tina0101

Pay the fine, take the points and keep an eye on the speedo. I got 3 points the other day (pretty sure the camera must've been hiding in a tree or something!) but I was speeding. First offence or not, it's breaking the law. And 20kph (or 20mph) is still a fair amount over, it's not like he was 'just' over!

Daddy long legs spiders just chill out quietly and munch what the gecko's dont get!! We've had a couple of decent sized spiders in the garden but again, most just chill out in their web. I wouldn't worry too much :-)

I'd look wider than the Gold Coast if I were you. I've found that travelling here is nothing like the UK - I know people that go for 2 hour drives just for lunch here!! Maybe look at Brisbane, or even over the boarder in NSW or a bit inland. You will still be closer to your parents than you currently are!! Surely a few hours drive to them, is better than a day's flight :-)

Our work has a no-tattoo on show policy (private school) and I can confirm that having the wear tights in the humid weather is not much fun!! But, as someone else said, if you are in an office, you'll probably be freezing because of the aircon!!

Primary jobs are hard to come by, especially somewhere like Gold Coast. Keep an eye on Smart jobs, Brisbane catholic, Seek and even Indeed websites. Work out on a map how far you'd be willing to travel (although the motorway always seems to be a carpark in sections between Brisbane and GC) as you may have to look a little further. Not it great news, but good luck

I'm not sure but I've seen a fair number of properties with the pool at the front!! Some without big walls, and you can see right in!! When we were house hunting a number of Estate Agents told us we could put a pool out the front of the property, but I really don't understand why they don't just build the houses further forward sometimes!

Got no advice, having not been in the situation, but GOOD LUCK!!!! x

Its quite quick once you have had the medical for the results. Ours (it was a year ago) said that having a couple of tattoo's doesn't really matter - it's more if you went to one of those dodgy places on holiday and got them!

I'm Vanduex's wife and have noticed that in Admin roles people seem to get more 'dressed up' than in the UK and women are definitely wearing the type of dress I'd wear to posh do or wedding!! Especially if they're going out after work. I agree that shirts from the UK seem to be made from thicker material and you can get stuff here that's perfectly adequate in KMart/Target. I bought lots of work clothes in the DFO by the airport when I got my job. When it rained I just used my brolly, but usually ended up soaking wet on my bottom half, which soon dried as it never rained for too long. When we have had a couple of mega storms recently (mega to me!) you may as well make sure you have a pair of flip flops to change into - the pavements and roads become little streams!! Not used my coat yet. Have progressed to wearing a cardigan in the mornings - having experienced summer here, I am finding 15 degrees a little chilly!!

I'm sorry but I agree with Metoo. You have not met this man, and it sounds as if he has a few issues. Is taking him out of the UK and away from his support network of a case and social worker going to help him?? It may get him away from his suppliers but he will have absolutely no support network here, apart from you - are you really willing to take all this on for someone you have not met?? You have said that if his drug use is confirmed, he will go back to hospital - does this mean he is hiding it? Maybe you could go on a holiday to see him, meet his social and case workers with him, get to know him on a personal basis and then go from there? I'm not sure getting him into Australia is going to be a viable option with his history and his dependence.

We have a chip in our windscreen and as it has been repaired, it is fine. They put some magic glue stuff on it, to stop it getting bigger, but it is still there. As long as it's not in your view, you should be fine. No idea on the mirror tho!

Agree with srg73 that you need to take some time to enjoy it when you get here. Although I love the view of Brisbane I get on my drive into work everyday, it's not quite the same once you get into routine and everyday life. So glad we had time to look around before we started 'real life' here.

You can get a tax number online and you go to your local centrelink to get medicare. Google both for the area you will be in and it will pop up. Get a mobile with an Oz number - again if you google you will see who has the best deals.

It makes me cross that people even try and drive through the water when it's unsafe. There is so much media saying to not even try if it's flooded. By my house, we had a road closed and a BMW tried to get through. It's now in a ditch and I can't see how they're going to get it out without doing a lot more damage. Just hoping the idiot's insurance isn't paying out!!

We used a broker - we'd been here 3 months, my husband had only been employed for 2 months and I had only just started my job and had 6 months probation period. A number of providers would not even look at us. Got a decent home loan (mortgage) still, but probably wouldn't have found it without the broker.

So glad everything has worked out and your daughter is happy and settled!! x

Make sure you have aircon when property looking and a covered area for your car(s). Have a read on the internet about the weather, look at the trainline (if that matters to you) for Brisbane CBD, even look at Google maps with the traffic bit on when it's our rush hours to see how red some of the roads can get. Good luck with it all :-)

I don't think it's just here that it's changed over the last 20 years. It's almost everywhere. Some good and bad in it e.g. technology advances have been amazing but also mean that people now spend their life with a mobile glued to their hands!! Friends who jumped on the UK property ladder 10 years before me are in a much better situation than me. Who knows what the next 20 years hold!!

You're bound to be nervous, but think of it as a massive opportunity. If you don't like it, you go home after 14 months. You don't want to look back and regret not trying it. I love living in Brisbane and am so much more relaxed here than I've ever been. What have you got to lose??

Wish I'd got a second hand one - spent £650 on mine and by the end of the night it was muddy and ripped (too much dancing on a packed dancefloor!). My mum has it as she wont let me sell it on (I'm sure a decent seamstress could re-vamp it). It's not like I'll ever wear it again and you see so many beautiful dresses that are pre-loved.

I did this yesterday and you just go in and buy the envelope and fill it out and pass it back to the counter staff who stamp it. Really easy

We used Stayz.com.au for a 3 week rental. Air BnB also do shorter term rentals. There is also a holiday village (someone else will probs have more on that).

I disagree - I don't think houses are over-priced where we are in Brisbane, but then I came from the commuter belt on the M4, where it cost an arm and a leg for a one bed flat!! I guess it depends where in the UK you are coming from and where you are moving to.

State High is hard to get into, but there are a number of good Catholic schools that take older kids. Fees vary from school to school. I work in an Anglican school where the fees are over 3 times the fees I pay for my son to go to a Catholic school (he is 17). I don't feel that the drop off going from Primary private to a high school would be much different to the UK.

Welcome to the forum!! Ask anything, people here have been great with all my questions and, 8 months in, I am loving living in Brisbane!!