I'm just curious about this and I suppose other will be too.

No point in doing a poll as I guess answers will vary widely.

When did a lot of your life here in Adelaide become "everyday" or taken for granted as your normal (sic) life.
I'm not talking about feeling settled.

For us it has taken about four years.The novelty has worn off on the usual daily tasks and journeys.

We still love it here and are constantly surprised by little moments and discoveries.

Does this make sense or am I sounding like Gonga??

:-)

Yes you do sound like Gonga :)

I would say it's very much different timings for different things. A big milestone for me was when I could drive to most places I needed to, without having to get out the UBD as I had come to know my way around enough local roads. That was just a few months in though.

I have had temp jobs, albeit two of them were each a year long. Just last month the second temp job metamorphosed into a permanent one so that feels a lot more settled now. That's 3 years in.

We have just bought a house, and all the little discoveries are beginning again so we don't get too complacent!! Everything from learning to deal with a pool, to identifying new birds in a new garden. Oh and new plants - there's a giant triffid of a climber all over a back wall, which I identified yesterday as the mature version of Ficus Pumila, a tiny dainty little thing I used to grow in pots in England. I've found warnings to keep it well under control as it's rampant and will tear your house down given half a chance :blink:

For me its's when I became single and had to find my way through red tape, unemployment, people being obstructive, and getting a full time job. In other words looking out for myself.



So about 11 years!

We have been here just over 10 months now & I still enjoy discovering new places e.t.c but & thats a little but, life is just the same as the Uk but a 100 % better (if that makes any sense) we still have bills to pay, shopping to do..e.t.c & like Elaine said 'a big milestone was when I could drive to most places I needed to, without having to get out the UBD as I had come to know my way around enough local roads', think it does help when you know where your going !

On the whole I love living inAdelaide & I know for sure that we have done the right thing moving here :D

p.s. Good question Tyke, looking forward to reading the replies.

For me its starting work. 3 months in. Working long hours, getting home having tea and evening nearly finished. Same grind with better weather and little proper sport. (That may spark a reaction).

But still experiencing new things..like where to go for a Sunday lunch.

G

Id say about 4 weeks.

I suppose having been here before took away the initial novelty.

K :)

My days are pretty normal - ie as they used to be in the UK. Other than seeing different faces and different roads, I still spend my day in much the same way. We have been in our rental since Oct 20th. I guess it depende on what's 'normal'. We went for a walk along the beach today, but we used to go for walks in National Trust places in Uk.

I think when you have primary school age children, you do much the same as before pretty quickly, just in better weather and a more relaxed environment. The childredn definitely seem happier here. Must be all the daylight they get. :chuckle: :chuckle:

I am rarely at home these days, since being in Adelaide I have joined a gym and go there several mornings a week. They have a creche so Bailie goes there for an hour and I get a workout. Then the afternoons are free. We go to friends, out to lunch, to the beach or park. I usually have to rush back and pick up Neve from school and then it starts all over again with her activities.
Gavin spends longer at work but he does see the girls in the morning and weekends are family time.
In the UK he was up at 5am and worked 4 out of 8 weekends which made it trickier to do things as a family at the weekends.
We definitley have quality time these days as opposed to quantity of time that we had in the UK.

Deb

mmmm..... have been here eight years, and things still haven't become "everyday".
I do work n stuff, but it really doesn't take much to make me go "wow"

like

wow....a biiiig huntsman

wow....roos/koala/kookaburra

wow....rain

wow....blue sea

wow...blue sky

wow....big moon

wow.... big storm



etc etc etc


i probably should get out more...... :rolleyes:

Noooo That just sounds perfect for me!!!!
One other WOW though would have to be the cleanliness of Aus!!! C x

I've been out here now 1 year 7 months and still find the WOW factor in everyday. I love the sunrise in the morning over the ocean, love the full moon and still get shocked byt he stars every night. The wildlife is amazing, work is still good fun (even though it is a bit stressful at the moment but it's that end of term thing that you would get in any school)

One thing I have noticed though is the language, only today I replied to a post on another forum where someone called a block of land a plot, and now to me that seemed weird whereas before that is what I would of called it and got teased by the Aussies for referring to land as a place where we would get burried. Also asking the kids in school if they have their port (bag), silly things like that makes me realise I am getting used to things but i agree with most people I still have WOW factor everyday living here.

Sasha ;)

My feelings are similar to Andys ...yes we are doing the boring suff such as work , school runs , cleaning house etc BUT not a day goes by when something doesnt make me stop and go "WOW < thats why we are here !!" Can be the simplest of things, from a bird flying past(amazing colours ) , a fab sunset or a walk on the beach

An example was yesterday, went around to friends for Sunday Lunch (aus style ) at 12.00 Was worried that it would be too cold and wet to sit out By 1.00pm the sun was shining, blue skies warm breeze :chuckle:
In total 10 adults and 11 kids . everyone had a great time , swam ,ate drank , played board games and just kicked back and relaxed until bed time :sign60:


Love it here !!

Julie xx

Been thinking about this one again today and I have decided it's when you realise that in Australia there ARE Australian alternatives available which are just as good/better/different and interesting to try, to Marmite, Hellmans, Walkers, Paxo, McVities, Bisto, gravy browning, Robinsons, Polos, Chewits, Birds, Heinz, Cadbury's, M&S, Laura Ashley, Angel Delight, Next, Redibrek, SR toothpaste, Shreddies, Asda, Tesco, Trebor Mints, (no one ever mentions Sainsburys why is that?) etc etc etc

and when you stop asking people, friends and rellies, to bring any or all of the above through Customs quite needlessly for you, because

a) you will survive without it
b) most of it is available here anyway
c) a lot of it is bad for you

and

d) there are clothes shops here!

Very well said Sharon, I`m afraid I really don`t miss that much from the UK, but now and again I think of things and have a look to see if I can find them.

I reckon I might be getting a little lazy in my old age, I`m still trying to find frozen Yorkshire Puddings, they are trying to get them in at Foodland Aberfoyle Park,

Sheila

I've even become to like Vegemite now ;)

I really don't miss that much from the UK.

I've got to agree with Andy though,we still go Wow at a lot of things - but it feels very much like home here now.

About 4 months for us. Mind you , I spent my childhood in the States and hubby in HK, Singapore, Malaysia and Japan so England has never really been home, despite our schools. We LOVE it here. We love the Aussie way of life. Just said goodbye to my parents after a 6 week visit and that hasn't changed things either!

xx

Every so often I think of England and then think naaaaaaaah!

18 months in.....

D

What a brill post, i just can't wait to get back there and drive down Ocean Boulavard and see the sea - Brighton, Glenelg and more WOWEE.
There are so many things i can remeber having the wow factor, i don't remember having that here!!
Well the country side still looks amazing over here in Hebden Bridge, halifax, but would much rather have the beach.
Great psot guy's i's so HOME sick now :(

Hi Shells

You will soon be home :D

At least when you go back you know you are in the right place this time.

I have loved reading this thread as it strengthens all the reasons we want to go to Adelaide - specially during the loooong wait for a visa. Even a case officer would be nice :lol2:

Lisa :P

Sheila ....... spotted those frozen Yorkshire puds in Foodland at Woodcroft yesterday. Top shelf in freezer cabinet in the corner at the far left hand end. I think they were $4.79 a pack.

Rather make my own personally!