We know all the BIG things that change when you come to Australia but what about the small ones......it can be silly or sensible but either way personal to you ;)

Like I'm forever washing out empty tin cans before I put them into the rubbish bin otherwise the bin smells due to hot weather or I have millions of ants in my bin :angry:

I smile at everyone now and say hello to complete strangers as though I know them personally. :D

Slowly turning into a right boozer as nothing beats a cold beer in a stubbie holder when the weather it boiling.

Every morning I open cupboards wondering where the ants are going to be that morning as they are everywhere at the moment and driving me insane.

I have now got used to the money side of things and find 50 pence pieces tiny in comparision to 50 cent pieces.

Come on what small changes about you have you noticed?

Sasha :)

Hi , We have now adapted to our second summer here and close the doors and windows when its hot to keep "in" the cool !! On arrival the first sign of the sun meant that doors and windows were flung open!! NOT ANY MORE !!

Julie xx

HA HA, thats so true, I was doing it for ages until I was put right by my Aussie mate.

People dropping in unannouced and staying for hours !!!! At home everyone phoned first. No post on Saturdays. Not being suspicious of people who work in shops who ask if they can help you anymore. I always assumed they were trying to get me to buy something, anything in fact, now I find myself just chatting away.
In the supermarket I get taken to the aisle i need by the worker and shown exactly where it is. A big different to the Uk when the standard reponse was usually might be Aisle 7 or 8? like i was supposed to know !!!!

Jo

I actually get them going out the back to look for the item if they can't it on the shelves as well and that was in a large supermarket Woolies to be precise.

I love the fact I now no longer here the Aussie accent when people talk as I've got used to how they all sound.

Sasha :)

Just thought of another one - I hate cleaning the BBQ now instead of hating cleaning the oven in the UK!

Sasha :)

I don't wear socks as often and I'm often barefoot around the house.

Maybe because of the above :rolleyes: My feet are in a right state as they are in sandals most of the time.

I take a bottle of water and sunscreen wherever I go.

I take a sun-hat 'just in case' instead of a jumper.

I walk slower.

I don't iron the kids school uniforms.

I turn off the tap whilst I'm brushing my teeth.

The toilet doesn't get flushed every single wee :ph43r:

The car is always dusty <_<

I drink filtered water.

I eat more fresh food.

I close the curtains when it's sunny.

I drive to school, rather than walk.

I put on mossie repellant when outside at sundown.

I overtake on the inside.

I obey the speed limit exactly.



....BUT I STILL SPEND QUITE ALOT OF TIME ON HERE :lol:

Jan :chuckle:

PMSL Jan you summed it all up very nicely there :lol: love the overtaking on the inside not sure on the flushing thing though....smelly mare but I won't tell anyone if you don't :lol:

Sasha :)

Having your shopping packed for you in the supermarket.

Saying 'Hi, how are you?' instead of just 'hi' or 'good morning'

The postal charges system here which works largely on size and thickness of envelope rather than weight.

I have recently coined a new term "Accessible Adelaide" because so much is more easily accessible here than it was in England.
- when you go to an event at the showground etc you can get a park, and a ticket at the gate, without having to book in advance
- we went to an International Horse Show recently, the cross country phase of a 3-day event. It was free in the parklands and we were crossing the track between competitors :loopy: . We'd never have considered getting tickets for Badminton or such in England!
- so many different things within a relatively short drive on empty roads, where in England we'd be stuck in traffic jams headed for say a zoo, or a sports match.
- public transport. For us this has meant we only need one car where for years and years we've run two.

I'm with Jan on the loo business (not literally on the loo with Jan)


More later dinner's cooking!

I had a small stomach which has some how doubled in size since arriving :rolleyes:

Tut tut!!! You do realise that as with the UK, it is actually an offence to undertake don't you?!!!! Sadly, because the "Keep Left" rule is ignored by just about everyone, the roads have degenerated into a free-for-all... perhaps why there are so many fatalities over here? Those who don't keep left, (where signed) are also commiting and offence, but it is apparently very rare that the police do anything about it, but undertaking is still wrong, wrong, wrong!!!

And I trust that what you really mean when you say, "I obey the speed limit exactly" is that you adjust your speed to suit the conditions, and never exceed the maximum permited speed, rather than drive at what the sign says, no matter what.

