Hi everyone

Always loved reading everyones first impressions when I was back in the UK, so here goes:

Landed at 9.05 on 20th Feb from Manchester via Singapore. Changai airport by the way was fantastic and spent a whole day there browsing round the shops and eating local cuisine. Little tip for anyone flying with Singapore airlines, if booking online you must produce the credit/debit card at check-in before they can print you a boarding card. Ahem... a little oversight on our behalf spent half an hour on the phone to the Halifax bank begging them to give me my card number that I had cancelled and handed in to the bank a few days before....it does state in bold print on the confirmation that you have to do this but I never read it....would have been a great programme for "Airline"
Also got caught out with car hire at Adelaide because we couldn't give them a credit card, luckily we had booked "Meet N Greet" which is well worth it even if it's only to pay for your taxi with your extra luggage in it. The guy that met us was great but wanted to show us the sights of Adelaide including the City after having just landed, this was al ittle harrowing for our 2 yr old who just wanted to sleep and after a screaming fit in the car he took us back to our accomodation. Gave us lots of information tho and saved our lives by taking us to a car hire place that didn't require a credit card.
We stayed at Brighton Beach Caravan Park which was ideally located for the city and the suburbs. We suffered with jet lag for 5 days and found ourselves househunting in the dark at 4 in the morning because we couldn't sleep! and our boys were on the beach by 6.30 am.
My first impression of Adelaide (having not been before) was that it was beautiful, green, bright and sunny and rather hot of course. The roads, streets and suburbs have American/British and even mediteranean influences.
We would have loved to have rented in Marino/Brighton/Seacliff/Hove but realised that we would not be able to afford to buy there so we chose the next suburb ...which is YES you've guessed "HALLET COVE" or little Britain as some call it. I can see why lots of Brits choose Hallet Cove mainly because of it's proximity to the beaches, and coastal views. But I have driven through other suburbs such as Blackwood, Coromondal valley and Flagstaff hill and they are all really nice, they are much more leafy and have more of a towny feel, and are really not that far from the beaches 15-20 mins in the car.
The rental market, especially in Hallett Cove is very tight and we turned up for one viewing with about 15 other couples, we found that the only way to get round this was to offer 6 months rent upfront, desperate I know but we had 2 weeks to find somewhere! we didn't have to pay it in the end but the landlords seems to be impressed with the fact that you've offered it. As it was in the end we found out about a property before it was advertised and the estate agent took pity on us!
Our Furniture turned up 4 weeks later...don't believe the shippers when they say 3-5 days customs clearance... it took 3 weeks and as far as I could see they didn't check 1 box!! and charged us $390 for the privilage. ( Thanks again to those adbrits who offered us beds etc)
My eldest is in Hallet Cove R-12 school and so far I've no complaints, they give them a lot of freedom which to me was quite alarming but I'm getting used to it.
Had a few brushes with the local wildlife and found a Huntsman had hitched a ride into the house on my sons buggy, another tried to hand us our post at the front door... they really are massive and the frying pan just bounces off them.
The aussies on the other hand are the most friendliest and helpful people I've ever met and will do anything to help you out. We got lost in the City one day and we were studying our map and a guy came over and asked us if we were lost and if we needed any help, if someone did that to me in Manchester I'd pepper spray them before they nicked my handbag!
My hubby has found a job... again thank to Adbrits!! and wev'e even managed to make a few friends.
So we are all set up now, we feel like we've been here longer than 8 weeks and it already feels like home. I wouldn't say that our day to day routine has changed dramatically, but our weekends are filled with exploring Adelaide and all it has to offer, and the weather rarely lets you down if you plan to do anything. I think environmentally Adelaide is better than uk..well manchester anyway, our youngest suffered with allergies back in the uk, usual stuff, green nose, puffy face he always looked pale, didn't eat much and the difference in him is amazing he looks so different.
Had little bouts of homesickness but they soon pass, and it's getting easier as the weeks go by. (listen to me already).

I'll let you know when I'm sick of the place and want to go HOME :happy25:

Amanda & Mark

Hi all

Fantastic post - really enjoyed reading it.

Good tip about the credit card ... you sound as you are all enjoying your new life.

Best wishes

Tina

Hi Amada & Mark,

What a lovely post...you sound so happy and settled......looking forward to reading more.....good luck with your knew, exciting lifestyle.

Sharon & Ian :sign61:

Thank you for posting your initial thoughts of Adelaide.

Sounds like you are settling in well.

Lea

Excellent stuff.... Love the pepper spray comment, and in manchester no one would bat an eye lid.

Keep us updated please, nice to here "happy" reports.

Cheers

Mik

Hi,
What a great post, you've really made me laugh.

Thanks,
Jen

good post: -
im from manchester myself ashton- under lyne know where yr coming from with the pepper spray !!! . fingers crossed hope to be in adelaide june/july time .Good advise about the credit card cheers

Thank you Amanda & Mark, lovely to hear all is going really well & in such a short space of time, well done
:dance: :bouncy: :dance: :bouncy:

BTW how old are your children? I have 2 boys & I can imagine us looking for rentals at 3 /4am in the morning. When we were in Brisbane last year we suffered terrible with jetlag, in bed by 9pm up by 4am !! Took about 3 days to over-come :sigh:

Can't wait to hear part 2 in 8 weeks time :sign60:

Angela

a really warm and uplifting post, it sounds really nice. I hope it doesn't wear off too soon and things just get better and better for you.

Andy

Hi there,

What a great post. Welcome to Adelaide and hope you always remain happy here. We too are in Hallett Cove and are from Manchester (Oldham).
best of luck with everything!

Caroline
:yeehah:

Welcome to Adelaide!

Interesting and amusing (re the pepper spray) read.

Jen

ME TOO!

Only i had to queue up at the Singapore Airlines infomation desk for 20 mins to validate a different card! I too had canceled my other one and didnt read the small print! :doh: :doh:

Debbie

Wow, more manchester people either here or on the way!

I'm from Shaw (Oldham) and Nick is from Failsworth.

Anyway, wishing you the best, hope it carries on to be a excellent move for your family, even though you are now living in Little Britain!!!

Lisa

I have a huge smile on my face now. Thanks for that, Amanda! :lol:

great reading loved the pepper spray was feeling down till i read that thanks. :D

What a great, funny post. Thank you for taking the time to write it. Thank you for reminding me about the credit card. I do remember reading it on the website when I booked, but then forgot :rolleyes: Now I can't remember if I used my credit card or Rob's so will make sure we have both!!!!

Can't wait til I am writing my first post - very soon.

Anyway continue to have fun and enjoy your new lives

Carol & Rob

Wow, a fantastic post! Thanks for the info. Great to hear things are working out so well for you. All the best for the next 8 weeks, and look forward to posting our own shortly,

Daisy

:sign68: :sign68: :sign68:


Great post! Thanks

Dawn :clap:

great post folks

hope you enjoy your stay down under...

Great post, good to hear you're settling in so well. Continue to keep us informed on how things are going.

Jim (born in Wythenshawe, raised in Newton Heath) :dance:

Its great when Adbrits write posts like these.....you can imagine yourself there. :dance:

Thank you. :D

One thing abit worrying is alot of talk about those :sign53: spiders, I know they are there but...........

Oh well........ :ph43r:

Look forward to your 6 month post. :rolleyes:

Take care :bouncy:

All the best :sign61:

Lynn xx :happy45: