So about Perth .......

[Mosman]

We've had a bit of a change of heart about Sydney, I cannot face the traffic and the pace of life, i'm going to Australia to chill out !!!

So Perth it is, 4 kids and suitcases in 19 days time.

Anyone want to say hi and reassure me it'll all be fine. Wibble

[Mosman]

How is the house hunting going Giggly ?
I am determined we are not leaving our rental unless they knock it down which considering the state of it isn't completely out of the question but hey.
So I got a new job, 20% pay rose and the biggest role I have ever had so I am walking in air. I shall be a big fish in a little pond but maybe that's the way to do it.
Hubby starts work next week and they have opened a new nursery in the CBD that mini mosman can go to. MIL is in charge of homework ie the bad guy ha ha ha and in her element. So far I am happier than we ever were in the UK this has been such a good move for us.
Now spring has sprung I need to shift 10kgs of flab so if anyone fancies meeting up for a brisk walk which may become a jog at some stage sat morning that would be great.
Oh and we've ordered a puppy from Melbourne - long story - but she arrives in 6 weeks, a cocker spaniel called Lily. Very exciting.
Keep posting everyone, it's great to hear all your news xx

[giggly]

Oh no Mossman we can never meet! I told my dd we could'nt get a dog for the first few years in Oz and had her haggled down to a guinea pig!

went to 2 houses today first one had about 50 viewers

[ravenousbugblatterbeast]

Giggly - how are you approaching these viewings? From what I'd read, and experienced a little of, it's a pretty military campaign, involving getting a relationship with the agents (no matter how useless they appear), and, when you actually find one you like, putting together a really good renters pack with lots of info about you and how great your family is, and what a good financial background etc you have. Things like photos of your old house, references from people eg, accountant, rental agent, whoever.. Feel free to pm me if you'd like any more details.

[Mosman]

You know we did none of that, literally just viewed, put in an application and a friend from the UK gave a reference.
I'd maybe look at other areas. The one will chose is popular with Aussies rather than Brits maybe that's the answer.
I'm happy to share our mutt if your daughter wants to enjoy the benefits without the commitment, I only wish I'd thought if that idea lol

[Mosman]

The one we chose should have said, sorry

[Longdistance]

Hey. Rentals are quite hard to secure in Perth, but that depends on what you are looking for. Area, state of property etc. When we got our rental there were 30 people viewing it, and then we only got it as someone else dropped out.
We put in a higher bid than was asked for ie, if it was $550 per week, we put a bid in that we were willing to pay $575. Much like gazzumping of the rental kind.
We have to move again, as the owners want to sell. It's all become very unsettling for me especially, but dd1 is sensitive to changes more so than dd2. So, we will try a similar area, as she loves her nursery.

[giggly]

we are learning as we go along. I have high hopes for one in Padbury as I took my dd2 who is, even by my standards v cute and pleaded that I needed to get my kids into school/kindy and also made the agent laugh at my jokes! We have 5 applcations in this week.

we have put together a covering letter saying how great we are that we have owned our home/homes for the last 20 years, talked about responsibilities etc.

Bigger problem being that the bloody Bank of Scotland have not sorted my new online account meaning we cannot transfer our money over for another 7 working days, relying on withdrawing money at ATM daily with saving account dwindling.
feeling very stressed today and I got my first mozzie bite.... which of course I scratched, good news though is the Pink fizzy wine

[Mosman]

How is everyone getting on ? We've had quite a journey but I am starting to feel at home now :-)

[trappedInYorkshire]

Hi Mosman, was wondering the other day how you're getting on. Has your MIL left yet? Your new job going ok?

We're now heading out to Perth in the new year, but getting the fear about trying to find a rental in time for the kids to start school in Feb. Think we maybe choosing the worst possible time by the sounds of it. Does anyone have any tips? Can pay up to a year up front if that might help.

