kevkim
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Hi Blueray, we got all our requests from DIAC via email but via our agent who forwarded them to us. good luck with the process. Kim
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Hi Deejee, I've been living here since September and our situation is slightly different as we both work. However, I find that by shopping around, things are not quite so expensive as we first expected them to be. This includes food as well as medication. I take tablets for microvascular angina every day and took my script to quite a few chemists. I now buy a months supply for $15 despite being quoted up to $30 for exactly the same capsules. I have to see the Dr every 6 months and the out of pocket cost for this is approx $35 a visit under Medicare. that gives me approx 15 minutes with him and is much more relaxed than the appointments I had in UK which were in and out with a full to overflowing surgery. Blood tests and X-rays have been free too. If I can help with any other questions, feel free to ask. Yes, this can be an expensive, lengthy old process but I don't regret a single penny so far. Seeing the grandchildren and our daughter regularly and feeling the sun on my back is priceless! Kim
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Hi, Try this thread http://www.pomsinoz.com/forum/migration-issues/77756-brand-new-pio-parents-visa-thread.html lots to plough through but loads of good comments to which might help you. Kim
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Hi Tab, This is a difficult one but here is a brief rundown of some of our costs. We've been here 3 months now so the spending is steadying somewhat. Here goes... Rent for a 2 bed unit next to Lake Macquarie - $351 per week :err: Electric $74 per month Petrol $65 to fill up the car - lasts approx 1 week Weekly shop - around $150 - $200 depending on the week Car insurance $492 per year including breakdown cover Phone and internet bill $80 per month Mobile phone $39 per month on contract Household insurance $40 per month Medical prescriptions $40 per month Gap on doctors visit - $35 per visit No private health insurance as yet. We both have found jobs which pay better than expected but sadly they are only temporary at the moment. If you have anything specific you want to know the cost of, I can try to find out for you. Hope this helps. Kim
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looking for friends in newcastle nsw :) x x x
kevkim replied to kayleighmarriner's topic in Socialising Hobbies Clubs Sport
Hi Kayleigh, We've been here a couple of months now and loving the area. I'm from the same area in UK as you by the looks of it. My grandkids are the age of your kids (approx) but happy to say hello some time if you like. We live in the Eleebana area by the lake. Kim -
Dear Phoebe, Life throws some dreadful curved balls! Dig deep, best of luck for the test results and remember we are all thinking of you both. Kim and Kevin
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Hi Lemongirl, Did you know that the outdoor Friday night live music seasons start at 6pm next Friday in Warners Bay? They are based around the band stand there. Take chairs, an eski and join in the fun. It is great for families! Kim
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hi again, We are used to setting our clock up ourselves now. It very much depends on the shippers re this. we had a few companies out to quote for the move. Some would dismantle furniture etc in UK and set it up again here in Aus so this could apply to the clock but would not include regulating it if needed. Others stated we had to dismantle ourselves. from memory, Crown did say they would dismantle/ assemble, worth checking to see if this applies to the clock. It takes us a couple of weeks to readjust the clock after a move, can't imagine life without it now! Kim
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Hi, We've shipped our grandfather clock. Our shipment (John Mason) is awaiting AQIS right now so not sure whether everything has travelled well. We took the mechanism out and had it wrapped separately of course. We have moved the clock many times (Army) and it is still going strong - if a bit battered and bruised! The shipping companies will build a crate for it for around £80-£100 if you wish. We had ours export wrapped but no crate. I hope this helps. Kim
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A quick update, 7 weeks in and I've got a job! We've been applying for work from about 2 weeks in. It's a slow and laid back process and it seems to take ages to hear anything after the closing date for applications. But I am delighted to be starting work on Monday. OH is still looking and applying but we are confident he'll get something soon. We had our grandsons for the day yesterday and it was wonderful. They are loving seeing us regularly and my daughter and SIL really enjoy having us around to help out. It is so worth the wait! Our container has arrived in Sydney, exactly 2 months after leaving York. AQIS is looming and then hopefully we should have delivery in 2+ weeks. More on that later. Kim
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Hi Lyn, We've just arrived in NSW on a CPV 143. As Pam says, get onto 'the brand new PIO parents visa thread' on the migrations issue forum. It really is great. We couldn't book our medicals until we were asked to do so by the Parent Visa Centre. It is all done electronically and a HAP ID is needed. The CPV 143 is quite different to many other visas and doesn't allocate a TRN apparently. We managed to book a medical in Manchester within a few days of receiving the instruction to attend a medical and it was a painless process if you don't factor in the cost. Occasionally some people still manage to do medicals ahead of time with a clinic which does not use the electronic system but I think that is becoming increasingly rare. It might be worth you looking at the AOS soon though as a few of us have had issues with time frames with Centrelink. See you on the other thread. Kim
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Hi, We had something very similar with centrelink which I posted about a few months back. All very frustrating when you have the finishing line in sight! Keep the faith Moira et al - it's worth it! Kim
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Fantastic news Val, many congratulations! Kim
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Welcome Val and Matt. So glad you're here safe and sound. Enjoy! We're babysitting tonight and loving it. So worth the wait!
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Wishing you a safe journey Val and Matt. I have to agree with John and Eirian, it is wonderful to be here. Three weeks down the line and we are still grinning too! Kim
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Hi Gina, we arrived here last week and have already bought a car. To be honest, it was a painless process, My OH aactually found it while ideally browsing Gumtree.com.au in Singapore airport. We sent an emai.l to the seller and bought it within 2 days of landing. It's a Holden Station Wagon, 8 years old and we got it for 7000 dollars. We are ddelighted with it. Don't worry too much about whether to bring a car or not. Cars for sale are parked up all over with for sale signs in them. If you LOVE your car consider bringing it. If not,don't bother with the extra container expense. Loving being the way, any questions, just ask iif we can help, we will. Kim
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A quick update - we've now been here almost one week and what a week it has been! We've done so much in such a short space of time. My mother was here visiting our daughter when we arrived and we have just waved her off to the airport. That has meant we have had to factor in her sightseeing too! Our grandsons have been unwell since before we came and the youngest has bronchiolitis. We've been helping out with the night shifts and coupled with the jet lag, we are not sure if we are on our heads or heels. But isn't that why we all want to be here - to be with the grandchildren come what may?! So far we have signed a 12 month lease on a 2 bed unit in Eleebana overlooking Lake Macquarie and we are fully in there from tonight. We have bought a previously loved red (easy to see in the car park!!!) Holden Commodore station wagon which doubles as a removal truck! We've registered the car, got our NSW driving licenses, registered for Medicare, been to a garage sale, found a great number of deals on Gumtree including a barbecue and temp washing machine and basically found our feet. It is amazing what you can do in under a week. Do some research on cars and rentals in your area before you get here - it means you can hit the ground running as we did. Oh and the iPad with the maps app has made a fantastic SatNav. (I scarily sound as if I know what I am talking about there!!!) Can't stop to chat too long, I'm stalking a fridge on Ebay! BBest wishes all - it is well worth the sleepless nights, sweat and tears - oh and the money too! Kim Can't stayon here chatting
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Fantastic news Angie, really pleased for you. We're currently in London ready to fly on Sunday. It's really happening! Kim x
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We have booked John Mason's too Kim so good to read your positive comment. Angie Top tip Angie, They drink their own weight in tea! We bought a £5 kettle from Tesco and kept out some odd mugs which we dropped off at the charity shop last night. The kettle is going into the case to keep us going when we first arrive as it is very light. The 2 guys we had worked solidly from 7am until 6pm on day 1 and didn't even stop for lunch. They were gone by 3pm on day 2. It was a very close squeak with the container, we couldn't have got even another small chest of drawers in. They packed it expertly! Good luck!
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Fantastic news Val, really pleased for you both. Our container was picked up today, John Mason's did a fantastic job. It's certainly happening for us all now! Have a great birthday and celebrate in style. Kim
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Hi Moira, When my daughter moved house and when we personally changed our address, our agent asked us to fill in form '1022 Notification in Change of Circumstances'. He then forwarded this on our behalf. I think you might have to do the same. Here is the link http://www.immi.gov.au/allforms/pdf/1022.pdf Good luck! Kim
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We've little choice with the timeline John and Eirian, Kevin retires from the army in exactly 12 days! To say we've been up against it is an understatement. So it was either book the shippers or start searching for temp accommodation, although we had practically decided we were going to squat here until the visa came through! And now at last it has all come together. I have my last married quarter to scrub clean and then I'm heading for the airport with a big grin on my face! Kim
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Good morning all, Just wanted to share the great news that our visa has been granted this morning, YIPPPEEEEEE!!!! At last the wait is over! Shippers are in on 23rd August and flights booked for 2nd September. Just waiting for the relief to kick in and the tension to disappear. This is not a journey for the half hearted. Good luck everyone, may your cups runneth over soon! Kim and Kevin
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Hi, We live in York and opened a NAB account yesterday/today with absolutely no problems at all. We have the name of the person we need to see when we arrive and call into our local branch. She'll have our cards waiting there for us. Great service so far! :smile: Kim
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Hi Stu, My daughter is also a doctor and as I said, loving working and living in the Newcastle area. I'm sure you'll both like it too if you make the move. Kim