Sapphire

He likes to keep his "big one" for special occasions:wink: Well spoke to Customs and they have "changed the rules".They have banned them all now, but not seen fit to change the paperwork or update anyone on this. Apparantly they have found some of them coming in to be bigger than the allowed 1mW,and they are treating them all if if they are the more powerful ones. We can appeal of course, but what a carry on. So they can keep it, but they do make me mad, changing the rules every 5 minutes.

Thanks Ali I think we will just write it off, but its frustrating.He has the photos of what he ordered and it is clearly only a 1mW. He is self employed and has a big laser, but often having a little hand held one , on a key fob, is really handy as it saves him setting his big one up. I think he has just been unlucky and got a "jobs-worth", who has just seen a Laser pen, and not checked properly what it is. He has ordered them before from the same ebay store, in the past and they have always got through ok,as they are legal.They dont last very long,as he does use them , or loose them:)

Hubby purchased a Laser pointer for work on e-bay Its a 1mW, so perfectly legal in Australia. Anyway letter from Customs arrives yesterday, to say it has been seized; The letter clearly states ; Customs(prohibted imports)Regulations-Schedule 13, item 44-Hand held Goods,commonly known as laser pointers,designed or adapted to emit a laser beam with an accesible emission level of Greater than 1mW So what are our options; Letter states; Do nothing and they will arrange for disposal of the the goods OR Make a claim for the Goods; If you do make a claim for the return of seized goods, and you are unable to obtain an import permit,you should be aware that Customs and Border protection will be statutorily obliged to commence legal proceedings against you, in order to obtain an order for goods to be declared as special forfeited goods and condemned to the crown. This can be a costly process and Customs and Border protection will seek to recover legal costs from you So someone has made a mistake.They obviously have not checked what the item is, its been confiscated and we just have to "put up and shut", as if we pursue it, its going to cost us a fortune, over a $6 item. Its the typical,"we can do what we like" attitude and if we say anything or try to argue it, it could seriously backfire on us. I will give them a call this morning and have a moan, but Im probably wasting my breath. Typical customs though!!!!!!

It always makes me giggle when you read on the main forum about fuel being cheap.Yes it is cheaper, but like you say, you have to do far more driving and so many cars are gas guzzlers. I can blow a tank of fuel just running about from A-B,and when I look at the KM's I clock up, in a day, its quite amazing.

Drawing out cash here, it just vanishes.I remember when we first arrived and we drew out cash, we would have to get some more by lunchtime, after we had paid $30 each for a breakfast,and got a few bits and bobs We just thought we were unorganised ,but when I look back, we spent so much when we arrived just trying to survive, and pay for accomodation and food. I much prefer the UK homes, they feel like proper homes, all snug and warm, whereas the houses here to me, feel like characterless boxes.

I found an old electric bill for a 4 bed /2 bath house that we lived in when we first arrived.It was $272, for the winter quarter. Now I am in a 2 bed, 13 sq,unit,and my winter quarter bill was $784. Everyone moans in the UK, Gas and Electric prices, they want to try living here :mad:

I know it has been discussed on the main forum a million times, but it still beggars belief when you look at some of the prices here for the basics. I never fail to be "gob-smacked" by the inflated prices we have to pay for basic items here. It seems to be everything now, whether it be household goods, Utilites, or just the basic essentials in the supermarkets. People keep raving about how cheap the Veggie sheds are, and I have been a couple of times in the past and TBH, not been terribly impressed.But yesterday I thought I would pop in to our local one in sheer desperation to try and find something other than Oranges/Bananas or powdery Apples, or Black Strawberries. They had some nectarines,,,,ok, that would be nice.I know they are out of season,so I knew they would be expensive, but I was gobsmacked when I got to the till with 6, and they were $10.95,,,,OMG How can they justify these prices. My washing liquid has gone up $10 in the last week in Coles and they have shrunk the bottle from 100 washes to 80. What do you do though, you have to buy things,Im just so sick of these prices. I cant wait to see Asda and Tesco again.

Welcome Donna....you will be "safe" on this group We are all in the same boat and no one will be nasty, if you say what you feel,or have a rant at any time We are heading home after 6 years, not sure when, but hopefully not too much longer for us. x

Usually word of mouth, is the best way here.A company can have an "all singing and dancing ", website but word of mouth is always the best way forward here....well thats what we have found. We know of several companies that have huge ads and a fantastic website, but I honestly would not touch them with a bargepole. Usually we have found the companies that do not need to advertise are the better ones, they simply do not need to, as everyone recommends them,by word of mouth. It can be very frustrating, not being able to find what you need online,I know from past experience. We do not even bother now, 6 years has taught us who to speak to, and find what we need, but it can be very frustrating when you do not have contacts.

The lifestyle can be very relaxed here in Tas, but no more so, than a Rural village in the UK. There are still problems here, Crime, High unemployment, lack of jobs, as with the UK. The Unemployment is very high at present, Julys figures were 8.7% and that is just the tip of the iceberg, as so many are not included in those figures as they are not able to claim unemployment benefit. The Economy is very bad at present, but whether it will get any better after the Election, no-one knows If I had a choice between a Rural village in the UK, and living here, personally I would choose the UK.But thats just my opinion and others will feel differently. All you can do, is go online and read local Tassie newspapers , and see what is going on here, and deceide whether its for you or not. You will hear good and bad about every state, and every country, and you have to work out what is best for you and your family Good Luck with it All.

Our insurers just took us at "face value" and only asked if we had previously had any claims within the last 5 years.We had not,so they just quoted a premium . They have no way of checking a UK data base, and they can only check any previous claims within Aus,so I dont think you would have any worries. We did not need to provide any proof or documents. We were quite surprised how simple getting Insurances here was, and how they did not require evidence of No Claims.

All the costs involved for bringing someone over will be deductable, as its a business expense which they offset.

Exactly!!!!

I think this will just be another war, that will go on for years and years and can never be won.There will be thousands of lives lost and it will cost billions.Money that could and should be spent on the UK. But its always been the same the US, says " jump", and we ask "How high"

Yes countries have to protect the oil supplies, but at the end of the day, the Governemnts that are getting involved will play the Human Rights card, to justify thier actions,if there is a Military strike on Syria.However Human Rights issues are ignored in many other countries.That is the point Im making

Totaly agree with you. The Government need to start looking after the people in our country, before they start sending out troops ,costing the UK billions of pounds. There are some dreadful atrocities all over the world,that get ignored,but it seems any country with oil,the UK and US get involved in.

It costs the employer nothing, as its all tax deductable. So they have nothing to loose, but unfortunatatly the employee stands to loose everything. So many see it as a easy way to get to Aus, and just do nt understand the implications of this visa, and alot have the "it wouldent happen to me " attitude. We are reading so many posts like this now,you would think people would take notice.

Does that make things more difficult in the UK FB? I always was releuctant to become a Citizen here 1; Because I dont want to and 2; Because I do wonder of it affects entitlements/pensions etc later in life

Hi SKW, We are waiting for a sale on property and then Im booking the first flight home:) The market down here is shocking and we have reduced the price , so we just hope someone comes along We hoped to leave around April , this year, but needless to say, it has not happened. I hope everyday, that it will be the day, we get an offer and can move on. Im sure it will happen,as we would love to be home for Christmas,but unless a miracle happens and we get a really quick settlemnt, I cant see it,but fingers crossed. I dont know how things will pan out once we get home, I hope we can put all of this behind us, and be like we used to be.It has been a learning curb for me . I am a far stronger person than I once was, and maybe I am selfish, but it has made me realise that I have to do what makes me happy and not try to make everyone else happy and end up miserable myself. xxx

