I suddenly realised on Thursday we'd been here 6 months. I can't believe how quick its gone, so I thought I'd do a quick post on how its been.

We arrived on Wednesday 22nd June at 8am and it was raining and bloody cold. My brother had been in the UK for 3 weeks with us and flew back on the same flight. For those who don't know my brother has lived here for 12 years.

At 2pm we did our first house viewing!! The first week was just getting sorted and dealing with jetlag. We had already got our Tax File Numbers when we did our validation trip at Christmas 2004. The next day we bought a car and found the joys of Stamp Duty on second hand cars. Having spent $19,000 on the car we had to pay a further $881 in Stamp Duty so be warned. We looked on the Trading Post Website and narrowed down a few cars to look at before we made our choice.

The second week we went down to the Commonwealth Bank and activated my account and arranged to pick up Credit Cards for us both, As all our money had been transfered over through the London Branch they bent over backwards to give us a card. Everything done through the Bank has been brilliant and I would definately recommend them as a great starting off Bank. Also sorted out Medicare and got the forms for family assistance payment.

We did a lot of driving around looking at houses as we had decided we would buy straight away due to the fact we knew which area we wanted to be in and we were staying at my brothers place which was costing us nothing so didn't have any time constrictions staying in hotels or caravan parks etc. Also i felt it would be better for the kids to be in our own house rather than rent and have to move again.

The first few weeks were spent looking at schools and houses near the schools. We used the first house we saw as a benchmark for all the rest and on the 29th July we got the keys to the first house we looked at on that rainy June Day. We stayed at my brothers until our things arrived on the 4th August and moved in on the 9th. Our house sale completed in 3 weeks. We paid $295,000 for a 5 bed house and our cost in all were about $500 conveyancors and $11,000 stamp duty. We also paid all our council and water up front til June next year.

Allied Pickfords were brilliant, we got a good deal with them just by bartering and beating them down on costs. Everything was excellently packed and we didn't have a single item, scratched, damaged or broken.

The kids had started school on the 29th July after having 4 weeks off and settled within the first week. The Aussie kids are very friendly and love the english accent.
Though I found the uniform very expensive to buy from the school $22 just for a Polo Shirt. In the end I asked mum to send over 4 polo shirts from Asda which cost 10 quid.

As we'd been to Adelaide in particulary the Nort east suburbs 3 times before I was quite confident about driving and finding my way around. The Street Directory is an absolute must and I would be happy to send anyone a copy to the UK if they want one before they get here. They cost roughly $25 and surface mail tothe Uk is $21.

We'd been in the house 4 weeks when my parents arrived for 6 weeks. Although this was lovely everything stopped while they were here and I felt we didn't move on in a positive way until they left. it was difficult saying goodbye so soon after doing it in the UK. Steve had nearly 4 months off before he got the job he wanted and this was brilliant for us to have that time together and also for him to spend time with Hayley as well. We did a lot of driving around and getting familiar with our immediate area. When he started work, I wasn't worried about being by myself or getting around as we'd been doing it together.

Finding playgroups was fairly easy and we also go to Kinder Gym bit like tumble tots in UK and I use a day care facility that I can leave Hayley at for 3 hours for $5 - a bargain.

The North East has lots to offer, Tea Tree Plaza is fantastic, there are shopping centres everywhere I go. Alright I'm about 25 minutes drive from Semaphore our nearest beach but I lived 5 minutes from the beach in Poole and hardly went there.
Waterworld is brilliant for the kids, everything is roughly 20 minutes away from here and not much of a drive.

Traffic lights are a pain in the a*se, South Australian drivers are a scary nightmare and trying to get somethings done when you are used to instant access in the Uk can be frustrating. I'm still waiting for a part on my car, 2 days they told me - 3 weeks later it still isn't here.

The weathers not been all it can be, but I didn't come for the weather and I'm used to rain and cooler days........so what.

Am I glad we came............yes, we've all settled well, the kids especially who said they don't want to go back, only for a holiday. Having Hayley has made me much more outgoing that i might have been and I've had to do things for her sake and my sanity.

People are so friendly here, everyone is so helpful and curious what you think of them as Australians. People chat in supermarkets, in the street, its really great.
Fresh fruit and veg really are so fresh and meat tastes like meat, the streets are clean so are the malls.

Hope this helps all still at home, its scary giving up everything to move but if you come with the right attitude and be realistic "you'll be right" as they say !!!

Jo

Excellent post Jo

Your so right tho,,if you come and get into the Aussie way and can adapt to their lifestyle , it`l be fine

Glad your all well and settled

DEBBIE :D

excellent post JO we arrive golden grove 08/01/06 your post puts a few of our thoughts aside :D

7 days move out of house
11 days leave manchester

Thanks Jo for the posting loads of useful info :dance:



Dawn

Hi Jo

Great Post Thanks.

It is nice to read what you have been through in the past 6 months.

We are travelling out on the 15th February and after reading your post i am feeling more excited.

Thanks

Lynne