5 weeks in...long one!

[Guest swampo]

Well we have been here 5 weeks now and although it has been strange at times we are starting to settle. Of course we still miss friends and family but the internet and webcams are a wonderful thing and make you still feel part of each otheres lives, and it's great to share experiences with them 'on the spot'.

 

The first couple of weeks were mad, lots to do; driving licences (almost $300 for 10 year licence!!!), medicare, medibank, banking - credit cards, debit cards etc. Then there is the buying of the basics if your container has not arrived. It is so busy you don't really have time to be homesick. Aquiring a car is important and that again is a costly item. Cars are more expensive her than in the UK, then you have to pay stamp duty, GST and rego on top of the price. But, you are here and have to pay it and try not to moan.

 

Internet connection is another pain, it is not as advanced here as in the UK and after being let down by Optus and Telstra we finally decided in frustration to go for the mobile wireless 'dongle' from 3, which works really well.

 

We were fortunate to aquire a rental before we arrived, if anyone is interested in living in the north east - Golden Grove, Greenwith, Modbury, Tea Trea Gully etc cannot recommend highly enough Jo Edwards from Ray White's, Golden Grove. She was brilliant, most agents don't even respond to your enquiries. If interested pm me and I will let you have ger contact details. Rentals are hard to come by and most agents want you to see the property before they will allow you to apply for it, makes it hard for you to arrange if you don't have friends willing to do this for you.

 

We have been fortunate with regards to making friends here. Martin & Val, from PIA, arrived 10 days after us and are living about 5 mins from us so we have had several very good nights chewing over the fat in the Golden Grove Tavern, thank's guys. Gra & Jac (PIA) have also proved to be good friends and very helpful with advice about buying BBQ's - great. As we were keen motorcyclists in the UK the OH quickly bought a replacement bike, mainly to get to work on. We have joined a bike group - Ulysses, who are not linked to the less desirable aspects of bike clubs. They have made us very welcome and allocated us a couple of 'mentors' to make us feel at home. We have been on a couple of events with them and are quickly making more friends amongst the ranks. People here are so very friendly compared to the UK, it is lovely, folks have time for you. Think what I am trying to say is that you have to be prepared to go out and find friends rather that wait for them to come to you.

 

Groceries are about the same price as in the UK but the meat is much better value, really good quality at a fraction of the cost in the UK. Vegetables are really good quality, as is the sea food, we are hooked on the seafood salad from Coles and Woollies. OK, they don't have Next, M&S, Matalan but they do have outlets which are as good- Target is like a slightly upmarket Matalan and there are plenty of other clothes shops to choose from and the fashoins are more or less the same as in the UK, I am not a lable chaser so have found plenty of reasonable clothes to choose from.

 

Jobs, not as easy to get work here as I thought it would be. Qualifications required for even basic jobs here are very different form the UK e.g. receptionist needs to do switchboard, invoicing, quoting, payroll, report writing, meeting planning etc. etc.. all for a rather poor salary. Think I will have to be a kept woman for a bit longer before I get something sorted. Advice; look on job websites before you get here to see what is available + the recession is hitting here as well as the UK so less jobs available.

 

House hunting is a hoot. Every Sat/Sun they list 'opens' in the Advertiser. No appointment needed to view just a military like approach to your schedule of viewings. Some houses are fab, others Doris Day would feel at home there as they havn't changed in decades! Plus, the purchasing process is very different form the UK - 4/5 weeks from start to finish.

 

Shipping, well that is another story. Our's was due to arrive 4th November, 3 weeks after aour arrival. It has been delayed so will now not be here until the 24th Nov!!! In the meantime we are existing on 2 sun loungers, a kettle, fridge/freezer and a bed. Feel like squatters. Perhaps that is a business idea - renting out stuff for new arrivals? Thanks to Maritn & Val for allowing us to use their washing machine, otherwise I think folks would be avoiding us by now!

 

Wondered what to do about Christmas, didn't want to be Billy no mates, so booked Christmas dinner on the Dolphin Princesdown at Port Adelaide. $50 per person for 3 hour cruise and 3 course Christmas dinner - bargain.

 

Regrets??? None at the moment, apart from pate is expensive. I am sure we will have our down days but with the help and support of the excellent friends we have made so far things will only get better. Think positive thoughts and positive things will happen to you.

 

W

[HEAPS GOOD !!!]

Awesome post...............glad your settling in nicely...........

[Guest cazzie]

Great to hear that you are settling in so well and now the weather is beautiful too. Hope to see you at the meet on Saturday. Thanks for sharing your experiences so far.

[ozzieclare2be]

great post, glad to hear your both settling in well. Nice to see you have the all essential bbq already :biglaugh:im sure it will get lots more use than your uk one, its certainly a scorcher today. You will feel like christmas has come early when your stuff arrives i know i did

[Guest Vicks&Stu]

Hi

 

Great post. Those first two weeks probably seem like a bit of a blur!

We were the same as you waiting for our stuff to arrive - we had 10 weeks without furniture - but my god when it arrives, it's like Christmas!!

 

Vicks&Stu

[Guest mOZzy]

what a great post!! loved it

shame about the overdue shippers but hopefully more people will come to the rescue to get you over the bare times!!!

 

fingers crossed on the job front too!!!

[Guest massive]

great post we've been here about 7 know what you mean about telstra 5 weeks for internet connection but its been worth the wait . Our furniture has arrived 3rd november but still with customs could take upto 15day they say our little boy loves playing with boxes now

hope to see you Sunday

Debbie

[scooterdan]

Hey,

 

Great to see you settling well....!! Some things are diff in good and bad ways but glad you enjoying!

 

See ya soon!

 

Dan a

[delbart]

Can I just say what a great post. So informative, we arrive next March and it is good to read informative posts about other peoples experiences. I was really interested about the seafood salad, I love seafood so will be checking those out as soon as I arrive (could eat that every day and not get fed up with it!). I have heard the clothes shops are not great in Adelaide so relieved to hear that the clothes shops are ok, I like to buy clothes but like you not into labels so will hopefully be ok in Target.

 

Good luck with the job hunting, sure you will find something soon.

 

Jan

[Guest Justme]

Hi Swampo,

 

Hope you dont mind me asking - when you say about jobs - what kind of work do you do? Admin I presume? I work in admin, alot of experience in dealing with the public, PA to a solicitor for 10 years, now work for local government in education department. I am hoping to get a job, within a reasonable amount of time to help us get our feet on the ground as we have no work to come out too. My husband is a roofer, but has also worked in heavy industry. What does your husband do - did he have work to come out to? My husband isnt bothered what he does, he will carry on his trade as soon as he is able to get work or start up on his own, but we will need a wage to carry us through for a while. Look forward to hearing from you soon. Happy New Year. Good Luck.

[Guest Lulujim]

Great post - informative and happy :jiggy:Hope the next few weeks go as well if not better for you!