, including home physiotherapy visits all free,

I think hospitals and health services are sadly stretched to the limit in both countries, and there will be bad experiences in both.but from my experiences of both the NHS when visiting England annually and here, Australia is where I prefer to be for health care

17 minutes ago, BendigoBoy said:

I remember Cabot Circus parking being pretty cheap back in 2016 before I left.  They ramp the prices up?

Can’t remember, was there last year. I’m used to the first 3 hours free in the Sunshine Plaza, plus extra free after that if you spend over a certain amount,, Chermside 2 hours free? and then the same, 

We certainly can’t find a street parking space for love or money in Bristol, anywhere  near our rental  and when you do eventually find one on your at least  3rd attempt, you get your tyres let down overnight by the eco idiots, even though it’s a hybrid., and your car can face either direction when parked. City centre parking wasn’t cheap, and best not mention the 20 mile speed restriction. We couldn’t leave fast enough.

14 hours ago, Simontucks said:

Morning/evening all!

We are planning our move to the outskirts of Brisbane (Kenmore/bellbowrie area) in April having been granted our residency visas last June. We are a family of four with my wife and I 48 and two daughters aged 16 and 12.

I have family in the area(brother and his family) which we have visited many times and have decided it's were we'd like to settle.

Due to my brother's contacts work is not going to be a problem,I'm a decorator of 30 yrs experience and my wife works in council housing department.

Having sold our home and taking into consideration all costings of getting there including our dogs we will be taking $300.000 savings looking to the future and deposit for a house once able to buy.

Could somebody advise on the situation involving colleges there?my eldest wants to go down the hairdressing/beauty route but we don't know where to start and I don't really want to keep asking my brother to look into things for us,god knows I'm asking him enough already .

I had no worries regarding the move apart from the obvious missing family here in the UK and really can't wait to get away from a country in such a mess.....until I started reading threads on here!.it seems the majority are sorry they moved to Australia or that they want to move back to the UK ,I can't quite get over this as living in the UK I'm struggling to find many good things about it at the moment and I really don't see a future here for my girls.

If there's anybody in the area we are planning on moving to I'd be more than grateful to have a chat regarding a few things 

I have lots more questions I'm afraid but will spare you all of them in one go

 

Reference being happy in Australia., and I am only speaking for my family and friends.

Our son and wife celebrated their 10th wedding anniversary yesterday with a lovely party for family and friends. Between us we have emigrated from either Africa. in 1980, or from  the UK since the early early 2000’s. We range in age from our  early 80’s down to teenagers and toddlers.

Not one of us has regretted the move, from my cousins who migrated in their 40’s from Africa and made  a good life here, whose children have grown up as Australians, with successful careers . My husband and me who retired here, plus  two of our children followed us here in their 30’s, and  friends of my son who came with their parents in their teens. 

It hasn’t always been an easy journey, but no one has any intention of leaving, who knows where any of  the children will end up, but that’s in the future, in the meantime Australia is their home and they have a pretty good life.

Will add, there were plenty of friends there who are long time Australians, it was a lovely mix of people all enjoying being together .

1 hour ago, Cheery Thistle said:

Can’t believe this thread has degenerated into a ‘debate’ about how a roundabout works. In any country. Or maybe I can! 

I learnt a long time ago to  never leave a comment or get involved again after at the very most the 2nd page of posts.

3 hours ago, InnerVoice said:

I can't speak for WA, but QLD schools develop their own emergency procedures based on government guidelines and I believe there's a requirement for a rehearsal every 3 months. Our school has either a lockdown or evacuation practice each term, and they run alternately. I read recently that lockdowns were introduced here due to American high school shootings and there's been some debate about how relevant that is to Australia. Apparently, some kids in primary get quite traumatised by the whole experience.

Had a lockdown on a school In Caloundra recently. A young person was walking round outside the school with a large knife, so the alarm went off

its so sad that there is a need for a lockdown in schools 

1 hour ago, Marisawright said:

Worth remembering that Brisbane is 4 times the size of Edinburgh.  Also unlike Perth, it's within reasonable travelling distance of Sydney and Melbourne, so lots of international tours will include Brissie where Perth often misses out due to the logistics.  

