Thom

Lat time we went to the UK I entered on my brand spanking new Aussie passport, It was a thrill to enter Blighty as a foreigner, don't ask me why.

"Cosmetic"?

You're her the wrong time for footy etc, but you are smack bang in cricket season!! http://www.manukaoval.com.au/summer-of-cricket/

Ok, we're going back to blighty for a holiday in Sept- Oct 2013, for about 6 weeks, but that's about as far as we have planned. Most search engines are just starting to cover that period now. So which search engines should we be regularly putting speculatuive dates into, and how far out from our rough flying dates, should we be planning to bite the bullet and buy flights? Any and all advice most welcome.

We flew back last Xmas, reasonably cheaply, sorry I cannot remember who we booked via, but the flights were Syd - HK = Qantas. HK -Moscow = Aeroflot. Moscow - UK = Aeroflot And the reverse on the return jurney, we paid about $1900 a head for 3 of us. I wouldn't ever go with Aeroflot again though, it's taking your life in your hands.

Gareth, you say you moved out here 2 1/2 months ago but "haven't done a winter yet". I hate to break it to you mate, but the last two and a half months WERE WINTER! (Ps. With a name like yours you must be Welsh?)

I woudlnn't recommend living in Canberra without a car. reasons; My daughter is at Melba college which is a 10 minute drive from our house, or a 45 minute, one change, bus journey. To get to work for me (Woden) is 15 minutes in the car, or 10 minutes on the motorbike, or up to 50 minutes on the busses. Taxis cost an arm and a leg here. Around Canberra you have amazing countryside to explore. Even in a car you are still 2 /12 hours from the coast or mountains.

Canberra, loads to do and see, a well maintained and beautiful city with easy access to the great outdoors. Adelaide @rse end of nowhere.

My profound thanks!

We're going back for six weeks in September 2013, any advice on where and when to get the bets deals woudl be welcome!

Aranda is a lovely suburb, apart from the fact that my mother in law lives there! We're in Cook, which is far enough away for comfort I suppose.

Our cottage in Cornwall, (Sennen,) will be back on the rental market next month. Contact me via this website if you are interested in a rental property in that area.

I do the same with my British and Australian ones.

It was a joke mate. You posted they had printed £300, I think they have done a fair bit more than that.

There are two A&E depts in Canberra, both are very high quality, you need not fear.

That much already?!?!

My thanks Dan, very informative.

We intend going back to the UK next Sept, for our bi-annual visit. With the $Aussie still being over 66p, should we think of buying, say, a couple of hundred dollars worth of quids every month now, as a hedge against it dropping? If yes, which is the cheapest way to buy/convert while in Aus?

Nice! http://www.canberratimes.com.au/environment/weather/its-raining-snow-as-canberra-shivers-through-cold-blast-20120817-24cgc.html

Hi Mat mate, I'm a mental health OT working in Canberra. I married an Aussies and came out here (11 years ago) on a spousal visa.

hi Becks. I'm an OT working in mental health in Canberra, what sort of advice would you need?

Well I'm not holding my breath on it, but the barrister seems to think my injuries wil be worth that amount. (Disolcated shoulder, double fracture of left knee, severe bruising, deformation of my clavicle which is permanent.) GeorgeD; I'm seeing my accountant next week, I'll check with him that he has been claiming the interest I pay on the mortgage back.

How do I claim that? I've paid tax on my mortgage income form the UK since I've been here, but I don't think I've had any claim against the interest? Thanks in advance!

Thank you both! Mortgage interest rates in the UK is now very low (around 4%), but in Aus the savings rate is between 4.5 and 5.5%. So keeping it in the bank here may be a better bet. Thanks for the thought provoking posts.

£ Hey it worked! Must remember to take finger off alt key! Thanks my friend! £