mawsnmorgs

Thanks for that - we can but try.

Yes it was. We activated them June 2011 then Ian was diagnosed with a rare eye disease a few months later so everything was put on hold (life in general!). His condition is stable and had been for a while so we picked up from where we left off, put the house up for sale...and then the family scupppered us! Stuff happens I guess, but talk about timing...

Wow - that's impressive! Any help/advice you could give us would be much appreciated... Our PR visas expired 01/09/16. We had all but sold the house in July 2016 then a family issue meant we couldn't make the move before the visas expired. We have been advised that to get RRVs Ian needs a job offer. He is in the building trade (carpenter) so it would be nigh on impossible to get one from over there whilst we are still here. What can we do? Kind regards, Rachael

So, right about now we should have been waving good bye to our friends and family and starting our new adventure, but, after a few wasted appointments at our local hospital (Barnsley, S, Yorks), my other half has been diagnosed with a rare eye disease. We have been told it's treatable but not curable. They are trying to manage his condition currently. So from 2 visits to the doctors in the last 15 years (which I have made him attend) he's now had @ 25 hospital visits in the last 3 months! From other posts I realise this means the NHS has saved us a small fortune, but we are still hopeful that once they have his condition managed, we can still make the move. Obviously, though, we need to know the financial ramifications of his treatment. His diagnosis is 'birdshot chorioretinopathy'. He has to take immuno-suppressants, which at the beginning meant weekly blood tests for a month, then fortnightly blood tests for 2 months, now he just has a monthly appointment - a check up with the doc and his blood tests on the same day. Initially they tried to blast the disease with some steroid infusions. He had 5 in total. He's just had steroid injections in his eyes as the infusions weren't enough. We still don't know if this is the right treatment for him. They may have to change his medication which will mean going back to the weekly (then fortnightly) blood tests again. Hence the reason we have not moved yet! How do we find out if there is a doctor over there who knows how to treat the condition? How much treatment will cost? I'm really at a loss as to where to start... Last Xmas I declared I had cooked my last Xmas dinner for everyone (having done 17 in a row!!), we were pricing up shipping fees and started the countdown to 'the big move'. And here we are! Please tell me the move is still possible! Rachael x

Eeee, you've put a smile on my face! Now it's defo bedtime. Good night all x Dreaming of paint...And yogurt...And cleaning/packing (almost sorted!)

Ha ha! You made me chuckle! Hey, it can be hot here. We've just had a full week of sunshine, it's been 'el scorchio' (ok, for a change, and it won't last ) - seriously though, it's been in the 20s ALL week! It's not a bad trade off though, is it? A few extra dollars on paint for lots of lovely weather and a way better work-life balance. We'll be outside so much it won't get grubby/we won't care!!! That coming from me, who has got herself completely run down trying to do a million jobs before our hols - burglars can be a fussy sort, gotta leave the place spotless fr them! And with that, I make it bedtime. One more day to work then I can concentrate fully on cleaning the house again for them before we leave on Wednesday (Barnsley isn't really that bad...)

Blimey, that does make for expensive paint. Just looked at B & Q website, Dulux - on average 5l paint would be, say, £22 = $33 AUS, so 10l = $66 AUS - so you are paying twice the price! Outdoor showers required so we are all clean before we walk into the house - no mucky hands on the walls, thank you! Tee-hee. Please tell me it's all relative! Rach x

Should we all move to Wynn Vale then, 'cos all the other posts say they are expensive? Ah, or is it that you earn so much, the prices don't matter?! lol We'll find out for ourselves later in the week when we come over for our reccie trip. We're sooooooooo excited! It will be an exhausting 2 weeks but we can't wait. 3 more sleeps... Rach x

It's great to read such updates. You keep it real by letting us know it's not all plain sailing - yet still sooooo worth it. Yep, gotta make that move soon... Thanks and good luck with your new life Down Under. Rach x

So points to remember for when we finally decide when to move: Get v.large container, nice new yoghurt maker and lots of different coloured paints. I feel a profit coming my way! lol Keep the advice/comments coming, folks... Rach x

Will do. x

No idea yet - will have 5 years from 01/06/12, though! I think that's when we'll decide - after we've experienced the real cost of living and had our little 'taster session'. We are trying to be sensible - we have no family there, no job to go to and have never visited before. So we could come back and get the house on the market straight away, or I might re-train to ensure I can get a decent job when we get there. OH is a carpenter, so hoping he will be ok over there. It's all very exciting and scary at the same time, isn't it? Can't wait for our trip. We have 2 daughters and they are officially on count down now... Rach

Lucky so and sos! We are going to activate our visas next week. Ooh not referred to it as next week before. Lol. Can't wait until we post a moving date... Good luck with everything Rach x

Oooh, you take a risk with such comments. Although I think 'kleptomania' is now officially a Scouse genetic issue, it just can't be helped after so many generations of it!!! How funny - I still struggle with "Hey up", but I'm fine with "Hola!" when we're in Spain. "G'day", with a Yorkshire accent...That's got me chuckling. Save some sunshine for us, won't you? Rach x

