Huntersmummy

Well thanks to everyone who commented and we took advice and went round visiting some lovely places. It wasn’t all that bad. 
But can I reiterate, ANYTHING I put in here it solely my opinion based on my situation. I don’t go out to offend folks as a few are very patriotic about OZ and the private messages telling me I’m wrong, I should go home if I don’t like it blah blah blah…

IM TRYING!!  

If it was that easy. I am one of the folk who hasn’t adjusted to being here and only trying to help folk in the same bubble as me that life isn’t always bubbly and unicorns and shiny after making such a big decision. 
That doesn’t mean to say I hate here. It’s just not home. Darwin or Perth. But I make the best out of a bad situation and try my low brow humour to help. 
But this will be my last post anyways. Good luck to all who move and sincerely, all the love in the world on your day to day sh!t.

2 hours ago, SophW said:

Hi @Huntersmummy

I've bee somewhat obsessed with this forum since me and my husband had our delayed honeymoon to Oz in June. I noticed in previous posts that you wanted to return to the UK - do you mind me asking what made you stay in Oz all these years later? 

I'm sure living in Oz is nothing like a two week honeymoon, but boy did we have an incredible time!  X

Hey!

Congrats firstly for your marriage!

So to cut a long story short, during my previous light hearted posts…I’ve struggled a bit since moving here. Living in Darwin for years then Perth seemed tempting. Perth FOR ME, wasn’t greener. Plus having to stay here due to the husband not wanting to go back….good ole hauge convention law which prevents me from taking the kids back without a lengthy court battle. So yeah that’s why I’m still here, being a indecisive fart in the wind of making the best out of a situation. ✌ 

I have researched to a degree! Of course what Mandurah has to offer. It’s not a definite. My jobs based there so until we get down there and have a scout around. 
we literally landed in darwin, viewed our current house, got it within 3 days and the rest is history. I might be in the hope of that happening again. 
In fairness, seeing the drug use here on a daily basis is almost the normal. More the indigenous but the white population has its fair share. 
I’ve had 25 kick outs in a 3 hour shift. Multiple break ins. Baggies in the toilet. Assaults. All in one week. 
I guess it’s where you are in darwin.

I arrived 7 years ago not knowing where Australia was on the map!!! Let alone knowing the slap in the face cultural differences. Oh my goodness! 
Think of it as an opportunity with a clean slate. No one knows you here. You can grab a job and start fresh. New friends, new apartment, new hobbies. Life is what you WANT to make it. 
It’s a huge stress getting used to a different way of life that your used to. You might start finding things that you never got to experience back home that you love?! 
If your in Darwin before I leave, I know a super coffee shop with the biggest croissants

Hello guys!!

I was an old time annoyance on this site after I moved from Scotland to Darwin but that was 7 years ago!

Now after spending 7 years in Darwin. Let me just say what an experience…

Not my cup of tea if I’m honest. Beautiful places, met some wonderful people but it’s a place….in my opinion, if your born and bred here, your fine. I had a very hard time adjusting from life in Scotland. Darwins brutal. No middle ground, they either hate you or like you. The heat, the wet season, the locals who don’t like ANYONE from outside Darwin. (I work in a pub so I hear it all the time)
So anyways, kids, husband and I have decided to move down to Mandurah. 
Never been to Perth before or anywhere outside of Darwin. 
We literally picked a place on the map and said yup! That’ll do!

So we’re leaving May 5th. 
Any advice on what it’s like there and if anyone from there would fancy meeting up when we arrive

Sarah

Thanks to all you wonderful people for your advice and support. Really does tickle my pickle xxxxx

Had a restounding bit of good news which I don’t wanna jinx but husband has said 

“wait till we get our citizenship so this opportunity wouldn’t be wasted”

”let’s get out of debt first (credit card debt back home he’s still paying) and we’ll go from there” 

So it’s now not a definite NO.......

If I believed in Jesus I’d be toasting him a drink  

12 hours ago, Toots said:

I'm really sorry about everything that's gone wrong for you Huntersmummy.  I used to enjoy reading your posts - you always had such a great sense of humour in spite of disliking living in Darwin.  Have to say - Darwin wouldn't  be my cup of tea either.   I hope you manage to come to some sort of agreement with your husband about your children.

xx

Ahaha it was always a pleasure putting a smile on faces with my posts.

ahhhhh making it work for the time being.....just sucks kangaroo balls having to share responsibility with another person  especially when kids are involved.

i could always just spike his morning cuppa with female hormones, let him grow titties and convince him the only place he’ll get treatment iS in the uk!!!! 

Far fetched but I’ll give anything a go! xx

10 hours ago, Marisawright said:

Nope, Darwin wouldn't be my cup of tea either.  One of my friends moved up there after falling for an army man.  She spent the first year in constant floods of tears.  She's doing better now, but only because she had her first child and is besotted with him, so that helps. Also she is into belly dancing and has managed to make friends up there through that.  But sometimes I see a touch of desperation in her Facebook posts still!

