The good, the bad and the ugly

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The good, the bad and the ugly; 2 and a half months in Melbourne
Topic Started: 12 Nov 2007, 10:14 AM (2,013 Views)
djlewington	12 Nov 2007, 10:14 AM Post #1
Member Posts: 57 Group: Members Member #1,330 Joined: 18 April 2007	Hello All We arrived in Melbourne on the morning of the 18th August 2007. The flight on Quantas was okay though the food wasn't very appetising. Both our 3 and 5 year old children were sick on the flight, good thing I packed two sick bowls in the hand luggage!! Well, I think Bordy and everyone else is going to hate me .... :( but my first impression of Melbourne was "my goodness it's just so busy and built up". I let my husband do the driving for the first few months because I found the traffic so fast and scary ....just like London and I've talked to several people who have felt the same. We stayed in two "Australian Home Away" short term rentals for the first few months in Doncaster and Doncaster East.... There is a great Pizza place on the Blackburn Road there called "the peppercorn".George Street in Doncaster East was quite nice but Elgar road where we stayed was a bit more busy. A couple of months later I've got to say that I am really enjoying myself and though I do find parts of Melbourne too busy for me I wouldn't go back to the UK as I like where we have settled here. Before we came we decided that we would get a house in Diamond Creek but we found that we could only afford a 3 bedroomed older styled house there. The areas we did like in Diamond Creek were just too expensive. We then went out to a place called Doreen and found that it was cheaper to buy a block of land and build on it and so that is what we've decided to do. We've settled our boy into the Yarrambat primary school which he is very happy in and it is only a 10 minute drive from Laurimar in Doreen where we are renting. Doreen is a housing estate but I really like it as it is still close to some beautiful countryside where you can see Kangaroos jumping about (though my husband doesn't but I he is just a grump and would be like that wherever he was!!). It took my husband two months to find a job contracting as a fitter at Boeing Dehavilland at Port Melbourne which he got through the Adecco agency in Footscray. It was difficult to look for jobs as we had to use the internet at the library. Good things about Melbourne are the parks, cheap pizza's, cheaper and bigger houses than the south in the UK, better weather, cockatoos. Bad things are the traffic and ugly are the hundreds of electricity pylons which spoil the countryside. All in all I think we will be financially better off here though that is not thanks to the price of food. We paid Ł80 a week in the UK and pay Ł110 here. We bought two Virgin Mobile phones for $100 and can take photo's with them and text the UK and it only costs .05 cents a text and something like .10 cents a call virgin to virgin. Hope you find this information interesting and I hope everyone doesn't hate me too much for saying I didn't like all the aspects of Melbourne. Fiona :thumbsup:



bigAPE	12 Nov 2007, 10:37 AM Post #2
Administrator Posts: 4,294 Group: Admin Member #1,299 Joined: 6 April 2007 Migration Status Citizen My Location Hampton, Victoria	Hi Fiona Glad you are settling in now. The traffic and city life can take a bit of getting use too. I've lived in cities most of my life, but we moved out to Melbourne from pretty rural Cornwall and honestly the return to an urban environment made me feel a bit caged in. The traffic is quite heavy, but once you get into the swing of things it does get easier to drive in. Although do I try to avoid driving in the CBD. How on earth did you feed a family of 4 on Ł80 a week? You must be very good at preparing well in advance. Hope you are able to get to the meet up in Eltham, it does help to meet up with others in the same boat. Gill



Bordy	12 Nov 2007, 10:47 AM Post #3
Administrator Posts: 4,688 Group: Admin Member #3 Joined: 8 September 2004 Migration Status Citizen My Location Ferntree Gully	I wouldn't hate you Fiona. Melbourne doesn't have the wow factor Sydney has when you first arrive but Melbourne grows on you pretty quick. I'm sure as time goes on you will get used to it all & of course this weather always helps to. Hope you can make it to the Eltham meet. :Beer:



Lorraine44	12 Nov 2007, 10:49 AM Post #4
A phenomenon Posts: 1,422 Group: Members Member #560 Joined: 8 February 2006 Migration Status Permanent Resident My Mood Feeling more settled each day :-) My Location Doreen, Vic	Hi Fiona, don't worry, I think a few of us have wondered what all the fuss about Melbourne was when we first arrived! It takes a few months to grow on you and then like you say, you dont want to leave!! What a coincidence,, we too are having a house built at Laurimar!! the slab should be going down very soon! Its lovely over there isn't it? Whereabouts are you building? Sounds like you are settling in well,,, if you ever need some company there are a few of us around Eltham/Templestowe/Diamond Creek who meet up most weeks for lunch, coffee etc,, you'd be more than welcome to join us!



