Naomi from Manchester

We came over to try it for one yr and then make a decision whether to stay longer term or return. I think your 2 yr thing sounds very sensible - good to keep your options open. OH was on a 12 month career break from UK job and phoned / wrote to hand in his notice after 11 months. If we'd known we'd be staying, we still wouldn't have sold our UK flat, but we would have sold all our stuff in it (tv, p.c, sofa, bed etc) and handed it over unfurnished to a letting agent to manage. As it is, it's been a complete pain in the arse having it tennanted by relatives (at very reduced rent) and now a friend of a friend (full rent). We've been lucky in that we've been able to rely upon friends and family to shift a lot of our stuff (pictures, CDs and records, clothes etc) which was in a closet to my Dad's attick for storage by the time the full rent paying tennant moved in. However, it's been a right pain for everyone! Now we've been here 14 months and we've just bought a flat here. I guess that means we'll be staying for a good while, but we still like to think we've got options!

Seems to be really successful, there's lots of pick up / drop off points all over the inner west, including several in my own carpark!

great - sounding like there's solutions out there )

la la la Don't put your daughter on the stage, Mrs Worthington la la la Oh that's from a different one I think.

Good point. You're meant to be able to get invisible ones, but maybe these aren't as effective.

Thanks Petals - that's good to know.

Thanks for the advice, Wendee. I don't think we can do anything about roof insulation without consulting the committe of owners in the building. Skani - all the windows facing north can be opened, but there's no windows facing south. There's a balcony in the middle of the unit between the main living area and the 1st bedroom, and another tiny balcony at one end of the unit which faces west, so hopefully this'll mean some cross ventilation from the west.

Have you considered GoGet car share? There's GoGet parking spaces all over Sydney, you just pick one up from one space and drop it off at another. I think you open an account with them then just book a car whenever you need it. Can be really cost effective, depending on how often you need to drive.

Wondering whether anyone's used those heat and glare reduction stick on films on their windows? Apparently you can buy clear ones which don't compromise the light. I found this site: http://www.northshorewindowtinting.com/ We're thinking of buying a 3rd floor unit but we're concerned it'll get too hot. It has large north facing windows along the length of it. It's long and thin so every room pretty much has a glass wall. We're worried about the cost of installing and running air con, but we'd probabily install ceiling fans and think about whether we could afford better blinds. Any advice about keeping a home cool appreciated.

I sent a few boxes of stuff with PSS International Removals: www.pssremovals.com No complaints.

'Speech therapist' and 'speech pathologist' are misleading terms. We work with people who experience speech, language, voice, social interaction and swallowing / feeding difficulties. This includes very young children experiencing difficulties developing the early cognitive skills which are pre-requisite to language and speech, and infants with feeding difficulties. I'm not really sure what we should be called, 'communication therapist' wouldn't even cover it because of the swallowing / feeding element. It's really ridiculous how kids with Autism / Asperger's only get funding up to 7yrs, and as someone mentioned, government health service waiting lists seem to be completely out of control. They aren't free, but have you contacted ASPECT (Autism Spectrum Australia)? They offer therapy, social clubs, parent training etc. I'm sure they'd also be able to direct you to parent support groups, which would be free. Maybe he'll benefit from the National Disability Insurance Scheme once it's in place - families who include kids / adults with a disability are meant to be getting a budget which they choose how to spend (e.g. on speech therapy, physio, equipment etc). I'm not too sure where things are up to with this though, and exactly who will qualify. http://www.ndis.gov.au/about-an-ndis/what-is-an-ndis/ Hope things improve for you quickly :o/

is there a MANU pub?

How about a head of maintenance person looking after a school? A bit of a random suggestion, I know, but I imagine that the person in charge of maintaining a whole school site would earn a fair amount?

It's hard to suggest a suburb without knowing your personalities, but maybe you would like Hunter's Hill (if you can afford it). Village-ish feel, quite smart, middle class, and near the water. The commute from centre of Hunter's Hill to West Ryde would prob be approx 25 mins by car (not sure about public transport). Gladesville's alright, more affordable than Hunter's Hill. It's not exactly 'cool.' Rozelle's a great option - lots of cafes and character, if a bit 'yummy Mummy.' Lilyfield is also nice - you'd prob love living near to Callum Park - my favourite Harbour side park in Syndey. I guess the commute from Rozelle / Lilyfield would be approx 30 minutes by car (again, I'm not sure about public transport). The Rhodes and Wentworth areas seems to be mostly brand new high rise and medium rise developments - lots of high spec units. Canada Bay / Breakfast Point / Abbortsford / Concord seems to be family territory, mainly resiential and too quiet for me (I'm 31yrs), but maybe you'd like it. I also think Homebush is a bit dull. All the places North of West Ryde are also quiet, and don't have the benefit of being near the water (if that's important to you). I'm sorry if I sound a bit mean about some of these suburbs! I'm sure lots of people would disagree with me.

Fab, see you if you're there. Am sure we won't miss each other if we're both British Naomis!

Depends on how much you want to pay. Alexandria is classed as 'City Fringe' so it's quite central and you could easily commute from the inner west or the eastern suburbs if you want to be nearer beaches. Lots to choose from. See here: http://www.cityhobo.com/sydney/sydney-maps

How were the weedy sea dragons? I've never gone with Dive2000, but have just sent a booking thingy on their website to see the weedies on 4th Nov. Maybe see you (i.e. anyone who's interested) there! )

I think there's quite a lot of international students in Ultimo / China Town / Prymont area, which isn't far from CBD. Maybe check the Sydney Buses website, as Parramatta's quite a way out so you'll probabily want to be on a direct bus route.

I love Coogee in the Winter, but the beach can get really busy in the Summer. Great rock pools - Wylie's and McIver's.

I just read an article about the technicians / engineers / prosthetists / orthotists / welders who are curently working in the Paralympic repair workshop and pitstops - doing emergency repairs for althletes through out the games. Sounds really interesting... http://apps.facebook.com/theguardian/sport/2012/aug/30/paralympics-2012-technician-psychiatrist-games

We were living in Hulme, OH born in Failsworth, but his family are in Stockport now, so we know it well ) I'm really from t'other side of Pennines actually (Harrogate), but stayed in Manchester after uni. We're renting in Camperdown now, which is in Sydney's Inner West area, not far from the CBD. Made the move 9 months ago - definately the right decision! I love Manchester, but I haven't missed it at all! We're inner city types really, but the Northern Beaches are beautiful - such a lovely area, it'll be great to live near there.

Learn to surf, or course! Lots of Mums volunteer at their kid's school.

http://www.cityhobo.com/cities/sydney/cronulla-sydney-south

I go to fitness first but I don't really like it and it's a bit expensive. At least there's lots of branches all over Sydney with about 5 in the city centre, so it's easy to find your class on somewhere if you've got 'passport' membership. This is the only reason I joined - so I could go to various branches on the way home from the various places I work. It's really hard to leave though, they try and get you to do a kind of exit interview even if you're entitled to cancel your membership when you've been paying for however many months is the minimum.

Be very aware of Roseville Bridge, there's been some horrific motorbike accidents there. My brother in law witnessed one - horrendous.