Weezey49

Hi, we have just left Darwin. Rosebery is a great area. Schools are good. Durack is also a good area and lovely to walk around the lake. Bakewell school is good and the daycare next to it is where my two boys were before we left. Palmerston on the whole is a nice area to live. Half an hour by car in to Darwin. The Waterfront in Darwin is great at the weekend. Safe to swim as it is fenced off. Beaches in the NT aren't the best. You can't swim in the sea because of the crocs. Also be careful when swimming out at Berry Springs due to crocs. The wildlife park at Berry Springs is worth a visit. But you need a 4WD to see the best of the rest of the area. You are too late this year for the markets as they are only on during the dry season. But come April you could try Mindel Beach markets on a Thursday and Sunday afternoon/evening. Give me a shout if you need any further info. We lived there for 2 1/2 years as my OH's family live there

Fab chippy in Tin Can Bay, QLD. I've been here 2 1/2 years and can honestly say that hated the F&C when I first got here. But after a trip back to UK last year and eating Rock & Chips, "Chinese" and other food I am now a complete convert to the Aussie F&C. The only issue is the Chicken Salt. Some of them put on far too much. But if you ask for only a sprinkle then ohhhhh. The "Chinese" take away in the UK is awful compared to what you get here. Though maybe living in Darwin and eating some of the best Thai and Malay food has again made me a bit biased.

Kerry, we are also in the midst of deciding "go or stay". Have been in Brisbane now for 3mths and no jobs for either of us. We both left jobs in Darwin to move down here for a "better" life and cheaper housing. The houses are cheaper but with no jobs we still can't buy. My OH is Australian and his family are all over OZ. We have a house back in SE UK and my family. We also have family visiting us for xmas and are in a rental lease until Mar 13. Gonna give it til then and if no jobs we are moving back to UK. I also feel a sense of relief when I think of going home. Only thing that will stop us is for one of us to get a job here. With regards "friends" I made loads in Darwin. It is by far one of the friendliest places I have ever been to. Here I feel that the other mums in the park are looking at me with "interloper" and "foreigner" in their eyes. My sons keep asking when their friends are coming round and I have explain that their friends are in Darwin. It makes me cry just to type this. My OH says that he can live in UK and I really believe that I will be so much happier back there.

Thanks for the advice. Has given us some more things to consider about our "maybe" move back to uk.

Hi, I'm here on a class 100 spouse visa with permanent residency and have been here for over 2 1/2 years. We are now thinking of going home due to lots of things (too many to mention). I haven't been able to get citizenship yet as I haven't been here for 4 years but if we went back to the UK and then decided to come back to Oz how long would I have to wait before I can apply for citizenship? Do I have to start the 4 years again or does my current time get taken in to account? Both hubby and kids have citizenship through birth and by descent.

Toowong, Indooroopilly, Bardon and Ashgrove are quiet expensive rents. Jindalee, Kenmore or maybe a bit further out would be cheaper Most areas around here are nice but it does depend on what you are looking for. There are a few of us poms around here to meet up with for a coffee etc once you get here

Hi, we are in Forest Lake and have 2 boys of 4 and 2. We know no one here yet and would love to meet up with other mums for a coffee / chat / playdate. :biggrin: