yorkiegirl

We have just moved back to the UK after 20 years in Australia. With regard to the car insurance, you will need to get a letter from your Australian insurer stating how many years no claims you have, make sure it is stated in years not percentage as we had our first attempt at getting it recognised rejected as they didn't read the letter properly. We went with Tesco insurance, they were happy to accept the no claims. Still cost quite a bit though. If you have a Uk or European license that helps too, it would have been an extra £500 on our Australian ones. Rental wise, we had no references , but it didn't seem to be a problem as long as we were willing to pay the whole amount up front for the term of our rental period. If this isn't an option for you then I'm not sure what they would need, maybe you could email a couple of agents and ask what their requirements would be in your situation.

When I lived in WA I used to go to Avon Valley butchers http://www.avonvalleybeef.com.au

29th October for us, can't believe it's finally time.

Please don't try and catch it, that's just asking for trouble. Best thing is to stay still and quiet and wait for it to move on. If you see one in your garden and you are concerned for your family's safety, you can call your local snake catcher (some charge a fee, some are volunteers so check around your local area to find the number and keep it handy in case you need it) I have done this in the past, (we have loads of snakes where we live in the Gold Coast hinterland , but I haven't seen too many) after a chat with the snake catcher , I just left it where it was and it slipped away after a while, I haven't seen it since but did find its skin that it had shed some time later.

Our bed/mattress/ bedding etc,chest of drawers, a large sofa & large armchair, coffee table, sideboard, TV table, bedside tables, bookcase/shelf unit, plus some other bits of furniture, washing machine, 2 mountain bikes, a few garden tools, linen/towels kitchen stuff, books, large TV/speakers & amp/computer plus all the random crap I've accumulated over the years, so a reasonable amount. (there is just the 2 of us so no kids stuff or anything like that) We are taking the decent furniture but not the junky stuff. I suppose it depends what your furniture would cost to replace over there and how attached to it you are as to whether or not it's worth it.

We are just about to head back, we have had about 5 quotes, they ranged from $4800 to $5900 for 21 cu metres, so in a shared container (but my OH managed to get a few hundred dollars knocked off the one we chose with his charm )

I would think he would have to make a new application. I'm pretty sure the spouse visa only lasts the 27 months from it first being valid.

I can't imagine that she would, we haven't moved over yet but we certainly aren't buying a return ticket! I think the whole point of the visa is that she is intending to settle in the UK and so therefore would not need a return flight. The visa would be valid for 2 years, can you even buy a flight that far ahead?

Just realised this is probably aimed at me , didn't realise at first, I thought everyone used that word until cartertucker said she had to google it! Anyway, it's bloody cold up here, we're quite a bit higher up than you Gold Coasters so the fire is ON :biggrin:

Well, with a couple of twigs and fire lighting skills worthy of any Boy Scout, my fire is now going great guns! Just off to open a bottle of red stuff to go with it.

I'd rather roast my nuts (if I had any)

I feel your pain Cal, I'm exactly in the same situation, peeing it down & cold up here on the mountain, freezing my proverbials off and no dry sticks either!!! Might have to venture under the house (:eek: don't really like it under there) and see if there are any left lying around from last year!!

Well it's bloody freezing AND pi**ing it down here where I am in QLD so no chance of going outside to keep warm here today. Got my fluffy socks & granny shawl on to keep warm.

Hi, we got exactly the same email and my husbands visa arrived in the mail a few days later. I think if you don't get it it says something like "your application has been processed ....etc"

Would it be worth calling the Tax office, I've found them to be helpful in the past (if you don't mind being on hold for a while!) Did your employer withhold tax from your salary? Have you been resident in Australia for the whole year? Possibly could be worth getting a Tax agent to advise, they do charge but it's worth it to make sure you get it right.

This is from the UKBA website, it may help clarify the situation re his visa http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/visas-immigration/partners-families/relationship-ends/

OK you may not see them in the street, but snakes are commonly found in and around the sand dunes all over Australia.

I find it very confusing. From my understanding of the Centrelink website, you can't get any Australian (government) pension at all no matter when you move to the UK, as the UK is no longer an "agreement" country for social security purposes.

Love this story about the snakes in the high rise hotels! http://www.goldcoast.com.au/article/2012/01/09/380341_gold-coast-news.html

Hope she doesn't shove it away with a broom like the woman I mentioned does (when the snakes take up residence on the verandah)

It's not the flies I'd be worrying about, a woman around the corner from me was telling me how she had to get the snake catcher in to get the python out from under her bed! Normally she gets them out herself (she had them as pets when she was younger so is used to handling them) but this one was a bit too big for her. Lucky it was only a python. She does leave her doors open though. No way I'd be leaving my doors open , does depend where you live though, we have loads of snakes and other wildlife where we live. Our local snake catchers are kept very busy.

I don't know anything about specific areas to live, but my husband goes to Toowoomba fairly often for work, he says it's nice, & the shopping area is pretty decent too. It does get fairly cold/cool in the winter as it's quite high up and inland, but I'd say for a family it would be a good place to live. And it's not too far from Brisbane if you feel the need to go there. Looking at the link to the house you put up, just be aware for something like that you REALLY need to like mowing the lawn, in the summer it's grown again before you've had chance to put the mower away.

No way, it's amazing what gets inside even with the fly screens closed.

In QLD it's part of the standard contract that you have to have a building & pest/termite inspection. In WA it's entirely down to the purchaser whether they get a building/structural survey or not, only the pest/termite inspection is part of the standard contract. Don't know about the other states, these are the only 2 I've bought property in.

No family here at all, just the 2 of us. Between us we have 2 parents, 4 brothers and 3 sisters plus their "kids" (most are adults now) in the UK and Europe.