pintpot

It's a tough climate all right. That's why fleabo needs Taubman's EndureTM

Don't mind it the first time, so long as it's not the minute I've walked back in the shop. I generally politely say "no thanks!" with a smile. If they come back again without asking I put down what I'm looking at and walk out, out of principle

I don't think discussion of such a major news story is irrelevant, though.... There was an opinion piece in the Fairfax press last week saying that Australia had a few issues with, amongst other things, isolationism that was harming the competitiveness of its businesses. And another one today about the failure of productivity to rise over the past 15 or so years - the warning being these are potential areas of structural weakness. I'm inclined to agree with both, from what I've seen of Aussie business since I got here - and looking out for this sort of stuff is sort of my job. It's partly why I'm here. Economic and political issues in Europe can potentially have a pretty major effect on Australia

You're probably not allowed, but good luck to you anyway I agree cards here are really pricey - not really an issue for us, the wife makes them all as a rule (ex graphic designer) but on the odd occasion when we've bought some, we've been surprised One of those items, probably, where Aussie business could do with a kick up the eighties. So best of luck to you in your venture :-)

I meant the "two to avoid" tbh My fridge has a slab of Boag's in right now.....Vintage Cellars were doing a pretty good deal, $80 for mix & match of any two slabs from a range of about 4, fortuitously including Cooper's Green and Boag's Premium I like both, still searching for my ultimate brew though......I like the Aussie Pale Ale style quite a lot, the citrus, hop and wheat in 150 lashes and Fat Yak is really nice but they're both a bit lacking in bite. Little Creatures more of a mouthful but a bit "soft". Combination of the taste of 150L with the bite (and alcohol, let's be honest) of Cooper's Red would be pretty good

How do you work that one out? In the cases of the main offenders, the directors have, by and large, lost their jobs, and their owners have lost lots of money In the cases of the worst offenders (eg Northern Rock) the Directors have all lost their jobs, and the shareholders have lost all their money In the cases of other banks, shareholders have lost money across the board and a fair few senior staff have been fired or had a severe curtailment of their pay What do you want? Them all to be put in the stocks every lunchtime? How long for? And who are "they" anyway? Anyone in financial services? Just bankers? Just bankers above a certain level who worked for one of the failed outfits? I can't be doing with this scapegoating. The causes of the GFC are reasonably well understood, it's pretty well established there was reckless behaviour but actively fraudulent? Not really. There was a global misconception of certain risks with failures on all sides - governments, banks, ratings agencies, insurers, and just as much as all those, Joe Public. I can't see that the navel-gazing and self-flagellation is getting anyone anywhere. It started 5 years ago now, we need to look and move forward. Where the growth is going to come from, and what models we think are going to best serve our respective nations are the important things, not whether or not you think Bob Diamond gets paid too much

Because it's massively important. It's right up there with business, cricket, and making the beast with two backs in terms of making the world go round. Without decent beer, who would we be? Frogs, perhaps. Or Swedes. Is that what you want? :wink: Managed to avoid those two so far, so thanks for the tip Bought some "Sleeping Giant" IPA from Gage Roads brewery t'other day.....it's the closest thing I've found to a malty, hoppy English IPA, I'm thinking summat like Old Empire or Bengal Lancer. Not something I'd have every day (don't have any burning desire to drink English style beer, I'm not in England) but interesting and half decent. One to keep in the beer fridge, that's for sure

I like it Decent sized, honest town, it has its rough end but plenty that isn't rough. Economically it's only going to keep strengthening at the rate they are developing mines in the Hunter - there is a *massive* port expansion in the pipeline in Newcastle which will bring in the $ Nice old town bit, loads of facilities, as said it's close to the Hunter which I think is beaut countryside, also nice coastline round there - and much less busy and much less expensive than Sydney to boot (so living near the beach or a really short drive away is realistic whereas for many in Sydney it isn't). If you do want a day out in the city the train takes a couple of hours I think, similar time to drive, so quite possible to get to Sydney if you feel the need We have a biggish project up in the Hunter and most on it live in Newcastle or Maitland and love it up there. They love the fact they're paying about half the rent they would be in Sydney as well........

