Sapphire

I think the majority of us think, we will have a better life, in Aus. In hindsight,I know we were being very naive,and I think we had watched too many WDU programmes. We did expect, very different to the reality , and I think we are maybe more intolerant,to Aus's faults, as we too gave up an awful lot to come here. We were not well off,but we were very happy in the UK, and we had a good life, but we felt Aus could give us more.We believed that we could come here, work hard and have the big house, and be surrounded by wildlife, and everything we dreamed of, on top of what we already had in the UK. But the reality was very different.We "rob Peter,to pay Paul", constantly.We never for one minute realised how expensive everything was here,How we would constantly struggle to keep our heads above water,How we would miss the ease of just booking theatre tickets and going into London,How we would miss shopping, and going out for a nice meal. Being here has made us realise, how much we did not appreciate what we had in the UK for sure.

Love it

There are restrictions on certain brands being shipped, not sure why to be honest. I have experienced it a few times and recently went onto a UK website selling watches, as I wanted a new one. There were a fair few brands that could not be sent, Radley, Storm,and a few others which I cant remember off of the top of my head. Debenhams are great, I have just got a fantastic Lipsy Dressing gown, for 24pounds (to buy in Aus, would of cost over $100), and some Lipsy Sunglasses, which I got for 12 pounds, and Red Herring Surf shop ,here are selling, for $80, so Im very pleased. Debenhams have some great prices. I got the most amazing pair of Snow Boots from Debenhams last year in the sale for 10 pounds. I had them sent to my DIL in the Uk, as they could not be sent to Aus. But I just had to buy them for that price:)

Our postie was telling us, that he delivers so many cartons of Boags,to customers in Tassie.They can buy it cheaper on the mainland and get it delivered to Tassie,for less money than it costs to buy here,,,,,and its made in Tassie.How crazy is that? I will never forget my Hubbys face when he got his first carton in Aus,,,and said How Much!!!!!

But if you drive around all day and spend $50 in fuel, I am sure you could save money:)

Thats why its taken so long for us, to get home, we just constantly seem to be paying bills and we have often said for every $100 that goes into our bank, treble comes out in bills.It has been a nightmare, trying to save money. I just buy the basics that I can in the supermarket, we never do a big shop now,I really dislike going to the supermarket. I used to enjoy it in the UK, as there was always a good choice, and we did a big weekly shop, and got everything we needed. I refuse to eat, crappy value bread, and was horrified the other day, when I saw that Coles were charging $5.25 for a loaf of Abbots Wholemeal.How can they justify it, it is just one big rip off.

I just think its the thought of an influx,they will be moving all Asylum seekers to Tasmania,and they will be put into the community The Health service is in a huge mess here, waiting times of 5 days on trolleys in the Launceston General, and so many people are worried that this problem will increase,if the asylum seekers are brought in They say it will boost the population, but the Island is struggling as it is, there is no work.Mind I dont think the Asylum seekers will impact on unemployement, as most wont be working anyway The benefits pay outs will be huge for the Island, and they will be housed,which is going to impact on the amount of homeless people already here, already desperate for housing. I just think in general people are very worried about House prices, Crime,and they just do not want to see the Island full of Asylum seekers. It is going to make the Island a very unattractive place for Tourists, and that is probably Tasmanias, biggest income now. We already have a huge amount of Somalians in one particular area, and it is a complete "no-go area".The police refuse to go there,and the crime is rampant.

Not sure if any of you have seen it in the news recently, but there are suggestions that all of the refuges and asylum seekers are going to be sent to Tasmania, and integrated into the community. The Greens and the Government think its a great idea and it will boost the Tasmanian population and contribute to the economy. A lot of the locals do not understand it and dont really care, but theres been an awful lot of letters in the local newspaper from Business owners and a few from locals saying they will be leaving the Island if it happens. I dread to imagine what could possibly happen if this goes ahead I am so glad I will be leaving soon

You have hit the nail on the head there.This has been a major problem for so long now, and some times I wonder if some posters get a perverse pleasure in seeing others stuff thier lives up completely. I have PM'd a couple of posters from the Tasmanian section now, who have been asking questions and who have been told a complete fabricated tale about how good everything is and how easily they will find work etc,etc. I have in no uncertain terms told them, how grim things are here in Tassie and Im extremely pleased to say I think they are thinking twice now. I sent them newspaper articles as well, so as they could see they were being misinformed. At one point one of them was being told on the forum, that there is no crime,and you can still leave your door unlocked.At that precise time, we had just had 10 gun and knife murders in 10 days down here, and yet they were still being told how safe it is !!!!

That is really sad.I just think so many do not understand the implications of the situation if things turn sour, and so many seem to have this"it wont happen to me" mindset. If we say anything, we are deemed to be negative etc,etc.Some of the posts that I read, just spell, a disaster waiting to happen. We were naive,but I do not think we were ever as naive as some of the posters. I have read posts where they would be happy to sleep on the beach with thier family, as long as they get to Aus!!!!.I think some of them truely belive that they would be happy doing that,and they do not need anything except sunshine!!!! Its crazy beyond belief.

