DavidandGill
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Everything posted by DavidandGill
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Hope it all goes smoothly and quickly for you - good luck! Can't wait to see you on "the other list" with a red star! Gill
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Well, it's finally arrived................................... We've got our Visa!! Daughter sent off Bankers Draft last Wednesday 11th, and we received email this morning from our CO. Sisters-in-Law coming today for a few days, so we'll open the bottle of bubbly when they arrive! Daughter is ecstatic - after all this time it's finally happened. Good Luck to everyone else waiting. Best wishes Gill
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I agree - you can't be out and about at Sausage Sizzles every night - and beside Victoria gets cold in the winter and what's nicer than snuggling up for a night's good TV (not Australian) with a good bottle of wine (that might very well be Australian). Cheers Gill :wink:
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Hi SirMatt I'm sure you are right! I think its a bit of a comfort at the moment until we really get into the Aussie lifestyle and then TV - huh, what TV! Cheers Gill
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Our daughter has found that, since getting a digital PVR they don't have so much of a problem with over-running schedules - it only becomes a problem when they want to record two programmes, the 2nd on another channel straight after the 1st is supposed to finish. Although there is a reasonable selection of programmes on Aus channels, ABC in particular shows a good number of UK progs, they are usually quite old (although we did see a new series of Midsomer Murders BEFORE it was broadcast here in the UK), but there are some progs that they just don't have - Have I got News for You (will that be meaningful without UK news??) Question of Sport, QI - are you getting a picture of our viewing habits yet? The Aussie equivalents are just not quite good enough. That's where we see BBC IPlayer etc coming into it's own but not being very technical I am struggling with the connections between computer and TV - wireless sounds perfect and we will probably have to buy a decent TV eventually so might go for one of those with internet capability. Thanks for all the advice - quite pleased to hear no-one struggling with download limits. All the best to everyone. Gill
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Hi This is what we are planning to do when we get to Aus - do you watch the programmes on your PC or have you been able to connect up your TV - if so, how? I am currently researching a couple of fairly inexpensive software programmes that will record TV programmes on to a PC external hard-drive with a view to buying an Aussie Digi Set top box with a USB connection to watch them on the TV - our concern is the time difference, and we don't want to download programmes because of internet speeds/limits etc. I understand that simply watching a programme is streaming rather than downloading and so does not affect the download limits. Any advice would be appreciated. Aussie TV adverts drive us mental - especially those ones that are put on for 5 minutes before the last 2 minutes of the show! Thanks Gill
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Oh, so hope they are not typical!!! Except for the fairly impressive POM Surf Life Saver! Suspected from the trailers that they would feature more "extreme" personalities, but to be honest the programme only skimmed the surface, there was no real depth to any of it. Enjoyable to watch nevertheless, and would enjoy a breakfast on the beach, except our daughter tells us its been only 4 degrees and wet where she is in Victoria! Hey Ho!
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Hi Lindey Congratulations!! Such good news. Gill
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Good Morning everyone, We have received our 2nd Vac request this morning, so its all systems go now. Steve, if you are not already on your travels would you update the tracker please. Our daughter will be going to the Bank first thing tomorrow morning to draw the Bank Cheque and send it off so hopefully within a few more days we might just get our Visas! As soon as they are confirmed we can exchange contracts and book the removers - we are aiming to fly out on 6th June so hoping everything will slot together to achieve this. Feeling a bit strange really, after all this time waiting for something to happen it's all happening very fast now and its beginning to take its toll, but can't wait to get back to Australia and be with our family. Good Luck to everyone else on this journey. Gill
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Hi Keggas, Welcome, The one thing you are not, is on your own! We are all in the same position - all trying to move across the world to be with our children and grandchildren, whilst at the same time about to make a whole new life for ourselves. We may all have different specific issues to solve but all of us have, one way or another, benefited from this forum. Everyone is so nice and willing to share their knowledge and experience, including those who have actually made the move and it helps to share the feelings - the excitement and the nerves, a few words on here can put it back into perspective. We are close to getting our Visa and I am now getting so worked up about getting the removers in and sending the container off! I feel so out of control but I know, really, that it is all going reasonably to plan (except the exchange rate!). It will all work out, just keep the faith! Good Luck with it all. Gill
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Good Luck for tomorrow - I'm sure you will be OK. We have had "off the record" email from CO that our Visa money will be requested next week - (they found our papers!) and we have just signed the contract for the sale of our house. As soon as we have confirmation that the Visas are granted we will exchange and it will be all systems go. We had Pickfords, PSS, Dorree Bonner and Masons in to give us quotes for 40ft container to Melbourne - Pickfords have come out cheapest and we felt fairly confident about the service they were describing so we will probably go with them. Between the four, there was around £800 difference between cheapest/dearest, so definitely worth getting several quotes. Looking like 6th June is a little bit more realistic after all. Gill
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It is my understanding that the Visa charges are fixed at the point your application is received by Australian immigration and will not increase if the actual processing goes over the 30thJune/1st July deadlines. The following is taken from the Aus Immigration Visa Charges Pages. How will changes to VAC affect my application -The cost of the VAC is dependent on when the application is received by the department. For a visa application lodged close to 1 January and 1 July, the VAC or foreign currency rate may change in the time it takes for your application to be received by the department. Example: You may have to pay for any increase in the VAC or the foreign currency rate if: you pay for a visa application in Australia before 1 July and lodge your application with an Australian Mission overseas after 1 July, or you send the VAC with your visa application before 1 July, but the application is not received by the department until after 1 July, or you send the VAC in a foreign currency with your visa application to an Australian Mission overseas before 1 January, but the application is not received by the department until after 1 January. Important: A visa application is not valid until the department receives the correct amount of the VAC. If the correct amount is not paid, it will result in your visa application being delayed until the correct amount is received. Your visa application may be returned with a request that it be resent with the correct VAC amount. This doesn't help with the exchange rate of course, but it should fix your fee at the 2010/2011 level. Good Luck with it - I know what you mean by stressed!!! Gill
