To think those on wanted down under

[Thefishewife]

AIBU to think many on wanted down under have no intention of moving to Australia and just want a free jolly

Just occurred to me watching it today after a couple who would be 700 in oz would be worse off were still struggling weather it would be a good move

Omg wtf. Gulf harbour is so not one hour to Auckland City centre. I'm thinking even if Albany is over an hour. The harbour bridge is awful to cross. I would never consider there as part of Auckland.

I believe the average house price in Auckland is around $700k. We can't afford anything selling our house here in Hampshire.

Swanson is very far too!

www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01pqgyd

here's the link

www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01pqgyd

the woman reminded me of Kathy bates in misery.

i think they should take the family on a few years travelling adventure and then come back.

the poor grandmothers looked like their hearts were going to be ripped out - particularly the one on her own who is probably widowed. so sad.

I'm watching that holiday home thjng on c4. Show a really straight couple an uber modern home "ooh that's our style ".

NO IT ISNT

Honestly, yes probably. But i would think it would be for some essential equipment like a wheelchair. Although they would be provided by the NHS.

I think it's just the way she went about it. But who knows what I would do in that situation.

One of my other friends fundraised to pay for her dogs operation. I thought that was wrong too. I've found out since it was done by the supervet from the telly. Still wouldn't donate though.

No! Eldest is in kindy so gets more free hours here and youngest is with my OH. Yes we moved from the south coast.

Eldest has a medical condition too and yhat is taken care of free. The free healthcare is similar to the nhs. Gp visits are paid for. But we dont go that often and under fives are free.

My dsis lives in Oz, and the idea that they spend all their free time outside is a myth.

We were there one December, and it was too hot to sit out during the day. Then, when it was cooler in the evenings, we couldn't go out because the mossies would eat you alive. And I have never seen so many flies in my life, they were constantly all over your face whenever you took a step outside. There was a fire ban in place, so no bbqs.

My dsis has just been visiting me, we've had no rain during her visit apart from one day, and have eaten outside every single evening. She remarked that she hasn't even got an outside table any more as they never eat in the garden.

Happyringo

re language, my girls are learning Japanese at school.

Trebla What state are you in?

Of course you don't spend all your time outdoors, but we certainly spend much more time outside, we hardly watch tv any more because we are always outside and oz tv is shite. Yes its boiling in the summer, but most people get up earlier to enjoy the cooler mornings, and when the weather is boiling you stick the air con on and stay indoors, or go to the beach or pool. Most of the year its lovely though, you end up spending time out doors because the weather is reliable and you can plan picnics, camping etc.

The discussion about comparing finances is interesting. We costed things and compared things and figured we would probably be worse off here, but decided to come any way. Actually we are much better off, and I'm not entirely sure why because so much about our lifestyle has changed since moving here that a straight comparison is impossible. For example we don't eat out so much as its more expensive, but we go on more outings, and we are able to save stacks more than we could in Ireland or the UK.

But different strokes for different folks.

Have to say we definitely spent more time outdoors. Loved going to mission bay when we were in Auckland. Nothing like this here. The weather being nicer makes it easier to go out. The beach aren't packed like sardines even in Auckland. I find it far too cold to spend time outdoors in a lot of the months here. It could be just that I'm not English enough to enjoy going for a hike with a flask of hot tea, or the beach with wind shields.

Obviously I left Auckland and we don't think we will ever move back. So I'm biased about where is better. Same as if you ask a Brit settled in NZ. There is a reason when people decide to stay. But I do find a lot of Brits I meant here have a very rosy view of NZ.

Oh yes the idea of camping in the UK with all the thermal gear has even put DH off. And he was a pretty hardcore tramper (the kiwi word for it). He used to do the lang tramps for days with a big backpack and tent and cooking utensils and food. Those you went into the wilderness and walk a track and not emerge into civilisation for 4 or more days.