Ha ha, you do make me chuckle! As for similar accents, I bet yours has changed quite a bit. It's funny, watching all those programmes on TV, to hear how the accents soon get an Aussie twang. As for me, I'm a Scouse native, but have lived in Barnsley for @ 30 yrs now, so it's sometimes an odd mix. It's mostly a Yorkshire accent, as to have kept the Scouse one was nigh on life-threatening when we first moved here. It's not so bad now, but back then, Yorkshire folk did not do change! TTFN, Rach x

Oh, just the idea of Cuddle Creek Wildlife Park has got me giddy. I can't decide whether I should tell the girlies about it now or surprise them with it when we go. Can they really cuddle a koala? That would be amazing. I'm really grateful for the shopping suggestion. I mean, it really would be a good way to see the surrounding areas, and it would be silly not to shop whilst we are there, wouldn't it?! That said, the girls would be bored - unless they are being bought something, ofcourse, and if the weather is good whilst we are there (that's anything above 10 degrees, reallyfor us), then it seems we'll have some fun-packed days and may not get the time to browse... I've been getting a little anxious about our trip up until now. BUT now you have all got me really excited. It's going to be busy, tiring and fabulous. I can't wait! Thanks so much for the time you spent on your reply, Diane. It's much appreciated. Rach x

Thanks, so much 'wireworks' for your reply. We are staying in one of Tykes properties, so will be doing a little shopping. We really want/need to get a realistic view of life there, even if we are only coming for 2 weeks. So we'll be looking at the prices of everything from fruit and veg to properties, whilst hopefully fitting in a little holiday fun, too. Oh, and as Ian (OH) is a carpenter/joiner/builder, any info on where the work is so that he can check that side of things out whilst we are there, would be GREATLY appreaciated. Ofcourse, my main issue currently is - what to pack! Priorities, hey... Looking forward to my coffee at the marina Rach x

Thanks, Tyke. I would have contacted you direct, but I decided to save my many, many questions and bombard you with them when we arrive. Not sure you picked up on the info given - Rach - mawsnmorgs, landing 01 June for 2 weeks. We're staying at your place! From all the comments given by your many previous 'guests', you really are 'the man' and a mine of information. You probably have a manual with all the info we need already prepared! I have to say, I'm looking forward to the idea of coffee at the marina at Glenelg. As for the wine tasting, were you inadvertantly offering to babysit my little darlings? I know that wine tasting isn't really meant to mean too much wine drinking, but as a novice, I'd hope to make a few mistakes and gulp a few down (oops) and it wouldn't be responsible to then be looking after the girls, would it? (Hic!) Anyway, going to start on the packing this weekend. SPF50 all set to go (just a little wishful thinking there). We can't wait to meet the man behind the posts... See you soon, Rach x

Thanks, Mandy. 20 degrees = beautiful day here and the girls would be in summer clothes, hence my dilemma. Is it likely to be so warm often at that time? To be fair, I haven't researched how stable the weather is there. You most definitely can't rely on summer being July/August here any more. We've just had the most beautiful March and May so far has been a wash out. I'll pack just a few light things, just in case. Kind regards, Rach x

Thanks so much Barbaitch, for your detailed reply. Got my socket thingy set aside - great idea! Thanks also for the suggestions of places to visit, too. I'm glad the zoo gets a thumbs up. They love going to Chester Zoo, here, so I was hoping it would be a good choice. Had Glenelg on our list also, so looks like we are on the right track. We just need to make sure we do the 'important stuff', too (boo!). It's a shame it has to be such a short trip but we didn't (couldn't) take the kids out of school for any longer. Ah well, we can do it all 'properly' when we make the BIG move. I really can't wait. Kind regards, Rach x

Thanks, Snifter. That's backed up my thinking. My OH is constantly checking his i phone for weather updates and that's where the confusion comes in. It does seem to go up and down a lot, and like you say, what feels cool to you may well be a scorcher for us! Maybe I will chuck in a sundress or two for the girls, just in case Thanks again, Rach

Hi there, We arrive for our reccie visit on 01 June for just 2 weeks. What do I pack? How warm/cool is it really at this time of year? I'm considering some shorts/summer dresses for my daughters, but will they need them? Should I stick to jeans, t-shirts and jackets? Will we even need flip flops? We are travelling with Singapore Airlines and get the standard 20kgs, so I don't want to be packing stuff we won't need. Am I taking the meaning of 'winter' too literally, with only the British definition?!? Also, are there any specific 'dos' and more importantly, 'don'ts' on what we can bring with us for our stay? Could you recommend any activities? My daughters are 9 and 4, and so far I've promised them a day at the zoo... (I'd have preferred wine tasting!) All advice/suggestions much appreciated. Rach x

Hi Anne, I can't offer you any advice on when to make the move, but wanted to say "Congrats" on the visa. It's a fab feeling, isn't it? Good luck with your adventure Rach x

Not sure if this is much help to you... We got ours back on 25/07/11, so not the most recent of checks done. We paid for the standard service - it took @ 3 weeks. Rachael

So pleased for you Matt. School's out, so you can celebrate your great news without worry! It will be a migraine you'll have tomorrow - not a hangover!! Rach x