Our journey so far

[chester]

Arrived in OZ, not knowing anyone, where we going to sleep that night or what it looks like and only $7000. After paying for our plane tickets thats was it. We hired a motorhome for the first week, giving us wheels and accomodation as well Arrived with only our bags, lucky it was winter, so I made the 3 kids wear their doc martins and leather jackets, their hand luggage was most of their heavy school supplies, a change of clothes in nice new sports bags that they could use for school, one even put his ice skates in there. Found a reasonable cheap stationwagon, big enough for our bags and moved into a caravanpark. after 2 weeks we found a small two bedroom flat, try 3 teenages in a small flat. Bought beds, TV & a plastic garden setting setlled in well, husband got a job that would sponser him and I got a parttime job cleaning the yard and garden in the units we stayed in. got kids back to school. I planted a veggie garden in pollyboxes and downstairs garden which everbody loved, that helped feed the family with good healthy food. We had 3 months to find work/sponsor/ get a bridging visa/ or get back on that plane.

As luck would have it, I had a smash with the St/wagon, not my fault, total write off, so now we just have to use trains&bus. Finally got insurance payout. DEAR Daughter comments after walking a block uphill with parcels one day was real good. Funny how 6 months ago we had a Merc and look at us now... Just shows you how spoilt we were. Never miss Agnes only when it came to the ironing but you soon adjust.

Life goes on and we been here 13 years now, been on a few different visas, as DH found a better sponsor, I worked for a few years, son married a Ozzy girl and now has PR. Other one headed back to SA after mates and good old times, He's back with wife & kid, DD is still under her fathers visa but not sure how much longer.

This has been a roller coaster ride for us all, very unsettling and frustrating at times. Coming over as we did was not a good idea, but we have been safe, raised our kids and earning money to feed ourselves. a little homesick especially when something happens backhome. Finally we feel we can lodge our P/Visa Application, got enough super and even bought a hobby farm to retire on. If that fails we moving to NZ

But what would life have held for us if we had stayed

[Ray51]

Other one headed back to SA after mates and good old times, He's back with wife & kid,

What news from him ? Where in SA is he now , what does he prefer there , does he intend staying on...???

[chester]

What news from him ? Where in SA is he now , what does he prefer there , does he intend staying on...???

M soon discovered that his old mates had moved on and really they had little incomune after all, he used to phone Backhome and spend a few thousand $. He had been tinting windows in Oz so he started a bussiness in Richardsbay and opened another in Empangeni. Worked his butt off in the begin and had to take a second job during the quite period. Found himself an nice SA girl and later 1+1 =3 and our second grandson was born. He loved the lifestyle, he is into racing motorbikes, having braais. But knowing he had awife& son who needs a better chance in life. If anything happened to GS I would have been over there real smart.

We bought them to OZ for a 3 week xmas holiday, to see our GS for the first time when he was 10 months old, and his grandma fell in love all over again. We hoped that D inlaw could see the freedom and experience the safety, open her eyes to the bigger picture. It worked!!! M sold up and moved back to OZ hoping to apply as last living relative. But because he is married and she has relative still in SA and offically we are not PR that failed. Also imm. had change their rules again as some nationalities had a million othe relative wanting to come aswell. No problem for him just found a sponsor , got a lawyer paid his $6000 and he now has a visa. They had to return to SA to lodge papers for a few months, he got a job training window tinters in Ballito and managed to tie up some lose threads.

They now are living in Brisbane. We all love SA but not what is happening there.

Saying goodbye at the Sydney Airport was very sad. Our biggest worry was will they be safe and will we ever see them again. Its not easy for any parent having your child leave but for their own safety we must let them go

[Ray51]

I sort of expected "summefink like zat";

thanxxxx for the honest report , anyway !

Good Luck to ya all , and/or ( as we say hereabouts ) :

Bon Courage !

R.

[chester]

Thanks Ray,

We just keep pludding along but we will get there. My mother keeps sending me news paper cuttings on how bad it is now. The OLdies must feel it real bad that their kids have left, but trust me they would rather see their families safe and well. when my father passed away I was advised not to come back, cost etc but maybe if I had acceptance and a final farewell would have been better ... but instead I bailed my eyes out evertime I heard the beegee's and celine dion sing. Dh missed his brother funeral and still blames himself for not begin there for him when things got to much and he ended his life ... They were very close.

Everytime we sit waiting at the Airport for someone to arrive, you see the excitement on faces, Welcoming flowers and balloons & the hugs they can't get there fast enough to hug Grandma, who must be so tied after spending hrs on the plane but she smiling from ear to ear. Its sad but also such a happy time, if ya know what I mean. I think another out and safe when they come with bags and a string of kids.

That reminds me of one family waiting at the airport (xmas time) for grandma, all the kids had reindeer horns on their heads, mom & dad had santa hat and poor grandma got one too.

There are lovely supprices as well, My crazy friend Rosie from Durbs knocked on my door at 5.30 am, never told me they coming to OZ ( on route to NZ for a family visit) Oneday stop over! A few years later they also just phoned near Sydney, an hr away, doing a road trip, started at perth crossed the 'nanaboure' dessert by train, hired a car in melbourne. Visiting friends on the way. He had cancer and she nursed him, Son played driver/baggage man. I managed to keep them with us for a month, we just all did our best. Cooked all his favourite meals oxtail etc except afval!!!! We had such a nice time together and Rosie needed it to. Love ya my friend.

[Ray51]

Thanks Ray,

Hey , we know a Ros(i)e here , out of Durbs ,

she emigrated from RSA to UK when she was 60 and all alone ;

she's doin' real well nowadays , in Kent , I'm pleased to remark ,

N.B. also : thanks to many benefits the socialist state of U.K. can and does offer her !

Best of luck to ya all ,

R.