Johndoe

OK. Quite a few views so I thought I should share Brizzy pics in general as opposed to just Northside rather than start a new thread. If the mods could change the title to "Brisbane Images" that would be great. I know that folk are still thinking of migrating here and the pics may just wet their appetite ? Gateway Bridge (1) by Kevin Dickinson, on Flickr Brisbane River Sunset by Kevin Dickinson, on Flickr South Bank Brisbane by Kevin Dickinson, on Flickr South Bank Brisbane (5) by Kevin Dickinson, on Flickr South Bank Brisbane (6) by Kevin Dickinson, on Flickr

. . Balmy morning down by the Pine River yesterday Pelican by Kevin Dickinson, on Flickr Pine River (2) by Kevin Dickinson, on Flickr Pine River (4) by Kevin Dickinson, on Flickr

Thank you.

Togetherness by Kevin Dickinson, on Flickr Kookaburra Queen ll by Kevin Dickinson, on Flickr Kookaburra Queen ll (1) by Kevin Dickinson, on Flickr Nudgee College (2) by Kevin Dickinson, on Flickr Brisbane High Rise (5) by Kevin Dickinson, on Flickr

Brisbane Skytower and 1 William Street by Kevin Dickinson, on Flickr Sacred Heart Church Sandgate (2) by Kevin Dickinson, on Flickr Admiralty Towers Park by Kevin Dickinson, on Flickr South Bank Pagoda by Kevin Dickinson, on Flickr Togetherness (2) by Kevin Dickinson, on Flickr

Nudgee Beach (4) by Kevin Dickinson, on Flickr Goodwill Bridge and Kookaburra Paddle Boat by Kevin Dickinson, on Flickr Goodwill Bridge by Kevin Dickinson, on Flickr Brisbane Skyline by Kevin Dickinson, on Flickr river expressway by Kevin Dickinson, on Flickr

Thanks chook

@ Jack91 Regularly mate but you don't get to see 'em ?

I'm not really sure what you're asking? Suburb to me means "outer city" yet you've quoted areas that you've looked at which are inner city? Is your work on the northside or southside? You mention Milton and a place that I really enjoy visiting is directly on the opposite side of the river, West End. As for beaches, Most tend to think of surf beaches but if you just like to laze on the sand in safety, with a clean beach and somewhere to swim, anywhere on the northside past Woody point is fine and more wholesome (IMHO) than Blackpool or Brighton. Southside there's Wellington point, but either way, if you want surf it's never more than 90 minutes away and emphasis should really be on work and not whether you have a surfer's lifestyle on your doorstep..........unless of course you're a pro surfer. Brisbane has ample bikeways through roads and parklands and anywhere in the city puts you in easy (biking) touch of Mt Coot-Tha and beyond. Feel free to ask anything more specific and I will help all I can.........google maps is ok but it doesn't help with traffic etc

Bought that Aldi brazier that was on special the other week as ours was a little on the small side.............Jeez, it's big and with a catch pan you don't have to worry about ash on the pavers. Jake loves a fire but what can you do sitting round one other than listen to (his) music and drink, so likely my next infraction can be blamed on the weather ? Sat out there last Saturday and was toasted on the front with a heavy dew on my back! He was ecstatic as the possums came along the fence to see what the fuss was about ?Had to put all our clothes in the washer the following morning stinking of ironbark and smoke! That said, life's good whatever the weather.

With thongs I hope ?

7C in my garden this morning due to those bitter westerlies that blew yesterday at up to 50k. I hate being rugged up, especially indoors............feck the bill, the reverse cycle will be going on!

Yes it was. Tis good that you've done your research fully as many don't with sponsored visas. Of the 3 that you mentioned I would choose Pimpama as it's close enough to Surfer's whilst still having the feel of rural living, and being away from the rat race, although it is fast becoming a "burb and would require a drive for al fresco etc. That said, all 3 have some great things going for them. Pimpama (the main housing estate) is situated almost bang on the motorway and would give you the easiest commute than the other two. Good luck

Marvz, That post is nearly 12 months old but hopefully you'll get a response

No, PDDNOS is an abbreviation of Pervasive Development Disorder Not Otherwise Specified. NOS is the primary factor here,,,,,,,,,they can't specify what is exactly wrong, although being professionals, they would never admit to that, (me being cynical again) so they give it a label I really can't advise you what to do as your are the parents and you are the ones responsible and best able to know your son and what, and more importantly, who he is. I'm guessing that English isn't your first language so I hope that you understand fully what I am illustrating. I also hope that cultural differences can be considered because I know full well how much emphasis can be placed on "formal" education and "achievement" in Asian cultures. Neither has ever been my priority for my child and if it had, no doubt it would have damaged not his academic achievements, but without doubt, his mental health. ASD persons, children or adults, need to pursue what is of interest to them, no matter how strange that interest may seem to be to others, if they are to be happy and realise their potential eg your son showed more interest in English than your native tongue My priority has always been on my child's mental well being. Is he happy? Is he stressed? If he's stressed, is it because the school, peers, or even ourselves expect him to behave differently? As I said earlier, my son couldn't write his name till he was 8 but now your son already has an ability to focus way beyond what us mere "normal" persons can do. Autism at high functioning level is to be welcomed and reveled in. They can see/hear and envision things that I would love to enjoy myself. It's a disability only because society makes it so. My advice is to seek no more answers until you get your visa. Once here, you will get a more enlightened opinion regarding PDDNOS. In my opinion, the fact that your son chose English over your native language and is fluent points fully to him being ASD................but............you don't want a dx of ASD (yet )if you want a visa ? Cheating the visa system?? No way! No doubt in years to come your son will be an asset to Australia. Good luck

