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.

Well, just be glad that here in Australia, they haven't introduced the pastie tax. Yet. No, it is not an April Fool. I kid you not. I read it in the AFR today. "Barely a week after the Chancellor decided to slap VAT on baked goods sold as hot takeaway food, including pies and Cornish pasties, Mr Whelan has sold his Wigan-based Pooles Pies for £5m." http://afr.com/p/world/angry_brits_find_pastie_tax_unsavoury_ULGpriRoErFNbildtfYCtL http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/retailandconsumer/9177363/Pasty-tax-JJB-Sports-founder-Dave-Whelan-sells-Pooles-Pies-for-5m.html http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/money/4230689/Flying-start-for-Save-Our-Savouries-petition.html (very tasty) (eeeeh, Greggs...right good wi' Greenhalghs and Parkies of Leyland too mate )

Try the local 'big box' hardware store (with a B) and ask REALLY nicely, especially if you have just bought something. They have free boxes and shouldn't grumble too much...failing that, the supermarkets or liquor stores always worked for me for boxes. Hey, I know it's not 'double rib, heavy two row staples', but it's better than nothing !

Terry, As someone who works in the field, it depends what you want to do. There are a load of jobs there, and the industry has a very 'transient' feel to it. People are not there very long at particular operations, it can and has a high turnover rate. You have jobs ranging from the general "shot crew, haulage truck drivers etc." to shotfirers, managers on all different parts of the operation (e.g. concentrator plant operator), to 'contractors' such as Thiess, Byrnecut, MacMahon, Exact Mining, Leightons, Leed, Sodexo etc. who provide all the other 'services', or as we call it, 'picks and shovels'. There is no way that say, BHP want to do all that stuff by themselves, hence, they sub-contract. Find out which mines are operating and take a look at the company websites - http://outernode.pir.sa.gov.au/minerals/mines__and__developing_projects/approved_mines e.g. BHP own the mine. One lot will come and do the underground work. One lot will supply the cooking facilities. One lot will do the site security, one lot will do the drilling, one lot will do the maintenance work. I can tell you that if you have your 'tickets' (e.g. backhoe, dozer, ripper etc.) and if that is what you want to do (operate that machinery), it is a damn sight easier to get work, because many employers are sceptical you'll just get your tickets and then disappear. Offer them a proposal based on "I work for you for 1-2 years, have the option to go permanent afterwards, can't leave before then". See how they field that. If you have other tickets, e.g. welder, fitter, truck (HGV) operator, Electrician, other trades etc. make this clear. So, what do you want to do ? Even if you can't get it at the start, be content to take the not so glamorous jobs on the pit crew, blast crew (picking stuff up and the other donkey work), driving trucks (round and round ) and progress upwards. Half of winning the game is 'staying' and building reputation and respect at an operation. There are also 'good' operations (which run well and have good facilities) and 'not so good' ones (which get a reputation as being bad places to work because of the conditions or just who runs the place). Unfortunately, I am not at liberty to say which are which, but you get an idea very quickly, and if you don't like it, the beauty is, you can always move. Check their websites, because that really is where a lot of the jobs are offered. With the industry being fluid, "contacts" move on, so there are, but not many, "secret jobs that are word of mouth", because if you have a mate there as the drill and blast supervisor, whispers "I can get you a job", six months later he can move on and then the new supervisor doesn't know you from a bar of soap (or the company are looking for a new D+B supervisor and there isn't one, so they have to advertise). Labour hire companies (check seek.com.au and careerone.com.au) may well have jobs available, working on behalf of the client (as above). I do know of people who have limited to no experience, and yet, still work there. You have to be a bit flexible (as I gather you are), keen (again), you just need someone to give you a chance, and if you can put in a good solid block of work on it, it will stand you in good stead. Even 2 years will look good, because it is a tough, hard industry at the best of times and you have to have guts to work in it. If you are a young, single lad with no ties, it is a really good way to make a lot of money, set yourself up for life (as long as you don't blow it all, like many of them do on holidays to Bali, booze and brand new utes etc. on their weeks off). It is not easy, you will work hard for your money on 12hr shifts, plus weekends, in the heat and dust and it can be dangerous work, so do not be under any illusions...but you will learn a lot and grow immensely. Best of luck mate !

