zk2102

we're doing unis Wednesday and Thursday! Terrifies me that it's all going to happen in January 2016 and not September 2016 as we had thought!!

Good luck x

St Lucia campus sounds & looks amazing. Let me know how it goes.

Welcome to the new arrivals...glad you made it over safely. I'm glad your first impressions of the Gold Coast have been positive. There is always so much to do. On Saturday we went to South Bank, Brisbane and spent the day there on the beach in the city, had lunch at Max Brenners chocolate bar then English fish and chips at Chumley Warners. Had a great day out with lunch and tea for $100 (three of us). We'd probably have spent double that at good old Blackpool. Anyone fancying meeting up I would love to join. I'm in Helensvale and have been here for nearly four months.

Hi. We're in Helensvale. Love it here. Just about to secure a rental in Oyster Cove. We're sat having lunch at the marina right now. Lets get together really soon. Would be good to meet and chat with people and get the kids together.

Hiya, glad to hear you arrived safe and well. There's so much to do isn't there. Our 11 year old isn't enjoying the boring stuff either...But as I keep telling him once it's all done we can have some fun...But trying to get fun times inbetween boring stuff too!!! Got our son enrolled in school (he's done pretty well for school holidays!!!) So he starts on 7 October for the last term. That was an easier task than in the UK and we're looking at rentals...Waiting to hear about an application we've got in atm. All in all it's bloody lovely here isn't it. Hope your daughter does make some friends and meet people...as do you. Everyone I've spoken to so far is really friendly and helpful. Good luck with getting everything sorted...I haven't got everything done yet but getting there. When we went to get our medicare cards the lady in there wouldn't process our application as we're in temp accommodation and she said we needed to have a more perm address as the cards take 4-6 weeks to come through. When I told the OH this he said I should have been able to get a temp card until we had an address, so maybe that's something to mention when you go for your cards. Had I known I'd have questioned this. However planning to go back and try again in the next day or so. Hope you're having/had a good fun day...Back to the dull stuff for us. Oh and Congratulations...Happy days eh?! X

Hi, nice to hear from u. Sounds like its all going well for you. We're just about secured a rental fingers crossed. We're having the same issues wih Medicare. Havnt got a school yet due to holdays. Lets all meet soon. Good luck with it all x

Welcome zk2102, we have now been here for just over a week and feel quite settled, the only headache so far has been the accommodation where there is a lot of competition due to the areas we want to be in. From our experience, sort your TFN, MediCare, Bank and Driving Licence ASAP then the rest will tend to fall into place. Each of these provide points which can be used in place of a credit record. If possible get a copy of your employment contract as this also goes a long way.

 

Regarding Singapore Airlines, we booked in 86kg for 2 of us! The lady at check in asked to see my visa grant letter, increased our allowance and after some thought allowed us to proceed with no charges. We have travelled here on a previously validated visa so should have only been allowed 30kg each. We also had pet ashes (our old Siamese cat who we had to put down a few days before leaving), loads of hand luggage etc, no issues at all.

 

We feel really settled here thus far, challenges will come I'm sure but hopefully we can deal with them as they arise.

 

S

Hi. Yep, we're sorting all of the above out tomorrow. We also found accommodation a bit tricky due to area we want in the right catchment area. Glad to hear your feeling settled.

Woo hoo!! You're here :-)

 

There's lots of boring stuff to do - we've been trying to splice it with trips to the Gold Coast/walks on the beach etc to give us some time to relax!

 

Id apply for your tax file numbers soon too as it takes a couple of weeks to come thru and the bank charges you on your interest until you give them your numbers. And your driving licences too - ours came in the post yesterday and finally Medicare cards.

 

Hope your 18 year old settles - our almost 17 year old seems quite content now we are here and a bit settled!

 

Good of luck with the start of the adventure! Pm if you fancy a cuppa anytime :-) x

Hi Tina. We're nearly there with the boring stuff. Having a fun day out today though and back to it tomorrow. We're in Brisbane to look at the Uni on Tuesday. I'll catch up with you next week over a cuppa xx

Glad you all arrived safe and sound. :smile:x

We're travelling with Singapore in November. Wow, that is alot to bring. I am curious, how did you get to much on board? Did you make special arrangements or was it all under the weight requirements? x

Hi. We were over the weight requirement. I told them we were moving permanently and they just laughed at the amount we had and put it through. The customs in oz all laughed too when they saw it but just waved us through.

