brightonbee

'its not Disneyland'- it may have appeared that way for the gold prospectors but this Disneyland view portrayed in the adverts is often far from reality and this is where the problems may stem from- Oz not meeting expectations for some people. When I go,back to UK , some people say things like ' you are so lucky' ( I made my own luck by taking a risk) and my response is that's most of the time, life iS similar - you get up, go to work, come home, do an exercise class, cook dinner, watch TV then go to bed. That's Life.

PERSPECTIVE - Different people look at the same things from different standpoints producing…well, different "points of view." When we appreciate and become sensitive to other people's different ways of looking at things, we begin to develop an ability shared by few - the ability to "put oneself in the other's shoes" or more simply, to see things from their perspective.Differing perspective is the most common basis of conflict among humans. Instinct leads us to pursue our own point of view. Wisdom leads us to explore the standpoints of others in order to acquire an understanding of their perspectives and the basis thereof. This exploration leads to a significant increase in communication skill and empathy. It helps us to pause before making assumptions. It allows us to consider the extraordinary possibility that we may, unlikely as it may

'The truth is, you will only really ever find people on here who are complaining about how bad Oz is because they want to share their frustration as to why they have either failed or justifying why they are moving back. The rest of us are just getting on with our life's and enjoying what Oz has to offer., Not sure that I agree with you. I think that there is a lot of helpful advice and support here. Moving to the other side of the world is complex and raises issues for some people that they haven't experienced before- new laws, tax systems, new culture etc. etc. etc. POI has been an enormous source of support when I have had to negotiate many new ways of living. There are thousands of members - are you suggesting that they are all miserable in OZ and want to leave?

yes, get with it and get an iPad then you can pop it up on the counter whilst cooking breakfast!

Thought so - people can't add up!

It's happened to me twice over the weekend- can't people add up anymore !!

Heating is expensive as it gets cold in winter. Can I share one piece of advice - make sure that the house you rent is INSULATED especially if it is old - otherwise you are looking at an additional couple of hundred dollars for heating. The rental market isn't as well regulated here as UK so TAKE PHOTOS of everything, date and give one copy to agent. Tht cute little weatherboard ain't so cute in heavy rain and wind

my view of PIO( apart from the obvious about professionals advertising their businesses and services and probably the reason most of us stumble upon it when googling in pet carrier services etc.) is that it is a forum where people who mostly share a similar culture , come together to share experiences of living in a foreign country. Perhaps the reason that this forum is so big is that there aren't enough ways for ex UK'ers to meet in person and support one another. There seem to be council funded Chinese Groups , Greek Groups. Correct me if I am wrong but are the needs of EX UK'ers being taken into consideration. If this forum was only to be used for positive comments, then perhaps we could rename it Polyanna in OZ! Melbourne is a great city - I love the fact that you can drive into the centre on a weekend and park close to where you want to be.(positive) a lot of the rental properties are old and dilapidated ( negative) you can be out in the bush within an hour without having to sit for hours in traffic (positive) the outer suburbs are sprawling and some are ugly and lack infrastructure ( negative) it is bloody cold in winter (negative) but spring and summer are delightful(positive) supermarket food is expensive ( negative) you can eat out in a Vietnamese restaurant for under a tenner( posiTive) I have enjoyed my time in Melbourne, thankful I never bought a property ( well the prices in decent areas are astronomical) but I feel ready after 5 years to go home with some great memories . At this time, If I could describe my OZ experience it would be that I love the holiday Oz ( sun, sand sea, BBQ) but not too keen on the day to day working and living expereince. That's my view But this won't necessarily be anyone else's view

You are definitely not too old - not sure about the permanent visa age requirements- think 50 is cut off point. Your wife may be able to find a company who sponsors 457 temporary visas -no age restrictions. In my view, your 16 year old's ability to settle will be your biggest headache - a friend's 16 year old is sabotaging the family's attempts to settle here - the usual hormonal issues but mainly due to her feeling that she has been yanked away from friends

Good idea to stay a bit longer and enjoy the spring weather! Start of UK summer is ideal time to relocate back but appreciate this is not always possible

I'll miss the coffee!!!

I don't think that I will ever regret living here but after 5 years I am ready to go home.i have learned what home means and I have learned the importance of feeling connected and that friendship and family are priceless. As for UK going down the tube, suggest stop reading The Daily Doom and Gloom Mail. I considered selling up in UK and buying here but the poor exchange rate and the complexities , in hindsight, worked for me. I have been blessed with the experience of living in a different culture and now my UK home is waiting there for me.

Only heard good reports about working at The Alfred. Great area too

Information comes from a reliable source and I have no reason to doubt this person's veracity. Guy's partner is South East Asian and said that her friends have successfully gained visas. No reputable agent will give you a no visa no fee deal, as visas can be turned down for all kinds of reasons. No RMA would take on a case if they did not think you would be able to get a visa.

Find one that offers a no win, no fee deal then you know they are professional !