Rob the luthier

A quick update... just returned from the expo in Glasgow with mixed feelings, the place was just too busy to be given quality time from the experts, i mean standing in a queue for over an hour at the visa stand to get 2 minutes advice from a bloke who was stressed out by the amount of people he had to see,lol... it was'nt all that bad though, found out a few things we didnt know about visa's, the seminars where informative and quite entertaining. If we where planning on moving to Newzealand the expo would have been more worthwhile as the majority of the people wanted to go to Oz leaving poor N/Z and Canada stands in the shade,lol... Was it worth it...yes if we didnt have to travel 200 miles and spend a fortune, we also took the kids who are 9 & 12 which was a big mistake as they where bored to tears... So good luck at the Birmingham show...

Hi, yes we are attending the down under expo in Glasgow 16th feb, im 41 and my partner is 37 and i too thought we where maybe a little old to do this but my partner had a work colleague also a nurse who moved to Cairns a couple of years ago and she was 50 then, she's a citizen now and doing well, so fingers crossed. I also have 2 kids who both where adamant they wouldnt go but now they cant wait thank god,lol... Good luck and i hope all goes well for you...

Thanks for all your help guys, your info is really appreciated and helpfull, i will be going to the expo on the strength of my partner being a nurse so i have my fingers crossed...

Hi, im not sure if im posting in the right part but here goes, me and the family are going to an Oz/Newzealand immigration fair in a weeks time in Glasgow and im wondering if these shows are worthwhile, do they help and should we take all our papers certificates,qualifications etc with us, we dont want to jump the gun and look daft turning up with all our docs, but on the other hand its a 200 mile trip so dont want to go under prepared... Anyone any advice, it would be greatly appreciated... :err:

@ Dahousie... Thanks this helps enormously, i think most luthiers around the globe are suffering in some way because of the mass produced Chinese instruments, i hate to admit it but there quality is a lot better than it used to be, i still favour making steel string acoustics so will maybe stay on that line, im fortunate enough to not be the main earner in our family so that eases the pressure slightly, lol... I also had a job offer from Maton guitars in 2008 but back then the rest of my family where not ready to move to Oz, thanks for the info though and i will check out these links you have given me...Regards Rob...:biggrin:

Lol, i make steel string acoustics, classicals, mandolins etc, and im about to venture into the world of fiddle making, i havent got a web site at the moment but i really need to look into one, i have a page on facebook under R.M. guitars...

Cheers Swampfox i sure will take up your offer on that advice... :biggrin:

Lol, i make steel string acoustics, classicals, mandolins etc, and im about to venture into the world of fiddle making, i havent got a web site at the moment but i really need to look into one, i have a page on facebook under R.M. guitars... :biggrin:

Thanks for all your info guys all very encouraging. We really dont know where to start with the whole process of moving - visa, job, schools, housing, healthcare... the list is endless! looking at the internet sometimes just makes things more complicated:huh: . I am 40 and the OH is 36...

Cheers Ali, any info at the moment helps a lot...:biggrin:

So the other half is determined to move from Scotland to Australia to be closer to her brother, she is a nurse and we can get into Australia on her back but im a self employed guitar maker trying to build a name for myself, i guess my question is can i live in Australia with my partner and kids on her work visa and continue pursuing my career as a self employed guitar maker or do i need some other kind of visa or permit... any advice would be much appreciated... Regards Rob the luthier...:huh:

Thanks guys, i feel a bit more positive now...:biggrin:

Hello all, just found this great forum and looking forward to being a part of it, my name is Rob but have been always called by my 2nd name which is appropriate for wanting to move to Australia "Shane Mitchell"lol, i come from a small fishing town called Eyemouth which is located in the Scottish borders, i am a self employed guitar maker, i have to lovely daughters 12 & 9 and my partner Gina, i am hoping to gain some advice from members of this site, we are going to an imigration fair in Edinburgh on the 23rd september to get the ins and out of moving to Australia, we are hoping to gain entry through the stength of my partners career, she is a qualified nurse and currently is a manager of a care home looking after the elderly, she is 36 yrs old and im 40, i am worrying because of my age and profession that i may be the weak link that spoils everyones chances of moving, my partners brother is now an Australian citizen and is a recruitment manager in Sydney, i dont know if this will help our cause, we are quite open minded about location, and im sure nurses are still in demand, i applied for work about 4 yeas ago at Maton guitars in Melbourne which was great as they offered to sponsor me, but i had to decline this offer as the family was'nt ready to leave, now i am 40 with an unusual trade im wondering will this be enough for our family to start a new life down under, any help or advice would be greatly appreciated... Regards Rob...:smile: