Popular Post EmNew Posted October 7, 2015 Popular Post Report Share Posted October 7, 2015 I cannot believe it's only been 10 days since we touched down onto Australian soil - feels like a lifetime ago!These are the "life admin " things we have done since arriving on 28/09:First port of call was our bank, to fully activate the NAB accounts that we opened whilst still in RSA, and had transferred money into - we were under the impression that our cards would be there already, but they still had to be ordered for collection ( got those today )Registered with Medicare and got temporary registration - JUST in time, as hubby has already needed to go to Dr for chest infection ( note : bulk billing practices charge double on Saturdays, and you only get back 50% from Medicare )Made appointment at Vicroads for drivers' licence conversion ( you need bank cards for actual appointment, which we only got today ) Appointment is this Friday, so that will be done and dusted by the end of the weekBought a second hand car - interesting exercise - check out redbook.com.au to gauge the trade value and expected current private sales value of the make/model/year of the car you want to buy. Then haggle over the price and insist that price you offer is driveaway ( includes stamp duty , rego etc ). Don't expect to negotiate in the thousands though , just hundreds ( start with a few more hundred than you hope to settle on, to have leverage )Arranged insurance for said vehicle - dealer quoted us, assuring us it was the best price we could get, but we shopped around using iSelect.com.au for comparisons. When we went into our bank to get the bank cheque to pay for the car, the lady at the teller asked if she could take us to a consultant to quote us for insurance when she realised we were buying a car. NAB offer insurance underwritten by same company as the dealer from which we were buying and we got the VERY same comprehensive cover for $22 a month lessHubby had interview with a company ( already arranged whilst we were in RSA ), and we were Blessed that he got a call the next day to advise he got the job. Contract signed, and pending Australian police clearance, he starts next MondayRegistered online for our TFN numbersVisited some of the neighbourhoods that we're interested in renting in First impressions:Love it, love it, love itPeople are so friendly and eager to helpPublic transport system is awesomeBest way I can sum up the city in my opinion is that it has the charm of Europe, and the openness / 'freedom' of Africa - walking around Melbourne, you really feel like you're in a city like Milan, with beautiful buildings, trams, high end fashion stores, cafe culture etc, but with the wide open skies of Africa and beautiful sunsets over the bayIkea rocks Love the mixture of older architecture with new right next doorLove all the open park areas and green spacesLove the bayside walking trailsDockside area is a little sterile, although there are some awesome motor boats moored there.Tips to share :If you get a prepaid mobile sim card via Telstra, you don't automatically get voicemail set up. The brochure you get implies you just have to dial a number to activate this, but it does not work. You need to go into a Telstra store for them to change a setting on their computers before you can use this serviceI have shared this elsewhere, but if you need a local power cord for your laptap and don't want to be bothered using an RSA / Aus adapter each time, don't fork out huge sums at a PC / electronics store, rather look out for a PC repair / refurbishment store, where you can pick one up for almost a tenth of the new retail costDon't try and get away with using a myki concession card, if you can't prove you're eligible for one. On the train back from the CBD today, we witnessed a random check by officials, and an adult was caught using a child's concession fare card - $75 on the spot fine!Research the parking signs before heading off on the roads. Which side of the road, how long you can park, which direction you may face on which side of the road etc, is very important!Myki cards are bought at 7-11's, not at the station, as you may logically think....Ikea rocks ( I may have mentioned that elsewhere in this post )Personal bad points :I have never ever suffered from hayfever - until now.......a lot of the streets have plane trees lining them, and I seem to be badly affectedmy inbuilt compass has not adjusted yet - the terrain is a lot flatter than I am used to in the Western Cape, so not easy to navigate visually without Google Maps underestimated the toll on the body / emotions that this took out of me It is early days yet, and I understand we're in the 'honeymoon' phase and had a very soft landing and some Blessings showered on us, but I don't think we'll have any regrets about our decision to come here........ 20 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soon2BOz Posted October 7, 2015 Report Share Posted October 7, 2015 Wow...Em sounds fantastic!So happy that you guys seem to be settling so well! Thanks for all the info....will be sure to keep the relevant bits in my memory bank for our landing in Dec! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedPanda Posted October 7, 2015 Report Share Posted October 7, 2015 Wow, just wow!!!It sounds like the kind of landing we would really love to have! I'm very impressed with the quick job for your husband. Maybe impressed is the wrong word, I just mean it's fantastic for you guys to already have one income in $ sorted out, so quickly!Good luck with house/flat finding, and I hope you enjoy your new freedom and the little adventures of discovering your city.*Panda's cheering you on, all the way!!!* Ps. Please keep sharing, even if you have downs too. I really enjoy reading about the people who settle in Melbourne, because I can't wait to join you! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rozellem Posted October 7, 2015 Report Share Posted October 7, 2015 Em, go to the chemist and get Claratyn (spelling?) a hayfever tablet, take in the morning. Do not take a second one, bad for your liver or something. You can however overlap by using a nasal spray over the top. This will be something like Beconase. If your eyes are affected, you could overlap with a hayfever eye drop, if needed. But, you probably wont need the whole arsenal. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sweepea Posted October 7, 2015 Report Share Posted October 7, 2015 EmNew lovely reading your post and really blessings have been showered upon you. What line of work is hubby in? Bit of a relief not to hear you complaining about weather yet... im a bit nervous after hearing some of the feedback although definitely like all viewpoints and realise its personal choice at the end of the day. Its early days for us as we only lodged an EOI with 65 points but we shall seelook forward to more updates and tips 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SDTCPT Posted October 7, 2015 Report Share Posted October 7, 2015 Great news Em, glad you guys are off to a rocking start. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndreCarla Posted October 7, 2015 Report Share Posted October 7, 2015 May the blessings continue to rain down on you! Take care,Carla Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Donovan83 Posted October 7, 2015 Report Share Posted October 7, 2015 For hayfever - I find I sleep much better and wake up without a sinus headache if I run an air filter in the room over night. I bought this one - http://www.echolife.com.au/products/vornado-ac-500-hepa-air-purifier.html?dfw_tracker=10639-1149-0001&gclid=CM-21sOjscgCFUcJvAod7WUJ1A, it filters the air really well but I can't really recommend it because it's really noisy. If you get one that is quieter but still has a HEPA filter, you'll find you sleep much better and are less affected by the nasties in the air in spring 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mel-B Posted October 8, 2015 Report Share Posted October 8, 2015 Where are you staying? We are coming in January and cant anything "cheap" for those first 1 or 2 weeks until a rental can be acquired. Stressing about it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stace Posted October 8, 2015 Report Share Posted October 8, 2015 Wowwww that sounds the perfect welcoming to Aus Sounds like how I am imagining our arrival in Sydney....whenever that may be. Wishing you guys the best of luck for anything on your new journey. Will love to read updates Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedPanda Posted October 8, 2015 Report Share Posted October 8, 2015 Mel-B, try AirBnb, they have some nice tools on their site to help you with price and location combinations. We're using them for the first 3 months, since they also have 'long stay' prices. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mel-B Posted October 8, 2015 Report Share Posted October 8, 2015 Thanks RedPanda. Enjoy falling in love with that amazing city! Its been a year since we visited Melbourne and I honestly can't wait to go back. Was the most laid back city I have ever been to. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EmNew Posted October 8, 2015 Author Report Share Posted October 8, 2015 Sorry Mel-B, but I can't give advice re pre rental accommodation ....one of our other Blessings, the biggest of all, is that friends already here kindly offered us space in their house while we find our feet.Thanks for the advice re hay fever remedies, Donovan83 and rozzellum , greatly appreciated 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charne Posted October 9, 2015 Report Share Posted October 9, 2015 Hi EmNew,So happy to hear that everything is going smoothly for the most part. Thank you for posting whilst your world is a little topsy turvy. All the best wishes for a smooth settle. XX 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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