JEM44

What size dogs would they be suitable for please? Laura

Hi, we are now counting down, a year to the day that we plan to move!! Although I'm hoping a friend will keep the girls for a few weeks to give us time to find a rental. I want to do as much as I can myself in getting my two Bichons ready for their trip and want to make sure I do everything I need. They em have just had their annual booster, just the regular things I guess so is there anything specific I need to make sure they are vaccinated against and start their rabies work? my vet does the rabies vaccinations but has said they no longer check that it's a negative result, however I know this is necessary does it need to be sent somewhere specific? Thanks laura (Candy & Penny)

Hi, I have the Audio CD for IELTS if anyone wants it. It was originally part of a set but someone took the book ages ago so if anyone wants the CD I think it's just the audio tests, I will post it out tomorrow. If not it'll be going in the bin!

Thank you guys, clearly Singapore is the only contender!

Hi, we are finally counting down until we make the big move, May 2016 so will be looking for flights really soon. I want to stop over somewhere for a few days to break the journey up. On our visa activation trip we had 24 hours in Abu Dhabi (Etihad flights were delayed) which we were actually thankful for as it broke the trip nicely. So we started thinking rather than flying all the way with just a few hours stop over, we'd take the opportunity to see somewhere for 2-3 days. We we will be flying Manchester to Perth so are looking for some suggestions of great places to visit with two teenagers. Thanks Laura

I would have, but I'm just outside of Liverpool so a bit far, plus I've two Bichon Frise, soone box maybe too big and one too small. Starting Rabies work next month. Thanks

No, I don't think they are which seems unfair. I could be wrong though. It's a few years since I looked but I ended up doing a course distance learning with a regular university.

That's great news and is a no brainer. Thank you. We will add mats and sleeping bags to the list of things to take! Good luck with your move and thank you.

Hi, just looking for some "general" advice. We we are moving next year from the North West UK to Perth, we have a 4 bed house so I'm assuming that we will ship all furniture, will need a 20ft container, so guess we budget for £10k, does this sound about right? Im also going to cost up what it would cost to just buy new when we arrive, although think this will be too expensive, and whilst I would probably look on Gumtree, I can't budget that way as you can't guarantee prices or availability of goods. And heres my dilemma question,,.... Assuming we get a holiday rental for a month, then get an unfurnished rental but our shipment will take a minimum of 6 weeks, what do people do for beds, bedding, crockery etc? Do you just buy them new again as I'd thought we would ship them, but now think we'd need them before they arrived?! thanks, Laura

Thanks for all the comments, I do also want to do the trip because I love to travel. My concern initially is that I didn't want the dogs flying again, but they are used to long road trips so should be ok. My kids and hubby are also used to me wanting to drive everywhere, longest we have done before now is UK north west through Europe for two weeks and USA west coast to East coast! The $4k was for the company booking the accommodation and itinerary (assuming you drove in a car and stayed at hotels) but I want to do it in a camper van so it would just be RV parks and we will do our own itinerary, unless someone already has an itinerary they have used from previously doing this trip that they could share? Ive been googling all weekend and am rather looking forward to it! Thanks Laura x

Hi there, I am starting to organise our plans for our move next year, including shipping our two dogs to quarantine in Sydney. I don't really want to then put them on another flight after ten days stuck in a kennel, and thought it might be nice to all (2 adults and 2 teenagers) from Perth to Sydney to meet the dogs, hire a camper van and take a few weeks to drive back.mthis could be our last trip before both hubby and I start work. Ive found a company called drive Oz who will give you a 24 day itinerary and book accommodation all for the princely sum of $4000. So so in an attempt to plan (and save money) I was wondering if anyone had done this previously and could offer advice. Time will be about May 2016 so the weather should not be toooo hot!! thanks Laura

I checked constantly then one day I woke up to an email so it was all a waste of time to keep checking. it is hard but try and not think about it. Good luck

I'd say that kids who will do well, do so anywhere, however, they will do better again in a better environment. That is just common sense and the fact you are even asking the questions means you partially believe that too. You have an opportunity to set them on the best track, why would your desire to help build a school community be more important than choosing the best school. School B can build a community with its other kids who weren't preoccupied by this dilemma. Good luck.