djlewington	12 Nov 2007, 11:08 AM Post #5
Member Posts: 57 Group: Members Member #1,330 Joined: 18 April 2007	Hello Glad Bordy doesn't hate me!! We'll try to make the meet up in Eltham. Lorraine, we are hoping to get a block on the ridge but if we don't we may get something on Laurimar. It is really nice on Laurimar, it's really peaceful. Fiona



kirsty&al	12 Nov 2007, 04:35 PM Post #6
Elite Member Posts: 864 Group: Members Member #88 Joined: 24 September 2004	I too thought the traffic was a bit fast when I first arrived (from London). Contrary to popular belief the speed limits in town are faster than the UK. I agree with Bordy. Melbourne may not be as pretty as Sydney at first glance but she definitely grows on you. Al :)



bigAPE	12 Nov 2007, 05:31 PM Post #7
Administrator Posts: 4,294 Group: Admin Member #1,299 Joined: 6 April 2007 Migration Status Citizen My Location Hampton, Victoria	kirsty&al Nov 12 2007, 04:35 PM I too thought the traffic was a bit fast when I first arrived (from London). Contrary to popular belief the speed limits in town are faster than the UK. Yeah, speeds are about the same (50Kmph ~ 30Mph) apart from on the larger streets which are 60Kmph (40Mph). To be honest I find the speeds here extremely frustrating, I often feel I could be going much faster without any problem. However, I honestly believe the reason they keep the speed limits low is due to the amount of maniacs on the roads here. Blind lane switching, if someone is next to them or not, and driving in two lanes at once is pandemic here. It's so common that I actually expect people to do it now. Still drives me nuts, but at least I don't scream at them any more. I am staggered that the death toll here is as low as it is, it is frequently (especially at rush hour) like something from Death Race 2000. Gill found a statistic a while back that you're twice as likely to be involved in a car accident in Melbourne alone than you are in the whole of the UK. I can certainly believe that. I personally think the great Ganesh, Buddha and Elvis are all watching over me each and every time I go out, simply because I manage to come home again intact. Al



kirsty&al	12 Nov 2007, 05:53 PM Post #8
Elite Member Posts: 864 Group: Members Member #88 Joined: 24 September 2004	bigAPE Nov 12 2007, 05:31 PM kirsty&al Nov 12 2007, 04:35 PM I too thought the traffic was a bit fast when I first arrived (from London). Contrary to popular belief the speed limits in town are faster than the UK. Yeah, speeds are about the same (50Kmph ~ 30Mph) apart from on the larger streets which are 60Kmph (40Mph). To be honest I find the speeds here extremely frustrating, I often feel I could be going much faster without any problem. However, I honestly believe the reason they keep the speed limits low is due to the amount of maniacs on the roads here. Blind lane switching, if someone is next to them or not, and driving in two lanes at once is pandemic here. It's so common that I actually expect people to do it now. Still drives me nuts, but at least I don't scream at them any more. I am staggered that the death toll here is as low as it is, it is frequently (especially at rush hour) like something from Death Race 2000. Gill found a statistic a while back that you're twice as likely to be involved in a car accident in Melbourne alone than you are in the whole of the UK. I can certainly believe that. I personally think the great Ganesh, Buddha and Elvis are all watching over me each and every time I go out, simply because I manage to come home again intact. Al I think the impression of speeds being slower comes from the wide roads both lane width and number of lanes. Having come from London I don't find the driving any better or worse overall (some aspects are better, some are worse). I must say that I don't seem to experience this rapid lane change problem very often here; certainly no more than I used to in London. I've always been good at anticpating what other drivers are about to do so maybe that helps. (Hopefully that last sentence doesn't sound rude.) I know the stats are worse here than in the UK. Although bad driving may contribute to this, there are other factors. Higher urban speeds. Most of the 60s in town would be 45 (30mph) in London. More dangerous junctions. Here there are many more right turns off a dual carriageway (without the assistance of traffic lights and roundabouts) than there are in London. Al :)



debs1966	13 Nov 2007, 05:55 AM Post #9
Member Posts: 74 Group: Members Member #1,303 Joined: 6 April 2007	Hi there great to hear you are settled and enjoying life in Melbourne I have just come back from my rekki and I thought it was me but I hated those ugly looking telegraph poles also, sorry about this folks but as silly as it sounds thats one of the things I felt spoilt the area. I have now decided that we are now going to Perth. Good luck with everything in Melbourne. Take Care Debbie n Family



Lindsay Clan	13 Nov 2007, 06:47 AM Post #10
Posts: 3,295 Group: Moderators Member #144 Joined: 22 December 2004 Migration Status Citizen My Mood Content My Location Pakenham, VIC, Australia	Glad to hear that things are working out for you and good luck with the house build.



