Lets all reintroduce ourselves.

[mr luvpants]

Hi

 

We have been on this forum for nearly 3 years now and there has been a lot of new faces recently. I thought it would be nice if I started a thread so that we can all reintroduce ourselves and got to "know" each other.

 

So I will start:

 

Lisa (??) Nurse and John (42) fire fighter going to Queensland on the 25th December via Hongkong. Not sure exactly where yet but the Gold coast is looking good but where we settle will depend where Lisa gets offered a job. We got our 176 visa grant after 6 weeks and 5 days which I think is a record!We have been married for 5 years and have 3 kids, 22, 21 and 20. Our oldest "kid" Ashley is going travelling in November for a year or so and her aim is to then return to Australia with us. She is a hairdresser so we will need to keep an eye on the changes so that this can happen or she will need to find herself an ozzie fella (any ozzie blokes out there that would like a Cheryl Cole lookalike?) Our other 2 "kids" live with our exes and have no interest in Australia at the moment but are coming over next year for a holiday. We have explained to all three of them that we are now going to live our dreams and they are all cool with that.

 

We live in Colchester in Essex and are really happy here. We are migrating cos we can! We are not running from anything and have a really good social life here and really good friends but you are a long time dead and we both are of the outlook that we would like to experience some thing different. We are both really outgoing and cant see ourselves having a problem starting a new life with new friends.

 

I (JOHN) would like a career change and so am hopefully going to join the Queensland Police service when we arrive. I have completed the necessary education courses I need to do to make this happen and will be sending off my application tomorrow.

 

Who is next?

 

JOHN

[ali]

I'm Alison and joined PIO in 2006. I'm a nurse working in community MH. Visited my brother in QLD for a holiday and 4 months later we had put in an application for a 136 (independent skilled visa). We (my OH is a broadcasting engineer) are both 46, we decided that if we were going to make a big move like this we'd do it for us and therefore decided to move to WA rather than QLD as it ticked our boxes. We arrived in Aus on January 7th 2007

 

We have two children a girl (15) and a boy (10) who have both really just 'got on with it', they've settled really well, have made friendships and thankfully we haven't had any major problems in making a home here. If you read many of my posts you'll know that I'm very content here, we've made a comfortable life and home here, we miss family and friends but don't want to return to the UK to live at this moment in time ... you can never say never, but I wouldn't bet on it lol.

 

It was never a dream for us to live here, we just reached a point in our lives were we thought it would be interesting to live and work in another country ... because of my job it needed to be English speaking ... and here we are Australian Citizens

[Guest guest36187]

Joanne and I joined PIO in `07. I am an elderly care nurse and soon to be a palliative care specialist. We live in QLD, sinnamon park in Brissies west to be exact. Lived here since 2005 and love it!

 

Became AUssies in 09 and have made lifelong friends on here.

 

We were always going to `do something` with our lives. An advert in the nursing times and an agreement to give it a go for 2 years led us here. We could not be happier

 

Joanne x

[LKC]

Hello! I am Deb (35) and I have been a member of PIO since Nov '07. In October of '07,my hubby (Matt, 32) heard rumours that his company may be opening practices in Australia. He worked as a dispensing optician/director for Specsavers in the UK already, so we talked about it and decided that we would like to give it a go. I was about six months pregnant with our youngest daughter at the time, so we did lots of research etc whilst we waited for her to arrive (Charlotte, now aged 2. Our eldest Sophie is 4). When Charlotte was six months old we travelled to Sydney to meet with the Specsavers team. Matt did a couple of days work experience at a store, and we had a look around the three areas that we were offered. We settled on taking the store at Hurstville, with a view to living in Sutherland Shire.

 

Five months later we got on that plane and started our Australian adventure!

 

It has been great so far. We have had the usual ups and downs, but generally good. Matt is enjoying his job very much and I am hoping for a career change at some point to working in the national parks (I am a stay at home mum currently, I used to be an optometrist and I also have a zoology degree).

 

I am so glad that I found PIO. It has been a huge supply of help, support, information, interesting debate and laughs!

