sueandave

sounds great, you will all love the trains. If you do travel to Kyoto, go to Gion, a lovely town, with an old area, we saw Geisha's & Miko. Nice market there too.

Hi not sure if you have done this trip yet? We just got back from Japan in April. We found jpass great, used the trains all the time, we do not have kids now, so can't help you there. Great clean country, after the cruise in to Kobe, we stayed 3.5 weeks, saw Kyoto, and surrounding areas. Hiroshima, Kanazawa, Matsumoto, Mt Fuji at it's best. Tokyo, Nara. Did lots of side trips from our stops. Enjoy your travels.

Hi it was a very easy drive, saw a lot of Canada, walked a round lakes, saw bears, that was fantastic for us. Enjoyed different chairlifts for the views. We did so much. It comes down to how much time you have to explore, we stayed over 4 times between Vancouver & Calgary. Loved thevRockies. When we travel, we love doing our own thing and take it steady.

Hi we were in Canada last year, had a great time. After the Alaska cruise, we hired a car in Vancouver, drove up through the Rockies, stopped a few nights in .Jasper & Baniff, then on to Calgary, where we stayed for 3N. Dropped off the hire car & flew to Quebec, stayed 5N then flew on to Toronto & Niagra Falls. We saw loads of wildlife including bears from the roadside.lovely memories, The reason we chose to drive, we wanted to see more of Canada,we stopped when we wanted too. it is expensive to do the rocky mountaineer, but if that is what you want to do, enjoy your travels.

Thanks for bumping the post up Blossom:smile:

I have noticed in public hospitals there is a sign that says if you can pay with your private hospital cover please do, as then the cost is not then borne by the taxpayer/ Government. I did do this once and had my own room, a newspaper delivered for free each day & some free car parking. I was not a cent out of pocket, just my health fund payment.:smile:

We hold UK & Australian Passports and find travel easy, use your Aust. passport when leaving and entering Oz, and your U.K passport when entering & leaving the U.K, mark you I had to laugh many years ago when returning to the U.K to show off our youngest child, to our family. The immigration person said you can go through here but she can't our 10th month old who held a Oz passport.

Like Petals I do not miss the NHS, but in honesty, I do not remember it much. We are privately insured also pay our Medicare levy & then the gap payments. and may be soon t be the co -payment.

If we, as a people, were to approach health as a responsibility, not a right, then we would stop smoking, stop or greatly reduce drinking, stop drugs, lose weight, exercise more, treat each other gently, reduce stress, drive carefully, sleep more, drink more water, eat unprocessed foods. We would cut pollution. We would look at "Wellness" and not absence of diagnosed disease as a parameter of health. There is a lot of abuse of Medicare, some from the medical profession which has been acknowledged by this and previous governments, The way I see it is in any society we have people who for what ever reason will need Government - tax payers help from time to time. I can not begin to imagine a society that would say " I would never see that type of patient because they do not fit into the criteria of user pays.

Yes I believe you are right, no one should expect welfare on high incomes not sure on living in the country, do you mean this country, or country as in country side? (CHC) I thought meant Commonwealth Health card, not senior health card. Your Mum probably worked for her NI Stamps or it could be from Dads pension. (if he has passed away) I am also against parental paid leave for High income earners, a waste of public money.

Thank you guys for you likes and best wishes, it is a nice forum when we can feel for each other, hopefully not get too cranky with each other, yet still be allowed to get things off our chest without prejudgement. My Beaut girl was 5 hours in surgery, Doctors are happy, she is in a lot of pain, and we will see how she is tomorrow.

Thank you

LOL My motto look after the sick and aged tomorrow you may be one.

Thank you so much:smile::smile:

Thank you that is why I am up looking at this forum, keeps the old mind off things, or at least it should LOL

Hi Pom Queen, life is a box of chocolates, we have all heard that before, I feel for you and hope that you can slowly improve your health. My Beautiful Granddaughter is now 14 years old she has received two liver transplants, she has a few other problems also, . why I mention this is because I too was once naïve, and thought I've had 3 healthy children, my mum had a bus load of children all healthy, same as my OH side, my grandparents children seemed o'k they all lived to an old age, then why? I now know that these things happen, as specialists said this is a first omission not genetic, not what she had or had not eaten, just pot luck, what I find quite strange is that this beautiful girl of ours always wears a smile, So come on everyone SMILE, Tomorrow she endures another operation, nothing to do with the liver that is going really well, and we will be always be eternally grateful to the family of the doner .

Hi parley a question for you, what are your thoughts on entitlement to any amount of pension or CHC if you have worked all your life paid taxes and not needed any welfare payments?

Look sorry I have changed the topic slightly. I've noticed this one crept in with the Abbott government. Graeme Innes his position as Disability Discrimination Commissioner has been axed there will be no dedicated representative/political voice to protect the interests of people with disabilities. I think the Abbott government has made a huge error in axing the role. Open to differing opinions though.

There are quite a few, Flanagans Dining room, open Friday & Saturday nights at Thirroul Beach nice for lunch also, Ocean Beach Hotel Shellharbour, Panorama House at the top of Bulli Pass, good views but not on beach. Scarborough Hotel lovely views, but can't see much when it's dark out there.

ah yes I have posted about your last sentence previously, divide & conquer.

Oh gosh, sometimes just sometimes there is such a thing called sickness not alcohol or ciggs, just jolly bad luck which made them welfare recipients

You just keep on believing it (lets not forget Breast Cancer, Ovarian Cancer Testicular cancer the list could go on, Olivia Newton John, Jane Mcgrath, Delta Goodrem

I have just read that Mr Hockey want's to raise the age when you can access your super, He will be looking into that very shortly he wants to get his budget through senate first. mmm

Life is full of choices for the lucky ones, some people are not able to have as many choices, My sister from the U.K said exactly the same as yours Petals, plus haven't you done well here, We have been back for visits, stayed 3 months one time, We do seem more carefree, I have often been told about the 3 way Pom. A removalist company was telling us he has seem this quite a few times. We have been in Oz 31 years, I believe I probably wouldn't settle to well in the U.K, We do love our life here, miss our families in the U.K. We now have older children with families of their own, grandchildren & friends. My family say I have changed?? maybe emigrating and staying for a while does this? The years after arrival I sometimes would say to my self, o.k what bought you here, if I was having a (missing my family time). Perhaps go with what your heart dictates not your head, It's funny really when we go back for visits local folk say where do you come from! I def. have my English accent, but not my local twang. Never forget your roots & soar like a bird in your paradise.

You have similar sentiments to me, What we have is the Medicare levy shortly to rise, Health fund payments they rise each year, Gap payments don't take me there, Some Doctors also charge out of pocket expenses, not refunded at all, $7.00 co- payment that is until the next rise. coupled with pathology and x rays. extra co payments and scripts then back to your GP for your results (don't break a leg) you made need Physio.