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| Crooksters Reccie Report | |
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| Topic Started: 15 Nov 2007, 09:53 PM (925 Views) | |
| The Crooksters | 15 Nov 2007, 09:53 PM Post #1 |
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We left Heathrow at 10.15pm Saturday night. We flew with Singapore Airlines, they were more expensive but we had repeatedly read that they were very good with families and with a 6 and 2 year old in tow thought it would be worth paying the extra and it was. They were brilliant. With a 2 hour stop in Singapore we arrived at Tullamarine 6am Monday morning. My first impression on walking out of the airport was how much sky there was (sounds ridiculus I know). We picked up our Ford Territory and made our way to our rented house in Beaumaris. It was a stressful drive but thankfully DH only tried to select 2nd gear on our automatic car once! The first thing we all did was go to bed for about 5 hours. On waking we took a spin around Safeways which I have to say I really loved. I know much is said about supermarkets in Oz but I found there to be loads of choice, good quality fruit and veg, cakes galore (not really a good thing I guess) and tbh I like the fact that they just sell grocerys and not clothes, electrical stuff or homewares. They do all your packing and still have time to ask you how your days is going. We then picked up freshly cooked fish and chips and headed back to our home from home. So far so good. Tomorrow our holiday begins. Day 1 - Today we explored our immediate surroundings. Took the boys to a park in Elwood and met an ex-pat who we chatted with. Took the boys home for some lunch and they fell asleep. I walked down to the local shops for a wander and felt really at home. Took the boys to yet another park (so many parks). Still feeling a little disorientated we spend the evening at home and watch some great Aussie TV ... not. Day 2 - Really concerned that our holiday has been underway for three days now and we've not done a great deal. Catch the train from Brighton Beach into Flinders Street. Had hot dogs by the river and then took a boat trip north on the Yarra, ride the giant ferris wheel, played in the nearby park and then headed up to Melbourne Central to try and get something to wear for tomorrows interview at 9.30am. The shops will take some getting used to but in a good way I think. In the UK you can walk into any shopping centre in any town and the shops will be exactly the same. In Melbourne every shop seems different and the people on the streets also seem more individual. Day 3 - Interview at 9.30am with recruitment consultant in Brighton goes very well. It's raining today so we take the train into the city and visit the Aquarium which is brilliantly put together with some fantastic sea creatures. We than take a trip up to the Rialto Towers Observation Deck. Despite the rain there is still a great view of the Bay, I could just sit and look at it all day. Day 4 - Today we drove up to Ballerat and spent the day at Soveriegn Hill. We all enjoyed it especially my 6 year old. Bearing in mind the school governors actually refused to approve his holiday as he is in his SATS year I just wish they had been with us down the gold mine to see him totally captivated by what he was learning from our guide. We went for tea at the nearby Red Lion and then back to Soveriegn Hill for the evening show. Got lost on the way back through the city and got home around midnight. Day 5 - Now we're really motoring. Spent the day on the Puffing Billy as Thomas the Tank Engine was visiting at Emerald. We loved this. Australians don't like it when I say that Health & Safety has not yet reached Oz but they have to agree when I clarify this statement. There is no way that anyone would be allowed to dangle their legs out of a train carriage in the UK, fact. Anyone that has ridden the Puffing Billy will know what I mean. Day 6 - The wheather is grrreat today so we just hang out around the pool. It's Sunday and I want to buy the boys some inflatables for the pool but everywhere's shut. I'm struggling to get used to the fact that it's not 24 hour living in Oz but actually I also quite like it. Day 7 - Today we drive down to Phillip Island. We visit the Koala Sanctury, the Nobbies and then watch Penguins return home from their day at sea. We also spend a couple of hours at Amaze 'n' Things which the boys absolutley love. Day 8 - Our 19 year old nephew arrived today and copes with the jet lag far better than we did. He's water sport mad so he and the others head off in search of activities. I head off to Camberwell for my 2nd interview which again goes very well. Day 9 - Today we spend the day at Melbourne Zoo. We enjoyed it there so much we actually ran out of time and missed out on the gorillas. It's a lovely zoo and the elephants are a real treat. Day 10 - I head of for my 3rd interview at the same company, this is