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We already have one dog and are considering getting another. Looking to make the move next year and just wondering whether having another dog will dramatically hinder our chances of securing a rental property. We are quite prepared to pay the additional shipping and associated fees, but obviously don't want to jeopardise our chances of finding somewhere nice to live. We are currently in a rental in the UK (sold our house to raise the funds) so we would have access to a good reference.

Thanks Cath

Thanks Bob,

We have had the Rabies and blood samples done last month, it was just the lepto one we were worried about, so thank you :-)

Planning on making the move to Aus next year but Cleo the retriever's booster is due this summer. Should we avoid having the leptospirosis as some countries will not allow an animal in that has had it?

Apologies if spelt wrong

What a relief :-)

As the post suggests, I have had no internet access for last 3 weeks due to moving house (stage 1 in our plan to move). Feel like I have been lost without my daily fixes of PIO.

Have I missed anything important?

Cath x

Yay, congrats Melissa xx

Fabulous, hope you enjoy a glass or 2 of bubbly when you get home :-)

I spent a year in London, loved the late light, gaslight and that "Mary Poppins" softening - think it would have been daylight saving as nightfall came at around 9pm, such a contrast to the experimental summer daylight saving in Queensland - I love the contrast of seasons, shortening days in winter and early light in summer

What is the Queensland experimental daylight saving? Did it make much of a difference?

I'm not a morning person but I wish I was...the light and the freshness of the mornings here are beautiful

I am not a great morning person either, but I guess I had better learn to adapt

I don't think I do come home in the dark that often in summer Cath...in winter yes. I cycle home after work and in summer it is often full light. Would rather later evenings, and hopefully eventually we'll get daylight savings in Brisbane, but it is probably different to how you imagine after living in a temperate climate in the UK or southern Australia.

 

A lot of people have flood lights for the back yard and the sun going down does not mean it is cold like more temperate climates. People often still eat outside, swim in the pool (up to midnight even some days), play sport in flood lit parks, rock climb etc.

 

It is different though and something you should take into account though I guess hard to imagine it accurately without living it. I think the most obvious difference is if you live in the outer suburbs it can be very dark with low density housing you get piss poor street lights and people sticking to their own flood lit backyard rather than being on the streets. Different in the inner city suburbs as more people are out and about on the streets after dark so depends what you prefer.

 

If I cycle past south bank after dark there is often plenty of people in the southbank pools enjoying the pleasant evening weather while lying in the pool. They can even do things like have free public movies in the pool as it is still warm.

 

Southbank at night:

 

 

 

To be honest I sometimes prefer it to be dark as part of my commute is along the cycleway you can see running along the front of these buildings and it still takes my breath away some evenings as I come around the corner and see it. It is just beautiful riding around Brisbane at night.

 

Source: roughguides.com

 

 

Disclaimer: This may not be your commute

These scenes make me really want to move to Brisbane instead of SA - looks amazing :-)

I feel that many may make the initial move to please a partners wishes. However, they then do not settle because their hearts are still in the UK. I would imagine that this would be a very difficult situation for any family. A partner pushed against their wishes can lead to resentment, loneliness and a feeling that they will never settle could lead to a self fulfilling prophecy.

As much as I know my heart and soul belong in Australia, had my husband not wanted to go to I would have to stay (thus facing resentment building anyway) - or go without him, ending our relationship - not something I want to do!

I suppose I am just very very grateful that we share the same dream and are prepared to make that dream work.

I will pm you her name. Our migration agent recommended her

http://diply.com/just-a-dream/30-photos-proving-australia-is-most-insane-place/33811/6

This is a bit of fun but do not watch if you don't like snakes, spiders and crocodiles ;-)

Yes luckily I managed to get in first time :-)

I paid for a Skype lesson and assessments with a qualified ielts examiner before hand which helped a lot, especially with my written as that's what we concentrated on. Otherwise it could have been a different story for me too.

Thank you everyone for your input. It is reassuring to know that life still goes on even after the sun sets.

After a couple of sunny days here in the UK this week we are all scrabbling about like mad men just to enjoy 5 minutes of it because its such a novelty. Completely hadn't appreciated that I may be grateful for some shade when we move lol.

Mozzies shouldn't be an issue for me, but my poor daughter gets eaten alive :-( though have noticed we get a lot more now in the UK than we ever used to.

One of our main reasons for moving has to be to enjoy the outside and the sunshine. I love being able to sit and eat outdoors and absolutely love the sunshine.

However, I was a little disappointed to see that it seems to get darker earlier in Aus than in the UK (summer time - don't count British winter as I need to use a sun lamp). I had read to expect this in Brisbane, but even in Adelaide it seems that it will be dark by 8pm.

Realistically we are both going to need to work full time, so what do most people do after work in an evening? Do you still sit out but under artificial or candle light, or does everyone retreat back indoors.

How do you find it living in Brisbane and coming home from work in the dark every day?

Thanks Cath

Shocking, Hopefully will never take effect but if it has to, please let it be after we have made the move (selfish) x

Hi Paul.

The reading test was my nemesis too. It was the true/false/not given where I lost marks every time I did a practice, so i'm pretty sure the same could be said for the marks I lost during the test itself. Luckily I got what I needed, but it was the only element causing me concern. I believe that they will only re-mark the subjective tests, such as writing and speaking. Gutted for you.

Cath

Aww, I can totally get that. I moved to be nearer my mum when I had children, even followed her to another country, lol. It did help and I know that our parents will miss us and the kids when we make the move, but as they are now teenagers, they don't see much of them anyway, lol

I really fancy Brisbane and Cairns. These are places I would like to suss out if we had chance to xx

Good luck with the move back. Do you mind me asking what has triggered the decision to go?

Cath x

Thank you Ozmaniac. That is the answer I was looking for :-)

Thanks Ozmaniac.

I am just at the skills assessment stage and so was debating which occupation to choose, as I have equal experience in all sectors. Just wondered if there were any particular benefits to choosing one over another :-)

Just wondering whether there are any benefits to choosing a particular profession code over another if your qualification/experience match many?

For example, my skills and qualifications mean I could apply for welfare worker, youth worker, community worker, student counsellor etc. Obviously I know it will depend upon which state is sponsoring each nominated occupation, but just wondered WHETHER IT REALLY MATTERS WHICH ONE YOU CHOOSE?

Thank you Cath x

The best advice I had was to:

1. Make sure you cover all the points (read the question several times)

2. have an introduction and a conclusion (separate paragraphs)

3. Use an opening sentence and closing one within each separate paragraph you write

4. Devote a new paragraph to each new argument or topic

(all applicable to writing test - and you cannot get above a 7 if you miss any of them out)

The listening test was really straightforward if you are a natural English speaker, as was the speaking test - for this you are prompted to answer the examiners scripted questions.

The reading test was my personal achilles heel as I hated the true/false/not given questions - still gives me nightmares. I would get online and download practice papers and practice. practice, practice.

Good luck and let us know how you get on.

I got an overall mark of 9

Cath x