wetnwindy

Well we returned May 2016 and plan moving back Jan 2018 in time for Year 9 for my eldest, year 7 middle and year 3 youngest. As much as we love Scotland the weather dictates your lifestyle. No more daily bike rides, no more walks along sunny beaches with toes in water, no more after school plays at the park. The school is ok but my kids just don't fit in and miss Australia terribly. I came back alone as hubby went to ME to work plus my parents were struggling health wise, my father passed away in August after a year of illness so I am so pleased that I was here to spend precious time with him. Hubby will be away another 18 months and then back to Australia to continue our family adventure. Kids can't wait, eldest slightly more apprehensive as she has made massive effort and made a few lovely friends but overall we were all happier back in Australia. There is no right or wrong decision but the fact that I think about Australia every day doesn't help matters and I was finally settled after my initial post. We have never cried as hard as we did when we left Australia 18 months ago. I don't want to wait any longer and have regrets. Financial ruin but hopefully mental stability!

We shipped car from Aus to UK last year and we were told unless the ship sinks or blows up there is no point in insuring it. If it is inside a container the worst that could happen is a scratch or dent that would be cheaper to repair than it would be to insure the car.

so have been in WA sine 2012 and have PR and have reached the point of do I comit and stay or do I head home in time for high school. We have 3 kids, 11,9,4. Hubby works FIFO 3/1 and whilst we enjoy Australia there isnt a day that passes without me thinking of home. We went back last Xmas and loved it very much and cried all the way back to WA. What I don't want to happen is leave it any longer and not be able to leave as kids will be settled into high school. I'm not looking at UK via rose tinted glasses, I know why we left in th first place, an adventure and we've had that but I have this longing for UK all the time. Australia is so expensive and even though hubby does FIFO we still just get by. The opportunity for the kids here regards outdoors is amazing whilst in scotland it would be less of an appeal. Has anyone made the move with kids back after a few years and what is your experiences? Hubby not really wanting to but will for me.

Mullaloo, Ocean Reef, Iluka, Mindarie, Currambime, Connolly, Duncraig. schools, Lake joondalup baptist college is excellent high, st marks excellent high but expensive and waiting lists. Would stay away from clarkson, butler, banksia grove. Ocean reef high ok, greenwood ok also

Not been on for ages as been settling nicely. Just wanted to share my moving experience. So we shopped around and haggled to death with about 5 companies. We finally settled on simply ship from Aberdeen, even tho we are nowhere near Aberdeen! They were not as cheap as the bigger competitors, maybe 150 more but boy are they professional and I would rather pay a little extra and be sure that my goods were in excellent hands. We used crown a few years ago and when I got them out or a quote they were so impersonal and the lady hardly made eye contact. To me I needed to feel totally comfortable with the company and confident and these guys done that. The boss of their partner firm came out before hand and showed me box sizes and went round the house giving me an idea of what would fit where and he knew his stuff, way more than other companies who sat on iPods and calculators saying no that can't go and that can't go. So 2 days prior to the container going the guys turned up and started packing, they were fantastic, felt totally comfortable with them. Container arrived and in it all went, according to crown I would have needed a 40ft but these guys packed the container like nothing I have ever seen! It was a jigsaw ppuzzle but they managed just about everything, I had a couple of items that they sent separate for me but didn't cost the earth. It was in storage for 2 months this end then the day of moving arrived and they worked all day and at end of day my house from Scotland was sitting in house in Perth. They unpacked everything so we sat down for dinner with ease! So there we go, simply ship aberdeen!

Great. Will keep you all posted! Watch his space.

We cleaned everything, declared nothing, shipped stuff that wasn't clean that was meant to stay! They only opened 1 box that was named Dog Kennel! We don't have a dog, it was a folding metal camping table that the packer thought was a kennel??? Chainsaw and pressure washer got through without inspection. All Xmas boxes were untouched i even managed to slip 2 bottles of malt into the kitchen boxes, not recommending this by the way! It's pot luck if they open it up and how well your packers label the shipping list. Ours were great and mentioned no wood etc. Good luck!

Excellent, feedback is superb. So what sort of info would be interesting? Schools, hospitals, shopping centres, beaches, cafes, baring in mind it would all be our personal opinions! Plus a chance to meet some new people over a coffee/tea. I know exactly what it's like to hit a new place and know NOTHING and a friendly face is more than welcome. It would be very informal.

Yeh that's the problem, distance. We are NOR so would probably hold it in Joondalup with volunteers from several suburbs round about. Once established we could venture SOR.

Thanks fish, that has me thinking!

Thanks Cal, we hope to make it an ongoing thing and know once people settle they will stop coming. There seems to be loads of newcomers to WA just now and i hate to see people struggling. Was hoping to post it here and other places, even local schools so the school can hand out a flyer to new arrivals. Would the board make it a sticky do you think? QUOTE=calNgary;1935924488]Hi we used to have a lot of meet ups at one time, across all states. I think as people settle and move on they get less and less. Try and organise one and feel free to post in our socialising section so other members are aware. We found the beach front child friendly parks a good place when doing them in QLD.. Good Luck Cal x

So I have been in Perth since April and have settled sort of ok. No doubt it's hard, especially with 3 kids and hubby doing FIFO! I have meet some lovely people who appreciate what you are going through and have met some new comers that just aren't settling due to the lack friends, knowledge of local area, lack of enthusiam as they are so homesick. So, an aussie friend, together with myself have thought about setting up a voluntary welcome get together on a regular basis. Just so when you land in Perth you can come along once a fortnight to meet new people, regardless of age, children etc and get welcomed to Australia from locals and expats alike. Info will be given on essentials like hospitals, shops, etc. I know when I arrived I had no clue where the hospital was or how to contact doctor or what the procedure was and it was only after hours of trawling the net that I found this out. So how many of you would come along to such a gathering, totally voluntary, friendly and supportive to new comers? I look forward to your replies.

The countdown is truly in, flights booked for week on Sunday and 2 kids have chicken pox. 18mth old is the worst, all over body and face and spots still appearing! Currently in bath of bicarb soda. DD1 has started to dry up thankfully, DD2 all gone but the wee fella is awful. Do I phone airline now or wait till see how he is next week and maybe get doc cert?? :arghh:

Have just told grandparents no airport run, they accepted it and agreed it is right decision! I can't get them to agree to the Saturday evening goodbye so they will be over on the Sunday morning before we leave. Still won't be easy but think it will help.

Exactly! I keep telling my daughters that they will thank us in 20 years and it isn't apparent at the moment. I tried to explain that in 10 years when they are leaving school there may not be an jobs here in uk for them and that we are doing this for their future. Don't think an 8 and 6 year old quite get this! I have told them we are the parents and we make the decisions for the whole family. There can be too much pussy footing about its time to be strong!