Naomi from Manchester

Think about how Rufus is likely to respond to the new baby. Has he been around babies much? Will he mind sharing you? Will you be able to manage both the new baby and Rufus if your husband isn't going to give enough time to Rufus - since you won't be able to for a while as new babies are full on! I would re-home him, and start looking now so that you've time to find the perfect family. If possible, if you find a local home for him, a bit of handover time would be good so that Rufus can get to know his new family and spend time with them whilst you're also there - that way when he actually goes to live with them full time it won't be as stressful for him as he'll be with friends he already knows, and not so stressful for you as you'll know them quite well by then too

Our last night was horrendous - I was up all night with last minute CD uploading and clearing of stuff, didn't get to bed at all that night and spent our farewell evening meal with family in a restaurant wondering if I would end up catching the plane without getting everything done. That's me all over, I wouldn't recommend it

Hi Marisa, Is there an overall comfortable sort of feeling of familiarity now that you're back, or does it feel like a strange land you need to get to know again?

Being the saddo that I am, I did ask Taylor's of Harrogate about the Yorkshire Tea issue and they stated that Yorkshire Tea made in UAE and sold here is blended for Australian water (won't the water quality differ throughout Australia though? They alter the blend to suit hard and soft water areas in the UK), and is 'only marginally different' from that sold in the UK, and also that Australian consumers prefer the string. However, I maintain that it tastes quite different! There's no accounting for taste, I suppose. Good point re: the cost of things. I ordered a few items from the UK M&S website recently and they arrived in 3 days! Maybe they hold a load of stock over here.

Is it because industrial Manchester was built on cotton? That's my assumption.

I've taken to buying 1kg bags on ebay. Still expensive, but cheaper than buying it from the British speciality shops.

Hi Karen, you could try offering to pay a few months rent up front if you have savings, that's how we managed to get chosen as tenants when we first arrived in Sydney with no landlord references. A lump sum often suits the landlord more than monthly payments. I think we paid 4 months in one lump sum (then didn't pay anything until our 5th month). Sometimes people offer a bit over the asking rent too.

Some more suggestions: a gentle kayak in the harbour, you can hire kayaks from the spit bridge or rose bay, lunch with a view at the Tower buffet or just the view at the Tower Eye (you can see me flat from here!), Saturday morning markets in whichever suburb you fancy ( http://www.localmarketguide.com.au ), ferry to manly and a snorkle at Shelly Beach - water's a bit nippy though, there's bare foot lawn bowls with amazing views next to Waverley Cemetry which is good fun if there's a few of you as you can take a few bears onto the green ( you may need to book, http://clovellybowlingclub.com.au ). Some more things will probably occur to me....

I wish I'd brought huge quantities of Yorkshire Tea, since the supermarkets sell an inferior version over here (same box, but the bags are on a stupid string and it doesn't taste great. It's packed in the United Emirates). Treats From Home and the like import the proper Stuff but charge over 3 x the price you'd pay in the UK. I think a different brand of tea has been the only thing I've been unable to adapt to. I've tried to find a substitute but nothing else will do.

Yeah we did buy a young 'un in a pot last year, it was really pretty and cute, and we were advised that it would only ever be a tiny thing growing an inch or so a year. The shaded balcony we put it on gets the weak morning sun, but the poor thing didn't stand a chance. Maybe I didn't water it enough. Buying it in Winter makes sense ... Cheers!

You can access toy libraries across Sydney for your little one. We didn't have a tea spoon to our names when we arrived. All our carry on luggage was clothes and USB sticks and a few important documents. We rented out our UK flat fully furnished, rented an unfurnished flat here, and bought necessities from Ikea with the intention of deciding whether to stay longer term after 12 months. When 6 boxes arrived by sea 3 months after we did, I honestly couldn't remember what I'd packed ... they turned out to contain a load of useless university books and fancy dress. I have no idea why I shipped cheap feather boas and a collection of wigs across the globe. Right now I'm sitting looking at all we've accumulated in the last 3.5yrs ... What a load of cluttery, trinkety, unnecessary crap! Wish we didn't have half of it - oh to be free of material possessions once again, they're weighing me down!

Real ones are grown in the Blue Mountains and seem quite a bit more expensive over here than I remember in the UK. We buy a live one and move it to a shaded balcony spot to try and keep it alive for the following year, since the retailer always leads us to believe that this is a realistic expectation. But it's always dead by the second week in January. What a load of baul bauls....

I agree with LKC re the beach at Brighton-Le-Sands. There are better beaches around, (unless you're a plane spotter!). I love how the Northern beaches have orange sand. I like yellow and white sand too, but I prefer orange!

Hi Caz, your application sounds pretty straight forward so I should think you'd be fine to apply without an agent. The visa application process is apparently designed so that an agent is not necessary, and I didn't use one (allied health).

My OH will definitely want to check that out - thanks for the link Even if it's no good, he'll enjoy a good moan. We always go to Fat Fish in Annandale, even though we no longer live there. They do malt vinegar. They're Aussie in style rather than British, but they're generally considered to be excellent.

I heard that on the radio, apparently the project was meant to be about affordable housing for average people, but the basic 1 beds (no parking, I expect?) were $800,000.

I'm wondering whether you could get a 4 bed for $900 in Summer hill, since you would be near Dulwich HS (which I think you once said was an option?) and maybe Balmain HS would also be doable from there? Summerhill to a Darlinghurst wouldn't be too much hassle on the train, I don't think. Summerhill is a good little suburb, people who live here seem to love it, there's enough decent, non-pretentious cafés and restaurants etc there, and it's well connected to everything else going on in the Inner West. It's not near any beaches - that would be a sacrifice (if you were to drive before the traffic, say leaving home before 9am on a weekend, you should be able to get to the Eastern beaches in under 40 mins, but it could take you longer coming back), but it isn't far from parts of the harbour. I love nearby Leichhardt Park which is on the harbour and has a great outdoor aquatic centre. (Leichhardt Park is not in the suburb of Leichhardt, btw).

Hi, I know a few single people in their late 20s - early 40s on that sort of salary, who live in the inner west, as well as in the Manly area and in North Sydney. (Two of whom are physios for government health / non for profits, actually). They all seem to share a 2 bed apartment with another professional. I'd say that most people in this situation would find it a bit of a squeeze to afford to live by themselves, and it's quite common for people who aren't sharing the rent / mortgage and bills with a significant other to be sharing it with a house mate so that they can live where they want. It would be great if you don't need to run a car - that could keep living costs down a bit. Marrickville could be a bit more affordable if living on your own is a priority. Also try Summer Hill, if it isn't too quiet and far from the coast for you? (It's a bit of a village feel and would be about 30mins drive from the Eastern. Beaches). Have a look at the suburb profiles here: http://www.cityhobo.com/sydney/sydney-maps Good luck!

I think this depends on what sort of thing you like doing. These areas are generally considered to be be rather conservative, quiet and family orientated. You may find yourself having to get in the car and drive more often if you want to visit a variety of restaurants / cafés / shops etc. I'm not sure what's happening up there in the way of theatre and galleries? But maybe you'd get your fill of all that during the week in and around Darlinghurst?

Cheers, we decided to stay somewhere walking distance from shops and restaurants, so chose a holiday park right on Shoal Bay Beach. Had a great time. Would probs go somewhere a little more removed from the town next time though, like Jimmy's Beach

I've just noticed that my comment is a bit ambiguous - I just meant that I can see how a creative writing course could suit you

Hi Clankaroo, as mentioned above, it depends on your line of work. We both secured Allied Health and Health jobs in Sydney a few months before we arrived, and we applied directly (not through an agency).

Yes, you should definitely do the creative writing course!

I've never been there! Will go check it out one of these days is it on an accessible coastal path?

No, not in the sea / ocean. Maybe a tiny bit in the harbour. But that tiny bit doesn't stop me. I don't carry dead fish, or repeatedly return to the same site at the same times (as that naval diver checking ships who lost a limb did), or dive during dusk or dawn. I did do a night dive in the harbour once and my dive buddy just had a bad feeling (there were only the 2 of us), so we got out after about about 15 or 20 minutes. I don't think I'd do a night dive in the harbour again. That's been the only time I've ever seen a blue ringed octopus