Hi all!! Just got back and thought i would share with you some of my experiences of August in Ozz........

We are a family of 4:Me Sarah 37, Hubby Chris 39 and 2 sons Owain 15 & James 14.
Husband has always had itchy feet and decided he would like to try oz!! At the time things were crap for me in work ( i run my own laundry & dry cleaning business) so i said "ok lets go for it!"

Anyway, to cut a long story short, by the time the agents sorted out applications, police checks, medicals etc we were almost 2 years down the line and work was now great!! Well for me anyway!! kids were always ok in school but wanted to go so i just thought "nah, lets let sleeping dogs lie, its not that bad here, the grass isnt always greener..... etc etc etc" I really didnt want to go.

So on march 21st 2007, here come the visas, hubby is grinning ear to ear, i just got on with the days work...

After looking in to it ,it was agreed that to validate ( i was up for that as i had 5 years to drag out him not going as far as i could see) we had to visit in August, not to disrupte schooling. So the flights were booked and we were Oz bound for 1 month.

We arrived in Sydney and it is the first city i have visited where i felt totally safe and relaxed. I hate going to London as i feel very enclosed and a bit claustrophobic.. not Sydney, i loved it!!

4 days later.... Gold Coast. Main Beach was wonderful, and the sound of the sea was a dream come true! The pace of living and the laid back attitude of all the people we had met so far was fantastic... i think i was starting to melt! By the time we left for Cairnes a week later i was beginning to think i MAY like to actually stay here!

Cairns.... a bit strange!!! By the time we got to Port Douglas that melting process was unavoidable!Completely different to the gold coast but wonderful i its own right. I loved it.... but not as much as the boys. I could now see that i had to think about the bigger picture... hubby loved it (even before he stepped foot on the soil!), kids loved it ( before but so much more after stepping foot on the soil!) and i actually loved it too!!AHHHH!!

Melbourne next and a visit to my mothers brother and his wife, who i had never met as they left in 1970 as £10 poms. What a laid back couple... they had a great lifestyle, so different in attitude to my own parents.They are both in their 70's (as are my folks) but until recently swam in the sea every day. I cant get my dad out of his chair most days, other than to pop to tesco.

By the time we got back to Sydney i was completely sold, it was here i could see my future, and the future of my children. I cannot wait to get back over to Australia, and after thinking long and hard we have decided to try to settle on the Gold Coast. Hubby can get work all over so no problem there but i just liked the feel and its in the middle of all the places i loved!!

I would urge anyone with reservations to try and visit. I know its a lot of money but if you feel 50/50 like i did its worth every penny!

I cannot settle back here now because i have seen so much better, and the applications are in for schools and the business i own is going to keep me when i make the move... job done!!

I now think i am going into this process with eyes open. I know i will probably get homesick but i felt like that 2 weeks ago.... sick of home!!

Sorry for the length of the post, but i felt i would like to share my taste of Visa application and process with those setting out on the road. If you would like any other details ( probably not!) then please PM me....

Thanks Sarah for taking the time to do such an inspiring post. You know we always love to see post like these. Best of luck with your new life in the Gold Coast. :D

Carol