Toots

I'm inclined to agree with Parley. Too many stories on this site about the other half not keen on making the move and ending up being miserable and very unhappy here. You have a house a decent job and friends where you are so you do sound like you have put roots down. Who knows though ................... maybe your wife will be happier to move in a 3-4 years. Good luck

Three houses in three different countries would take quite a bit of upkeep. It doesn't take long for a garden to look very unkempt if nobody is there to keep it under control which would highlight the fact that the houses were empty. Apartments in the different countries would be a better option if you can afford to do that.

I'm with you there @Marisawright. Also the thought as you get older of the long flight/s. What was an adventure when young doesn't have the same appeal in older age .......... at least for me.

I don't think Canberra/ACT is dirt cheap at all. Maybe compared to some swanky areas of Sydney but certainly not what I'd call cheap. Got a friend who recently moved from Sydney to Canberra and is enjoying life there.

First frost of the year this morning. Beautiful sunny day.

Aging is funny thing. I know a fair few active oldies, still living independently into their late 80s and 90s. My lovely old neighbour Edna (when we lived in Sydney) was active and independent until she was 102. She died when she was 103. I suppose it's luck really. My paternal grandfather died when he was 72 but his twin sister was 102 when she died. As long as you keep your marbles and decent health it's OK to live to a great age but otherwise, I'd rather cark it then live in pain and misery.

I have no experience with Launceston General but I went with an elderly neighbour on Friday to the Mersey Community Hospital. The ambulance arrived at her house 10 minutes after the call then the ambos unloaded her at the hospital (no waiting at all) and took her to a ward. I thought it would have been busy but the whole place was quiet. I've been a patient at Launceston General but never needed to go by ambulance. Never had to go to an emergency department ..................... yet.

Hobart, Launceston and Devonport are to have Medicare Urgent Care Centres by the middle of the year. They are supposed to take the pressure of the hospital emergency departments. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-04-17/tas-to-get-four-bulk-billing-medicare-rgent-care-centre/102230106

It was but today it's one of those showery days .................. lovely sunshine then showers then back to sun again and so on. The Hamilton Inn has an old fireplace to sit around on a colder day.

Sydney and Melbourne are both huge sprawling cities. Melbourne pips Sydney with 2,453 square km. Sydney covers 2,037 square km. Both will be more now as those numbers are from 2017. Which is better? All down to personal preference. I like both of them .......................... just to visit for a few days though. Always glad to get out of them.

It's the same here if you fall and break a hip - usually replaced asap Not so for people suffering from arthritis in hips/knees. A fairly long wait unless private. When we first came to Tasmania the wait time wasn't too bad but over the years it is taking longer and longer.

Last week we went to the small town of Hamilton which is situated beside the river Clyde. Both the town and the river are named after the town of Hamilton and the river Clyde in Scotland. The Hamilton Inn was built of sandstone by an ex-convict in 1826. The surrounding countryside is sheep and cattle country.

It was good to read your update @bug family. Wonderful to know you are back in your beloved Wales and that you will soon be the owner of a little cottage. Of course it must be hard for you at times but you have a job you love and your own cottage. Please continue to update us with your life in Wales.

A couple who live in our street have gone back to Germany for 6 months. They haven't rented out their house for much the same reasons you have given. They felt a bit guilty as there is a shortage of rentals here but for 6 months it wasn't worth the hassle. All the neighbours keep an eye on the place. A mowing man keeps the lawn neat and the rest of the garden tidy.

It certainly looks very healthy.

Had a walk around the Devonport Motor Show. It's only a couple of minutes walk from our house and the traffic in the street is horrendous just now. Some very interesting cars to look at. A lot of very noisy Harley Davidson motor bikes. Lots to eat and drink too. Quite a big crowd and a few cars on show from the mainland. https://devonportmotorshow.com.au/#:~:text=26 March 2023&text=The Annual SeaRoad Devonport Motor,Northern end of Victoria Parade.

Foreign ownership of property happens in most countries. e.g. Foreign owners hold 9.7 billions pounds worth of property in the UK. 45 billion pounds worth of property in London alone. Shouldn't be allowed.

Bulya lives in/near Canberra not the Gold Coast.

You've had a very tough time of it by the sound of things. Can't say I blame you for wanting to return. Fantastic that you have plans to move to a different area of the UK and that you have a job waiting for you. I wish you and your family all the very best in your next adventure!

I don't think China will invade Australia either but agree that Australia will support the USA if China does invade Taiwan. It's to be hoped that won't need to happen. Look at how 60,000 Australians served in the Vietnam War as part of an allied force led by the USA.

Well I'm certainly hoping we won't be China's first (or last) target but we shouldn't let ourselves get too complacent.

Our two sons are well into their 30s. Both own 1 bedroom flats in Sydney's inner west. One in Annandale and the other in Enmore. One has returned from working for a few years overseas, married last year in Sydney the other is still working overseas. Both their flats are in older buildings and were in a pretty sorry state when they bought them at least 10 years ago. My husband and his mates totally renovated them for the lads so they are now very comfortable if on the small side. Elder son and wife live in theirs but had it rented out while overseas. Younger son's is rented out. Most of their friends seem to be getting on fine apart from a couple of their friends who haven't been well for years due to mental health issues caused by drug taking in their late teens. A terrible waste of young lives.

Tanning beds should be banned.

I am very slack when it comes to applying sunblock. Always wear a hat and sunglasses and don't go around half naked (apart from swimming) so I've never had sunburn in Australia. I do slap on sunblock on a really warm day if I'm going to be out in the sun for a while otherwise I don't bother. I don't like the feel of it on my skin. I take Vitamin D in the winter. @Cheery Thistle will end up with a much better skin than people who don't bother. Not that mine is that bad - not reached the old leathery, wrinkled type of skin yet. I do get my skin checked annually for skin cancer. So far so good.

@InnerVoice if you lived near Manchester there are some absolutely lovely places in the north of England to visit. North Yorkshire, Whitby, County Durham, Northumberland and Cumbria. Wonderful scenery. Some of my favourite places.