fifi69

Mega agree, bring as much outdoor furniture as you can. we brought a v cheap B&M outdoor lounge set. After a couple of years outdoors, not undercover in the UK, plus 4 years out in the full sun in Oz, it still looks the same, nothing special, but just the same as when we bought it. 18 months ago we bought a "specially made for Oz weather conditions " outdoor lounge set. Its always been under the roofed alfresco area, gets caught only when the sun is low, or going down, never full on heat. Its falling to bits, needs replacing!! Whenever I've been back to the UK and I go somewhere like a Dobbies garden centre and see the beautiful outdoor furniture, like nothing I can get here, I just want to get a container and bring a load back.

Would have loved to have brought my duck down quilt but was told it wouldn't get thru customs. they don't have a tog system here, so putting two together is really the best you can do. and beware....we went from a double bed in the UK to a king size here. Its a great bed but v expensive to buy bedding for

Aww...when you leaving?? You've had such an adventure, great memories I hope. Travel and experiencing new places is the best thing ever.

It will all depend on what price you can get the flights for and the weight of your dog. We had to do this 3 years ago with our two labs. First thing is to get quotes from the pet shippers, ie Jetpets, Dogtainers, etc. This will let you know what price you need to better, then head onto the websites to price up flights to Sydney and back. Only Quantas and Virgin will allow your dog on so the return flight will need to be with one of them but you could use one of the cheaper airlines, Jetstar, tiger to get to Sydney . your dog is calculated as luggage, so you only pay for anything over the luggage allowance. Our two combined weight came in over 80kg but it still worked v cheap. You would need to check if you can use the crate that they were in to get here, if not you can hire crates cheaply and the company will bring to the airport for you. You need to book your dog direct with the airline, no forms, just a phone call and you don't pay for the dog until you get to the airport, ie they weight them then tell you the exact amount, although you will already know roughly how much your dog weighs so will have a good idea. So in the end it all depends on what comes in cheaper and if you want the hassle free route and not have to fly over yourself. The other difference is if using a company then your pooch will fly on a cargo plane, obliviously if they fly with you then its on a passenger jet with you (still in the hold though)

With children your age, I would agree that aviemore would be a great base for at least three days, so much to do in that locality and a great place if your kids prefer wide open spaces, as opposed to larger built up cities. lots of other places I could recommend, but if your only in Scotland for a week then you don't want to spend it traveling. If you do go to aviemore, check out the Landmark centre in Carrbridge, a great tree top walk for the kids there, plus lots of other stuff.

Oh wow, a new adventure for you. cant help with any of your questions, but just wanted to wish you good luck. My OH worked most of last winter in Sydney, so I would pop over to see him lol. I really liked the CBD and the other "tourist spots". Thought it was a v easy city to get about in. Found it on a par with or slightly cheaper to eat and drink than Perth. It was def colder than Perth!! Personally the suburb OH was working in was dire, it would make Rotherham look like paradise haha, and while sat on the train from the airport it was like that for the whole journey, but a different direction would bring nicer places. Stay clear of any Wests venues, like UK working men's clubs on steroids!!

I don't buy from the supermarkets but from the likes of palmyra farmer markets and find it v good value for money and lasts ages. Coles/Woolies rubbish. Deffo better in Aus then UK though. cant say about France, every shop has been bloody closed whenever we've holidayed or past thru:mad: Spain though...the best fruit and veg ever:cool:

I think you did the right thing, in going back for a holiday to see how you feel and give yourself some head space.

Try it, let us know:wink: i have no techy knowledge at all:cry: but what I found would happen was: search net, find all prices, note the best price, go back to said best price, now not there!! go to work, on work computer, look for best price site....yes found it again.

We came when it was minimum 30 day stay in quarantine in Aus, we were given a mobile no for the kennel person who was assigned to our two dogs....think I managed to speak to her twice in that period. i paid for a local lady to go in and play with our dogs a few times a week, she would also follow this up with photos of them doing their jail time. i believe now that quarantine in Aus has been reduced this us not an option. Hopefully they will still provide a tel no for you to ring and check up on your pets.

They may have gone up in price:cry: but could just be you need to clear the cookies on your device. Or Try searching on a different device and see what happens. i spent last week searching for last min flights for OH to go back to the UK, I found the same thing was happening. In the end I give the job over to an independent travel agent. She got cheaper than I could, or the likes of flight centre, sta etc etc. $300 cheaper than what I paid last year, $700 cheaper than what I paid in 2014. In future I will have a quick look myself for a guide price, but now happy to leave it to someone else.

Was lovely meeting you Quokka, sorry I Didnt get to catch up with you again, but hopefully will if you return to WA. Safe and happy travels, enjoy:jiggy:

Said it before...you will pee yourself, they are so cute and friendly.

Port Coogee would also be your cup of tea, if you get the chance to visit. Lovely little man made beach, very shallow water. not to be confused with Coogee beach.

We passed quokka on the bridge, maybe @Lindor got a photo of it. She was snapping away quite merrily:yes: