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| 9 years today........................................ | |
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| Topic Started: May 19 2009, 07:55 AM (120 Views) | |
| Tyke | May 19 2009, 07:55 AM Post #1 |
Happy in Onkaparinga Hills
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Well............. It was 9 years ago today that we set foot in Adelaide as permanent residents. Seems such a long time ago now but I can still remember the excitement and anticipation of the challenge and new life ahead. We came for a new life,something different to the natural course our lives would have taken in the UK. We could see ourselves stagnating in the UK and just taking the easy course with everything mapped out. So we came,left our comfort zone,faced new challenges and became Pozzies (Pommie Ozzies - our Ozzie friends love that) I suppose it was different then,the financial climate was very positive,we were the first of this current stream of UK settlers. So many people here asked why we had moved to Adelaide - as though there was something terribly wrong with the place or as if it were a secret! Disregarding what you see on the surface - we have had some tough times - but as the Aussies say "Toughen up" - and we did! Our friends are a real asset here,it takes a while to find the "true" ones with many a slip on the way. The Aussies and their attitude are one of the main reasons we moved here - they have not disappointed. We do have lots of good Pom friends as well I hasten to add! I think we have changed a lot - or adapted. Life here is so different - but that's why we came! You just CANNOT expect this land to be similar to the UK with sunshine! I fully realise it is a lot tougher financially now but quality of life and your children's future is a big part of the move here.It's not for everyone ,I realise that.Some people have to come and experience this land for themselves to find the "true" picture.Some have to Ping - Pong to find out. Whatever it takes - this place can really get a hold of you and you need to satisfy that curiosity - rather "What if?" sitting in your mind for the rest of your life. Our Little Tyke is a proper little Aussie now and recently said "Thanks for bringing me here" - quite a reward to us!  We revel in the smaller and joyous moments - such as a walk around one of the many parks spotting Parrots to people offering help with no expectation of reward. I think you can tell we love the Aussies many are still very open and have quite old fashioned values such as true "mateship",sometime seen as naive but that's not the case.They just have values that have been sadly lost in other nations. Never judge a book by it's cover here, we have Aussie mates ranging from a millionaire to blokes with 2 Bob in their pocket - they look very,very similar! I think that this will be the last generation of "True" Aussies now - unfortunately Globalisation is creeping in with a huge American influence showing itself - nothing wrong with America but a shame that a national identity will disappear. Once you have been settled a few years and set yourself up you find there is a lot to do here - but you have to go out and find it. From regular nights out with our local mob of mates to volunteering . Volunteering is a huge thing here - the country would grind to a halt if it were not for all the selfless people giving up their time and energy to help others. There are certainly rewards for doing it, we have met so many lovely people since joining Sea Rescue. Our latest mad venture is fishing and boating as most of you know. This has been a huge challenge and learning curve with so many fantastic and sometimes dangerous experiences - but that's why we came. I've been "adopted" by some of the very knowledgeable local Aussies who are only too keen to help and share.This hobby is full of etiquette and good old fashioned "Mateship" - which we extend to others now. I wish everyone all the best in their journey and settlement here and hope you can share some of the fortune and experiences we have. Even if Him Upstairs - or will it be Him Down below? calls me today--------------- I can say "Mission accomplished" ......Thank you Australia.   
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Quality furnished ,short term rentals.2 beautiful houses,in Woodcroft and Seaford. "Home from Home" Auseelife | |
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| PC Pom | May 20 2009, 03:40 AM Post #2 |
Anyone for tennis?
