northshorepom

I don’t live over that way but try and have a search on this site: http://www.privateschoolsdirectory.com.au/sydney-schools.php Getting into private primary schools is usually pretty easy if you can pay, especially for girls. High school is where it gets competitive I wouldn’t worry about aircraft noise that much in “south Sydney”, which I’m interpreting based on the coastal desire to mean what we would call the “eastern suburbs” - the coast from Watson’s Bay down to La Perouse. The runways at KSA are NNW/SSE and the planes come in over the Inner West (particularly Marrickville and Leichhardt) one way, and Kurnell the other Budget will be a major consideration for all coastal suburbs: all are quite expensive and some very expensive. Commutes can be OK from some coastal places, it’s pretty good from Bondi/Coogee/Maroubra for example, and on the north side Manly & Freshwater. Commuting gets pretty ordinary further up the northern beaches, though

At the risk of making life harder, if your boys enjoy female company I wouldn’t completely write off some single sex schools: my son is at Sydney Grammar Prep (all boys) and has closer relationships with girls he knows at Brigidine and Roseville College than his mates at co-ed Wahroonga public This isn’t posted in favour or against any particular school, it’s just to say that single sex education is common here and things work slightly differently: so if you like a school but it’s single sex, don’t discount it

I live locally but don’t know the schools, so will try and help I *think* St Ives possibly has a better reputation, but I don’t know people with kids at either school - people we know with secondary age kids in the area have them at one of the catholic schools (2 in St Ives, 1 in Normanhurst), NBCS at Terrey Hills, one of the private schools in the Upper North Shore, or Turramurra High Personally I am sceptical when it comes to academic reputation, having gone to a comprehensive with a terrible rep that was actually pretty good, and a sixth form college with a great rep that was ordinary. My advice to people is always to visit the school and see if it FEELS right - which you have done Berowra to St Ives is a horrible schlep in rush hour even by car. I think that’s too long a journey in a bus. It’s less distance from Hornsby Heights. Put it this way, we live in Wahroonga and my son goes to school in St Ives, it’s a 25 minute drive at best at school times. I think you you are looking at nice places to live, Berowra/Mt Kuringai/Mt Colah/Asquith/Hornsby Heights so much cheaper than anywhere from Hornsby south and there are some lovely close to the bush areas, particularly Berowra, Asquith and Hornsby Heights I think. Did you write off Asquith boys/girls or visit those too? I know it might seem weird having so many single sex schools but it’s very common in Sydney. Both have good reps and will be convenient geographically. I believe going out of catchment for high schools is not that hard except for the really sought after ones (only really applies to Killara of the comprehensives around here for some reason, and all the selective schools) because lots of kids go private for secondary school. So pick where you want to live, and pick a school you like where the travelling won’t be horrendous, after a quick check with the schools direct on their catchment policy/reality

All just shows how stupid the initial populist, no consultation idiotic announcement in April was Australian governments are prone to making this sort of bad policy on the hoof and then backtracking. Fundamental weakness in the civil service IMO. They need a few Sir Humphreys saying “are you sure you want to be so courageous, Minister?”

Last day of our summer hols up the coast today. Went out for a run at 5.30, on the way back at 6.15 caught a beaut sunrise. Shame about the crap phone camera

Loxley valley just outside Sheffield. Looks and feels like one of the more well-known Peak District dales (because it is), but almost no tourist presence as it's on the wrong side of the watershed (river flows east to the Don instead of south to the Derwent). Although come to think of it all the river valleys on the west side of Sheffield are pretty lovely, and almost completely unknown (except to Sheffielders) High & Low Bradfield. Cricket ground in the valley is a little slice of heaven, fab place to play Pubs and bistro/restaurants in the back streets off Mill Rd, Cambridge. Cambridge is brilliant for pubs in general but this area is particularly rich in them - and totally off the tourist trail. Enough material here for 2 days of pub crawls The cycle over the Bwlch pass at the top of the Rhondda, from the Nantymoel side. Possibly the easiest col you'll ever cycle up (OK, you still have to climb, right?) but a great view and feeling at the top

You can get away with it, but only if you do not have a "driver record" with RMS (basically, if you don't have a car registered in your name) If you have a driver record then whilst the points won't go on your UK licence, they will go on your driver record and when you get a NSW licence they transfer them over If you don't have a driver record then they just get lost I know this for a fact because my wife picked up 4 points for 3 offences in the first six months driving cars registered to my driver record; 2 x 1 point speeding offences, which I just paid because I couldn't be a45ed with a stat dec to say it wasn't me. Money all comes from the same place anyway. And 1 x 2 point "no right turn" offence, which I did do a stat dec for because I was annoyed with her, so made her "take" them Time comes to get NSW licences, I cop for the 2 points that are on my driver record, and hers is spotless. Which is annoying in a really minor way If you don't want to cop for points, don't get a car rego in your name and you'll be clear

View from the restaurant terrace on recent summer holiday....

Not a lot of difference between a plate grill and frying, is there?

Not here....so perhaps the thing "people need to know about Australia" is that many (most) laws are set by the state, not by the commonwealth. Driving rules especially so, and states also differ in terms of their enforcement policies. So be careful when it comes to laws of assuming that what gives in, say, NT, applies similarly in TAS. It may well not

I have. Common terminology here (am a runner and member of a running club, it seems to be the word most use). Perhaps it varies state to state?

As above. UK HMRC have got really hot on it, I think it's driven by the amount of people buying stuff cheap online from the US and shipping it. Just not worth it any more Order online from the UK and get it delivered. Pointless sending anything from here these days

In answer to the OP, I don't regret moving here but there are other things I miss that aren't family & friends - mainly for me it's the buzz and energy around business in London that doesn't exist to anywhere near the same extent here in Sydney. Partially as a result, the jury is still out as to whether or not it's been a good career move. Most of the physical things about England (countryside, historic towns/villages etc) I sort of miss but not badly because they'll still be there if/when we go back. I miss a few cultural things as well but not nearly enough to regret the move. In the main it's a really nice and easy place to live and with a huge amount to see and do. I possibly "regret" not being in a life position to buy a 4x4 and bugger off around Australia for 12 months exploring more than I regret anything else. The thing is, however much you speak to and gauge others' opinions, you can't be sure how it will make you feel until you try. And when you do try I definitely think you have to do it with a positive frame of mind and not compare back too much (be it in prices, working practices, whatever) I like this post. We aren't intending to stay for good, that's not why we came here, so for me "home" will always be England (this isn't my first move overseas by a long chalk fwiw). But I think the above shows a really good mindset. Love the last two sentences in particular! I wish people would stop posting this. It's just a big fat assumption, none of us has any idea as to whether or not the positive/negative experiences shown on here are representative of the experiences of those who emigrate in general. And you're hardly coming from an objective viewpoint Bob