I'm surprised more of them don't try living there for a year on a temporary work permit. I think moving abroad with a 16 year old is madness, I presume he wasn't very academic. I loved NZ but in many ways it was similar to Scotland just better skiing, fjords, volcanoes and not as much rain (but still quite alot). We did outdoorsy stuff but then we do that in the UK anyway. We have midges they had sand flies. We did a couple of weeks in Oz and although I liked Sydney I found the coast very suburby and the interior hot and fly ridden. I preferred the NZ climate.
We didn't get emotional blackmail from our relatives but went pre-kids which is a more sensible time to try out a different country and our parents were still working and had their own lives and weren't looking to us to entertain them or look after them.
The people on these programmes often seem a bit thick and to have never travelled anywhere before or done anything active and interesting in the UK.

I always wonder why the don't look on the Oz equivalent of rightmove before going? Or at least have a vague idea of the salary they might earn...

I moved the other way - from a sunny climate to the UK. I love living here because I can afford to travel being so close to Europe, we really appreciate the summer and spend way more time outdoors than I ever did "back home" plus British Summer evenings are amazing - sitting out until 10 in the sun on a nice evening after work whereas where I am from you would have to drive so no chance of a beer in the sun after work even if it wasn't dark by 7pm!

MarlenaGru not sure where you are from. But DH and I are here because of jobs. Same with a lot of kiwis. I always have my hollow laughs when I hear on shows like this where people talk about moving to NZ for their kids future.

It is said about 1 million kiwis live overseas. This is for a country with just over 4 million people. Obviously it's an estimate as surely no one has an accurate statistic on this? DH and I both have expired NZ passports for example.
www.stuff.co.nz/business/unlimited/8273786/Flight-of-the-Kiwis

And this telegraph article on the kiwi brain drain
www.telegraph.co.uk/expat/expatnews/7973220/New-Zealand-brain-drain-worst-in-world.html

It is well known fact/myth that there are lot of university educated kiwis overseas. Most of those left are graduates. The government plug the drop in population by immigration, selling the kiwi dream/lifestyle. This used to be the british, but now mainly the chinese. One of the pledges before the current PM John Key was elected was stopping the brain drain to Australia. Don't know how well he's doing on that election promise. But he's helped by the slowing of the Oz economy, I think.

2rebecca moving with a 16 year old would have worked well for us. He could do his A level equivalent in NZ and qualify for not having to pay the uni fees as an overseas student as he'd have been resident for 2 years by the time he started.
We were more concerned about the employment situation tbh as a lot of kiwis travel abroad for the higher salaries.

Yes we moved to the UK for the jobs too! My particular field is hugely over subscribed where I am from and my DH earns a lot more here. Also cost of living is cheaper here, even in London and the NHS saves us a fortune every month, particularly with two children! Luckily our families have all moved over here too for similar reasons, but the extended family we do miss a lot.

The one partner views Australia with rose tinted specs even though they might struggle to get a job and probably face financial ruin but carry on grinning and saying everythings nice or really lovely and wow.Also they think that after work they will sit around outside in the hot weather drinking beers and having a barbeque,After a hard days work all I want to do is sit on the sofa with my dinner and watch tv.

I will confess it was watching Wanted Down Under that made me suggest to DH that we move there. We got visas and are now citizens but we moved back to UK after five years.

Although it did plant the seed, WDU is definitely presenting Australia through rose tinted spectacles. And I say that as somebody who loves the country and intends to retire there.

I think the two biggest myths are more outdoors time, we definitely spend more time outdoors in the UK. Australia has a brutal climate, UK more temperate. I did like warmer winters though.

The other is better work life balance, annual leave, parental leave, sick leave are all much less generous in Australia. Australians are also hard working and put in long hours.

I have even seen some people declare they are looking forward to getting away from dark evenings, as if it is permanently light in Australia.

I think the OP has a valid point. Though I can understand anyone wanting to move away from their home area, as given the economy outside parts of London and the South East being in a bad way, you can easily imagine things being better elsewhere.

I know a couple who were on last year just had all visas come through and are moving in the next 6 month's. She is a knob. Has torn the family apart. Not because of the move just because she is so self absorbed and liteally walking round like she is it. Amusing In that sense to watch. Found out it was to keep the ex away from her first child. Nasty reasons really but people will do what they want to do.