Tootsie

On 01/12/2018 at 17:11, Captain Roberto said:

 we are actually moving to Mona Vale soon so they can just just get on the bus and won't need lists etc.

 

 

Ah well. MV is fantastic too :)

On 23/04/2017 at 10:31, Captain Roberto said:

Does anyone or has anyone on here ever lived on Scotland Island?

 

So Matt, did you move to Scotland Island? I am thinking of making the move there too as I LOVE it, but can see issues

On 13/10/2018 at 20:49, Bulya said:

Mudgee used to be on my country run back in the 80’s.  I hear it’s changed a lot.  

Well 99.99.99% of things have changed since the 80's would you not agree.......

On 14/10/2018 at 10:13, Christian crawford said:

Hi Tootsie, I leave at 6am and usually arrive just before 7, so under an hour. Can take a little bit longer coming home at night depending on when I leave, but rarely more than 1hr 15.

Well that is very decent, hardly a major effort, and about average for a Sydney commute.

And you are lucky enough to live in a fabulous part of the world.

On 24/10/2018 at 21:35, HannahS15 said:

Thanks guys for your replies, our situation has very much changed and it looks like we will be moving to Melbourne instead.

Poor you! I hate Melbourne. But if I had to live there, I would head to the Eastern suburbs or if you don't mind the long commute, head out to somewhere like Sorrento. 

On 20/10/2018 at 16:01, Ahames said:

My husband said about Hornsby, so we are looking around that area. do you know wheee we can look into schools? Are there websites that we can use?

 

 

Hello

Well I don't like Hornsby itself to live in; but Hornsby Heights is nice, as is Galston.

There there are some excellent schools in the area for both boys and girls. 

https://www.schoolchoice.com.au

On 18/10/2018 at 08:05, aconcannon said:

It’s nice there but it’s very quiet, pretty much in the middle of nowhere by Sydney standards & a fair trek to the city or nearest beach etc

 

????

It is certainly NOT....... "pretty much in the middle of nowhere"

And it is a lot closer to the work location than the Central Coast - where the OP was thinking about anyway

And nor is it a fair trek to the city or beach.

How you actually been there? Or did you just look at a map?

It is 40 minutes on the train from Berowra station, to the Sydney city central business district.

And 40 minutes by car to the Central Coast Beaches, unless you want to hire a boat and visit one of the secluded beaches along the Berowra Creek. Or you can swim at the nearby  Marramarra Creek or Fishponds

And there is some excellent schools just 15 minutes away in the Hornsby area.

Loads of things to do and see in the area (swimming, boating, bushwalking, fishing, trail bike circuit, wildlife), and an extremely safe place to raise children.

Totally disagree with your comments.

On 16/09/2018 at 18:49, Plumboz said:

 

On 16/09/2018 at 18:49, Plumboz said:

Hi all, hoping for some information and opinions to help us make our minds up.

we lived in Adelaide for 2 years between 2010-2012 but returned to uk for personal reasons but are now returning to Oz in the early part of next year, although we have a choice due to job offers of either Adelaide again or Gold Coast, we are a family of 4 daughter is 16 and has just started sixth form here and son is 13.

TIA

Personally I would choose the Gold Coast. Much more interesting things to see and do for teenagers.

On 18/07/2018 at 08:08, Metoo said:

Is it still alive?

Has it grown bigger?

Can it get into the house?

Oh boy, living in the countryside sure is entertaining lol

Read an article last year about a couple living in far North Queensland who were being woken up each night my noises from their attic. Turns out there were about five very large pythons living up there and it was mating season.

6 minutes ago, Marisawright said:

Why?

Well most normal people love their pets as family members.

To tell someone to rehome their pet when they are already anxious or indecisive about bringing them - is pretty insensitive advice.

You don't tend to just rehome them unless you can help it (i.e.) the cat is very old and won't cope with the trip

Some councils like North Sydney council are stricter than others. Our local council just requires desexing, microchipping and registration. Which is sensible for anyone who cares for a cat anyway.  

Personally from what I have seen, humans do more damage to wildlife that cats do. For example : chopping down trees and areas wildlife live in, to build roads and houses.  Or polluting the waterways.

I have taken five cats through rentals and let them out during the day wearing bells, you can hear them coming from a mile off, and they cannot get close to wildlife. They have all lived to grand old ages. Even in a rental, you can easily put up a cat run in the garden to stop them wandering.

On 08/10/2018 at 04:10, Christian crawford said:

We decided on Manly and an early start as a sacrifice for the beach life and it’s working out fine so far (6 weeks in). Thanks again!

Lucky lucky you

Apart from never being able to find a decent parking spot easily...........I LOVE Manly.

It has such a great energetic vibe to it.

Did the Shelly Beach to Manly Beach walk recently, and it was so pretty.

I love the cafe Banana Blossom (Asian salads) there, and I go to a yoga centre there too

It would be my second choice over Bilgola

Christian - as a matter of interest, how long does it take you on average to get to work each day?

3 minutes ago, The Pom Queen said:

Hey that’s a great excuse not to get out of bed early, you could skip breakfast and lunch

I wish.

I start work at 7am

On 27/04/2018 at 07:21, Marisawright said:

If they are cats that love to roam outdoors, I'd think seriously about finding new homes for them, for a couple of reasons. 

Seriously!!

What terrible advice.

1 minute ago, newjez said:

I used to fast, but only because it felt right. It doesn't at the moment, so I have a light breakfast and lunch. Cereal for breakfast, and a tin of soup for lunch. Works out pretty cheap. About £5 for five days.

