Going to Sydney

[robinpud]

Thought it kinder not to mess up the boiler thread any longer. I would CAT you but have no idea if you get it the same night or the next working day and wouldn't want you to think I was not responding.
Many many thanks for the ipod tip- it's better now!
Ok- my dh is a teacher and is taking part in a teacher exchange organised by a national organisation which sends teachers either to Canada Oz or New Zealand. He has done it before in Canada before we were married and had a ball professionally and personally.
We wanted to go to NZ originally but that's rare so Australia will be great. We didn't have any real thoughts of living there permanently and he has to come back as part of the contract for at least a term so we would have to apply then like anyone else. However my mind is now more open.. Canada would have been much trickier as both of us could easily have been persuaded to live there permanently.
as it's an exchange the ozzies will live in our house so no hassles there. We are even swapping cars as it makes our lives easier and the cars are nothing special. If you chose to sell yours you'd probably lose out a lot wouldn't you?
I know living abroad or going back to Canada (?) is a big thing for you. Is there a way for you to check it out first perhaps with a temp job and visa and long term house swap? Even doing it this way with a lot of the legwork done for us ie free visas medicare cover etc.. the organisation is overwhelming. hth. Good luck with your plans. Cat me if you have any more questions.

V. glad my innate ipod menu got you sorted LOL (how sad is that ).

Aha ! dw is a teacher (English), at secondary level, so this all becomes doubly interesting. Just out of curiosity, do you know if the exchange scheme can cater only for full time placements IYSWIM (dw is currently part-time; dd is just 16 months).

Glad to hear Canada was fun for dh. Was it Vancouver ? (I'm interested in checking that out too).

The 'return for a term' is a good idea I guess (for their protection IYSWIM), and not impossible to live with if you need to because it becomes 'home' (wonder what the 'punishment' would be if you didn't: I guess they shout you the air fare or something ?)

I had understood it was a job exchange, but can see it's also a house and car exchange, that's a really interesting idea. Wow ! (Are you cleaning your skirting boards LOL ?).

We'd be OK with our cars. I bought them at reasonable prices, and one we've had for ages.

(You might have me confused with DaddyCool who is Canadian... I'm essentially English - half French to be precise - but I've never lived abroad apart from a while when I was 18 trying to ingratiate myself with young French women. )

I can well imagine the complete administrative nightmare of (a) leaving, and sorting out everyting related to the house etc. and (b) arriving, and trying to set up your new life ! Busy busy busy. You'll be MNing at odd hours LOL !

Thanks for your explanations.

THe exchange is organised through LECT so have a look at their website. However if you decide to pursue it I have some ideas as to how to make it more likely to happen. I think that it would have to be a full time thing so it's one for the future for dw.
Sorry for the confusion.. I know you are the mac man and recently had a birthday party . Just got the canadian thing wrong.
dh went to Ontario but we would both love Vancouver, Canmore,Banff . Dh is to mountains what you are to boilers!
Yes I should be doing all sorts of preparation but am feeling a little overwhelmed by it all so watching tv, pretending to get ready for work and trying to think where to hide xmas pressies from nosey little ones!
Good luck with the plans!

Besides the washing machine in a plastic bag in a washing up bowl. They'll never look there as it's too close to a chore, LOL.

You'll be out in the Blue Mountains within a week or two of arriving, no doubt. There's quite a fun train thing which goes down a v. v. steep mountain, and there's a neat cable car across the valley if you don't mind heights.

Will check out LECT, and if we ever go for it, CAT you for pointers !

Thanks.