BeachBabe2022

I know this is an old post from 2015, but I see it is still active in 2021. Not read every answer yet though And it is an interesting question I think, not one you normally see on such forums The answer is a resounding YES to every question So I will wade in too and say my pennies worth: 1). From childhood, I have suffered with respiratory issues, and I seemed permanently sick for weeks on end, with one malady or another in the UK winters. Whilst I still occasionally get bronchitis and pneumonia here, the bouts are greatly reduced from when I got sick in the UK. In the UK, I got them every year and several times a year without fail. Here I get them every five years or so. Here I get flu only once a year normally around November (seems odd to have in summer I know, but naturopath said quite common due to change of seasons) and it is pretty mild. 2). Yes. I do a lot more outdoor activities now (that I never did in the UK). Swimming in waves (better workout than swimming in a pool), paddle boarding, jogging, walking, yoga, pilates, snorkelling, etc... 3). In the UK, I had a very bad diet. Lots of processed foods and takeaways. Lots of fry ups. Lots of cola. Lots of suet style puddings. Lots of sitting round drinking endless cups of tea and eating hobnobs. Here (especially during the warmer weather) I eat lots of salads, eat lots of fruit, have fresh fish steamed (rather than deep fried), freshly cooked prawns (rather than prawn cocktails), lots of fresh vegetable juices and water. I totally avoid what I use to have in the UK. Australian wines are brilliant too, and much nicer than the horrible Blue Nun and weird Italian fizzy stuff that I use to drink in the UK. 4). Yes. Warm and hot weather always lifts my mood. I use to love the summers in the UK, but they were too short. I hate the snow to live in on a practical level - frozen pipes, having to spend 20 minutes defrosting your car, slipping over on black ice (looks lovely on Xmas cards though) and I suffer greatly in the cold, so not sure how I survived 1969 - 1995 winters in the UK. It is quite interesting to me, some of the Aussies I work with, hate warm weather and love the cold. Whereas I hate the cold and love warm weather.

. Depends Usually (but not all the time) the landlord pays local council rates and water usage. And the tenant pays their own usage of gas and electricity. Try to get somewhere, where you don't pay water rates, as it can be very expensive (especially if you have to maintain a garden in dry areas). We found this out after five years of renting without water bills, and then our contract was changed, and the extra expense was a shock I currently pay $400 a week, with all bills included. Look around, as loads of variances to what you pay

Actually, not very much at all (been here since 1995) - honestly I hardly ever think of the UK But if I had to choose five things, they would be: 1) Plaice (as in Plaice & Chips) 2) Regional beers - I use to adore Duchy Originals Organic (although must say, Australia has some excellent boutique IPAs) 3) Nice beer gardens at pubs 4) Walking through a wooded glade full of bluebells 5) Going for a walk in the county without the need to worry about being bitten by a deadly snake Cannot think of anything else

. My very favourite (seasonal in Sydney) is Blackfish. Otherwise, Barramundi or Catfish

Yes definitely. Not yet there though. Dream of living off grid in a mudbrick house But nearest I get, is subscribing to Grass Roots https://grassrootsmagazine.com.au/

That could happen, even if you were living in the same town My Aunty fell over and nobody found her for days, even though everyone lived within a one hour drive

Being cheap, I have always hired a van, and moved EVERYTHING myself. You could also pay some local high school or college boys (cash in hand) to help pack up the van Last move cost me $150 (was getting quotes for $3000) Given I have moved about 28 times in 52 years, you can see why I do it myself

Ecolour - toxic-free paints.

? I don't think so My life. Have to follow MY dreams and hearts desire - others have to live their own lives. Don't need to stay attached to the apron strings forever Some family may have been initially a little upset, but they all came round, because they love me and wanted to see me happy Then again, I am pretty stubborn when it comes to my wants, once I get something fixated, absolutely NOTHING will sway me off my path. But everyone wanted me to be happy, so they may have complained to each other, but never said anything negative to me.

Mmmm No, not really Been here since 1995, and never really found much I like to watch. Then again, only just got myself a new telly, after a ten year absence. Signed up to Netflix, although not found much on that either (currently re-watching the entire series of : Stranger Things. Locke & Key. Death in Paradise. How to Get Away with Murder) Also started on BritBox ; but struggling there too. The only Aussie shows (past and new) I like and tend to watch are things like : Round the Twist. Rake. Rockwiz. Spicks & Specks. Harrow. Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries. The Food Lovers' Guide to Australia. Watched a couple of Aussie made for telly series, which I quite liked. One was called The Dry. And the other Bloom. Otherwise, I am a bit stumped.

