dinkydoo

I am going to ring again tomorrow evening UK time, hope they can tell me a bit more this time. Missing the little bugger and I'm feeling quite guilty about it all!! I hope he will be fine when we all settle down in a few months!

Yes, I set the alarm the first night and got up at 2.45am to ring but they didn't have a lot to say really, I will ring again on Tuesday evening UK time. So you won't be able to go visit them in spotswood? I'm planning on going to see Ozzy a few days after we arrive but not sure if this will just confuse him more but the lady at the shippers said that it would put our minds at ease and Ozzy would get extra cuddles! He will be very cross with me when we do finally pick him up, he doesn't like me for a week after we've had a week's holiday and this is when he's been able to stay in his own home! I'm wondering now whether I should have maybe put him in a cattery for a few days when we were on holiday so this wouldn't have been such a shock to his system! Hindsight is a wonderful thing!! Not!! I wonder whether they would let me check on your 3 when I go as you can't get there?? Our packers came last Wednesday and we moved out and are having a week in North Wales with my parents before we fly out on Sunday. We too had a huge clear out of "stuff" before they came, my friends did quite well out of us!! As did the charity shops!! Good luck with the packers sharon

We shipped with Robinsons back in 2006 and had no problems with them, we have just used them again this week to send our belongings back to Oz. I was also told that if they had over quoted they would refund but to be honest I think we have packed more than quoted??? Time will tell as to whether we get an extra bill?? On the whole I found them to be very professional, the packers were very good, didn't hang about, got on with the job in hand and were very grateful when my husband bought them all fish and chips for lunch.!!

Did they arrive safely? Have you rang up to ask? Are they in spotswood too? When do you fly out? sorry for all the questions!!

Thank you all for your posts, you have helped cheer me up. Ozzy is due to land in a few hours and I think I may set the alarm to phone up quarantine and check on him! Its been a busy day here as the packers are due tomorrow then we are going to have a week with my parents before we fly. I will be going to see Ozzy as soon as possible after we land. Can't wait.

The guy from pet air picked him up and was lovely considering I answered the door crying already!!! The bin lorry had just passed the house so Ozzy was already hiding upstairs so after a few seconds I located him and he clung to the carpet for dear life! He had been in a very odd mood all morning as if he knew something was happening, gave him a quick cuddle and then tried to put him in his crate, he clung on to my shoulder, it was heart breaking!! I just felt so cruel and mean because he doesn't know what's going on. the guy from pet air rang me a little while later to say they had arrived at the cattery and Ozzy was settled. I then got a phone call from the lady who had stayed with him until he he been checked in. I can't fault the service at pet air at all, they have been brilliant from the start, I just wish I didn't feel so sad and mean. I know after the flight he will be collected and taken to quarantine where he will be looked after, just hope he will forgive me because boy this cat can bear a grudge!!! We don't arrive in Melbourne for 2 weeks so I will be counting the days until I can go and visit and take him his blanket and give him a cuddle. many of my friends think I've wasted my money by taking him with us but I couldn't of found him a new home or just give him to a cat protection place so I suppose for a few lonely weeks on both parts it will be worth it in the end when I see he basking in the sunshine, which he loves so much. THANK YOU PET AIR ON BEHALF OF MYSELF THE HUBBY AND OZZY THE CAT XXX

Well the time has finally come and my furry friend Ozzy the cat is leaving for Melbourne tomorrow i know he will be fine but I'm still worried about how he will cope with the flight and being away from us for 30 days. There will be tears I think when they collect him!

We are flying with Singapore airlines in 3 weeks and they have confirmed the extra baggage allowance by email BUT this is for an unvalidated permanent visa.

I am also looking into this as our cat arrives in Melbourne in a few weeks and I have been able to get migration insurance for him but would like to get full cat insurance from when he arrives, my problem is all the companies on the Internet want an address and phone number before they will do you a quote, we don't arrive for another month so don't have these details yet. Any ideas??

Not looking forward to leaving my parents again but its what we both want at the moment, you have to live in the day and have no regrets, so that's what we are doing!! may will come round in no time!

We are currently using Pet Air to ship our cat over in a few weeks, up to now they have been very helpful and although probably not the cheapest, I would prefer peace of mind at the end of the day. They have been very good at answering all my questions especially as I'm a bit nervous about how my cat will cope.