So sorry to hear it's all gone pear-shaped Huntersmummy.  I didn't have high hopes when you posted originally, but I never thought your husband would be such a %%%%^&&* about going home.

Thank you sweet. I’m making it manage for the kids and trying to keep as normal as poss for them. 

Its incredibly lonely here and making friends can either go both ways...there’s no in between here. 

Hoping tuesdays visit with the family lawyer will give me a bit of good news. 

Should of stuck to my guns 3 years ago and listened to my gut and stayed!

6 hours ago, Sandgroper said:

You are in a battle with your husband and also pregnant?

Again as asked below, sexual frustration and I didn’t notice until it was too late. Mixture of medicine, coming off chemo so periods were all over the place etc. Hey everyone makes mistakes right? 

5 hours ago, Parley said:

Can't be all bad if they are making babies.

Months of sexual frustration and lack of C sized batteries at woolies for Mr Buzz Buzz resulted in baby.

13 hours ago, Bulya said:

Gave Darwin a go.  It sure ain’t like the rest of God’s Country that’s for sure 

Definitely one of a kind. I’ve met some southerners from Adelaide, come up and leave confused, traumatised and needing help.

7 hours ago, Quoll said:

Oh dear I am so very sorry that it’s turned out this way for you. I remember your initial move very well (wow, 3 years ago, time flies). You’re right though, every family (and we do try on here!) must be aware of The Hague Convention before they move. It’s trapped many unwary parents who might not want to remain in Australia in particular because if one parent says no, Aus won’t let them go except under very exceptional circumstances and (as you are no doubt discovering) at huge cost.

I really hope you get the resolution you want, especially as you are pregnant. 

3 years and still whinging! yeah, given it a go but nah. Not for me. Just gotta battle it out now and see the outcome. Thanks sweetheart thou, hope all is well with you

2 hours ago, ali said:

Is moving to another part of Aus an option for you?  

Nope  part of the visa restrictions is we have to stay in the NT. TBH, after experiencing darwin life and the fact I’m a stubborn butthole, I could be offered a million dollars to move to Adelaide, Melbourne etc and it would be no thanks! I’m officially done!

Good evening guys! Long time no posty! 

well ive officially been in Darwin for 3 years now and bloody hate it. My old posts are between giving it a go and not liking it.....now it’s complete resentment. 

Im stuck in a family law case right now with wanting to return home with the kids but husband says no so I can’t just “go back home then” 

Straw that broke the expat back  was a month ago I was punched in the head by an aboriginal bloke....not drunk either! Just angry because “””drum roll””” I asked him to stop begging for food off customers. I was just doing my job and security hadn’t started yet. 

Then a few days ago, few kids threatened to stab me in my pregnant belly because I wouldn’t buy them smokes and lollies. 

Being hurt or threatened can happen anywhere....I get that but come on! A non threatening pregnant woman? 

I hate this place. Firstly, immigration should warn you of the Hauge Convention law and secondly, yes I felt sorry for “most, not all” aboriginals when I first arrived but now.....nothing but abuse, being a white c**t, callings my kids names for not giving them $2.....biggest regret was moving here. 

Darwin is one of a kind. A massive turd hole to be precise. 

Thanks chris!

Yeah we are trying to move away from the weather but its not the number 1 problem we don't like.

We want a "community feel" Darwin is very timid as theres no chatting to neighbours or rarely meeting at the park etc.

We looked at trip advisor and it was mixed results. The one that worried me was someone said it was a town that didn't like outsiders, bit like darwin! Its hard to integrate if your not born and bred.

Good Evening Me Ole China's!!!!

Hope everyone had a smashing new years! I'm still highly strung/drunk/argumentative with husband with those damn kit kats!!

Just a bit of advice I'm after.

After october this year, our visa restrictions are lifted! We can move anywhere in Oz. TBH I've had enough of darwin. Its dawned on me it is a massive hick town, its a place you come to earn money but NOT to settle and its too f**king hot!

The husband has mentioned cairns which we will be visiting sometime in april when the kids are off school for a few days to get a feel of the place.

Pom Queen, you said you were living there right??? Hahahahaha, we'll have to meet up and have a "bottle of wine" hour on our watches

Anyone else living there who would yeah or no the place?

Yeah what a lovely post!

I get what you mean with the "I wanna go home" tantrums. I think that in the "post move pom" experience, bit like paying your electric bill "Ohhh, must have moan have aussie weather"

I actually have a "moan day" once a month so i can get it all off my chest and its like a spa day, i feel so much better after! I do still miss primark thou

It is a complete life shuffle to get used to. Kids adapt easy and yours seem to be doing very well!

Its strange in a way of how we're in complete opposite states but life is so different in darwin compared to QLD. It's so hot here we have to have early play dates/outtings/water park visits then make the most from 5 onwards as its too hot. QLD just sounds nice all day round.

