BooBooBear

Depends what she wants to do.

A number of TAFE colleges are closing down. About 30 across the country I believe.

TAFE use to be considered "a bit of a joke" back in the 1980's. Attitudes since then have changed but some employers have been slow to catch on.

I did a really intensive hospitality course for two years and it was excellent. But then some potential employers said it wasn't worth the paper it was written on.

Then again, I did once get a job solely based on the TAFE qualification.

So works both ways.

Some good courses could be: hairdressing, hospitality, chef, bookkeeping and horticultural studies.

TAFE is fine for bookkeeping. But one step up to an accountant would need a university degree.

General accounting for a job is a bad idea anyway. There are thousands of Chinese and Indian accountants flooding the cities. To get ahead you would need a CPA qualification which is expensive and long winded.

How did you organise your time in between rentals?

Stay in a backpackers hostel, motel, caravan park, or any short term cheap accommodation etc....

During our last move we had three weeks between end of one house, and move into another. We stayed in a cabin at a caravan holiday tourist park.

Start looking now to get a feel of the place and different prices.

Any time is a good time to look. Change of season makes no difference.

Manly is a very popular place to live and competition may be quite stiff.

So be prepared and have all your paperwork and records together ready to go at a moments notice.

Not much point viewing a property on the Saturday and then spending the next five days scrabbling around for relevant paperwork. It may be snapped up by then.

We once did a rental viewing in Manly and about 60 people turned up for the same open day. That was a few years ago now so things may have settled down. Or they may be worse. So just be prepared paperwork wise should you happen to find the perfect place.

Hey just wondering if anyone has any information on Whitsundays area. What is the work situation like up there?

Anything to do with sailing or hospitality is your best bet.

Is he trying to put some space between you both?

If he wanted to do that he could save himself $5,000 and just move to the other side of Sydney. Or up to Queensland.

When he made his announcement he fully expected me to joyfully agree to go. He knows I love it here. But thought I would enjoy a year or ten in the UK again.

I suppose my own faulty there. I have never really discussed the UK with him. Never expressed any homesickness. So I guess he presumes my feelings about the place are neutral.

I have thrown a spanner in the works by saying I don't want to go.

with all the road works around the new hospital at French forest more traffic will use mona vale road

The hospital build started some months ago. I have been avoiding Wakehurst Parkway since that time. But I have not noticed any traffic increase on Mona Vale Road at the time we go through.

you ever been stuck behind a truck going up Mona vale road ? .

No

At least we will be surrounded by Roo's. Curious what the cats will make of them

When my youngest cat was a kitten around 8 months old, she use to chase roos.

It was so funny to watch a tiny kitten stalking a fully grown kangaroo.

Nowadays she wears a bell on her collar to protect the birds. But my main concern is snakes. She is fascinated with them.

When we were courting my wife lived in Australia, I lived in Cornwall. We maintained a relationship like this for two years. We only spent 6 weeks, (3 in Cornwall, 3 in Australia,) actually together before we got married and I moved out here. That was 15 years ago.

Thank you

Sounds like you did good.

Bizarrely everyone seems to have cats & dogs, but nobody seems to be allowed to have them. It seems to be a bit of a farce.....

First place I lived said a big fat NO to pets, and I had to sign the lease agreement saying I had no pets.

I actually had two cats, and kept them there anyway without the landlord or real estate agent knowing.

During the periodic real estate inspections, I simply booked the cats into the local cattery a few days prior. And then scented and cleaned the house up to remove any evidence.

I had them in this rental for five full years before getting found out.

The landlords then tried to issue another lease saying No Pets. I simply argued that they had been there for five years with absolutely no problem or incident, but I would personally cover any future damage out of my own pocket.

They backed down and agreed to keeping them there....... And I got my full bond returned when I left.

I actually steamed cleaned the carpets at my own expense which they loved, and it got me a very good reference from them (even though I had lied to them about the cats), which came in most useful for securing my next rental.

However, after that experience, I was always truthful from the go-get with a pet resume, and offer of extra bond. Both work well.

I don't think I can post links yet, as only joined this forum today.

But using Google, try searching for:

"resume for pets for renting in sydney"

"resume for pets for renting in brisbane"

Or wherever

And loads of ideas come up

Any other (cat specific?) rental advice you want to you share?

Pets do make it harder to find a rental. But it is certainly not impossible.

I suggest putting your cats in a cattery for a while, whilst you find a suitable rental.

We did in the past when moving around. One stay was for 12 months when we were moving interstate. Another stay was 3 months. Most catteries will give you discounted rates for long stay.

Rentals will normally advertise as "No Pets" or "Pets Considered". If nothing is said on the advert, then it pays to ask.

Even places that say "No Pets" will sometimes reconsider if you present your case.

