UK2AUS Posted June 18, 2008 Report Share Posted June 18, 2008 Hi allFirstly let me introduce myself. Not sure if we're supposed to divulge our real names but what the hell. I'm Jenny and myself, hubby and hopefully our daughter will be making the BIG move to Aus in around 2 years time.Hubby lodged his application in the first week of Feb 2007 and we go the nod in February 2008. A year and a week later. We used consultants in Perth who were ABSOLUTELY fantastic. The whole process, although expensive, was relatively easy for us (I've read some real horror stories on the site). Having said that though it proved to be one of the most stressful times in our lives. The waiting and anticipation was at times unbearable.So what's up with us? We're from Durban and moved to the UK 10 years ago but just can't settle here. Going back home, for us, wasn't an option as all the same reasons as to why we left are still there, and in some cases worse, so we decided on Australia. To-date I have still not spoken to anyone (apart from our teenage daughter) who has anything negative to say about Australia.So on 23 May 2008 the three of us got a plane bound for Brisbane. Let me stop now and tell you that our daughter (18) is adamant she is not moving to Aus, so just getting her to agree to do the visa process was hard enough. So we get the visa and hubby and I are chuft as hell as now we can show said child exactly what she would be missing out on if she stayed in Aus. So now back to our trip. We arrived on 24 May had a couple of glorious days of sunshine and then the rain came and came and came..... lol... Well what could we do except say to ourselves "our blerry luck". We've gone to hell and back with her and the whole Aus move and now the weather was let's say, less desirable. We of course, being adults can see past that and fully understand that Aus needs the rain but try explaining that to an 18 year old who only agreed to go on the visa so she could go to Aus on holiday and get a tan. So part of the trip was spent dealing with a moody kid. We did lots of great stuff and also took quite a lot of time driving around and talking to people. We stayed for 2 weeks but that just wasn't enough to do everything we wanted and in fact to find out everything we wanted. Brisbane is, however, a BEAUTIFUL city and most of the suburbs we drove around were fantastic. We've decided when we come over to Brisbane to rent in Springwood or Daisy Hill and from there life will begin for us and we can then decide on where we want to buy or build.Coming back to the UK was really tough as I haven't been able to think about anything other than Brisbane since we arrived. The real problem here is that we've set a timescale of at least 2 years before actually moving over. Why? because we've got financial commitments (in other words "debt") that we need to squash before we leave. Having said that though we may not be able to squash it all and may have to move over and set up monthly payments from Aus to the UK to maintain the payments until such time as they are paid in full.As if waiting for the PR wasn't tough enough I now have to practise patience again but this time with ourselves. Then of course when we are ready to make the move we have the dilemna of leaving our daughter behind if at that point in time she still insists on staying here. Apart from my daughter I'll be leaving my Mom here as well. Right now I'm ok with all of this but the real test will come closer to the time. We know in our heart of hearts that Aus is definitely where we want to live. We'll be brining over all our household stuff, trailer tent, jet-ski and 2 harleys. The only thing we're not bringing over in our car. Taking all our stuff will hopefully mean that the only big outlay we'll have there is buying a car and property.Well I'm sure you're bored stupid reading this long saga but I do hope that by joining this forum I get to know some of you and get to know something more about where we intend to call "home".Bye for now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leigh MC Posted June 18, 2008 Report Share Posted June 18, 2008 hi JennyWelcome to the forum.Talk about having to have patience! Jeepers - I don't know if I could do it - so good luck with it! (but you'll find loads of support here )Good idea to pay off the debt first, though... makes sense I suppose.Just a warning - this site is addictive... happy reading! Leigh Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UK2AUS Posted June 18, 2008 Author Report Share Posted June 18, 2008 Thanks for the welcome. Which part of Aus are you in? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leigh MC Posted June 18, 2008 Report Share Posted June 18, 2008 ... sigh... sadly not there yet! I'm still in Cape Town.. waiting to apply for the visa.We're going on a 457 - so the boyfriend need to get a job first!Leigh Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kerry-Lea Posted June 18, 2008 Report Share Posted June 18, 2008 Hi JennyWelcome to the site! Sorry you are so far away and can't join us Cape Town ladies for a bit of vino next weekend!You really do have patience - I would give anything to be there right now - and we are also looking at Brissie so we might even be neighbours (of sorts!) This site is great - seems you dont need any of the info, but the support of fellow Saffas going through the process is really great. I've enjoyed great support from wonderful people i've never met. makes you wonder why SA is in such a state if all these wonderful people live here?Anyway - enjoy the forum - its a blast! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UK2AUS Posted June 18, 2008 Author Report Share Posted June 18, 2008 Hey LeighHad I read your "signature" I would have seen the status of play with your application.Sorry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UK2AUS Posted June 18, 2008 Author Report Share Posted June 18, 2008 A bit.... or a lot.... of vino would have been very very good. Enjoy it anyway.Thanks also for the welcome. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leigh MC Posted June 18, 2008 Report Share Posted June 18, 2008 Hey LeighHad I read your "signature" I would have seen the status of play with your application.Sorry LOL! We all do that from time to time... it's the stress! Kerry-Lea - looking forward to it next weekend...!L Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SHIRLS Posted June 18, 2008 Report Share Posted June 18, 2008 Hi and welcome,being a UK girl myself but living here in SA for 15 years,I am interested as to your reasons for leaving UK apart from the biggie....the weather ! We are going to the sunshine coast north of Brisbane hopefully by the end of the year and although we both hold British passports,Aus is our first choice so do tell Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sa2uk2oz Posted June 19, 2008 Report Share Posted June 19, 2008 Hi Jennywelcome to the site. We have lived between South africa and the uk over the past 12 years.. moved back to SA twice.. for lifestyle and weather.It was something we had to do, and no one could have talked us out of making the move back.. Retrospectively i am glad we did it, as sincewe arrived in Australia, it has convinced us 200% that the journey we took was all worth it.We lived in Glenwood and Durban North.. also Buckinghamshire and North East England.. and are now on the Gold coast and absolutely love it!!Our daughter is almost 17.. Felt bad about moving back wards and forwards but she has grown so much as a young adult and has embraced each moveeven though she wasn't keen on moving back to Uk the last time and leaving all her friends in Durban. There are lots of opportunities for her over here. She has made a nice group of friends. Felt especially bad about moving her in her last year of school, as once we validated our visas in Dec 06, we thought we would give it 2 years till she had finished her A levels. However, we were just playing the waiting game.. and we found we were putting our lives on hold for the move. As we had both just turned 40.. thought sooner rather than later.. and we are all happy we made that decision to move over here at the end of July last year, just 7 months after validating..So i know where you are coming from when you say, all you can think about is Brisbane!!Don't worry, the weather has been unsettled lately.. but it gets nice and warm.. and where we live on the gold coast is so similar to Durban.. its almost home from home.Good luck and enjoy the journey!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UK2AUS Posted June 20, 2008 Author Report Share Posted June 20, 2008 Hi ShirlsWhy do we want to leave UK. Well, yes the weather is definitely the BIGGIE although the snow is still a novelty for us and we're like BIG kids when it does snow (which contrary to believe isn't that often). The cold, however, is relentless and the cold and very short days in winter are soooo depressing. So No 1, the weather. No. 2 I can't get to cribs with the whole work, pub, home - work, pub, home culture. I know I mustn't generalise but all the poms we know are like that and we just don't fit it. We'd rather be braaing or outside doing something, instead of in a pub drinking. UK has now become very very expensive but that is part of life I suppose and very little you can do about the cost of living. For me I find it very very stressful, coming into work on the bus is quite an awakening, they're dirty and people pay no attention to the "no smoking rule" and I'm not just talking cigarettes. This is not an everyday occurence but happens very frequently and for one that relies on public transport it is very off putting. Then my working day. I have NEVER worked under such pressure in my entire life. The traffic is awful. Unless you can afford to send your kids to a private school (which we did in SA but couldn't afford to here) the Government schools leave a lot to be desired. Gosh I could go on and on. In a nut shell I don't like it for what it is and what it stands for. This is just my personal opinion based on my own experiences. I'm sure it's not like this for everyone and now that I know I'm leaving I'm probably feeling more negative about it. Apart from all the bad it does have one very good point and that is that some parts of it is very very quaint, old fashioned and pretty but this isn't enough for us so Aus here we come. We did a lot of research before putting in our application for Aus and the general concensus is part Queensland pretty much the same weather as Durbs (where we're from), has pretty much the same relaxed lifestyle and the cherry on the top is.... THERE ARE LOTS OF SAFFERS there..... lol...It is though a bit daunting making such a major move again at this age, both hubby and I are 41 this year, 43 by the time we actually move. Had we made the move to Aus straight from SA 10 years ago we would have been settled now. In hind-sight it's always easy to say "we should have" hey? It's scary but exciting at the same time but what does make it easier is that so many people of all ages are making the same move. Hey we may even meet up there....