HappyHeart

On 26/03/2023 at 17:09, steveshe said:

I agree , so much negativity all the time . When we get as bad as the UK then its time to worry,  but we are nowhere near like that . 

I don’t think that is a fair comment. Much as I love Australia. Shit still stinks here. It’s all extremely subjective 

On 22/03/2023 at 13:54, Bobj said:

Here we go again! Same garbage spouted when a young couple want to start a new life in a country they love.

@Blue Flujust put a sock in it, mate, all you seem to do is whinge about everyrhing Austalian and then rabbit on about global politics.

Get out of the rut and enjoy life, there’s a good lad.

Cheers, Bobj.

Omg. Straight talk. Don’t over complicate it. I like your style Bob. 

Without even reading the post fully my answer is go. You’re a bloody long time dead. 

I can’t offer anything other than my own experience. I never had any moments of panic. Not that I can recall. Going ‘back’ was never a consideration, from when we landed to this day (14 years on) It wasn’t easy and my husband was out of work for the first 6 months. We had nowhere to live after the 6 week rental and managed to sign a 6 month lease at the last minute. We had very little money and lived week to week. Despite this, we never really questioned our decision? I wonder if for those that do- you should listen to that inner voice? I’m with others though in that you have to at least give it a shot. I think if I got to 6-12 months and still felt uneasy it’d be a no brainer. 

As for learning in year 1, she won’t get behind. Focus on what she’s learning outside of the curriculum. There are many years for her to worry about formal education. Year 1 isn’t it. Life experiences are where it’s at at that age. Not reading and writing. 
 

You could return at any stage in the next 3 or 4 years and she’d be fine. 

Planning a Europe trip next year and wondering has anyone travelled from Spain to UK on the train? Reasons we are considering this is to see more cities on the way to Manchester, ie Paris/London. Is it feasible with a big case in tow?

I do skyscanner for options then book direct with airline

On 31/01/2022 at 13:30, samlab said:

Prescriptions- I’ve found the cheapest to be the larger chains like chemist warehouse. They buy larger quantities and can sell cheaper.

Went to a local pharmacy recently as it was more convenient and ended up paying $85 instead of the usual $50 

Most places will price match 

28 minutes ago, Bobj said:

Thanks to @HappyHeart, I remembered a barramundi session in the Ord River, below the radial gates one Good Friday many years ago.**

I went to the river's edge below the gates and as it was just after The Wet, the barra were congregating at thebottom, in front of the gates and, due to the force of water coming out ofthe first gate, the barra could not get up into the dam. 

I cast a lure into the edge of the maelstrom and caught and landed a barra, That was the first of 10 barra, all weighing 16 lb. I cleaned them, put them in the back of the ute, went home and shoved them in the deep freezer. On the following Tuesday,I had to go to Hall’s Creek for work andput the barra in eskies then, on the way to Hall’s Creek, dropped them off at a couple of Main Roads camps to supplement the blokes’ diet

** Just remembered, it was 1968

Cheers, Bobj. 

1968?!? I can’t remember 2008

47 minutes ago, Bobj said:

Not been  to the Kimberlies, then?  @HappyHeart

God’s own country, full of barramundi fishing,..

Cheers, Bobj.

 

No we were so limited Bob, by time mainly. We plan to buy another van in our more senior years so the adventuring is not quite over! Just need to pay off these damn mortgages first....

1 hour ago, ramot said:

The only thing poor about camping in Cornwall would be the pouring rain!! It rained almost every day the last time we had a family holiday there, and we never went back for another family holiday. Go back most visits back to UK as I have family there, and when the sun shines it’s a really lovely place.

Camping in Australia can be the same

We sold our caravan recently partly as that was too cold and miserable for me in all but the hottest months. Perth can be so cold in the early mornings and nighttime! Rainy too! 

1 hour ago, Toots said:

What do you mean?  I would imagine there are a few people enjoy camping in Cornwall.  What's "being poor" got to do with it?

I was thinking the same?! Cornwall is beautiful isn’t it? I only went twice but remember it being lovely. 

On 29/11/2021 at 17:02, Paul1Perth said:

My wife had a skin cancer removed from her lleg when we'd been here about a month and has had a couple more removed from her back. All non malignant. The one on her leg had been there years and just about the first visit to a doc here he said he didn't like the look of it. Only looked like a small mole but they took a chunk out.

I think all the damage was done i our younger days in Spain, Portugal and Greece with no sunscreen and you hadn't got your moneys worth if you didn't get 8 hours in the sun.

If it was a skin cancer it was malignant. That’s what cancer is- no such thing as a benign cancer. She’d do well to cover up at the beach with that history. 

