linda@no9

Fan flippin tastic!!! That's such great news!!!

Brilliant!!!! So pleased. See, it was all worth it!! xxxx

Hubs flies home in 13 days and then we fly back out 24th August. Very excited!!!!

All I know is having that piece of paper in my passport which said I could stay meant lots of tears when I had to leave to come back to uk. Never felt like that about a place in my life. As my hubs quite rightly says. "It aint all bounty bars and hammocks. You still got to get up and go to work. But the sun is shining and life is good." cant say anymore than that really!

Hi Kat. I have very big mood swings. I don't speak to my dad and my mum doesn't want to see me before I leave. She says it's too upsetting for her. I'm on my last week at work and then I have my visit from my son (23) which is the kind of visit I should be looking forward to but dreading. It's the big goodbye! I feel there is so much to still do and i'm sure it'll all fall into place, but I have panics about it. I'm really looking forward to seeing my husband again (he's been Perth side since April) but saying goodbye to my son is going to be a killer. I think that's when the reality will hit. All I know is I don't want to stay in Uk. Maybe that adds to the guilt of leaving my son here. 4 weeks today I'll be in Australia! x

Hi Catherine. Just wanted to offer my support and hope you are doin ok. Lots of love x

Brilliant, Laura. We head out permanently Aug 24th!!

Ive cleared out, but shippers are doing the packing so that's one less job. Yes, very close now. Up and down emotions. x

2 weeks left of work. Free week then son arrives, 3 days later hubs comes home then 2 weeks later Perth bound. All in all, 5 weeks friday past and ill be leaving on a jet plane!

My daughter had her last day in a UK school.

Congratulations!!!

Hi Kaz. Hubs already there and we follow August 24. Have 2 girls 16 and 7! Hubs currently renting in Hillarys. We stayed with friends in Jan and had a look at some areas, but will have more of an idea when we are there and have more time. I dont think you can decide for sure until you are there, but we liked Carramar, Tapping, Madeley, Dartch and a few others. How exciting for you!!

Hi rolty. Moving to Perth August 24th Whoop whoop. (And am in the wedding business if you need any help ;-) )

So going to buy a Dyson before I come because I've heard they are mega expensive in Perth. Shippers have told me to remove ALL the packaging so that I cant be seen to sell it on arrival. Removing all packaging deems it 2nd hand. Otherwise I could be slapped for inport tax! Shippers are a hive of useful info me thinks!

Hubs did have a bit of a nightmare looking at a few properties (agents not showing up etc) but secured an amazing 2 story home in Hillarys with views to the ocean! We hope when it comes to securing our unfurnished property, that we will have good references from the agent to enable us to secure a good home again. Good luck! x

Hi and :ssign18: xxx

Hi Hannah. Little Creatures in Freo is ace!!! We're on the count down now too. 24th August!!

Thanks, Nicola. Have done that now xx

Bit of an odd one, but wondering if there is anywhere that folk can post their UK properties for sale for those who want to return to Uk from Oz?

Hubs looked at Atwell, Ali along with Aubin Grove (?) He drove down to Secret Harbour, loved it, but would be one heck of a treck back to Perth City. We will be based in Hillarys as I said, but on arrival in a few weeks, we will be heading SOR to discover what's happening there before making a final decision.

North we liked, Carramar, Hillarys, Tapping, Woodvale, Madeley. Hubs is currently in Hillarys and we'll join him in August. It's where I'd like to settle but could be expensive. HTH x

Exactly! I heard on the radio that the government are bringing in compensation for workers that if you take a holiday and are ill while on it, you'll either get the days back or they'll pay the days you were ill!

Its great to see the underlying reasons look to be the same. We fly 24th August. Can't bloomin wait. Verystormy. This is my sons Geology lecturer. Sam has ALL his DVDs on the shelf!

Here's ours. Just over 2 years ago, things weren't great here. Hubs job, family stuff, area we live in, state of country, so we had a brief discussion about emigrating. Hubs started the process. He chose Perth as it was the fastest state to offer sponsorship. I'd just started my own business and it all seemed like a great idea. I guess, initially, with all the stuff that was going on, some could describe it as running away. Running my business was tough, as I went from being a devoted housewife and mum (hubs job meant I was fortunate to be a stay at home mum), to having to concentrate on marketing myself, making my product, consultations and such. So, id come home from work, do the school run, tend to the family, then start again marketing, invoicing, quotations. The marketing paid off as I got a lot of magazine exposure, but it did take it's toll on the family. I guess I was obsessed with success. I then won a national award, so yeah, that meant I was the best in the country. Visas came in and needed validating. My son 22 is at uni studying Geology and is after his masters (currently on the side of a mountain in Switzerland!) So, hubs had to get me and son on a plane. For me, my needs had changed. I didn't need 'anything' or a change. Great business, happy, going well and such. It was a job for hubs to find a slot to fit both my work commitments and sons uni commitments in, but in Jan this year we managed it. Our first ever trip to Australia. To say I didn't want to come home was an understatement. I mean, really! I had my visa, I could stay. But things needed tidying up Uk. We had a 5 year plan, but after 6 weeks that all changed and hubs flew out. I will be taking my business with me and he is a massive support with that. So, why the waffling? One thing I noticed is how detached I became from my family. Why is Perth good for me? Because I want to give my kids a better quality of life. Whether that's outdoor living, much needed family time. I still want to do my job, yes, but working from home (hopefully) will mean more quality time, being on hand for the family. It also gives my son a fantastic opportunity in the Geology field. My daughter wants WAAPA, desperately! (Western Australia academy of performing arts.) Perth is for me, its for my family, but more important, it's for all of us. The relaxed atmosphere has made me realize what is important in my life. Myself, my husband and my kids. I like the attitude to life. Say it as it is. Me 47 Hubs 42 Son 22 Daughter 16 Daughter 7

Good for you x