[joeyje]

I'm Jo (37) and a registered Nurse.

My sister lives in Batemans Bay with her ozzy husband and 1 1/2 children! Ive just completed my ANMC skills assessment and am (patiently) waiting for the embargo to be lifted, and if all's well (with nursing still on sol) will apply for 176 soon after.

My sister is sponsoring me, so heading out to batemans bay too - hope to 'lift off' this time next year with my dog - can't wait!!

[Guest guest37336]

Hi all.

 

My name is Tony, I'm a svelte '36,' '24,' '32'. I want world peace. I'm presently reading Fyodor Dostoevsky, and am hoping to gain a degree in Quantum Physics. I yearn for all the world leaders to come together in harmony and make this world a good and better place. I am also campaigning for nuclear disarmament, and am prepared to sleep with any judge in order to win first place.:biglaugh:

 

Seriously now. I'm approaching 47, have a lunatic as a partner,:goofy: (medically proven), :biglaugh:two children, both girls, 16 and 14 years old respectively. First went out to Australia in 1980 and since that time have lost count of the times I have been backwards and forwards. At present trying to resolve some issues back here in the UK before we go back to Australia. All up in the air at the moment, but even if we don't make it back it has been one hell of a ride.

 

Cheers Tony

[Guest guest17301]

I'm Fiona,

 

I joined PIO in June 2008 at the start of our emigration journey. I have a husband and 2 children, girl and boy aged 12 and 4 respectively.

 

We always talked about Australia and knew we'd do 'something' a bit different. Soon after I spotted an ad for UK nurses and applied and we were off to Perth on a 457 visa, a year in we applied for and were granted a 176 PR visa. When we can we will apply for citizenship. We call Australia home but never say never! We've been here ever since, love it, family looking to come out and join us...never really looked back, it's a great lifestyle in a beautiful place.

[Guest The Ropey HOFF]

Hi everyone

 

we are Helen aged 43 and Jim aged 50. we have 2 kids Danny 15 and Samantha 11 and Smudge the cat. we validated our 175 permanent residency visas in march, no fanfare from Australia, in fact they abruptly said don't stand there stand over here, so the great moment was lost.

 

Helen is a qualified acute medical nurse - ward sister with 26 years experience and i am a prison officer with 22 years service and we have both been offered jobs in Brisbane. we can't make our minds up wether to emigrate or not, we love Brisbane and Perth but we are a little scared and worry we will miss our family.

 

I love playing golf with my son and i want to do this year round in Brisbane. we all love indian curry and have a favourite curry house in Yorkshire, the only thing we would miss if we emigrated apart from our lovely house.

 

jim

[pluto]

Hi :v_SPIN: I am Sam (38) married to Paul (41) & we have 3 children, Harry 15, Molly 9 & Evie 6.

We have been living in France for the last 6 and a bit years. My OH is a carpenter and I work as a Moderator on a forum for Francophiles & I am also studying with an Oz Uni so that I will have recognised qualifications to help me find work.

 

Looking forward to our move to Perth ......if they will have us !

 

Sam

x

[CharmedP3]

We are me (Rachel 39) and Martin (main applicant - 1st Class Welder 38 and two children, Abigail 8 and Cassie 3.

 

I have a birth mother living nr Penrith, NSW, however as NSW were not sponsoring welders and WA were and work opportunities for welders look good in WA, we decided on heading that way even though we have never actually been to Perth... only been to Sydney and Brisbane on previous trips.... but we are open minded about it and have made lots of friends who are either already over there or heading that way this year....so looking forward to getting there ourselves one day (soon I hope).

 

We are currently Cat 5 and hoping to be Cat 2 when the SMP's come out

[kevin jc]

Hello All

 

I am Kev 38 (Plumber) wife Claire 37 (but dont tell her i told you) (marketing) our two Girls Melody 12 and Jodie 9.

All looking forward to trying something new if we manage to get there, All fingers crossed and hoping to be ready to file app soon as suspension lifted,

Have to try on 176 so not to fussed where we end up for first two years but hope to end up in Brissy.

