rachel31

my eldest child has just returned from the uk with a laptop. Apparently it worked in the uk and singapore however we are unable to make it work here due to needing an access number to link it to our internet service at home. Does anyone have any ideas? It is probably something very simple but I am not good with computers!

we are way out from adelaide and kids are with vodaphone which for $29 recharge gets them additional $150 of credit i think, coverage is ok too. I have moved to telstra and again coverage is good and i get 1c texts with my top up.

I have just renewed my childrens passports and now have the issue of the visa. It is in the old passport which has expired. Is it better for kids to carry both old and new ( both british passports) or head to immigration in Adelaide for electronic transfer of visa? If this has been asked previously apologies, any info would be fab as a 3 hour drive into Adelaide awaits me if i need to head to immigration! thanks in advance Rach

hi all, Not sure where to put this, i am just wondering if there is anyone on her who speaks spanish - i would like a document translated if anyone can help? cheers

there are actually loads of veggie things you can get here, even linda mcartney sausages I gather! you can get allsorts in the supermarket from veggie bacon to veggie quiches, pies, pastries etc and in the summer there are some fab salad options available. Some places have lots of veggie options although some have nothing so you might need to check before eating out. Most places are very accomodating though.

best op shop bargain was a dress for a ball, cost the grand total of $25, only to discover it could be bought in the bridal shop for for $280 - wore it twice so i think i got my monies worth,

Hi Elliot, the last recruitment from the uk was indeed 2008/09 and officer had to have at least 5 years in ( after their probation). This was the last batch of officers from a 5 year process. Maybe you could join the force in the uk ( you have to be 18.5) as you never know where may recruit again. At least you will be on your way to having some years under your belt. where in the uk are you based? Good luck Rach

we used doree bonner international........................def don't use them!!!! it was over a year ago though so they might have improved. hope move goes ok

i can't believe we have been here for a year today! Time has gone so quickly since we arrived and now we are all settled in. Kids are really enjoying school and doing better than they were in the uk, hubby is enjoying work as am I. The first few weeks were a bit of a nightmare(container got lost)! but I think that making the move was definately the best thing we could have done for us as a family. We have made some fantastic friends all of whom have made us feel really welcome. I do feel that this is home and looking forward to more adventures.

Although unfortunately bullying happens all over the world, I havn't found it to be as bad here. However my son was spat at repeatedly on his way home from school by some other students and when I went in and complained the school couldn't have been more helpful. Both the offenders were suspended and had to write letters of apology. I was really pleased to see the school dealing with this sort of thing so positively, however I think this occured because he happened to be there, in the wrong place at the wrong time time, not beacuse he's english. As others have said, keeping your daughter at home till after christmas is probably the best and maybe she can look at some other schools with you? I encouraged my kids to find out of school activities for this very reason as girls in particular can be vile. I hope that you and your daughter find a school she enjoys going to and that she can enjoy here extended summer holidays now too x

I may be wrong but I was under the impression that SAPOL had done a 5 year recruitment in the uk which ended in 2009, with the last batch of officers arriving here in april 2010. If this is the case would you then be able to come and do a reccie to see which areas you like and areas where you may be posted? You would be a step ahead then if/when they do re-open the applications.

We arrived in time for the kids to start school at the beginning of a new school year which I think helped, rather than mid way through a term. My eldest went into year 8 which was good as all the kids were new together(yr 8 is first year of high school) and the other 3 had made a couple of friends over the summer holidays. They all settled brilliantly and are doing very well at school. we encouraged them all to find an out of school activity too just so they had a broader range of friends. hope this helps, Rach

:unsure:I'm not sure this is in the right place but someone has discovered linda macartney products in a supermarket somewhere in adelaide. If anyone knows where this was (either the post or the shop!)could they please let me know. Many thanks been her nearly a year, struggling a bit with being a veggie

we opened accounts with commonwealth bank before we left the uk as it was the easiest one. have changed since we arrived though. You do get a credit/debit card and they have plenty of cashpoints. one thing i have found is that you must use your card in the cashpoint for your bank otherwise you get charged, not like banking with one in the uk and using the first cashpoint you come accross. I think Bank SA have an account which you don't have to pay for.hope this helps, rach

i don't really like any spiders large or small however the huntsmans that do get in will eat the small ones that you really dont want in your house, ie whitetips. in my 11 months here I have had two in my house, not through doors or windows I don't think as they all have fly screens on them, they just get in. I did bug bomb my house with mortein before we moved in and it seems to have worked and we keep a can in the house too just in case.I need to be quick though as hubby just puts them outside!!!!!!

hello sammy, I have spoken to you on here before I think, when you were still in the uk? We have been here nearly a year now and my kids are 14(nearly!) and 12 . let me know if you want them to give you a shout. They have settled here really well and i'm sure they would be more than happy to chat here or on msn if thats easier for you.We are miles from adelaide though, all the way up near the flinders ranges! glad to hear you have made friends at school. Rach

hi Anne, we have been here nearly a year and I can't believe ho hard it is to get work!! I am at the moment an sso/hpi at a primary school but it is only 5 hours a week. I had visions of it being like in the uk and working mon - fri but these jobs come up raelly rarely and hours are offered to those who have been there the longest as everyone is on a part - time contract at this school. We are quite a way from adelaide too so it might be different for you where you are. I was told by one school that I had to do a certificate 3 in childcare and another school new nothing about this so i am a bit confused. I think that you do have to have a first aid certificate, police check and a number from decs before you can work in the classroom. I only got my hours by leaving my resume at the school. Hope this helps, i have all the info if you would like me to email it to you about the childcare course.If that would help then pm me and I will get it to you. Rach

we used doree bonners when we came out last year. Original quote wass good and the packers couldn't have been more helpful. however we arranged for the container to be packed end of sept in order for it to arrive in oz early november and we were going to pay for it to go in to storage in adelaide.unfortunately the container got mislaid and we were lied to repeatedly about its whereabouts and when it would get to us. It eventually turned up at our house on 23rd december. I was NOT happy!!! we had been in our unfurnished rental for nearly a month with 2 camping chairs, nothing else and 6 people! however they might have improved since then, in laws used them a few years ago and said they were good. good luck with the move

we did ours yesterday and the accountant did tell us there would be about a 4 week delay so i think it must be nationwide

many thanks for all suggestions, hadn't thought of target but will try other suggestions too

help please! I am trying to find a (cheap) portable tv (small) to put in the kids bedroom but all i can find are flat screen tv's for about $400. Does anyone know if i can get such a thing here?have tried radio rentals etc but no joy. many thanks, Rach

we stayed in a beautiful property through auseelife.com.au and it was exactly what we needed. in seaford 10 mins walk from the beach.

i would certainly use singapore airlines. Never had bad service. went for 11.50am flight as only 4 hour stop over in singapore then straight to london heathrow. Even sent kids with singapore to see grandma while i am still here!!!!!!!they were very well looked after i must say. i do hear that malaysian airlines are good too but havn't used them myself.

I would certainly get pet insurance, we have got a blue heeler x puppy who was recently bitten by a snake while out for a walk. If we had not had insurance then the vets fee for a sturday night after hours call out plus the 2 injections would have been hundreds of dollars!!We actually paid very little in the end i think but i will check. just because of venemous things here i would get insurance though and puppies are quite inquisitive!!

i think we used "go walkabout" or something similar, just for peace of mind. Not terribly expensive either