MNers in Australia - what, if any, local forums do you use?

[Astrophe]

Of course MN is far superior to anything else, but I often have a question about where to buy something, or about a certain product or item, and really need to ask other locals.

[AllThreeWays]

The only aussie forum I use is www.earthgarden.com.au good for gardening questions and preserving and such. Lotsa aussies on here, I reckon just ask here

[ninedragons]

I do have a look at Essential Baby now and again, but it's mostly to snort (privately, I am a lurker not a poster) at the bogan baby names. May God send me a son-in-law called something nice like Hamish or Alexander, and not some of the humdingers mooted there.

It is quite good on product advice, though.

[ninedragons]

What do you want to buy?

[Gmarksthespot]

I only use MN. I am 100% monogamous

What would you like to know?

[Astrophe]

Oh, I can't even think of anything specific I want now...stuff like what sites do people reccomend for kids clothes (because I do miss Polarn O Pyret, and Boden (SALES ONLY!!!!), and does anyone have cloth nappy site reccomendations...or what about meternity clothes that don't cost a fortune? Er...and we are after a bike for DD (almost 5) and I wanted a Puky one but have since discovered we will pay through the nise for one here...but does anyone recomend a bike (pref aluminium frame like Puky, as they are so much lighter)?

Just boring stuff like that.

And I am actually an Aussie and grew up here, but lived in the UK and got used to the far better internet shopping there!

[Astrophe]

oh yes, essential baby seems annoying. Also Kidspot...annoying.

[esselle]

I am sorry to have to say this but what you are looking for doesn't seem to exist!

Internet shopping here is woeful, pathetic and about 100yrs behind the UK.

Finding specific items like bikes means you have to actually get out there and look. Try and find a good local bike shop.

Maternity clothes here are shite! I can offer no advice on where to shop. I am greatful that I still had wearable clothes left from my first pregnancy and found bigger tshirts or cardigans etc.

I was very excited to see that Mothercare is opening soon here in Melbourne - not sure if they will have online shopping here tho!

I am evil and use disposable nappies so can't help you there.

For kids clothes I usually shop at target and cotton on kids for play/kindy clothes, pj's and underwear. Good clothes from Pumpkin Patch, Myer or David Jones.

I am Aussie too and spent 10yrs in London so I know exactly how you feel. It is so frustrating shopping here as none of the big stores have online shopping. Plus the high street isn't dominated by chain stores like the UK - many more independant stores which you have to track down. It just means you have to leave the house and actually go to these shops!!

Let me know if there is anything else I can try and help you with.

[mm22bys]

Hi Esselle,

How did you find moving back? I've been in London ten years, and I am "moving" back to Brisbane on Friday.

We buy everything on line, books, flights, electrical appliances (yesterday we got a new washing machine and dishwasher purchased on line), pay all our bills on line, etc, etc, etc.

A few years ago DH did an e-Commerce course, and we could see then Oz was behind, it's a pity it doesn't seem to have caught up much....

[lulalullabye]

Can't help you with forums, but I have 10 pink bumgenius nappies for sale if you are interested, I am in Melbourne so can post. They are V3 and used for about 6mths so pretty good.

[Astrophe]

Thanks guys. Its quite weird to feel so 'alien' in my own country...I only lived in the UK for 3 years! But I went from having one 18 month old, to having 2 preschoolers and a bub on the way whilst there, so I've never done any child rasing here - well thats how it feels.

I've got a few things from Cotton On Kids, but 2 of them have already fallen apart, so I don't think I'll buy from there again. I know, I need to get out and walk around at the shops...but so tedious!

Thanks for the offer of nappies - what I was actually after was nappy mesh bags, a hippychick wee sheet, and some washable wipes, not nappies (although I would love them!). I think we have enough nappies for number 3 Baby, but need to restock on some bits and peices that we didn't ship over. Anyway, I think I'll just order from the UK - at least they take off VAT, which offsets the postage a little.

[esselle]

mm22bys Moving back is wonderful but a big job and hard work (especially as I was 4 mo preg with DS at the time). I am 18mo on from our move and only now feeling settled.

