Jacaranda

Nice one Stacey!xx

Good news Jonas!Abit of money coming in is better than none hey?Good luck with the job hunt,hope you manage to find something soon.

Well if it is Flag,I expect the pays good!:wink:And how do you know there are topless bars or whatever up that way???Hmmm?:laugh:

Apart from losing pets Bunbury,I'm also upset that my brother has lost personal items,which he cant replace,such as family photo's,and as my Mum passed away last year,has also lost her precious belongings. Read the news yesterday and it seems over last weekend,those towns affected,including where my brothers live,have been inundated with weekend drivers,driving around to gawk at the devastation!How tacky and thoughtless is that?Police have advised "tourists"not to go onto anyone's property as it is trespassing.

So have you started work yet?If so whats it like?Enjoying it?Where you are isn't important to me.As long as I know you are ok,thats the most important thing.:cute:

Gumtree?

If its not naivety,then its delusional!

You'd be surprised (Or maybe not lol)Marisa,the amount of times people have said to me "I watch H & A,and Australia looks very nice"!lol When I give them the reality slap,they look disappointed!I love Australia,but come on!Are people that naïve that they don't think Australia have large swathes of council housing?That not everyone,lives by a gorgeous beach,living day in day out in the café culture??My Australia,the part I know very well,has some H & A,some Police Force Australia (yes we get that show in the UK,watched it last night actually!),and every conceivable bit in between.As I say re both countries,good,bad and ugly! I guess its abit like holidays really.Some people go somewhere,and just stay in the resort,never leaving the area to see the true side of the country.Personally I enjoy seeing that part. I watched a doco once,where people were taken to places like the Maldives,Cancun etc.They had spent all their holidays in resorts.Anyway they were then taken to where the hotel staff lived.Humble abodes,some very poor area's actually.Guess what?They were all genuinely shocked??Beggars belief!

Has'nt impacted where I live either,but then I don't live in a city which could be abit different.

Update:Well the help my brother has received has been nothing short of amazing!Firstly,friends of theirs,have offered a house in town to them,rent free for as long as they want,Holdens advertised free loan cars to those without vehicles,and my brother picks his free loaner up tomorrow!Family,friends and people they don't even know have offered loads of free furniture,electrical goods,clothing etc.The government has offered each person who lost their house $270.

Aww hon,I really feel for you atm.Ive been reading your posts,and I know you've been worried.Is it possible to change your flights to a later date,and perhaps stay at your Mum's place or other family members?Not sure accomo wise you were going to do when you arrive in Oz and if that's changeable?Personally hon,if it were me,I would want to stay with my Mum for as long as possible if she is seriously ill and doesn't have much time.How on earth are you going to try and settle if you go being so far away?I think I would postpone the move myself.Thoughts are with you,and whatever you decide,will be the right decision.Take care and good luck.

Well I succumbed to putting my CH heating on a couple of nights ago.It was ok in my house until probably 7pm,and then I started to feel chilly.Dont have it on during the day at all though,so its still good!

Well I had renewed my 5yr RRV 3 times since being in the UK,and definitely haven't spent anything like 2 yrs in Australia during that time.Only been back to Oz for visits.

Thanks Diane.Yes I also saw those poor sheep.Truly awful! I've received a message on my FB wall this morning.The town has started a fund raising group(Knew they would,such nice people in that town)and I know those affected will be looked after.No news from my actual brothers as yet.Phone lines are out,as is the electricity.I've just heard news from both sisters.I am just glad both my brothers got out alive.After losing Mum last year,another death in the family would be too hard to take.

At your kids ages,them settling into a new school would be the least of my worries.I am sure they would be fine.Kids that age adjust very easily and quickly.Your main concern right now,for all newbies is finding and securing work,a home etc.Have you looked at possible work available in the area you wish to move to?Is your husbands job on the skills list?

GGS,I know this is going off track,but did you manage to find work?

Im not sure if you can apply once expired.Ive always renewed mine beforehand.I tried to get a 5 yr RRV back in Jan this year,and they only offered me a one year RRV.I have substantial ties in Australia too.If you go onto the Immi site,there is a local London number you can ring.

