libbye

Thank you very much for such informative information. Puts our mind at rest with regard to the procedure but my husband has been using this horrible machine for 7 years so would need to get help very quickly. What do you mean by centrelink benefit. We're elderly and are in receipt of an aussie pension. Things seem to have changed a lot since we were there, ll years actually, and am not sure we'll even be able to buy another house which would have to be close to facilities. We're trying to weigh up likely expenditure as opposed to here in France so the machine was one thing we thought we'd have to purchase but if you can hire so much the better. Out of interest what did you find helped you in the end if you couldn't tolerate a CPAP machine. So many people seem to have to use them these days but the heart specialist says they save lives.

Please bear with me as I thought I had posted but cannot find it anywhere! Please can someone tell me if we do manage to resettle in Tassie after being away for 11 years but have lived in Aus for 50 odd years prior if the health service provides an apnoea machine or does one have to pay for it? Maybe reimbursed if that's the case. Is it monitored by the company who provides the machine on a regular basis?We have an Aus passport and obviously were in the system for all those years.

flag of convenience thank you for your input. The health system works well here and we're not unhappy with the treatment and can understand your very sensible comments. I think the truth is we're totally alone and when one of us pops off we are scared. It's difficult to make real friends at our age especially and just because people are english doesn't mean you want to be bosom pals with them. On the other hand it's not fair for us to come back to Aus and expect to waltz into the arms of our children whom we haven't seen for years. It doesn't work like that. I could go on but it's becomes too personal and not suited to an open forum i suspect. I doubt very much whether we'd have the courage or energy now to even visit Jaipur but I don't think a visa would be a problem as we hold a eu passport. Still you never know:wink:

Love it:yes: Actually after watching the program last evening the Real Marigold Hotel Jaipure think we might head there instead! Lot cheaper to live. You may not get the program in Aus but having been to Jaipur many years ago backpacking it brought back many memories. We had a ball even at the age of 52. Not sure we could cope now with all the unpleasant side of things but I'd sure like to have a go.:eek: The colour green is an indication of the "unpleasant" side of experiences. Anyway I digress and much water has to pass under the bridge before we can move forward. It really is a help to get feedback so I thank you all.

Where we live in France the food is boring. I shop mostly at markets in order to buy locally grown produce but it is very limited in Brittany. I've lived further south where there's a shop that brings in quite exotic and exciting fruits and asian veg which was so nice but where I am now nothing but then I would expect that as Spain where most of the lovely fruit comes from is so much further away and wouldn't be financially viable. Horses for courses I guess but the growing period here in the north is very short. I liked the look from the photos I've found of your Salamanca market where it seemed many immigrants grow exciting things. I'm only talking about Tas because that's where we think we'll aim for.

I think we would get a pension card as we receive an aus pension and areold. how much do you get back from $80 and is that visit timed. specialist about the same here if you convert to euros but we've covered by what the french call a mutelle and are refunded 90%. what is the refund rate? waiting to see a specialist douns a bit dicety but I guess like in France or the uk (where we never go) can be similiar in certain instances not year though but 6 months for cardiologist. The refund you receive from any of the things you mention would be a criteria as we'd only have the pension on which to live. thank you ever so much for taking the time to reply all of you.

Well that's interesting. They were quite vehement about it but just goes to show.

Have just been reading a post about how crap the fruit and veg are in the supermarkets nowadays. I was wondering whether Tas was any better as I get the impression you have loads of local growers who sell at markets. (lurker from France!):rolleyes:

My goodness things have changed since we lived in aus 11 years ago. $150 for 4 items. how does anyone manage? I understand about the safety next it was in existence when we were there (lived in aus for 53 yrs before leaving for france) but now it seems horrendous. Bit scary for us as we're 77 now and would like to come back and are thinking about coming to Tassie but my husband is on a lot of medication and I'm a diet controlled diabetic so need medication, so am wondering whether we could manage. I'm a lurker on this forum as we haven't yet made the decision and am so glad I did find you as the info is invaluable.

I forgot to mention when I quoted £6000 this included our volvo which we'd never do again. Wasn't as if it was a new one either. Crazy! I remember what a performance it all was. Everything had to be spotless, even to the wheels on the bike, the mower, car of course which had to be valetted. We must have been crazy and stupid. Even at 77 though we still don't do sensible. Think we might be a liability to Tas. lol

We couldn't possibly afford private insurance especially at our age and all the complaints we have. medical services excellent here in France that's the main thing we'd miss but we'll just have to take our chances if we make it to Tas. We would bring some furniture and as my husband is an artist you can imagine the number of frames and paintings that will have to be included. We've done it before but many years ago from uk to melbourne but the extra miles to Tas could make a big difference. I think it cost around £6000 then but as I mentioned a long time ago! thank you both anyway for your helpful comments. will keep lurking around this forum as am sure we'll learn a lot.

We are by no means ready to move just yet as selling a property in France can takes years! Should we strike lucky though and be able to move sooner than later there are questions which we would appreciate if you good people could help us with some answers. We've lived more than 50 years in Melbourne but are not keen to return to that state and Tasmania seems to beckon but we've never actually been there. My husband says the cost of getting our goods there could be prohibitive. We're assuming the container would be unloaded in Melbourne and then shipped on which is what he's on about. Ridiculous to expect anyone to give us total cost of move but the additional fees from Melbourne would be a help. We're elderly so naturally and unfortunately medical services come into the equation. Is Hobart the best?

Hi am sure you're right but decision made and we are staying in France. Prices so low here and no hope of improving some time soon. We could afford nothing even in Tas and rents even too high so we'll make the best of it and hope our family might be able to visit before it's too late!

Morning all It has been really interesting reading all the posts and I do thank people for their contribution. We have decided not to come but instead have made the decision to move but stay in France. We will move from where we are now as we've sold the house anyway and are considering going north where the weather is not nearly as good but possibly more culture as many french towns/villages can be ok during the tourist season but dead in the other months. Moving north gives us access to cheaper properties thus leaving our meagre savings in tact. If we had oodles of money then returning to Aus would be our choice because of the family and as it is it's scary to know we#re going to be going it alone wherever we land in europe. However, c'est la vie has become our attitude. Good wishes to you all and be happy.

Hi everyone We are brits in our mid 70's who have lived in Victoria, Aus for more than 40 years but for the past 9 years have lived in France. Age has caught up with us but we have not caught up with the way cost of living and properties have spiralled in and around Melbourne hence impossible for us to return there. My youngest daughter is enraptured with Tasmania and says she thinks we would love it. Have never been so am hoping to gather some helpful comments. Have no idea of which areas to start looking on the internet so if I may give a bit of background perhaps someone will help please. Need good medical facilities, access to transport, love the countryside and coast, am into organic veg etc. would like a 2 bed house not appartment with space for husband who paints, and a friendly community. Cafe culture would be a bonus as we've so enjoyed that here. Many thanks