Galahad

Hi Nicky, Not sure if this will help you, but there is a very good animal sanctuary in Church Knowle, near Wareham, Dorset, called 'The Margaret Green Foundation'..... They were wonderful when a friend of mine passed away & we needed to re-home his cat very quickly..... All their details are on Google....

Inxie "......I know it's off topic but just needed to express myself about it......." Really ? Ignorantly & inappropriately in this instance..... The thread is not about you or your needs...... So - SHOO !

Hi Tina, So sorry to hear you are having a tough time....on many levels by the sound of it..... I know your daughter feels that way now - but that could change - overnight - in some cases.... It isn't a long time but only you know your family well enough.... Your son is doing well - so I think you do all need to sit down & talk it through as a family - if that's possible.... Also - if you can all get 'out-and-about-a-bit' (even as a project if you decide to leave) to learn about Australia's heritage to give you a 'connection' or at the very least, something to take away with you.... There's lots of support on here for anyone who's 'doin' it tough' as you've found..... Wishing you the best possible solution - whatever you decide.... :xmas4:

Hello BMorrison.... I would go ahead & renew your Brazilian passport anyway - you say you have time.....it's going to be extra paperwork whenever you do it..... I allowed my British passport to expire while I was in Australia & renewed it from there (my Australian one has always been up to date) - but it was such a palaver I swore I would never ever allow a passport to expire again - it just feels 'proper' somehow..... As you have been invited to apply for a visa I don't think it matters which one you use to eventually enter Australia.... My British passport is my 'birth-country' passport..... You sound like the kind of person who likes to have everything 'just right' so if I were you I'd do that.....it may not take very long at all - especially as it has not actually 'expired yet'..... Good luck with your application !

"I never realised that blood tests on dogs could be so difficult!! Has anyone else had this?" Yep - mine had to have two attempts because the vet got the bloods mixed up & the samples were 'compromised'.... The girls were not amused ! Fun isn't it ? :nah:

....And you are now quite familiar with living on chip butties while you save towards the cost of their transport & can't remember when you last bought new shoes ? Ole !:laugh:

Absolutely amazing Bob - thanks for posting..... :yes:

"......Least we're not a bunch of whingers....." Oh please let's not turn this into an 'Aussie' versus 'Brits' slanging match......that certainly wasn't the intention of the OP & the OP has gone to the trouble of stating that.... Many of us have different opinions of what constitutes 'humour' & many interesting points have been raised.....including a few snarls & expletive-bleeps.... It's understandable that some of the comments have been strongly worded - shot from the hip - or posted from a feeling of sad exasperation - but that's OK.....it's all acceptable as such.... But to reduce any particular opinion stance to 'whingeing' is a little disrespectful....given the unfolding tragedy of it all...... To be honest I feel everything's been said - there's nothing much more to add - it's awful....tragic & nothing any of us think or say will make it 'righter' or 'wronger'...... Sniping at each other certainly isn't going to help anyone or anything.... :no:

I don't think it was particularly funny - 'funny' needs to be 'witty' or 'clever' for me & this was neither..... A bit childish really - it's a shame radio presenters can't be witty enough without resorting to 'playing pretend'.... & I don't like phone jokes - it always ends in tears.... it's been done to death..... BUT - if anything it's shown up the lax security practices at the hospital - whether or not the nurse thought security had already been done - really bad security..... As for Charles laughing it off ? Trying to be 'cool' about it ? Too little far too late - and when did he ever get his priorities right anyway !

Linux.....prefer to Windows anything..... :xmas7:

Hi Missus B..... I've read all of this thread & also read many of your posts over the time I've been a member of PIO.... You're probably the one of the least crazy people - judging by the tone & timbre of your writing..... You should do what you think is right for you....you have intelligently drawn conclusions from your own experience - no-one else's & that gives you all the input you need.....you're not 'flighty'.... You're a hardworking woman with a responsible career & you've come to conclusions which make sense to YOU..... Ruby slippers said (post63) "....a lot of people know straightaway that Australia is not for them...." That's very true. ( I'm not one of them - I knew it was from day one 20 years ago & have not changed my mind.... or heart ) Quoll says (post50) "....that mindset of OMG is this all there is for the rest of my days is hugely debilitating... " Yes, that's true too. ( That's the way I feel about being in England for the rest of my days - couldn't do it..... ) I'm spending huge amounts of money at present organizing my return to my beloved Country Queensland with my furry family...... I'm English born & bred - but now feel more at home in Australia..... I have more than one friend (yes, honest injun !) who thinks I'm crazy....but my point is it doesn't matter & it's not necessarily to do with Australia - it to do with where you feel right & you know it..... In your shoes I'd be going right ahead with your decision to return & no stops in between..... Wishing you a very Happy Christmas ! :xmas29:

....Can only empathise with others here in that I don't know what to say - only sympathise for your utterly tragic, tragic loss....

"......She informed me that she was fully comp but doesn’t want to make a claim as it bumps up her insurance........" Oh - that's a good one !!!!!!! I'll have to try that - NOT !!!!!!! :biglaugh:

With two large dogs it would be better to choose somewhere rural or semi-rural to live rather than suburbia....... Once 'out-of-town' a bit you'll have more choice of 'dog-friendly properties.... Because I've always lived in 'rural' surroundings I've never had a problem with having animals....it's sort of 'accepted'... Kinder towards the dogs too I think to give them a rural-ish home..... I've always been totally 'up-front' about my dogs...my 'larger' dog at the moment is actually quite small compared to the 57 kilo Rottie I had at one point (& I had two for a while) - & there's no way they were going to sleep in any garage !!! The only other bit of advice I would add is not to confine your 'search' criteria to 'dogs allowed' - very often it's a matter of just asking..... All the properties I've rented have allowed dogs with no problems at all....& only one actually had it listed as an option.... I think once the landlords see you as a 'family' they make a decision..... That is not to say that there are some dreadful landlords - there's a poster on here who's had a heartbreaking time because of one.... So, be prepared, be honest about where your dogs will be in your home & be hopeful.... There are some nice landlords too.... All the best - whatever you decide to do....

"......The cats are mystified - oh how I wish we could explain it to them......" Don't you believe it - they KNOW....!:animal-cat::animal-cat:

So sorry to hear about your wrist Stacey - you are one of the most welcoming, friendliest people on the forum.....don't stay away too long - you'll be missed.... :xmas23:.......& as for texting with one hand - er- you mean - there's aNOTHer way !!!!!

Definitely - I can't claim to have 'gone' alone but I chose to 'stay' alone in Australia when everyone expected me to return to the UK after the relationship which took me there crumbled.... I realized what a wonderful opportunity I had been given, through all the heartbreak of that & changed location & never looked back.... Those opportunities - those times when you have absolute choice - only occur infrequently in life..... More often than not you 'need-to-be-somewhere' for legitimate reasons - and you honour those commitments..... When they disappear there's sometimes a 'Now what ?' moment & the realisation that there is absolute freedom to choose..... It can be quite scary..... Go for it ! And enjoy the 'journey'......

Hi Mummy Mann & family..... The worst is OVER - you are all now in the same country..... Which area of Brisbane are you ? You say you have rented a villa - which suggests coast ? Do you have family & friends for support there ? Not too long now until you see your furry children :animal-dog::animal-dog:

Meiow - My name is Purdy & although I am an Australian cat by birth (born on the slopes of Tamborine Mountain) my person tells me I now have Dual Catizenship - I must have because I am going back to Australia with her early next year & have undergone some very inconvenient trips to the vet here to get all sorts of jabs.... My two doggy-sisters-in-paw think it's fun, but I just think it's boring because of course I am already Purrrfect.... :animal-cat: Anyway, Tiggy & Oscar.....if you are like most cats I know you will loooooove (oh purr-purr!) the warmth of the sun.....I loved lying on the back garden step just soaking it up..... My person had a small garden & I used to 'go' behind the bushes & never had problems - I was able to go about my business undepurred....unlike the dogs who just go 'kerplonk' anywhere & Mummy has to rush out with a little bag to keep the lawn clean....! No finesse! No decorum! No poop politeness ! It's a dog thing ! Here in England I have only been out for the most essential needs - I did like lying under the sun umbrella in the back patio-garden when the sun shone - but that has not happened much - so now I am back to lying close to these huge white panels, called 'radiators' which have obviously been invented with cats in mind as the are just far enough from the ground for me to curl up under..... Although I am Australian & therefore slightly biased in my observations....I think you will love Australia.... My food has not changed in either hemisphere....my person gives me good quality kibble (well, I wouldn't eat the cheap stuff - I mean we just don't do we ?) & raw chicken breast or raw meat..... I never have tinned food & my vet says I have the teeth of a seven year old - I'm 12 now....although I'm not sure which life I'm in - I think my third......I've been told I have nine.... Vets in Australia are excellent - we used Anvet in Queensland....my person says she cannot fault them, they did all our paperwork speedily & efficiently & we all got 'going away cards' when we left.... I can't wait to go home....I miss the smells of the Summer & the sounds of the Australian bush..... Meiow for now...... :animal-cat: My step in Queensland...... :animal-cat:

Celt down Under - you need to get out more !!!!! :laugh:

Hi Joanna, Britain is no longer considered 'rabies free' - as from January 2012 - so is the same as Germany..... There's no further information yet about the changes other than from Bob from PetAir & as he is dealing with it daily in his business he knows the latest..... So it looks like July is going to be the earliest 'change time'..... All mine have their suitcases packed !

Fizzybangs - I agree.....however - 'flying free' & 'his dreams' aside, he does need to sort a plan to deal with the financial situation they are in & make sure that Homebird is not left with 100% of the debt they are facing..... It's true that he may feel more able to do this from Australia - but he needs to let his family know that this is what he is going to do..... He is the father of two young children & therefore does have responsibilities - where-ever he is.... It is wrong that he is directing his invective in terms of 'she has ruined his life' & 'he wishes he'd never married her' no matter what he sees as the cause......& if he departs to the Southern Hemisphere without making financial provision or plans - it's called abandonment.... Many people are feeling 'stuck-in-the-mud' (in ALL senses!) at the moment but they are not running away.... To be fair - he hasn't yet....but the resentful rhetoric is destroying them....so that has to stop & practical preparations made.....

Great post ! All the very best for your future..... :yes:

Hi again Homebird, Please take all the blame & recrimination out of this - especially towards yourself....nothing is 'black & white' & we can see that you are struggling & extremely unhappy about all this.... Several points have come out of the responses.... Rupert actually said that your husband needs to see a 'commitment to move this forward' which isn't the same as 'you should go' I said 'if he does sort things out in Australia' 'you need to consider going'.... And Quoll - I do see your point but there's no blame for being prevented from going.....least of all towards the OP....I think all that is being asked for is a willingness to be willing..... But - as Rupert has pointed out - much as your husband has said he wants to leave you - he hasn't.... And you have said you are 'terrified' of emigrating....so, no it would be disastrous for you to go in that frame of mind... Also that you are 'up to your eyeballs in debt'.....so professional help in this area alone may be a place to start... You were once - in your words 'helplessly in love' but knew that 'Australia would always be an issue'.... So - now is the time for this love to be very grown-up & if you (as you do seem to be the one facing up to the issue at the moment) tell him you value his happiness so much that you want him to go as soon as possible & that you will do everything to help him....but that given your financial situation, you want him to help you make a survival plan - a financial one.... Keep Australia out of the bargaining - just sort out the practicalities.... You have NOT ruined his life, you have enriched it - so chuck that heavy boulder of self recrimination out of the window....but you do need to take the reins now to prevent yourself & your husband (& your children) going deeper into this destructive abyss.... Leave your feelings about Australia to one side, you may find the mental strength to deal with those later - but now is not the time.... If you lovingly tell him that he must go & that you will do all you can to help him - he has the 'resentment/blame' cookie taken away from him..... And you will have self respect, knowing you have done the hardest thing you could ever be asked to do.... Then it's his responsibility (his ability-to-respond to that) & to make the next practical move.... It's clear you have a lot of support on here....& many who are in similar situations - I do hope you are able to draw strength from all this... Some of us may disagree on the 'nuts & bolts' of it but it is all written with concern for all of you....