Guest263228

8 minutes ago, Toots said:

I don't really live in the past as such but by gum I do have some fantastic memories of carefree, happy teenage years, and adventurous 20s.  As you say PV the music was so much better but I suppose each generation thinks that.

I think a lot of the present generation know they are being short changed, if they admit it or not. So much of the music now foe example view while in gym, appears to be product enhancement. A slightly 'edgy' look with a Jaguar car, or clothes definitely not ready to wear purchases, or hairstyles costing big bucks. Nothing much subversive. No wonder why narcissism is so rampant and reality means on line and grounding increasingly fragile and mental anguish so prominent and materialism so captivating ...... 

If by chance, there is 'free time' after the initial day of getting to know the 'Highlights of Perth' in order to get a feel of the place, I would certainly recommend Rottnest Island. But it is a day outing. Not something to do in place of 'highlights' mentioned.

There is a new service that is being added. Not sure if already under way, but will reduce the cost, apparently, by thirty per cent. Previously, it was a darn rip off anyway, so while welcomed, it is expected to ad close on seven hundred thousand passenger numbers a year.

One can imagine the consequences of that 'extra load' and how prices will likely rise on the island, with such demand. Hence it could be worth taking a gander before the hordes descend. Worth that extra day. If sea sickness a problem though do take precautions. I have witnessed countless land lubbers , in a state of disquiet, shall we say on the return trip, which late afternoon, can be very choppy.

Is a country of such conformity, rules and regulations  really the place to set up such an operation?

17 minutes ago, MARYROSE02 said:

Like Jethro Tull, I tend to Live in the Past although I do try and keep up with new genres.  Young guys in one of the pubs I go to started playing something which sounded weird - Grime - but I warmed to it  once I realised some of the players are Spurs fans from N London. 

 

I saw a guy playing a flute,at Parramatta station who looked like a demented Ian Anderson. 

Probably no bad thing. Living in the past. Beats living on line, as so many appear to do in more modern times  at any rate. Not forgetting the music was far better , beer was a steal, girls somehow looked far sexier but any number interesting as well, less narcissism, no selfies, less conformity , and a gaff in Central London remained affordable for those on normal wages.

2 hours ago, Ronsaik said:

You do realise that if you lose your sponsorship on a 457 visa you need to find another job IN THE SAME CATEGORY or else you have to pack your bags and leave? Or are you implying that said person actually held down a job in IT for at least four years, (and therefore was good enough for the job for at least that length of time), and then, as soon as he got Permanent Residency, boom! he lost his job? Nice one.

You do realise that labour market testing wasn't a primary concern by employer I suppose? Hence not too difficult to rid oneself of an employee. As I have said on repeated occasions immigration is but a business. The government has to an extent heard the outcry and papers over a few of the obvious cracks but without through 'fixing' underneath the paper, the rorts will continue in one form or another.

There is certainly abuse on all sides. Sponsoring should only be allowed when no on shore applicant is available then protection should be offered to the imported worker in the case of abuse as described.

Just as a matter of interest, why exactly on receipt of PR was the person in question sacked? Could it have been they were earning under the amount legally paid to a full time resident? If so the employer should be forced to walk over hot coals. Imported labour should not be sought for cheapness but to fulfil a role unavailable by a person already onshore.

1 hour ago, Parley said:

God forbid. I have never been a member of any political party and definitely not Labor or Greens.

Or are you talking about yourself ?

To be honest I am not interested in all the ancient history. What is important is the present and the future.

Actually the past remains very important in order to understand the future. Not all of us are necessary goldfish. Although being such could solve certain issues.

7 hours ago, MARYROSE02 said:

Yes, Perth did seem exciting,  exotic even, after my rather yokelly life in my New Forest village. Perhaps it was the Sunshine and heat and beaches after an English autumn but I loved Perth.

I didn't like Sydney when I first arrived, at least compared to Perth, but two years I went back to Perth,  still liked,it, but instantly thought "they don't do crowds here." I may go back for the first time in 20 years.

I could no doubt get used to living in a New Forest village again.  It would be nice to have countryside surrounding me. For all the hustle and bustle of inner city Surry Hills I live a sort of village life here,  rarely venturing further than I can walk - to Redfern last night. 

I guess the  punch ups all too prevalent then and hoons tearing around yelling abuse at pedestrians from their hotted up wagons and cars, or the racial abuse if remotely 'of colour' may have appeared exciting to a New Forest Yokel, as you refer to yourself.

