pintpot

You exaggerate. Pubs are closing down thick and fast though, you're right about that - there are a number of reasons but the main engine is rooted in the financial position of the PubCos and property prices. Far from "subsidising" most pubs, most PubCos are the principal reason they are closing because the rents they charge are unsustainable - and the reason they charge those rents is that they (most of them) are loaded with debt, and as they are virtually all REITs these days rather than vertically integrated breweries, there's no connection with the brewing business and no business motivation to keep a marginal pub going to drive beer sales. General economic malaise meaning punters have less money to spend, cheap booze in the supermarket and other things just add to the problem It is a shame IMO because the pub, whether you are a drinker or not ans whether you like it or not, is the hub of village/local life in many areas so losing it is more than just losing somewhere to drink. But the concept of the "local" is still what constitutes the majority of village and suburban pubs, even if there are less of 'em - the vertical drinking establishments are mostly a town centre thing That's your interpretation rather than anyone else's. No one said they did need/want/expect the social to be the same, did they? In fact quite the opposite. All people were doing was pointing out that it was different. Which it is You also exaggerate on the binge drinking problem. Most places in Northern Europe have binge drinking "issues" if you want to see it that way. Ireland and Scandinavia have perhaps bigger problems than the UK in this regard, but the Germans seem to have it right. Australia has them too, of course. In the 6 or 7 countries I've lived in around the world, most problems those cultures have with booze are cultural first IMO, but restricting alcohol sales or shoving up prices in licensed premises never works - in fact the reverse. You just drive people to throw it down their necks when they can get it cheap, or to get tanked up at home on cheap booze, or to make their own dodgy booze and get tanked up at home on that. Have a look at the history of the infamous "six o'clock swill" in Oz, or just live in modern day Sweden to see the damaging effects of that

In fairness the max speed the UK ever gets to is 70mph which is just over 110kph The difference is that the cops in the UK don't seem to give a monkey's if you're doing up to 80-85mph. You have to keep your eye out for cameras but at least the fixed ones are very visible (yellow) and they still give you a bit of leeway over the limit - about 10% I've only ever been done for speeding once in the UK, by an unmarked car, who booked me for 90mph on a 70mph dual carriageway. The fact I'd been overtaking on the inside at up to 110mph shortly beforehand (on a motorbike) and he made it clear he'd seen that but wasn't going to do me for it made me quite happy to take a small 3 points and 60 quid slap on the wrist. Enforcement here is, I believe, errr, *slightly* more strenuous...... ;-)

Yeah, I never said it was. I was using my local area as an example that in suburban areas of Sydney, the concept of the local pub in your suburb doesn't exist. I understand a large part of this is due to the legacy of NSW specific legislation ....and there are about 150 in Cambridge, fwiw. Just for comparison, like ;-) If there are good local suburban pubs (not just in or around the city centre) in Hobart then I reckon that's excellent - always much better to have alcohol served in small places that are part of the community IMO, be it the cozy local pub (eg in England) or the small cafe bar (like in France). Trouble is only ever brewed in the big vertical drinking establishment

Yeah, I can understand that has the potential to irritate, and it may never happen; We might go back before then anyway, or maybe we'll be in love with the place so much in 4 years that making a 100% commitment is no problem. Like I said, it's just how I feel at the moment The potential for dual nationality does make it an easy call as there's no risk involved for Brits. Perhaps there should be, but at the moment there isn't, and with the rules as they are, we'll use them to our advantage if we can. As per previous threads on the subject, if I had to make a choice and give up my UK citizenship in order to become an Aussie citizen then there's no way I'd be doing it. I might feel differently about that in 4 years as well, but I doubt it. I'm proudly British and always will be

Sydney doesn't, except in central areas & old inner city areas like the Cross & Surry Hills. Even in some areas with quite a few young folks (Lower North Shore) there are only a handful of pubs and those there are tend to be big beer barns. The concept of the cosy/friendly local boozer - that suburbs of UK cities are stuffed with - doesn't exist here. In many outer areas there's one pub to every 3 or 4 suburbs if you're lucky. The whole of Ku-Ring-Gai council area (population about 100,000, so about the same as the city of Cambridge) has 3 pubs. Not saying it's necessarily wrong/bad, but it's definitely different. In the UK it is quite easy to strike up conversations in local pubs. Can't speak for Aus as they (local pubs) don't really exist!