Hi Rebecca, I have PR with that category, however did not find it easy. Degree was not classed as relevant, they do not recognise NEBOSH, I have 13 years as a H&S Manager with a blue chip company, none of which was relevant. So..... I had to do my MSc in Occupational and Environmental Health and Safety Management, thought that was fine, but then had to complete twelve months work experience POST my MSc. They wouldn't count any of my previous experience which was very frustrating. In the end I got our PR granted two weeks before my 40th birthday (at which point I would have lost 5 points and then would have needed another two years work experience!). We have just activated our visas and are planning to make the move May 2016. I am am worried about work prospects when we move as I have no Australian experience, so will have my fingers firmly crossed! Laura

Thanks for all your responses. Just to answer Jacaranda's question. Yes I could pay for everything with cash however there is no benefit to me to do this. By using my M&S credit card, I have no debt (because I always pay my bill) and no charges but I benefit because for every pound I spend they give me a point. And what do points make? Prizes, or in this case vouchers for M&S so since I have been doing this, almost 10 years, I have. Never once spent a penny on my kids school uniforms. So the benefit is i "earn" almost £1000 a year for doing nothing except shopping smartly. Laura

Hi there, well we are now at 15 months and counting until we make ythe move to Perth and I have another question..... In the UK I buy eveerything on my M&S credit card (and pay it all off that month so no charges) as I save the M&S vouchers for money spent, this pays for my kids school uniforms every year so they in effect work out free of charge to me. I also (not very often) have used the 0% balance transfer cards (last time covered our visa application bill and activation trip) so that 1: I don't have to have the cash saved before we do anything, and 2: we don't incur charges. Question is, does Australia have similar credit card options. Thanks, Laura

Thanks for all your help, looks like it's one more thing to add to the budget! Our orthodontist said it wasn't a straight forward case,might have to chose between nice teeth and college!!!!

Sadly they can't take it out, they have to let the adult tooth finish growing!

Thanks for that. I will have to send him out to work!! Cant get get it done on the NHS now due to this baby tooth, unless I leave him behind, which to be fair would save me a fortune lol thankfully my daughter gets her braces off next month.

Hi, we have a 14 year old who is about 12/18 months away from having braces fitted, he still has a baby tooth which needs to come out before they will start straightening them. Question is, we are due to emigrate not long after this time and I wonder what others have done with their kids treatment? is it quite simple to find an orthodontist and is this covered on Medicare or is it a case of paying privately or do you need medical insurance etc? Thanks laura xx

Why do you need this? I'm curious as I was planning on moving a month before we send our dogs son wonder will we be in the same situation coming to Oz? But out if you need this, how do breeders get round importing new stock dogs that usually travel unaccompanied?

Sorry if this is a silly question, but what is immigration insurance?

Did she at least use the company to move her dog before landing a job with them? In that case it could be a genuine satisfied customer comment. Although I guess should say: great service and then they employed me!

I think it depends on the person. I used to have a very thick local accent which I lost quickly many years ago when we moved to the USA as no one could understand me. I moved back to the UK with an American accent. We then moved to New Zealand and again I returned to the UK with a bit of a mix. I'm now 41 and will be 42 when we move but I'm super worried and here's why.... I have a tendency (and even do it here with people from the USA and NZ (Oz too) without realising I mimick their accents, I think I just fall back into the habit from years ago. It's awful because I don't notice that I do it, but my kids do and think I'm crazy, then I panic incase the person I'm talking to notices and just thinks im down right rude!!! So so it just depends on the person I guess?!

Does anyone know if WA have a similar thing? We activated our visa in July 2014, but all we did was go on holiday. I never filled anything in. We plan to move mid 2016, so do I do these type of forms then??? Hope ive not done it wrong!