jumpingjellybean

Easy on the actual day when you have read the pamphlet prior. Quite tricky 20 years later without the pamphlet as a "refresher" prior

Yep quite easily over 40 plus years.

Definitely. And a good choice of "unusual" things too. I got a massive bunch of watercress the other day for 0.99 cents. Really hard to buy watercress at the big supermarkets. Loads of markets around too for fresh food at low prices. I mainly grow my own. I don't eat tinned or processed foods, so not sure the best place to stock up on these. Maybe Aldi or that Costco for bulk purchases.

Still not doing it. I would rather save the money in an emergency fund instead.

Sure I would. But don't have a booklet. Just thought I would test myself on line - harder than I thought with all those law questions.

To give you some idea on prices: http://www.realestate.com.au/property-unit-nsw-kirribilli-416981194 http://www.realestate.com.au/property-unit-nsw-kirribilli-416739281 http://www.realestate.com.au/property-apartment-nsw-kirribilli-415482255 Unit rents seem to range from $350.00 per week to over $1000. But being so close to everything you can save money - no need to run expensive car full time or even at all, since you can walk many places or use public transport. If you were feeling super fit you could actually walk form Wollahra to Kirribilli, or at least part way if not feeling that energetic.

The Lower North Shore is a brilliant place to live in my opinion. I absolutely love Kirribilli. What a lovely place to live. It is a quiter location but not isolated. It is within easy access to the rowdier city or cafes in Crows Nest. Nice pub in North Sydney nearby too. Big shopping precinct in nearby Chatswood. Easy train, bus or ferry to the CBD. Or you can just walk over the bridge into the city - makes getting home after a night out very cheap and easy. There is a good swimming pool nearby within walking distance. Walking tracks and even beaches nearby. Love the place.

Expensive to buy. But you can still rent a unit quite cheaply starting from about $300 a week. I have seen some really nice recently built modern ones for $490.00 per week. I live in Sydney on about the same salary as you, and have a very good life here. But then again I am not materialistic.

Why do you want to live North of the city? Is there a particular reason? Personally I would say give Sydney a go for 6 - 12 months first. The job sounds perfect for your husband. And the family will always be in Brisbane to fall back on later; if things don't work out. Happiness is what you make it! It is about attitude and not location. Lane Cove is 20kms north of Chullora and a lovely area to live for young families. Has some good units or houses to rent at still reasonable prices. It has a community village feel to it. Still north (well north west) of the city but close enough to still enjoy city life if you want to. Next to a National Park for family time and walking, biking and canoeing. Good shops and cafes. It has an aquatic leisure centre that has swimming, spa, sauna, gym, free creche for children etc.... The North Shore Mums Facebook page will be helpful to anyone in the area will young children. A good way to quickly make friends:

As a matter of interest, I have just sat a sample quiz. Only got 15 / 20 (and some of those were guesses):wideeyed: glad it wasn't for real. Been living here for over 20 years and a citizen for 14. Opps. Better brush up on a few laws I think! The capital city questions are easy but I didn't get any of those. My questions were all about the law / constitution / governor general / etc...

Got that one right. Dreamed of you, over-sized suitcases and zombies the other night. Horrible - shudder.

Actually maybe not SS at all. Someone (perhaps that taxi driver who said she had a baby face) has logged on and pretending to be her.

Too many nuts jobs on here stalking her every move already maybe!!

Brilliant when I went there - still completely undeveloped in 1990 - hardly anyone on the island. It was great.

No idea? Who! Don't make me guess.

. Out of your list, Mudgee is the best place in my opinion. Lovely little town. Great places to stay, eat and drink. Has some really good wineries in the area for touring / tasting. The Arocombie Caves nearby are a nice place to camp if that is your thing. Orange is OK but a bit too "country town" ish (redneck). But there is a really good restaurant there called Lolli Redini: http://www.lolliredini.com.au/ This is a nice restaurant in Mildura: http://www.stefano.com.au/restaurant/venue-info/ It is in The Grand Hotel where you can also spend the night. As you can see, much of my travels revolve around places to eat gourmet food and drink fine wine. :laugh: Otherwise nearby you could visit Mungo: http://www.visitmungo.com.au/

Yes many years ago. But not my favourite place. It was a bit like India with people hassling you ALL the time to buy stuff. Very annoying. Away from the tourist areas, the quieter beaches, countryside, rice terraces and little temples were lovely. The party central tourist areas were not - think Ibiza but worse. http://www.bali.com/ http://www.lonelyplanet.com/indonesia/bali/travel-tips-and-articles/1415 If you hire a motorcycle for gawds sake make sure you have good medical insurance in place. Roads terrible. Crashes frequent. Medical care lacking.

Buy the book "Lonely Planet Guide to Australia". The 18th edition was just released And start reading.....and planning It will all come together soon enough

The two calm paddling beaches I mentioned (Palm Beach on the Pittwater side, and Balmoral) are both accessible by a regular bus from the CBD. And there are regular buses from Randwick to the CBD. Basically any harbour beach or other sheltered beach will normally be calm and suitable for paddling and children swimming. And any ocean beach is normally rougher and good for surfing or strong swimmers.

In a rather Double Dutch way then! :laugh:

An enjoyable read - thank you. So far so good eh! I like Townsville. Particularly like Magnetic Island just off the coast. Have you had time to do much sight-seeing around the area yet?

Beach towel is a bit bulky. That is why I suggested a lightweight cotton sarong. You use it in place of a beach towel. Woolies are selling large beach towels for $5.00 each at present; so just get one here.

Well that was well organized wasn't it!!! No worries though. Just go to any exchange booth and do it. There are normal several at each airport. Either in UK or Singapore.

Well it was the gods honest truth at 10AM Sunday morning. Also I suggest you try sun worshiping in the AM......rather than at 9PM! That does help somewhat too

Palm Beach on the Pittwater National Park Side (the other side is ocean and rough) Balmoral Suitable for babies and paddlers like me.