Dan Not Dale

4 minutes ago, Blue Flu said:

My partner was on a home visit in Canning Valle the other day and commented on some good looking builds there. I've no idea. The first two would not rate with me from research more than actual experience. I guess a very personal thing and I am hyper aware of possible problems to a far greater extent than when purchased present house. It can be differing from road to road, not just suburb. 0But I can tell you there is quite a cost around moving with stamp duty and various other expenses that all add up to the realization that a lot of research and work needs to go into any purchase. Even then you can't always get it right. The  street was fine years back. Only to become what may term a sanctuary for certain illegal activity.  

Yeah there’s always an element of luck involved 

1 minute ago, Marisawright said:

What are new suburbs with lots of building blocks like in Melbourne? They’re the same in Perth

Likely, but they could be 5 mins from nice spots and 45 mins from work as opposed to Melbourne’s 1 hour 20. Maybe their full of hoon types too, maybe not?

5 minutes ago, Blue Flu said:

It must be don't venture out into true suburbia enough. I only mentioned to someone a few months back how less hooning appeared to be, compared to my youth. Where exactly are you?

Cranbourne South. Estate is itself is outstanding. Still under construction. It has 10k of decent walking paths, lake to walk around. Families come from surrounds every weekend to bring kids to the parks. Surrounds however are pretty questionable. Let’s just say I don’t want my kids (I don’t yet have  ) going to school around here. 

We thought better this than a million dollars debt to be in the middle ring burbs.

38 minutes ago, Blue Flu said:

Plenty of iffy burbs. Choose well. Obviously Western suburbs blue ribbon in the main, but out of the price range of many. I've been looking at houses to relocate over the past year and it is hard connect all desirables. Perth is not a city for all tastes clearly. 

Any idea what the ones we see advertising to build in are like?

Baldivis, Parmelia, Canning Vale?

51 minutes ago, Wanderer Returns said:

Visit, and find out (when all this has blown over, of course).

That’s the plan 

1 hour ago, HappyHeart said:

The only thing that disturbs my peace in the suburbs is the idiots doing burnouts. We have a particularly moronic individual living about 50 m away who thinks it's great fun to hoon up and down our close. He's feral as they come though so confrontation isn't wise. Police had his wife for drink driving recently. Luckily our close neighbours are all fairly benign. 

They are everywhere where I am. 

1 hour ago, Marisawright said:

@Dan Not Dale, I know Paul will disagree with me but I think you'd be daft to choose Perth.  Nothing wrong with the city, but if you're trying to find a compromise - i.e. a place in Australia where you'll feel happier, but she'll still feel close to family - then Perth is a bad choice.   Flights from Perth to Melbourne are far, far more expensive than flights from anywhere else in Australia, plus they're two or three times as long. Yes, the flights are cheap compared to flying all the way from the UK but it's surprising how quickly you forget, and suddenly the family is complaining she's a long way away or vice versa.  

Once you're flying with a kid or kids, having to face a 3.5 hour flight instead of a 1.5 hour flight suddenly becomes a major issue. Especially once they get old enough that you have to pay for a seat for them, too.

How much easier to pop back and forth from Adelaide, Hobart, Newcastle, Brisbane - all short flights and plenty cheap fares available.  AND easy and cheap to research those places too, for the same reason.

I wonder if that's exactly why you're considering Perth, though. It's far enough away that you can romanticise it a bit.

Sydney is realistically too expensive, so that’s out. Brisbane probably too hot too often from what I hear. 
Adelaide, centre of Adelaide looked smaller than most UK towns, just with a big oval stadium by the river? I know of no one who lives there so have never heard much about it.

NT, I think id last a week.

Perth - dads mate settled there, they love it, been on visits, seems fine. My mum and dad would far rather come visit there than Melbourne also. That about the summary of why that’s what I’m thinking of. Also loads of brits from what I hear. 

We touched on towns before, and you’re right, I should look in to them more. I think jobs (lack of) is my worry there. 

yep don’t know if have romanticised Perth or not?  

30 minutes ago, Wanderer Returns said:

She sounds very understanding. Maybe you should consider a fresh start elsewhere in Australia (as others have suggested), if she's open to that. One of you will always be a migrant wherever you end up living, so that compromise might work for both of you. Heading straight back to the UK when you're clearly ambivalent would not be a wise move.

When I 'got off the boat' 18 years ago my intended destination was Melbourne as I'd both UK and Aussie friends there at the time, but that was insufficient to keep me - left after 3 weeks. Quite glad, as I'm much happier in QLD than I'd have ever been down there, not to mention the friends down south have long since departed.

