mungbean

Define "easy" The one I use has a little program that you run whenever you want to connect via the VPN (Virtual Private Network). There are options for which server to connect to in the UK - sometimes one is busy so you choose another. Once you're connected, all your network traffic gets sent through the server in the UK, so you just run it and forget it. And all the software there thinks you are in the UK. (Even down to getting web ads for UK stuff.) After that the experience will depend on how fast your broadband is. In India where the connectivity wasn't great I mostly downloaded stuff rather than streaming, to avoid breaks in the programmes. Although I did watch a lot of world cup on ITV player and iPlayer, which was streaming obviously. Hope that helps!

Hi everyone, I just joined POI so dropping a line to say hello... I'm in the middle of my 457 visa application and all being well I should be arriving in Sydney at the end of Jan/start of February. I'll be shifting on my own, working in the university sector, and hope to be based somewhere around Glebe/Rozelle/Balmain probably, although I'm still researching neighbourhoods. I spent the last 4 years living and working in India, and before that was in Scotland for 10 wonderful years. Still seems funny seeing all these Scottish place-names sprinkled about the place in Sydney... can you really get from Campbeltown to Camden in under an hour? This forum is already looking like a friendly and informative place... look forward to interacting with you all and learning about my new home over the next weeks and months. Cheers! ps: please tell me there is draught Guinness in Oz... 4 years without was a long slog!

Do a google search for "vpn uk tv" and you will find many options for VPN software that lets you pretend your computer is in the UK. This gives you access to streaming programmes as well as downloads on iPlayer, 4OD, ITV Player etc. I used one for the last 4 years in India and it worked great, for $US 5 a month. As I'm a new user I expect I'm not allowed to recommend any commercial services though...

I have killed a young Gecko (in India) with a can of Mortein by accident... I was spraying ants that were coming into the bedroom and didn't see it hiding behind the curtain. I'm shifting to Sydney soon and I'm pleased to hear they're regular visitors to the house - they're good friends to have around!

Hi all, I just joined POI and am in the process of applying for 457 visa... hope to arrive in Sydney around end of January. I've been trawling through these threads and found some great info so far, but couldn't find the answers to a few qns so I'll post them here. If there's a Sydney FAQ somewhere I haven't spotted, please let me know. I've just come back from 4 years in India and I'm not really clear on Sydney weather... I'm surprised to see that a.c. doesn't seem to be standard, even though it's around 30 degrees just now, and can get much hotter. Back in Delhi in June it was 47 degs C and a.c. = life support! So anyway, questions: What to look for in terms of heating and cooling? Am I right in thinking some a.c. can blow hot as well as suck cold? Can you really survive summer without any a.c. at all? Is it best to look for gas heating or can you survive with plug-in fan heaters etc? Are there any extra monthly fees to watch for, over and above the rent and bills? (e.g. in UK you have council tax, water rates) What’s normal for renting: furnished/unfurnished? Would ‘unfurnished’ include washing machine, fridge, a.c. units/heaters etc or is it totally bare-bones empty box? Any other gotchas for renting? Will I definitely need landlords’ references? (could be tricky since I was in India) What would be typical utility bills for a 1-2 bed? Thanks to recommendations here I've been looking on realestate.com.au and domain.com.au so I think I've got some basic idea of what's out there rental-wise, but not clear on some of things to watch for. I am shifting on my own and will be looking for a 1- or 2-bed house/flat within short commuting distance of Ultimo, where I'll be working. Right I have plenty more but that will do for now. Thanks for any advice!