TIE ME KANGAROO DOWN, SPORT - THE COMBINED AUSTRALIAN THREAD

[MrsBigD]

Sorry couldn't resist, especially as I'm bored at work and you know... idle hands...

advice please!

If a flat cost $600 aus to rent per month, would $800 inclusive of all bills (inc foxtel) be a good deal or not?

(Sydney)

oops sorry I meant $800 per week versus $600 per week without bills

You obviously need locals moqwai, but that seems like an awful lot for bills to me. I know it's a long time ago but I remember utilities being much cheaper in Australia, and you're not exactly going to have high heating bills! (The flat we rented in Sydney didn't have heating and I don't remember ever being cold.)

PeppaPigsMum - it would be lovely to meet you, but I'm not sure how possible it will be for me to excape from my brood while we're over. A nice girlie chat might be difficult with three kids and DH in tow - I might be able to persuade them to hang out at the beach for a while though! Is it ok if I CAT you? If I have your e-mail address I can get in touch while I'm there.

mogwai - after you first post i was going to ask where you'd managed to find a flat so cheap!!! on reading your second, i think $800 pw with utilities sounds a bit high, even with Foxtel (where you'd pay about $100/month for the top-notch package normally). can't imagine you'd be spending over $150 per week on gas & electricity. you almost certainly won't need heating at the moment, and probably won't need air-con either (although we're about to have a hot spell with temperatures in low to mid 30's - maybe you'd want some air-con in an apartment at those temperatures). does the $800 include phone calls? or broadband internet access? trying to imagine how nearly $200 per week is worth it...

sunnydelight - yeah, CAT me and you can see how it goes when you get here. no worries if you can't make it - i can only imagine how hectic those 3 weeks are going to be, and how quickly they will disappear! you need to make sure you have a bit of relaxation as well .

Hello!!!!
Just catching up on thread things have been movin fast here in sunny cold Switzerland. Dh is flying out next week to start work and me and my tribe of five(minus 1 until nxt year)will be following Nov 23rd
cat not coming she is staying down on the farm.
Not relishing the flight to sydney just me and the 4 children!!!!!Ahh!!!!!!!Flying with Quantas they have said they will assist me as much as possible Well hope the other passengers are 'child friendly'!
Still not got aywhere to live but that will be DH task.

Have you narrowed down where you want to live yet tribeoffive? It's funny, you'll be flying into Sydney the day we fly home from our holiday - if I see a very harassed looking women with four kids at the airport I'll say hello

Well at the moment we are looking in Sutherland Shire 35/40 min commute to CBD good train service, near a great beach Cronulla, good schools but hey that still might change watch this space
How about you sunnyd you have any thoughts yet of where you guys are headin?
When do you leave for your hols?

We leave on 5th November for our holiday so I'm getting pretty excited about it. I'm pretty set on North Shore as I've heard schools are good, lots of expats around so my kids won't be that unusual etc. St. Ives looks promising for schools, but it's not on the train line (DH will be working in Darling Harbour) so I'm going to check it out while we're there. I had discounted Cronulla specifically because of the racist stuff there a while back, but I would be really interested in hearing your experience if you do end up there - it's certainly better transport wise.

DH has friends that live in Bonnet Bay and have no hesitation in recommending the area.
My inlaws have just come back from oz on holiday and they took the chance when in Sydney to drive out to the area and look at some houses they were quite taken with the area.
I have also found a language high school for our eldest dd in that area so as she can continue with her french and german, it would be such a pity after 3 years of living in france and switzerland she loses the languages she has done so well to learn its her english she needs to brush up on more than anything
Going to check out at St Ives now!you never know

DH has friends that live in Bonnet Bay and have no hesitation in recommending the area.
My inlaws have just come back from oz on holiday and they took the chance when in Sydney to drive out to the area and look at some houses they were quite taken with the area.
I have also found a language high school for our eldest dd in that area so as she can continue with her french and german, it would be such a pity after 3 years of living in france and switzerland she loses the languages she has done so well to learn its her english she needs to brush up on more than anything
Going to check out at St Ives now!you never know

OOPS CLICKER HAPPY TODAY [GRIN]

its all quiet on the western front!
Is there anyone out there????