Yep that’s why Perth has come up in discussion a bit.

But from the thread it’s hard to know if Perth is great, boring or the Columbia of the Antipodes.

57 minutes ago, Paul1Perth said:

Mate, I can't remember the number of times I've been involved in brawls in either Sheffield, Nottingham or Derby. Just because we had Derbyshire accents. You would think we'd be OK in Derby but no, our accents were different enough to be noticed. Sheffield was the worst though. Always a bit of a feeling between Yorkshire/Derbyshire. 

I had 12 stitches in my head once, place Chesterfield, just because a biker guy didn't like the kaftan I was wearing. He said I'd been looking at his girlfriend too. Probably had TBH. He just walked past and smashed a pint pot over my head then did a runner. 

Can happen anywhere, specially when your younger. Not been involved in any brawls since I was at Uni. Every time it wasn't started by me either, I'm not a violent drunk, booze makes me happy.

One definite positive about Australia. Very little of that here (just my perception). 

53 minutes ago, Paul1Perth said:

I reckon. I think football fans are much better behaved than they used to be. Wasn't that one of the reasons they made the stadiums all seater? 

Is much better these days. Chelsea fans were particularly notorious in 70’s/80’s. Football culture in general and recent success means it’s not as bad now.

13 minutes ago, Paul1Perth said:

My wifes Sister and hubby lived in Bermuda for about 10 years, they are teachers. When they came back to the UK, something they always wanted to do and knew they would have to, settled in Tolpuddle. Obviously they had the cash to let them do it, their stint in Bermuda was well paid and the house provided by the school.

They love it but strangely enough their kids couldn't wait to get away. One is in Nottingham and the other is moving back to Manchester after a stint in China, teaching.

TBH it was too quite for me too when we've visited. One pub that had hardly anyone in, virtually no public transport and the nearest town Dorchester. Too far from the coast to say you're close and not much happening locally.

Nearly 200k population where I’m from. An almost empty village sounds good to me though:)

22 minutes ago, Blue Flu said:

I don't think trains during the day would pose too much of a problem in any Australian city. (Especially if dress your kids up in Chelsea gear and for good measure teach them that stabbing chant Chelsea used to chant ) It's not the big ones one needs to concern oneself with.....but no, knew lots of Chelsea supporters, as once lived near to their grounds. Incident happened after a Rhodesian (Zimbabwean ) guy got into an argument with a couple of blokes while playing pool and thought he'd take them on after the pub. He only realized later that they were part of a larger cohort of what turned out to be Chelsea supporters, highly volatile,  and got scared for own well being. Spotted someone he knew in our group and made himself part of the group resulting in all being set upon outside the pub. Girls included. They actually went berserk and attacked anyone on the street at the time, resulting in charges of affray and a string of others. Just a night out in London. 

Must have been a fair while back yes

1 hour ago, Paul1Perth said:

Where would you live in the UK? There are some splenid places for sure. I think if we'd had our emigration fail we would have moved to the South Coast. Would have been tough as it was probably at least double the price for an equivalent house and the salaries weren't a lot more. Much better weather though.

I’m from north Hampshire. 50 mikes to London, less to south coast. Pretty good spot. A 2 bed mid terrace is now over 300k though. 

51 minutes ago, Toots said:

I guess we've been pretty lucky.  We've been in Australia for 40 years.  Never been mugged, robbed, burgled.  Never been bullied at work and never found it hard to make friends.  I used to travel home (after working late) by train and bus (in Sydney) and never had any problems with weirdos. 

After reading some experiences some people have had on this forum, seems like we have been lucky.

Funny you mention the work thing. I haven't been bullied, but have had several bad experiences here at work. Forced out, taken advantage of etc.

and it’s all relative, if you moved from a village in Devon you’d likely think Melbourne is crime ridden. If you came from rough area of Birmingham you’d think any Australian city is like Disneyland.

2 hours ago, Wanderer Returns said:

What does your partner want to do? Apologies if you explained that in an earlier post, as I haven't read the whole thread  

She’s Australian, born in Melbourne, family here. Has an English passport now. Would prefer to be here. Will live in uk if she has to for my sake.

45 minutes ago, Toots said:

I've been on this forum for 6 years or so   ..............  can't remember when I joined   ....... and I was flabbergasted at first at how it wasn't possible to praise either the UK or Australia without having someone shoot you down.  The sheer narrow mindedness was mind blowing.  It is entirely possible to be very fond of both places but some people find that hard to believe.  I got used to all the negative comments over time (about both countries) and as you say it is ridiculous how some folk won't accept that yes, it is perfectly plausible that some people actually do prefer to live in the UK and some people actually do prefer to live in Australia.  No big deal.

