TheEscapePlan

Sydney Central YHA is pretty popular. You're bound to meet people there. http://www.yha.com.au/Hostels/NSW/Sydney-Surrounds/Sydney-Central-Backpackers-Hostel/

As do I in the UK - and there are plenty of ignorant people here too... and in USA, France, Spain, NZ, Canada etc etc.

I booked a one way fare for late June with Trailfinders for 700. It was a Singapore airlines special offer and it included a stopover in Singapore.

I suggest contacting a few different size firms in the city you are planning to relocate to and ask them.

I've lived in the UK over 15 years and I still get homesick when I see Australia on the tele.

My OH's letter gave him all the details for his medical, but no 'not before' date. Is this normal??

I think the short answer to this is A) don't generalise B) there are a££holes everywhere - no matter what country you're in. The trick is to find like-minded people. C) Stiff upper lips get in the way of making friendships. Be open and friendly, don't judge and see how far it takes you. D) Yobs/ Chavs/ Bogans exist in every society. You don't have to socialise with these people if you don't want to.

I did it the other way around (Australian born, married a Brit settled in the UK) and I think the most important thing is to give it time. I had lived in the UK for about six years plus before I 'settled in'. I've never had the group of friends I have in Australia, but I do have some fantastic friends in the UK, and I'll be sad to leave them when we move to Australia. That said, I've lived in London the whole time, and it is notoriously transient, and and very cliquey - natives tend to stick with the people they know rather than welcoming newcomers. Many of my friends that have lived here over the years have said that. I think it would have been different if we'd lived elsewhere. Where I live, I only know my next door neighbour (on one side) and a few people to say hello to at the gym. I've lived here over 10 years. I've tended to make friends through work and study. I can't stress enough the need to work with people you like - that's the only way to make friends in that setting. I've contracted and had permanent jobs, and I've always met more people and got more friendships out of contracting. Join sports clubs, do night courses like art, music, whatever you're in to. In terms of the inequality of UK family vs Australia family, you have to think of it as an even thing e.g. I've lived in the UK for 15 years. In that time my family have seen me eight times. If you move, it will be the same, but the other way. I think it depends on the individual families involved. You'll be fine, just give it a fair go. Moving to another country is a little scary, you lose your comfort zone, its a bit disorienting but it is worth it.

Thank you Sugarcane. I grew up on the CC too. I'd go back in a heartbeat if I could find a job. Check out the cafe at Norah Head, it's really nice! And a short walk to the lighthouse. This is it: http://www.rockpoolretreat.com.au

Norah Head is lovely. They have a fantastic cafe there, can't remember what it's called.

We had our first contact from our CO last week (submitted 5 Dec) and they quoted the waiting time for London submissions 'at least (in italics) eight to nine months'. I assume this means it could be longer. The wait seems to grow regularly. One thing I don't understand is that married partner visas aren't supposed to be capped, and yet I hear lots of talk about COs 'waiting to grant'? Anyone know what that's about?

Can I come too? Wave to my parents for me!

And yet saying 'free' for 'three' and 'fings' for 'things' and 'pacific' for 'specific' is acceptable? The mind boggles.

Not in Sydney - there you should add another $100k+. A friend of mine just bought a house with a guide price of $700k but it sold at $870k, apparently that is normal.

Id be interested to know if you can. I tried to do it the other way around (Aus super to UK pension) and was told I couldn't.

Try seatguru: http://www.seatguru.com

I'll say. It's a fashion now, but when my other half and I holidayed in Perth a few years back we hired a car and were given a black one. I left my Birkenstocks in the back for a couple of hours (in 35 degree heat) and the soles melted! Black anything is bad in heat, but cars are the worst!

To be fair, there was much silence in my office recently - by the Brits. As opposed to the summer (UK) when I was constantly being harassed by Brits about the cricket. It goes both ways... just saying