I knew him, back in the day (as I think these young folk like to say) A bowl of Rice Krispies with some "disco biscuits" chucked in it was more his thing IIRC :biggrin:

It's OK if you're 25 and Australian I reckon. If you're 45 and British, it sounds idiotic

This one is usually good for a ruck ;-) I saw someone link to a post/blog about tipping on another thread this morning. That site was obviously American (where tipping is completely out of hand) but it occurred to me I haven't really got a clue what the norm is here. Aussies I have known in the UK have always moaned about tipping, so I think since moving here I've got a bit tighter than I was in the UK and tip a lot less. Like, I don't tip cabbies or hairdressers/barbers here, I dunno if that's correct or not TBH the only place I'm leaving tips is in the posher end of restaurants. Otherwise I'm not bothering. Am I being a tightwad, or is this pretty much what everyone does?

As per the above, just wonder if anyone has good experience of skiing around Thredbo/Perisher and how reliable snowfall is. Looking at "official" websites but also after a bit of personal experience Thinking of going there for a long weekend in the winter.....we were both avid skiers but haven't been for over 5 years now since our son came on the scene Thanks in advance

So long as you don't try and copy them, it's all good......as I reminded my 45 year old Pommie MD when he asked me recently how I was "travelling"..... I trust the look of derision I gave him didn't swing *too* far towards contempt

Doesn't make any difference if you get a PR visa after 2 years on the 457 But I agree with the rest of your points.....and especially that a 457 is only a work permit really and should be seen as such. If your aim is to migrate to Australia because you want to live in Australia (rather than just do one specific job here) then you ought to be looking at the PR visas

I think that's entirely to do with your PoV though......as an Aussie you're sensitised to comments directed at Aussies. And as (presumably) a white person, you probably don't notice some of the comments that get directed to non-white people I don't find Australia particularly racist, no real difference to the UK - it exists, it always will, it doesn't seem oppressive. But then I'm also white so probably wouldn't notice

Perhaps they need additional income because 60K is a bit rubbish....... :wink:

They're not expected to DO the same as an average worker so the comparison is fatuous. Pay them 25K if you like, and then see what calibre of people you get....... And of course they get expenses for what they are expected to do. Do "normal workers" get expenses for costs incurred as part of their job (eg travel, hotels etc)? Of course they do. You think MPs should pay that out of their "huge" salaries? lol Pension provisions are generous, but........most aren't in the job for very long so they don't accure that much in terms of benefits. Only a tiny minority are in it for the sort of length of career the average person expects I suspect you don't know what they do, tbqh

Some do, some don't, doesn't change the salary being pretty ordinary for the level you expect them to operate at and the hours/expectations of what they are supposed to do

That's exactly what the system is though, isn't it? Marginal rate of taxation for incomes 0-7500 = 0 Marginal rate of taxation for incomes 7500-35000 = 20% Marginal rate of taxation for incomes 35000-100000 = 40% Marginal rate of taxation for incomes 100000-115000 = 60% Marginal rate of taxation for incomes 115000-150000 = 40% Marginal rate of taxation for incomes 150000+ = 50% OK, there's added complication with BIK tax, National Insurance, for the self employed, tax credits and the like, but that's about the size of it.

Most MPs aren't rich by anyone's standards.......they are middle class people (in the main), on middle management money. Joe Public seems to think they're rolling in it, which seems bizarre to me when the MPs salary is what? 60 grand? It's hardly a lottery winner's lifestyle

I try not to comment much on UK politics......mainly because I can't stand Osborne either emotionally or intellectually, but find myself in the awkward position that whilst I think what they are doing fiscally is necessary, in a truly hypocritical move I've voted with my feet and buggered off for a few years

Hi Gillian We're going to Reddam next Wednesday as it happens. I'll let you know what I think Cheers

Bang on. It's a part of the way of life. Way too much media attention gets focused on the "horrors" of binge drinking, it's always happened. If anything, you're much better off IMO where people are doing it in pubs than at home or on park benches necking White Lightning because at least there's some control without having to be too heavy-handed with legislation (which never works anyway because you just drive it underground or out of the publuic environment rather than stopping it) One of the good things about traditional pubs is that you tend to get a mix of ages and backgrounds in there - that acts as quite a strong piece of peer pressure to stop people getting too p1ssed and especially lairy. If teens do their drinking in a largely or exclusively teen environment then that restraint isn't there and people wind each other up into worse behaviour

Can't stand jaywalking laws, and the enforcement of them is even worse A sure sign of a jurisdiction that has policing priorities all wrong

I agree that pubs are closing, that's for sure - it's indisputable I don't agree as to the main reason for that or, rather, I added one that's bigger than all the others (I used to invest in this industry fwiw, have a fair idea how it works) And I certainly don't agree that the concept of the local pub is "gone" Apart from that, yeah, cool :-)