s713

Similar position.

So, if I leave mine in Australia until I reach preservation age in the UK, what then? Can I just draw lump sum and transfer it to a UK account? What are the tax implications? And is it easy to just transfer a few 000ks of dollars to the UK?

Sorry to hijack thread but similar questions. Thanks in advance.

20 hours ago, Red Rose said:

I know politically things are all over the place at home at the moment,  but the amazing weather, world cup,  Wimbledon, country shows etc it would be an awesome time to be home,  I hope everyone back home is making the most of the amazing weather cause when the weather is good there is no better place on earth! 

Totally, I'd have killed to have been there this last month.

We are moving back Apr/May next year. Knowing my luck, I'll have to wait another 42 years for a great summer (wow, that's 2060).

31 minutes ago, newjez said:

IT - one of the industries most affected by immigration. But I work with them. I do very well.

Same. I work for Telstra. I'd estimate half of all new employees are from India or China. I'm not sure what the argument is in this thread but if it's 'Australian jobs for Australian workers', you've got to be kidding.

My wife buys online, she doesn't bother with Aussie High Street. Seems to me that Aussies don't wear the same types of clothes hence no need for the same type of shops. Top Shop opened in Perth and closed not long after, no interest.

Struck me when I was back in the UK how dolled up people were. I think comfort (for most, read scruffy) is preferable here. But that's Perth.

2 hours ago, Toots said:

Getting back to your original post about mental health issues - in that case it's about time something was done to help these poor buggers.  If it's booze and violence   ..............  any large city has these problems.   Booze is about as big a problem as drugs.  Nasty drunks are horrible to deal with.  Shame to here that Perth has a problem though.  The city centre was a safe place to go when we lived there.  There was always the odd nutter roaming around but you get them anywhere.

To me, there's a bit of a divide at Barrack St. Going towards East Perth from there is bad, going West is OK.

On 07/07/2018 at 08:15, Sandgroper said:

Perth CBD is actually quite tame compared to the average British town/city centre.

I don't agree. I worked in Liverpool and/or Manchester City Centres for the best part of 20 years and I think Perth is worse.

2 minutes ago, unzippy said:

Penalised to the tune of more than $3600?

No. But enough to cover basic cover.

Initially, I felt unsettled but, holiday mode kicks in. Then I felt totally settled for about 4 years, no probs. For the last 6 years I have been unsettled, now very much so.

The friends thing is a big deal, we have some friends since moving here but it's not the same, it's make-do. And they're Brits, not Aussies, I've given up trying to relate to them, sad but true.

We had basics 'plus' + hospital + something else and it was $140 a fortnight ($3600 pa). All we ever seemed to claim for was my wife's glasses (half of $600) and a couple of dental appointments a year. So, way out of pocket. I had a hernia op one year and I was able to choose my preferred date and time and have a private room. Without the private, I would've waited a bit longer and been on a ward. Anyway we cancelled ours. Until we did our tax return and you get penalised big time. So, I'm back on basics now, as advised by tax man.

On 01/07/2018 at 07:56, Goochie said:

Is it a mental health issue or a drugs issue? Its difficult to say someone is mentally unwell simply by observing them from a distance. How do you know that's the case and they're not on meth/ice?

They might be. Rightly or wrongly, 'mental health issues' is a bit of a catch-all for a lot of things these days. I just know there are a lot of people knocking around seemingly with mental health issues, how those issues originated or how they manifest themselves, I don't know enough to say.

Do I have to tell the UK that "I'm back"? How does that work and do I have to justify my time away?

Thanks everyone, really appreciate it.

Thanks guys.

Anyone who took cats/dogs, what was it like getting a pet-friendly rental in the UK?

Well, not quite 1000 but, anyone who can respond to any of these I can think of so far, thanks in advance!

1 What happens to my PR if I don’t get citizenship? I’m entitled to apply for citizenship, been here 11 years, just never done it. Is RRV an option?

2 How much did anyone pay for a 20-foot container to the UK?

3 How much did anyone pay for a large ‘movecube’ to the UK?

4 How much did anyone pay to take 2 pooches, 1 small, 1 medium?

5 What’s the process for taking dogs? Is it still shots and passports? Do they have to be quarantined at the UK end?

6 What has happened to my claim for UK state pension if I have been away (and not paid tax) for 11 years?

7 When I’m 60 and want to cash and send across my Aus Super, will I get murdered for taxes?

8 How many months of pay slips/what type of deposit do you need to buy in the UK these days?

I assume you mean like Prescot/Whiston/Huyton?

Few options, (1) South Liverpool like Allerton, Aigburth, St Michaels, Calderstones way or (2) Rainford, round that way, (3) Lymm, Stockton Heath, or (4) Frodsham Helsby as you mention.

The new bridge means much improved travel times albeit tolled.

Just my opinion, and I have no idea about what deposit you would have but, personally, I wouldn't borrow 750k on a 150k salary, too expensive. I know rates are low but they won't be for ever.

They will do.

The Aus Amazon is crap.

No, we'd be buying as we'd be relocating from WA.

Somewhere leafy with walks for the dogs. Few nice shops, pub couple of places to eat would be nice. Happy to commute 45 mins, not mega expensive.

Thanks all.

Wish list -

45ish minute train/pub transport commute to CBD.

Mid-range house prices, decent blocks, garden space.

Green & leafy, parks for dogs. No kids, not bothered about schools.

Nice vibe, no bogans (if at all poss), decent amenities.

Thanks in advance

Yeah, the wife's aunt had a state sponsored visa which meant she had to work country. I thought the gist of what I saw yesterday was more around controlling where all migrants are dispersed. Might be wrong, the volume was off as the woman's voice was making me feel sick.

I thought I saw something on the news yesterday about newly arrived migrants being settled in country towns. I'm surprised that hasn't been raised before now. It won't work of course, even if enforced, but I'm surprised it's only being suggested now.

Anything that disrupts the Coles/Woollies cartel is great news.

I'm in Perth but we used to have an office in Pennant Hills and I quite often stayed near Macquarie Uni when visting. PH not bad, busy though.

We went on the ale for about a week and a half, then went the commonwealth bank and medicare office. Sorted itself out.

Yeah, won't happen.

I pulled out of applying for citizenship once I saw the size of the forms. I mean, I worked out that the time I would save over a lifetime by being able to join the Australian Passport Holder airport queue would probably be less than it would take to fill the citizenship application form in, twice (as I'm the designated form filler-iner in our house).

Plus, my wife would fail the test, she doesn't know the first thing about Australia (seriously, nothing).

As for being able to vote, I've been here 11 years and they've had about 79 Prime Ministers, like it makes an absolute jot of difference.