Any Sydney mums around?

[thatsnotmymonster]

I am getting pretty excited as it is looking increasingly likely that dh is about to be offered a job in Sydney (should know by next week). However, whether we are able to accept or not all depends on the salary package, particularly with th school fee issue- has anyone else moved and had the company pay the school fees?

We live in Scotland and so ds is in P1 but he will be 6 in March and dd1 is due to start school after the summer as she will be 5 in July. I don't know whether they should go into Yr 1 and 2 in Oz from when we move or whether they shoud go into Yr 1 and kindergarten. Do most people wait until the year the dc turns 6 or send them the year they turn 5?

The office is in Pyrmont and we are hoping to rent in a nearby suburb- I have been looking at Lilyfield, Five Dock, Drummoyne...can anyone recommend any other nice suburbs in that area or tell me if there are any to avoid?

Anything else I should know? If this happens we will be moving around April.

Thanks!

[Astrophe]

sorry, didn't read the ages properly. Your choice for DS will be between year 1 (as one of the older ones) and year 2 (as one of the younger ones). I'm sure the school will be able to advise based on his reading level, and also on the school 'age culture' (some schools actively discourage younger starters).

Ask again if that doesn't make sense!

I think most suburbs you mention would offer the 'walk to shops, school' etc you're after, you'll just have to be lucky with getting the right house. Where we are we have a 15 minute walk to school/kindy/supermarket/cafe (all in one street), but big shops, pool are a 5 minute drive and park is 20 minutes but in the oppostite direction to school, which means we don't get there that often. Its not bad. But there are also plenty of places in our suburb which are too far from the school and shops to walk...I guess its a big suburb with only one 'village'. It took us ages to get this house (rental) and 'walkability' was a priority for us.

[Astrophe]

pepperoni - I love cremorne point, its one of my favourite places in Sydney. I used to work as a nanny for a family who lived in a house about 3 from the end...swoon!

[thatsnotmymonster]

mmmm brekkie sounds yum!

Yes the Yr1/Yr2 sounds right for ds and as you say thw school will probably advise based on his level compared to the year group.

So dd could go straight into Kindie as the youngest or wait till Feb 2012 when she would be just over 5.5. As she is quite young for her age and not great with letters/numbers or drawing I think waiting would be the best option for her.

Astrophe- how long did it take you to find your rental? What documents should we take with us to help with securing a rental?

[Astrophe]

Your DD really would be THE youngest if she started kindergarten this year, and as she would be starting late in the school year as well, I'd wait until next Feb if I were you.

It took us 10 applications before we got a rental . Its never been so hard before, but were were showing up to houses with 20 groups looking. It really fluctuates though - a year ago it wasn't as hard, and might be better in 6 months - who knows?

You'll need ID - so passports, proof of employment/income, and references (previous rental, personal). Some agents are vhan the very lax and ask for practically nothing, and others will want lots of documentation, so get together as much as possible. Also, if the market is still tough when you arrive, it's common to offer more the asking price to secure a house - so just another $5 per week might get you through the door if its a house you really want to get. You can also offer less if you know the house has been on the market for a while, or if the market is slow (or if you don't really want the house but are hedging your bets). Lots of people also write a cover letter introducing themselves (explaining you're expats etc might be a plus), and even a family photo.

[cjdamoo]

will you be coming out on a 457 visa? If so factor in you will have to pay school fees. I am not in sydney but Newcaxstle up the coast. I expected to feel homesick and that it would take a while.I just didnt realise how hard it could be. Its taken me two years to adapt and finally I am starting to feel at home.

[thatsnotmymonster]

Thanks for the advice on renting. We have been homeowners here for the last 10 years so no rental references but can get personal ones and all the other stuff. Good idea about the cover letter and photo- that's a nice touch so I'll get one ready.

