libbye

Have been unwell recently but coming good now. Our weather is the same, beautiful few days of sunshine and now it's rain rain and more rain. Garden is beginning to wake up and it's so colourful. House on market again so now we wait! Hope you are all well. I see you spent a few days in Sydney. A great contrast to Devonport I should imagine.

Is it uncommonly cold for this time of year?

My goodness you really have what it takes to survive in Australia and deserve all the rewards. It may be a land of opportunity but it's a rough and tough country in many ways and making good friends can be difficult. You certainly are not a whinging Pom, quite the opposite. and admiration for your tenacity and courage are second to none. It certainly wasn't easy for you but you've won through. Fantastic.

It's funny you should say that. Everyone has said the same thing but hadn't said anything before because they didn't want to influence me. the person who caused my changed of mind has probably done me a favour as I too feel more comfortable with my decision. I agree on reflection although whilst in a retirement village it takes time to establish friendships and not so easy at 80. I have some wonderful friends here nd although my french is abysmal I manage. Brexit could upset the apple cart but I could be long gone by the time they get their act together! Thank you for your post. Nice to have been in touch and I feel sure what you have written is correct.

No I'm not coming at all. I think I've made the right decision but was really looking forward to coming to Tas not so much Ballarat al;though it would have been near my daughter. It's not a place I really favour but felt Tas was close enough for her to visit now and again. However, not to be so now onto the next phase of my life. The money I was having to spend to bring all my goods over will now contribute towards both girls coming to visit me this side of the world instead. Am looking forward to that when I find somewhere to live! Look after yourselves everyone and I'm sad I won't be meeting you.

Disappointing but I won't now be coming to live in Tassie. Change of circumstances . Have enjoyed seeing all the photos and learning more about the place I thought was going to be home. C'est la vie. bye everyone. xxx

Toots sent you a pm but can't find it now!

Oh so pretty and so english!

My last pm seems to have disappeared.

Looks idyllic. Where is it and where are all the people? lol

Oh that's terrible for you all. So frightening. Incredible direst since l886. Just shows how the climate change is something we all should have taken more notice of years ago. We were warned but no-one believed what the scientists were saying. What goes around comes around! Take care everyone

Hi Everyone how's it with you all. Terrible fires and so scary. Lived through bush fires in Victoria so can well imagine how you must be feeling. Take care everyone. Libby

I think the system has changed somewhat since we were there. I believe when you pay out it's automatically paid back into your account. Is this correct? Before were given the refund in cash at the counter and you know what that means! Does it find it's way back into your account. Maybe it's not so bad then. I think all over the world now specialists are in high demand and there's a long waiting time. uk I believe is one of the worst but even here we can wait up to 6 months to see an opthamologist.

Thanks for that. Yes Australia does worry with it's Medicare. Before we left 17 years ago we had paid out a fortune in medical fees for specialists tests for prostate cancer and a lot more plus dental bills. The french system for the moment is excellent and although I pay health cover it literally does pay for everything. Probably will change as France's debt grows but now it's wonderful. I wish I could wave a magic wand and know which direction I should take as it's no mean feat moving from here to Tasmania where I know only one person and as yet have nowhere to go. I do have the choice to go to Cairns or back to Ballarat to be with my daughters but I don't choose to do that. I've been away too long. I'm only on the aus pension ans from experience I know that doesn't go far.. At 80 it's aint easy! All I know is nothing stays the same but don't want to get caught being so hard up I have no life.

I can understand your sisters delight after Scotland and I imagine the scenery wouldn't be quite so dramatic and beautiful as Scotland. I colours there are incredible. How nice to have her with you. Hope the fires don't come anywhere near any of you.