We used to buy everything on your list online too. But not anymore. The only online shopping we do now is on UK sites which we have sent to MIL who then sends it on to us. Mainly books as they are so freakin' expensive here. Also the occasional BabyGap/Gapkids clothes for the DCs.

We are building a house at the end of this year so no airline tickets will be purchased for quite a while I reckon. Least of all tix back to the UK to see the inlaws - YAY YAY YAY YAY!!!

Having spend a majority of my adult years in London I found it all very foreign being back. Simple things like getting the gas/electricity sorted when I didn't know any company names. Where to shop. Opening bank accnts. Finding my way around Melb, as I have never lived here before was tricky too.

One of the toughest things was meeting people and making friends. I grew up in Sth Aust and didn't know anyone in melb. I just had to put myself out there and make people be friends with me. I have made some lovely RL friends through MN too.

I must admit though on a purely superficial note it is great to be able to easily buy all of my favourite treats again... Twisties, Cherry Ripes, Chokitos... Mmmm mmm mmm!

Apologies for the hijack Astrophe Sorry about the essay...

[LouIsAHappyLittleVegemite]

Just to add to the hijack, since I moved to England I have gotten fat. Where am I going to buy clothes? When I was a size 14 I struggled with portmans, hated sportsgirl, witchery was staff by evil bitches, cue was ok for work. I can't shop in Jacquie E and Jag for ever. Are there any new shops opening or will I have to buy out my local M&S and monsoon before I leave?

[mm22bys]

Esselle, it's great to read your post as I am worried about the same things, I am moving back to where I'm from originally, but I was 21 when I left and now I'm 36! I have got back in contact with school friends through Facebook but lots of water has flown under those bridges (20 years ' worth :0))

I forgot to mention on-line grocery shopping too ;-)

I'll miss BabyGap..and yes books are so expensive, I looked up one the other day (White Tiger), which was only £4 here, USD$8, but AUD$33!!!! .

Guess I'll just have to be more regular with the library-going....

I'm trying to sort out Medicare for the two DSs, PHI and mobile phones at the moment...

All the best with your house-building, very exciting!

[mm22bys]

Lou I would have no idea to shop, but I am looking forward to getting a new wardrobe!

We're going to the beach for a few days after we get back, can't wait!

[Gmarksthespot]

You can do your online shopping with Coles.

You can't do online with Myer but you can mail order. They send out a massive catalogue every month and you order through it.

You can buy furniture online through Super Amart and electrical online through Retravision, JB Hifi, Wow Sight and Sound to name a few.

I would check more than one website for the cost of a book. They can vary $33 to $10.

Babyco is good for baby items. You should be able to find washable wipes there.

Marks and Spencer now deliver to Australia.
(personally I thought their clothes were expensive and old fashioned when I was there)

In defense of online shopping here in Australia - we don't have the population to support it and the distances to travel for postage and delivery are sometimes too great. I am assuming those are probably two of the reasons you have decided to raise your families in Australia.

(disclaimer) Sorry for the defensive comment at the end. We have had a major influx of people from UK move to my area and I can hear them whinging most days about something or other. My evil thoughts are "go home".

[bloss]

Message withdrawn

[sandcastles]

I use Fishpond for books/dvds/cds.

[sandcastles]

Target are good for clothes, I find. I wouldn't buy from PP..way too expensive, even in sales sometimes. We have Best & less which is quite reasonable, most of the clothes are OK, but Tees seem to lose their shape after a few washes.

Big W is reasonable too for clothes, depends what you want really. Also good for books at reasonable prices. I got some around $15 cheaper than the leading book stores.

Be aware that Target's children's sizes seem to come up small. Dd lasted no time in size 5 from there, but is still happily in a 5 from Kmart.

Coles do not do home delivery everywhere. It depends on the position of a home del store & your proximity to it.

[Astrophe]

I was in Target yesterday looking for night dresses for DD. They had two, both sexy litle numbers with satin and lace and exactly what I DIDN'T want for her! Most of the clothes seemed to have cartoons on them, or unpleasant large bows etc...but then I wasn't really looking at clothes, just nighties.