I am very fond of both places.  

I suspect it’s hard to hear someone disagreeing with ones major life decisions sometimes ?

14 hours ago, Red Rose said:

I haven't read this whole thread so you may have already covered these points. From reading your post, I wonder whether what's really happening is that you're no longer really that in to Australia? Sounds like it's got to the point where you're getting through the motions without really thriving. If you have that feeling right now, it doesn't really go away. It doesn't help that all your friends are in the UK. It all comes down to what your value and priorities are, and what nourishes your soul. If your priorities are your family and friends, and those lovely green tree lined streets, then I hope one day that is what you return to

Yep I’m 75% there. Just don’t know if want to give up entirely only trying one place in a big country  

On 27/06/2021 at 13:12, Blue Flu said:

I'll commence by responding to your London versus Perth critique. Obviously knife crime is of concern to Londoners and The Met. But the only place I have had a knife drawn on me was a late night train on the Armadale Line here in Perth when I asked a k fellow to cease harassing a young woman. He took his shirt off and  produced a knife. The security were some train carriages down and on reflection he may well have been 'methed up' Far less aware of that grub drug back then. (2006) As for London, never felt really unsafe, but in certain areas would conceal money in shoes if coming out of a gig in a 'rough' area very late at night. So certainly had an awareness. Encountered street violence leaving a pub one night in Notting Hill , after one of our group got into a bit of bother with a larger mob of Chelsea fans which wasn't pleasant  and took weeks of work during the court process. Broken bottles used but no knifes.

Most likely a progression of street violence over time. (that was late eighties) But my take on knife crime is that it is more likely to be between gangs fighting over turf, perceived disrespect and/or drugs . I would be most unlucky if not involved in illegal activity to be stabbed. Obviously always a possibility in the instance a mugging goes wrong and mugger high on something, or simply with mental health issues or just the rare case of a physio bad ass. But when you know the city and in a sense the talk I've always found it fairly easy to defuse aggro situations there (London) probably less so here. 

It gets back to less people out and about in Perth. Not being noted as a late night city, in any shape or form, those out after a certain time, not even late by European standards tend to be out for trouble ,.  but Perth has always been a bit of a 'punchy type place. Bored kids from the suburbs coming into The CBD or in days well past Scarborough Beach and still today Fremantle. 

I don't know if I rely too much on the stats.(but hope they are right) but only as good as those that comprise them .It's just that  I don't detect any fall in meth. In fact in my inner city location it has escalated to concerning levels around me with a 'professional class' becoming involved. I can't say it is only meth going down , but that is only really what I'm concerned about. It doesn't take to much effort to 'make' things happen and present a rosier picture than really is. Remember Perth is still close to the top of the world in meth consumption. (you can read about the devastation of Seattle USA, has had to endure online. That I believe is around the same useage as Perth and Adelaide.)  Adelaide of all places supposedly number one. Easy to find on You Tube the shocking effect of meth on the community of Murray Bridge out of Adelaide. 

I'd say meth is out of control. Too many making money out of it to do much more than attempt to disguise it. Too many making it to fund their studies and more)When the government gets serious, not talking in platitudes, like SA, where the present Conservative government promised a war on meth's if elected  only to do nothing on gaining power.   Absolute loads of impacted people in Fremantle during the semi lockdown. Police cleared it some weeks later, must have been after impossible to look away any more. Now far, far less. 

On a personal level, I'd detect on perhaps (incredible, I know) 40% of occasions when out and about on foot in my inner city suburb, alleged illegal drug activity.  (loading up cars, concealing alleged drugs within motor vehicles, cars collecting , cycles used to deliver to I suppose you could call the syndicates. (cycles I suspect judged less conspicuous) But what ever. That is far, far more visible and apparent than before. Speaking with people it is most easily accessible most every suburb.  Small towns as well. 

 

Having been to literally hundred of Chelsea games should I be confident of handling myself in Perth?   I’m not a big bloke mind….

not wishing to belittle your encounter btw, just thought I’d try throw some humour in. I know what CFC fans are like. 
Very rare I’ve felt unsafe in Australia personally. I think having seen what I’ve seen at football playing part in that.

But have had to keep my head down on the train plenty in Melbourne though, clearly drugged up people who could flip any moment.

Wouldn’t want my child on train to school in Melbourne. I would worry if my partner was on them outside rush hour.

