Lambethlad

It sounds like he is in the early stages of dementia. We had the same problem when the MIL was living with us. She was always going to the next door neighbours and just walking in anytime day or night. They ended up putting up a gate she couldn't open. With dementia they loose their inhibitions and manners and normal social standards no longer apply. This guy will never leave you alone. Find a new place to live before something bad happens.

My daughter attended EMC and enjoyed it. I'm wondering why you haven't considered Frankston High School - it is one of the best performing government schools in the state. People buy houses in its zone just for that reason.

Brighton, Hampton, Beaumaris, Blackrock, Mentone, Parkdale, Mordialloc are all good bayside suburbs but you would probably only get a very old, not very nice house for your budget in these areas. Frankston South is nice, full of Brits and better value but is at least an hour by train to CBD. You can live much closer to the CBD if you are prepared to live in an apartment.

Never met anyone from Pakistan here so I would say there are very few in Melbourne. Lots of Indians and Chinese and people of Anglo-Irish background.

Don't even bother catching trains to work. It's much better driving in. Several years ago I had to attend a course in Collins Street which is the centre of the city for a week, my wife said I was mad to drive in but it was so easy. I really enjoyed the daily drive in from Frankston which only took less than an hour. At least I wasn't standing, stuffed in a carriage with a couple of hundred strangers pushing against me. I could listen to 3AW talkback radio, have a coffee and a snack, a smoke and just relax. If you go by train you have to first drive to the nearest station and then try and find a car park. If you drive you just get in your car and go. There are regular breakdowns and accidents at railway crossing that means you will be unloaded off the train and then wait forever for a bus which will make you many hours late. I know there are occasional accidents on the road that can hold you up but I would put up with that any day rather than take a train.

I think you will be pushing it to find something that ticks all your boxes within your budget. This was the best I could find. http://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-vic-narre+warren+south-123482542

Mt Buninyong near Ballarat a couple of days ago.

Spent some time there a few years back and loved it.

Thanks for pointing that out. I do live in Skye and have done for the last 30 years. I always thought I was lucky living on 8 acres of peaceful paradise. Now I find I have been living in the worst place in Melbourne!

This has got to be a joke. For instance no one in their right mind would choose to live in Frankston North with its poverty, unemployment, crime and drug problems yet it is ranked much higher than Frankston and Frankston South which are vastly nicer areas. Frankston North has low property prices for a reason.

I have several friends who have bought houses in Langwarrin mainly because of the value for money factor. They love it.

Melbourne wins all round. Places I would consider are bayside suburbs Mt Eliza, Mornington, South Frankston. Commuting can be a real pain so living close to work is an advantage.

Definitely. I tried to drive to a clearing sale in Tuerong today. I was stuck in a traffic jam from Baxter to Moorooduc so I turned around and went home. I had forgotten what it's like in summer with all the day trippers heading down the peninsula.