Thinking of starting in Geelong VIC.

Good Luck All

Kev & Family

[S92LAME]

Hello lovely people!!!

 

My name is Keith, im 33 and i joined this morning!

 

I have wanted to live in Aus for years. when i was a teenager i really got into the idea, and when i was 21 i was had planned and had a place at a flight academy in Port MacQuarrie, to learn to be a pilot. however, i was offered a job as an apprentice aircraft engineer with Bristow Helicopters and i took it. i then ended up after being made redundant, joining the RAF and did 6 years before leaving to join Ryanair and then CHC where i am working now. i currently am working as a licensed aircraft engineer on the big helicopters that support the North Sea Oil operations.

 

i have also in that time gotten married, and never really thought about moving as i expected that dream to be over. however my wife Catriona (27) suggested it and i couldnt say no!!!! Applied for TRA beginning of November, got that in December, then applied for a 175 visa on 18th Dec, the day they closed for Christmas holidays Was picked up by a case officer and asked to carry out the medicals and police checks in Feb. since there is only 2 places in Scotland for Medicals we had to wait till nearly the end of march. got them done and sent away the paperwork and the police checks beginning of April, and not heard a thing since!

 

we are planning to move to Perth as my wife is a Geologist, and her present company has an office there, and im hoping to transfer with my company too as there has been a job advert on our intranet for Jandakot for about 4 years now!

 

Thanks for listening! hope to see some of you soon in a very different place!

Keith:cute:

[Guest zoeandcraig]

Hello everyone

My name is Zoe (34) and my huband is Craig (38). We have three beautiful children - William, Lola and Madeleine - 6,4 & 2 respectively.

We are really new to this site so its lovely to come across a thread like this.

We are hoping to go to Perth in January on a dreaded stusent visa!!!

Heard so much bad press about this visa type but its our only option. We are more than prepared to take the risk of being sent home at the end of the two year course if we can't get employment sponsorship. Sounds crazy, i know, but we would rather take the chance than live to regret it.

Life's a risk eh? and you only get one shot at it x x x

[Guest DaveBecs]

Hi, we are Becs (35) and Dave (31) and joined the site earlier this year. After 4 years together and uming and ahhing about it, we decided to take the plunge and move to OZ.

 

You only live once, make the most of it!!!!!!

 

Lucky for the other half, he is Australian by decent, so we went to london in March and sorted out his oz passport. My Defacto visa application is currently with Australia House and has been since end of March, so now its just the long wait. We are planning on moving (if all goes well) at the end of November 2010 and settle in Tasmania, as near to Daves family.

 

We both cant wait and the next 6 months are going to go by very slowly!!!!

 

Becs x :rolleyes:

[Guest shawgorbys]

Hi guys im Andrea(41)Gary(47)Jack&tom(15)weve been on this sight since 2007 Gary is a butcher and were heading to perth on a 457visa if Gary can get a job sponsor we have sold the house which is great If you are new to the forum theres plenty of great peeps on here so i would like to thank everyone for your support take care&good look everyone Andrea,Gary,Jack,Tom ps great post guys xxx

[Purplethunder]

Hi I joined in 2008 after a glib comment in a conversation with hubby saying let's do something different lets go to Oz! So we did for 3 weeks on a reccie trip, you'll find my reports on here from then, saying that it wasn't a OMG we have to live in Oz feeling so it was put on hold....more by hubby than me!

 

Then last year hubby had a consultancy contact him saying they were in the UK and wanted to interview him...then he got the job, then we had a few marital issues and it was all on hold...AGAIN!!!

 

So jump to this year and the consultancy contact him again saying they'd still like to employ him so he jumps through the hoops and they offer him the job on a temp ENS visa, we negotiate for a perm ENS and they agree!!! Soooooo now we're going YAY at last!! only 2 years after that glib comment!!!