I ended up going to Myer - they had some awful things there too (night dress with "Yes, the world does revolve around me"), but also lots of lovely things. 30% off nightwear, happily

Have you seen this site? bookdepository.co.uk/

Free international delivery, much cheaper than amazon! Amazing!

And this one www.booko.com.au/ is even more amazing in that it compares the price of your whole order and finds the cheapest price for you (its usuallly book depository though!)

[Astrophe]

thanks everyone for all the sugestions

[savoycabbage]

Hi Astrophe, I am in a similar situation to you I think. I did a lot of my shopping on the internet in England. The clothes here do seem to be poor quality compared with England, yet they are as expensive. I have taken stuff back to Cotton on Kids too. They do have nice looking PJs there though. Quite GAPish.

I have just done an M&S order and I have a feeling that Topshop deliver here too for quite cheap. And John Lewis have got a phone number on their website for international delivery. At least with John Lewis you can phone them up and tell them what you want and they will seek it out for you. There is supposed to be a Mothercare opening up here in Melbourne soon. It is really close to me so I will keep my eye on that.

I suppose we might get used to it.

[lulalullabye]

Oh now you have done it !! Please don't tell me John Lewis deliver . Does that mean that Waitrose do

[eidsvold]

bike - find a local bike shop and they are very very helpful.. Dh used a local one for his bike and our friend has just purchased two bikes for her children from a local bike shop - she raved about customer service.

Whereabouts are you?

had fab jeans from UK for maternity wear - although did like some of the target stuff. I also found a local shop that did great stuff:

Think they sell online too:

maternity clothes

I am bigger than size 14 - crossroads seem to have some good stuff - also find pieces in katies and rockmans and suzanne grae.

clothes for the dds - target, kmart, big w and best and less. I have some that are still going strong on no3. I love target stuff but cheaper best and less is still fab too.

I got some fab pjs at target for the dds although I am now noticing now that dd1 is in the 7/8 range there is less 'nice' and more tweenie sort of stuff which is so not her. I also have a couple of second hand clothes shops that have george, next and so on clothes that people have sold on.

Cloth nappies - made my own. Washable wipes - cheap face clothes from ikea, chopped up and overlocked cheap towels from best and less - got some for four dollars. Other things I found fab as washable wipes - getting chux ROBUST wipes - cut them into squares - they then fit into the huggies wipes container with solution - ready to go. They are robust and so last and last. In fact mine have done three children!! There are aussie websites about for cloth nappies.

As to website - just MN. expatty stuff in this topic.

Books online - dymocks - fab. Managed to track down a book for my brother from them. best part - join the club - after 10 purchases - get the average of all purchases in a voucher to spend!

hope that helps.

[Astrophe]

Thanks again all

Well I have found a local maternity shop called Angel Maternity (I don't know if its a chain?). They have some more expensive stuff, but also a range of casual tops for 2 for $40, which was just what I was after.

Got some bikes from local bike shop - the brand is Scott - supposedly a good brand. Makes me realise how much I have come to rely on reviews in 3 years in the UK - I feel like I can't buy anything without first reading some reviews and comparing peices online! Anyway, they were happy to lower the price as its end of season, so we got the two for $500, whereas they were $360 each RRP. So happy about that!

I have found a few bits at Target for the kids - mostly plain t shirts and tops to go under dresses etc - but I am yet to see a shop I really like (eg Polarn O Pyret, or Mini Boden, both of which I loved to buy in the sales). I saw Myer had some nice stuff the other day, and quite a bit on sale too.

Finally found DD a night dress at Myer - it is the only night dress I have seen thats not lace covered and doesn't bear horrible slogans. Its not really very nice - Angelina Ballerina - but was literally the only possibility! Loads and loads of girls pyjamas about though, but DD only likes nighties.

Cloth nappies - I have seen a few websites - was more wondering if there was one that people had used and reccomended.

I've just ordered today from www.bookdepository.co.uk. I went to booko.com.au first, and it searched and found that book depository was the cheapest. They also had a book there that I couldn't find on amazon or in our local borders.

I got the Pipi longstocking book with illistrations by lauren child for 13pounds (including delivery!) rather than $38 at Borders!

[Astrophe]

I guess I'll get used to it