Just over a year....

[scooterdan]

Have been here just over a year now……and what i can i say…no plans to go back to UK at all!!!

 

 

The year has had tough times and good times (more good than tough though!!!) I know Steph found the first couple of months hard, mainly because i was already working, but once we got a few mates and Steph got her job things fell into place. I remember landing and it being raining, getting of the plane and thinking ‘no one told me it rained in Oz…….'wasn’t in the brochure’. We had the meet and greet and was taken to bedsit, which we rented for 3 months in Marino, sea views too….woohooo!! The location was great, and the place, just what we needed…..although we only stayed there for 2 months.

 

 

We moved to Oaklands Park, and are still and signed until July 2010. We live to close to work, shops (for steph!!), pubs (for me!!) and great transport links and only 5 min drive from Brighton, Seacliff and Glenelg. We bought nothing with us, and have furnished from scratch from various shops and people going home…we still haven’t finished but it’s home.

 

 

We have made some great friends in the year we have been here, never short of a bbq, beer, party or whatever invite…. Some of our friends here are irreplaceable now and hope friends for life. Meeting people has made it easier to get along….and just get out there and meet anyone!!

 

 

I am still in job as a screen printer at Rodney Robertson's and Steph is still in Foodland….we earn more here than the UK. I know it doesn't happen for many people but we are proof it does.

 

 

We still have to pay bills etc…..but i find it cheaper here to pay for electric, gas and water…..and i am by no means tight with the energy i use. My electric for 3 months in Jan – March was $170…and we had aircon, TV’s, Laptops and everything else going!!! The one thing i do think is more expensive is Car Rego…..but you get used to it. Food shopping…..i think is roughly the same, depending on eating habits…..i never used to eat ‘proper’ meat in the UK, here i do…. the range of prepacked and frozen junk isn’t there so you have to adapt….i am now a massive carnivore!!! Eating out is cheaper….Beer is more expensive (only downside!!..but look for the happy hours) They have tight arse Tuesday, which is great for the cinema and pizza!!! And personally i see nothing wrong with clothes here…..we have bought many clothes and don't mind them at all…..!!

 

 

As i said earlier about it raining when we arrived…. we also had good days of about 18 – 21degrees….which i thought was warm!!! All the aussies were in jeans, jackets etc!! After having days of 46 degrees in summer now 18 does feel cold!!! The summer we had was excellent….with good days by the beach – in the sea and body boarding - and nights watching sunsets, walking and having good times with mates. It is a lifestyle i could not have in the UK…..and can’t wait for summer to come again!! We visited many festivals, sporting events and just did whatever we could!!

 

 

Again, as i said there were some tough and sad times but the good out weigh them now!! As much as miss family and friends in the UK, for now my life is here….and there is so much more to see and do…..

 

 

I look forward to the next year……

[sue2oz]

Great post danny boy, glad its all worked out for you in your first year, that year has soooo gone quick i remember you leaving the uk! good luck to you and steph and hope you have many more happy years here;)

 

sue xxx

[HEAPS GOOD !!!]

Awesome post mate.....heres to the rest of your years here.....

[Guest Guest75]

Great post there Dan.

 

Long may your happy life here continue!!!!

[Guest jorose]

Good post and here's to next years salute

[Guest C&Z]

Fantastic post. Cheers.

Claire

[Guest Vicks&Stu]

Hey good post.

Know what you mean about the weather, roll on summer and body boarding!

I'm sure we'll see and Steph for a few beers soon

Vicks&Stu

[Rachiegarlo]

That's a feel good post, even made me feel good and hopeful and I've been here for years

[Liz and Kris UK]

Hi Mate

 

Great post, Liz and I have had a great times with you both on many occassions and you helped us out so much when we arrived (that will never be forgotten). Hope you continue to enjoy life here in Adelaide and I am sure we will have many more great times. You are both great people and friends.

 

Kris and Liz

[Guest Bodie]

Dan a great post mate, see you in a week or so for a beer or two.....honestly!

Bodie.

[Guest Bakers]

Lovely post great to hear about the ups as we've been here 7 months & have more downs but are plodding on & seeing a beautiful sunset at the end of the tunnel Tess

[Dawn&Andy]

ohh we landed that same rainy morning as you dan and steph and we too thought omg, glad to hear you both love it now, we do too:)

 

Heres to many more happy years eh

 

Dawn xx

[Guest Lulujim]

Nice uplifting post! It's done nothing BUT rain since we arrived 3 weeks ago - roll on those 40+ days!!

Am sure the next years will just get better and better for you both x

[Guest Dave & Carole]

Thanks for this really positive post - fills us with hope (& a hint of reality too!)

[Andrew from Vista Financial]

Hey ScooterDan

 

Great post, you were the first PIAers we met and through this have got to meet many more great people.

 

You are an advocate for the site and although we call you a serial socialiser, lol!!!. It's great that you and Steph still make the time and effort to arrange to meet newbies for a beer.

 

Congratulations on your first year and here's to many more.

 

 

Andy & Stacey

[Angela]

A happy, upbeat post Dan. Its definitely about lifestyle for us to. Congrats on your first year & heres to many more .

[Guest The Pottertons]

What a lovely post! Cant believe you've been there a year! So pleased all has come so good! You both definitely deserve it!!!!! Yvonne ana Mark xx:notworthy:

[Guest ben&sharon]

What a fantastic post. We're not there yet, and it's been so easy to take on board all of the negative things that you read on here whilst overlooking the positive; it's been a bit disheartening at times, to be frank.

 

However, we've always entered this with our eyes open, and fully expect the first year to be difficult - it's so nice to hear from someone that's got through it in one piece!!

 

Best wishes for all those future sunsets.....

[Guest kellyjamie]

what a fab uplifting post! i love reading these posts, they give me goosebumps! we just cant wait to be out there and typing the same post as yours dan, glad your both loving it, i have a glass of wine in my hand at present so im raising to you both and all those who have also made it work and are happy, heres to another happy year for you all! x

[Guest Andrew&Ren]

I was just mooching through all the posts on PIA (which i do every day now! lol) and i came across this one. Its a great post and really good for me as we are 3 weeks in and Andrew is out working whilst im home alone job hunting so i know how your OH must have felt in those early days. We also didnt bring any furniture and have started from scratch!!! Thank god for Ikea

 

We know its not all going to be easy...im confident ill get a job and meet people bt i also know itll be hard to get established.

 

The way i look at it is..it is hard moving over here but if it was easy everyone would do it!!!!!

 

Really looking forward to the knees up on the 20th to meet peeps xxxx

[Guest mOZzy]

hi dan of the scooters - and steph

so good to hear that you've settled in nicely - and even the downs are really expected!

glad everything seems to fall into place for you and i can't wait to finally meet up with guys again!!!!

 

don't party too much or there won't be anything left for us

[Guest allie]

what a great post! It is a relief to hear someone with such an overall positive experience of Adelaide We are moving out under similar circumstances (OH has a job lined up and i have nowt!) so it gave us a good idea of some of the things we can look forward to.

[Guest parko]

As we hoping to move to Adelaide end of year begining of next heard a lot of people saying could not get on or settle its good to hear some one is loving it.

Parko