Blue Flu

You are quite correct of course. Even Australia's bigger cities will appear somewhat lame in comparison with London, when comparing for vibe, arts, culture, internationalism, geographic location, public transport options, to name a few. Hence living regionally may well seem parochial, small town type existence. This may or may not prove to be a hinderance. It depends on expectations and personal preferences. Never understood why some get so defensive and attempt to argue otherwise.

Snobs are hardly rare in Australia when the surface is scratched a little. Sydney's stunning setting is immaterial to the vast majority that live in the burbs of course. Not a great city for night life either considering the reputation it has. But still the place the world knows if Australia is mentioned. I have never lived in either, but prefer Melbourne from numerous visits to both. As for other regional places, not sure a suitable option. Perhaps Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast? Cairns? I've thought about it and really hard to pick a regional alternative. Nothing remotely like living in a regional town in England of course , with so much close at hand.

Well if a former Australian PM can term anyone not living in Sydney is camping out, then perhaps not. With teaching, isn't there a good chance newly arrived could end up in remote locations? Not entirely suitable to many, if not most. Some positions in remote towns having been found to be even dangerous. While the bigger cities and some towns may prove very adequate for most , there are places that will prove very taxing for others. The real Australia is a suburban existence in one of the city's for the overwhelming majority of the population.

Not having kids may well ease the pathway if you do decide to return. Saying that, I wouldn't leave it too much longer as still young enough to reestablish. There are most certainly tax implications if wanting to maintain and rent out Australian house. All Aussie earnings if living abroad will be taxed on first dollar earned. With that and all the costs around in agent fees , possible bad tenants, and so on (could name a few more) besides capital gains if decide to sell from abroad , simply questions the validity in maintaining such a property. If unsure if staying in UK long term, then obviously better to wait. The only other thing not of a personal nature in deciding to return would be the state of the NHS.

My advice would be to do your research on the matter. I only know WA conditions for teachers and a lot of dissent over conditions are being expressed. We had protests outside Parliament House a few months back over pay and general conditions. Safety of teachers has also been an issue with increasing threatening and/or violent behaviour. Life is expensive out here. Similar conditions prevail in many areas. Obviously people are not freezing in their homes and warmer weather does help keep costs down , but don't underestimate the cost of living out here. Rentals are hard to find in all states from what I hear, but definitely in WA. As you have family members already over here you will have some insight, although one's own conclusion may differ to an extent. The suburban lifestyle may not suit all , depending on location of course. We have a lot of issues going down that are not being addressed of which I have discussed in other posts. But few seem to want to address this The pay will be better than UK , but as mentioned the cost of living is high. The ideal situation would be to try and come over for a year as an exchange teacher (do they still do this?) and discover for yourself where is preferable to be.

Oh right. No doubt we could do with some Danish dynamite. I expect the flood gates will be opened and even whispers around increasing to fifty years of age,

Dames? Let's hope blokes get some equality on changes as well.

Lectured? Really you are a scream. I doubt what I wrote really dissembled foundational knowledge of any sort which is usually what a lecture does. But if you did arrive at such a conclusion, I can only apologise that the language used was above the standard of the student and who in turn was not able to get full advantage of the lecture. My fault no doubt. Learning material should have been required that may have assisted in skills being developed that would have allowed an understanding into what precisely was being referred to. Again one thousand apologies.

Not sure about that, but I didn't move to Perth for the vibe initially. Hobart would not be rated highly as a replacement, but have looked at housing in Tasmania as I do many places . Hence nothing is completely ruled out as always some compromises are required in life.

It was yourself that brought up surveillance of a desired house day and night to ascertain noise levels and the like to which I agreed. I have done the same thing myself. But I added to that by stating I also check for methamphetamine manufacture, a very valid suggestion, considering the extent it is being conducted in Australia. And though worst, far from only Perth. Hence not hijacking any thread. Not sure why others do not share the escalation of this problem and all the negatives around the issue which are considerable. They may like to explain this? As such I would conduct the same surveillance regardless of city, state or town. It can be like living next to a bomb construction, but besides who, if not engaged in its manufacture wants to live in a street or locality where this is common? It is not confined to suburb but very much equally inner city as well. Cairns it would be fair to assume has ample problems of this nature as well. I have moved many times and agree with the points being made. Very important to check out structure and if buying in a flood inclined locality. Important to check out safety and house break in rates . I am not

To the nah sayers on this forum , broaden ones criteria in seeking out suitable property to either rent or purchase is essential. If you lived next door to a clandestine meth lab, that went feral and resulted in extreme anti-social behavior , then uncovering a lot of other things, then you too may be a little less sarcastic in checking out to the best of ability the neighbourhood. As I mentioned public transport would be essential and not overly hilly another requirement. While I accept these are in no way on everybody's tick box list they are certainly on mine. Especially in the age. While I'm sure the vista in Hobart is most attractive, just whether the vibe exits to maintain 'curiosity' as you put it, would be enough to satisfy my stimulation preferences. Again only me and others will without doubt applaud the 'serenity' likely on offer in that town. I suspect the countryside has attractions, but while most pleasant to take a holiday, living of course is quite different.

Public transport a prime consideration for reasons given for me. Hilly as well would rule a place out. I suspect Hobart would simply not have enough of a vibe to maintain my like or curiosity. Too limited in population to enhance a pool of diversity in thinking and interests. Melbourne most likely is as close as it gets to ticking off the desired boxes.

Quite. When looking at houses some years back here in Perth, I checked out locations at various times. Not just noise pollution but for unsavory types as well. Day time can obviously differ from nights. It did pay dividends. These days I look more carefully at constant pulled curtains, constant washing of certain items on line and an assortment of other things to ascertain if likely to be a clandestine meth making house. (very common)

Just goes to show that stats don't relate to what's happening on the ground. A crime has to be reported first to register. I don't know if the comment section in the crime part of Numbeo remains intake , but even I, no lover of Perth, found them over the top. Yes I live in one of Perth's better areas. It matters not. Perth is the biggest methamphetamine city in the world. It has got worse over past three years or so as witness around me. Better areas just mean those in the business are inclined to be very disciplined in plying their trade. No misconception on my part. . It is an area where people come into for entertainment. (dine etc) I can tell you I have no misconception of the locality. I have noted previously we have a multibillion dollar methamphetamine trade in Perth (it was valued at some two billion dollars back in 17, probably doubled by now) Apparently highest price is paid in WA (miners part of the reason given) I chose not to say too much more but here in Perth we have a problem.

Surely welcome having the airline ask for divine intervention in keeping the metal tube in the sky? Preferable than issuing parachutes, I'd have thought? Royal Brunei does the same thing. I find it rather endearing and comforting.

Because that was the flight path airlines took based on procedure at that time. But gosh. Thought your attention would have been all consumed by flying with Singapore girl. (A great way to fly.) Probably too young to recall that jingle.

Nothing but bad luck. Malaysian Airlines was not targeted. It could have been any airline .

Exactly this. The few stand out desperado's ,few folk will ever travel on. I think I am correct in saying Garuda had a reputation among the flag carriers as being under par on safety levels. No idea if redeemed themselves or not. At the end of the day, simply a metal tube attempting to remain in the sky, usually quite successfully, pumping out recycled oxygen of dubious quality , presenting the same sort of preheated meals , where cattle class is virtually non differing .regardless of insignia on the tail and wings of plane.

As I stated the rot set in all over when university became a business and visa factory. As for those sort of people (they know who you are) we live in hope that taking a dive off an enormously high cliff might sound like an extremely good idea. Their contribution to the wellbeing of society (jest) will surely be quickly forgotten.

Well we are in talking Tasmanian terms.