No. Wasn't hard at all It was something I wanted with all my heart, and nothing was going to stop me But then again, I told them after I have emigrated Rang them up, and said cannot come round for dinner next week, as ringing you from Australia. Family were a tad shocked, but ultimately happy and excited for me. More interested as to when they could get a free holiday staying with me Your family will get over it. Don't let their sulking put you off. And you are hardly going to the moon - only 24 hours away Best of luck

Hello $120,000 is a decent wage, plus whatever you earn ; lucky you two The average wage in Sydney is $77,000 Yes, Sydney can be expensive, but that is depending where in Sydney you live How you budget and survive, depends on your lifestyle. If you send your children to public school, that will obviously be cheaper than a private school. The further you live from the CBD, the cheaper it is for house prices. The further away you are from tourist holiday areas, the cheaper it is for food, petrol and pharmaceuticals. (i.e.) I live in a tourist holiday area, but buy my petrol 30kms away near work, as consistently 40 cents a litre cheaper near work. So impossible to say if you can afford it, as too many factors to take into consideration.

Hello B Vitamins Some people say it doesn't work........ But I am living proof that it does. Need to take the upmost RDA for a few months to build up levels, but once it starts working, it stops them biting you. I use to be magnet for bites mozzie and sandfly bites when traveling, until a naturopath suggested the B's, then thereafter I never got bitten ever again Traveled India, Asia, East Coast and Northern Oz, just with B protection and never got bitten B1 or B6 (think its B6 that is the best choice from memory) - ask a naturopath to be sure. I don't use sprays, or coils, or oils, or repellents. But do have flywires on all doors and windows. As a side note, was reading the other day, that mozzies are attracted to people with smelly feet - which I have an issue with

Hello Not to put a damp vibe on you - but summer is pretty nonexistent in Sydney this year Sitting here in my winter PJs Valentines Day at restaurants etc.. gets pretty booked up early. If not raining, I would pick up some food for a picnic (cooked prawns, crusty bread rolls, soft cheese, and champagne, etc...), and have a picnic in the Botanical Gardens and watch the sunset over the harbour. You can also sign up to the following newsletters: https://www.broadsheet.com.au/sydney https://www.timeout.com/sydney

Hello CobsAhoy I lived in Queensland for a while, and also traveled from Brisbane up to The Tip of Cape York. The entire time I was there, I only saw one crocodile (in Weipa) and it was dead. I have seen more deadly wildlife in Sydney But obviously you need to be sensible, only a nutjob would swim somewhere like the Daintree River, or go into the sea in Cairns during jellyfish season. I have heard there are bull sharks in the rivers around the Sunshine Coast, but there are bull sharks in Sydney Harbour inlets too, and people (including myself) still still, boat and waterski there. Just be sensible. Don't swim at dusk. Don't swim near the mouth to estuaries. Don't swim when bleeding. Don't swim near meatworks. I cannot remember the guys name, but he is on YouTube. He flies a drone over Bondi Beach every day - you see sharks near swimmers and surfers almost daily - but attacks are extremely rare. I would not leave my door open anywhere in Australia, due to mozzies and snakes. But you can still have a breeze, by installing a fly screen door.

Hi Ruth How extremely exciting to have a job offer and a move to NSW. You say you were here in your 20s, so that is a good start, as you will have some idea of what to expect. I understand about being indecisive. But as you say, it is something you have wanted to do for years. And I think you will forever regret it….. if you pass up the opportunity now. Come out for five years, give it a real go, and if you don’t like it after that time, then go back to the UK or maybe over to New Zealand. Of course, things change – you can hardly expect them to stay exactly the same. Even my Aussie husband says things have changed in Australia for the worse. But still there is no place I would rather be (well may make an exception for Bora Bora). I was just reminiscing yesterday and thinking how extremely grateful and happy and lucky that I got my resident visa all those years ago. I arrived in 1995 and things have changed a lot in that time. Cost of food and housing and everything really is more expensive. But that is like anywhere, my sister says my hometown in the UK has changed beyond measure to the point I would no longer recognize it. She thinks I would hate it if I moved back. I know some people move out here and hate it, and some people (such as myself) absolutely adore it and never want to leave. Who knows what category you will fall into, but if you don’t give it a go, you will never know will you? You can get a nice house here, close to a gym, have your hobbies, and get comfortable jobs, plus make friends. Things are going a bit crazy with the pandemic at the moment, but for the past two years, I have just been living my life as normal with a few adjustments like facemask wearing. I go to work, go to the beach, go on hikes, go whale watching, take drives to wineries, go skiing, go snorkelling, go on bike rides, and so on, life goes on. Personally, for me, I absolutely love living here, and I have a happy life. I have absolutely NO interest or desire to return to the UK. So, in nutshell, YES still worth it. At least I think so anyway. Whereabouts in NSW are you aiming for?