Michele	13 Nov 2007, 08:20 AM Post #11
What's your location? Posts: 1,015 Group: Members Member #1,483 Joined: 11 June 2007 Migration Status Temporary Resident My Mood Couldn't be better!!! My Location St Kilda, VIC then Adelaide, SA	Lorraine44 Nov 12 2007, 02:49 AM What a coincidence,, we too are having a house built at Laurimar!! the slab should be going down very soon! Its lovely over there isn't it? I'm hoping to get a block of land there too!!! Good Luck with finding the land and building your home. Talk about exciting!!!



The Crow	13 Nov 2007, 08:40 AM Post #12
Elite Member Posts: 695 Group: Members Member #721 Joined: 15 May 2006 My Location The Basin	debs1966 Nov 13 2007, 05:55 AM I hated those ugly looking telegraph poles also, sorry about this folks but as silly as it sounds thats one of the things I felt spoilt the area. Where are these telegraph poles? Are they the ones that run through Cranbourne? I must admit I can believe they've built new housing estates right next to them! However, they are certainly not all over. Rachel



Lorraine44	13 Nov 2007, 08:44 AM Post #13
A phenomenon Posts: 1,422 Group: Members Member #560 Joined: 8 February 2006 Migration Status Permanent Resident My Mood Feeling more settled each day :-) My Location Doreen, Vic	Michele Nov 13 2007, 08:20 AM Lorraine44 Nov 12 2007, 02:49 AM What a coincidence,, we too are having a house built at Laurimar!! the slab should be going down very soon! Its lovely over there isn't it? I'm hoping to get a block of land there too!!! Good Luck with finding the land and building your home. Talk about exciting!!! Neighbours,,everybody needs good neighbours :rofl:



kirsty&al	13 Nov 2007, 08:55 AM Post #14
Elite Member Posts: 864 Group: Members Member #88 Joined: 24 September 2004	The Crow Nov 13 2007, 08:40 AM debs1966 Nov 13 2007, 05:55 AM I hated those ugly looking telegraph poles also, sorry about this folks but as silly as it sounds thats one of the things I felt spoilt the area. Where are these telegraph poles? Are they the ones that run through Cranbourne? I must admit I can believe they've built new housing estates right next to them! However, they are certainly not all over. Rachel I think she may be talking about the power poles that run along the streets. They are much more noticeable than the UK version (mostly because they are multi-level). I don't notice them any more. Al :)



Lorraine44	13 Nov 2007, 08:58 AM Post #15
A phenomenon Posts: 1,422 Group: Members Member #560 Joined: 8 February 2006 Migration Status Permanent Resident My Mood Feeling more settled each day :-) My Location Doreen, Vic	The pylons and the power poles bugged me big time when we first arrived here,, pylons strewn across the countryside still annoy me but where we live there are so many trees that I don't really notice the power poles any more!



The Crow	13 Nov 2007, 09:07 AM Post #16
Elite Member Posts: 695 Group: Members Member #721 Joined: 15 May 2006 My Location The Basin	kirsty&al Nov 13 2007, 08:55 AM The Crow Nov 13 2007, 08:40 AM debs1966 Nov 13 2007, 05:55 AM I hated those ugly looking telegraph poles also, sorry about this folks but as silly as it sounds thats one of the things I felt spoilt the area. Where are these telegraph poles? Are they the ones that run through Cranbourne? I must admit I can believe they've built new housing estates right next to them! However, they are certainly not all over. Rachel I think she may be talking about the power poles that run along the streets. They are much more noticeable than the UK version (mostly because they are multi-level). I don't notice them any more. Al :) I'm going to look when I'm out and about today - never noticed! What does Perth do with their power cables then?



kirsty&al	13 Nov 2007, 09:21 AM Post #17
Elite Member Posts: 864 Group: Members Member #88 Joined: 24 September 2004	The Crow Nov 13 2007, 09:07 AM I'm going to look when I'm out and about today - never noticed! What does Perth do with their power cables then? I was wondering about that.



