"Forrin parts" dwellers - anyone around for a chat?

[Thumbwitch]

We've had these chat threads before for people who live overseas and post at odd hours but they tend to peter out so I thought I'd have another go!

I am in Australia, 1.5h north of Sydney, been here almost exactly 2 years (tomorrow) and have an Aussie DH and a DS who is 3.8.

And currently I have a cold and am Not Happy. :(

[ComradeJing]

Very jealous of you all in Aus and can't wait for the October holidays as I'll have a good 2 and a half weeks over there. We're in a villa now which makes Beijing more bearable but the Air quality is still horrible and it's definitely the definition of a concrete jungle. I'm really ready to leave but I think we probably have another 5 years here. At least that will mean an Ayi for when Dc2 hopefully comes along.

Sitting in the dark in Dds room trying to extend her naps. I wouldn't change her for the world but I do wish she would bloody nap for longer than 30 minutes!

[Thumbwitch]

I am just above Central Coast but did look into working at Wyong or N. Gosford hospitals when I first came here - didn't really follow it up though as still SAHM with DS at the mo.

There has been a lot of new building in the last 25y - my DH was born and brought up on the Central Coast so is very aware of it.
Haven't been to Avoca, or much of the Central Coast really (apart from Tuggerah and Wyong, oh and Lake Haven for DS's football) - we tend to go north more into the Hunter Valley/Newcastle area, or down to Sydney.

I'd rather live here than in Sydney, that much I do know!

[BonzaBlue]

I love living here ! I am going to give birth at Gosford hospital ! I am ashamed to say I have not been to Avoca - mental note to go and visit there soon.

I love the drive from where I live to Woy Woy - the water is beautiful and I love seeing pelicans on the street lights.

I am very happy here.

[mountaingirl]

Thumbwitch & Bonza
I used to live on the Cental Coast 25 years ago! Went to work at Gosford Hospital and lived at Copacabana Beach and North Avoca. Beautiful area though I'm sure I'd appreciate it more now. Back then I was p'd off that the hospital I got sent to was not in Sydney (had just finished working in London- definitely a bit quieter where you are!). Met some wonderful people whilst I was there.
Is the little cinema in Avoca still in use? There used to be a pause in the middle of the film and refreshments/tea would be brought out. So quaint.
Fantastic beaches......
I wonder how much more it is built up now.
Do you both like living there & ? Newcastle. Fantastic places for bringing up a family.

[Thumbwitch]

We have a local library which is pretty good - it doesn't hold much itself but it can get anything in from the other libraries in the same Council, much like in the UK - except that they charge you 90c to do it. Borrowing is free and there are no late charges; just the charge to get it from elsewhere. However, it may be different council to council, state to state - lots of things are.

[ComradeJing]

That's who I was thinking of thumb!

I think it's because all books have to be printed in Australia and small Indipendents have a lot of protection from the giants. Lots of people have lost jobs as the giants have almost all closed now.

Its still a joke though.

[tadjennyp]

Seriously, $30 for a paperback? I presume the lending libraries are amazing then?

[Thumbwitch]

the book depository do free worldwide delivery though... :)

[ComradeJing]

God sorry, book people only do delivery to BPFO

[ComradeJing]

amazon UK Turns out it's a limited time offer but this is at least the 2nd time this year they've done it.

delivery book people do cheap delivery too

M&S delivery is great.

[Thumbwitch]

It is utterly disGUSting how much they charge for books, yes, as though they were a luxury item. Disgusting. I visit Basement Books every time I go to Sydney - the link is to their website, I don't know how much it costs to deliver and they're not like a normal bookstore - they don't have everything you would want, but you can get some really good bargains! I picked up Aliens In Underpants Save The World for $4.95 instead of the listed $15; and a hardback book for $2.95 that was listed at $35! The stock changes all the time, I think it's basically a clearing house for seconds or overstock (there's nothing wrong with any of the books I've picked up from there)

I haven't tried ordering from Amazon - didn't know they did free delivery now but am glad to hear it! Is that Amazon.com though, rather than .co.uk?
I have ordered stuff from //www.Iwantoneofthose.com before - that's only £10 delivery, so it's worth it sometimes. I think M&S is only £10 delivery here as well.

[MrsDistinctlyMintyMonetarism]

The price of books here has shocked me. Why it is so acceptable for a paperback to cost $30 is entirely beyond me.