I was just sticking up for Brisbane, that it does have some culture,  my post had absolutely nothing to do with Perth, let alone Edinburgh? 

18 hours ago, Cheery Thistle said:

Vic is out. I don’t want to see another winter. 41 Scottish ones has done it for me, I hate it sooooo much! 
We fly into Sydney and staying there for 6 nights (that’s where hubby’s cousins are), then driving up to Brisbane with a couple of overnight stop offs so never say never. We are not really big city people (could never ever live in London for example, no way no chance lol) so I don’t think Sydney would be for us really. Plus property is too pricey. We can afford a nice house in Brisbane and there are decent job opportunities. If I don’t want to return to teaching then my best work opportunities are in or near a major city.  I’d be trying to get a hybrid working arrangement. I will let you know what we think when we are back. 

Plenty of things to do and enjoy in Brisbane. Most of the top shows are on at QPAC,   visiting international  art exhibitions, Monet in Paris, the French Impressionist live was here recently. We have the  Queensland Ballet with the amazing Li Cunxin as Artistic Director. We saw Strictly Gershwin last week, 40 piece Queensland Orchestra on stage plus 60 dancers, a spectacular tribute to George and Ira Gershwin,  it was wonderful. I’m going to see Il Divo perform next month. Brisbane isn’t quite the backwater small town that some people might think, shouldn’t judge a place if you don’t live there.

1 hour ago, Parley said:

Must say i  am surprised any bank is willing to provide a 30 year mortgage which won't be paid off until the borrower is 83.

Don't they quiz you on how you will meet the repayments after retirement. I'm sure they don't think you will be teaching in your 80s.

We took out a mortgage when we retired here age 60, it’ depends on your financial situation 

2 hours ago, Toots said:

We've just come home after visiting friends in Caloundra and Noosa.  We had a lovely time and the weather was just right.  They retired there from Sydney.  Next month we will be meeting up with them and other friends for a wedding in Sydney plus a big wedding anniversary.  Looking forward to big city life for a few days also catch up with elder son then it's back to my lovely quiet life here in Tassie. 

 

You should have popped in,     good to hear you enjoyed your visit, and  that the Sunshine Coast weather was so  lovely, while you were here, it’s a beautiful time of year to visit.

53 minutes ago, Marisawright said:

We've had this discussion many times before. Reaction to heat and humidity is such a personal thing. You obviously tolerate high humidity well. I'm more like Nemesis - winter in Queensland is gorgeous but the other 6 months is unlivable for me. 

It's very natural that the OP, being in Tasmania, is hankering for warm, sunny weather but they should be aware that moving to Queensland is a pretty extreme change

The weather on the Sunshine Coast is absolutely glorious at the moment, clear blue skies, 25’ during the day,, nice breeze, down to 12’ at night, no humidity, and being enjoyed by the hundreds of all ages out and about over the long weekend. 

Yes it’s hot and humid for a maximum of 3 months over the height of summer, but amazingly those of who live here, cope fine.

Of course the climate doesn’t suit everyone, but I could claim that I will never live in UK again, because I hate the months and months of cold wet dark winters, too afraid to leave the house, because the pavements are covered in ice or snow, and black ice or snow on the roads making it dangerous to drive. 

So the answer is live where it suits you, and accept that people can be happy in a climate that doesn’t suit everyone.

i will add that I think that mostly people adjust to the climate where they live, a slightly lighthearted example was living for 10 years in Brunei, where the temperature varied between hot and hotter, or wet and wetter, before we left I remarked to someone that I didn’t think it was as hot as when I arrived!? I was assured oh yes it’s absolutely as hot, you’ve just lived here long enough to adjusted to it.

1 hour ago, Cheery Thistle said:

You’ve been married longer than I’ve been alive….just letting that sink in! Well done. There’s a lot to be said for sticking at it, that said I know loads of older couples who did just that and made each other miserable as hell!! 

Most of my friendships have been going more than 10 years, I cannot imagine upping sticks and moving every 2 years, it would not be for me.

I briefly considered the armed forces as a career (using my languages) but quickly realised that a) rules are not my friend b) all that moving c) roughing it is also not for me!