Alida Posted January 24, 2015 Report Share Posted January 24, 2015 Just to quickly recap history ...We arrived the 14th Nov 2014, moved in as a family of six with my brother with a family of five and stayed there for two months, interestingly exactly to the date and hour. It was tough going some days. So many children in one house with two families that sometimes have different opinions about life, and feel the tension of the necessity of our stay together with the inevitability of our temporary dependency, is a recipe for the creation of a minefield of emotional tests. One fine day, I, the emotional mother, could handle no more and my DH was kind of forced by my emotions to make a decision. So we packed up our lives and left in two hours' time. Family relationships needed breathing space and boundaries to stay alive and healthy. So we hit the road to the Sunshine Coast, our new dream. Wonderful, kind friends gave us shelter for the weekend, but we wanted to be only us again for a while and my wonderful husband found us a nice little holiday house on Bribie Island of all places !! In this past week, we were referred by our friends to an estate agent we've met once before, from Zimbabwe. At the time DH phoned her, she was talking to tenants who needed a lease break. Can anyone say: Our God is an awesome God !!??We got approved, signed, move in coming Saturday the 31st. A really nice, modern little place, which ticks all the boxes of the list of our basic needs. And not even too expensive, seeing that we don't have an income yet.We are so greatful for the amazing Provision and care of our Heavenly Father !!We have a home for five months to find our feet and ourselves, a job and the new life we are so happy and blessed to live in this beautiful spot on earth.We have not yet started to relate to our environment, since we knew we were not yet home. Awe about everything nice will come in due time... 11 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Batsie Posted January 24, 2015 Report Share Posted January 24, 2015 All the best Alida. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mara Posted January 24, 2015 Report Share Posted January 24, 2015 Alida, I am presuming that the rental is on Bribie Island as well? My nephew used to live there, he absolutely loved it, was extremely sorry to leave there to move to Austin, Texas!I sincerely hope that once you move in to your rental home you will feel more settled.. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Magenta Posted January 24, 2015 Report Share Posted January 24, 2015 From the time we started applying for the visa, I felt as is we were living in limbo. My husband and I lived with my parents for 2 months before coming over and then when we arrived, we stayed in 2 places in 4 weeks. When we moved into our rental, I felt as if I could finally start to put down roots and press 'play' again. It is an amazing feeling to have your own place and your own space. I wish you and your family many happy days in your new home. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Riekie Posted January 25, 2015 Report Share Posted January 25, 2015 Part of the immigration process is often to be in limbo for a while - not always a very pleasant experience! You'll look back on this one day and realise how this only made you stronger! I'm so glad everything worked out for you - now it's just up up and away!.... 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alida Posted January 25, 2015 Author Report Share Posted January 25, 2015 Aah thank you all !! Mara, the rental is in Morayfield, only 30 minutes drive from here. The big shopping in Rands has begun, it's fun and nerve wrecking at the same time. And weird, for we had our own house for thirteen years and now we have to start from scratch again. We looked forward to this so much and yes it is fun, but also weird, for the giddy feeling that we had when we started up our own life as newly weds, made place for plain and practical planning for basic needs for a family of six. But we accidently missed a turnoff today and stumbled upon a close down sale of a furniture business. WOW !! About a month's worth of South African salary later, half the rental house were furnished with brand new stuff !! Is it only me, or are mattresses REALLY expensive here ?That's it for now, my brain cells have melted in the heat. Happy Australia day tomorrow, folks !! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OubaasDik Posted January 25, 2015 Report Share Posted January 25, 2015 Aah thank you all !! Mara, the rental is in Morayfield, only 30 minutes drive from here. The big shopping in Rands has begun, it's fun and nerve wrecking at the same time. And weird, for we had our own house for thirteen years and now we have to start from scratch again. We looked forward to this so much and yes it is fun, but also weird, for the giddy feeling that we had when we started up our own life as newly weds, made place for plain and practical planning for basic needs for a family of six. But we accidently missed a turnoff today and stumbled upon a close down sale of a furniture business. WOW !! About a month's worth of South African salary later, half the rental house were furnished with brand new stuff !! Is it only me, or are mattresses REALLY expensive here ?That's it for now, my brain cells have melted in the heat.Happy Australia day tomorrow, folks !! Yes, they are expensive, although I managed to get a bed / mattress set for $500 when I got here on 2002 - the salesguy was an Indian from Zimbabwe and chucked in a few (useless) pillows to sweeten the deal.I was lucky, and the bed lasted many (7) years, before it became a hazard, whereby broken sprigs would randomly leap out to impale one's more tender parts .... When I was in the army, I would have paid money out of my own salary for booby-trap fuses like that. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OnYellowBrickRd Posted January 27, 2015 Report Share Posted January 27, 2015 Alida (and others) have a look at garage sales and on Gumtree (narrow your search to free stuff in your area). On Facebook you will find "buy, swap, sell" pages and I've even found a "things for free" Facebook page! If you are patient you can find many things in surprisingly good nick! When buying in Rands everything is expensive, but with some clever shopping you can furnish your house for two 'n six If transport is a problem, hire a trailer for a day. I've also seen a service offered on Gumtree that picks up and delivers at a reasonable fee.Happy shopping! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alida Posted February 1, 2015 Author Report Share Posted February 1, 2015 So we've moved into this sweet little house in Morayfield. This whole process is fun and exhausting at the same time. Sometimes it is as if I stand outside of myself, learning of myself. I slip sometimes into the mindset of longing for the known and my old comfort zone. We are also closing in to our third month of stay in OZ, which often is marked as the homesick period. As we set up this new home, I find myself thinking of how our house was back in RSA. And suddenly, for a moment, wishing I could have it back. Or, resenting these paper walls and hoping that one day, we could buy a brick built house, where I can hang my pictures as I wish, don't have to worry about a thing because there's no landlord/lady watching over my shoulder whether I keep his/her house to their standard. It's the first time in our whole life that we're renting a house. It feels like putting a wild horse in a stable !Yet I know that, besides that is impossible and stupid to go back, we have changed so much in ourselves, that we will not fit in our old home and circumstances anymore. We've downscaled much and like it. We've seen more than only home and as they say, a mind stretched to new dimensions can never reform to its original ways. We like Australia and love living here. The differences and changes are minor - no, it's major in a positive sense, even though I sometimes long for the beauty of Cape Town and surroundings, I long for family holidays and a few dear friends. But I already have wonderful new friends here too, we've seen beautiful spots here too. It's the factor of the unknown that throws me sometimes, yet I know the more I get to know my surroundings and its possibilities, the more I know my heart will settle here. The most important of it all, we as a family are together, all healthy, safe and happy. All honor to our Heavenly Father for His provision and care. 10 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest ERG Posted February 1, 2015 Report Share Posted February 1, 2015 Hi Alida! I'm so happy for you, you'll love Morayfield. You will get use to the houses ( or maybe learn to live with it?). We said no thanks to a castle in SA and is still not sorry about it, we love Australia and will never go back. You can drive 20km to Northlake's, they have a Meyer store and a Springbok foods in the business area and a Meatland where you can get SA. Goodies and meat. Enjoy!Elizabeth 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alida Posted February 22, 2015 Author Report Share Posted February 22, 2015 I do like Morayfield ! I'm beginning to feel familiar, now that we're almost 3,5 months in, almost a month in Morayfield. I like the lakes, the shopping centre, the Caboolture market on Sundays is TOPS ! I've found organic stuff all over and Kunara Organic Market in Sunshine Coast is only 40 mins drive from here. Our children found sweet Aussie friends of their own ages across the street. Baby son has begun walking in that cute toddling style and is the happiest little chap you can imagine. Life is so good. God is so good. We got involved with a local congregation and two dear older ladies took us under their wing, visiting us every now and then to make sure we have all we need. The GAVE us tables, cupboards, creative stuff for the children, maps of the region and marked what they consider the most important places for us to know of - library, markets, restaurants, shops. It helped us immensely. They even brought a hairdresser friend to our house for a haircut for me, since I can not move out on my own for too long with the little ones. We feel so cared for and blessed. We hope to be able to pay all the blessings we receive, to someone who might need it in the future.Now I wonder. Are there any South Africans in Morayfield / Caboolture / Burpengary area and surrounds ? Just in case we could meet up for a braai, you know ... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest ERG Posted February 23, 2015 Report Share Posted February 23, 2015 Hi Alida! Sounds good to me. We live in Bellmere.Elizabeth 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SurferMan Posted February 23, 2015 Report Share Posted February 23, 2015 So glad you are enjoying the freedom and great fun you can experience here i Aus. Welcome! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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