Toots

Awww, your granddaughter sounds like a lovely lass. Enjoy Christmas with your family and especially good to have your UK son with you too.

Lovely to hear from you @Tappers2oz

I haven't really got any nuggets to offer but as long as I'm with my husband and family that's fine for me. I'm definitely not one of those nostalgic at Christmas types. My sister is here from Scotland and our two sons and their partners are here for New Year. We are going away for a few days over Christmas. It won't be steaming hot here thank goodness. Hope you manage to enjoy yourself in spite of homesickness. Can't be easy at all.

It's an Australian slang word meaning to criticize, disparage, or dismiss a person or thing. Surprised you haven't heard of it before.

Perhaps not a hillbilly could get together with the PIO member in Perth who is constantly seeking intellectual and sophisticated buddies to have meaningful conversations with? Said Perth member seems to have disappeared for the time being.

I'm along the road from you in Devonport. Know what you mean about the hillbillies. I just tend to steer clear. We've been here almost 10 years but I feel quite at home. We live in the quiet part of town where the hillbillies don't bother us. As Marisa has already said, there are many people like yourself who feel stuck and unhappy. Are there any social clubs you could join? You might find that there will be a fair percentage of people there from the UK and Europe.

I think Marisa has you muddled up with another poster who had a query very recently.

Agree. If you're not sure don't do it.

22C here today. Denison Beach, east coast of Tassie.

@Adam 005 I don't know your age but please be aware most Australian visas have an age limit of 44 meaning that those who have attained the age of 45 years are not eligible to apply for an Australian visa.

Honestly, I think you would find it too hard. You could end up hating it here. Read what Nemesis has posted above. That has caused a lot of problems for many migrants who yearn to return to their home country.

You say you your wife has family in Australia. Does family mean her parents? If not, how do her parents feel about you all moving to Australia?

Most migrants will tell you that it not an easy thing to do. In fact it is probably one of the hardest parts of migrating. Have you mentioned that you are thinking of moving to Australia? If so what was their reaction? Do you have siblings in the UK? It is an even harder decision for an only child. Have to say, I can also understand why your wife wants to be closer to her own parents. Yes, a hard decision. Good luck with it all.

The OP's application for an RRV was refused. With a bit of luck the son will be fine?

It does seem very unlikely but the whole immigration system works in very mysterious ways so who knows, he may by lucky.

I'm happy to say the years I worked in Europe and the USA I never had to see a doctor or go to a hospital. I was hoping I would be like my Mum who never had to go to hospital in her life even to have her babies. The only time she was in hospital was for the 5 days before the end of her life. Unfortunately I didn't inherit her robust good health but even so I reckon I'm still pretty healthy for an old dame. I'm glad I don't have to work in a Walmart type of place to pay for healthcare as you have described. After living in Sydney for years and years, living in Tasmania is like going back in time which suits me just fine.

Your GP sounds like a shocker and anyway isn't it against the hippocratic oath to divulge a patient's health care to anyone?

In an ideal world healthcare would be free for everyone - I agree with you there. I've never broken a bone (touch wood) but due to an inherited heart problem I do have to attend hospital now and again to keep an eye on things. Can't fault the care I've been given and ambulances are free here in Tassie - not that I've ever needed one. Hope you wife is back to good health now.

I do understand how you feel. I NEVER got used to the goodbyes when my Mum returned to Scotland after a few months here every 2nd year. It was very hard. I have always been happy in Australia but when you migrate, leaving a close loving family is without doubt the hardest part .............. it was for me even though I had lived in other countries before migrating. I have been here over 40 years now. Mum died a number of years ago but my sister comes for 3 months to visit. Many migrants return to their country of origin as they find being apart from their families too difficult. Enjoy your parents visit in February. See how you feel when they return - as I said, it isn't at all easy but life returns to normal and you just seem to get on with it.

I think migrants from the UK have to remember this is not the UK with the NHS. It's a different country and things are done differently here. It's not much use comparing the two,

Same here.

Your poor wife. That must have been horrible for her. Are you in Sydney? I'm wondering which hospital she was in. I didn't like Canterbury hospital at all but I had good (if you can call being in hospital good) care in Royal Prince Alfred and the North Shore. I think most people in Australia are prepared to pay when they go to a doctor unless that surgery bulk bills.

For some reason I thought you had already returned to the UK? Must have muddled you up with someone else. I think it depends where you live when it comes to the quality of healthcare. God knows Tasmania has its problems with regard to healthcare but we've been very lucky so far. Our GP is excellent and I'm always hoping she stays here as so many of them move to the mainland cities.

Also to be aware of shortage of rentals. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-08-26/how-the-rental-market-broke-can-it-be-fixed/102767494

Breezy, sunny day and only 19C but I forgot to put on a hat and my face is a bit pink.