Life is what you make it where ever you are.......even if it includes kit kats on the shower head

xxx

Yeah guys. No one should take my posts seriously.

Like Joc said, everyone likes a good old whinge and is entitled to it. Its what makes us poms!

Chillllllllll

GDay Jen.

Don't move to darwin!

Start off in OZ somewhere else......darwin is hard core. We didn't have a choice but to move here but christ, I've sweated off 5 stone just because of the humidity. It's a damn hick town but I'm not right in the head so i fit in alright.

Our immigration agent said it was easier because if your married because you live together and can prove that via bills, rental agreements, joint bank accounts etc.

There are visa's he can have if your engaged to be married or married but just a relationship? I don't know.

http://www.border.com.au and search the VISA FINDER and it'll bring up info on partner visa's.

If it helps, we used John at Immigrations2Oz. Got our visa under a year.

Ive found myself today asking customers at work (the local rednecks who don't mind a bit of sweary banter) A few of them have noted we come over here and whinge its not the UK!

"It's too hot"

"It's too dusty"

"It's too Australian" !!!!!

Duh....but when you tell aussies what council tax, tv license, road tax, bedroom tax, scratching your arse tax.....they understand a little better!

Its like I've never, ever, not one single time after all the times of letting someone go in front of me whilst driving or reversing out a spot, never just says thanks. Little hand thanks gesture. Whinge-ometor goes bat **** crazy then.

You couldn't get the wine open? I hope you called the police to come help

I find what we poms do spectacularly well is whinge about the weather! Had a particularly cold start to Spring here in South Australia and you'd think the world had come to an end! "I didn't move here to be cold", "It's the same temperature as in England" etc etc etc. Just waiting for our first 40 degree day to hear the "Oh, it's too hot", "My air conditioning costs so much" etc etc! Now admittedly yesterday my fingers were so blue I could hardly get my bottle of shiraz open, but even so....

Hahaha the husband would disagree about my lack of whinging but darwin is deffo "take it as it is and make the best of what ya got" place! Although thinking about it, me and you in a room for 10 minutes, I could imagine your hands slowly feeling for my throat

Considering that you're living in one of the hardest places in Australia, it's amazing how little whinging you do - so no!

Good evening my pombo's.

So this is yet another one of my curiosity, pointless, random crap posts but hey, whats a girl gotta do at 3am and husbands snoring? My 2nd option was eat but I'm waiting of my toast popping.

I was reading up on a post my friend tagged me on FB (20 scary reasons why you shouldn't move to Oz) yadda yadda....sharks, snakes, scary spiders who eat your children, yum yum yum ...... blah blah blah

I see this pom make an innocent post about everyone in OZ, something to do with flip flops......then it was like DING DING DING, FIGHT! Everyone coming out of the woodwork to have a go saying us poms are *insert any swear you want* and all we do is whinge.

I'll be the first buggar to admit I had a whinge after arriving but now stuff is settling down, i hardly whinge. Apart from to the husband. But he's an arse and deserves it. Especially when he leaves chocolate bars on top of the shower head....thinks just because I'm shorter, i can see the damn kit kat in the mirror!! .....WTF is he doing EATING in the shower anyways???? Who eats in the shower??? What a mong....

ANYWAYS

Is it possible to move away from that stereotype or should we just admit it, that if we do have proud british blood, pumping through our british veins, that we are IN FACT whingy bastards and flaunt it?

Oh my god I'm SO happy someone else misses kippers!!! Air tight packaged kippers with a bit of lemon from asda's for a few quid. Yummy!

Oh can i just say to the OP, i work in the deli department of a certain supermarket and some of the fresh chicken items we get in..."heaves"....yeah, go buy from a butchers. Cheaper and tastes like ACTUAL juicy chicken, not a manky, rubber piece of chicken that fell from out of a tramps pocket.

Just thought of one thing that is unavoidably different on the food front: seafood

 

Most species are different and some that are common in European fisheries/cuisine (herring, mackerel, sea bass, trout, Atlantic cod) are rare or absent

 

OTOH, there are loads of other species that are much more common in shops - lots of different types of crabs, great squid, snapper, barramundi, kingfish etc

 

I do miss a good kipper :-)

Harvey, Ive started a thread for you. Guys, please have a look and donate your wisdom. Its called "Harvey88's personal get well thread"

I can't offer you advice because I could talk myself into suicide when i decide if i should have a tuna sandwich or ham sandwich.

I can't offer you money because LOL Im skint. Kids manage to spend everything i earn and whats left, the husband takes......the git.

I WILL say though when it comes to women, pfffft, long as you got your hand, you don't need that extra stress that us women bring. Right one will come along when you least expect it.

So i thought id start a thread JUST for you and hopefully everyone can help. Something to make you HOPEFULLY laugh and make ya feel a bit better. But yeah, i do agree with what folks have said about one thing at a time.

Get well soon bud.