Good luck. We arrived in the Gold Coast on Thursday. We don't know anyone either. I have an 18 year old with me. I'm hoping that she can join a surfing club soon & get a part time job to meet people. She seems to be ok at the moment. Hope it works out for you all.

Arrived on Thursday morning. Staying n Biggera waters for a couple if weeks. All very surreal at the moment. Sorted out our bank accounts and Mobile phones yesterday. Going to Helensvale today to sign up with letting agents and hopefully get a rental sooner rather than later. Love the Gold Coast, good choice for us. Going to have a fun day tomorrow cos our 10 year old is not enjoying the boring stuff! My 18 year old is coping ok considering she left the love of her life behind in the UK. She doesn't start uni till next march so I hope she manages to meet some new friends through sports clubs etc... All in all we're doing ok.

Just want to mention that Singapore airlines were fantastic. We travelled with 5 Suit cases, a BMX bike, long board, 4 heavy hand luggage cases and the dogs ashes in hand! Didn't charge us any extra and the in flight service was amazin.

This is our final night in the UK. Soooo many goodbyes. All made easier that I will see them all (hopefully) again in Jan when I pick my mum up. Staying with our closest friends tonight who are driving us to the airport tomorrow. Been a weird mixture of morose and bursting at the seams excitement. Just can't wait to be on the plane tomorrow and arrive safety on the other side.

Hi all, I've been here 15 months but still looking for new friends. I may be too old though, I am 45, but very immature for my years!

 

Julia

Hehe, yep I'm over the hill at 46! We arrive on Thursday!

We are a week away from getting on a plane and embarking on our new life on the Gold Coast. I should be really happy, excited etc etc. This is everything we have worked towards. Cost of visas, the trip to Aus, left jobs, sold house blah blah blah.

 

Then comes the goodbyes! BANG that hits you like a truck. Anyone considering this huge move do not underestimate how hard this is! Taking kids away from their grandparents and seeing the pain on their faces and in their eyes is so hard to watch.

 

Of course we knew this would be the hardest part of all but even we didn't realise just how hard.

 

Feel terrible

 

Sorry for such a rubbish post [/

 

I'll make sure I'm there for you. Xx:hug:

We Fly two days. This has been a gut retching week for us for saying goodbye. My sons friend hasn't stopped crying for over a week now. I hate leaving my mum. I'm just glad that I can soften the blow by knowing that I'm coming back for a month in January.

its mixed emotions though because we desperately want to get over there to start our new life. We knew it wouldn't be easy but....

I would simply advise, DO NOT FOLLOW OUR EXAMPLE IN PACKING ABOUT 80% AND TRYING TO SELL THE OTHER 20%. We have had the week from hell, now sat in Heathrow lounge finally relaxing however have left my dad a list of jobs on our house which is really unfair, decorating for our contractor before tenants move in and running around like a mad thing....absolutely no enjoyment and really took the edge off what should have been a good day.

 

i will now sleep for most of the Singapore flight and likely the Brisbane connection too to compensate for the nights of lost sleep and stress we have put ourselves under.

 

S, now on 3rd free beer and feeling very tired!:SLEEP::SLEEP::SLEEP:

I havn't enjoyed the last two weeks. Tying up loose ends, selling the car, dealing with goodbyes and oh boy....the paperwork! Hope u get some rest xx s**t the hot choccies just boiled over & burnt the blooming hob!!!! (No microwave) arghhhh :mad:

Just remembered. Last month I bought a load of new bedding for everyone. I took them out from their packing to make them look used. I also did a massive shop in Lakeland kitchen shop. I stocked up on different baking trays, cake tins of every size/shape and various other baking stuff. When I did a like for like comparison the good quality stuff is a lot more expensive in Oz than it is over here, and not all of it available.

We took everything that wasn't nailed down, seriously! All of our bedroom furniture was fitted so obviously that stayed. I took everything from the sofa right down to our garden fairy lights!

Had confirmation that it all set sail this morning.

We fly out on Tuesday and today I've stuck the car on ebay today and a couple of power tools that my OH couldn't be bothered to clean, (don't underestimate how long it takes to clean everything).

We we did a boot fair a month before when we'd emptied the loft.

hope that helps x

You are so right!! We have been so busy in the week and a half, we are shattered!! Have moved into our rental today, have finally had a Castlemaine XXXX, get our car on Tuesday and generally have not had time to breathe!!

But everyone at home is carrying on with their lives - my mum was distraught when we left and it was horrid, but we've spoken every other day on Skype and she is fine.

You just need to get used to the time difference - everyone in the UK is asleep while we're awake and we're asleep when they're awake!! I've given up checking Facebook during the day as nothing happens!!