In regards to the "Pets Considered", you really need to show that you are a competent pet owner:

You should make sure your cats are up-to-date with their vaccinations

Are wormed every 3 months

Are flea protected

Are desexed

Are micro chipped

Are toilet trained

Do you have vet records of this. That may help your application.

Treat it like a cat resume (i.e.) vouch for them and present them in the best light possible.

In Sydney, you have to also register cats and dogs with your local council, once you have moved into your rental.

I have rented loads of times with cats.

It is much easier renting with cats than with dogs, because cats are much quieter and cleaner animals. And therefore more favorable in the landlords eyes.

grass in oz is crap. this is a lawn.

I have several friends that live in Bowral NSW; who have lawns exactly like this - in stripes.

Bowral is just over an hour south from Sydney.

The area is known as The Southern Highlands and is very picturesque.

Lots of little quaint English style villages.

Many of the houses have landscaped gardens exactly like your picture.

Temperature is very much like England too. We got snowed in last year in one of the villages.

I would be letting him go back on his own.

Yes I think that is the best course of action for me. He is none too pleased.

He has also said to go back for ten years. I totally freaked out at that.

How do you think army and navy wives manage?

I thought they saw each other in-between. My friends husband comes home on leave every four months.

Btw: I have been diagnosed with anxiety disorder. So that is possibly a large part of the problem..

I would say that IS the problem.

Makes no sense otherwise.

You say how unhappy and depressed you were at home. So what makes you think anything will change if you now go back?

I think you are having feelings of homesickness ONLY because you feel unsettled.

I especially think this because you say how unhappy you were at home. So how can you possibly be homesick for an unhappy life?! Ponder that.

Much better to get your anxiety disorder sorted out (which you can do in either country) and once that is settled and in remission; your overall life will improve.

If you find a more permanent job and put down roots in one location in Australia - you will soon make new friends and feel more settled.

All this "struggle" is why you are feeling so scattered.

The other concern for me is:

If he goes for one year and decides to stay permanently.

That will break up our marriage.

I think he must be having some sort of mid-life crisis.

He has always said he loves Australia and his life here.

Now he drops this sudden bombshell based on nothing more than a "feeling".

I think if you put a country before your other half then are you really committed to that person?

Yes I am 100% committed to him. I love him deeply. And we have had a very happy faithful marriage for the past 30 years.

But overall I dislike the UK, and simply shudder at the thought of living there again.

Especially so close to our family and friends; who I find suffocating in their views.

So should I go for one year to make him happy....... knowing full well I will be unhappy, miserable and possible resentful. It will be like going to prison for one year.

Thank you for your advise xxlornaxx it was interesting to read your experiences in this matter.

You are doing well to get to Gordon in 25 min from Newport

Done it every morning for the past three years.

It takes me 25 minutes travelling at the normal speed limit.

Can anyone help advise on salary figures for customer service work part time hours for me. Just general admin reception or call centre work, I have 20 years experience in customer service and have been with my employer for the last ten years. Also what salary to expect for a wall and floor tiler self employed or employed.

I am new here too dancing1112. Well new to the forum. I have lived in Australia for 25 years.

Very hard to give salary figures. Because it vastly depends on what area you work in.

Even within the same city.

For example: Hornsby and Sydney CBD are only 40 mins apart on the train line. But the salary difference could be $30,000.

Just thought we would say hi and tell you a bit about ourselves and take any advice anyone has to offer.

I am new here too krisjen01. Well new to the forum. I have lived in Australia for 25 years.

I cannot help with migration because the rules have changed so much in the past 25 years.

But getting an agent is probably a good idea. It will of course cost a bit. But will also help to take some of the stress and confusion away.

In regards to catering and chef work. Well there is plenty of opportunity for both here. Especially in the big cities.

But some smaller tourist wine areas have loads of gourmet food options to be explored and expanded on.

Margaret River in WA and The Hunter Valley in NSW and The Barossa Valley in SA, are three that come to mind. Even somewhere like country Mudgee and Orange in NSW are considered major "foodie" hotspots.

I have never been to Perth so cannot offer advice there.

Why not come back to the UK for the summer and see how you feel after that. You wouldn't be burning any bridges and it would shorten the separation.

A good suggestion overall thank you newjez.

But a six week holiday was all I could manage, before I was itching and foaming at the mouth to return to Australia.

My husband wants to go and live near family and friends. Like in the same street. I cannot think of anything worse.

At the end of the day though, do you want to spend your dotage cuddled up to the love of your life perhaps in the "wrong" place or alone in a country you love.

To be honest. I would have to choose alone in the country I love.

That is how strongly I feel about this situation.

But of course, I don't want to throw a happy marriage away over this, hence I was wondering if a long distance marriage could work.

Thank you for your advice Quoll.

Is there any reason why you couldn't do it for a year?

Well the main reason is: the thought of living in the UK again, is too awful to even think about.