 

So me (42) accountant, hubby (44) IT geek and DS (6, going on 16) are hopefully going to be in Sydney pretty soon :biggrin:

[BritChickx]

Hi all

 

I'm Stacy, 19, have wanted to move to Australia for years, and travel. Got to go to university first (to study nursing), which I start next year, then after completing that I'll travel, come back, do a years experience and hopefully move out there afterwards so got a 4 years yet before I can do anything!!!

[Smirfyduo]

Hi everyone,

I'm Jules (30) & my OH is Glen (34).

 

We both grew up in Zimbabwe, and moved to the UK in 2003. We bought a nice house in Milton Keynes in 2007, - the homesickness had started to subside, we had made some good friends, and we finally started to feel a bit more settled. :biggrin:

 

All that went out the window when someone mentioned that they needed Accountants down under. In a way, a dream became a possibility, so we both started to feel unsettled again!! :confused:

 

One thing led to another, and we applied for a 175 visa. Then, a work colleague in the UK knew a work colleague in Aus....... and then I had a job offer, and we rented our house out and moved to Melbourne 5 weeks later!!

 

Courtesy of PIO & Gill (Gollywobbler) our 175 finally came through.:jiggy:

 

We're both loving Aus - (Not sure about the Melbourne winter - or any winter actually)

Homesickness......hmmm.. not sure where "home" is anymore. Not quite settled yet - but experience says that it will happen with time!!

 

Baby brother came over for Chrimbo and fell in love with Aus - now the mission is how to get him here!!! Oh - and little sis hasn't visited yet, but is also apparently after a visa and a place to stay!!:wideeyed:

[PommyPaul]

I'm paul and i'm an alchoholic...

 

but apart from that, I was originally from a small town in Norfolk, backpacked oz in 2003 and then came back here in 2008 as a permanent resident.

Was a diesel fitter/welder fabricator/holiday rep through the years in the uk... am following my farming dreams in oz.

 

life couldn't be better!

[Guest Working to fish]

Hi i am working to fish ,was going to live in perth ,but there was a guy on here who said it rained all the time ,so we have been on the sunny coast last coulpe of years ,have been on here way to long :wink:

[BritChickx]

I'm paul and i'm an alchoholic...

 

 

 

I didn't know this was an AA meeting. Would you like to tell us how you are coping at the moment? :biglaugh:

[nik_kershaw]

My name is Marcus (29) and my wife is Deirdre (32), not fogetting our son Preston (16 months) who is one of the main reasons why we moved down uinder and left the UK. I was in the Army before moving over and now I work for Pickles Auctions, selling cars. My wife works at Old parliment house teaching kids about elections.

 

I joined this site in 2009 (I think) and have met a couple of people on here who have helped me out a great deal! I am looking to meet a few other people this weekend as well in Canberra.

 

Our son was born in Canberra on the 2nd Jan 09 and it has been non stop since then really. I have enjoyed every minute of the experance of being a dad and hate to be away from them both. I wasn't prepared with the tempreture of Canberra in the winter, but I think everyone lives for the summer around here.

 

I wouldn't change my mind of moving over here as life is good, just need a slightly better job

[kangaroo.bruce]

I'm Alison

 

 

 

and here was me thinking Ali was short for aligator.......lmbo :biglaugh:

[Guest soon2move]

think this is a really good post...i'm Sally (27) and moved over with other half - also 27.. to Perth (NOR) 3 months ago from the rat race of London. He's an accountant and has settled in well. I normally work in HR but as i'm pregnant I'm not currently working. Am due in 6 weeks time. Looking for some friends either - recent mums or mums to be or couples looking for friends near to here..havent been able to work since got here so interaction to meet friends has been minimal. Have taken up volunteering to spend time with elderly people in a home, just to get out and about. If you know anyone who's also looking for friends... pls point them in my direction. thanks for reading...

[Cerberus1]

and here was me thinking Ali was short for aligator.......lmbo :biglaugh:

 

Well given that my sister-in-law's called Alexandra, but prefers 'Ali' ?? I'm all confused now, are you telling me she's lying and she must really have been christened 'Alison':goofy: