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| been here 2 years; Where has the time gone | |
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| Topic Started: 22 Nov 2007, 06:19 PM (324 Views) | |
| jond | 22 Nov 2007, 06:19 PM Post #1 |
Elite Member
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Hi Everyone I will try and keep this as short as possible as I know these sort of posts can ramble on a bit. Well we arrived 2 years ago yesterday and I just can't believe how quick it has gone. When we 1st arrived we lived with my Sister in Mount Eliza for what we hoped was a month or so. After our house sale fell through twice, the 2nd time 20 minutes before they were due to sign contracts we ended up there for 5 months! I will always be grateful for both my Sisters help in settling in, I can only imagine how hard it must be if your come over here for the 1st time not knowing anyone at least we had been over here many times over the years on holiday. I managed to get the 1st job I went for 2 weeks after we got here and stayed in it for 15 months until I started with my present employer. I can only repeat what has been said many times before, take any job you get offered as it is easier to get a job when you are already employed by an aussie firm. My OH went to help my Sisters firm out with a couple of days training 15 months ago and has never left, so we both consider ourselver lucky on the job front. After looking at some horrendous houses (I don't know how some people have the front to try and sell their houses) we have brought a house in Mount Martha, our biggest problem was that most of the places we looked at were just too big for 2 of us. We brought our dog with us and the very first thing I did was get him a friend, a puppy poodle/shitzu cross or as I call her a shitpoo. I joined the local golf club and have made loads of friends through there and we have gone onto start a 5 a side football team. I would like to say we have made loads of aussie friends, but the truth of the matter is we haven't really :( all my close mates are poms, we do have aussie mates but the ones we see are mainly from the UK. I don't know why this is perhaps it is were we live having quite a high number of expats down here. I have also joined the local SES unit which surprise surprise consists of about 50% poms and a couple of Dutch thrown in for good measure. so all in all I don't really have much time for anything else. My main concern was how the OH would settle in as she has left a very large family back in the Uk. I think the proof of how she has done it was when she went back for a month in June and after being there for 3 weeks phoned me wanting to come home. So have we settled in, I think so, do we miss the UK, not really. I miss the pubs and beer but that is about all. When we landed we made ourselves promise only 2 things, never call the UK home because it isn't and never convert the cost of things from $$ to GBP, that was a bit hard at first but I can't even remember the cost of most things back there now. Well I have gone on enough all we want back now is our $5000 bond from Mr Howard or perhaps Mr Rudd! Good luck to everyone who comes over and if you have half the luck we have had you will do ok. John |
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| Bordy | 22 Nov 2007, 06:33 PM Post #2 |
Administrator
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Well done on the two years, you seem to have settled well. I take it you will be going for citizenship now? My daughter also lives in Mt Martha & we love going down there for a visit, it really is a special area as Bruce McAvenney would say. |
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| jond | 22 Nov 2007, 07:21 PM Post #3 |
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Elite Member
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Hi Bordy We will go for citizenship as soon as I get the time to look into it, to be honest I don't even know where to apply :o We love it down here and want to explore a bit more, hence why we have just purchased a caravan, something I would never in a million years thought of doing in the UK. Hope your Daughter enjoys it down here. John |
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| benle | 23 Nov 2007, 04:36 AM Post #4 |
Addicted Member
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well done !! everythg seem to be going well for u both :D |
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| koalakim | 23 Nov 2007, 07:53 AM Post #5 |
Legend
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Hi John Great update on your time here! Just love the name you've given your new dog - made me chuckle! Glad you've settled in well, it does sound like it takes time to find the right place to live and the right job. We are hoping to move down your way next year. As you say it's quite hard though to get something smallish! Long may you continue to enjoy! Kim |
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