BeachBabe2022

Maybe add in private health insurance. I don't have any. But most people do.

But not much. I was finding that after reading the smaller small print, the warranty cover wasn't particularly good.

Mmmm Yes. You did. Since I was speaking from my own experiences. Not yours. I probably worded my post wrong, and that is what caused the misunderstanding. Apologies. Brain too wine sloshed to make corrections now, so will have to leave be, and be misunderstood by everyone for ever more Oh well......

Mmm Well I am a good liar when I need to be Sorry, too hungover to expand further at this time on this subject - brain too fuzzy presently

I won't be hopefully any longer, as I have just discovered you have a Block option I already have one whinger on my list to add.

I had the same reaction when I posted photos on FB a few years ago.

It is pretty easy to tell the difference between someone being negative and someone being honest Honest posts are helpful.......negative posts are boring, irritating and just drag you down. I have seen people asking for genuine help, then the post is locked because others are bickering or bashing, and way off subject. Must be a thankless task being a moderator on here. Think I need a mental health check after spending an hour on here!! I am stuck at home nursing a hangover, and have spent a good hour reading some past posts. Gosh some of them are very depressing to read. So much complaining. Given this is a forum for migrating to Australia, I have been shocked at some of the negative Aussie bashing. Very bizarre, given the intention of this forum. So such an inspiring thrill to read such positively from the Lavers

I blame excessive watching of Neighbours or Home & Away I remember an old work colleague from the UK, being shocked to find out that it was cold in winter. They were a massive fan of Neighbours, and assumed the sun shone every day.

Hello Had some recent experience of buying cars I hated the used car sales and found some bad quality cars there, not to mention some slippery Del-Boy like characters running the yards! In the end after four months of searching, we got: One was a ten year old car. I just wanted a small cheap second hand run-around for local trips and shopping. Something small and easy to park in tight spots. It was advertised on Gumtree, and also on display on the street (some suburbs have an area or street, where locals advertise their cars for sale). Other other car was sort of new. We brought it during the end of financial year clearance sales. It was the test drive car at the showroom, and last years model, so although technically new, it was also used. It had a few scuffs inside on the door leather (which didn't bother us), but the body paintwork was perfect. Between the same car - the model being 2018 and the brand new car being 2019, we saved $15,000. So it pays to ask at showrooms just before new car releases, if they will sell you their test drive cars. What I have noticed, is some people in Sydney are quite pretentious, and would NEVER dream of buying last years car model. We even copped some catty comments for buying last years model. We don't care about stuff like that, are were extremely happy with the savings and car we got. With this experience, it is possible too find a nearly- new family car, at a reasonably good price

Depends whose asking and in what context. If I am being ribbed for England losing the rugby or cricket, I say I could NOT care less, as I am an Australian now. However, I still consider myself British, despite the fact that been away for nearly 30 years, have no desire to ever go back, and have no interest in having anything that ties me there. My husband considers me to be an Australian, since I took citizenship, have been here ages, and have fully embraced the attitudes, lingo and lifestyle. So maybe I should be known as a BritOz (or Brozz).

Well of course not - but was hoping people would get the drift.

What an adventurous spirit you had Always helpful when venturing into the unknown You seem to have embraced the situation and thrived Some of the posts I am reading on this forum, are starting to depress me. So extremely negative, whingy, doom and gloom (unfortunately after spending a couple of hours reading some past posts, very easy to see where the expression Whinging Pom comes from) But your great positive attitude shines through How refreshing to read Best of luck for your future endeavours in building on your land.

Many thanks for your useful and excellent tips Lived in Sydney for over 20 years, and have never actually heard of Como and Oatley before today. Given there are around 670 suburbs in Sydney, probably quite a few more I am unaware of Accidently found Como online this AM, when I was looking for new swimming areas to try. Not sure that tidal area sounds too inviting after your description though The pub looks good - will have to check it out. I adore those old sandstone colonial style buildings.

Yes. That was my impression too. I liked Mudgee, as it was a destination for tourists. But Orange would have been better for daily living, as more amenities. Will be interesting to see if much has changed in the past 10 - 15 years. Actually keen to visit Charred Kitchen & Bar, as it won a Hat in the Good Food Guide last year, and it will be interesting to sample their regional menu. My stomach will propel me to all sorts of far flung places in search of good food and wine.

I was single. Had a holiday romance and married him. He is from Melbourne. Look, this probably wouldn't work for most people. I know that. I come from a very large extended family, but we all do our own thing, and don't live in each others pockets. . Whilst we love and care for each other, and want each other to be happy in life, we are not overly close knit, so the whole process was very easy for me. I realise that most people have very close knit family groups, and telling close family you are moving to the other side of the world, would be daunting or difficult or even heartwrenching.....but if you want to move, then that is just a process you need to go through. Personally I would put a positive spin on telling family. You say you want to experience living overseas. You want to give it a good go for a year or two. You say it is only 24 hours difference if an emergency dash is needed. And think how exciting it would be for them to visit you, since Australia is so much nicer than the UK. You make it sound exciting and interesting and something for them to look forward to, and maybe they will come around quicker in their acceptance. I don't do negativity, tears and emotional blackmail, but I am sure it would stop a lot of people from living their dream, if faced with that.