Dh departed today for Sydney

I now have 3 weeks left here in Switzerland before I head back to the uk to say some farewells then Im off

Spoke with BA today to check on some info. Have booked a seat for the youngest dd 15mths and I was confirming with them that I can take the car seat on for her YES [SMILE]

How's your DH getting on tribeoffive - has he found somewhere for you to live yet? Every time DH talks about our move it's all doom and gloom about the amount of stuff we have to shift. I quite like the idea of skipping most of it and starting afresh, but then I worry I might regret that in later years! Which approach have you taken?

Hi Sunnyd! DH has some viewings on Sat (seems to be the day for viewing houses)The houses we have been looking at on the internet have been going quick but then again plenty new ones come on
After getting quotes for shipping we decided on the smallest container 20cubic meter the next size up we would have only 3/4 have filled it so we we have sold most of our large items of furniture sofas,chester drawers basically the stuff that would use up the space. The money we save on taking the smaller container rather than the larger one will allow us to replace the furniture and more .
What you guys doing? Are you getting excited about your hols? Who are you flying with?

Hi tribeoffive, I am getting very excited about our holiday, but then have a major panic attack that I'm sitting here mumsnetting instead of packing etc. I spent weeks online sorting everything out so I kind of feel I'm sorted, but there must be loads to do .... We're flying with Singapore Airlines who have a great reputation so I hope it's all true. We haven't even started looking at shipping costs etc. for our permanent move yet, I guess I feel we need to do the holiday first. DH and I were out last night and kept saying "oh, do you remember such and such a restaurant", and "oh, we can bring the kids to .." I really hope it lives up to our memories. I know you are going to be manic settling in but I will be following your fortunes closely if you can bear giving us warts and all regular updates!

tribe of five - how old is the little one going in the car seat - just wanted to let you know that UK car seats are illegal to use in Aussie cars. Aussie rules are very strict re car seats. Depending on age - they need to be anchored by bolt to the car - back dash/hatch wall.

Just 1 tip...bring as much as you can. It pays to spend the extra on shipping. White goods, furniture, beds etc are quite expencive over here.

tribe of 5, we filled up more than 40 cubic feet in our container. that's 3 people and a 2 bed house! Please make sure you will have enough room!

Eidsvoid thanks for that info did'nt know that

DD is 15 mths the car seat will do for the plane ride just need to splash out on new 1 or 2 or 3(got 3 little ones as well as 2 big ones thats kids by the way)
What the rule with regards booster seats? or do all children under a certain age have to be in the bolted in seats?
This will go down a storm with the DH
No worries Hauntedsandcasltes got enough space with the 20 cubic mtr container I don't think Ive got enough stuff to fill that now actually

tribe of five - you need to check your states transport department

here

hope this is the info you need.

I know it works on weight. Our dd1 could be in a seat like this...
\link{

but there is no way she would stay in the belt.www.rta.nsw.gov.au/roadsafety/restraintschildrestraints/childrestraints/choosingarestraint.html\one at the bottom}

we are getting her this one which will keep her safe until at least 7

here

instead of the baby capsule(on transport page) fitted - you can get a car seat that starts rear facing and then can be turned and used forward facing - we did that for dd2 - can be used up to 4yo.

For the 15 month old - something like the one above will do them until they are 7 or something like this that can do up to 4....

here

try this link instead of the dodgy one

here

that last link in my big message is the like the one we had for dd2 which does from birth til about 4years old.

here

the above link is QLD regulations but the pics are good to see car seat in car.

Hi everyone. Could anyone tell me how soon I will have to post Christmas Card to UK so it gets there a week or so before Christmas. tia

I usually send my overseas Christmas cards the 1st of december and they have always been there on time.

Thank you eidsvold.