I concur with that....if we didn't like it here we wouldn't be hanging around for 4 years, but then if we didn't like it here we wouldn't be considering becoming citizens either, what would be the point?

That's sort of the outline intent, yeah I make no secret of the fact I'm here for work and because the economic outlook in what I do is so much stronger here than at home in the short term. The fact that I can bring my family (and, better, that they like it here and are settled) is just a big bonus I expect to be here at least 4 years because I need to get some Aussie experience and success under my belt for CV reasons; just a couple of years would look too much like an extended holiday. If I'm going to be here that long, I may as well apply for the passport then our options are open for the future. Also it will take that long (IMO) for the UK to start growing decently out of recession and the medium term future for the UK will be much clearer at that point The opportunity to apply for citizenship will be a good chance to reflect on what we want and where we want to live long-term, and I have no idea which way that one will fall at the moment. If I had to put money on it now, I'd say we'll be here 5 or 6 years total and then go back, but I'm mindful that other things (like parental illness/death) might change that at short notice Time is on our side - we only have one child and he's not quite 5, so we have a good 7 or 8 years before we have to make serious commitments to the education system we want him to finish his schooling in. Once he's about 13, that's us decided until he's well ensconsed at Uni/wherever, and possibly beyond. This is probably a rather mercenary and unemotional way of viewing citizenship, but it's the way I feel now so it's all I can say. In 4 years time it may be we love it and want to become citizens for that reason above all others. I am very grateful both that Australia is quite generous with its requirements for citizenship, and that the UK permits us to be dual citizens. That's not to be underestimated because most jurisdictions - from both sides - aren't nearly so lenient with it

I'd have to be convinced VERY hard to ever convert a defined benefits pension into a cash sum to transfer into a money-purchase scheme. Can't see how it's ever going to work out in your favour I have about 14 yrs in a defined benefits scheme in the UK, another 6 years of a money purchase fund (peanuts) and now contributing to Oz super. IMO having some pension in the UK and some in Oz is a pretty good hedge against currency/cost of living fluctuations, depending on where we end up. And having some defined benefits sum is a good hedge against stockmarket & bond value fluctuations. Whatever we decide and wherever we end up living, I've got no intention of transferring pensions

The fact that it's advertised by Dawn French is enough to put me off. WTF were Wesfarmers thinking of? What next? Bunnings Warehouse, brought to you by Michael Barrymore?

I never said the Hills was a bad area for kids, so get back in your pram The OP has said himself he reckons the commute sounds like it will be too much - just trying to suggest some areas that will be much less distance from the CBD that are pretty good for kids. He did actually ask for that info earlier on in the thread. Of course people have moved in and out of the inner west - people move all the time, and it's an "urban" area rather than suburban. I happen to think that "urban" areas are pretty good for really young kids, and the number of people with young families there would tend to agree with that The pool thing is an irrelevance really, but it's not nonsense to suggest they're more of a liability than a help with really young ones. Kids differ, but very few are going to get much out of a pool until they're approaching 4 - meanwhile it's costing you plenty of money and represents a risk. OP doesn't say how old his kids are, but if they're months old/under 3 (and he does say VERY young), then I suggest a pool is unnecessary and probably even undesirable

Ah yes, fair comment - Scots law is very different from English on conveyancing In England and Wales, you'll get the deposit without much difficulty, the lender usually has to guarantee it. One of the reasons getting to exchange can be so drawn out

If that happened after exchange then at least they get to keep the deposit - which is usually 10% of the selling price In practice you are safe at exchange of contracts. But I agree that celebrating a "sale" when you accept an offer is premature, especially in the current market It's really tough out there and not likely to get any easier, it's just so much harder for people to get credit and there is so much uncertainty, therefore just a flat out lack of buyers in the market at most levels. Best of luck all in the situation. Be realistic about price, present it as well as you possible can, know who you're trying to sell to, badger the agent to earn their money, be innovative with incentives if you can - and try and actively sell.