As for those little changes... getting used to people crossing the road that have right of way when you are turning left at traffic lights!!!! Just doesn't happen in England.

I've always got my driving licence on me now. :rolleyes:

Desiree
:D :D

well my little thing hasn't changed.

I undertake because I can, and the South Australian road rules state that I can.

141—No overtaking etc to the left of a vehicle

(1) A driver (except the rider of a bicycle) must not overtake a vehicle to the left of the vehicle unless:

(a) the driver is driving on a multi-lane road and the vehicle can be safely overtaken in a marked lane to the left of the vehicle

Glad I spotted this before I went and searched it out too WW :lol:

I've been here too long to remember those sorts of small details, but hey it's nice to read something a bit more upbeat :D

WB it's good to hear from you, I'm with you on that one for sure.

Sasha :)

There are so many inconsequential little things that have changed so the list would be endless however some of the major things would have to be
*sitting out most evenings,
*eating fresh produce every evening be it salad or veg
*being able to invite friends round and knowing 9 times out of 10 it will be a nice day
* giving my kids more freedom and responsibility
* being able to go to the pub/shopping/work and the kids stay at home
* the smell of holidays every morning when I wake up
* actually having more time for ME!!!
* oh and I'm with everyone else regarding the expanding waistline/verging on alcoholism debate!!! except that the waistline has not gone up it just refuses to go down and regarding the wine/alcohol well thats a different post altogether :P

paying for things with a cheque and no cheque guarantee card. Being more secure with my cheque book :lol: . urning up to do a job at a house and being offered a beer any time of day. ( getting the customer to make me tea instead)

I turn lights/tv/anything electrical off when not in use.

I stick to the speed limit

I drink more sparkling wine (same as champagne).

I wear a hat and sunglasses most of the time

I have difficulties talking to people wearing sunglasses because you cant look them in the eye!

I watch a beautiful sunset every evening

I sleep to the sound of low flying mossies or the sound of a whizzing fan (or if Im wanting to give myself a real treat - the sound of the airconditioning - which makes me feel like Im on a ship)

I drive a car to work which is always full of sand

I have got dry feet (especially around the big toe) - sorry to get personal - anyone else had this problem? Must be an age thing!

I have developed the "aussie wave" to the mere sight of a fly attempting to crawl up my nose/enter my ear/mouth have the cheek to annoy me

I havent worn a coat for months ( whats a coat???)

I learn a new thing everyday

To sum it up, its not the little things that have changed, its me that has changed - and I doubt I will ever be the same again. Glad I have the chance to experience it.

I'm with Candice on the 'Me' time - I will often be home just after 5.30 whereas in the UK it was closer to 7! I don't know what to do with myself most evenings.

We only have one car and don't miss a second car in the slightest.

Now I get the bus in and out of the city and it is clean, I always get a seat and the bus drivers are soooooo friendly!

Subsidised childcare is a nice little extra and makes me feel like childcare's not the rip off it is in Britain.

People saying Hi in the street is lovely and even better is when strangers tell you "No worries" and smile when your kids are blatantly getting in their way.

Buying meat from a butchers , fish from a fishmongers, fruit from a grocers and bread from a bakers is also a nice change. I like that fact that I can order what I want and not what the supermarket wants me to buy. I like that I feel confident to ask questions about fresh produce and know I am going to get a sensible answer.

Other little things driving me crazy...all of Daniel's sentences now go up at the end. I love the Aussie acccent but he just sounds weird!

Best little thing are all the options open to us for things to do that don't cost the earth and of course, having the energy to want to do them!!

Decisions, decisions...do we
a) go to the beach
b) go to the outdoor pool
c) go for a walk
d) go to the park
e) go for a BBQ
f) find somewhere to picnic
g) go and play frisbee
h) go and play football
i) go for a scenic drive
j) find a different beach
k) go for a wander on the rocks at Marino
l) need I go on...?

:unsure:

Undertaking does still feel very wrong, but you could sit in the outside lane forever waiting for them to pull over <_< When in Rome <_< and all that. Tailgating is a big problem here as no-one ever pulls over.The freeway to Mount Barker etc.. is particularly dangerous as Adelaidians have little experience of bigger, fast roads.