looking frightening good! In the evening we head up to Alphington for a BBQ with some old friends from home. Alphington is apparently up and coming but we had to travel along Punt Road in rush hour which was no fun at all. Day 11 - Again in search of all things water sport related we drive down to Mornington. We stop off at Dromana and then find Gunamatta beach which is very quiet apart from a handful of surfers and a fisherman. We spend a few hours watching the surfers and jumping waves and then head for home. Day 12 - We spend the day with some more old friends from home who live in Mount Waverley. We loved thier home and we really liked the area. One of those things you can't describe, it just felt very comfortable round there and yet again ... more parks. On the way home we stop off at Luna Park which my 6 year old loves. Day 13 - Last night we had the most horrendous stom and today it is raining. The kind of rain thats not going away. Planned surfing and skydiving is cancelled so we head into the city. We visit the visitor centre (a bit late I know but you live and learn) wander the market and then the Eureka Tower where DH, DS & DN go into the Edge. I sit a gaze out at that view over the bay again. It's raining but there is just something about that view. Day 14 - Our last day and thank god it sunny. We're up and out by 8.30am. We take the beach road to the city and then the M1 through Gellong and down to Torquay where DH and DN finally get to jump out of a plane. We then all jump back into the car and drive down to Torquay for surfing and body boarding lessons. I sit watchin on the beach with my toddler who is loving the soft clean sand. This is a defining moment for me. My little boy is in his wetsuit jumping waves and experimenting with his body board, chuckling and laughing to himself. By 4pm they are all exhausted. This has been a great day. Our faces are all tingling from the sun and our lungs a full of fresh air. We head home to pack. Day 15 - What a stupid day to leave Melbourne. The sun is shining and the beach front is buzzing ..... it's cup day. We set off for Tullamarine taking the beach road rather than the Nepean. If it wasn't for the house and the dog we'd stay. I've been offered the job but sponsorship is an issue. Our flight home is hard work. Even though neither plane is packed, our boys have had enough of planes now. Day 16 - We land in Heathrow. Tatty, dirty and heaving Heathrow. There's pushing and tutting at the carousel which breaks down and there's pushing and beeping when we're exiting the car park. We join the race track called the M3. I check my e-mails and there it is, job offer including sponsoship for a two year temporary visa. Initial instinct is to throw up and then OMG we're really going to do this. We have nothing to lose and everything to gain. So here we are at the start of what will prove to be a whirlwind adventure with many ups and downs. Everyday I'm learning more and more. The migration agent that we'd previously chosen doesn't deal with Temporary Visas so we're on our own, well apart from you lot so we hope you don't mind helping us out. So there it is our reccie/holiday report, I hope you enjoyed it. I have loads of photo's but being a total technophobe I have no idea how to attach them so that will have to wait for another day. Pam |
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| garythornley | 16 Nov 2007, 06:20 AM Post #2 |
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Hello, Sounds like you had a great time. I don't know anyone who's visited Melbourne that doesn't like it. We're moving out of our house on Wednesday next week, our furniture is moving tomorrow and will be in Melbourne by end year. - before we will, we should be there Jan/Feb time. Good luck with your move, your reccie report was really interesting. Gary :Beer: & Caron :shoe: |
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| Michele | 16 Nov 2007, 07:04 AM Post #3 |
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Thanks for the report Pam, What a great read, I hope our reccie goes just like yours, with a job at the end. Here's hoping!!! I was glad to hear about what you thought of the supermarkets, that the quality and choice was better than expected. That's good news! You certainly managed to pack a lot into a relatively short space of time. The piece that you wrote about watching your son in the sea really made me smile. That's what moving to Oz is all about - your hopes and dreams for the future, for yourself and the children. Good luck with the next phase. :clover: |
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| Bordy | 16 Nov 2007, 11:19 AM Post #4 |
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Great report Pam, reminded me of my feelings 8 years ago when I first came, including the Sky. Totaly agree about the supermarkets & puffing Billy. No way would you be allowed to dangle your legs out as you go up through the rain forrest but I bet the kids loved it. Sounds like you will settle in well here. |