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Thanks fiz, will keep our fingers crossed. The AOS is paid and confirmed, medicals seemed to be all OK (but haven't had that confirmed yet) and all the money has been transferred to our Daughter's account ready for her to draw the Bank Draft and get it to Perth, so everything is in place to go as soon as we get the nod. Will keep reading this forum, it keeps me going! ~Gill
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Oh b*m! Just had e mail from our CO who has been away on holiday. We were hoping it would be to say pay your money, but instead he says he has not yet received our Form 80's and Police checks which were sent on 8th APRIL!!!! Royal Mail online tracker shows they have been passed to the Australian Postal Service for signed for delivery but 'cos the PO closed today can't do anymore. b*m, b*m b*m!! Just not what we needed, getting very stressed about the whole process now and fed up with it! Glad to hear its going well for other people though, but starting to seriously look like we will have to change our flight which is booked for 6th June. Gill
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Well done on getting the request - we e mailed our CO over the weekend and got an out of office message back, he is away until next week! Hope we are not too far behind you. Gill
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Hi Linday First congratulations on the birth of Mia - that's wonderful news. We too are waiting to hear from our CO (we had our medicals on the same day as you) but I suspect that with the Easter Holidays etc., things may be backing up a little bit. We are only grateful that we transferred our Visa money when the rate shot up to $1.62 a few weeks ago. But like you, its very frustrating to still be waiting when things seemed to start moving so quickly. Best wishes to you and your family, it won't be too long now. Gill
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Please Charlie, What happens after 5 years? Gill
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Dear Audie and Catherine My heart goes out to you both - the rest of us thinK we have worries, but our applications all seem to be going through without anything like the hurdles you are encountering. It certainly puts some things into perspective. Being so far from your daughter and being so worried about her as well as being given the run-around by Immigration is unimaginable and I hope and pray that something will soon turn around for you both. I wish your family the very best and will continue to follow your story and keep everything crossed for you. With best wishes Gill
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HI Vannessa - Just to add to what Phoebe says, our daughter went to Oz to be with the love of her life and left behind a lots of extremely close friends and of course, us her only family but she too got herself out and about and made a very deliberate effort to meet people and make friends. Until she was able to do paid work, she volunteered at the Salvos (Sally Army) and met other Poms there and then since having children has joined several local playgroups and indeed has been active in forming a new playgroup and being a Committee Member. Most of their friends are Poms - a lot connected to her partners job at Fords, but they also have also formed very close friendships with Kiwi and Aussie friends too - you have to make the effort but there is no such thing as a shy Australian! Once we get there we are determined to get ourselves out and about, we plan to learn bowls and join the local club for starters. Like all things, you get out, what you put in but having children will make that easier. Gill
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Morning all, Police checks and Forms 80 all sent off yesterday and Son-in-l opened the AOS Account at Bank. Question - does anyone know if it is possible for the interest on the AOS account to be paid directly to our own Bank Account? Our S-i-L was given no options regarding where the interest has to be paid (he thinks every six months) and so it seems it will be paid to him directly into his Bank Account. This has raised a concern for him regarding his Tax Returns and he would prefer if it could be paid direct to us. He is going to ask the Bank on Monday but has anyone out there been able to set things up as above? Advice would be welcomed and direction to any website info also. I have looked on Centrelink site but there is no mention at all about interest. Many thanks Gill
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Same here, we will be arriving in Melbourne just at the start of Winter - and Victorian winters are usually pretty wet! But they can have warm and sunny days too, a bit like the UK, slightly unpredictable, so a suitable assortment of appropriate clothes has to be packed.
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Same here, had a rotten night last night, kept waking up with that horrible tummy dropping feeling. Have spent today sorting out stuff to boot sale in a week or so, and now have one room nearly so full it's almost impossible to get in! Police checks came back today - glad to say they are all OK (as expected in case you're wondering!!) so its Form 80 tomorrow. Had another remover round to quote this afternoon as well. So here's hoping for a better night tonight! Gill
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Oh, this makes me feel so much better ! Just knowing there are others out there that are sorting through their "stuff" and inevitably getting rid of bits. Was up in the attic yesterday, making a list of what is worth taking and what's going to the Boot Sale (did a couple last year and am slightly surprised at how much I have still got). Ebaying a few bits as well, and starting to get a bit overwhelmed by it all to be honest. Does anyone else feel like that at this stage? Can't wait to go but dreading the packing up and goodbyes. It's usually tears at Melbourne Airport when we have to come back here, but I am beginning to feel like its going to be tears at Gatwick this time. Just started transferring money to Son-in-law who had his Centrelink interview today, we had our medicals last week and as far as we know we are both "OK". We know the reports have gone off and Dr provided the courier tracking number. To be honest the medical was nothing like we expected, it only took about 15 mins each, (and another hour to provide a urine sample!!) Nerves get to you, don't they! Just waiting on Police Reports and filling in Form 80. So excited, it's all beginning to really happen now! Gill
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That's thought provoking! We've only had Pickfords so far and were reasonably impressed by them, so will be interesting to see how the others are - might get John Mason to come and quote as well now. Interesting! Gill