On 23/06/2021 at 13:15, Paul1Perth said:

That description of Perth would be totally unfair. There are soulless suburbs for sure. You wouldn't be able to get us to move to somewhere like Ellenbrook for a million dollars. In fact anywhere we couldn't be in walking distance of a beach would be too far. That was important to us when we came so we rented for a year and had a good look round. 

We bought in our suburb in 92, in the same house now, love the place. Plenty of coffee shops, pubs, fantastic beach 10 minutes walk away, small shopping centre with hairdressers, restaurant, coffee shop, bakery, bottle shop, doctor, dentist, physio about 2 mins walk away. Very quite suburb, traffic noise virtually non existant.

We have a great bunch of friends, met mostly locally through the surf club. Joined for the kids when they were young and met several people doing the same. Same interests, mostly sports related and we've had the same friendship group for years. Still meet new people as we're still members of the surf club. It's been brilliant for the kids, they both loved it and both still have friends they made there. 

Where did you stay on your Perth visits? If not the City itself I would be heading for somewhere like Scarborough as a visitor. Specially in summer.

Stayed in Leeming on all occasions. With family friends.

1992, I wish it wasn’t such a different proposition now

On 23/06/2021 at 12:41, Paul1Perth said:

You could try somewhere else in Aus. Melbourne is my 2nd least favourite City in Aus, Canberra is my least favourite.

Melbourne doesn't have that good weather, housing is expensive, local beaches are average, City is busy, traffic is awful.

Plenty of places to choose from with just about whatever climate you fancy. You sound young enough to give anywhere a try. WA is screaming out for all sorts of workers at the moment, specially in oil, gas and mining. That's where the big salaries are too.

Get a flight and come over for a look.

Don't know where you lived in the UK with nice tree lined streets, sounds nice but my recollection of where we were from, near Stockport and Manchester doesn't trigger memories of tree lined streets.

Your summary of Melbourne is pretty accurate and it’s only getting worse.

Looking back I was trying to condense my original post. I should have said I like the history,  old buildings, and that the trees are green, not half dead looking like here. Tree lined was the wrong description. Although I am (was) a few mins from countryside.

Job is quite niche, for major retailers, haven't seen any posted outside VIC or NSW yet but hoping will at some stage.

We will definitely do a weekend in Perth soon, just need a solid window of no covid cases.

On 26/06/2021 at 17:15, HappyHeart said:

A good day for finding British imports. Reject shop had a lot of Tesco stuff at cheap prices, all in date....then Farmer Jacks and some imported choc and crisps....

Did they have any flamin hot monster munch?

16 hours ago, Blue Flu said:

Leederville is inner city. It's one of the places to go out to wine and dine. Great location. Problem being the drug meth is very prominent. More the manufacture of it than the consumption from observation. Having it next door was not fun. (to put it mildly) While it is fairly quiet now it remains well entrenched in the area.

Sounds a bit like parts of St Kilda perhaps.

16 hours ago, Dusty Plains said:

I doubt that.

There was sarcasm included.

4 minutes ago, rammygirl said:

Are you feeling pressure to be something you are not?  You need to address what sort of lifestyle you actually want with your partner and agree a way forward that suits you both. Some compromise will have to be made, it’s inevitable really.

In the UK my husband faced pressure to conform to a lifestyle of his work peers, posh house in specific area, private schools, clubs designer gear and flash cars.  Not us. We continued to live in a village north of Manchester and socialise with people we liked not wanted to compete with! In the end they gave up on us as eccentric.  Don’t regret not joining their circle, we are better off for it both financially and personally. 

Some interesting questions there. I’m glad you and your husband didn’t get sucked in to that sh*t. Yes I’ve complicated things by moving here but glad not living life to impress others.

I do feel us getting dragged in to suburb snobbery somewhat with acquaintances and partners work colleagues. I thought there wouldn’t be snobbery here, that was part of the appeal. Nieve no doubt (can’t spell it).

Though I’ve managed to keep to principles and minimise debt and ultimately live in a suburb for which people give me a sympathetic look when I tell them.

I have no mates here so there is no one to compete against. 
Mates at home would still love me and come round if I lived in a studio flat. They just wouldn’t  travel outside our town to do it often.

My town is commutable to London, it’s not cheap. A frankly, crap 2 bed terrace (compared to something here) is fast approaching £300k. Thats a huge part of what keeps me here.

14 minutes ago, Blue Flu said:

Have lived in Leederville for yonks. While great location and raters high in walkability stakes, great public transport access, close to dining options,  it is not without its problems unfortunately. A shame what has happened but hardly confined to Leederville.

What has happened to these places? Sorry I’m a bit clueless.