I would love to go back to my old street.That would surprise the neighbours I sort of hope the prices drop even further in the UK, and we might,,,,,,just might,,,,be able to get back there one day. I totaly agree FC, why on earth,would they think it will be any different second time around in Aus,,,,but so many seem to ping-pong.I know I will NEVER be tempted to come back

Without doubt we were Blind optimists , and I think looking back,,,heck we were so lucky,that we are fighters and survived to tell the tale. So many do not, and when I think of how it could of all ended,it makes me feel physically sick. A close friend of mine went to NZ , at the same time we came to Aus. She brought out all of the proceeds from her house in the UK, and everything just went bad for her.She bought a house in an area, she did not know and it turned out to be a really rough area, and she lost over $100,000NZ ,when she managed to sell it after a year of trying She had to sell all of her possessions to raise the air fare home,and they had to part with thier little dog, as they could not afford to get him home. It was truely heartbreaking She is back in the UK, now and they survive hand to mouth,living in rented accomodation, as they will never be able to get back on the mortgage ladder, due to thier age and having nothing behind them anymore I saw how things were for her, and I thank my lucky stars that it was not us,it happened to. It could of so easily of been. Its cost us a small fortune to get here and survive,but thankfully we can go home with some assets and should be ok I will never have my beautiful house that I gave up, and never be able to afford to get back in the nice area we once lived in, but we are luckier than some, and for that we are very grateful.

I read some of the posts from Newbies coming out, and it fills me with absolute horror, that I was once in thier shoes, having to get all of the long, lists of documents together.I was just reading a post and the poster had listed all of the documentation that she had put together for her evidence,,,wow.I dont think we had that much, but I do remember it being complete overkill on what we had to send,to get our visa. Then I read posts about people coming here ,without anywhere to stay, and having no work lined up, and it makes me shudder thinking back to when we were in that situation and how we were so blase, and we were so confident that "every-thing would be ok, once we got to Aus" Thankfully we managed to find some accomodation and things were ok, for us,but I would not take that risk now knowing what I do now.We were so lucky, we risked everything, and it could of gone so horribly wrong, so easily. Looking back at what we did and the risks we took, it really does fill me dread. Does anyone else feel this when they think of the move here, and what they did?

Yes it is wrong,,,dont worry Rabies jab, no blood test needed now, then you can fly 21 days after the jab

I feel the same some days.I know I am doing the right thing going home, but I think its the thought of the upheaval for us as well I am panicking about getting our pets home, and hoping our furniture does not sink It seems easier just to stay put somedays than go through all of the worry and stress getting home. I just think I have too much time on my hands, to worry and I know once we get things underway, it will all be fine.

Packers were shocking with our things as well,,so much damage Our leather and Mahogany Wood lounge suite had a Metal Rotary washing line put on top, then it was the wrapped and stood on its side,,,,,buggered doesant even begin to describe the state it arrived in. Dining table was used as a cutting board,,,covered in knife marks and cuts. Customer service was just awful, did not want to know about damages,and we got next to nothing for our items,,,40 pounds an item, compensation, I think we got The list of damages was endless, and it was ALL because of careless packers. I would not use them again I think all companies get good and bad feedback, and it really is the luck of the draw, with choosing a company.

They are awful here,I agree. We have just paid 2 extra car finance payments, when the contract had ended 2 months previous, and the same with an Insurance that was not renewed, but the company kept taking the money, from our account. We saw the payments still coming out, but it took weeks before the companies involved ,acted,after numerous phone calls to them,,,,and now we have to wait for our refunds!!!!!!!

I hope with all my heart that you can work through this with your Hubby.It is very hard, I know. Somedays I think if mine had not of been so stubborn and adament that he wanted to stay, we would of been home 2 or 3 years ago. We struggle to make ends meet, something we have never done in the UK, so thats put added pressure on us. I think being here has really made me realise what is important, and its being at home with family and friends, I underestimated just how much I would miss them, and thought we would go home every year for visits, but we just have not been able to afford it. We have been so isolated and miserable,but we can now see the light at the end of the tunnel, but still have no definate date to leave,hopefully not much longer now. I wish you the very best of luck,with it all

Dont watch the new Fifty shades film then,,,,I dread to think:)

We will get a refund from the seller, no problem, but its just frustrating when they move the goalposts and the rules change as and when,with no notification Even the letter they sent is wrong, for the new rules,from what the guy told me on the phone.The letter still states that 1mW is allowed!!! Oh well,you live and learn.

Wearing your jim jams, or best trackies and old tacky ugg slippers,that make your feet look deformed,,,,,what a hot look!!!

Our food malls are pretty dirty,filthy tables and food all over the floors,,,why would you want to dress up, to go there,,,,its so yuk

You are soooo right,,,,Here they do the food mall eat out, if its a really special occasion, but Friday night is the family night out, and if you drive past McDonalds,,,it is rammed.They have a family night out,in there and we have heard so many people say, its the place to go on a Friday night for a slap up meal...Heaven forbid.

Theres been a few people on here, over the past few years that I have been a member in the same situation. I was one of them. My Hubby would not hear of going home for a long time, and it has caused a lot of resentment. You have no idea how many times, I nearly packed my bags and got on the first plane home. We are going home,soon, but it took a major health issue,for him to realise that we needed to be back in the Uk, with family and friends. I think it made him realise that if anything happened to either one of us, we were totally alone here, with no support network and I think that panicked him. Had that not of happened,I think he would still be in Aus, and I would of left on my own.I dont know if he would of ever changed his mind. You are not foolish or defeatist,for wanting to be at home with your family. You have to do what makes you happy,life is too short to be sad.:hug:

Meals out are, dreadful here.Theres no choice,and it is so expensive. We have to pay posh resturant prices here, for really crappy food, in places that , if I were in the UK, I would not step in the door as they look so grotty, and the locals rave over some of the places like you would not believe. We went to a Mexican place a few months back, on recommendation that it was amazing,and we paid over $100 each, which I know by Perth standards is probably cheap, but we were horrified at the food.There was nothing for me, as I dont eat meat, so rather than have to sit there with nothing, I opted for a Tortilla stack,this consisted of 1 round Tortilla ,about the size of a saucer, with a chilli mince mix on it and a blob of sour cream.It was tasteless. Hubby had a steak and a beer, and all that was on the plate was a steak and a tiny bit of salad. He had a beer and I had a soda water,,and that came to just over $200.