DreamTripper

Thank You John and Kate, very lovely afternoon.

I wouldn't go too far out, I would write a list of your priorities...ie quiet, busy, coast, hills, facilities, transport links etc... It's a big decision as where you stay colours your judgement of whole of Perth and Perth IS diverse. Budget plays a part. Will you want to buy eventually? Will schools be a factor? You could try getting a 3 month lease somewhere central, then decide on a more permanent place when you've been here a while and had a proper chance to look around and find work. If I had our time again and schools were not an issue that's what I'd have done. Get yourself a nice rental near the city, maybe coastal if you can and enjoy the next few months.

It really depends on your expectations/outgoings and previous standard of living. What will you be earning?

Also remember that living in a beachside suburb does not mean you can walk to the beach. Remember heat of summer with chairs/boards etc...most will drive which is why, unless you buy and can afford beach front or few streets back I would buy one suburb in as the time difference to get there will be negligible but price difference will be noticeable.

If you want to live in a traditional Australian home with lots of Australian neighbours and have middle class neighbours then Butler is not for you. But if you want a modern, new build home in the outer suburbs, close to transport links and the beach with local facilities plus a pub which may have a few problems with 'a bit of trouble' nothing unlike an estate pub in UK, you'll like it. It wouldn't be my choice because the housing is too bland for my taste, it's a bit too far north and I prefer older suburbs but I would say don't be afraid of moving to a place that others knock...if you pick the right house and don't want to necessarily be best mates with everyone in your street, you can have a nice life in Butler I would say. Lot of snob value of homes and property/areas. Butler will have pockets where there is unsocial element/hoons/a lot of young teens roaming....like any suburb where younger families are likely to live. You'll get ht an miss roads where it's obvious there's a lot of social housing tenants living that you wouldn't get in areas like Iluka or Burns Beach or on 'private estates' You will have to choose house wisely. If next door looks like Steptoes yard then obviously you won't move there. A lot like that in cheaper burbs....like Ridgewood/Merriwa/Banksia Grove..... Other people are happy to have their own little haven in the middle of such an estate if they keep self to self and neighbours are OK.....that's not to say all Butler is like that as most is just like an average new estate in UK....the cheaper it gets the rougher it is in general....

Butler is nice enough. Plenty of facilities, plenty of development ongoing too. Bit toy town still but close to beach. Obviously it will attract many people wanting cheaper housing, often a lot of new arrivals. If I was moving up that way though I'd go for Quinns Rocks if wanting coastal suburb (choose area wisely) then if one suburb in I'd look at Currambine, great facilities and 5 mins form coast, plenty of new builds plus established suburb but still looks 'fresh'....great value. Carramar, not enough to justify the extra $$$ compared to Currambine...Avoid Ridgewood and Merriwa, dirt cheap for a reason, lots of refugees and rough types....again sure if you choose right street etc it'd be fine but I wouldn't chance it when there's options like Butler etc...Jindalee is nice but more expensive...... I really like Yanchep but obviously more out of the way..but for coastal and cheap it's great.

Whenever I get wistful about the UK and missing family and friends (we left a lot of people behind) I give myself a reality check. I remember how we could go months without seeing friends, becasue everyone has a life, work, commitments, just like here. I remember people not making an effort because they don't have to, you're not going anywhere, it's only when you leave they miss you and wish they'd seen you more often, done more fun stuff. I remember that family, wonderful as they are, were also sometimes a source of great stress. Wanting us to fit in with them, minor family squabbles, being expected to organise everything. Then I think about living here, life is the same in terms of the day to day, but I have my best mate right here, I have friends who I see as often as I saw my friends in England, I have some family here, I have yearly visitors and we have a wonderful time when they come here to see us. We can go back now and then, have done and it's great but it is not reality. The gloss wears off after a while and you see it for what it is, the reasons you moved in the first place. The times when people are sick and in need makes us feel useless and devastated. Normal to feel it's our job to go back. We all must do whatever feels right but if it happened to us I'd make sure we kept a 'life' here and a house etc. You never know when you will change your mind. Australia offers more for the nuclear family to me, but some people need more than the nuclear family.

IKNWC but the weather is dire today. Roll on Spring I say.......

Flew with Etihad at Christmas. Overall not impressed. Customer service poor when trying to get a cancelled ticket refunded because one of our party couldn't fly. Still awaiting response and money back after 5 weeks. Ran out of first choice food on all flights (not a bother for me as I'll eat anything but not great) Found some crew miserable, others uninterested, others downright unprofessional, like the English girl working in business running back to her boyfriend who was sitting in front of us as a passenger bringing him business class leftovers and drinks!!Not in a subtle way either....seats were comfy enough and leg room ok for economy. Delays in Abu Dhabi and no info on gate change or updates or meal vouchers.

Actually I have just checked and depending on your dates and how many beds you need there are cheaper options. http://www.stayz.com.au/accommodation/wa/perth

You may be able to find cheaper if you really look around but being the Christmas period a lot will already be booked up. $135 sounds a lot but bear in mind you won't have other bills to pay. For fully furnished holiday let its about the going rate, cheapest is around $90 a night but as I said they will likely be all booked up. I take it you've checked http://www.stayz.com.au

Takes me about 5 mins from Wanneroo down to Ocean Reef Road...maybe 7 or 8 when really busy. Also bear in mind you can use Wanneroo Rd to get into the City too. Not much in it when it's busy tbh

iknwc but am looking forward to my dinner...creamy chicken, bacon and mushroom penne and garlic bread with a nice glass of chilled white.

Tapping is a bit nearer the freeway but you'd have to get on at the beginning at Burns beach road which is as far North as it goes. I can't see it saving a lot of time tbh. Just depends what you want.

Good job Dom:) Do you want to come and do mine next?

Very true, eating and drinking is even better!!

Mozzie coils, sticks, spray plus outdoor lighting! Works well for me and I get eaten alive. Nothing nicer than eating outdoors on a warm Perth evening

We had a nice welcome too, found it easy, no stress. If you're bringing food in, declare it and you'll get through much quicker. No problems. When you walk outside and the lovely heat hits you (if its summer) you'll know you're home:) Nothing like that feeling! Can still remember the excitement and feeling we had at 2am on a hot January night.

Poor value and out of the way imo. More expensive than nearby Wanneroo. More amenities in Wanneroo. Just another legoland estate but great if modern homes are what you want.

Christmas is not the same but you get used to it and adapt. I never wanted to do the whole beach thing on Christmas day...too busy and prefer to stay home on the day, we go Christmas Eve, for sunset and a picnic, then Christmas Day, fairly similar to UK routine, Brunch and Bucks Fizz and a late late lunch/dinner occasionally outdoors though novelty of that has worn off and easier to do full dinner indoors. If having buffet style it's outside. Pool time and drinks in arvo... We get a real tree from the farm, helps with the atmosphere and smells fantastic Had family here last year so it was much nicer, I'd say it's the one day of the year you long for UK! This year we are heading back for a month so really excited at our first cold Crimbo in several years:jiggy:

the Maze is a nice day out, I thought a bit expensive but surroundings are fab. Take a picnic. Now the WaterPark is open its even better...we are thinking of getting a season ticket for unlimited entry. Yanchep National Park is lovely, we sometimes go up for an hour, walk round the lake (takes about 30 mins if you're brisk walkers) then have a drink at the pub in the beer garden. It's nice late arvo when the roos are out. Season pass is well worth it if you're up that way, only drawback..no dogs. Agree re Araluen, would go more often if closer, absolutely stunning

York is nice, won't be everyones cup of tea but I thought the architecture was lovely and the place is steeped in history. Take a look inside the Town Hall, there's picnic areas near the river and a rickety rope bridge which is fun!