Sadly decline in educational standards is not confined to Tasmania, but a policy brought in to run universities by administrators along a business model line and get rid of academics. All about money and visa establishments for foreign students. Not lecturing , purely stating facts which debate is always welcome. Your right though. While Merth may not exactly be a hell hole along Mogadishu levels of decay, it is doing itself no favours in allowing the mainstreaming of certain practices. Rubbing shoulders with Nobel laurates and the gaggle of others mentioned has certainly paid dividends . No when I find 'the perfect place' you surely don't think I'm going to let on to this lot on the forum? Goodness some may end up as neighbours with grey hound dogs and annoying house extensions.

I perhaps should have wrote worldly people instead of educated. There is a vast difference. (not counting more recent education declines ) I meant to write Bass strait. I've no idea if returning to Tasmania is the outcome of the majority in later years or not. I know my doctor is from Tasmania and has no intent to return. There are two other Tasmanians (or were, as one just moved to another surgery) working there who are settled as well in terms of having a family. I was surprised as well that NT did not get a worse rating . I did state that the findings found Tasmanian poor outcomes to be throughout the island. That is not suggestive of a rural/urban divide. I suspect until the population owns up to poor outcomes, be that medical care, aged care, housing fiasco , falling education outcomes, turbo immigration numbers impacting on living standards and the 'hold' drugs (cartels etc) have over this nation , and demands better the rot will simply continue .

You could do worse than look a little deeper at things. The health system fails on so many levels an important consideration , especially in the age. It is not what may appear to be , but the actual reality to which results do not appear to bare up to the rhetoric you write. It may well be too late when really need the system to work its magic. So preferring to have interesting and articulate people around me provokes the response to "get off my high horse'. So sad and very suggestive of a lot that is wrong living in Australia.

What I try to do is look a little deeper and in turn obtain the reality. Not rely on the image that the Tasmanian Tourist Commision would prefer the state to be viewed,. If that makes me an Eeyore, then will be proud to wear it. It's not that Bogans 'bother' me particularly. But you would be right in thinking I would prefer to surround myself with interesting and/or articulate people. Actually living in adverse circumstances does not make one necessarily rough. Plenty of 'poor' people around the world nothing like that. A lot of that is culturally learnt and reflects the society around them. Obviously there are educated people in Tasmania. I would suggest though, due to poor professional employment outcomes, there has been a long history of the most talented crossing The Tasman to seek greater opportunities on the Mainland. As for the medical system, while glad to express contentment with your outcomes , this is not the overall verdict of critics. I'll remind you last year, that the AMA President Dr Omar Khorshid, when launched in Launceston the Tasmanian Chapter of the Australian Medical Association (Report Card in 2022) He highlighted a concerning picture of Tasmania's Health System. (seems not to have improved from the report I read a number of years ago which brought to my attention the state of affairs in the Tasmanian Health System. It was found to be under performing in key areas. Especially emergency department presentations and elective surgery. This was not confined to one or two hospitals but all over. In fact one of the worst in the country for elective surgery. Obviously, Tasmania having 21% of population over 65 ,the oldest in Australia, extra pressure will be imposed on the system. Now Tasmanians live shorter lives, 1 year and a quarter less than all other parts of Australia. Tasmanians are 28% to die of a treatable potentially avoidable causes. Ambulances take longer to respond to call outs in Tasmania than any other state,(on average some 60% more than any other state.

Actually get info from a real estate frequently up in Cairns , detailing northern beaches. Palm Cove being prime consideration. Your right far worse places to live in Australia. Down the road from you, Townsville for example. Although I live at present in a well rated inner city Perth (Merth) suburb, we are surrounded by meth houses and drug traffic. (although disciplined and not as intrusive as previously, not something really want to live around. (a big issue in Perth, no suburb is immune , although not confined to) I have ruled out country WA for that reason. Yes have looked at the SE QLD market. probably not to my liking, but we are thinking of a ten day visit to Brisbane in July and combine that with going to the England game at the women's World Cup. But as you write only apartments are available due to pricing inflation. Hoping for a decline finally of some note to readdress the stupidity. Trouble is it is not a free market and government intervenes to prevent correction. Besides heading back to Europe which is a distinct possibility, Asia also provides an alternative to living well in retirement and good medical care.