 

Yes that is cheap.

I did not think I could fast, as I am a greedy guts with food.

But it makes me feel so good (energetic and alert), so I keep doing it.

I got into the bad habit of buying takeaway breakfast most days for $10.00 to $30.00 - which is a lot to spend on one meal - hence now I am saving small fortune each week with fasting.

On 08/10/2018 at 04:55, Perthbum said:

I was mugged twice in Perth australia but never attacked by a shark in my friends pool.

Well swim in the pool then! Which is what I suggested in the first place.

9 minutes ago, kevsan said:

..i have trouble fasting until 8am!

I have actually started Intermittent Fasting (for health reasons) and fast to 1pm each day. Usually go 16 - 18 hours fasting. Save a fortune on food

On 07/10/2018 at 22:25, Ahames said:

I look into Helensburgh though. The Gong came up at similar train distance.

Or rather than the CC, you could try Berowra. You can rent a really nice family house, with a garden and pool there, fairly cheaply (well cheap for Sydney anyway) and it is a nice safe place - very popular for young families. And it is about 30 - 45 mins less time on the train than the CC. Good schools in area too.

On 23/06/2018 at 17:32, Christian crawford said:

I'm going to be working in Huntingwood in the west of the city but our dream has always been to live in the northern beaches, like Manly.

 

Hello Christian

This is totally possible.

On average, the trip would take you approx one hour.

However, Sydney traffic runs on a knife edge, and therefore on any given day, it could possibly take up to two hours. 

Two hours daily stuck in Sydney traffic gets boring very quickly

But to live in such a nice place, then sometimes you have to make sacrifices to achieve it. It is that simple.

And if you don't want to make sacrifices, then just move closer to work, or get a job closer to home.

But really depends on what time you leave Manly - you would have to leave early to achieve a good run.

Because once rush hour traffic (school run) hits, everything grinds to a halt very quickly. 

I currently live in Bilgola on the Northern Beaches, and it is the most wonderful lifestyle imaginable. I adore living here and don't want to live anywhere else. And I am currently working in Lane Cove.

On paper, it looks like a horrendous commute......but it is not.

On a good day it takes me 40 minutes door-to-door by car, or 60 minutes by public transport. I don't mind a 40 - 60 minute commute at all (I did a longer one when I lived in the UK).

But some people do mind. Just depends on how you feel. I would ignore all the wowsers. And see how it works for you personally. And if you don't like it, then move closer to work.

I leave home at 6am to beat rush hour traffic. Leaving home early is the "sacrifice" I make to live in my chosen location. Lucky I start work at 7am, but if I started at 9am, I would simply go to the gym before work to fill in the time.

If you want something badly enough (living by the beach) then you will find ways to make it work.

Hope it all works out for you

On 26/07/2018 at 19:40, HannahS15 said:

we are looking at renting and would be between $750 - $1200 per week

Hello Hannah

I suggest Berowra.

To the North of Sydney.

It is a nice family orientated place, and an extremely safe area to raise children.

You can join the Berowra Mums Facebook page for further assistance on moving there.

The biggest crime they have is somebody stealing your garden hose!

You can easily get a great rental there for your price range.

And only 50 minutes from the CBD on the train. Hundreds of people do the commute every day. They also have a good bus service around the "village".

Plus has the facilities you need : childcare, schools, church, pub, doctor, optician, dentist, cafe, takeaway, restaurant, hairdressers, gym, newsagents, supermarket, etc......

Plus surrounded by bush walks; so very pretty location

Nearest hospital, swimming pool, cinema and big shopping centre, are 10 minutes away in Hornsby.

A lovely spot.

On 21/09/2018 at 09:05, klr81 said:

We might have the opportunity to move to Orange and I'm trying to find out the realities of living that far out from Sydney.

Personally I hate Orange, as always find it full of redneck youth.

But that is just my opinion.

Otherwise, it has all the facilities you could possibly need. And would probably be quite a nice lifestyle.

And if you like good food, then there is a great restaurant there called Lolli Redini -  it is the best thing about Orange 

If I was to live in country NSW, I would choose to live in Mudgee

On 17/09/2018 at 18:59, desreb said:

I’m moving to Sydney in 4 months, and said that I’d buy myself a new bike when I moved.

 

Personally I would NOT be riding a bike in Sydney. Sydney is not particular friendly towards cyclists (although seems to be improving in recent years slowly), and the bus drivers have a game where they like to try and scare the shit out of them, and then laugh about it back at the depot.........That said, I would buy an electric bike 

On 20/08/2018 at 09:09, Guest said:

Hi. I really think that there should be a big notice put up for anyone coming out here to Oz -saying- DON'T DO IT UNLESS YOU HAVE MILLIONS.

 

Well things were certainly much cheaper in the 1980's and 1990's I agree.....but I think the above is rather an exaggeration.

16 hours ago, Dai87 said:

Are there any items that people have got to Australia and wish they had brought with them?

No. I can think of absolutely nothing.

I held a car boot sale before I left and sold everything.

Then everything I needed, I purchased here really cheaply.

Started afresh

Yes. Sad. But it was a job with some associated risks in the area they were in. Those sea snakes are apparently far more poisonous than land snakes. 

8 hours ago, Leighbee98 said:

We are staying on Hamilton island in some “palm bungalows” just for 5 days (35 day overall trip)

If you are that worried - swim in the resort swimming pool or in a rockpool, rather than the open sea.

I have been mugged in Luton - but never had any shark encounters in Australia