I consider myself a safe driver...especially with 4 kids in the back and have never had an accident whilst driving a car and survived many years on a motorbike also. Driving here is nerve racking at times I always expect the unexpected and look in every concievable direction before executing a manouver.

This was supposed to light hearted wasn't it? :( I hate arguements :sigh:

Jan

[QUOTE]As for those little changes... getting used to people crossing the road that have right of way when you are turning left at traffic lights!!!! Just doesn't happen in England.



Aha! Now this is also supposed to happen in England. Pedestrians also have the right of way when turning into a side road...but yes your right it never happens :rolleyes:

Jan :ph43r:

Being able to stay at home and spend time with the girls and know that when they go back to school/kindy I will be able to take them and collect them everyday.

David getting home from work at 6pm instead of 7,8, or 9pm and being able to eat and spend time together.

Knowing that tomorrow will probably be a nice day as well.

Washing drying in 20 mins or less.

Strangers smiling at you in the street and saying g'day.

Going for bike rides.

Seeing the girls become more confident and outgoing.

Watching them play in the park EVERYDAY.

Not had a telly that works for 3 weeks and nobody misses it.

Clare :rolleyes: :rolleyes:

I'm with you on the telly thing Clare - we haven't had one for ages now and we don't miss it although I do miss being able to watch a good film.

Sasha :)

Jan .................... sorry I just HAD to flush my loo!





I got one ......... people I don't know but who I am expecting to call parking right up my drive instead of up the road, and around the corner. Took me ages to get used to that, and to doing it myself.

Oh and never using a cheque book. I have had the same one for about 5 years, used to use one a week in the UK.

Yes I agree with you on that one. Would never consider parking on someone's drive and have been really taken aback (not sure why really) when people park right up close to the house. Getting used to it now and trying to remember to do it myself.

Clare

When I log on now I automatically check out the cyclone warning website :o

Luckily WA got away lightly this time from Cyclone Clare....seriously that was the name I'm not having a go at Clare :doh:

Sasha :)

Ive got one..

When I pick my nose its a white Bogie instead of a black or grey one.. :D

Must be something to do with the clean air ;)

Trust you Vince like we really needed to know that one :lol: Can someone send him back to the UK PLEASE :doh:

Sasha :)

Oh dear... looks like some bees have got stuck into some bonnets!!!!

Perhaps I should have made myself a little more clear... the overtaking on the left, which is mentioned in the road rules, is meant to apply to those situations where you are in the left lane and travelling faster, (but within the speed limit) than traffic in the lanes to your right. The undertaking that I was refering to, was the erratic lane switching which goes on, just to get one vehicle further down the line. By all means stay in the left lane, and get there faster, while the boy racers jockey for position in the outside lanes.

As for the turning left at traffic lights and pedestrians crossing having right of way... I was only refering to those lights with the Red and Green crossing lights for pedestrians, that turn green for those on foot, just as the cars get the green light. UK pedestrian crossing signals would never be green at the same time that vehicles were allowed to proceed through that part of the junction.

And before anyone else gets upset... It wasn't an argument... just an observation, and a chance to try an inject a little humour.... perhaps I'd better include "JOKE" when I next type with my tongue wedged firmly into my cheek!!!!

If you want black ones Vince come and work where I do - I HAVE to spend 20 mins after work clearing out the clinkers from my nose, cos it gets clogged up with steel dust......... it's YUCKY!

But they are almost always dry ones here because the air is so dry!

:lol2:

No offence taken Sasha. If you were to ask David, Cyclone Clare lives in our house most of the time!!

Clare :D

Just thought of something else :loopy:

I have showers 90% of the time now .....because when I have a bath either my legs are submerged OR my chest (or in our rental it was either my back OR my front :lol: )

The baths are usually SO tiny here!......It's another water conservation thing. You are made very aware of what a precious resource it is, especially here.

Jan

See I still need to have my baths and love to sit and soak in them but usually when I do Kennadie jumps in as soon as I get out and has her own bit of pampering time then when she jumps out Keiren gets in but by that time its cold and he just jumps back out again!!!! So even though we have baths it prob uses the same amount of water as 3 showers as the kids showers take about 20mins each :doh: !!!