Yuvi Posted June 20, 2016 Report Share Posted June 20, 2016 3 hours ago, WayneAndMel said: Well we've made it back to JHB in one piece without leaving anyone or any beloved toy behind! Several people commented in the way back to SA how we were very brave taking 2 small children with as we did. The trip hasn't been easy at times but it's also painted a much more realistic and detailed picture for us that's notably different from what we thought before. I can see now how each city can appeal to different people and each has their merits in their own rights. So now it's onto deciding what's best for the family and lots of time spent doing calculations in Excel! Great to hear that you are back home safe, hope you enjoyed your trip in AUS. I cant wait to hear your impressions and the city you finally choose. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alchemist Posted June 21, 2016 Report Share Posted June 21, 2016 We did the LSD and visa trip last year with a 13 month old....not easy. We did 3 cities and we still have no clue where to go but possibly start off sydney side and then see where the job hunt takes us 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Riekie Posted June 22, 2016 Report Share Posted June 22, 2016 On 13/06/2016 at 10:20 AM, WayneAndMel said: With regards to being nutter magnets in Sydney I think we really are one and the incidents all happened around Central Station/the Haymarket area . We had a guy who was ranting at everyone and then started following and screaming at us - we eventually had to dive into a ladies shoe shop and he scowled at us before resuming his general ranting at the world as he walked off . Last week, for the 1st time in 12 years I've been verbally abused by a nutter on a train. She called me a sl_t and told me she was going to strangle me with the scarf around my neck. It was totally unprovoked (I was sitting there, minding my own business, checking my Twitter feed...) so she was obviously not right in the head. There is a great tolerance and acceptance in Australia for people with mental illness and they're basically harmless. On the odd occasion you may get a few words flung at you but just ignore them and move on. Obviously it you're going to stare, make remarks or laugh at them, you'll cop it... 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhatMyles Posted June 22, 2016 Report Share Posted June 22, 2016 Hi @WayneAndMel how much did that trip cost you, if I may ask? which airliner did you use? We are planning activation trip for August, though haven't finalised the dates yet. We are looking at Sydney and Brisbane only though. Me, wife and two kids aged 5 years and 2 years. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhatMyles Posted July 17, 2016 Report Share Posted July 17, 2016 @WayneAndMel Your trip is similar to what we have planned except we do not have Melbourne. How did you and the kids cope with "jetlag"? someone warned me that they need a week to recover so my trip may be too short. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WayneAndMel Posted July 20, 2016 Author Report Share Posted July 20, 2016 (edited) @PhatMyles - with difficulty. There was a degree of upset with our now 3 year old. He wasn't too happy when we landed in Sydney even though he behaved well on that flight. Sleep was difficult and the first two nights in Sydney and the family mood was low so expect it and you will need a lot of patience. On the local flights he seemed to cope better. Baby was actually much easier than our 3 year old in general. He slept a lot but also seemed to eat a lot more maybe in response to his own jetlag and unfamiliarity or maybe a conincidental growth spurt. He ate a months supply of his specialised formula in a week and Australia does not officially stock Novalac lactose free formula. By the time of the flight back our 3 year old was a bit of a handful and got upset easily over silly things - I think a sign that he felt both jetlag and fatigue from the trip - and took it out on us. My own patience was admittedly fraying as we landed in SA and we took up to a week to fully shake the ill effects once back. Mel and I had to at times make a conscious effort to just focus on keeping him occupied along the trip. He only seemed to get more into the trip by the time we were in Brisbane but we still had to give up energy and precious time to try take him places that would cheer him up. You might face that conflict of cheering children up vs properly utilising the time you have. ---- (Edit - saw your other message afterwards) We used Quantas and I was really happy with them - take them any day over SAA and fly direct. We also paid for all our flights R43k altogether (our work bonuses gone!). It is a fair whack but we needed to have a more comprehensive understanding for the big move, as well as its timing! Edited July 20, 2016 by WayneAndMel Responding to other message overlooked 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhatMyles Posted July 20, 2016 Report Share Posted July 20, 2016 Thanks. This is very helpful for planning the daily activities. I will probably have the kids stay behind with their mum for the first 2-3 days while I do the running around. Atleast it should reduce the fatigue...there is nothing worse than a grumpy toddler when sightseeing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WayneAndMel Posted July 21, 2016 Author Report Share Posted July 21, 2016 Very true. But what did help was that Oz seemed more jacked up with child care facilities (heavily so in the right areas) and there is a sense that they try be more considerate to those with kids - which really does help when you're feeling tired and sore. Definitely more so than London too I might add. Which reminds me, if you're planning on using the trains to get around with kids and prams make sure the stations you intend to use are noted as wheelchair friendly - I had the bad luck of choosing one near our accommodation in Brisbane that had no such facilities and we had to bump two prams up and down stairs. Some locals did help but that was a real workout and those heavy lifting duties fall to you as the dad. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WayneAndMel Posted July 21, 2016 Author Report Share Posted July 21, 2016 I should also add to the thread here that I believe now more so than before we did pick up a lot on the LSD trip that only sinks in when one is making the plans for the final big move. Mel also picked up things I didn't. Knowing properly where things are, areas, the cost of living, movement and the crushes of people in places have been serious factor in making better plans, finances and changing the intend timing of our move. The trip was indeed costly but when I was recently doing a proper costing and taking some risk considerations in to account (e.g. potential period of time being unemployed or having to travel far to work as well as child care) I realised it gave us sight of the much larger potential costs we might have walked smack into. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dora Posted July 22, 2016 Report Share Posted July 22, 2016 (edited) ...which reminds me, when we went there the first time, our kids were 2.5 and 5 months old. We immidiately had to invest in a double pram/stroller, especially since I stayed at home and had to tag the kids along everywhere I went, even to buy just bread...do concider working that into your initial budget as well ? - it really was worth the money spent... Edited July 22, 2016 by Dora 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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