[Mosman]

Hi
MIL has gone home 10 weeks early, didn't like the heat at all.
Job is going brilliantly Perth is a great place from that perspective if you've got a pulse you'll get a job !
As for rentals it is a funny time we are having a bit of a nightmare finding something bigger plus the landlord won't repair various things that make half the property unusable which is annoying but seems acceptable here.
Apparently the agents aren't allowed to take more than two weeks in advance, some do I'm sure but just having bank statements showing that amount in credit will help. Open a bank account from the UK too it's much easier in terms of ID etc

[trappedInYorkshire]

That's a result re your MIL.

Glad you've said that about the job market, neither of us have one to come out to, was starting to worry slightly but hoping we'll pick up something fairly quickly, even if we start off contracting for a bit.

We have opened our bank account from here, was surprisingly easy.

How have your kids settled into school? Are they enjoying it? My 2 have now decided they want to stay with their friends here, they're only 5 and 6 though so am sure they'll be fine once we get there.

Good luck getting another rental sorted.

[giggly]

Hi I'm still here. I have started work which is sooooo easy compared to previous in UK, even the freeway traffic cant dampen that.

Despite horrendous bouts of homesickness we are settling in ok having met another new family with kids the same age as ours.

We find being in a rented house really hard as it just doesnt feel like home and we cant do anything to it, so we will start to look after Christmas for something to buy and maybe let it for 6 months until this rental ends.

its been a bit quiet on this thread, where has everyone gone?

[meerkate]

Hello girls! We lived in Perth in 2005 when our kids were really little (3 and 1) and then went to South Island, NZ for a year; we've been back in the UK ever since but are thinking about a move back Down Under, to either Auckland or Perth. I'm glad to have found this thread - things seem to have changed SO massively in the 7 years since we left Perth and I am reeling at some of the rental prices! We rented in lovely Mosman Park last time, where DD went to Kindy, but I doubt we could afford that this time around. Like a lot of you my main focus has to be the kids' schooling this time round (they're 11 and 9 now). We haven't got jobs yet but are starting to look (DH is an ITU doc but can't work centrally due to the incredibly restrictive rules and regulations that govern this type of thing) and I am really averse to long periods of time in the car, so would really ideally like to live near the school as far as that's possible, and maybe near the train station too to get in and out of the CBD and to Freo market etc I love areas like Bicton and South Freo but I bet they are SCARILY expensive these days? Eek! Anyway, just bookmarking my place on your very helpful thread Good luck to you all with the settling in!

[meerkate]

PS giggly and mosman I read your dog/guinea pig comments with great interest - I've only just emerged from YEARS of guinea-pig tyranny (think changing cages outdoors in the frickin' snow with a frickin' head-torch on of an evening) and we are being nagged incessantly about a dog at the moment. Christ. Part of me thinks, ah, a little dog, lovely, and part of me thinks, hmm, if I can't even hack a guinea-pig without regular life-shortening bursts of murderous resentment, perhaps I'm not cut out to be a dog-owner However, if we stayed in Oz and lived near the river, then the idea definitely holds some appeal

[Mosman]

Our dog hasn't had the lovely walks around the river yet that I had in mind, she's knackered after the school run, just a baby though so I guess we will build up to that.
We are still on the hunt for a nedlands house bigger than a dhow box for less than a grand a week. Nothing yet.
I cannot imagine buying out here, maybe I'm missing something but it seems cheaper in the western suburbs to rent than buy by a country mile.
I've a friend who lives in ellenbrook rating to persuade me to look at there but again it's the schools isn't it, you want the best.

[roary]

waves hi everyone! Glad to hear you are all settling in. We've had a really busy time, dh has had an injury which means I have been juggling a lot . We have now been here a year and I have to say that while I would still go back to my UK job in a flash I'm not sure I would exchange lifestyle anymore. Love our school, we were at the amazing free Xmas fair in Claremont on Sun, outside all the time...

But today is stinking hot!! Not a fan of summer but Jan a good time to go overseas.

[giggly]

will we manage a meet up in the holidays, what do you all think?

[Mosman]

If I haven't melted into a puddle, how flipping hot is it ?
Loving it though