jonathancowen

Better the devil you know, it's boiliing here, constant wind to ruin the surf and no changes on the horizon :-(

Hiya, we used global moving systems (or something like that) they were pretty good, only broke a few bits and the price was almost half of what other companies wanted. Good luck Jonathan

Good luck with it. If you can handle the heat and/or you get up early you'll be fine. And yes, the animals are pretty cool, esp when you come across them in the wild.

I'm in Buderim

No, but moving to Tasmania soon :biggrin:

I am doing a lot less outdoor activities than I ever have due to the weather. It's too hot and humid by 6am to do anything (for me) I used to live in a cottage in a woodland in Essex so I was running and mountain biking everyday, gym most nights, drive to Devon for a surf and travelled to Europe and America to snow board. Now I "surf" in the crappiest waves I've ever had to, hardly ever hike, never run, never mountain bike, never road bike. It's just one big hot urban sprawl here (Sunshine coast) so not very inviting for cycling, my advice is to look at England with a fresh perspective before you move here. If you are thinking that getting fit and healthy is a main goal for moving, then don't! You'd be better off moving somewhere like Snowdon or North Devon and having the countryside on hand, the weather to enjoy it and stil have familly and friends close by. If I could give myself one bit of advice through time it would be don't ever come to Australia. But you may like it, good luck

Do NOT move to the Sunshine Coast in Qld, we live in Buderim and my wife has had several patients ask her how "Nice it must be not having any blacks or Arabs around" We're both white but have come to think of this area as the most raciest, narrow minded place in the world. Only had a quick trip to Melbourne but that seemed much more multicultural. Otherwise Brisbane has a lot of Asian's and Indians so I'm guessing they would be a little more tollorent. Good luck

HI, HOW DID SHE EVEN KNOW THAT THIS HORRENOIUS CRIME AGAINST HER PERSONAL POSESSIONS HAD BEEN COMMITED?? i'M GUESSING SHE SPENDS ALOT OF TIME LOOKING OUT THE CURTAINS. AS FOR REVENGE, I'M THINKING THAT SUPER GLUING HER BIN LIDS DOWN WOULD BE QUITE FUNNY :-)

Hi Buddy, Well my Wife's parents live here and she feels like this is home, she moved here when she was 10, so I guess we'll be staying :-( We're thinking of moving to Tasmania, its the opne place I really like here, its quietly got everything Australia loudly claims have, clear ocean, empty waves, fish gallour, fantastic hikes and camping etc. And it even has SEASONs!!!!! So at the moment it's a case of soldier one until one of us finds a decent job there then move ASAP. We currently live on the Sunshine Coast, although torrential rain coast would be more apt given my expeirence here, in a place called Buderim. It was described as aquaint little historical village on the mountain, but its more like a suburb of Caloundra as there isn't a break in houses etc anywhere between the two, and the only historic thing here is a retaining wall thats 100 years old! When people come to our house it takes them ages to make it through as they are allways captivated by our 'antiques' what about yourself, where have you landed?

How about next time we play guess the number of snow days??

Hey Chortle, 7 years!!!! I've only been here 31months and 8 days and I already had enough, so well done on surviving this dump for that long! Well not sure if I can help much with ideas on how to pass the time as I've had exactly the same expeirence as you. I went home for work 9 weeks after being moved here and that was great as I had hated every second of it. Then last year I went home for 4 weeks and as soon as I was hoem I felt so much better, it was rather scary when, whilst driving to the gym I said to mysel, "I feel different" and I realised it was because I was happy instead of depressed! That stay was extended to 6.2 months as 2 days before flying back to Hades mu Mum was diagnosed with cancer and given 12 weeks to live, not the best news as you can imaginee but at least I got to be with her until the end. But as bad as this sounds I was happier during this time than I generally am here, because dispite all the horrendous stuff that was going on I mad sure I still met friends and family and went out running in the woods and mountain biking, surfing, gym with friends etc. I was offered 1 job and 2 interviews whilst there, I only applied for 2 jobs and the one I took was out of the blue from a previous employer, bit different to here! So good luck with the count down, try to go on a few trips away, Tasmania is really nice, New Zealand is also very pretty, terrible for snowboarding tho, tiny runs and the most expencive lift passes I've ever had. Good luck J

Hi Dan, First off I must say I know how you feel, Oz isn't, in my opinion, that wonderful and I also believe that we left far more behind than we have/probably will gain. I've been here 2years 7 months and 8 days and I have realised that you just have to make the best of it. Yes the surf in UK is better, the driving is faster/better/easier, the people (where I lived) where generally friendlier and jobs were available, but here we are. So long as you can handle the heat and humidity (I can't) or are happy spending lots of time indoors under AC (I'm not) and are prepared to get any job you can reguardless of your previous expierence, you will eventually get along. However, I did laugh when you said, Air your feelings to non bias people! If you haven't already had people explaining to you how you're "wrong about how you feel" etc then you will. When this happens you can either reply with reason and reexpress your right to ask for a little emotional support until you eventually get so annoyed with them that you think about tracking them down, or just ignore them! In the mean time, I hope the job situation etc gets sorted and my advise is to find a few new things to do. I used to surf alot back home in nice big clean waves with only a few people out, happy days, and mtn bike lots as I lived in a forest, but now I still surf but its not wuite the same. I have however started fishing and spear fishing and am looking at buying a boat now, its helped me. Good luck, and if you ever want to moan, rejoyce or just say how you're feeling without being critisised then feel free to PM me. Till then J