Sorry, but total dichotomy. You're from Cornwall and want to to be within 45 mins of city (Plymouth sucks!) and fiancee from London wants wildlife? (plenty of squirrels in London Parks?) I'm guessing that you're hoping for "a bit of nightlife" and that your partner, having already experienced it, can take it or leave it? Nothing really constructive to say other than, "you can't have your cake and eat it"...............and On a more morose note say, "the word 'sponsorship' alone poses questions? What "care company"? A lot of private care providers don't have a glowing record. Why are they recruiting offshore? Are you a specialist such as qualified nurse? I'm guessing you must have a particular qualification that fits sponsorship criteria?

PDD NOS is not allowable for school funding, at least in Qld. It's a " broad spectrum diagnosis" (my words) frequently applied to kids that don't, at the time of assessment, fill the criteria for another diagnosis such as ASD. The problem is, that at the time of assessment and due to the child performing well at that time, with few behavioural difficulties and perhaps excelling in some areas, PDDNOS is often applied. This application can, (the cynic in me), be influenced by the need to apply a "label" to those with less difficult behavioural problems at the expense of the ASD population overall and to direct funding to those with more observed difficulties (at the time of assessment) Despite achievements at primary or even senior school, future assessment such as at the time of puberty/change of environment/circumstance etc may give a truer picture of a child's "problems" particularly in girls where their behaviour is more inhibited than in boys and dx's are more rare. As such, I don't think that PDD Nos should be a barrier to a visa as, at least in Qld, it doesn't qualify for extra funding/care. That said, with what I have said previously, look at (google) the diagnostic criteria for autism and, despite the dx applied by professionals, ask yourself if your son fits those criteria. You see/hear/experience more at home, than any diagnostic team could experience when your son feels he has to "perform" for them so you yourself conduct a diagnosis. With a PDDNOS dx a visa is more probable, so go with that, but don't lose sight of the possible reality that your son, based on the fact that you sought help earlier on, (to me) fits the bill of something else ;-) My son hardly spoke till he was 3, couldn't write his name till he was 8yrs old but was reading music at age 8yrs. He now has a certificate 3 in Education and Learning Support and is a qualified teacher's aide. He can memorise the birthdays and places of birth of every rock band he's ever heard from the 60's till present day.........that doesn't mean that he hasn't got a problem, and that, in your case. " he is really amazing with computer stuff, sometimes the school sends him to represent in a contest" means that things are (perhaps) just fine. I hope that I am not being alarmist but all I'm trying to illustrate is that sometimes "expert opinion" is clouded by politics and more so by a child's ability to "perform" differently under different/circumstances/time. In other words, I never have, and never will, trust the dx of PDDNOS.............it's just a way of the specialists saying, "we haven't got a handle on it yet" or "at this moment in time, he doesn't need help"

You're gonna shag a carp? Whatever turns you on! ?

Probably feck all. That said, stay abreast of current legislation and the fact that it may change, retrospectively, at any time

Nope! I did in the UK and actually worked in the industry but it's whole new ball game here. You don't need heaters in Qld, you need coolers as the ambient temp is above that of reef fish environment I bred and sold the nastiest of S American Cichlids because that was what Aussies seemed to go for. They aren't allowed to be imported now so I had to breed with what stock was already in the country. You can see my stock here:

Family Time by Kevin Dickinson, on Flickr Redcliffe Pier by Kevin Dickinson, on Flickr Redcliffe Pier by Kevin Dickinson, on Flickr Redcliffe Lagoon by Kevin Dickinson, on Flickr Redcliffe Lagoon by Kevin Dickinson, on Flickr Moreton Bay by Kevin Dickinson, on Flickr North Pine River by Kevin Dickinson, on Flickr North Pine River by Kevin Dickinson, on Flickr North Pine River by Kevin Dickinson, on Flickr North Pine River by Kevin Dickinson, on Flickr

No go I'm afraid unless you eat them at the waterside. All noxious species have to be disposed of within the confines of the particular waterway that they are caught in. This is to prevent them being transferred to yet another waterway. At the risk of being accused of racism, certain ethnic groups ( honest fishos know who they are) are renown for transferring fish such as carp and tilapia to an area that would make it more easily accessible to them in the future.

There's been a number of news reports about electricity overcharging so this is just an example of what may be a genuine error, or not. I recently switched to ****** for the 28% discount. Being a pensioner, I also get a Queensland concession. I have just received a reminder that my bill is overdue, a bill that I didn't receive, asking me to pay now. I rang them and said that I wouldn't pay a reminder and that I wanted to see an itemised bill. As it turns out, the bill was devoid of any discount and had I paid the reminder, I would have been overcharged by $60. so always seek an itemised bill.

Some Aussies perhaps, considering it's one of the highest selling beers in Australia....................personally, I think it's crap and the only thing going for it if you want to get plssed is it's strength