Cjdamoo- yes it's a 457 visa and I know about the school fees. The company will have to pay it as we don't have any capital to pay it up front. Though I was thinking it would be for 2 children but this year it will be just for one. Still will need to work it out with the company.
Why do you think it has taken you so long to adapt? Have you hated it? We moved to Scotland from Chester 5 years ago and it took me at least 2 years to feel settled here. However, it was difficult because moving coincided with having dd1 and 2 within the first 2 years and having 3 children under 3 and really bad weather and feeling permanantly exhausted and my parents splitting up and having to support my mum as well! So I feel like I could cope with a move to Oz I also feel like the children are at good ages to make friends (for me and them) as one will be at school and the other 2 I will be able to take to activities/groups etc.

What tips do you have for settling in?

[cjdamoo]

I didnt hate It. I just found the homesickness was a lot worse than i could ever have imagined. I had moved away from family at 19 from Yorkshire to Wolverhampton and then from Wolverhampton to London so I was used to living away from my folks. Its hard to describe I missed London so much. 3 of my 4 boys were primary aged Kindergarten year 1 and year 5 when we arrived the youngest was just 18 months, and I made lots of aquintances but no real friends. I dont know really its hard to put my finger on.. I just know in the past few months this now feels like home I realise Ive a small but great social circle and Im happy. contentment snuck up on me :o More importantly all 4 kids are happy my painfully shy ds 2 is well and truly out of his shell and bizarely sounds local I never see my 12 year old as hes always out with friends swimming or bike riding or band practise. He has a freedom he would never have had in London!

[thumbwitch]

cjdamoo - are you actually in Newcastle or in a suburb of it? I am 40mins away from Newcastle (were you on the Sydney meet-up thread, can't remember?)

[MargaretGraceBondfield]

Just joined the thread to say I'm jealous!

[thatsnotmymonster]

hehe Margaret have you lived in Oz or would just like too?

cjdmoo- that's reassuring. I'm well aware that it will take a long time to adjust and feel settled etc. I think it does whereever you move too but obviously the homesickness in oz will be a lot worse. Sounds wonderful for you now. I am particularly keen on giving my kids loads of outdoors freedom. How do you cope with the nasty wildlife? like the jellyfish, cane toads, spiders? I mean the deadly ones...are they just not that common or do people just get used to having them around and knowing what to do?

[thumbwitch]

Ha. Wildlife. it's a blast. Several of Sydney's beaches have been closed this weekend because of a mass influx of 1000s of bluebottles, nasty little stinger things (not the flies) that are carpeting the beaches.
Cane toads are mostly in Queensland so not relevant to you?

Snakes are not that common in built up areas, but you learn not to walk in thick leaf piles.

Spiders - ah. Well, the first thing you need to do is familiarise yourself with the native spiders of Australia - the 3 main ones to avoid are the redback, the white tail and the funnelweb.
Redbacks are very obvious and should be stamped on at every available opportunity (with shoes ON of course!) - any outdoor toys, equipment etc. should be regularly checked for them and their messy "web" and flushed out with hoses. (and stamp on them as well). Don't leave closed shoes outdoors (like trainers, wellies etc.) as they like to get into the toes.
White tails - if you find any indoors, get the house fumigated - they don't make webs as such, they like to hide in things like piles of clothes, bedding etc.
Funnelwebs - you don't see these very often, which is good because they are the nastiest. However, the black house spider, which tends to make nice lacy webs in window corners, also makes little funnels in these webs and causes even native Aussies some distress (yes, I'm talking about you, DH!) and unnecessarily violent action.
Huntsman spiders are big and scary but not that dangerous unless you tread on one - the bite is painful and can get infected but isn't that venomous.
A good tip I was given by a native Aussie (but not DH) - spiders that make normal hanging webs (like in the garden) are not the dangerous ones.

Cockroaches - bane of my existence - never leave food out anywhere, seal it all in tins/ tupperware in your drawers etc. They grow up to the size of small mice (killed one that big in the shower today). Fumigating the house will stop them for a while.

Jellyfish are seasonal and there will usually be signs on the beaches to tell you when they are out and about and to prevent you from swimming.