Many Happy Returns Of The Day TPQ!You are an awesome lady!:notworthy:

As others have said,nothing is permanent.Everything is always temporary,including life!:wink:What you are experiencing is last minute jitters.Most people do feel that ok?Most people like some sort of control over their lives.Atm,you only have control over whats happening right now,this minute!I think you need to get yourselves into a different mindset.Instead of worrying over stuff you have no control over,right now focus attention on whats happening right now.Ok so you feel panic?Feel that,mentally and physically,take a few minutes to experience it full on,and then move on.Your packers are abut to arrive,so focus on organising them.One step at a time.Once they leave,sit down for a cuppa together,relax,talk and discuss how you're feeling,and then onto the next task,whatever that happens to be. To a certain extent,you have to go with the flow.Accept that for the next few weeks,your lives are going to be somewhat unsettled,but this will disperse over time.Day by day,your lives will start to unfold into a happy,more relaxed way.You will feel the excitement of starting a new home,in a new place,a new country!This will all keep your minds occupied.Once that is all over,and you've settled,hopefully you will remain that way.If not?So you've lost some money!Its only money.You cant put a price on happiness right?You then make plans to return.Mindset......"Ok so I'm feeling panicky,that'll pass!Im worrying myself sick?That'll pass!If I settle and build myself a nice new life?Good?If not then its no biggie in the scheme of life to return! I am wishing you lots of good luck,and send my best wishes for a happy,successful,bright future.xoxoxoxox

Jock you are lucky where you live.Ive also stayed in another burb of Adelaide many times at my sisters place,and never saw a soul!lol So yes I think it does depend a lot of where you live.

Thanks again all for your kind words and support.Diane thankyou so much for your offer of help,you are such a sweetheart!I hope the Inglewood fires have been brought under control.I will check the CFS website in a sec.Well I didn't sleep well last night.I went into work at 6am,and asked my boss for an emergency days annual leave which they kindly granted.The only way I can keep contact right now with whats happening,is via my sisters as the phone lines are down in my brothers town.All I know right now is that,thank god they are all safe. For anyone in the Wasleys Freeling area,here is the CFS link which has been updated.... http://www.cfs.sa.gov.au/site/warnings_and_incidents/pinery_fire_information.jsp

Thankyou for all your support and kind words.As they live in a small community,I am sure they will receive lots of support and help re building their lives.My brother is near retirement age,and I can only hope they had insurance!I've always felt a lot of empathy towards those affected by bushfires,but boy this is hitting home right now. I've been listening to talkback radio via my laptop of a radio show in SA,and atm,authorities are trying to find out what caused the bushfire.They (and myself)are hoping it wasn't deliberately lit. My sons girlfriends family are also near that area,and as yet I haven't heard if they are ok.

Firstly you need to forget about british pubs,and start your new life,putting your past behind you!Might sound abit harsh,but....you're not going to settle very well imho if you don't.I'm not a huge fan myself of Burb pubs.I come from Sth Australia,and lived fairly rurally before returning to the UK.My town had two pubs,both bustling on weekend nights.How many pubs do you have near you?Do any of them have live music?(If that's what you're into) As for getting old,again,I would choose to live rurally myself.I think there is a stronger sense of community,and I'd like to think people would know me enough to say hi when Im walking down the street! Last year I stayed with my Mum in the burbs of Adelaide (for 3 mths)and didn't meet a soul walking to the shops.Also went to her local pub?Dead as! My Mum led a reclusive type life.They emigrated to Sth Aust in 1970,and did have a lot of british friends,but they later moved away,lost touch or whatever.My Mum did have clubs etc that she could of joined but she chose not to,so apart from occasional visits from my siblings and myself,she saw virtually no one. Maybe start joining some clubs (sporting or other),go to your local,get out and about and make some good mates.Your mates will become your 2nd family,so choose carefully and treat them nicely!:cute: Its early days for you yet!A week is absolutely nothing really is it?More importantly,focus your attention to the present time.Your future isn't here yet so no point in worrying yourself silly over it right hon?Right! Relax and go with the flow of life.What will be will be.

Thanks Quokka,Yeah me too.They've lived in that house for years.Lost everything.Including pets.:cry:

I have just returned from town,and logged into FB.I received a devastating pm from my older sister,to inform me of bushfires,in and around Freeling SA,which is where my two brothers and niece live.My eldest brothers house,out houses,and sheds have been burnt to the ground,and so has their car.My youngest brother lives next door,and was putting out spot fires on his own property.I am so upset right now,thank god my brother and his partner got out alive,as did the rest of my family. This is too close to home for me.I've spent a lot of time in Freeling over the years,and I cannot even imagine how my family members are feeling right now. Hope everyone manages to stay safe.Also bushfires in Inglewood I believe,east of Adelaide in the hills. http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/south-australia/premier-jay-weatherill-announces-loss-of-lives-from-deadly-sa-bushfires/story-fnl1ee8j-1227623145573#itm=newscomau%7Chome%7Cnca-homepage-masthead-feature%7C7%7Cheading%7Chomepage%7Chomepage&itmt=1448466044310