Leyland CJ

This is by far, the most important bit. http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/national/as-election-sausage-sizzles-go-upmarket-online-map-helps-you-track-down-the-best-spot-for-a-snag/story-fnii5v6u-1226711428975 Where to eat while voting....or, "where to vote while eating"

I hate to revive an old thread, but I just want to say that I too had Peter from Beachside Paving and Landscaping (aka Red Dog Paving and Landscaping ?) this week, who just paved 125m square at the back and it looks GORGEOUS. Everything as I asked, and I was exceptionally happy with the quality of the work. His guys arrived on time every day, didn't slack off and worked extremely hard. Thanks to them, I am one very happy little English Bulldog I would have them back to do my driveway with no hesitation (which does need doing) and the price was very well worth it for the work I had done.

I hear that, JimJustin and could not have said it better myself. What you write is absolutely on the money...it's like one of my "old timer miner" friends says - "people outside of SA just don't actually realise what is going on here, they don't understand the ground" (and by that he is referring to those that he terms as the "suits", "they've never gotten their shoes dirty in their life" in the other places like ACT, NSW and VIC). He's not one to 'talk up' the industry or SA, he just tells it as he sees it - and believe me, he's seen a bit of digging and he's seen people come and go, so I wouldn't be betting against him !

I am in a "related" industry and so I have an understanding of it...what my personal belief, is that the project will go ahead "in some form", just maybe not the "original Grand Plan", and certainly not the "Grand Plan" right now. What many people (esp. outside of SA) do not realise is that there was a projected FIVE YEARS worth of 'digging' before they got to the orebody...i.e. all that time before you see a dollar from the Grand Plan, and all that dirt has got to go somewhere, plus all that diesel and all the other related costs. It's not just that, it's all the other things that it would consume in SA and Australia wide - trucks, cement, tyres, oil, diesel, labour, food, steel etc. for such a huge project. One of the questions is "how do we supply so much of X to it ?", where, if you think of X as being any of the aforementioned (amongst other things). It is not just something you can turn a switch on and off for; once you start, you have to keep going, otherwise you run into huge cost overruns as other project milestones are kept waiting. With the global situation as it is, perhaps some of these questions of supply were not easily answerable. Perhaps some of the required infrastructure ISN'T in place, and you can guarantee that there isn't "just one person" who is willing to pay for everything (on either side of the deal). A lot can happen in that time between 'start', 'dig' and 'finally get to the ore', especially wrt commodity prices (which can be anyone's guess at the best of times)...if the commodity price bottoms out, the economics of even a great mining project can be thrown completely out of whack. The "dirt game" is not easy, it is very high risk at the best of times. AndyLynnChrisKirst is absolutely right. Things here (in Australia, in SA) are a lot better than in some places right now. And Rosy is right. I personally thought it WAS the Aussie way that when you fell off the horse, you got up, patted yourself down and got on with it, it's the Boxing Kangaroo spirit - the traditional 'have a go, battler' attitude that I associate with the best bits of this country.

That's exactly what I said to my missus - they never had anything like that at the airport when I landed ! I could have sworn though, that I have seen bits of this rehashed from somewhere else....I distinctly remember seeing the Leo Sayer bit previously, although I could be wrong (but I wouldn't put it past anyone. Mediawatch on the ABC has opened my eyes). Got to agree WizzyWozza, there is something ethically wrong about what they did re: Citizenship. I say "If you aren't prepared to stay here, then do everyone a favour and don't take out a passport" because it is an empty gesture. It's not like your "original" passport, where, if you really HAD to go home because it had all fallen down here and/or your citizenship got revoked for whatever reason, then fair enough, but are they really likely to come back for "one more try" ? I don't think so. You give it a go and you give it your all, or you don't bother. If you fail, fair enough, but don't be a fence-sitter. I hate to say it, but I think that some people coming here are probably a bit spoiled and did so "half heartedly" - some of us didn't (and don't) have the luxury of considering "going back home". When I came here, it was all or nothing - I staked everything I had (which was not a lot) on coming here and it was a battle to stay and a battle to survive in the early years. Now that I am here and have a house, have Citizenship and a family on the way, it is down to ME to make it work. All this talk about "oh, it's too expensive" - no, you cut your cloth accordingly, and if you can't get something, you work harder and you save or find a way to earn what you want. The 1/4 acre block with a pool, verandah, deck, nice car etc. is earned over time. I came here and spent the first five years on a temporary visa. I spent the first ten years in rental accommodation because my income wasn't enough to get a house. In short, I worked blooming hard to get where I am and I still don't have the above - but one day, I will, and it will be worth every cent. All this talk of "no one ever accepted us as being Aussies" - I say, "have you really tried ? Have you joined community groups like Lions or Rotary, and actually given back to the country as a volunteer, and tried to integrate ?" I have, which I believe gives me just as much, if not more right, to proudly call myself Australian, because by God, I have earned it. That's the line I take when anyone dares tell me "You're not Australian because you weren't born here". The joke is, I am more "Aussie" than some people I know, because I was told the Australian Way is "helping your mate out when he's in trouble" and "you give back to the community". PIA Forums are one way that I do that, another is that I volunteer on NFP boards. One Christmas I was even handing out breakfast to the homeless...guys who I had never met before. For some migrants, when they landed in Australia, they openly cried, just because "they had made it". Where they came from was much worse, and I personally know African refugees who would NEVER ever consider going home, because they say "We feel safe here, we can go to church and no one will kill you. We have plenty of food to eat and clean water to drink. The Police are not connected to the Army, and you can disagree with the Prime Minister without fear of being arrested or tortured". I guess that last sentiment sums it up perfectly.