A lot depends on budget as ever in Sydney If I had really young kids (like well below school age) then I'd look at the Inner West for preference. It's really handy for the city, there are parks and facilities for young kids everywhere, tons of young families so lots of social groups that way inclined. The outer suburbs are better for those with older kids I reckon. Doesn't mean they're bad for young kids, but they're that bit more spread out/sprawly and you get less casual contact with people in the neighbourhood as a result Houses in the Inner West tend to be quite small but with really young kids I'm not sure that's a problem. And having a pool if your kids are really little is a liability anyway. You might want to take a look at areas like Balmain, Rozelle, Lilyfield, Leichhardt, Haberfield etc. Short commute (and therefore maximum family time) is the top priority if you have really young ones IMO. My son is nearly 5 and that's been one of the biggest bonuses for us in coming here - my previous 90 minute e/w commute is now down to 25-35 minutes and it makes a massive difference

I think the problem you may have is that loads of them will fit this criterion Sydney is a big city and, whilst everyone moans about the trains, there are a lot of them. 40 minutes along a train line will get you a long way http://www.cityrail.info/stations/network_map For example. 40 mins on the north side will take you as far as Wahroonga or Pennant Hills. To the west it'll take you as far as Parramatta I think. To the south/south west maybe as far as Revesby or Sutherland? You can check on the website if you like Where there aren't trains, there are buses and whilst these are slower, 40 mins will still get you a fair way The start point for where to live is usually budget first combined with type of property you think you want/need - different suburbs have different types of property - and desired lifestyle. Eg if you are a single professional then you want to be living in a flat quite centrally IMO. Then add in how far you're prepared to travel/commute This website's quite good for a honest view of what suburbs are like: http://www.cityhobo.com/cities/sydney

The point is that people involved in the migrating process don't actually know whether or not it will work for them or not yet. As you know. So you can't call them "positive experiences". They don't have experience It does work out for most, no one's disputing that. It's your adding up people involved in the visa/migration process as "positives" that's wrong

It's the hills in Sydney that make driving *at* the speed limit or below difficult......on some roads (Roseville Bridge on Warringah Rd, Archbold Rd in Lindfield/Killara spring to mind) it's virtually impossible to keep down to 60 when you're going down a 1 in 5 hill with people up your exhaust pipe I reckon. Never seen any cops there though

Yeah, that

Not been caught or flashed, not seen a lot of speed traps in Sydney tbh. Perhaps NSW dibble have their hand full trying to stop bikie gangs blowing each other away Mind you, I'm still on a UK licence and intend to keep it that way. No demerit points for me...... ;-) I commute on the train now it's winter too (well, run in 2 or 3 times a week but apart from that). I suspect I use the same station as fleabo. Must keep my eyes peeled for a bloke with paint spatters on his clothes

GBP-AUD up about 1% so far on the news. But it's the medium term effects that are important

Yeah, just spotted that Very interested to see what this does to bank rates, ForEx rates and the housing market. I think the market priced a 0.25% cut in to expectations but this is probably beyond expectation (and current pricing)

Have a good trip Aaron and hope it all works out for you

^If he's doing that well there and is well settled, then to be 100% honest I wouldn't be moving. Too big a risk. AFAIK UK A levels translate internationally better than the Aus HSC type (it varies state to state) equivalents, and you may well have an awful lot of stress and/or cost trying to replicate the quality of education he's currently receiving That's just me though

I wouldn't get out of bed for $170K personally. Peasants, the lot of ya :-)

Try the myschool website for starters: www.myschool.edu.au Government primary schools have catchement areas and the rules are pretty straightforward - if you live in catchment, they have to give you a place. If you don't, you can still apply but they don't have to find space for you and the consensus is that most won't So look at which schools you like, arrange for visits (they're pretty good about this), learn the catchments and then find somewhere to live in catchment. Job done. You won't be able to enrol without being able to prove you actually live in catchment, which means a lease on a house or having bought one, so don't try and short circuit that and enrol them before you have actually relocated, it won't work You *can*, however, start the enrolment process for private schools earlier as they aren't driven by catchment areas. However many of the posher end of private schools have long waiting lists, and/or restricted entry points. Catholic schools I believe are a bit more flexible but not sure as this isn't really an option for us Private schools are also on the myschool website

There are lots of serviced apartments around but can't make specific recommendations....I've only ever had them booked by work The Darling Harbour playground is great for kids Also don't miss the Powerhouse Museum, loads of interactive stuff in there There are lots of short and interesting bushwalks that are easily accessible from ferry points - North Head (Manly), South Head & the Gap (Watsons Bay), Cremorne Point, kids especially like running around the old forts on Middle Head (Mosman), but sadly that one's not so convenient for a ferry from the CBD You can hire bikes at/near Centennial Park too, and it's a safe place for little ones to cycle - there's a trainer track there