scottsam

I'm currently in a house constructed on stumps at the front. The sound of every footstep indoors seems to be amplified! But can always ask the landlord who built it.

We're trying to move that way….lots of applicants for rentals so we're not having any luck! It's very nice.

Lots of paddocks around Doreen/Laurimar so lots of grass......try and rent in the built up bit??? Rent is more affordable here. Last year there was a big grass fire that travelled north - south near Craigieburn, it may have been a problem if the wind changed direction so I made sure I watched the updates. Depends which company you go with for mobile reception....I dont have trouble with my mobile reception. My only option for broadband was Telstra.....depends which estate you live in, some people have problems getting connected as there aren't enough "ports" available, whatever that means.

Cool good to know for future reference

It's a total pain in the arse being on a 457 isn't it! A lot of things like this you don't find out till you're actually in Oz

Have you tried world nomads.com.au....I used them for my husband. He arrived in Oz before us but we had a holiday to Hawaii booked. I phoned these people and used them although I did not need to make a claim. Phone them and ask for advice first though! (I believe that in a medical emergency he would have been sent back to England rather than Oz though.)

Unless I'm going back to England for good I have no desire to visit.....lets face it you will spend a ton of money and probably spend all your time running round visiting people......I'd rather spend the money and go somewhere new on holiday.....explore the world.

Hit the nail on the head Paul. I live in Melbourne and it's like living in rural 1980's uk:arghh: My teenage daughter is depressed the shops have limmited choice and VERY expensive.

TheGlovers I will private message you

Anyone in the Doreen area? Been here 6 months now. It's been difficult to settle, put one of our children in a school and then it shut down!!! So now we have got to go through the whole process of doing it again when the new school term starts.

Hi we're in Doreen about 30 - 45 min from the city. Not sure how far but can see the city just down the road!! I'm available during the days if you're bored.

Hate to be on a downer....but bring as much as you possibly can....We've not stopped shelling out for stuff since we got here. It's a joke. If they can charge you for something they will. We've come across a ton of hidden costs that just didn't show up on any website/forum we looked at. If you need to put a child in primary school (not private), that's easily $500 each gone! Uniform, (there's no shopping at George @ Asda for this!!), can easily set you back a couple of hundred and then there's curriculum charges and stationery. Things we take for granted in the UK. We imported our car....you will get charged just to make an appointment at VIC roads to register it. I could go on but I'm in a bad mood and might out you off altogether!

We're flying with Singapore, Heathrow to Melbourne on 6th July. Anyone else??

I left booking my flights till the last minute....we're leaving in 3 weeks, just as flight prices start to soar! Anyways, I went through a comparison site and ended up booking flights through Hoodaki (I'd never heard of them)....a long process over the phone but the tickets were slightly less than advertised! Another site were advertising flights from 649 but needless to say only had flights costing from 850 odd available. It's definitely worth shopping around.

Does anyone know about sky boxes???? Or am I being a bit stupid??? I've got a standard one and sky plus oneand don't really know what to do with them - if I sell them in UK can other people use them if they stick their own card in???? Clueless.