blobby1000

Some political correctness is actually important! I don't miss being asked to 'check on the poof in room 12' or being told that someone born in Melbourne couldn't possibly be Australian because he was 'far too dark' Having said that, there are morons all over the world... But if that sort of thing was said in the UK workplace people would be sacked and I think that's a good thing.

I'm not sure I could have known what it would feel like to live there until I lived there.

What do you mean?

i think you had the same tenants as us!!!

What kept you in Australia for 6 years because I reckon most if these negative things must have been obvious fairly early on? Eg cold house, bad drivers, AFL, no history etc

Oh I can relate to this.....the instant change to being an Australian as soon as some Brits arrive! It's almost as if they are trying to find a short cut to making friends with Aussies by trying to be one. the scary thing is that it works. But it also works to be yourself and allow Australians to like you for who you are rather than who you are pretending to be. i remember this one woman I worked with. She was Scottish, from a beautiful part. She had arrived in Melbourne precisely 2 weeks before us....14 short days. And she spoke to me as if she were the oracle "well, of course, we've been here longer than you" she would state. She had an incongruent frown that went along with her protestations that she was having the time of her life. She used the words: Avro, Barbie, Footy, Ambo, E.D, rocked up, Snags, etc within 2 weeks of getting to Australia (and probably even before that)!! It REALLY bothered me! But now it just seems odd!

If you have a car then make your way to St Andrews Market instead, it's on a Saturday morning up in the trees passed Hurstbridge and it's wonderful!

For me it's in the past tense....but: Autumn and Spring Torquays amazing playground Space Hearing the sound of the waves when I got in my car in the morning and when I returned at night Coffee My Meal and Entertainment card Having a lunch break and a tea break at work (and having a 20 minute break after half an hours work on a late shift each time!) The MCG The fact I could get tickets for any sporting event I wanted to see Walking along the Yarra and having a beer in one of the many pubs Healesville wildlife park and the amazing journey there St Andrews Market and the amazing amazing sausages Coopers Pale Ale Walking along the beach almost every day with my family Almost learning to stand on a surfboard Having money Going on holiday and claiming the tax back on the hotels The Grampians Coral Bay Sydney Our old Rav4 Not knowing where we would be in 12 months time The kiosk on Fishermans Beach Breakfast at Moby's Torquay Urban Grooves cafe, Greensborough and it's wonderful owner greensborough Preschool Eating Kangaroo My kids faces when they saw Ayers Rock The yearly tax rebate Brunswick Street St Kilda The Madcap cafe, Geelong I think I need a drink........

I completely disagree, and although I can't speak for others, I think that many of the people on this thread are happily living in Australia, but comfortable with laughing at the idiosyncrasies. I certainly don't read any 'hate' into any of these posts, just good humour. If we'd had the good fortune to meet a few of these contributors I dare say we could still have been in Australia. Personally I found the ex-pats that refused to acknowledge anything that they didn't like about Australia really quite nauseating and entirely deluded. You can be happy in a country and still laugh at certain things.......

Thanks, very kind of you. My wife also had a very unstable childhood and she's largely unaffected by it. I was very lucky but I do think it's up to the individual if they want to blame their parents for the rest of their lives (although there are obviously some instances when this would be inevitable unfortunately)

Thank you, nice to to be back....although I try not to hang around too long each time it's nice to keep in touch and get free therapy! hows things for you and your family in England?

How do you mean?

Because you have enough space and a little compassion wouldn't go amiss even if they can't have a permanent home.

I actually went to watch a few AFL games and I thought it was brilliant. Amazing atmosphere at the MCG, you could have a beer, lovely crowd, no fighting and really exciting matches.....plus you can get tickets for any match you like (same with the cricket....can't do that in he UK) But I could never comprehend why it was the basis for every persons life in Australia. It seemed literally the only thing that Aussies were passionate about. When I was there, Rudd was trying to overthrow that terrifying ginger woman with the big nose yet again but nobody wanted to discuss that.....every man, woman and child was more interested in the Collingwood left back (or whatever they are called).....and it's true...it was on the news and radio every single day.....but I do think that's more a Victorian thing. Right, I need to leave this site again soon as I promised myself I'd never be an ex-pom in Oz talking shite from the UK!

But they will only ever talk about a sport in which they are winning. Thats why they are always happy to talk about AFL because it's obviously only Australian teams taking part.

Yeah but kids need more than parks and playgrounds.

MAGNIFICENT This is going on our bedroom wall.

No probs re nhs. Everyone gets it, that's why it's failing!!!!! (I'm not suggesting that's your fault!!!)

Here's a list of things I didn't like about Cornwall when I moved there.... Just joking....

Not if you live in a sh!t suburb

im merely suggesting that everywhere has annoying aspects. If you read my contribution in full you would see it is somewhat tongue in cheek x

I disagree. Most people who have commented on here are happily living in Australia but are insightful enough, and confident enough, to be honest with themselves, and others, about the stuff that irritates them.

Not even one small thing? Go on Petals, surely there is something that gets on your nerves? It doesn't matter how unimportant it is....go on....I dare you....just one little thing! Xxx

There is not a single thing about Australia that you do not like?