-------------------------------------SA2UK2OZI know exactly what you mean about "putting your life on hold". That is exactly what I feel like with our timescale. The other worrying aspect for us is that it gives our daughter 2 more years to get more grounded here in the UK and of course the BIG worry is that she falls in love. What to do. What to do. Financially we know we can't make the move now although we would both LOVE too.So you live on the Gold Coast. Man what an amazing place. Can I just say that on the days that the sun was shining and we didn't have much on we were at Surfers Paradise in the sea. It was amazing to put my feet back on proper beach sand and swim in the sea. All 3 of us loved it. The Gold Coast really is just like Durbs and definitely somewhere we would prefer to settle over Brisbane but there are a couple of points which we just assumed which maybe you could answer. Being that the Gold Coast is very touristie aren't houses to rent and buy around there very expensive. Also I saw tons of apartments blocks and hotels but where are the businesses ie I do conveyancing and obviously work for attorneys. Are there businesses in the Gold Coast where one could get employment or would you have to commute?Did your daughter manage to make new friends easily? This is the BIGGEST concern for our daughter. I see that you're the same age as us. How did you and your hubby find making such a big move at this point in your lives? Did you manage to make friends easily? I know without a shadow of a doubt that we'll fit right into the lifestyle but one does need friends and I'm concerned that this late in life it might be harder to make friends.Believe it or not here in the UK our very closest friends are saffers.We've got english acquaintances but no-one we can class as a friend. We've got very little in common with them. What are the Australian people like? I would love to have Australian friends as well when we arrive. Whilst on holiday we found them to very friendly. Those that we met anyway.Sorry to burden you with these questions and I hope you don't mind replying. If you do, just tell me to go and jump in the lake. Bye for now SA2UK2OZ and SHIRLSJenny Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SHIRLS Posted June 20, 2008 Report Share Posted June 20, 2008 Thanks JennyWe could also have taken the UK route (all have British passports),but after 15 years of me not living there,too much has changed and most ,not for the better.My kids would be swallowed whole for breakfast at school as our SA schools are still fairly well disciplined and our children respectful.UK has bred the idea of laziness being the easy way out as the dole seems like a great option.Hence high incidence of teenage pregnancy and single-parent families with little or no moral values.To top that is the incessant flow of non-english speaking immigrants from Eastern block countries draining the economy and demanding their religious rights right and left.IMHO Aus is taking the right approach with it's rigorous visa proccessing as this will ensure that what has happened in UK will not happen there and the reward of getting that precious visa is far sweeter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UK2AUS Posted June 20, 2008 Author Report Share Posted June 20, 2008 Hey ShirlsI couldn't have said it better myself. You've hit the nail well on the head. My advice for anyone considering leaving SA for the UK is don't. Look elsewhere, especially if you have children.Talking about teenage pregenancies, you know whilst we were in Aus we didn't see one teenager pushing a pram. What a pleasant change. Here (Birmingham) you can't walk up one single street in town without seeing at least one.I wish we had done things differently 10 years ago but with British and commonwealth passports and with hubby's family already here, this seemed like the best choice at the time.Put it down to experience hey? Very very good luck with your application.Jenny Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Morrie Posted June 20, 2008 Report Share Posted June 20, 2008 Hi JennyThis is the best site you can be on to find out about Aus!We moved here when hubby was 44, I was 37 and the kids 2 & 4. I set myself the target to talk to 1 "stranger" a day. Ended up meeting heaps of people every day - at kids daycare, parks (when I took the kids there) work, train, grocery store!! Name it and I have had a chat with somebody there!We do have good Aussie friends - and some Kiwi's and many SA's. The 2 couples I would give my kids to (if need be!) are both ex SA. We love Brissy - weather is usually sunny!!I know quite a few Poms, and all of them say Aus is so much cheaper to live in and housing is so much better!1 tip - first get a job then decide where you want to live. It's hard when you've bought a house and the job is an hour away. Harley & a camper trailer is a good combination! Aussie is the Camping mecca of the world!!! I had a Kawasaki & Mark a Yamaha FJ1100, I do miss that!I learned patience through emigrating. We applied in Sept 2000 (a day before hubby turned 40) and got our PR visa in 2003, moved Feb 2004.Susan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UK2AUS Posted June 20, 2008 Author Report Share Posted June 20, 2008 (edited) Hi SusanWhere in Brisbane do you live? The two suburbs near Brisbane that we looked at are Springwood and Daisy Hill. We've only driven through them but not actually had occasion to ask what they are actually like. Do you know anything about them?Any others you can recommend?Also I note you've been in Aus for 4 years. Are you guys now fully settled (in home, work, friends etc)Jenny Edited June 20, 2008 by UK2AUS Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SHIRLS Posted June 20, 2008 Report Share Posted June 20, 2008 Heh Jenny,agree with you about the lack of teenage pregnancies visible in Aus compared with UK.Australia did go on a campagne a few years back to increase the population by offering a financial incentive to have more babies.The plan did backfire slightly with a sudden increase in teenage pregnancies and their claims for the once-off pay-out.Maybe some forumites in Aus can comment on this as I do believe that one does still get a financial benefit of some description per child up to a certain age if one has PR visa.Teenage deliquents in UK is not something I was prepared to put my kids through but if plan A fails then sadly plan B (uk) will take over so DIAC must hurry up before I depair.Really I should be grateful at least to have a plan B so sorry for being a winging POME.....signing off now to get back to my voddy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Morrie Posted June 21, 2008 Report Share Posted June 21, 2008 Hi SusanWhere in Brisbane do you live? The two suburbs near Brisbane that we looked at are Springwood and Daisy Hill. We've only driven through them but not actually had occasion to ask what they are actually like. Do you know anything about them?Any others you can recommend?Also I note you've been in Aus for 4 years. Are you guys now fully settled (in home, work, friends etc)JennyHi JennyThere are heaps of ex-SA's in Springwood & Daisy Hill. It is nice & close to the Gold Coast. We preferred the Northside of BNE. Don't know why - it's such a personal thing.We chose a school for the kids first and then everything else fell into place.We both drive about 40min to work - which is very much the norm for Brissy.I know there are many people who live on the Gold Coast and drive to BNE city every day for work. We are very settled. Sometimes it feels as if we've been here forever!You are welcome to send me a PM - sometimes I reply to a new post, but then forgot which one it was and only just stumbled on your reply to me!I read online news before we came and got a good feel of the place that way. see www.brisbanetimes.com.auregardsSusan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sa2uk2oz Posted June 21, 2008 Report Share Posted June 21, 2008 Hi Jennyto answer your questions.. rentals are probably on a par, with decent suburbs of brisbane.. we had a lovely rental when we first arrived here, in Robina.(about 8 km from Surfers)lovely area, with a nice shopping centre - on the main rail link to Brisbane. . not far from where we have justbought our house. It was a 3 bed 2 and half bathroom, with patio/garden, double garagepool, spa and gym in the complex and we paid $380 a week. Friends of ours in Parkinsonnear Brisbane, rent a four bed for slightly less than that. a good site to get some idea on rental prices is www.seqrents.com.auHouse prices are a little more when you are buying, although there seem to be some bargains aroundat the moment, with the rise in interest rates recently. Have a look at this website to get some ideaswww.realestate.com.auJobs - there are a few major businesses on the gold coast, have a look atwww.seek.com.au Friends, yes, we do have mainly saffer friends... and a few that are here from the UK.We all go camping together, and have braai's and get togethers for rugby, etc like we did in England.My daughter has made friends easily, and fitted in well. She enjoyed the beach lifestyle in durbanso the gold coast was an obvious choice for us. There are part time jobs galore for the kids here,she has 2 at the moment, and is saving hard to buy a car at the moment. We really are happy here.. and when we lived in the uk, we used to spend all our time wishing our livesaway until it was time for our holidays. Here, we feel like we are on holiday most of the time.What school did you go to? was it in Durban. PM me if you prefer.good luck.. you won't be sorry with your decision Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.