The Facebook page has attracted a lot of comments already ! http://www.facebook.com/7sundaynight

http://au.news.yahoo.com/sunday-night/features/article/-/14207625/ping-pong-poms/ The Media at it's best (!). Personally, I thought it was a load of toot, but what I will say is this - Corporate Australia has a bad habit of not recognising people's overseas experience and rewarding accordingly, from either migrants or Aussies. There are some Aussies who have been overseas (e.g. chefs), come back and the attitude has been "yes, that's really nice, but what exactly did you do when you were over there ?" because it's not "visible". They said "I might as well have stayed at home, done the same work here and the same years, instead of trying to bust my gut to get ahead - because it counted for nothing, and if I had stayed here, I would have been promoted faster". Got to agree, that was very much the attitude I got both times from UK and Aus when I was trying to get a job - when I came 1) back from continental Europe to UK and then 2) migrated to Australia from UK.

First of all, no one can tell you what to do with your money. That's financial advice, and we can't give it unless licensed. I am going to be boring and say "Go to the library and read everything you can" on the subject, because some books are good, some are lousy. I would start with anything by Paul Clitheroe or Noel Whittaker. Go and have a look at the magazines like Australian Property Investor in the library as well. Your taxes pay for them, so you might as well use it ! Personally, I know of TAFE Sharemarket and Property Investing Courses that are run in Currie Street and the person who runs the property one certainly knows his stuff. Neither is cheap, but they are unbiased, independent and more importantly, they won't try to sell you anything or sign anything. Seminars may be all very well and good, but they are only a PART of your education, you cannot just go along and then "boom, you're an expert", otherwise everyone would be doing it. If someone offers you "the secret" or a "foolproof" way to make money, ask yourself why ? Why would they not keep "the secret of how to make money" to themselves ? In short, there are NO short cuts, and despite what some books you read may tell you. Ten years ago, any old yoyo could make money by buying a property in Australia, hold it and do nothing except maybe slap some paint on it. Ten years ago, you could have bought literally anything in the sharemarket from 2004 and watched it go up, but those days have gone. You have to be a lot smarter in these economic times. Anyone who does try to pressure you to do anything, go anywhere to look at properties in a market you're not familiar with, offers a one-stop shop with everything done "in house" when they are on the selling side of the deal, you may just want to run very quickly in the opposite direction. Educate yourself. It's a lot cheaper than making big mistakes.

It looks like I was beaten to the punch http://www.pommyporkpies.com.au/ I had a nice talk to Kim (lovely lady) at the stall. They were at the Wayville Showgrounds Farmer's Market (on every Sunday when there's not a major event) - http://www.asfm.org.au/244.html - and I tried one of them this last weekend gone (June long weekend). Beautiful, melt in the mouth. I had a good talk to the lady at the counter and they also do other pies (to order - just ask) and delicacies including F*ggots (which are apparently a Welsh / WestCountry delicacy) for those not quite in the know (I like mine with peas, tomatao sauce, chips and gravy - and a good butty). I was so happy that I bought a Pork Pie to take home and it was great; shared it with my Geordie neighbour, who is somewhat of a connoisseur Everyone, we should get behind expats (esp. UK expats) who have opened businesses here, it takes a lot of guts and hard work to come here, even more to open a business. The more we support our own expat community - especially through sites like this - the stronger and better our wider Australian community also becomes. That is exactly what the Greeks and the Italians did when they came here, they backed each other and supported each other.

Mods, sorry to revive an old thread - merge if necessary. I found something good today, I just had to share. http://www.pommyporkpies.com.au/ They were at the Wayville Showgrounds Farmer's Market (on every Sunday when there's not a major event) - http://www.asfm.org.au/244.html - and I tried one of them. Beautiful, melt in the mouth. I had a good talk to the lady at the counter and they also do other pies (to order) and delicacies including F*ggots (which are ). I was so happy that I bought a Pork Pie to take home and it was great; shared it with my neighbour, who is somewhat of a connoisseur

Hi Terry, Probably the easiest way (and the direct way you've been employing) is to try direct with the 'picks and shovels' suppliers themselves (mentioned above). I would also go to their website, not just the 'mine operators'. Many times, a site (or just the operation) can be that big, with so many people doing their own little things (just like a construction site), that people do not talk to each other about who or what is needed. Throw in the fact that one half of the workers can be offsite on leave at any one time and communication / "go-ahead" for things can lag greatly. (that's why, during the overlap, when everyone is on site and changeover is happening, it is absolutely mad because people are trying to talk face to face about what they need to do or hand over !) However, as I said, work out what you want to do - do you want to drive a truck ? Then ask for that. Do you want to be on the 'drill and blast' (charge crew) ? Then ask for that. Sounds funny, but sometimes, you have to 'do the thinking for them' because sometimes, they don't know what or who they want and you have to tell them - "You need drivers, I can do it, give me a go". As you read, some of them are pretty bad at talking to each other internally. The lowest jobs are usually the ones like the "crew hands" (throw in prefixes like "drill and blast", "maintenance", "plant" and you'll get into the various areas, especially if you talk to the prefix-"manager" or prefix-"superintendent"), where you will literally "pick stuff up so that the truck doesn't run over it and burst a tyre" - mind numbing but still very important. Even if they don't (think they) need anyone, ask nicely if you can talk to their top (wo)man at whichever operation over the phone - he or she will call the shots as to who is needed there or might know of someone who is looking for people. You will probably achieve more if you can do this "asking" bit in person or over the phone, because a letter or email could / can / does usually go anywhere except where you want it to. (Yes, I will admit...women make for VERY good operators on the minesites and I respect them a lot, especially as vehicle / plant operators because they don't feel the macho need to thrash the guts out of their rig, so treating it nicely and imposing less maintenance on them ) I wouldn't discount your trades - you can at least show that you can learn and have transferable skills. Some of those who have worked on the mines (in their various stages, e.g. commissioning, first dig, processing etc.) were completely "unskilled" (no quals past high school, no trade) because the mine just needed labour and they were locals from the nearest country town (we are talking up to 100km away). It's not 'bad' to have 'no idea' of what you want to do, but it would help them and you immensely if you went and said "I know you have the contract for this minesite here, do you have any vacancies on the charge crew or for truck drivers ?". It will help your 'staying power' because you have a reason WHY you are doing it and what for. I have seen many people leave six months into a site, citing "I'm bored", when really, they had no higher sense of purpose as to why they are doing it. Even if that is because "I want to save $300,000 for my kids education", "I want to pay my house off" or because you want to prove to yourself you can do it for a 2 year stint, that's a reason. I know of guys who drive the trucks and while waiting to get loaded, have photos of their kids, family or of their house in their cab or their locker, to remind themselves of why they are doing it tough, in 45c heat in the pit, the flies and the dust. Again, an hour or two spent poring over the companies and what they actually do in terms of 'supplying the picks and shovels' will help immensely in talking their language. You wouldn't go to Spotless and ask to speak to the Drill and Blast superintendent, likewise you wouldn't go to MacMahons or Thiess and ask if they needed anyone in the Wet Mess.

Hey, I was only saying....messenger, shoot, don't... ? The place where I got mine was a certain SA franchise with a yellow and black colour scheme (not to be too obvious), but wherever you can get it at whatever price - and hopefully they are all standard fittings. Each to their own as to wherever is easier, cheaper or closer for them.

Two things - might not need a plumber if there are taps there already (if not, then you will and the plumber to "chase" the pipe). Not meaning to be patronising, but if there are taps, just screw the supplied washing machine hoses (or buy a pair from an electrical place) onto the taps and turn on (after the next bit). The ribbed hose goes into the outlet (drain), meaning that you can put it straight into the dolly tub next to it or wherever else it goes, e.g. drain in the floor. It should be o.k. then to go. Try it first with a short rinse cycle so that you know it works. The other thing is that with it being a rental place, surely the landlord's responsibility to make sure that you have this; if not, get them to order the plumber, or if YOU have to, get receipts and request that they reimburse you for it (100%). It is an expected thing to be able to wash your clothes, not like saying "hey, we want a new veranda, put it up" and something way out of the ordinary. Check http://pubreg.ocba.sa.gov.au/pubreg/pubreg_jsp/index.html to see that they are licensed as well...if not, DO NOT use them. This register is gold. pm me (private message) for a plumber (which is not me ) - very good, over 25yrs experience and fair charges, NE suburbs and could probably do West Lakes.