I bought a paperback version of Dear Zoo last week to replace our old, worn out board version. $15!

[MrsDistinctlyMintyMonetarism]

I used Amazon for an order I placed at the end of July. Come the end of August (10 days after estimated delivery date and 3 ignored emails later) I called to be told that my package was 'untrackable'.

Basically it's 'disappeared'.

They've re-ordered but one of the items is now out of stock and probably won't be back in stock until November.

Am trying (in best Pollyanna fashion) to consider them as early Christmas presents.

[ComradeJing]

Thumb you know that Amazon does free shipping to Aus and NZ now? I can't stand how expensive books are in Australia. I just don't understand why successive governments would make reading, basically, just for the rich.

[CheerfulYank]

All right I will :)

Good night!

[Thumbwitch]

Goodness! 35deg and frost?? That's just scary!

Night Tad - sleep well :)

[tadjennyp]

I need to go to bed too. It's 10pm here in Oregon and really hot still. Due to be over 35C for the next few days but we've already had the first frost so it won't last long. Dd is starting Kindergarten in 2 days time! Just me and the boys then. Good luck everyone whose dcs are starting back to school. Night all!

[Thumbwitch]

OOOOOoooooooo!!! MrsDistinctly, I did NOT know about that! We looked at the Walking with Dinosaurs thing this year but decided DS was too young (he's currently 3.9) and it would be too scary; but by next March he'll be over 4 and might be ok with How To Train Your Dragon. The prices aren't that much higher (if at all, actually) than what we paid for the Disney Ice Spectacular this June so we could do it. But then we only have 1 child.

It's my favourite animated film - I just love the soul-stirring music as much as anything else!

CY - you need to go to bed - go on!!

We are currently experiencing a plague of fecking flies - I have killed about 12 in the last hour and a half!! I don't know where the buggers are getting in; we have screens on all doors and windows but as fast as I'm killing them more are appearing. No dead creatures or bodies in the house that I'm aware of; they MUST have a secret entrance!

[MrsDistinctlyMintyMonetarism]

Have you seen that the guys who made Walking with Dinosaurs have made a How to Train your Dragon arena show? link here

I'm umming and ahhing about going with the dc as I know they'd love it...but but but!

[CheerfulYank]

I love How to Train Your Dragon. Sigh...I really need to go to bed. I am in denial that I have to work tomorrow though.

[Thumbwitch]

frak - pmsl!! No, in this day and age, I think that's perfectly valid

MrsDistinctly - I do sleep, honest! I am just a late bird and sometimes if I go to bed early I wake up at 4am and can't get back to sleep. So yes, I am on here far too much a fair bit. :)

How long have you been out in Australia? Are you here longterm or on a short business thing?

Ticks are fuckers. I still have the heebyjeebies whenever I think of the one I found buried headfirst in DS's little baby arm (ok, he was 2 1/2 but still!). Got it all out, it hadn't been in long, but he still got a cysty thing over it that took a month to go :(. No after effects though and no scar. What really annoyed me was that I'd made sure he had long sleeves and long legs on before we went on the bushwalk - the thing must have fallen inside his sleeve. Grrrr.

Toys are viciously expensive, some of them - and books! - we only tend to buy stuff in the sales, op shops or on ebay. Talking of which, today was a Good Day - the parcel from England arrived with the rest of the dragons from How To Train Your Dragon in (UK ebay) and DS is thrilled! We are now, of course, watching the film again so DS can play along with the appropriate dragon

[fraktious]

Is it bad that I have just cited 'I will use less paper' as a positive outcome?

[fraktious]

I like the research, I liked writing up my conclusions and recommendations, I freaking hate methods and evaluation.

Guess what I have left to do

[MrsDistinctlyMintyMonetarism]

Helloooooo. I've been studiously ignoring the LO board as I've been feeling homesick, but as it appears that Thumbwitch never sleeps (I see you everywhere!) I decided to inflict myself upon you!

Hazy morning here just west of Brisbane, waiting for the weather to warm up so that we can use the pool!

One of the dc's and I managed to get a tick over the last couple of days. They are bloody sore .

It's dd's birthday on Sunday so have been organising stuff for a party. Nearly died at the price of Playmobil over here, but found this site really helpful. Even with expedited shipping from the UK it still worked out cheaper than Mr Toys or ToysRus.

[CheerfulYank]

Ugh, ugh, ugh!

Ok, really going to bed now! :o