mikeandjayne Posted January 6, 2009 Share Posted January 6, 2009 Well, a little over two years in and where has that time gone? No idea but wherever it was it went in a bloody hurry! Seems that we left the UK about fifteen minutes prior to the steady slip into what has now become coined ‘the credit crunch’. I have spent some time trying to convince friends and relatives that our departure and the onset of the current global economic wobble are not strictly connected but to little avail and I am reliably informed by one friend that it’s ‘bloody poured down non stop’ since we left, again not guilty! Meanwhile back in Melbourne! We got off the plane at the end of Nov 2006 with a months holiday rental booked and not a great deal else. No friends or family here - our dog had landed the day before us and was beginning his thirty days in solitary – a bit like Steve McQueen in the Great Escape but the major difference being our dog tends to chew balls into a zillion pieces rather than bounce them repetitively off an adjacent wall! So we had thirty days to find a pet friendly rental and the rest off our lives to do something gainful and hopefully enjoyable. And that’s pretty much how it happened. We landed a rental in the South East corner of Melbourne, both landed work surprisingly quickly after the obligatory few months enjoying the sun, seeing the sights and pondering over the Australian fascination with building big things – Prawns. Koala’s, Lobsters, you name it, they build it…..beats me? I was (and still am) in Occ Health and my wife was (and also still is) a classroom assistant which seem to be occupations very much in demand. Certainly in Melbourne. Both had a couple of positions before we landed our current jobs that we have now both been in for about a year and a half. The dog still hasn’t found work and I have to be honest it doesn’t look good. He just keeps chewing up the application forms and pens whenever I put them in front of him! We bought our first Oz home back in August which has been a bit special. Like everyone else we got a mortgage, we actually arrived with about enough funds to see us through a lean year if no work prevailed. Having your own place makes it all a lot more home I guess. I came home from work tonight so have a meal sitting out back watching a Cockatoo ruin the fruit on the one fruit tree in the Garden which I consider to be my green fingered success. Funnily enough, we never ever had this problem in Cumbria! Think the biggest plus though has been the people….no, hold that thought! Not people friends, the good friends that we have made here. That has made a world of difference. We decided not to cling to the ex pat pom scene (no offence guys) and have been lucky enough to make some very good Australian friends. My opinion, it’s like you hear said, they take you as they find you. Be pleasant to people and they are generally pleasant back…..and take it from there. Don’t get me wrong, there have been some emotional ups and downs (family illness back in the UK, big bouts of family sickness etc) but the ups are beating downs by a long way. Back in Nov 06 if someone could have showed us a crystal ball of the future how much less terrifying would that departure from Manchester airport have been? Lots! But life’s not like that is it? You pays your money and you take your chances, but both being focused on the same thing, accepting up front that there will be downs as well as ups’ and being there for each other through the good and the bad increases your odds massively in my opinion. That’s a point; I didn’t share what we actually came for….that old cliché of a better quality of life! Not a beach, not a boat, not a four wheel drive and a house the size of Dorset. Just to feel more content with our every day ins and outs……and so far, so good. So, to all off you about to take the leap of faith that is emigration, I wish you all the same good fortune that we have had. Keep smiling and the world mostly smiles back! Right, off to get that bloody bird off my tree……. Good luck all Mike :wink: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest sexkit001 Posted January 6, 2009 Share Posted January 6, 2009 Hi.... Am so happy seems like you have really made a success of your move and if I am only 50% happy compared to you then I too would have made it also... best of luck and we wish even more happiness.. K xxx Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest sandymc Posted January 6, 2009 Share Posted January 6, 2009 mikeandjayne, good post you cheered me up as I am sitting here in -5 of west wales I wish I could be in Melbourne now having a walk to Victoria market followed up by a burger from hungry jacks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dawny Posted January 6, 2009 Share Posted January 6, 2009 What a great post, so nice to hear the positives, Sorry the dog hasn't found a job yet! I'm sure something will turn up soon!!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reen Posted January 6, 2009 Share Posted January 6, 2009 Well done mate, all the best with whatever you take on Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandgrounders Posted January 6, 2009 Share Posted January 6, 2009 Great post!! Just wondering if the dog has had to learn any new doggy etiquette regarding bottom sniffing? is there a set of Aussie Rules regarding this activity? lol. Good luck for 2009. Phil Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lees Posted January 6, 2009 Share Posted January 6, 2009 Great post what a lovely read you make it sound so positive and thats what I quess you need to take with you a positive out look and give it you best shot all the best Donna Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elliott-Family Posted January 6, 2009 Share Posted January 6, 2009 Thank you, what a lovely positive post, a real enjoyable read Fingers crossed this year we'll be joining you Claire Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest mandisfam Posted January 6, 2009 Share Posted January 6, 2009 Hi there, what a great post. what a great attitude you have to everything. Im sure there are more good things to come for you in oz. All the best Mandisfam Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest andrew_obrien Posted January 6, 2009 Share Posted January 6, 2009 Fantastic post. Positive and funny. Glad it is working out 4 u Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jackboots Posted January 6, 2009 Share Posted January 6, 2009 what a fantastic post , i do hope we are in a sim situ , in a few years! all the best. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Burness2Oz Posted January 6, 2009 Share Posted January 6, 2009 G'Day Mike, I really enjoyed reading your message so I was smiling back at your message!!! We are at the early stages of looking to immirgrating to Oz maybe GoldCoast with my husband, our 2 kids aged 8yrs old and our Cavalier King Charles dog. We have scored enough on point on the 175 skilled visa and are just about to send off for my husbands skills assessment. It is SOOOOOO exciting but I am dreading the coming year with all the forms, checks and waiting.......but it should be worth it. It definetly worked out for u guys and I do believe if you remain positive it will happen. Do u mind me asking what type of dog u took to Oz and the ball-part price it cost. Generally to immirgrate the cost in total seems to vary so widely!! Thanks for the great message of inspriation. Best of luck Hydie x Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnxiousMum Posted January 6, 2009 Share Posted January 6, 2009 Fantastic post Mike. Good also to hear the Classroom Assistant jobs look popular. Thats what I will be looking to do if we ever get to Melbourne Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest leep75 Posted January 6, 2009 Share Posted January 6, 2009 great post!!!! we to are heading to melbourne in july/august hope the place and the people are as kind to us as they have been to you Lee Elaina Holly & Amber Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
olly Posted January 6, 2009 Share Posted January 6, 2009 Enjoyable post, well done! Good idea to get that Cockatoo out of the fruit tree quickly though, they are such pests ! They sat on the roof of my sister's house in Glen Waverley and pecked the wood under the roofline, they had to get it fixed. There seems to be heaps of them flying around in bunches, especially in outer areas. Some friends from England bought a place in Templestowe and I was shocked to see 6 Cockatoos sitting on their windowsill when I arrived there. They said they loved them, they come and wait to be fed, and when I explaind they will eat under your roofline they got a shock! Glad to hear life in Rowville is going well for you all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LYNMACMD Posted January 6, 2009 Share Posted January 6, 2009 What a wonderful read, its great to hear the positives and how things have worked out for you all, just hope we can settle in as well as you all have when we arrive in Oz. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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