Cleo's down in Fremantle was a bit of a blast as well. Girls galore not to difficult shall we say, place full of merchant mariners from visiting ships, aboriginals, wharfies  and pretty much guaranteed a 'blue'  First time I witnessed a "wild West' style pub riot.

But the booze was dirt cheap. Drunk driving was pretty much de rigour . The George at six am was often full of night shift workers (in the city) Alberts Tavern another city blast. Spent a lot of time there. I guess Sydney paled in comparison.

Yep them was the days.

While amounts will probably sound considerable to those in UK and certain other countries, it is worth noting the stagnation or low pay rises in recent times. This in turn appears to be impacting to an extent on spending. Worth remembering Australians have close to highest personal debt in the world as well. Due mostly to over valued asset prices.

18 minutes ago, Parley said:

Are you trapped here Flag ?

You mean was I trapped here in 77 and the answer if reading the entirely of my post was a definite no.

18 hours ago, MARYROSE02 said:

It was a Friday too just like yesterday. I was looking through my diary for 1978 last night. I never thought I'd reach the "veteran" stage. My two brothers followed me in 1979 and we all settled in Sydney (where I arrived in Dec 1978).

We all followed different trajectories as I went back to England for 12 years, and one moved to the USA (triple citizen), I'm a dual citizen, and the third, the most Aussie of us, who has had two holidays in England in 39 years, has refused to get an Aussie passport. 

I can't remember why I came now. It's not in my diary. December is also my 9th anniversary of coming back to Sydney. I've not been back since so I guess I'm settled. I no longer care about the "Yes it is. No it isn't"  debates about UK v OZ. I just live here. End of.

I'd been back in 77  and already returned to London finding OZ incredibly boring, well Perth at any rate. A very small town gig in those days with a strong local 'flavour'. It (Perth) couldn't begin to match the life possible for a very young fellow in those days. Loads thought the same thing as well.

Of course those coming the other way from possibly regional UK centres may well have thought a similar thing.

7 hours ago, MARYROSE02 said:

I wasn't much of a back packer - had a heavy suitcase and like so many before and since regretting packing so much. The journey wasn't that much different to now. I could have flown all the way but I had a deal with a flight with Dan Air (remember them?) to Singapore, then a 7 day voyage to WA. I travelled across to "the Eastern States" by Greyhound and Ansett Pioneer coaches, and Greyhound still criss-cross Australia and I don't suppose the buses have changed that much.

No I realise you weren't much of a back packer, although I don't think that term had been coined then. They preferred the term traveller.  Yes recall Dan Air. I remember the flight/ship deal . From Singapore either on a Soviet or Kota vessel. A shame you never spent time in Singapore and crossed The Causeway. South East Asia was far more 'exotic' in those days. Few Gap Year types and few travellers outside of 'hot places' like Kota, Penang and Singapore.

Yes I don't see the coaches having changed much. More of course hitch hiked across/around OZ in those days as well.

Immigration has been the making of Australia. This country has changed out of all recognition from two generations ago. Visible migration was hardly part of the make up and intolerance was very much in evidence.

While the red neck Ocker types have aged with the passing of time and younger generations are definitely more tolerant, it is best not to take this acceptance for granted. There are enough around to create great divides within society, if it becomes more acceptable to again voice intolerance and resurrect crudities of old, if this minority feel under threat and are manipulated by forces wanting to create trouble.

Probably came because you could. Early days of the back packing experience to Australia. Most didn't venture so far and preferred to remain in Asia. The Hippy Trail would have been something I'd have enjoyed doing. Travelling is all so sanitised in the main these days.

Regional migration has worked to a limited extent. Refugee intakes, have on own backs on occasions moved to rural settings in preference to the city. Organised settlement of Syrians in Wagga, Lao Hmong in Northern Tasmania, Burmese Karen in My Gambier (SA) Katanning (WA largely of own back)

The problem is few so called 'skilled migrants' (are their skills needed?) would have issues in regional locations, where little if any support facilities are in place as well as the likelihood of little 'home community' support. Hence the largest city's will always prove more attractive, at least during initial years.

IMO, it all adds to the lack of need for migration flows presently being experienced. Those with vested interests in maintaining a high inflow, namely financial institutions the Ponzi, housing industry, big business , the education establishment, not forgetting migration industry, will need to accept their time in the sun is diminishing.

Even when Carr, former Foreign Minister, was Premier of NSW way back in nineties, he proclaimed Sydney full then. How much worse have things got since those times?

The problem being besides excessive numbers, most those migrants land in one of two cities. Melbourne or Sydney. The planning and laissez faire attitude towards our immigration over the past decade begs belief.

Luckily little in the way of extreme right wing parties have managed to rise above a lunatic fringe element. Hanson besides her over the top anti Islamic rants is oddly quiet these days on the broader aspects of migration, unlike her racist 96 stance.

Australia maintains a population increase above all other developed countries and even some developing world countries. I believe USA just pips it to the front.

Is there anyone out there that can say Australia's standard of living has not declined over the recent decade.?....(actually being going down longer, but another story)

4 hours ago, ssiri said:

 

 

 

 

Britain will never lose its heritage - which is centuries old. As the centuries continue to rack up, what went before just gets assimilated and included in its heritage and culture.

Colonialism and the influences from the colonies were part of that heritage long before the first major wave of immigrants came on the boat to Britain - we are talking around abolition of slavery times here.

For example if I go into a church, I don't have to burst into a Bollywood song and dance number, or Jewish, Polish, Somali, Caribbean or Muslim (insert immigrant or religious background here) song and dance routine just as if I go into a pub or club or hotel anywhere in the land. Unless it's a specific Bollywood other ethnic/ religious event of course.

Similarly I don't feel the need to burst into the chorus of Jerusalem, or onward Christian soldiers (and don't see anyone else feeling the need to either) at a non-Christian event.

My point is, British heritage and culture hasn't changed by the assimilation and aggregation of others it's only grown and been enhanced. Heck a Ruby Murray is just as British as Fish and Chips now - anywhere I go in Britain. And we (mostly) all love it.

I lived in the Home Counties, before moving to Oz. It's very conservative (Tory) , affluent all the way to working class backgrounds. The people I mixed with (in one whole group, not individual groups I might add) were white, black, Asian (Far East and Sub continent), Christian, Muslim, Atheist, Hindu, working, and middle class to affluent. Straight and Gay.

All these families and 'cultural' groups of people mixing in the one group- sense of community and helping each other out was still there - no segregation or barriers. They were all British and we all really got on. There were some Europeans and Africans who'd visit also.

Non of this ethnicity based segregation I see here in the suburbs or country here in Sydney/NSW, did I experience in England, where I lived. This was in one of what could be called the whitest party's of the Country - Buckinghamshire - in a part of the country where 13.6% of the population were non white (compared to 14.6% across England). A very bastion of English countryside, market towns and rolling hillside (The Chilterns). No Chelsea London lefty, liberals/luvies here in Bucks - and it's not inherited wealth either.

So I don't see this tragic dilution and subjugation of heritage and culture you talk about - in what is one of the most British parts of the country....instead almost everyone assimilating and getting on.

 

 

Ethnic segregation has likely been watered down over generations with non white immigration being in place far longer in UK than Australia. Apparently it still exists in certain  locations like former mill towns in Yorkshire, not that I have witnessed it.

I do recall Brick Lane and the area being magnet for Bangla's and Brixton for Caribbean's etc. In the case of Australia the vast majority of our Indian born population for example has arrived since  2008. Newbies often cluster.

My area of London W2 was a complete mix on nationalities. Loved the locality. There was a time it was even known as Brazilwater due to a lot of that nationality moving in. But there was so much diversity in language in reality it was hardly noticeable. English did appear to be a minority language a lot of the time.

2 hours ago, Toots said:

Yes of course and in Scotland the Indians and Pakistanis talking in a broad Scottish accents - great curry restaurants.  Best one I ever went to in the whole of the UK was Stirling.  Also when on the island or Oransay (Inner Hebrides) the only shop there was owned by an Indian family.

Which goes further to support though complexions change little else does. Well at least in the form od accent. London appears to be a special case. Being perhaps the worlds most multi cultural urban centre a unique sound, not fully of English intonation but with Caribbean and possibly some East Asian influence has developed and seems to be the patter on the streets by the young at any rate. 

1 hour ago, bunbury61 said:

its funny pv ...my mate lives 6months in Spain...6 months in the u.k ...he comes home to the u.k in hgh summer from Spain ...too hot .

he is also back from Spain for the winter , because he said where he lives in Spain , is dead ,during the winter .

so he can suffer with us now , from November to march ?

 

Well Spain seems to have agreed to allow UK residents already in Spain to continue residing there. Hence I don't see any need for your friends suffering.

3 hours ago, bunbury61 said:

I believe in some European countries ( Austria ?) ....they have te facility of 100 yr mortgages , meanng properties pass down down the family .????

did I hear something similar is to be rolled out in the u.k ?????

There was decades ago some lose discussion in the industry in UK with regards to generational debt. Talk about working for the man. No idea with regards Austria but not part of the landscape in the countries I'm familiar with through living and working.

Odd the Aussies haven't put something forward like that. Houses could go ever up to millions and future generations kick the can. No limit I suppose to where it could all end.

On ‎31‎/‎10‎/‎2017 at 13:33, Parley said:

Would you really be happy if cockney accents, Liverpool and Manchester accents and every other accent disappeared in Britain.

Everything gone that makes you think of what it means to be British and just replaced with a massive hotch potch of Muslims, Asians and other races.

I would be very sad and yes I hope I am not alive to ever see it.

Have you not been to London for sometime? Cockney is well on the way out and now found more in Essex, I believe, than the East End. The multi cultural London accent now rules the streets there. I think its even called something alone those lines.

When last in Yorkshire funnily enough, all the young Pakistani Muslims I heard spoke in the local dialect and were as British as anyone else, if another strand of Britishness.  

On ‎31‎/‎10‎/‎2017 at 13:15, Parley said:

It is a shame if it goes too far in my opinion.

Countries will lose their identities and heritage.

There will be no meaning in Australian, British or European.

It will just be a big hotch potch of everything and stand for nothing.

Very sad. Immigration must be strictly limited.

Not sure what this means in the Australian context. I'm reasonably sure the original inhabitants have long felt identity and heritage issues. So much so that a rediscovery of meaning was/is necessary. Not dissimilar from other colonised and settler countries.

Europe, a continent with far stronger roots planted into the ground, it is a loss. Although I blame the global imposition to a larger extent than pure immigration.

I've one has paid into the local pension fund then a pretty darn decent retirement, is more or less guaranteed anywhere in Northern Europe at least. One can have ones pension paid into a Spanish or Portuguese bank and live a interesting life.

There is more available for carers in respite. For aged in recuperation facilities, I'm in awe of what relatives are in recept of in one particular country.

The only negative can be the long, cold winters,   not good for ageing joints etc, but then again the houses are built to withstand the conditions they find themselves.

Not forgetting often far more diversity of things to partake in. No older folk that have visited us in Australia have ever expressed a desire to remain. Some have ben a few times but find costs high here and home naturally better. 

Australian politicians. They do make one wonder just whom they work for. Increasingly all is being revealed. lol.....

In one day you say? That being the case some things suggested would only consume too much time for too little return.

Are you planning to do it by car? If not more time consuming but much the same.

In sequence....

Kings Park

Cottesloe Beach

Fremantle (perhaps fish and chips by the sea)

Perth walk CBD and Northbridge  (if no vehicle can take ferry from Freo)

Take ferry from Elizabeth Quay over to South Perth. The water vista is worth it alone.

Take refreshment at Windsor Hotel not fat from ferry. Walk Ferry back.

Try out a roof top pub for your diner The Avery for example, if takes your fancy or a waterside restaurant ..

A day passes very quickly. You'll be likely tired after following suggested itinerary.  But it will allow a snap shot of Perth area and a plan I've followed with a few alterations, depending on  personalities involved, with many dozens of visitors to Perth over the years. Of course if here three days or longer the itinerary would differ. 

11 hours ago, bristolman said:

Absolutely 100% spot on. 20 odd years ago we would joke you could fill a shopping trolley for $100, now it' more like a basket. Now it's here we are amazed what we get for our money. Something changed drastically at some point. 

I'm forever shocked with the outcome. Not to say when the level reached absurdity. Was it disguised due to the boom? This period certainly unleashed unfortunate forces in many directions, that appears to have changed this country forever. All very well for newbies to hark on about cheap alternatives, all too often get what paid for, as well as ' not being too bad compared to UK'. They of course never witnessed the times of constant rock and roll. Most anyone with a job, even those on government payments, didn't do to bad either, were not restricted to low price alternatives. A night down the pub was very affordable. There wasn't the choice of avocado on sour dough with such and such or multiple coffee choices and pretentious people.....taking themselves altar seriously .....