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| Thebears | 16 Nov 2007, 02:38 PM Post #5 |
 
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She sounds like a local already :D A very good read, thanks Pam |
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| Jasonmb | 17 Nov 2007, 06:36 AM Post #6 |
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Great read, sounds like you had a fab time, also CONGRATULATIONS on the job offer. OH also has a job offer, contracts have been signed and we are just going through the 457 visa paperwork, should be over end Feb / beginning of March next year and can not wait :thumbsup: |
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| Lindsay Clan | 18 Nov 2007, 03:50 PM Post #7 |
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A wonderful reccie report! Congratulations on the job offer and good luck with all your preparations for the move. Take care. :waving: |
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| The Crooksters | 20 Nov 2007, 09:19 AM Post #8 |
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Hi everyone and thanks for all your replies. When I read my report back I realise that the whole of our reccie/holiday was based around the children who are 6 and 2. There are soooooooo many other things that we have yet to do both as a couple and as a family. We didn't even see the city at night. We've already decided that our first trip will be in a hired camper van taking a slow drive down the Great Ocean Road! We just can't wait! Pam |
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| buzzy--bee | 20 Nov 2007, 09:29 AM Post #9 |
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Great report and congratulations on the job! Simon |
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| Kapri | 21 Nov 2007, 03:08 AM Post #10 |
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Great reccie report Pam. I wish we could afford to do a reccie but we can't so it's great to hear other people's. :) |
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| Jimma | 27 Nov 2007, 11:49 PM Post #11 |
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Nice one Pam. It was good for us to read about how the children got on. We are over there in the new year for our reccie and we are in the same boat with Jack and Jess (7 & 3). Its the only thing that we have any worries over really. As long as they can settle in, we'll be happy. It'll interesting to see any photo's if you can get them loaded. Congratulations on the job. :thumbsup: Jim and Kath |
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| The Crooksters | 28 Nov 2007, 07:35 AM Post #12 |
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Both the kids loved it. Owen will be 3 in April and would probably be happy anywhere in the world as long as he's with us. Regan I'm a bit more worried about. He had a great holiday and said he wanted to live there but since he's been back at school with his mates he's been a bit more reserved. We've told him that if he is really unhappy out there then we will come home. We feel safe saying this as we're 100% sure that he will be happy. He loves being out in the open and he loves all sports. Those first couple of weeks at school will be the hardest but that would be the same if we moved him to any other school than the one he's in now. What is it you're worried about with your kids? Pam |
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| nee | 30 Nov 2007, 01:04 PM Post #13 |
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..like a Britvic'er....but weirder...
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Can i recommend doing what we did? Before we moved away i got the parents email addresses / msn messenger address etc and although we are the other side of the world, Tom can still keep in touch with his friends back home. (well..through us as he is only 5) :) He really doesn't miss them as much as we thought he would, and to be honest i bet Regan didn't mention his uk friends very much whilst you were out here? He's bound to be reserved whilst he is still in the UK and around his friends, but once here i bet he will be having so much fun that those reservations will fade. It's probably a good idea when you're here to bring his friends names into conversations a bit... we did this with Tom. Just stuff like "Hey Tom..i bet Charlie would love to see this" etc That way they still have 'friends' at the forefront of their minds until they get to know other children, instead of feeling cut off and alone. It's worked so far for us anyway. We moved here too late for Tom to start school as it's the end of term soon, so effectively he won't have seen any children his own age until he starts school at the end of Jan, but with him recieving emails from his friends back home, alls cool! Hope this helps.. |
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