If you go wandering in grassy bush, watch out for ticks - DS got one in his little forearm, it was possibly one of the most disgusting sights, seeing this creature half buried in his arm and having to hoik it out intact.

Prevention is better than cure - teach your children not to play with wildlife, just in case, especially the littlest ones.

[thatsnotmymonster]

Thanks Thumbwitch! Will take some getting used to I suppose. Luckily for me I like spiders and big ones don't bother me so I will just have to learn all the things you said about which ones are dangerous, how to deal with them etc.

How do you kill cockroaches? Stand on them?

Are you saying people confuse the black hous spider with the funnelweb and freak out?

Do many children get redback or white tail bites?

Ticks are pretty common here in Scotland- they are vile little things- had to remove one from the top of the dog's head a few months back. I have a very nifty little tool to remove them.

My children like playing with wildlife so will definitely need to start teaching them about that. Don't want to make them freak out either though!

[thumbwitch]

my lovely DH couldn't tell the difference between the black house spider and a funnelweb, and he is Aussie born and bred. He saw the funnelly holes in the webs and thought "funnelweb!"; looked them up on the internet and decided the spider looked close enough to the pic so killed 3 of them before we checked again and discovered his mistake.

Cockroaches should not be stood on - someone told me that causes egg release, don't know if it's true or not but am not taking any chances! I spray mine with Mortein.

this is worth a read, as is this article.
The actual number of spider bite injuries is very low and the hospitals all have anti-venom anyway, so if you suspect one, get your child/self to the local hospital A&E ASAP to get it treated.

My DS (3) is rather keen on playing with wildlife too - I discourage him as much as possible, which is sad - in England I wouldn't have needed to (but in England we would be plagued by bloody wasps so at least we win that one here!)

[thatsnotmymonster]

Great articles! Really puts it in perspective. I mean I figured it was likely that that was the case seeing as so many people live in and travel to Australia and most seem to survive

What about sun creams? Are you forever slapping on the factor 40? What do folks do?
Sorry about all my questions!

[thumbwitch]

no problems, TNMM!

The sun here is very hot. If you stand in it, you can feel it burning holes in you - much worse than anything I've ever felt in the UK. Of course, we don't tend to stand in it!

The main aim of the game is to cover up as much as possible and (IMO) stay out of it in the middle of the day - science has recently suggested that there isn't much point in going above factor 15, but we use a factor 30 which has no nasty chemicals in it (it's
basically a zinc cream). I hate slathering stuff all over DS, which is why we mostly don't go out in the worst of the heat. I am also a strong believer that some sun is necessary for making enough Vitamin D for health, so won't coat DS in cream in the early part of the day, or the late afternoon. Childcare facilities insist that the child is creamed before it arrives, and they top up during the day (DS isn't in childcare, I know this from other mums).

Hats are essential; swimwear is mostly long sleeved tops and shorts, rather than itsy bitsy swimwear (for children anyway).

It is true about hazy days - it doesn't look like you would burn, but you do - I tested this theory last New Year and suffered for it (just me, not DS) so don't take the absence of sun as being safe. Cloudy days are not the same as hazy days - you don't burn on cloudy days.

[Astrophe]

we suncream the kids before they ge dressed in the morning -its much easier when they are nuddie - and avoid going out in the sun between about 11 and 3 (you wouldn't want to anyway). Hats, no silly strappy sun dresses, polo t-shirts are good as the collar protects the neck.

We have had 3 or 4 red backs, ever, and only in new rental houses. After we spray sheds, undersides of bikes etc, no probs.

[thatsnotmymonster]

lol astrophe- at first I thought you were talking abou sunburn when you mentioned red backs and couldn't for the life of me work out how spraying the underside of a bike could possibly help I geddit now though!

