Toots

I'm one of the old timers here. Like some of your friends I would only go back to the UK for a holiday. I only have my sister in the UK now and as she looks forward to coming here for 3 months holiday every year I just don't have that urge to go back to the UK at all anymore. Just been speaking to my sister and she says the weather is wet and miserable where she is so I was able to tell her it is pouring with rain here too.

Yes, I should never have mentioned the Devonport hoon in his lime green ute and his appalling driving. That'll teach me.

If you approach a 4-way intersection at the same time as a vehicle who is approaching from your right and they appear to be travelling straight ahead, give way to your right. If you approach a 4-way intersection at the same time as a vehicle who is approaching from your left and right and both appear to be travelling straight ahead, give way to both. The moron in the green ute just flew through the intersection without looking at all even though he was supposed give way. There is a raised circle in the middle of the intersection with some trees in the middle of it. Devonport has loads of those roundabout things. It's not hard to understand what you are supposed to do.

I don't think you get it. He was supposed to stop. Instead he sped through. He is also one of the local morons who speed through lights when they turn red. We all recognise him. He drives a lime green ute. One day he won't be so lucky.

I was coming home in the car this morning and I had right of way on the roundabout when a car hurtled down the street and didn't even look and shot through right in front of me. Luckily I am an old chook who through past experience takes my time but if I had being going at a fair pace I would have hit him hard side on. The air was blue with very unladylike expletives I can tell you.

Devonport is a town full of roundabouts and 70% of people have no idea how they are meant to work. Appalling drivers here too.

I hope you are also considering your own health reasons. You were terribly homesick in Australia and feeling very depressed and you were also worried about your parents in the UK. Surely the NHS isn't that bad now for treating your husband. It's a big decision moving across the world again but hope it all works out for you.

When my two were at school both primary and high school had a roofed area outside with tables and benches. Always took a packed lunch or bought something from the canteen.

We've just come home after visiting friends in Caloundra and Noosa. We had a lovely time and the weather was just right. They retired there from Sydney. Next month we will be meeting up with them and other friends for a wedding in Sydney plus a big wedding anniversary. Looking forward to big city life for a few days also catch up with elder son then it's back to my lovely quiet life here in Tassie.

I have never wanted a kindle. I much prefer to read a "real" book. Our library is used a LOT and would be sorely missed if it ever closed. I am a regular user of our local pool except for the summer when I swim in the sea. Guess we are lucky we actually do have these facilities.

Some folk are just natural born haters.

I suppose you can do without a swimming pool but to close a library is a real shame.

She should have received an email with the visa grant number on it. You could try ringing home affairs and they may give you the visa grant number over the phone. I'm sure someone here with expertise will be able to give you more information.

I'm sure the OP is well aware of the different weathers and temps in Australia. They just have to find a place that suits them. Weather isn't the be all and end all though it is nice to be comfortable.

A fair percentage of retirees here head off to Qld for the winters. A neighbour has just returned. They go every year and love it. Even when I lived in the UK I didn't like the few hot days. The summer I worked in London was horrid. Week after week of hot weather (1976). It was lovely to get up to Mum's place in Scotland for the cooler weather there. I admit, I am a wuss. I have to state I have never been overweight so that has nothing to do with it. I'm just a cooler climate type of person. My sister adores hot weather and my brother who lived in Thailand for years never minded the heat and humidity. He'd go out and play golf and tennis in Bangkok. I'd be in the shade by a swimming pool.

Undoubtedly some people can tolerate, even enjoy hot/humid weather. Others of us can't. I am one of those people. I get a bit on the cranky side when it gets over 25C. I am very much an outdoors person and just find it tiring and uncomfortable to be active in that sort of weather. When we were thinking of moving to Tasmania people said "Oh but it gets so cold there". I suppose for folk who love heat they would find it too cold for them but I don't mind it at all. Where we live it doesn't get THAT cold. It's quite rare during winter to not have the temp in double digits during the day. It was 37 in Sydney this afternoon. Here it was 20. I know which temperature I prefer.

Yes, the rent was one of the main reasons why the new ferry berth is now in Geelong.

The ferries have been sailing from Geelong for a few months. https://www.spiritoftasmania.com.au/company-information/media/media-releases/new-victorian-home-for-spirit-of-tasmania#:~:text=Mr Grainger said Independent research,to and from the terminal.

The two new Spirit of Tasmania ferries are being built in Finland with 40% more capacity. They will be delivered next year. https://newships.spiritoftasmania.com.au/

I was thinking more of leafy Bearsden. it used to be one of the more posh suburbs of Glasgow but who knows these day ............. the druggies and drunks may have infiltrated there too.

I dare say you wouldn't see it in the more salubrious suburbs of Glasgow either.

She was probably "aff her heid" on drugs. Don't tell me it doesn't happen here too.

I'm old enough to remember Glasgow long before the 90's. When I was in my teens it had a terrible reputation all over Scotland for razor gangs, violence and unsolved murders. I never lived in Glasgow but everyone was aware of its reputation. I worked in Balloch for 6 months in 1970 and used to go into Glasgow shopping and on nights out with my pals. I liked the city and there were some really great folk there. Can't say we ever came across any trouble at all. Maybe we were lucky. I've visited Glasgow since then a few times and liked the atmosphere of the place so I'm sorry it's gone downhill over the years.

Totally agree. Add social media to the list.

Beautiful day for the 1st day of spring. Lovely walk this afternoon.