Melbpom

I don't think so. Huntsman spiders are larger and hairier. We had one (called Harry) that lived in the corner of a room at ceiling height, and would move from room to room. Harmless and best left alone.

I would have thought the most important factor is your girlfriend. Have you discussed long term issues such as marriage and children?

At the moment it seems that stock is low, who puts their property up for sale in a falling market. The only stock I can see are the ones that developers are passing by, i.e. it's not worth their time/money/risk to buy an older property on a large block and knock it down and build townhouses. Quality stock is scarce and I think that this is skewing the sold price trend downwards.

Are you talking about Monash Hospital in Clayton as opposed to Berwick? if so I'd look at Mount Waverley. There's a nice shopping centre close to the railway line and Mount Waverley Secondary College is sought after.

Yes, I have just got word that my shipment is due to depart soon, so I'm panicking unnecessarily.

Yes it is a shared container and I didn't think to ask about shipping times and had no idea that I could enquire about which ship. When I shipped the other way it all happened in a timely manner and I assumed the move back would be similar. The only things I'll miss are proper beds and warm clothing. I can live without the rest.

I'm shipping stuff back to Australia with a well known firm who were excellent when it came to packing. However that was 7 weeks ago and my shipment hasn't moved from the UK base. Now I'm getting concerned that this is taking too long. Anyone else experienced this?

False advertising, this is clearly an invisibility cloak.

I don't know anything about the Sydney market but I'm watching the Melbourne market and imho I can't see prices tanking until there is a rise in interest rates. I gather that the Reserve bank is more likely to cut rates in the next couple of months which will most likely slow the property downturn. So if there's a property that ticks all the boxes I will probably buy. You might want to look at a TV show called Your Money (channel 95) which sometimes has segments on property.

If you go, don't sell up until you are well an truly settled and you are sure that things will be OK with your son. After 18 years you are probably more Australian than you think.

Are you not tempted to take this offer and run with it? If you have a lot of support in Australia then surely that would compensate for lack of contact with Dad?

Any one know if there would be a problem with an ostrich leather bag? it's years old and has sentimental value.

Don't know but I've asked Alan Collett to sort mine out. He's on this forum and is very helpful.

I'd add also, look for a property that's been vacant for a while and ask the agent for a copy of the application form to which you can add your own story. If you apply online it's harder to skip questions that you may not be able to answer.

Entity, I am in the process of moving back to Australia and leaving behind my parents who are in their late 70's. Will they miss me and will I miss them, yes of course but they are fit and healthy and have travelled widely themselves. If they were ill then maybe it would be harder but thankfully they're not. There has never been an expectation that I would care for them (in a hands on way) in their old age. They in their turn were living overseas when their parents eventually went into care homes. I am returning to Australia because I think I have a better quality of life there and have been miserable here. The other really important reason is that I miss my youngest son who stayed behind to go to uni. He is not quite on his feet yet and is pleased that I and my oldest son are returning. What I'm trying to say is that all family situations are different and only you can go with your gut and do whatever feels right.

It's the embedded links that concern me. Just don't know where you would be directed.

Yes, I fully understand having had a son go through maths and sciences at high school recently. But saying that it is easy to get onto a graduate conversion course in these subjects and you would be specialising in one area rather than the whole curriculum for primary level. Good luck with your choice either way.

It sounds like you've decided on a path, but if you go down the teaching route, then what about choosing STEM subjects at secondary level?

I would put the needs of your family first and if that means a move back to Australia then go. You're already familiar with the lifestyle and while the kids won't remember much given their ages, if you're happy they will be. As for parents, yes it will be hard to leave them and there'll be a certain amount of guilt but you can always make regular visits back and maybe they can visit.

I'd encourage your pal and his wife to consider carefully a move back to the UK. I moved recently to the UK (and am about to return to Oz) and what I failed to plan for was the length of time it took to get support services in place (if at all). The system is different in that social care is controlled by local authorities rather than the Department of Human Services (in Australia) and this means that there is no consistency. Add this to austerity and some councils being under financial pressure and as a new arrival being at the back of the queue. Maybe take a look at carer's UK forum https://www.carersuk.org/forum

Yes, thank you, I'm thinking of taxi even if it costs a bit more it's worth it especially before embarking on a long haul flight.

I would personally but with a heap of luggage and autistic son getting across London is too hard.

Yes thank you this does help. I'll look at driving or National Express.

I'm looking for a couple of one way flights from Birmingham to London, Heathrow and admittedly it's been a while since I've looked at any internal UK flights but the ones I'm getting (from Expedia) take 4 or 5 hours and go via odd places like Dublin or Aberdeen. I've looked at Webjet and I could get to Spain cheaper and faster. This should be easy, anyone know what I'm doing wrong?

I'd recommend forgetting about pork pies and trying Vietnamese pork rolls instead.