Hi tina. What are you doing for furniture in your rental? I'm already bored of having nothing!!

Oh gosh tell me about it. After almost 2 weeks of "we're going, we're not going, we're going again" we are finally going!!!!! Next Thursday!!!! Just confirmed today...Now the fun really starts. We're staying in Southport for a few weeks and its all hands on deck to sort a house,school etc when we get there. Mostly got things sorted here but wow this is THE hardest and most stressful thing...ever!!! Hope plans are still falling into place with you. Hope to see you on the other side...of the freaking world!!!! 

Furniture & all our stuff gone! Arrive 18th Sept. Look forward to seeing u there. How mad, here we are typing in the UK and next week......the other side of the World!!!!! It's mad here at the mo!! Xx

We've opted for a 13 hr stop over in Changi. I've booked a hotel so we can get a few hours sleep. The last time we flew we just had a couple of hours but.....my son does not travel very well. He chucked up on the plane, cinema seats at the air port, in the loo, in a bag boarding the plane, not good! He had to lock himself in the loo for an hour when they brought the food round. So for us a dose of travel meds and a sleepover is the way to go!

We have found it quite easy to rent! We looked at a number of properties, decided to up our budget by $50 a week and the difference was significant.

Found a place we liked, submitted the rental form, passport, drivers licence and a copy of our bank statement and offered 6 months rent up front.

We move in in Saturday. I think the 6 months rent offer was the sweetener.

We explained our situation to each estate agent, so they know our situation before we went to view.

Well done. One less thing to worry about. That bodes well for us.

So my husband and I will be looking for somewhere to rent in/around the Gold Coast in the very near future and we are wondering how difficult this will proove before we get jobs?

When we arrive we won't have anybody there to stay with and so will hopefully line up some rental viewings prior to arriving with the aim of moving in to one before finding work etc. What worries us is whether a letting agent/landlord will allow us to lease a property if we haven't yet found jobs - I know in the UK they want to see proof of your earnings etc before they give you the keys....help! Thanks :-)

Im about to find out how easy it is to get a rental on the GC. We move out in two weeks and only have a holiday let for two weeks. We intend to take bank statements, lots of ID and the estate agent photographs of the house we've just sold so they can read & see how clean it was. We've never rented before so don't have references.

Hi zk2102,

That does sound good value, especially considering the increases in the fees in England over the last couple of years.. From what's been advised on this thread i'm kind of glad we would have to pay upfront with no student loans etc. As you stated yourself, she would have no student debt at the end of it. Our eldest went to Uni in the UK a couple of years ago and probably owes the GDP of a small nation. I think we learnt a lot from the first one. Will probably try to get her to live at home. She's been to Thailand and Vietnam this year and is already in Australia without us, I imagine that she'll be glued to us for a while after we join her.. Thanks for sharing..

Haha, mine can't wait to get away!!

Just wanted to add that our daughter will be staying in Halls. She wants the whole Uni experience. It costs $8000 a year, but is open 52 weeks, and includes two cooked meals a day. Good value really if you could stretch to it.

Hi Both,

Thanks for the info. I think we can stretch to the fees but will probably make her live at home. I'll have a look into the commonwealth supported places, she is looking at doing "Ecology and conservation" and "Education" with possibly teaching in mind.. Though who knows, she's a teenager.. $20000 seems quite reasonable for 4 years of uni, thought it would be much more than that.. All good.. Thanks..

We're moving over to Oz in the next couple of weeks. Our daughter just applied for a place at UQ to study economics. The course is $9000 a year as a domestic student. However that was one of two of the most expensive courses. Still a lot cheaper than the UK and because we set the money aside she'll be leaving without any debt!

Well. Things are developing. I finished work on Friday so now its full steam ahead 2-3 weeks of full on "prepare to make the biggest move of your life" oh with the added bonus of finding out OH's company may pull the plug on the whole project (which is what drove the move in the first place) it's a small chance..But it may happen!!! To use the words of Marty McFly (!?!?) "Damn it why do we always have to cut these things so damn fine!!!" Stressed?...Yep!!! Wine is helping lol!!

Nothing like a curve ball to add to the stress eh! Hope it all goes to plan for you. I'm working through all the paper work this week ie bank accounts etc... All the boring stuff. I'm feeling very tense and wound up like a tightly sprung coil just now. It's all just a mine field of emotions. Doubt it will get any easier till we get over there.

Good luck guys. Our turn to tread in your footsteps in three weeks time. Hope it all goes well for you.