Trixie

We're in Dee Why too and would be up for meeting some people on the 10th... what time and where is it everyone is meeting?

Sorry to but in but we may be interested in the Manly meet up as we are only up the road.

I live in Dee Why (just up from Manly) and work in St Leonards. Obviously depending what time you set off depends on how long it takes. The Spit as NickyNook says it's a nightmare at any time of the day let alone rush hour. I go up the Warringah Road and then turn left down Penshurst St and that takes you into St Leonards/Crows Nest a very easy route..but then you would have to put your trip from Manly on top of my timings... it takes about 10-15 mins for me to drive from DY beach to Manly Corso. Timing... I set off at 8:10am the other day and got into work at 9:20am... the Warringah Road was a nightmare but Military Road after the Spit would have been worse I think. This morning I set off at 7:30am and it took 50 mins. Just a few parts of the 'W' Road congested. On the way back (I finish at 3pm) it takes about 30 mins on a nice clear run.

Hi No still doesn't feel real. We start he journey to Canberra a week today aaaahhhhh. John Mason took everything yesterday so that is one job out the way. OH finishes work tomorrow and comes back to England on Thurs (hopefully all the snow in Europe won't delay or stop him). It is all very exciting and we can't wait to get there now.... it is all so near yet so far too. Thanks SandP... good to hear you have settled so quickly. I hope we will be Ok as we have lived away from the UK for nearly 5 yrs now so at least we are used to not being so close (geographically) to friends and family. It will still be hard though I think as we can't just pop back for the weekend like we have been used to.

I finally got back to the UK yesterday - and was glad to see the back of Bulgaria... Packing boxes arrived today so now the messy business of unpacking our boxes that have been in storage for 12 months and then re packing them to be collected by John Mason on 6th Feb! Still doesn't feel quite real yet though.

Excellent news!

Hello Mark & Belinda and everyone else too. We are arriving on 16th Feb so if there are any meet ups happening after that date... we'll be there... looking forward to making some lovely new friends.

I think as we will be renting and only 2 wks to find said home I will go with an area that has less potential issues...I know that unsavory things can happen in any area but without knowing the town or city properly I'd rather risk a traditionally ok area at first.

Thanks Quoll.... I think I may want to give it a miss then.

in terms of living there. I have read somewhere that it isn't very nice... what are people's views who live in Canberra?

I am not sure yet as I'm not there for another 4 weeks (and counting down) but I can across this http://www.hercanberra.com.au/index.php/category/health-fitness/ There is a health and fitness drive for the new year...each week it seems there are some free classes offered by different fitness businesses... so maybe a good opportunity to try out some new things and get a feel for some gyms before shelling out your precious cash.

I'd love the link too please... I've not got kids yet but would still love to join in :biggrin:

Hi... I am just finalising shipping too,...well playing them off each other to see if I can get a few quid off the cost hehehe...yes I am being a tight arse. As we are coming over on 457 we don't qualify for the double luggage allowance with Singapore Airlines but they have graciously granted us an extra 5kg each so that will be a big help and we will courier over another 20kg case too as from quotes it is only going to cost about £120. I have just added you pugsleysinoz. We'd love to be able to get together we newbies and oldies on the Canberra scene.

We are staying in Queanbeyan for the first 16 days as that was the cheapest I could find and it looks really nice too. Not ideal location but never mind... it was that or stay somewhere a bit grotty or pay for the moon. After those 16 days I am hoping to have found us a real house to live in. We don't have kids yet so I am free to stalk the streets (well drive them anyway as the money I saved I can hire a car for the whole time too) You never know we may be on the same flight! Ours in from LHR on Singapore Airlines on 14th Feb the night flight.

Our flight is booked for 14th Feb so will be arriving in Canberra on 16th Feb too! We'd both be up for any meet ups/get togethers that are happening... we need new friends :biggrin: