scotland smiley

Hi we are planning to come, and look forward to meeting everyone, been in Perth for 5 weeks now! How will we know who you are? Does anyone carry a banner:laugh:?

Hi Tatty, this sounds odd but you actually made me feel better! I have been here 2 weeks, and had my first blubbing session yesterday, but it kept going all day today. I had to have my 11 year old dog put to sleep in April ( Gordon Setter, Murray ) as he was blind and would not have made the move to Aus- he hated the heat, found scotland in summer too hot:err: and I think he is possibly the one I miss most ( much as I love my children! family, friends , house etc) It really will help having your dog with you, you will have more of a sense of belonging. I keep mugging innocent people with dogs just to cuddle them ( dogs, not the people:laugh:) I am just glad to see there is someone else who feels the way I did about their dog. Hope it all works out for you. very sensible advice from the others, which I will take note of too, I have also been thinking about the quick flight back to the uk,but our daughters are coming out for Christmas and New year so I shall at least try to make it that far! If anyone has any dogs that need cuddled, let me know....

Hi Druid what time do you meet up ? hubby and I would like to come along please I just arrived 2 weeks ago and need some chat! ( oh and a job and some storage!)

Thanks dxboz, I've got a few weeks to go till I get there, need to do a check list! Once I've completed my 4 mile long lists here

Thanks guys very helpful it's a big learning curve- just hope I don't fall off!

Thanks guys, excuse my ignorance but what is a TFN?

excellent! saw one up in the hills at a bar/ cafe that listed all the outlawed motorcycle gangs who weren't allowed in ( it was an impressively long list) - loved the "Coffin Dodgers" there was even one gang scored out with their change of name put in. Bless, they must have had a tiff ...

This sounds very interesting:err: does it mean if it's your first time buying in Aus? and you can be an oldie and not a twinlky? what's the normal ratio for salary to Mortgage in Aus, does anyone know- i.e. is it normal to get say 3x salary? We are renting just now as OH is out on his own, but I am wondering if we should consider buying, but we are on a 457 Visa. Would that make any difference? Thanks for your help

Hi, OH has a 457 visa, and is already out working- I will follow as soon as house etc sorted, but I am getting a sense it is difficult for partners on a 457 to get jobs? Is this correct or is it just a case of if you're lucky you'll find one. many thanks.

Hi Nikki- meant to say my heart goes out to you about the house- fingers crossed for a solution! never easy- stressful enough without someone else mucking you around and forgetting stamp duty.. we are in process of 2 purchases in uk (kids! who'd have 'em) and I have definitely aged 104 years. So keep your chin up and as they say "what's for you won't go by you "

Hi Nikki great post, really interesting- keep it coming! my OH is going out on thursday and returning end April to help with shippers and I will come out Aug ( family stuff to sort) 2 questions, what did you need for the driving licence? you said loads of info- also do your no claims from over here have any influence on your car insurance in Aus? I have 4 months living out of a suitcase to look forward to after our stuff is shipped in April so I am going mad trying to think what I should keep out and be still be able to take on a plane in Aug. Just bought new rollerblades to use on the cycle tracks- my last ones had a family of mice set up home in them as they never got used in the rain and potholes in scotland ( they had stolen dog food and put it inside too for winter - very sweet -( in the garage not the house!).Do you just feel relief now you have arrived? is there anything you wished you had done before you left Blighty? We went up to see Balmoral last weekend to discover it was closed ( a thing I promised I would always do - to give my real mother the chance of welcoming me back into The Firm . we are also drinking our way through the booze cabinet- did you take any bottles in your shipment? my OH reckons we are allowed 2 litres each in our boxes? He often states things as fact that are wishful thinking...

Wow! can you tell if there is a pea under the mattress? I hope you spend an awful lot of time in bed just to get your moneys worth ( should I have an apostrophe there?)

Thanks nikki- really helpful. Note you are safely in Perth... all going well? Any shocks?

Thanks Rossmoyne good idea- I will contact them. Did anyone take an unlocked phone and just put in a sim when they arrived? are basic contracts quite cheap? ( I pay £10 per month to tesco and get all I need) Has anyone had direct experience of shipping a car?

Hi Nadrim Do you recommend anything that particularly worked for you? Heard of many book groups/supper clubs? I am quite happy to continue zumba/ yoga but would like some cerebral stuff too. Is there a site or something where I could find out about that sort of stuff or is it word of mouth/ shop window info? thanks

Hi Akasully2 Will the sleepless nights ever stop do you think? Are you taking any bicycles? are you buying new tyres or just scrubbing with jeyes fluid? Is it silly to take bikes- I was only over for a month before, and bought a bike for that time, but couldn't get same the quality for the price at home, ( I am no expert, I look for pretty colour and a basket and bell! my current bike can't actually go up hills, but maybe that's me) , so think it may be worth the hassle, but open to advice on that one. We had a month in Sydney and a month in Darwin and a long weekend in Melbourne, and I thought Perth was just the bees knees...can't wait to get there,but don't want the "journey" cheers

Thanks Verystormy really helpful! any recommendations for ambulance cover or is that part of the Bupa cover?We are so spoilt in the uk with the NHS, I don't think I have ever spent more than £20 at the dentist, and being a Scot I did have to go and have a wee lie down after I paid that! so $$$$ may bring out my violent side... Are teeth really that important? get a good blender and straw? Anyone know about feather items through customs-? I know it says no decorative things- and I am assuming I can't bring pillows etc, also, If we did decide to go for unfurnished would it mean I couldn't bring my sofas anyway- as they are part feather filled?? anyone any experience of this? Many thanks again

Thanks guys, going to try to go with the flow and not freak out too much! sorry, I just love these emoticons! I do volunteering currently in addition to some work and love it- Does anyone help at any charities that are centrally based, and have any recommendations? Also do people use dog walkers? I assume they do, I will be bereft without my dog, so maybe I could volunteer to walk if someone is ill? I currently take part in School inspection teams as a volunteer lay member- do they have this sort of system in Perth? Cheers

Hi just found this site today, and as a complete forum/ chat room etc virgin ( i don't even do facebook:shocked:) I thought I would be terribly brave and join in. My OH has just resigned from work a few days ago and is starting a new job in Perth at end of this month ( subject to 457 ) This was a right to the line decision.... we have 2 children both at uni, an 11 year old blind dog and I have an elderly mother, so loads of emotional baggage. However, I've been to Perth twice, absolutely loved it. We need to buy a flat for our children to live in, then empty our house for rental. My OH reckons I can do this all in a month (lol!) I think it's unrealistic, but he obviously wants me out asap, and I want to go asap,once a decision is made you just want to get it all moving. I have trawled the internet to try to find as much info as I can, but to be honest my head is about to go POP. I have lists of lists... we are planning to rent in Perth at least for the forseeable future- we have a great house in a very sought after area here and if sold could never hope to get back on this scale. we thought about leaving it as it is, but the balance of income and an uninhabited house , the dosh won! so all the furniture has to go, though will use some in a flat for the children. we thought about a container and to take over my car ( saab convertible very old) but so much hassle we have discounted that. So, boxes in a shared container, no furniture but take a furnished flat. How on earth does anyone ever get the timing to work out? We have moved quite a few times in the past and this is the longest we have been in one area so it is a bit of a wrench, and especially to leave children and the dog. Does being a "certain age" make it more difficult to find new friends? no kids at school? I initially won't have work so will need to job hunt, so no work colleagues to meet. Is it fairly easy to find work? stayed in CBD before, but liked the feel of Subiaco, anywhere to recommend for a flat, needs to be within cycling or walking distance of CBD? Confused about healthcare- reciprocal on 457, but a levy to pay? Have managed to read most of this post, loved Portlaunay about the " pommie spider", fell for it for a few seconds! Isn't it great to have a forum like this to chat? Any advice, including "sit down with a bottle of wine" ( or especially that) will be appreciated- my OH just said he woke up last night not sure if he has made the right decision.... love these wee faces, have no idea what they are supposed to mean. I think this one means I am finally going bonkers. cheers.