My kids won't be in childcare either Thumbwitch. What about school? I don't like layering on cream that much either. I have 3 blondies but luckily they don't burn easily (on holiday in France/Croatia they have been out all day in the sun in skimpy swim wear with 2-3 applications of factor 25 and they just go nut brown) Obviously sun a lot stronger in Oz so covering up and staying out of the sun in the hottest part of the day is wise.

So what do you do between 11 and 3 everyday?

[Astrophe]

We nap :) Well, my 17 month old does. In winter, the bigger kids (4 and 6) watch telly for an hour at 5pm, but in summer its after lunch instead (if they are home from school and kindy). I am napping too at the moment (preggers). We have lunch, do inside things like puzzles, drawing. etc. Occasionally I do cream them up and let them run outside with the hose or slip and slide, and we do also have some shade in the garden, so sometimes we sit out there, but stay out of the sun.

At kindy(pre school) they reapply sun cream, and they do all their outside play from 9-11 amd and then 2-3pm, plus they have some of those shade sails up so the garden is very shady.

Not sure if I said earlier, but as soon as you know you are coming, get in touch with Kindergarten Union and get your little ones name down on a pre school waiting list. Just pick a few local ones and applky - its usually only $10 to go on the waiting list. If you don't know where you'll be, pick a few - there is one in north sydney, one in balmain, one in pyrmont.... They do have an unofficial arrangement where you can transfer you place on the waiting list to another KU centre if you don't end up wjere you thought you would.

KU are by no means the only good pre schools (my DS goes to a lovely church run one), but they have a big network, so its worth getting yout name down with them as places can be very hard to get. Your DD will get priority though, as she is 4 not 3.

[Astrophe]

lol at 3 or 4 red sunburnt backs in new rental houses

[cjdamoo]

spiders dont bother me now despite been the biggest arachnophobe before arriving! Im yet to see a funnel web despite going to the zoo (it was hiding) Ds 3 was bitten by a white tail twice within a week of landing. He had to have a huge puss filled lump cut out of his head. Im in a suburb outside of Newie Kotara and have opnly been on MN for a few days after my usual parenting site imploded

[thumbwitch]

Holy shit, cjdamoo - that's nasty! (the whitetail bite, I mean, not where you live )

Kotara is one of our shopping grounds so maybe, if you feel like it, we can meet up there one day if you're in need of some extra Englishness? Although preferably NOT in Garden City as it's just awful trying to park there, even with the new carpark.

One of my friends told me this morning that whitetail bites can flare up after a few years - sometimes even 10 years later, they might have a flare up, so keep an eye out for that.

[cjdamoo]

That would be good thumbwitch :D

Yeah The white tail bite thing Ive heard the same.

Luckily it doesnt seem to have clouded his view of Oz or for that matter curbed his vile bug fondness.

We had Relatives over in 2009 and he waited for his big tough uncle to doze before covering him in cicata shells. :o

[thumbwitch]

hoo hoo - cicada shells in abundance here as well! We were up in the Watagan mountains last week and there were lots of them up there (cicadas, that is, not the shells ) and we found this humungous one, which we think is a golden drummer - beautiful markings.

[thatsnotmymonster]

Ooo that's nasty cjdamoo- re the the white tails bites but I guess it shows these things happen and they get over it!

Astrophe- thanks for the KU info. So is this proper pre-school we're talking about and not the official school Kindergarten? I'm finding it all a bit confusing?

So would it be like pre-school here- a couple of hours a day? How much does it cost?
I am used to free pre-school!

We should find out towards the end of this week!

[thumbwitch]

One of my friends has her DD in pre-school one day a week - it costs her $67 dollars per day. That's for a whole working day though, so more like a childminder or nursery.

I take DS to two playgroups - one costs $3 per session (2h) and the other, which is the Playgroup Association one, costs $4 per session plus an annual fee of $39 (although I think if I paid for a whole term up front it would cost less). Is that what you were thinking of by pre-school? Not sure... I don't leave him at either playgroup, the parents are expected to stay with their offspring at both.

I get confused too because I didn't use the UK system, we left before DS needed to.