Thank you, might be asking you for more info when we arrive!! Sharon

Good luck Louise, hope your last few days aren't too stressful! See you on the other side!!!! sharon

Thanks Jo, I'm looking forward to investigating while the hubby goes to work! We are staying in Harkaway initially while we decide.

Thanks Jo, we have been looking at real estate.com at Berwick and it seems nice, also been looking at Ferntree Gully which would be closer to work for the hubby, what are your thoughts on this area?

I have had people saying that I'm ridiculous to spend £2000 to take my cat! But he's part of my family and I don't think I could leave him with just anyone, if my parents could of had him I might of considered it but they have a dog so they can't and I would miss him too so I'm taking my little moggy with me!!

Thanks Louise, will look into it when we arrive. Still not sure why I want to do yet? Not long till you go now is it? Are you excited??? Sharon

I haven't sent my cv off yet, going to see where we end up living first then look into work, I think the working with children check can take a while to arrive, you will need to pick up a form from a post office in Victoria to apply. This is a new thing as I didn't need one when we were in Sydney in 2007/2008. i approached an agency ages ago to see if they recognised my NNEB and they had heard of it and agreed that it was diploma level, will wait and see what happens! Berwick does look nice but will wait and see what we think when we arrive. where are you flying from? Who with??

Morning Louise, we initially wanted to be close to the beach but realised we could get more for our money further inland a bit. We will be staying in Harkaway for the first 12 weeks. I have been looking at places in Berwick and you seem to get a decent sized place for a reasonable amount! But I'm not sure about the commute from Berwick to Burwood, hubby will soon find out!!! Also Berwick seems to be a good central location. I also work in childcare but have been seriously thinking of a career change because I have been doing it for 25 years!! But I don't know what else I would like to do or enjoy doing. Have you sent your CV to any agencies yet? Sharon

Thank you Louise, my to do list is getting shorter!!!! We have friends in Sydney but no one in Melbourne apart from an old family friend of my parents but they don't actually live in Melbourne, lucky you having your family there, I'm really going to miss my mum and dad. Do you know where in Melbourne you might settle? We have arranged a short term let just north of Berwick, hubby will be working in Burwood. So I will be spending my time looking for a long term let. Sharon

We were in Sydney from 2006-2008 on a 457 and my husbands job fell through so we had no choice but to come back as we ran out of time looking for a new sponsor, so we used the last of our monies to get out stuff back to the UK, we have spent the time since then saving and applying for visas, we got our first visa application rejected in December 2011 due to lack of points because the work experience was four weeks short so after a very expensive mistake we enlisted the help of an agent and a year later we were granted our permanent residency visa. we leave on the 7th of April this year for Melbourne. I feel like I know what I'm letting myself in for this time and hopefully have a bit more knowledge and experience but don't doubt that I will feel homesick at some point. I think too many people go expecting a "better" life and maybe what they should do is replace the word better for "different"! The grass is not always greener just a bit different!!!! ( just my opinion)

We spent 18 months in Sydney a few years ago but have never been to Melbourne so its going to be all new again, its a great adventure getting to know a new place. i think the worst bit is saying goodbye, especially to elderly parents and in laws! Trying to persuade my parents to come out at the end of the year for their 50th wedding anniversary and when we sell the house our plan is to pay for their tickets as a present for their anniversary. So at least when we leave I can say see you in a few months. i have bought my mum an iPad so that she can keep in touch so she has spent the last few months getting to know how to use it!! My 86 yr old mother in law also has one !!!! Good luck with your move and enjoy Sydney. sharon

Its exciting but at the same time nerve wracking isn't it!! Dreading the goodbyes!! We are up with my parents this weekend but will also have a week with them before we fly on the 7th. Where are you flying from? Our packers don't come until the end of march, are you staying with family until you fly? We are taking our cat with us, who are you using to ship your dogs? My endless list of things to do is slowly getting shorter, definately had some sleepless nights though!! Sharon

Hi guys, we arrive on the 9th April too! Are you all busy getting packed and sorted for the move?? There's so much to do isn't there!!

Whether they were wrong or not that's what happened and if it wasn't wasn't for people helping us we wound have been homeless and hungry! In a counrty that we have paid in to the system for years!