Hello Anyone been here? Just wondering what the Tidal Baths are like? Hard to tell online. So wondering if anyone has swam there? Worth a drive across Sydney?

I know this is an older post. But I was just reading about Orange yesterday, and it sounds like a lovely place to live. Loads of festivals, cafes, restaurants, wineries. I visited Orange and Mudgee about 15 years ago, and at that time much preferred Mudgee. But think another trip to Orange may be in order soon.

Hi Ruth You mentioned Port Macquarie in another post, but then it was locked for some reason, and I was unable to answer PM is a lovely place to visit and live. It WILL certainly give you a "better work life balance, more time spent in the outdoors, a more relaxed pace of life.." Lucky you. In regards to the drugs comment someone made, well unfortunately in 2021 / 2022, drugs are everywhere almost (no longer living in the 70s). But unless you take drugs, you may not even notice there is a drug issue. I have just found out there is a cocaine craze in my suburb, but never seen any drug dealings or high people on the streets, and crime rates are very low. I don't take drugs, so other people doing it doesn't impact on me. If you are going to worry about something like that, you may as well go live in a cave atop a mountain.

Hello I have lived on the upper Northern Beaches for seven years now, in several different suburbs. I like Manly, Collaroy Plateau and Oxford Falls very much. I have been trying to find a rental in Oxford Falls for ages too. However, I actually much prefer anything from Narrabeen upwards better. I love Palm Beach, Whale Beach, Avalon, Bilgola, Clareville, Newport, Bayview, Church Point, Mona Vale and Narrabeen. I love it, as it always seems to have a real holiday feel to it, which is relaxing to me. I cannot comment on schools in particular, but it is a fantastic place to live and raise a family. So much to do activity wise, but also near some gorgeous and completely deserted beaches, if you fancy a bit of bushwalking in the nearby national parks and walk down to them. You can also hire a boat to reach them. So although a busy area, it is still possible to get away from the madding crowd I have lived in many places in my life, and I love the Northern Beaches area more than anywhere I have ever lived before. I love the beach lifestyle, and I have at least 15 beaches and swimming spots within a 15 minute drive. But even if you dislike the beach, there is still loads to do and great fun for kids. It does have a reputation of being “The Insular Peninsula”, and I reckon that is pretty spot on in a jokey way. Although I had to stop wearing my favourite stripy blue and white shirt, lest someone thinks I am part of the Avalon Now tribe!!! On the downside, lots of people like coming here for holidays and day trips, so the main Barrenjoey Road, can get extremely congested at the weekends. But that is one of the prices you pay for the pleasure of living here. Your daft spaniel will fit right in, as people on the beaches seem to love their dogs very much indeed. Lots of doggy day care centres and pampering parlours for them. Maybe you could enter it in the annual Scotland Island Dog Race The Bayview Dog Park (Rowland Reserve) is a very popular park and swimming beach for dogs. And if you go on a Friday afternoon or Saturday morning in summer, you can buy the best fresh prawns and oysters from PRAWN POD (it is parked in the Bayview car park). Lots of families take their dogs and a bottle of wine to the park, pick up the prawns, and have a picnic.

Great suggestion. Lovely safe swimming enclosure, good picnic area, and nice walk around the headland I think you can get a ferry there from Circular Quay too, and its always nice to be out on the harbour Much better than my Botanical Gardens suggestion.

Ah yes, probably warmer. It was so humid last night, that I had to sleep with the fan on full blast all night

You took my comment out of context - you misunderstood

The average wage is $77,000. Therefore, $120,000 is way above average. And (depending on your lifestyle) you can live very well on it. I live a good life on considerably less than $77,000.

Your opinion. Not mine. It takes about two hours to drive from one side of Sydney to the other, so not sure why people would think Sydney is a waterside city. And given not everybody likes water, not sure why that is even a factor. Most suburbs in Sydney have good infrastructure - shops, hospitals, schools, leisure centres, restaurants, cafes, etc..., so no need to live or work in the CBD A majority of the people I know, actually work close to where they live. It takes me 35 minutes to drive to work. But most people I know, can either walk to work, or live within a ten minute drive. So even if you lived on the outer fringes, chances are you could find work nearby. And it depends on your definition of dreary. I live near the beach which I love. But I would be quite happy living in the Blue Mountains too. But if you want to live in a dreary outer burb with no infrastructure.....that is your prerogative Most people would do their research and choose more wisely.

Yes. Definitely done the right thing.