TGW1221

Thank you for your response but I just wanted a simple answer, not a lecture!

Thank you Team Edwards for your supportive response. (Unlike the other two) As usual certain persons assume they know all about your background and circumstances. I just wanted a simple answer. Good luck to you in Aussie land and thanks again! TGW

Thank you for you response but you dont know our circumstances and I just wanted my question answered not a lecture!

Can anyone help with this scenario? We came out to Oz in August as me and my husbands permanent residency visas expired in September. Our two year old son's visa is still in process and we've been told it will be issued in December. Our problem is, that we are expected to take him out of the country for 3 days before Feb 8th 2014 to validate his visa. The expense is becoming ridiclous. On top of just extending his tourist visa to the tune of $335. I will have to take him to maybe New Zealand (or wherever is cheapest) on my own and pay for flights, hotels and a return residency visa for myself, another $335. We did ask for advice on this before we applied for his visa in the Uk and we were told the best option was to apply off shore? Has anyone else come across this problem recently and is there away around it? If there isn't, we seriously have to weigh up our options of staying here. Thanks peeps

Hi, can you please explain why the mobile company's state 'data within Australia'? Isn't data, just data? Just looking for a good pre pay sim to include international sms and a reasonable amount of data. Everytime I think I've found what I'm looking for, the small print states 'data useage in Australia' Many thanks

Hi, we've just secured a rental in Moggill. Our temp accommodation landlady was happy for us to use her address as a reference and to give her details. We also put together a pack which included our mortgage statements back home (Renting UK house out) to prove regular payments. I also asked our UK letting agent for an email to prove we are renting our property. The biggest help is a payslip, which you can obviously supply. We supplied a few references from home too. We opened an account with Bankwest (it was the convenience, they open saturdays and sundays) they were also happy to open our account using our temp accommodation address. I'm sure you'll be fine. Good luck.

Hi, I worried a lot about hub getting a job and he was lucky, although there are plenty of carpentry jobs advertised. He checked out seek.com.au regularly and you can also try the local newspapers in the place you want to settle. bare in mind, a lot of employers want you to start straight away, so if your tools are stuck on a container for 6 weeks.......! Hub bought a load of new tools here as most of them are cheaper so he had a few to start with and the guys on his site are happy to lend tools to help each other out. first thing I would say is to get an Aussie sim card for your phone so get it unblocked in the UK. A lot of people here won't return your calls if they have to ring a UK mobile number. Hub tops his up with $30 a month and he gets quite a good deal with Vodaphone. I don't know if you're selling up to come here but we rent our house out in the UK. I'm glad we did as it is expensive out here and it will feel like you're constantly spending to get by. Aldi are one of the cheaper supermarkets and there are some good butchers and fishmongers out here plus fruit and veg markets. Just ask around for the best places and you will find doing that cheaper. We've been told by the Aussie's the work is around Brisbane and it's getting better. His workmates were on $44 per hour before the recession hit and now it's $33. Not great but okay. Better to work for yourself. I'm sure you've done lots of research yourself so I won't waffle on much longer. We stayed in Narangba near North Lakes for a couple of weeks but the area wasn't for us. Some nice houses but they were so close together and North Lakes is like a maze to drive around and the traffic coming away from the city during rush hour north bound is terrible. The upside, North Lakes will have a Costco and Ikea going in soon. You'll find you will rely on other peoples kindness like we have had to. That's not a bad thing. If you need a nice, reasonably cheap place to stay, try looking on http://www.stayz. com.au. as soon as you have a date, try and book on there. Some are a lot cheaper than hotels and you will have all your mod cons etc. We stayed with a lovely Scottish family in Narangba. Hub said pm for our email address and when you arrive, he'll try and hook you up with some work. We are going into our rental in a place called Moggill towards Pine Mountain on Wednesday at last! No more living out of suitcases . Moggill is about 35 mins from Brisbane city, so handy for work and the airport. It's in the countryside with a village feel. I could tell you some places to avoid but I don't want to offend anyone, so pm me if you want to know :wink: Good luck to you and your family.

Hi Dazeybear I've been here 6 weeks too and feel exactly the same as you. I'm hoping it will pass as I'm an older stay at home mum with a two year old boy. if hub didn't want to come out here, I wouldn't be here now but I said I would give it a go. I'm just glad we didn't sell our house in the UK. like you, I did a lot of research into costs etc but quite frankly, I'm fed up of shelling out money. I've become very philosophical about the move and emigrating in general. It's not for everyone and you shouldn't feel guilty for not loving it here. I hope things will get easier for you (and me ) if not, it's back to old blighty with an experience under our belts and knowing that we gave it a go! Best wishes TW

Thank you! Hub was very lucky to find a job 3 days after arriving in Brisbane

Hi everyone Does anyone know of any carpentry work available in Brisbane (preferably long term). We are moving there on a permanent residency visa in August. We are flexible with the area. 25 years experience, excellent references. Looking to start work Mid September when container arrives. Many thanks all!! Neil & Teri

Hi Katy We stopped in Torquay when we went to Australia in 2009. It was lovely!! Good choice!! I did think about taking my car as everyone tells us that the cars hold their price in Aus? I never even looked into it. Do you have to pay a lot at the other end?? I know what you mean about the job stress. I will be glad when Hub has secured a job. I'll be at home for a while with our nearly two year old son unless I can find something, working from home. I hope you sort your car insurance out, like you say, something seems to crop up everyday. We'll all hopefully breath a huge sigh of relief when we get on the plane Terri x

Me again! just did a quick quote with 'Insure your move' and they were more expensive. They charge 1.4% of your consignment value whereas Letton charge 1.3% but as you say there is no excess to pay. So, I guess you have to weigh up the odds of your goods getting damaged or going missing. Decisions, decisions!! Head hurts now Kind regards Terri

Thank you Katy for responding. That's interesting and I will definitely get a quote from them. The wording in the email I received from Letton Percival was as follows: 'There is a standard policy excess of £250.00 each & every claim (In other words, £250.00 is the maximum amount that will be deducted from your claim).' What part of Aus are you heading for? We are off to Brisbane eventually. A short holiday in Perth first (our first holiday in 4 years) then staying with family in Canberra for two weeks. Just need to find a carpentry job for hub first in Brisbane, so we know where we can settle for a while. Good luck with the house sale and your future in Aus!!! Terri

Thank you very much for your reply!! We've had a quote from Letton Percival, so it's good to know that they are competitive, so I'll think we'll stick with them. Must get back to my packing Good look with your big move. We are off on the 19th of August!! Kind regards