On 18/01/2022 at 15:11, Bobj said:

The only beach I ever liked in England was Blackpool Pleasure Beach! (1956)
Spent more time on Rotto beaches than Perth beaches, that was in 1964. Some of the beaches around Bussleton/Dunsborough are really beaut. 
Cheers, Bobj.

I loved Blackpool as a child. The pleasure beach was a favourite day out. When we went for a last hurrah before we emigrated we were bitterly disappointed 

I was in Aldi one time around Christmas and overheard a woman asking the sales assistant for a recommendation for an ‘oaky’ Chardonnay. That being one of my faves I interjected and pointed one out to her that I think is good- I think it’s around $15 a bottle. Which is exceedingly cheap for anything that has been in oak for more than 5 minutes. She turns to me, and in a loud Yorkshire accent almost shouts - ‘I’m not paying that much!!! You can get them cheaper than that!’ 
I thought - good luck with that one then- bloody tightarse lol 

Their award winning champagne and sparkling wine is my go to. 

The pictured bottle is under $8 and the Monsigny champagne is really good for $20

I haven't tried the cheap, cheap.bottles but I will revisit them. Used to drink cleanskin when we arrived but moved onto more pricey bottles, my tastes changed. We get a lot of Margaret River wines at Aldi in WA, not sure if its the same in other states. 

23 hours ago, Bulya said:

No F1 in Sydney and it’s boring as..

I don't know the difference between F1 and motor sport. Sounds like it'd be the same. Cars racing each other. Dullsville.

4 hours ago, Parley said:

I have developed a liking for a bottle of Shiraz at $6 a bottle from my local BWS.

The trouble is I drink the whole bottle on my own in one sitting.

Probably not great for my liver. Not every day but has crept up to about 4 times a week.

Way too much Parley. Try to cut down to 3 x week as a start and don't drink the while bottle. Using a smaller glass.helps. Go get some bloods done to see how your liver is faring.

17 minutes ago, Toots said:

It's about 20 mins depending on traffic from the airport to Sydney CBD.  Should cost approx. $45.

Not too bad

6 minutes ago, Toots said:

Ideal location for a weekend stay.

My neighbours stayed at a B&B in a terrace house very close to the Rocks @ 56C Gloucester Street walking distance to all the harbour/bridge/opera house.sights.

I think that's what we need. 

1 hour ago, Bulya said:

We’re staying in Sydney next Saturday but we booked to be reasonably close to Eastern Creek.  Unless you’re interested in motor sports I don’t think you’d call it ‘close to attractions’. 

Oh my- I won’t tell my son. He’s developed an interest in F1 that I do not share. 

2 hours ago, Marisawright said:

I think the suggestion of Bondi Junction is a good one.  Very easy to get into the city on the train and you're also close to all the Eastern Suburbs beaches.  Bondi is the most famous but a real young persons' hangout and the other beaches are more family-friendly IMO.   Coogee used to have some great restaurants and cafes, Watson's Bay is great (book at Doyles if you're feeling rich but if not, I think having a pub lunch at the hotel is even nicer, or you can even buy something at the kiosk and eat it on the beach).  

It won’t be a beach trip. We’re from WA! Say no more! I’ll be with my older teenage son and he’s into city stuff plus we’ll only have a weekend. I’m not averse to staying outside of the city but for a first trip where we won’t have a clue and limited time to find things it may be easier to stay central. 

23 minutes ago, Marisawright said:

The question is, what do you mean by "attractions"?    I loved Sydney as a place to live, but (for me at least) once you've seen the Harbour Bridge and the Harbour, you've seen "the sights". 

So it really depends what else you want to see.   

Airport to city is not far at all.   If there's more than one of you, it's cheaper to take a taxi than take the train, because there's a silly surcharge on the train over and above the normal fare. 

Never been so the bridge and all the touristy stuff

Can anyone recommend a good place to stay/hotel in Sydney? Mid price and close to attractions. Also how far from airport to city? 

6 hours ago, Blue Flu said:

As for accommodation the Dutch Windmill has been recommended by a couple of people. I've no experience of it, but reading on line seems to confirm what I was told. Although it seems that the dining options are no more. 

If me, probably would combine staying in SR with a few nights in Albany. I can recommend the caravan park (camping, chalets as well as camping) at Middleton Beach. Heated  pool in winter. A spa , seconds from the beach, some decent eating establishments close by and walks.  

We.need pet friendly. Isn't it an hour or more from Albany to.Stirling ranges? So Albany better than Denmark or in between, somewhere east of Albany better? Might try and do 5 nights and stay Albany way as suggested. 

Will have to do a bit more research as to where to stay. Only stayed once years ago and son did a school camp- I think they climbed Mount Toolbronup. Not familiar with the area at all but son is very keen to return and do some hiking and climbing. 
Be able to explore a lot more widely once we have a permanent base down south.