koalakim	13 Nov 2007, 09:53 AM Post #18
Legend Posts: 4,451 Group: Members Member #889 Joined: 1 September 2006 Migration Status Citizen My Location Mornington	Hi Same as here! We've spent a fair bit of time around Perth - but it's not something that I really took any notice of - electricity has to be got to places somehow! Think there is more to worry about than a few poles and pylons! Although there were a load of pylons out Rowville way but that could be because of the station out that way - maybe that what Debs means? Kim



louise	13 Nov 2007, 11:08 AM Post #19
Elite Member Posts: 512 Group: Members Member #307 Joined: 30 June 2005 Migration Status Citizen My Mood loving it still after 6+ years My Location Parkdale	At least Debs tried it and gone with her feelings - Good luck in Perth. I went with mine - fell in love with Melbourne in less than 3 days ...4 years on still go "Wow I actually live here, this is my home!" Can't remember noticing or not noticing pylons in Perth - same here in Melbourne really,although yesterday I did actually think isn't it nice that the electric posts are wooden rather than concrete...don't know why I was thinking that! There aren't as many street lights here as the where we lived in the UK. I remember commenting on that years ago after leaving a neighbours house and it was almost pitch black - she'd lived in the UK for about 5 years in the 80's and said thats cos we don't have as many criminals! I think the real reason is because Australia is so vast it wouldn't be cost effective to have lights and wires as close together when stretching around the whole of Oz! Tip for you, have you noticed that street lights are a different colour or are bigger when you are driving down a main road and you reach the intersection of a new street? Useful when you know you need to turn but not sure how far down the road you have to go and it's dark. Louise



louise	13 Nov 2007, 11:13 AM Post #20
Elite Member Posts: 512 Group: Members Member #307 Joined: 30 June 2005 Migration Status Citizen My Mood loving it still after 6+ years My Location Parkdale	koalakim Nov 13 2007, 09:53 AM Think there is more to worry about than a few poles and pylons! Kim Yes, that's my thoughts too but if something really irritates you I suppose it just gets to you. I think I'm just too laid back for my own good though. On a recent training course the Trainer purposely did lots of annoying things to show how not to lead a training session and pointed them out at the first break...none of the things he did annoyed me! Didn't have some notes ready/ twiddling a pen while talking/ talked whilst writing on a whiteboard with his back to us.... we just asked him to repeat as we couldn't hear him! ...so maybe I'm not the best person to notice annoying things in Melbourne! Louise



earlneath	14 Nov 2007, 11:52 PM Post #21
Member Posts: 19 Group: Members Member #1,161 Joined: 10 February 2007	djlewington Nov 12 2007, 10:14 AM We then went out to a place called Doreen ... It took my husband two months to find a job contracting as a fitter at Boeing Dehavilland at Port Melbourne ... Fiona :thumbsup: How does your husband find the commute in from Doreen to Port Melbourne?



Willij	23 Nov 2007, 11:08 AM Post #22
Addicted Member Posts: 164 Group: Members Member #846 Joined: 16 August 2006	Hi, I know what you mean when you say "built up" and the proliferation of pylons - I had exactly the same feelings. I still far prefer driving out towards Yarra Glen etc., than into the city. On the speed limit / driving thing I had a funny experience this week taking my daughter to school. It was wet so I was being careful on the road out to Yarrambat - the speed limit is 80 but I was doing about 60. The radio had just mentioned the high number of traffic accidents that morning due to drivers not taking into account the wet conditions. Anyway I had a car behind me dying to overtake but the road is too windy (and I was quietly calling him an idiot under my breath). We pull into the school and the car is still behind me so I glared at the driver only to realise it was the headmaster ! :wink:



badge	24 Sep 2008, 10:33 PM Post #23
Addicted Member Posts: 348 Group: Members Member #138 Joined: 6 December 2004	The Crow 13 Nov 2007, 08:40 AM debs1966,Nov 13 2007 05:55 AM I hated those ugly looking telegraph poles also, sorry about this folks but as silly as it sounds thats one of the things I felt spoilt the area. Where are these telegraph poles? Are they the ones that run through Cranbourne? I must admit I can believe they've built new housing estates right next to them! However, they are certainly not all over. Rachel I once drove down Thompsons Rd craning at those power poles. I'd just finshed my CFA course in fuse pulling where we had learnt the voltage of any pole by looking at the size of the fuse!!! lol.

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