plumbing with passion

I'm a commercial plumber with 15 years experience and didn't ever have a problem finding work in Perth since I arrived over a year ago. I wanted a job on the mines to help give us a small financial boost but plumbing jobs on the mines are pretty limited. I got hired as a poly welder (its plumbing related, and I had my experience with poly welding back in the UK) up on a mine site in the Pilbara and so far so good. 6 months into FIFO and its a fairly tough slog being away from the family for 4 weeks at a time but we have a realistic goal in place. Keeping focused for another 6 months and then it'll be back to Perth for me. I do come across the odd maintanance plumbing position advertised doing FIFO, but poly-welding jobs seem more common. A poly welding course is only 3 days back in Perth and costs about $1500.00

Yeah, thats exactly what I was thinking! Deep down he's gutted he's not here in sunny Australia. I too suffered from seasonal affective disorder (SAD) when I lived in London Homewardbound, but now that I'm living in Australia I suffer from HAPPY.

Watch the link Homewardbound588 and take note will ya ...

Oh cry me a river princess ...

Funny that! To warn people not to come to Australia because you've been so unlucky isn't very cool. I too worked on the Olympic Stadium in London for 2 years (2009-2010) and arrived in Perth, Australia in February 2012 and I landed a job on my 3rd day. I'm currently working in my 3rd job (each one being an onwards and upwards stepping stone). I see loads of work advertised. A year later and we find we have a much much better lifestyle here in Australia, we feel more at home and we have saved up more money than what we arrived with.

I like your thinking Calngary! Here's hoping that paul1977 reads this!

Jeez man, everything you post about Perth or Australia is so negative. What the heck are you doing here? Get a window seat home will ya!

Paul1977, I hope you're reading this.

Yeah, PB is terrible! Maybe he should focus on improving his life in the UK instead of constantly slagging off Australia. I believe that deep down he's gutted that he left Australia :-)

Living up to your name Perthbum? Sorry, its the bloody effects of the sun that caused me to say that ...

I do apologies for my erratic behaviour. I've been out in the sun all day (43 degrees) and it has affected me.

I know. Sorry Flathead. How did you get a flat head? Too many bad decisions resulting with your right hand hitting your forehead?

Wow, thats good news! So in 2050 the 2 week summer period that the UK is famous for, it'll be 1.5 - 3 degrees warmer - thats good news and I'll say cheers to that!

And it seems to happen every year that the UK gets colder with more snow. Perfect conditions for being holed up indoors for up to 6 months of the year because its too shitty and uncomfortable to walk around in the cold.

Come on Flathead, admittedly the weather that we're experiencing at the moment is a bit extreme - its called a HEATWAVE.

Really? The majority of people would prefer to be outdoors in sunny warm weather because its a more pleasurable experience and it gives people more options to do things. Fair enough, the occasional rainy day and a dreary overcast sky here and there can be exciting so that you can jump in puddles, watch a good DVD and watch the veggie patch get a watering. My kids are much happier playing in the sunshine here in Perth and so am I!

No worries Flathead. Only too happy to help! Glad I helped you to avoid hitting your head too :-)

Book a flight home then and don't bump your head as you walk onto the aircraft.

I don't blame you for wanting to return to Scotland after living in Karratha! I take my hat off to you for managing to live in that hell of a hot place for so long! I work up in Cape Lambert not far from Karratha and I can't understand how anyone would want to live up there full time. Any way, good luck with your return to your homeland. At least it'll be cool and green!

Congratulations! Oh what a feeling! But why on earth would you be worried about homesickness? Focus on the road ahead!

Hi there, Yes, we used the Emigration Group (based in Cheshire) to help us get our visa. I found them really helpful. They were quick to answer any queries we had and always kept us informed about the process, never leaving us wondering. I remember they were a bit more expensive than other migrant agents but I was happy with their professional service. Good luck

We lived in London for 8 years prior to moving to Perth in February this year. In London, for what we could afford to rent, our 2 bedroom house was the size of a matchbox - cramped, suffocating and frustrating. Our lounge was only big enough to for a 2 seater sofa. The bedrooms only just big enough for a the bed and a small set of drawers. Here in in Perth is f**kin A! We're in a large and spacious 3 bedroom house, with high ceilings, wooden varnished floors, gigantic lounge, dinning room, laundry, a garage and a massive garden with 2 lemon trees, 2 fig trees, huge wild rosemary bushes and an almond tree. And its more or less the same price we were paying in London. Its nice for the kids to run around in the house and garden.

Does the whole of Perth get fire ban days in summer or is it only some places like the hills or places near lots of bush land? I've only been here since February and wasn't aware of fire ban days ....

I did suffer from SAD when I was living in London. Now that I'm living in Perth I suffer from HAPPY.

I agree! I'm South African and I'll never convert to using a gas bbq. Its too dainty and instant. I'm grateful for the fact that the house we rent here in Perth has a built in brick braai area and I only ever use wood and charcoal. A proper braai (bbq) needs to be done over proper hot coals. Its a whole afternoon process from start to finish.