Galahad

"......and saying just get rid and get new ones......." ......For some of us it's like suggesting you get new children isn't it..... ? :eek:

How can you 'waste' money doing something which means a lot to you.....! My 3 go on the 16th April......I'll be the blithering wreck then ! Thinking of you ! :hug:

Oh Dear BigD......Don't get ruffled..... My point was not about the MBA in a serious way...because that's really not what the thread is about....& the OP is not stopping him from doing his course, even suggesting that he could find a 'work-around' if he wanted to enough.... She is questioning why she was told about such an important decision by text message at such a late stage, which seems to be the last straw in a long line of communication/consulting issues....which include domination, passive aggressiveness & actual aggressiveness.... Let's not squabble over semantics....the OP has enough on her plate. We all care - that's why we've replied to the thread.

".......chances are he will enhance his career with an international MBA, be very successful with a high paying role in General Management or management consultancy......" Yer think ? His 'consultancy' skills appear to be a little lacking.....huh ? 'Consultancy' like 'charity' should start at home !

With the greatest respect for 'professional counselling & caution' - I don't get the impression there's anything hasty about the OP's decision..... When asked, she has tried to give an overview of her situation & I think she's lived with it long enough to make a rational decision about it.... The situation she describes in paragraph 2 happened almost identically to me - my other half having beaten me black & blue, crying because 'if I left, he would be on his own'..... So I stayed a while longer..... silly me. In the end my decision to leave was not hasty, or vindictive, but necessary......counselling was futile - there seemed to be a 'piece missing' called 'ability to connect or take any responsibilty for' anything in our lives together....it was frustrating & 'weary-ing' It was a strange & surreal relationship & 'he' simply moved on from woman to woman to woman - going for types who would 'look after him'...... Perhaps some of us are seeing that the OP needs to feel that she is not totally crazy - living in her situation can have that effect on you - you start to see things from the 'other person's' point of view, more than your own, hitherto sensible one that you mislaid somewhere along the way.... The post by the OP is articulate, measured & probably about as accurate as anyone would wish to be on an open forum.....but as far as I can see she's not issuing any ultimatums....& with his income & his name still on the visa (presumably) for the moment, he can choose to go with her if he wishes..... To be honest I think the OP needs to get away from the situation for a while anyway - to view it objectively.... She's already done the lengthy & necessary 'groundwork' for emigration & says she has a 'support network' but exasperation with this latest turn of events has brought her to the forum...... I think she'll read ALL the replies & take everything on board..... Caution in many things is wise - but sometimes enough is enough & you simply need to act to change things for the better.....

Mem - believe it or not there are parts of your description I recognize in a previous partner (thankfully not one I married).... What you have to face as a single parent emigrating is a lot less scary than what you face if you stay..... I can only repeat what my gut feeling was before - GO - as soon as is physically possible.... When you're safely in Australia I would inform him calmly of the removal of his name from any visa - by text.....

....er - he informed you of this by TEXT !!! GO GIRL - & don't look back.....

As far as I can see Ellen spreads love & laughter where-ever she goes..... Just enjoy the happy coverage - it's nice to see all that 'happy-ness' & sunshine ! :laugh: ↓ ↓ ↓ ↓ She's pretty big over here but I suppose Australia is a natural choice as Portia is Australian..... I think she'd get much the same reaction here from fans - but from under a lot of plastic macs & brollies ! :sad: ........ ........would sure brighten a drizzly day at Heathrow........ :yes:

Those of us who have lived in both places long enough to compare, know full well that there are both positives & negatives in both hemispheres....UK & Australia..... What is tiresome is these constant threads started simply to generate the 'same-old-same-old' responses.... Maybe it was funny once (& perhaps you had to be there) but it's no longer 'fun' or 'funny' or even remotely amusing the umpteenth time around.... Andy - you took the words out of my mouth ! "......why don't you just give it a rest......" :SLEEP: :SLEEP: :SLEEP:

OK - by 'walkies' we mean 'time in exercise yard' - that's understood... we know that.... I'm not sure what your point is Mongrel..... You named a name on that other thread......& the dog's name was Buster....& yes - that was awful..... I can only report as I find & so far this person name 'Karen' has responded to all my questions promptly & efficiently..... I don't feel 'preyed upon' at all....from what I can see by the photos & the schedule of visits given (all within allowed times) I'm doing my best to make sure my pets have the best experience possible.... ".....When my boy was in there, Byford we picked him up talkin to a South African bloke....." Not quite sure what you're trying to say here either - apart from the fact that you may have a very smart talkin' dog ! Are you saying that because their dogs were in six months & had no visits that is how it should be - & we're all silly softees ? Yep. Guilty as charged..... I know what a boost to my confidence photographs of my horse give me - from the person who's been looking after him for three years....while I've been away..... Regular reports (monthly in his case) & photos make my day when I receive them.....

Hi Guys - and Candygirl, Thanks for the link.....I contacted Dogwalks after looking at the photos & opened my email this morning to receive a lovely reply from Karen & a proposed schedule of walkies, play-times, cuddle-times & even cuddle & pamper times for Purdy..... She sleeps with the two dogs - so she will be on her own in Quarantine.... Karen even supplied the names of the specific people who will be doing the 'caring'...& to be honest the whole approach has put my mind at rest.... So - I think I'm going to say 'Dang it' & pay - knowing I've done the very best possible to make the furries' quarantine time palatable..... Again - will keep you posted.....

Yes I did Stacey - & agree..... A very worthy winner too - although they were all winners anyway - wonderful stories...... :notworthy:

"....Unsure of procedures....." 'Procedures' can change with alarming alacrity - that's why using a shipper is the best idea ! They take the stress & confusion out of it......good advice from Bob here !

"....if I appear and then disappear she may never forgive me...." I'm sure she will Tulip - but I do understand how you feel !

Thanks everyone......I'll keep you posted...... Woof-by-Woof-and-Meeiooow.... They leave Heathrow at 9.25pm on a Tuesday & I think they spend a few hours in Singa-paw.....before going onto Sydney.... They were vet-checked by the shippers there when they flew this way. I'm in two minds about visiting - shan't be able to do that for a couple of weeks anyway - but probably won't be able to stay away after that.... Fortunately I have a friend in Sydney..... The jury is still out on that one.....I think they may think if I appear it's 'home-time'..... It's taken me six months to pay the bill Fifi (& you have two big dogs - so probably about the same) - but what's the alternative ! None for me......

Thanks Tink - it's silly - because I've done it before (this way with them) but no quarantine of course..... Am NOT looking forward to it at all - but best policy is one day at a time & plough through it - I'll have a lot to organize anyway..... I think I am apart from them for about 35 days total - so shall need to give 35 x 3 kisses to see them through - now THAT could take time ! .....er - not quite Crufts - but we got biccies for a prize ! Who - Moi ?

At laaaaaaaaaaaaaaast ! The bill is paid - I'm officially broke but I don't care......I will probably not look a peanut butter sandwich in the face again for a veeeery long time - but - my 'girls' *Abby, Skippy & Purdy - Pussycat fly from Heathrow to Sydney on the 16th of April...... *Cattle-dog cross, Foxy & Domestic Tabby....... Final preparations, here we come..... I'll follow a couple (or six) days later & fly into Brisbane to stay with friends, initially, before going west to see my big black boy - yes - the one in my profile pic...... I am allowed a 'Yeeeeeeee - Haaaaaaaa' today !!!!!

I watched quite a bit of Crufts this year - I realized that every time the programme had ended I had this broad smile - just from the joy of watching it....loved every minute of it.... ! Loved the winner - loved the idea that she's going to be covered in mud the following morning.......! Was nice to see a couple of Australian dogs with BOB awards...... :yes:

Welcome back Salma - can only echo what Taylors4 have said...... :hug:

Fourcorners - there are no words to describe what you are going through....& you are making the only decision you can make, honorably & emotionally under the circumstances.....I wish you both well.... You have always said you were in Australia 'for a reason' 'a goal' & those go out of the window when something like this happens - I understand that...... Like you Quoll, I was the only child of (in my case) one surviving parent in her 90s (my father passed away when I was a teenager) I also have other family members in the UK......but no-one else was 'free-er' than me to take on the caring & I saw it as my role anyway.... Up until 2009 I had only visited for weeks at a time & Christmases etc. but returned for an open-ended stay then - until my mother died in February 2012.... Right thing to do ? Of course......absolutely......could not have considered for a moment not returning..... But I don't hate Australia.....why would I ? My mother was from a generation who didn't travel so much - she chose not to visit me during the years she could have done that - it was just 'out of her imagination' that she could.....even though a friend of hers a mere 5 years younger flew to Perth at least once a year, sometimes twice, for a fortnight's holiday with relatives.....& thrived on the trip/s...... "Don't you get jet lag Isobel?" "What's jet lag dear?" "No, I don't get it - whatever it is...." Isobel was Scottish & had been 86 for at least 7 years....... Now I suppose I'm the 'older generation' of our family & I choose to go back to my life in Queensland - & my horse - & the wonderful Queensland countryside.... Maybe I will change my mind later - much later - when my elder son relocates from South Korea to Provence...... But how fortunate am I to have the choice......

As you are on the Gold Coast why not either email or go & see Dogtainers in Brisbane..... My three (two dogs, one cat) are flying back to Australia with them (we also flew this way in 2009) They will help you through it & put your mind at rest.....they are on Facebook - just go to their page.....or look on Google for their Brisbane telephone number... [TABLE=class: uiInfoTable profileInfoTable uiInfoTableFixed] [TR] [TH=class: label]Email[/TH] [TD=class: data]info@dogtainers.com.au[/TD] [/TR] [TR=class: spacer] [TD=colspan: 2] [/TD][/TR] [TR] [TH=class: label]Website[/TH] [TD=class: data]http://www.dogtainers.com.au[/TD] [/TR] [/TABLE] I was not disappointed with the crate size - Abby's crate was 'specially made & was the size of a small weather-board house.....she's a cattle-dog cross..... Or contact Bob from Pet Air....I believe Pet Air works with Dogtainers sometimes on internal Australian transport, if you can't pick up your pet yourself..... Whether you decide to organize the flight from that end or this end - you need 'specialist' caring people to do it - peace of mind is everything for your precious 'cargo'...

Well all the stuff I was 'going-to-do' this morning just got forgotten......as I just couldn't stop reading..... Absolutely fabulous Bob.....am about to add 'six bags of jelly-babies' to my shopping list 'cos I wanna be on your list of autographed copies of your book ! :notworthy:

I got my citizenship under the 'old rules' too....I was a resident for 10 years & thought it was about time..... I never had a 'reluctance' the time just slipped by somehow..... I love being a 'dual citizen' & it's given me the freedom to be out of Australia for as long as I needed to be with my mother during her last years.... It must be awful to have a time restriction on your 'Resident Return' visa in similar circumstances....you need to be able to be where you're needed for as long as you're needed.... As it's worked out I will have been away from Australia three & a half years by the time I return.... Seems a lifetime sometimes.....

Just a few minute flutter-by flakes in the park today & yesterday - but not sticking..... The wind has been bitter the last few days...took photos of 'white horses' on the sea-front & a few hardy souls doing cold water surfing - well tried to - every time I pressed the shutter the black clad bodies disappeared into a wave!

"......The good thing is that with banks now borrowing more and housing being more affordable than previously more people will be able to get on the ladder......." .....And - is that actually what you meant to say ?