Blue Flu

The pretentiousness is not so much in clothing here. Of course it depends on the pack you run with (offices can be very aware of attire, especially for females) But it runs to postcodes, type of car and a general greed for money.

Besides the sketchy people, the waterfront appears to 'artificial' to me to make any lasting impression.

As expressed Mandurah has a severe drug problem as the stats you tendered bare out. It is known as drug capital of WA. You may not the lack of safety in going out after dark. Not a lot better than Darwin. Crime is high down there but not sure how much is reported or recorded correctly. Not a place I would live anyway.

Yes Darwin is bad as is much of Australia. Still Perth is the meth capital of the nation, and probably of the world. It was a multi billion dollar business back in 2017, and has escalated since. All around me and doubt if any suburb escapes it. Here it is not the users, but the well to do manufactures. A problem of massive proportions that is not being addressed. Don't get the violence of late as very disciplined , blinds drawn, home all day without much of a sound sort of thing. But still saw money pass hands tonight, with a bicycle being used to transport drugs and loaded into the back of a car. A not unusual way to transport drugs. Darwin is the place for break-ins. Hence so many houses having rather large dogs. I lived up there in 97. From what I hear it has got worse in crime stats . Always was quite a lot of violence.

Just shows how appearances can be deceiving. Drug capital of WA. Most hard drug deaths as well for its population. I know an eighty something year old man that was mugged down there (former POM) It was on the news and was lucky to still be here. I understand the drugs may well be an incentive for some more likely in the hope to make some easy money. Heaps of Mandurah cars in my Perth locality over past few years as drug business has really taken off.

I suspect the question is whether the life the poster wants to make is in Australia. It's not so easy probably to reinvent a new life when the requirement will probably mean getting rid of some cultural norms. Australians, as I'm sure you'll be well aware are socialized differently from Brit's, something not always understood. One thing that bring this home to me is the constant poll results that state Australia is better in wages, standard of living, eating out, seemingly medical system as presently stands, but falls down in friendliness. Not a single person said Aussies are friendlier than Brits. Pubs came out better in UK as well as education , but the friendliness of Brits was the overwhelmingly standout.

Hardly the point though is it? The negatives may prove attractive to the poster. I've no idea. But regardless, the poster has the right to know Mandurah has the title of methamphetamine capital of Western Australia. Not a place I'd even consider , to be frank, but little in WA these days not tainted.

By all means give it more time. Just be careful not to compromise too much your preferences in order to attempt to 'fit in'. Few things worse perhaps than concluding in the years ahead, that you never really felt a sense of belonging but difficult at some far later stage to rectify.

Have you read up on Mandurah? Not a place I would move to. Although on paper I admit it does tick off a few points. Close to Perth. Affordable housing. Beaches . Loads of social issues and drugs though.

Interesting observations and conclusions above. I suspect a similar conclusion to what I would have arrived at in your situation. You're the second in a month now, other a couple we know that did not find Hobart anything special. The two couples we know that visited Tasmania over the past six months, both came away with the opinion it was expensive. I would be most interested to read your opinion of Coffs Harbour, if you visit there. I know someone whose parents retired there several years back and have been looking to find another place to live as find Coffs Harbour over run with drugs. Hardly unique in that, but a point perhaps to keep in mind.

So you are saying the pension seeker is required to remain two years in Australia on receiving the pension? I thought it was two years prior to , but main thing is there is a two year period. One would think they would be glad to rid themselves of older citizens, and health care responsibilities and so on. But anyway amount is less if going to a cheaper Asian country. Still probably work out considerably better than staying in Australia being such a high cost country.

I'm not suggesting any such thing. I'm considering a host of things from medical insurance to longer term outcomes, for example in the case of a rapture in the relationship. I need to know I have the right to move to another EU country outside of the primary country of residence.

Portugal remains considerably cheaper than most other EU countries, and considerably less than UK. I suppose East Euro nations are cheaper like Rumania, but never been there. We've been looking at Cyprus but that is around 15% more expensive than Portugal. But obviously it is more than just money. Depends on where you find 'a fit'. As for Australian pension, my understanding is one needs to be two years in Australia before application of pension.

I'm in the same situation. My partner is a EU national, hence I can use her citizenship to gain PR, but prefer to have own rights to remain, due to preferring to remain in a third country .(not the country of her citizenship)

Once you have the pension it is transportable to other countries , with reductions in cheaper Asian countries from my understanding. Actually a great idea and one we are pondering , but probably won't get the State Pension as stands. I can recommend The Costa Bravo down from Barcelona. Loads of British and other expats and far more going on. Worth checking out, as well is Portugal, ( one of my favourites. Most speak English, especially down south. Just remember with Brexit though, if you are only on UK/Australian passports you can only stay in the Euro zone 90 days in a 180. That does complicate things somewhat, which is the reason I'm applying for a EU passport. To get a favourable rental lease you will normally be required to sign a longer term contract like a year. Short terms will be at more holiday let levels.

Not really hard to believe. Best disregard the notifications as being much more than a PR stunt of sorts , at least here in WA anyway. I will leave Tasmania to those with insight there, but the multibillion dollar meth industry is not likely to go out of business here in The West, anytime soon. We have had cards put out by what was claimed to be Organised Crime Squad, but a few I mentioned it to, said don't bother calling in as nothing will happen. I did and never any feedback. This is a multibillion dollar industry so what I can say? It is widespread in this state and obviously dangerous with criminal elements taking advantage of the situation. As I mentioned an Irish fellow who is well up in what is going on calls this city Merth. Need I say more?

But Mandurah, often referred to as Methdurah is on a level of its own and has been for a considerable number of years. It is well documented so pointless denying it or that WA overall is in the grips of a methamphetamine crisis. I have already related the high number of Mandurah number plates in my area a well-known area for the trade. I am not saying it is only Mandurah, much of the southern region is experiencing the problem, if not all. And it is not a case of all cities in the world have a drug issue. That goes without saying. What is less clear is why smaller cities like Mandurah etc, have become such a focus on this particular drug, along with so many engaged in its manufacture. I am far more concerned than most on here into the future consequences the drug trade will have on this state and nation . Our geographic location makes us very vulnerable along with laissez faire attitudes of those in power at best, not forgetting those profiting from what is illegal, though so increasingly mainstream I agree hard to be too concerned about that.

I wonder just how much you are aware of the reality of moving to Qld? As noted the process is extremely expensive and cost's in Australia are high. Obtaining a rental will likely prove frustrating and house prices are high. I've been looking over the months at QLD myself, and have noted the increased housing costs even out of Brisbane. I wonder if you have visited? Best not be lulled into it being a sort of paradise. There are social issues as anywhere else , but at least you can relax about the buying of a house is not part of the immigration process.

It was about sixteen months ago. She returned to WA, where she owns her own house. Her son, his wife and child followed half a year later to WA. They live further South in Mandurah , but looking to move to Perth to be closer to mother if a suitable place comes up. Very hard in Perth . Loads of Eastern Staters have arrived over recent times. As such Perth has not seen a decline in prices as in other cities in Australia. Brisbane there is even talk of real estate going up over the years prior to The Olympic Games , still a long way away.

The tricks of the game Real Estate bod's play. I could name more as well in the renting game. Some things are done for appearance, which will not be immediately apparent. But to Brisbane, a city I have no personal experience, but a friend of ours terminated her search for property to rent. She had moved from Perth to there with the thought to live close to her son, for several months, after the birth of son's first child. she only gave it several weeks of searching before throwing in the towel and returning. This may not be long enough, but indicative of the lack of rental in that market.

Thread going great guns. As you may be aware threads do tend to take on a life of their own. But broadly this is remaining on topic. Obviously cannot please all.

No reason why you should feel 'insulted' by My Flu's comments made. After all only reflecting an agreement with another poster who seemed to censored by some for calling outside the major centres , nowhere land. Some may well consider quite apt under the circumstances. I fully agree though many prefer not to be in 'a somewhere' land. The isolation and escape from metro living suits some just fine.

Not me. But depends whom talking with. As from one of those towns feel fully able to find an accord with that poster, without feeling remotely upset. Some I know would say much the same. I refer to the locals as parochial , simply because most are. If not would be hard to maintain an interest to remain. That's not saying there is something necessarily wrong with parochialism, one just needs to know where one fits though in the greater scheme of things. Wrong to think smaller places are necessarily friendly. Lots of back stabbing , you need a hard shell, a lot of cliques that can be hard for incomers to find a place. Rather small minded when I lived there, but this has changed to a degree. Limited hospital services, poor mental health outcomes for a considerable number of people , especially youth that don't feel belonging. If in WA or Country Vic loads of drugs as well. Certainly suit some people but caution using cliches like 'more relaxed' probably should be exercised. It may be for some , with something quite the opposite for others.

To some it may well be nowheresville. It is a matter of taste into just how many desirable cities there are in Australia. Don't be offended when others think otherwise. Just as nothing wrong with those that prefer more parochial places. No doubt they have terms for those that prefer the major centres. Be that Melbourne, Sydney or London.

Well not that natural if given a little thought. There a host of cities and regions in UK that grant easy access to a London fix, if and when required. Not so in Australia, hence location is very important if not wanting to live a parochial life with little options for respite.