Well I'm just about coping and only just! Will know definitely if buyers can get a mortgage by end of Febearly March and completion end of April. Have no idea whether a unit will be available when I want and no idea when furniture will arrive. Haven't settled on a shipping company yet but am close. With luck will be moving near Launceston and in order to fit everything in have had to downsize quite ruthlessly but at my age it matters not and I'm looking forward to a another chapter in my life with tears in between of course as am missing my husband so much. I am so fortunate to have had a friend in Tassie who has helped me enormously and without her I wouldn't have done it. She has never met me so indeed she is a human being in a million. Am so pleased to hear the fires are nowhere near you and pray it remains that way. Keep safe all of you.xxx

How are you all? Hope no-one is near to the fires. What news on this front?

Sounds perfect.

Unprecedented heat by the sound of it. How are you all coping? We're freezing here!

May I ask where you are moving from in Aus? I'm doing the opposite coming from France to Tasmania I hope. I'd like to bring some furniture back, not much, but have quite a lot of my late husband's paintings too. So far have only communicated with Grace bros whom we've used before many years ago but I think the big expense could be from Melbourne to Tas. Hope England is all you hope it to be! Good luck.

HelloMarisa Thank you for your informative reply. I am an Australian citizen but don't think I have a Medicare number that i can lay my hands on. Have been away nearly 16 years. Will have a search though in the meantime. As I have no known home to come to at the moment this could present a problem. If I'm able to go straight to a village home then that would help but there's a lot of work to be done before I actually find somewhere. I already have an aus bank account which have had for over 50 years. My aus pension is paid into France. I have a couple of health problems other than diabetes so it's essential I get things sorted asap when everything is in place for the move. A massive task and I can't say I relish the idea but it has to be especially since my husband died recently. If I have to pay then so be it. Hopefully it won't be for long. Centrelink want every scrap of evidence once the house sale goes through so am prepared for that.

Am having problems with this link. Page shoots downwards and I can't scroll up again! Thanks you for your reply. I've tried linking into myGov, but it's still in my late husband's name! strangely it was never in his name but someone has decided to change it. Will try and phone them again. If all goes according to plan I hope to move to Newstead but nothing definite yet. Still waiting on confirmation the house has actually sold and that will be mid January when I know for sure. I'm not anticipating a negative answer so am now preparing to sell furniture and loads of other stuff as the unit will be very small but beautiful. If the one I think I would like is available that is. A lot of ifs and buts but it will work out in the end I'm sure. My eldest daughter hopes to come to France and help me in the last week. I think it will be an emotional time for me leaving all the memories behind but it has to be. A few french friends have offered a helping hand which I will certainly need after 40 years of marriage and everything we've bought together. I have met with a lady on the internet who has proven to be a wonderful friend who lives in Tasmania but she is such a busy person and I've driven her mad with so many questions. She's one incredible human being and been there for me over the past very difficult months. Better than family. However, as on this forum have been able to access information that has been invaluable and the necessity to know as much as possible about medical care is important. I do pay for private insurance here but it;s a different setup entirely. I've never had to be concerned about additional expense. I will need medication that won't last 9 weeks if that is the case so must be prepared.

I am finally in the throes of planning my return to Aus and it will be if all goes well into a retirement village, rental situation. Tasmania. I have attempted to find out more info about my entry back into Medicare but without success. I will not be able to afford private insurance and neither would I get it at 80 years of age. So if I may I'd like to list my queries please - I am a type 2 diabetic only requiring 2 tablets per day. Will I be covered? Does a aus pensioner receive any assistance with consultations? I think bulk billing might e the correct way to go but am unsure how many centres bulk bill . I guess that's something I'll have to wait and see! Is a pensioner entitled to reduced price for prescriptions? Do you pay for each individual item? Specialists? Any rebate for consultations and treatment? I did read somewhere but cannot find the answer again that on returning to Australia one has to wait 9 weeks before being able to receive Medicare. If no-one knows I'll try again to phone them but have had no luck so far. Thank you and a happy New Year to one and all.

Thanks Toots. I have had a look and it would seem it's quite active which I'm thrilled about as am a jazz fan and love music.

Are there any trad or other jazz bands in Launceston? Are there any regular jam sessions?