Beachcomber4 Posted July 19, 2017 Report Share Posted July 19, 2017 Well after all the months of prep, applying for the visa and selling our house, we have finally landed in Perth to start a new life. We landed just over a week ago, and it's all feeling a bit surreal at the mo. We are staying in Lakelands, south of Perth, near to Mandurah at the mo and it seems a nice place to live. In the past week we've managed to set up bank accounts and Medicare and are now trying to sort out a high school for our 14 yr old daughter. When people in Perth told us it rains heavy here, they weren't wrong! It's absolutely chucked it down everyday since we arrived. However, we've also experienced some sunny days and if this is their winter then we will easily go along with it! ? Just waiting for our shipping boxes to arrive now, so we feel a little more 'at home'. Anybody else here local to us? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jen78 Posted July 19, 2017 Report Share Posted July 19, 2017 Welcome to Perth! Yes, heaviest rain I've ever experienced but I'd take this kind of winter every year no problem! It'll soon be spring though and we're really looking forward to that. Your own belongings will really help you settle in. Its like Christmas again! We are in Willetton so a bit further north and also have a 14 year old daughter. She settled into school and made friends really quickly, hope its the same for your daughter. I'm not working at the moment so can meet up when you're a bit more settled if you like? I know it will all feel surreal for a while, it still does for us, only been 6 months, but just go with it and enjoy the ride! Jen x 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
qprdan123 Posted July 20, 2017 Report Share Posted July 20, 2017 23 hours ago, Beachcomber4 said:ived. We move to Secret Harbour in the second week of August, will have to catch-up for a coffee, we are sending our 16 year old to Comet Bay College and our 5 year old to secret Harbour primary... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beachcomber4 Posted July 21, 2017 Author Report Share Posted July 21, 2017 Hello to both of you. ? A meet up would be great. We haven't got jobs as yet, so just enjoying mooching around, exploring the place before the normal routine sets in. @qprdan123 our daughter is looking at comet bay college or Mandurah Baptist. Can't get to look around the school until the 1st August as that's when they are doing their tour. Think she already has her heart set on Comet Bay though. My daughter will kill me for saying she's 14 when she is infact 15! I'm losing track of time obviously ? @Jen78 Think your about 45 mins away from me. I see you're not too far from Fremantle. We popped up there last week, quite liking the brewery place on the front. Can't wait for the weather to warm up so we can go and enjoy the beaches a bit more. I am 36, my partners 40. What about yourselves? Xx 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jen78 Posted July 21, 2017 Report Share Posted July 21, 2017 Hi, I'm 39 and hubby 41, we also have an 11 yr old daughter. We love Fremantle, the markets, shops and bathers beach are all fab. Its only 1/2 hour drive for me on a straight road, so makes it an easy trip! Pm me if you fancy a coffee when ever you're ready, can meet in Fremantle if easy to get to for you? Enjoy your exploring, we had 3 months together before hubby started work which was lovely. It's nice to get into to a routine though and feel like you've really started a new life. Xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beachcomber4 Posted July 21, 2017 Author Report Share Posted July 21, 2017 Just realised I've spoken to you before, on another post a few months back. It's weird to think a few months back I was thinking are we ever going to get there, and now here we are! I'm not driving at the moment. I only passed one week before leaving the uk,so just trying to sort out my driving license over here at the moment. Unfortunately I didn't get my full uk license before I left as it was going to take the DVLA 3 weeks. They require lots of i.d here, so I'm having to wait for it all to arrive. At the moment I'm being chauffeured around by the other half, though I'm sure he prefers it this way ? As soon as I'm sorted, I'm sure I'll be able to make it to Fremantle for a coffee. My other half is a Civil Engineer/QS so he's just started looking for work. Hopefully he will get lucky sooner rather than later, as things seem expensive here when your constantly converting everything back into Uk £. Xx 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HarryStyles Posted July 22, 2017 Report Share Posted July 22, 2017 I should have been there by now but my youngest cherub came down with chickenpox 4 days before we were due to fly so we are now looking at the first week in August and it cant come soon enough. Scottish summers suck!!! 14C very wet and windy today so a Perth winter seems manageable. In the last week we have purchased some hot water bottles and big fleece throws to snuggle into at nights. Even noticed some winter ranges in the shops today so big fluffy slipper boots all round were purchased. any other suggestions to help us get through the cold winter nights? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beachcomber4 Posted July 23, 2017 Author Report Share Posted July 23, 2017 @HarryStyles Oh no! Sorry to hear that, hope your youngest is feeling better soon. Same thing happened with our daughter years back, 2 days before we were due to fly out on our hols to Florida. Had to cancel and rebook for two weeks later, so I can sympathise. Where are you looking to base yourselves when you come over? Not much advice I can give you other than don't just bring flip flops and shorts! ? The nights do get chilly here, first thing I did was pop to Kmart to grab slippers. It's been getting up to 18-19.c during the day, but it rains a lot at the mo, so you'll need a jacket/Mac etc. Umbrellas do not stay up in the wind we've had here! All the best for your move over xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jen78 Posted July 23, 2017 Report Share Posted July 23, 2017 12 hours ago, HarryStyles said: I should have been there by now but my youngest cherub came down with chickenpox 4 days before we were due to fly so we are now looking at the first week in August and it cant come soon enough. Scottish summers suck!!! 14C very wet and windy today so a Perth winter seems manageable. In the last week we have purchased some hot water bottles and big fleece throws to snuggle into at nights. Even noticed some winter ranges in the shops today so big fluffy slipper boots all round were purchased. any other suggestions to help us get through the cold winter nights? Hi, we haven't got anything more than fleece throws, woolly socks and slippers and dressing gowns. I've got a hot water bottle but only used it twice a few weeks ago. We're not finding the nights too bad. You will need jumpers / hoodies etc as the houses can feel quite cool even if its warm outside. Winter is more like a wet UK spring really. Can't complain! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HarryStyles Posted July 23, 2017 Report Share Posted July 23, 2017 Coming from Scotland it should be a walk in the park for us. I don't think I even have any flip flops in suitcases, sure they went in the container as i didn't think i would need them. Beginning to wonder if i should have packed wellies! We will be NOR as family up that way. will be looking to secure a rental around Mindarie/Quinns/Clarkson areas and hopefully fairly quickly one so long you can live with family. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jen78 Posted July 27, 2017 Report Share Posted July 27, 2017 Shouldn't be too difficult, we found one in two weeks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vic Posted July 28, 2017 Report Share Posted July 28, 2017 Hi Jen Emigrated from the UK six year ago and lived in Willetton. Enjoy the wet weather while it lasts if you need any help with anything shout up, Vic. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jen78 Posted July 28, 2017 Report Share Posted July 28, 2017 5 minutes ago, Vic said: Hi Jen Emigrated from the UK six year ago and lived in Willetton. Enjoy the wet weather while it lasts if you need any help with anything shout up, Vic. Hi Vic, whereabouts are you living now? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vic Posted July 29, 2017 Report Share Posted July 29, 2017 Hi Jen I live in Willetton 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moss2oz Posted July 29, 2017 Report Share Posted July 29, 2017 Hi, I was living in Willetton but recently bought in Canning Vale. My son goes to Willetton SHS and is 14 (Y9) so they may know each other @Jen78. Been here three years coming up. Great area and location, I would have stayed in Willetton but couldn't afford to buy. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jen78 Posted July 29, 2017 Report Share Posted July 29, 2017 2 hours ago, Vic said: Hi Jen I live in Willetton Ooh, fancy meeting up for a coffee/ drink sometime? Pm me if interested x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jen78 Posted July 29, 2017 Report Share Posted July 29, 2017 1 hour ago, moss2oz said: Hi, I was living in Willetton but recently bought in Canning Vale. My son goes to Willetton SHS and is 14 (Y9) so they may know each other @Jen78. Been here three years coming up. Great area and location, I would have stayed in Willetton but couldn't afford to buy. Hi, yes, we were considering buying in Canning Vale in a few years maybe. How weird that our children might know each other, will pm you. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vic Posted August 3, 2017 Report Share Posted August 3, 2017 Hi Jen Yes sure will be in touch Vic x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JaseandAnne Posted August 12, 2017 Report Share Posted August 12, 2017 Hi Beachcomber, we live in Baldivis but have just bought a house in Golden Bay not far from Lakelands. We wanted to be closer to Mandurah because we love it there! Ive been doing a bit of research because I have two 15 year old girls in the UK who want to now come over after saying they wanted to finish their education in the UK!! We've been here nearly 17 months. Now, I know two people from UK who have got there teenagers at Comet Bay and they say that their children dont have any problems there but they then go onto say "well there are some trouble kids but you get Feral kids everywhere" this I agree with but it has put me off it. I hope that someone comes along on here and give their opinions good and bad so you (and I) can make a balanced view. Mandurah Baptist ($6500 a year) Fred Irwin ($7500 a year) are supposed to be fab schools and I particularly liked Mandurah Baptist but sadly with two of them and also two small children I could not afford either of these. Mandurah Catholic College is worth a look, fees are $3500 and it was top of exam league tables last year. All of these have space as I asked only last week. Comet Bay is obviously a state school so free. Id be interested in findings? Jase Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
qprdan123 Posted August 20, 2017 Report Share Posted August 20, 2017 We arrived a week ago and our 12 and 16 year olds start at Comet Bay college this week, I went to the interviews and was actually quite impressed by the staffs attitude. I will let you know after a few weeks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beachcomber4 Posted August 22, 2017 Author Report Share Posted August 22, 2017 @JaseandAnne Hi, yes Golden Bay isn't far from us, we popped there to look at the show homes the other day (good way to kill time on a rainy day!) We've had our meeting at Comet Bay, got our meeting at Mandurah Baptist this morning. Once that's done our daughter will decide where she wants to go. We've been here 5 weeks now, and feeling more settled, though I'll be glad when our daughters made some new friends. Think she's starting to miss her friends back home now, especially the socialising aspect. I too have heard good and bad about Comet Bay, though I feel if your children want to do well in school they will regardless. It can't be any worse than the school my daughter left in the U.K! ? When do your girls move over? @qprdan123 Hi, How are you finding secret harbour? We have family there, who love it. What year will your daughter be going into? Year 11? I see in another post you are from Kent, where abouts? We are from Kent too! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
qprdan123 Posted August 22, 2017 Report Share Posted August 22, 2017 14 hours ago, Beachcomber4 said: @qprdan123 Hi, How are you finding secret harbour? We have family there, who love it. What year will your daughter be going into? Year 11? I see in another post you are from Kent, where abouts? We are from Kent too! Yes we are, we lived in Ashford, I have a girl finishing off year 10 and a boy finishing off year 7. The feedback from day 1 was, wasn't too bad, the kids didn't seem very smart and the teachers were really friendly and welcoming and that a lot of kids were English or Kiwi... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beachcomber4 Posted August 23, 2017 Author Report Share Posted August 23, 2017 @qprdan123 Ah not too far from us we are from Rochester. My other half worked in Ashford for a while, so we popped into the Outlets quite a bit for a coffee. Sounds like your daughter did ok on her first day. We had our meeting at Mandurah yesterday and after months of 'I'm not going there, I want to go to comet bay", our daughter has decided she now wants to go to Mandurah baptist. Going to cost a fortune, but she's only got a few months left of year 10, and hopefully we will have found work by the time she starts year 11! What line of work are you in? If you both fancy meeting up at some point with us (weather seems to have improved!) send me a pm ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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