Naomi from Manchester

Do you mean penalties for paying it off in a lump sum? We didn't have any penalties for that, surely they aren't charging for that now, are they?! The amount I owed was just the amount borrowed plus interest and it came to approx £13,000. Once I emigrated, I sent them all the required documentation so that they could calculate how much I had to pay off per month from Australia. However, whilst the amount I payed per month when in the Uk was very small for me (I was able to pay more than the minimum amount whilst I was working in the UK for a few years since graduating), the minimum amount they calculated for me to pay once I was in Australia was massive. There was no way I could afford to pay it per month - it would have been the end of my life over here, I would have had to move back to the UK. I think they must have looked at my Oz salary and just done a currency conversion and decided I was earning a lot (which I wasn't at all), without taking the cost of living here into account.

My Dad cleared mine in 2011 (I was at Uni 2000-2006). He just had my reference number, spoke to them on the phone and then posted a cheque. No negotiation re interest and paying a lump sum. I rang them a short while later to be sure they'd processed the cheque.

There isn't really, that's what I mean by having to choose. Manly, Bondi and Coogee are built up areas with beaches, so they have the infrastructure you're looking for, but the pubs there tend to be bigger sports bar type places rather than the more interesting, atmospheric drinking spots that you find in Balmain. Unless living walking distance from a beach is your main priority, Surry Hills (which is a 'city fringe' suburb so it's close to the CBD) could be a good fit for you, since it has the infrastructure and atmosphere, and it isn't far by car (and maybe bus?) to a few beaches. I think you'll need to visit the suburbs on your short list in order to decide which one suits you the most. Which will be quite a fun thing to do

Balmain is a great place to live; lots of atmosphere, shops, places to eat and drink, Dawn Fraser pool, a couple of gyms, parks with harbour views, interesting homes, and you can get the ferry to Circular Quay. Parts of Rozelle are easy walking distance from Balmain and Victoria Road, where you can easily get a bus into the city. But as you say, Balmain isn't near any beaches. I think you sort of have to choose between a beach suburb or a non beach suburb with a decent vibe and interesting stuff going on. Whilst there are beach suburbs with shops and great cafés etc, you don't really get the interesting places to drink or the same sort of cultural happenings as you do in non beach suburbs such as Balmain, Glebe, Erskineville etc.

I tend to go early in the mornings, Bronte (also my favourite these days) and Parsley Bay if I'm with the baby, and all over for the ocean swim races since most are run by the various SLS clubs. The last one I did was Bondi in the rain - very refreshing! I prefer the swims at the Northern Beaches since they tend to be less busy and more locally. http://www.oceanswims.com

I like the straight forward cafe at Parsley Bay, hearing impaired staff and all, it has its own charm.

Yes, the water's perfect at the moment we're in the middle of the ocean swim race season! (Not that I'm swimming many this year for one reason or another).

Sorry I'd never heard of it. I think south west is cheap in general, and Campbelltown and surrounds has a rough reputation, but I don't know much about that area.

What do you do with your stuff (car keys, loose change, phone etc) whilst you're in the water?

Sneering! Love it! My 18yr old self would probs sneer at me now. You don't know Piffy? Maybe it's a Northern thing. Piffy on a rock bun. It means just sort of not doing much.

Btw, MaryRose, they had potato and gravy flavoured gelato at N2 Extreme Gelato the other day. A step too far, even for me!

Like Piffy?

Penrith is generally considered to be a rough area, at least, it is by those SydneySiders in my own acquaintance who don't live there.

Hi Mungbean (what a cute name!) You don't necessarily need a.c here, it depends on your home. We live in a flat which only gets sun in the mornings. We decided to get ceiling fans rather than a.c installed and this was the right decision since the fans have been more than adequate on the hottest of days. However, other flats in our building get more sun than us and some of our neighbours have needed to install a.c to be comfortable. Similarly, some homes need more heating than others during Winter. We're fine with one electric heater, but my sister's house gets too cold for comfort. I think that 'unfurnished' flats (flats / apartments are known as 'units' here) don't generally include washing machines or fridges but they do include a tumble dryer, since in most buildings residents aren't supposed to hang clothes out to dry on their balconies. Units in purpose built, newer buildings often have built in a.c, and many other units in older buildings will have had a.c fitted. When we were looking to rent in a popular inner West suburb, there were a lot more prospective tenants than rental homes available. We only managed to secure a place once we offered to pay a few months rent up front. I've heard of other tenants offering to pay more than the advertised rent too. Friends of mine who rented a home with a garden even provided photographs of their own gardening skills in an effort to persuade the landlord that they would look after the garden well! These extra measures won't be necessary if you're trying to secure a rental home in a less popular suburb. We didn't have a landlord's reference (since we lived in our own flat in the UK), so we provided evidence of having paid our UK service charge fees on time instead, and I also had a letter from my UK bank manager stating I had been a reliable customer. Good luck!

I should think you'd be ok in your line of work and in a big city ... and if not, then you probably wouldn't want to work with / for those people anyway (I know I wouldn't).

The cafe at Prince Alfred Pool seems to be staffed by girls from Northern England. I don't know of any mazes, but I hope there is one!

Sorry, did I hear you right, MaryRose ... You prefer a Magnum to Messina?! Well I never. I will eat my hat. I won't Q for cafés either (ice cream is different). I like Eden quite a lot, especially their bran muffins. I don't really care much for 3 Williams but I go anyway since it's good for babies. My partner thinks that the Cricketer's Arms is 'alright.' The hipster cafe culture in Newtown is getting a bit out of control, I feel - there's a place down the road where it's a fiver for fairy bread and you have to sit on a poxy upturned wooden crate. Also, the café-in-in-a-small-bookshop idea annoys me, there's never enough room! But have you tried Black Star Pastry in Rosebery? Their watermelon cake is like eating a Cocteau Twins record ... My friend described it like eating cloud ... Divine! They have a very small branch in Newtown too, but since it's so small it attracts Qs so go straight to Rosebery. I command it! My brother in law hopped into the wombat enclosure at Featherdale (what can I say, he loves wombats). Unsurprisingly, he got told to get out. Have you really never seen the light projections at St Mary's? Stunning! It's of my favourite things about Summer in Sydney, and if you go at the right time there'll be carol singers on the steps. Do go!

I think you may mean The Grounds in Alexandria? I don't rate it either, although as you say, it's very popular .... Pretentious! Did you hear about their piggy getting stolen a few months back? Piggy went missing for a while and a reward was offered. They got him back in the end. (Publicity stunt?) Actually I don't think Featherdale Wildlife Park's much good, seems to have mostly the same birds and animals in different cages spread across the park. I thought it was rather expensive, and it's very smelly too! Another suggestion is the Christmas 3D projections at St Mary's Cathedral, lovely and Chrismassy for adults and children. Runs on a loop most evenings in December.

Search the NSW health website: http://nswhealth.erecruit.com.au

The Three Williams! Did you hear about a recent incident; a customer was given her receipt and saw that the member of staff had referred to her as 'stupid'? It was free coffees all round after that! I was there this week, they gave me two free cookies

Yes, the Jewish Museum is in Darlo, probs where you say. I also really enjoyed the Museum of Sydney and the Police and Justice Museum. Will remember the Museum of Fire if I'm ever on Penrith. Maybe your elite taste buds would appreciate the very fine tarts they serve at the French House in Waterloo on Danks St, if you're ever that way.

No mate, no! I understand where you're coming from but the flavours at Messina are truly out of this world! I still think about one of the weekly specials a few months back; 'Ode to Zeno' - rose water gelato with crushed pistachio, whipped cream and rose water soaked brioche. I'm able to go mid week during the day so I've never had to Q and they don't mind me taking my time to try lots of flavours before deciding. Please, do yourself a favour! Give it a go and report back! I defy you not to be impressed. I think that gelato has a different texture from ice cream, it's a bit more gloopy, but essentially it is just the Italian version. (I think, I may be wrong). I also had some great ice cream at Kangaroo Valley last weekend, there's a couple of shops there where they take great pride. However, my local, Gelato Blue in Newtown, will always be my favourite and most frequented.

Cow and The Moon on Enmore road, apparently. I do like it there, but I'm a tad surprised - best in the whole wide world! I was last there 3 weeks ago and none of the flavours really grabbed me. (I do still sometimes think about their hot cross bun flavour from April). Will have to pop in again tomorrow. http://mobile.news.com.au/lifestyle/food/cow-and-the-moon-win-worlds-best-gelato/story-fneuz8zj-1227051238876

Hyde Park Barracks is great! You can search the data base for convicts with your family name. St Mary's crypt is worth a visit, if you haven't been already. It's a few $ and you can only visit on weekdays. There's a fantastic Celtic cross on the floor. Been meaning to go to the Jewish Museum for ages, since we have a voucher.

In NSW, I don't think Medicare covers ambulances. So if you haven't got private cover for this you would have to foot the bill.