A six week holiday was all I could manage, before I was itching and foaming at the mouth to get back to Australia.

I think I would feel very resentful at being forced to live there against my will. And that would ruin our marriage quicker than being apart I reckon.

Sounds like living in walkable or cyclable distance of a ferry stop is the best idea to help the commute be as fast as poss for my husband.

If you are not too fussed about the beach and scenery views kind of lifestyle, then Kirribilli could be a very good choice.

It is a lovely suburb.

You can walk or cycle into the CBD from there.

Also within walking distance to a train line located at Milsons Point. And shops, cafes, restaurants and pubs are close on hand too. Also some nice walking tracks around the harbour foreshore. And quite close to the zoo and touristy activities.

Good schools nearby or via short train commute.

You can get a nice rental in your price range too.

A pretty harbour beach called Balmoral is 20 minutes drive away.

The Northern Beaches are mainly ocean beaches. But around Kirribilli there are harbour beaches. You can swim and sail at harbour beaches; but you cannot surf.

You mention about commute. Most people that work in Sydney have a long commute. Around 45 mins, or 1 - 2 hours is the norm. I know newly arrived Poms freak out about this. But it is quite normal and just one of those things.

So for a short commute somewhere like Kirribilli is perfect. To walk from Milsons Point or Kirribilli across to Circular Quay CBD, takes about 20 mins.

You could also cycle, get the bus, or train, into the city easily too from this suburb.

You could even drive.

Hello Celina. I can probably answer some of your questions.

Really everything has got a positive upside and a negative downside. Just keep that in mind whilst you are looking.

Allambie Heights is horrible. In my opinion.

Manly is nice but gets very very busy.

I have lived in Australia for 25 years and lived all over the place including the past 15 years in Sydney. But my favourite place to live by far is the upper Northern Beaches area in Sydney.

I was previously living in Wahroonga. This is a lovely area, as has a village community feel to it. It has tree lined streets, lovely houses, shops, cafes, and is located close to several extremely good schools both private and selective.

It is also on the main direct train line to the city. So it is an excellent choice in a practical sense. Before I got a job further up the line in St Leonards, I use to get the 7.05am train from Wahroonga and arrive at Wynyard in the city at 7.41am.

And nowadays there are three “Quite” carriages on most trains, which is very relaxing. So you can read a book or snooze for the trip.

There is also a faster train that comes down from the Central Coast which skips all of the small stations in between. To get the faster train, you have go to the next suburb over and catch it from Hornsby.

In a practical sense, any suburb on the train line from Cowan down to North Sydney would be a good choice for a family.

The downside is: many of these suburbs are conservative and a little dull, especially on weekends.

A few years ago we moved to Newport on the Northern Beaches. I absolutely love it here because there is so much to do and it has a laid back relaxed lifestyle. It is like being on your summer holidays permanently…….well not quite but hopefully you get my drift.

I have a ten minute walk to Newport Beach. Or sometimes I walk along the cliff to Bilgola Beach. And I have a short car or bus trip to at least ten other beaches. And each beach has an enclosed clean pool if you don’t like ocean swimming. Some beaches are better for children, or surfers, or whatever, so lots of choice.

Plus being near gorgeous Pittwater, you have sailing, canoeing, jet skiing, fishing and other water related activities, and also bushwalking in the beautiful nearby National Park thrown into the mix.

The pubs, cafes and restaurants are brilliant; so much choice from cheap to expensive. There are excellent shopping options and cinemas. There is a massive shopping venue called Warringah Mall which is located near Manly. But I do all my shopping in Mona Vale or Warriewood, as both locations have everything I need.

The downside is lack of public transport on the Northern Beaches. Buses only. No train.

Which means to “beat the traffic” we leave home at 6.15am. Mona Vale Road becomes a carpark around 8.00am, so we go through early to beat the traffic.

That is the sacrifice I make, but I think it is more than worth it.

It also means that we can get to work early and leave early. We have made this arrangement with our managers, as have many Sydney workers.

I work in St Leonards and my husband works in the city near Town Hall station. So we drive to Gordon station which takes around 25 minutes. We park there and catch the train. It takes me 11 minutes on the train and takes my husband 26 minutes.

So you are looking at about a 1 hour commute from Newport into Sydney CBD by combined car and train if going via Mona Vale Road. There are of course several routes into the city. Via the Spit Bridge or via the Wakehurst Parkway. Lots of people also go via Belrose and round the back of Chatswood. It is just a matter of finding which route works best for you.

I would never drive direct into the city (unless leaving super early like 5.00am) as the roads really can get congested and parking in the city is expensive.

Lastly you can get a really lovely house for $1,000 - $1,500 per week.

I have just seen a truly stunning place in Avalon in that price range. And another in Clareville with amazing jaw-dropping views over Pittwater. And lovely duplex in Newport for $600.

I am happy to answer any other questions you have.