I had a week off work a short while ago as a job taking kids on a week long canoe trip fell through so I thought I'd nip down to Tasmania for a few days surfing and fishing. Only wanted a cheap flight and camper hire, I ended up cancelling the time off and going to work instead as it was going to cost $200 less than they were advertising a trip to Rome!!!! Last year I went home for 6 months and loved every second of being there, seasons, friends, work, being able to run and mountain bike without sweating so much I lok like I'm dying. And the countryside, every bit as stunning as I remember it, so many shades of green you lose count. But now back on the sunshine coast for rain and flat waves.......... Damn :-(

Typical whingers ;-) Thanks for the info about the secret forum

I have noticed a trend of people who say that they are unhappy here have a barrage of abuse hurled at them for daring to think differently to those who like it here. Do you think we could have a forum for people who don't like it where they can air their problems or concerns without being attacked for it please? It could be called, "I've got enough problems and feel isolated so I don't need your 2 pence worth having a dig at me, but thanks for looking" Just a suggestion. Cheers J

Hi, you are definatley NOT alone. I knew as I got off the plane and over the last 2 years 5 months and 17 days, its only gotten worse. Work here is a joke, you'll try for months to get a job that your expierenced in before applying for jobs that are way below your previous role. Then when you fail to get even a minial role within your field you'll look for anything that pays enough. Apparantly thats when you become 'settled in this wonderful new life' I wouldn't saty that is exactly how it will be for you, but every person I have met so far who moved here has had that expierence, so odds are........ Actually thats a lie, I met a guy who cmoes out here regulary to be with his girlfriend, who he met on facebook, and he loved it he thought working in her shop selling pool chemicles was much better than his life at home, he lived in an old mining town up north and worked in a cigerete factory! Good luck with it all, I will say this, while you are both out of work, use this time to do stuff, swim surf, walks etc as you won't have the free time if/when you are both working again. Best of luck J

I'm currently looking at buying a house here, (investment, not a home!) as it will save us money but the more we look into it the more unsure I am. It seems like a very expensive poorly made building with a lot of rules imposed on it!

Run away as fast as you can! <br><br>England has taken a financial know but the only people who have been effected are the uber rich or those who work for the government, nurses etc. <br>I don't know anyone who has been adversly affected by the so called 'crissis' at home, in fact the only people I know who are struggling for money live here! <br>As for the immigrants, yes we have them but most are fine, you can't judge millions of people by the actions of litterailly a handful, where I lived it was all whites and unless you live in East London or Birmingham you'll find it the same. That said its nice having different cultures living together, good foods, interesting languages and generally seeing how other people live. <br><br>I also miss how green it is at home, I also miss the good waves and friendly people etc. The best times I've had since moving here have been when I've been back home. <br><br>Only thing I'd suggest if you go back is DON'T move to West London and live with all the other Australians over there trying to experience something different by herding together and drinking at the local Walkabout. <br>They do seem to love to hang out together, once whilst snowboarding in France we were told that the next week would be busy as they had 800 Australians coming! The piests were packed with people standing on blind bends and gathering at the chairlift exit points!!!!!<br><br>Anyhow, let me know what you plan to do, remember its better to try it and regret it than wonder if you should have gone. J

Hi, Afraid I can't really offer anything positive to help other than don't feel like you're alone. I moved here 2yrs 6mths and 13 days ago and I can honestly say the only time I've been happy during that time was when I went home for work after being here for 7 weeks and then last year when I managed to go home for 6 months, during that time I was offered three jobs, went up Snowdon, surfed big clean waves in Devon (4 trips) and in Wales once. The rest of the time I was mountain biking, running and going to the gym with my friend, in short doing all the stuff I had to leave behind and replace with a rubish version of here. As for jobs, I am a Diplomatic Bodyguard at home and the best I could find here was as a security guard for a local company doing jobs like sitting outside rebel sport when their lock broke or on a dirt road next to a generator in case someone had a crane and tried to nick it! I'm now working for the Endeavour foundation as a support worker as I couldn't stand the security job anymore, my friends here (al English as the locals don't exactly go out of their way to be friend

Morning, I'd still suggest transfering it to GBP via Tofx, only thing you could do is leave it in you Aus bank and wait for a more favourable exchange rate, assumming the dollar goes up or pound down. Of course you need to keep at least one note to play with when you show your friends, "look, you can scrunch it up and get it wet and its ok!" :wink:

Hi, I have used a UK company called TorFX when bringing money back and forth, I have alsways had a prompt service and a much better rate than I could find elsewhere. I normally deal with a guy called Dominic Way, his email is dominic.way@torfx.com should you decide to use them. Good luck going home, have a pub roast for me on the first snowy day you get! Jonathan

Take EVERYTHING you own with you!!! We moved to Qld 22months ago and I regret leaving things like my old weights, tools etc. Everything here costs 2-3 times as much as you'd expect, there is little choice due to the Australian zenophobic attitude to importing goods. Ikea here costs about the same as Parker Knowle!!! Also, be prepared to suffer some loses during transit/customs, broken surf boards, conficated goods, we had it all. Good luck, Jonathan

Good luck Phillip, I hope that you are happier once you're back home. I know I will be once I leave this place. Be proud of yourself for trying such a big move on your own and remember that in the 22 months that I have been here I have not met one couple that moved here and both liked it, most people only stay as they think it's a better place to raise children. I can't wait to leave and get on with my life, very jealous of you! Bye Jonathan

It's just not for me, I'm sure everyone else loves the heat but I am much happier elsewhere.

Love it but this will be the fourth Winter in a row I've missed due to being is this dump, to make matters worse eI managed to get home for the last six months and as soon as it started to get nippy I had to leave. Been back in oz for 75.5 hours and happy to leave right now if I could.