Maybe a complete stab in the dark, but have you talked to the Motor Trades Association ? (MTA). I work in a 'related field' and we have often had to refer people to them to get recognition of their qualifications as Autogas fitters, so that they can fit LPG tanks into cars. Also, have you tried OCBA, as these are the people who licence some of the trades, so they might know as well. http://www.ocba.sa.gov.au/licensing/ and http://www.mta-sa.asn.au/wcm/ I am just approaching it from the angle that this is the kind of question they get asked all the time, when people come in from interstate with interstate licences and need them converting to SA licences under the MOU; hence, there may well be migrants who ask how to get their ROPL (recognition of prior learning) and experience (or licences) recognised here as well. As a further angle, if you also ask around some of the "Transport Training Providers" (who do the training to get actual HGV licences, and I know that's not what you're after), but being in the industry, they may know who to talk to, to get "mutual recognition" of licences, it is a fairly common occurence. Where there's a truck depot, there's got to be someone to fix it. Just an idea. There are also 'registered assessors' who are the people appointed to 'pass out as competent' those people who have trades or 'tickets' such as dozers, backhoe etc., so the principle should be the same, there has to be a registered assessor somewhere who can tick the box and say "yes, you're competent as XYZ". I find it very difficult to believe that "any one statutory body" (and the sharper ones will read between the lines there ) can possibly know 'everything' about the list of trades and professions they have on their (voluminous) list which people get referred to, to deem someone as competent, let alone the sheer size of the job.

(or a JP, try your local council building). You can also usually use a bank manager, public servant with 5 years service, police officer, magistrate, sheriff (try the local courts for these last two), Australia Post Manager etc. to certify documents. Just get their stamp on it and their name, e.g. Holden Hill Station Stamp, Sgt. Bloggs, Badge Number 123456. Best to get copies of everything done all at the one time, save you repeating it.

Don't know if I brought this to anyone's attention previously, in case you are after some UK foods - produced right here in Australia. http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2004/08/02/1091412047049.html I heard about it on SBS Food Safari a bit ago, check out the Pork Pies and Rob's Butcher segments. http://www.sbs.com.au/food/foodsafaricuisine/index/cp/376/section/businesses/n/English http://www.robsukproduce.com.au/ (he does mail order) and yes, I have found Lancashire Cheese at the Central Market ! (Smelly Cheese Shop) EDIT: Just found this - http://www.britzinoz.com/info/ukfood.htm after googling the term "uk butchers adelaide", and there's a thread here called "pommie butcher"...somewhere !

Also remember to say, and ask for the magic words - "Recognition of Prior Learning" (ROPL), i.e. "What do I have to do to get ROPL from you as the "registered training organisation (RTO) ?" (for them to recognise what you previously learned). Got nothing to lose.