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Thanks for an awesome post! For those that are reading this and don't know, I came out here (Brisbane) in 1991. Changi Airport was a lot smaller and practically empty back then. So was our Qantas flight from Singapore to Brisbane - we were able to sleep across the middle aisle seats and run up and down the plane. Australia looked like mars, no matter how many windows we peered through. Of course, by 1992 it was all over. I headed back to get married and the working systems that dragged at the heels of Mrs Pom prevented her from coming out to work as a newly qualified pharmacist. Instead, she'd have had to go back to uni in Australia! Sod that! So we started married life in the UK and my parents and brothers wrote to me from the other side of the planet. We weren't rich. We saved to come out to Australia as often as we could. Secretly I hoped the trips would encourage Mrs Pom to make the leap, and they did. However, family ties were stronger and we had to make do with holidays every few years - airflights in those days weren't cheap! We had covered the cities of Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane by then plus surrounding areas, so had a good idea of where would suit us come the day of reckoning. I'd say by the time we decided to move it was the stress of life that was really giving us the kick up the pants that we needed. We applied in 2002 and arrived here in 2004. I sold one business I had and kept an interest in another. There are some people we miss. Most are never coming over here because they're either too old or have a pile of sprogs in tow making travelling the distance an absolute luxury. So we email, scribble and visit them when we fly over. That's part of the agreement when you come over here. Mrs Pom flies back and forth about once a year. I tend to do the trip every 2 or 3 years. We'll be celebrating 5 years in Queensland in a few months time. We've achieved so much in the time that we've been here. I can't possibly imagine how we could have achieved a similar amount in the UK. It's like the migration process acted as a wake up call to those middle-age years that creep up on you. Think young, behave young, live old (well, hopefully). Australia's a great place to do just that. P. 
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Koala Konnection UK to Australia and New Zealand. Migration Made Easy. | |
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| airconkid | May 23 2009, 12:50 AM Post #3 |
MODERATOR- Great White
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Just read Tykes & PC Poms posts. They have got to be two of the most positive, sincere, honest and dare I say it, optamistic, posts I have read on ANY forum. Thank you both, for penning those wonderful words. Aircon 
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Grab the cane toad by the legs and go for it, life is too short to wander "What if...." or "If only...." Now LOVING "A New Life Down Under" | |
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| Cal | May 28 2009, 09:39 AM Post #4 |
Redback
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Hello Tyke (i'm not stalking you promise,lol) Glad to hear life is sweet in Adelaide, i didn't realise you had been here so long!! We passed our citizenship test last month so are awaiting the ceremony when we can then become true blue pozzies, lol. Moving here certainly has its up's and down's but i think as long as you are willing to adapt, keep plodding along and accept the good with the bad life can really be great like you say. I compare moving here to starting adult life all over again,lol, back to square one and a like mountain to climb, but wow you get near the top and the views get better by the day! Cal x |
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Jimboomba Relocations - providing furnished accommodation & relocation help covering Brisbane, Sunshine Coast & Gold Coast areas. www.brisbane-relocations.com | |
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| Tyke | May 29 2009, 05:09 AM Post #5 |
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Happy in Onkaparinga Hills
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Hiya Cal. Welcome to our cosy forum Congrats on passing the Citizenship test! Bit easier when we did it - we went into an office an were "prompted" during a short wiffle about Aussie values and why we wanted to live here. Ya not stalking me! Seen you on PIA  |
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Quality furnished ,short term rentals.2 beautiful houses,in Woodcroft and Seaford. "Home from Home" Auseelife | |
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| Tallyho! | May 29 2009, 01:55 PM Post #6 |
Croc
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Paul and Tyke - love reading your posts - just sums everything up, can't wait to get there myself. Kim x |
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Kim, George, Emily and Grace Vetasses submitted 23.04.08 - passed 28.05.08 - practical done 21.07.08, passed 07.08.08 175 Visa submitted 11.08.08. | |
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| Tyke | May 30 2009, 12:52 AM Post #7 |
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Happy in Onkaparinga Hills
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(Blush) Wall to wall sunshine today! But it was very cold and crisp last night,nearly frosty! |
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Quality furnished ,short term rentals.2 beautiful houses,in Woodcroft and Seaford. "Home from Home" Auseelife | |
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