Its a tough one! I know how you feel,My Hubby wanted to stay for a long time, and in someways I do understand what he was saying > If we had turned around and gone home ,like I wanted to, which was pretty much straight away, we would of been in a lot of trouble moneywise,and would not of been able to afford to get anywhere to live, as we had used everything we had getting out to Aus. But having said that,we are still "stuck" here, property to sell, and the market is just awful.Everything has dragged on, and on, and theres no end in sight. I have had so many days, where I could easily book my own ticket and just leave him to it. Sounds so selfish, and I know in some respects he was right, but the first 2 years where he was so adament that he wanted to stay and would not even contemplate going home,giving it a "go" here, killed me inside I do resent him for it, and even now, I wonder if he truely wants to leave, or if he is just doing it to "shut me up"....I dont know. We dont talk like we used to,,,,theres something gone now, from our realationship, its not the same, and I dont know if it ever will be. I just hope that by being back home, things will get better,between us, but it has put a huge void between us. I hope it all works out for you.You have to do what you feel is right for you and your family. Good Luck with it all xx

Fantastic read, you brought tears to my eyes. I cried when I waved off my best friend in the UK and left the Uk, but I know I will not shed a single tear, other tha pure relief maybe to leave here. My Son left over 2 years ago, older than your Son, when we arrived in Aus, but we dragged him kicking and screaming and he was so releived to be home after 4 years here, he has never looked back He says he has to blank Australia from his mind, if he thinks about how much he hated it here, it churns him up inside.(his exact words). He has been so glad to be home, although he misses us like crazy, he has made a great life for himself and said he really appreciates everything there now, like never before and realises what a fantastic place the UK is. You sound so happy and I am so glad you are all home safely and loving it. xxx

Yep, we were caught out as well. My poor Best Friend had to pay 32GBP, for the priveledge of collecting her Birthday pressie from the post office, due to customs charges, and that was ticking the box that said "Gift" The goods were valued at about 35GBP, so it was a sickner. Obviously I sent her the money,but its very annoying, and very costly. I dont send any pressies now, I just buy online from a British store and get the goods delievered.Most will even gift wrap, which is nice. Thorntons have been great , I have had some lovely boxes of gift wrapped choccies sent for birthday and Christmas pressies Even if you dont get clobbered by customs charges in the UK, the Aussie post prices are crazy anyway now, so I just wont do it anymore.

Plenty that we used to see.The tradies in London were earning some big money That was 6 years ago, but there were some very nice motors pulling up outside the department stores,,,and some very grubby tradies getting out of them....perhaps they had stolen them:)

I go into town about once a month, if I really have to .I have found myself laughing out loud at some of the over- inflated prices in Aussie stores in the past. I can not believe the prices of the most basic items,and buy everything online that I can now. Last Christmas I placed an order with M&S and Dorothy Perkins and they both arrived within 5 days, absoloutely fantastic quality and I got so much for my money. I placed an order with Target at the same time, just a few smellies and little bits and peices. That order arrived at the end of January!!!! I emailed and emailed ,Target to ask where my order was, and they did not even respond to my email. I tried to phone and the phone lines were automated and I never got to speak to anyone. The Aussie retailers have been thier own worst enemy for a very long time, and now the dollar is dropping they are putting thier prices up even more. When the dollar was high, they had every opportunity to pass the savings on to the consumer and win themselevs some valuable custom, but they did not, they just "creamed the profits" even more than usual No sympathy for them whatsoever!!

Funny you mention that, because my Hubby went into Myer in his Tradie gear to get me some perfume, and the staff were so rude, and looked down thier noses. He said they would not even hand him the set to look at,they kept hold of it tightly. Beggars belief really, as in London, we used to see the tradies pulling up outside the stores in thier ferrari's and porsche's and going into department stores, where they were treated with the upmost respect, as they were the ones who had the wads of cash and were spending it in the store. The majority of staff in stores here, just seem rude , and they must loose an awful lot of customers with the snotty attitudes.