AdelaideBound...that's the whole point, which is why I don't watch these shows like X-Factor and "Got Talent" (whatever TOWIE is ?! You'll have to entertain my lack of knowledge). Australia is very similar (take a look at the amount of 'celebrity / sportsperson worship' in the mass media for both genders), and the water cooler / lunchroom talk that goes on (at least at my workplace) among the Aussies that "XYZ was voted off show PQR last night...their feature room on that Reno show didn't win and it was so much better" and they take it SO seriously, like it is an affront ! Example - I have been outside tending to the garden some nights, and from across the road, huge cheers or boos from the lounge opposite...I came inside and flipped the channels over because I had my suspicions....it was "X-Factor". To me, a lot of it is "manufactured", "saccharin" or just "junk food entertainment" (bread and circuses) and it just doesn't appeal to me. Popular music is the same, so many good bands who never get a chance (like the documentary on the metal band "Anvil") because they "were too old" or didn't play the music that "people wanted to hear"...no, the music the producers wanted to GIVE them and make the most money from as quickly as possible (before they faded away), because it had the widest appeal and hence highest "return on investment". Will the winners of these shows or their music still be around in 20 years like Status Quo, Lionel Ritchie, Rod Stewart, Sir Elton or Bryan May ? I don't think so. I watch SBS history docos instead, my Grandad used to say to me "you might learn something !") - but try telling friends, family or the average person back home (who WANT to think such junk TV has a degree of believability and that their constant SMS voting really does sway the polls as much as they think - illusion of control) and you are fighting a losing argument with them, much the same way as many Aussies staunchly think British people from either end of the country "drink warm beer" (hello to a certain beer commercial on the radio). Like politics, many such shows are a popularity contest. They have already closed their minds to any rational discussion. The same family / friends who believe this tripe are the same ones who haven't even been here to visit me (despite offers of free accommodation) and think that a journey from Manchester to Birmingham is "a long way" (anchoring bias)....wait till you get on the plane then ! You cannot really blame them for thinking like this when the sources of where they get their information from - on which they form their views - perhaps lack credibility (by your own admission) or at best, present one side of an argument (sound familiar ?). In psychology, "Confirmation Bias" tells us that people gather evidence and remember information selectively, and interpret it in a certain (biased) way - we form an opinion and unconciously, our brain rejects information that disagrees with that hypothesis and accepts information that reinforces it, e.g. sources that affirm the existing attitudes. That's why I don't even bother trying to sway them from their viewpoint.

Sorry to say it, but I reckon that some of these kind of shows give people back home (potential migrants and family members left behind) an unrealistic view of what life really is like here. Although Australia is a great country, it takes a lot of hard work to "make it happen", and I would say "twice as much" for those not born here, simply because it takes time to get used to things. It can be a very rewarding place, but in the same spirit as any farmer or old time miner will tell you (and I personally know some ), it can also be very unforgiving and harsh sometimes. Anyone who thinks that it is some kind of utopia is in for a rude shock, although that is a popular misconception that some of my family and friends back in the UK still want to hang onto, like I'm off the cast of West Side Story....# Everything's Free in America #

I came on here today and searched for the word "jealousy" to see if the same issues were just confined to me, and they aren't ! I actually feel a lot better now. I had a talk to a family member spoke with a family member back home at Christmas and it came on to the topic of me being here in Australia. There is still this perception among some that somehow, it was / is ‘easy’ here because I had “help” from home, or that I just hang around and surf on the beach all day with the rest of the expat community. The truth is, I personally don’t have too many “close friends” and that’s not for want of trying within the various Australian community groups (and even my own expat community). My story is that I came here 12 years ago, on my own and as a very young man for postgraduate studies. Migrating was a dream for me and I saved for four years from every job I ever had to get here and threw my life savings of 4,000 GBP at it, arriving here with a box and a suitcase. Mum and Dad did what they could to help me while I was here – we never did have ‘lots of money’ or come from a well-off family, but I was lucky enough that when I landed, I applied for and got a scholarship which covered my tuition fees and a bit of a living allowance. I certainly wasn’t living the high life here in Australia as some of them (still) believe. Being the youngest, I don’t buy into the whole ‘youngest of the family got the best opportunities’ arguments that they’ve banded around in secret. I say “If you work hard enough and want something enough, you can get it, you just have to be willing to give things up, whatever your age”. I really resent their jealousy (which never gets explicitly said) because it belittles my own achievements here. I don’t doubt that I had help, but it wasn’t anywhere near as good as some international students (like the mainland Chinese) have it now. It was a struggle many days. What I have found is that whenever there is a problem here, YOU have to fix it, whether that’s your car breaks down, house needs repairing, your visa needs extending, whatever. If you don’t fix it, (esp your visa) there was always the fear you would get deported and would have to leave everything here, plus the 3-yr exclusion order on you coming back. I’ve known people get deported and it’s not nice. I remember like others, just hoping and praying that my onshore visa would get approved (again) when it came up for expiry and that I would be allowed to stay here for another period of time, and (hopefully), onshore migrate at the end of it all. When I eventually have kids of my own, I will have to look after them comparatively much more than my siblings did (No extended family here to pass them on to for a night off). No one did my postgraduate research or wrote my thesis for me. I couldn’t go back for a family funeral because I had to stay here and correct my first submission, which took six months. That would probably get used as something against me, that “I wasn’t there”. In fact, I haven’t been back in eight and a half years because I’ve been busy saving for a house and a future here in Australia. To those back in the UK who think it’s easy, I say “try being away from your own family for that long and see how you like it”. To those who are thinking of migrating, learn from the experiences of others. I never had a car before I came to Australia, now I do, which I paid for from my own money. I paid for my own wedding in cash, I never asked Mum and Dad to help or contribute money and never took a loan out for it. I never asked for a house or help for the deposit or anyone to pay for it. I now have a house because I saved up and did without “nice things” like a better car, gadgets, holidays and ‘going back home’. You cut your cloth accordingly. So when someone tells me “it was easy”, I don’t quite agree. I think some of it is the misguided (plain wrong) idea that they get from shows like “Place in the Sun”, “Wanted Down Under” - http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006s5v8 and “Poms in Paradise” (currently screening on ITV and YouTube) where, from what I understand, people essentially get a free plane ticket to go to Australia, have a look, spend a couple of weeks there as a holiday and then decide if they like it enough to migrate. What a load of cobblers. It is completely unrealistic. But, this is probably how they think I live down here, because obviously, they’ll show the best bits on TV. Most people don’t have that luxury of a recce. Those who do are usually much better established than some of us were before we came here. When I first came here, that was it – first time to see the country. Never been here before, not on holiday or anything, no ‘recce’ trip like some. I came here, one flight after another, like a bag of airmail. No ‘stopover’ or anything like that because I couldn’t afford it. I kindly pointed the above out to the offending family members (who aren’t Mum and Dad, but brothers and sisters). I did so because I feel as though I am never allowed to forget that “I had help”, which although welcome, was certainly not Carte Blanche. Somehow, it takes the shine off my achievements here for me; what was rightfully mine and earned by my own hard work, all because it stemmed from a past event – “if they hadn’t backed you, you wouldn’t be here” is the logic. Where does it stop ? Do I still owe a debt of gratitude just because I was born ? I told my Mum and Dad that I don’t want an inheritance – “go and enjoy it, you’ve worked hard enough for it and earned it”. I want to be like other migrants and be a self-made man. To me, I’ve had my inheritance and it has set me up here, for life. I would also not want them to sell the family house when they pass on, I would want it kept in the family. We are supposed to be a family and stick together. I guess that I am probably MIA, or maybe ‘dead’ to some members of our family, but last time I looked, I was still a part of it. I would be the first person to put my hand in my pocket to help out the family, because that’s what families do, and in the past few years, I have. Considering the amount of presents, duty free, Australian souvenir ‘care parcels’ and David Jones Xmas hampers I have carried / sent back home over the years, they have been extremely ungrateful; so I stopped doing it in case it was just alienating them that it was me big-noting myself as Mr Moneybags, and instead, just sent a card this year and put my sender address on the back. I didn’t receive any phone calls or cards back. This is me, who has also offered the brothers and sisters to come to Australia, or their son / daughter (nephew / niece) to come backpacking and if they want to stay in Adelaide, they’ll have a place to stay. No takers yet. I guess that they enjoy their own view of what I do, and so joining me in the faux paradise might just shatter their illusions.

What a gorgeous dog ! http://video.adelaidenow.com.au/2176010256/Top-dog-Lenny I will be certain to come by and say hello