Ok lets widen the search **** all antipodeon mums living in the UK****

[quokka]

Lets have a new thread the other was getting a bit long!

All expats are welcome, I come from Perth WA and have been here for 8 years, married a pom and live in West London with my ds1 2yrs and ds2 1yr. No plans to move back to Oz but we are thinking of moving to Singapore for a couple of years. Well the weathers got to be better than here, and it will be further away from the inlaws

I was... sigh

hi bouj, its usally quiet here on the weekend! Were you living in the UK?

Have a good trip quokka! If you haven't left already... Should have a meet up before you leave for good.

Singapore is quite close to Perth, so it should be a good place for relatives to come visit.

The weather's been great here though, hasn't it? Hade a nice sunbake in the garden on the weekend, despite DS being ill (he has a fever as he was just immunised).

where do you live again bubblemummy?

Going on the 27th now, dh has been having work issues.

pisces - eidsvold im orignally a southside girl, more recently bayside. I need to be near the water, i miss it.

bubblemummy just let me me know when you want to come around. Will be in S'pore from 27th - 3rd, so anytime before or soon after that would be great!

Kaybee how does £30 sound? I think I might get that snowsuit back from you if thats ok, want to put it back in ds2's memory box (he looked so cute in it)!

Also will be getting rid of the other car seat - maxi cosi Henry (9months - 4years) if anyone is interested? That would have to go right at the end though when we sell the car.

Hope everyone is well

Hi all

Quokka, we need a car seat if you haven't got rid of it yet, how much do you want for it? We don't need it straight away as we have one that lasts till 9 months now and DS is only six months now.

Could come by on the weekend some time? Or the weekend after maybe? Are you in west London?

bubblemummy I'm in west london in between Gunnersbury park and chiswick. I'm around this weekend, if you want to pop around? Email me
lauren akers @ yahoo . com
Just leave out the spaces!

sunshinefairy, I can relate to liking being near the water. Do you know anywhere good to get a fix of sea and sand in the south-eastish bit of England? We've been to Brighton a few times,and over to Cornwall/Torquay etc, but with this glorious weather we're thinking of doing a few more coast trips this summer.

hey quokka, £30 is fine and of course you can have the snowsuit back - it is adorable isnt it!
shall we try to meet up once you are back from s'pore ?

Hi All. It's been a bit quiet here so I thought I'd fill you in on my good news!!

DH finally got his Aust Spouse visa through on Thursday - HOORAY!! It is such a relief to have it.

On Friday we exchanged contracts on the sale of our flat with the completion date of 14th May. The shipping company is coming tomorrow to collect our stuff and get it on its way. Our flat looks like a bomb has gone off and I can't wait for some space to be created. Luckily the guy who is buying our flat is also buying all of our furniture even down to the plates, glasses and cutlery.

My Dad has just found a fab car for us to buy when we get to Oz and a real bargain too.

We have also found some great deal on one way tickets flying with Singapore airlines and are planning a stopover there for a few days.

I'm sooooooo happy!!!

Hi Superloopy, great to hear someone on the list sounding so happy! Do you have any tips about those deals on fares with Singapore airlines? Net deals or a particular agent? We're looking for flights atm.

We booked our tickets through Trailfinders and they were £380 each but only one-way. We also looked at Austravel and they were pretty much the same but not as friendly on the phone.

Very important deciding factor!!

I guess this time of year is one of the cheaper times to be travelling, which is good for us!!

HTH

we flew with singapore and just booked direct with them but have also used flight centre - also good.

we stayed at Swissotel Merchant Court when we had out stop over in Singapore - brilliant hotel - convenient location. Know other mumsnetters have also stayed there.

Thanks for those tips. How have people found Singapore Airlines for travelling with babies? Do they supply baby food? My dd will be about 8 months when we travel.

they do from memory - dd1 was 8 months the first time we flew with them - also get little pkt of wipes, bib, a nappy or two. I just took a few jars of food for her. as she was formula fed also took cartons and those steri bottles.

not sure what you can take re: cartons with new security measures.

Hi everyone

Superloopy, did you find it difficult to get a visa sorted out for your DH? We'll be trying to get one for my DH in a year or so, but I'm actually a New Zealand citizen so I don't know how easy it's going to be getting an Australian visa for him.

Good that you're having a stop over to break up the flight a bit, although traveling with a baby on the way over here was a lot easier than I expected. LO slept the whole time, he was only 3 mo though.

Hi Bubblemummy

The visa wasn't too difficult to get just very time consuming, detailed and expensive!! We also had the annoyance of our Doctors office failing to fill in some forms and send back for 6weeks which was an unneccessary hold up.

I do recall seeing some sections of the visa refering to spouses of NZ citizens but didn't pay too much attention.

I would recommend applying for it in plenty of time as you have 12 months to enter Oz once it is issued.

We have flown a couple of times with DD and not had any problems with her at all. Our flight to S'pore leaves H/row at 10:15pm so hopefully she will sleep for most of the trip. She is also very chilled out and easily bribed if needed!!

Hi guys - still here, just.

I always book through travelbag they are fab on the phone and always get me the cheapest flights. S'pore airlines are great with kids but would deffo take some of your lo's fav food. We flew back with BA once and they wouldn't provide food for ds1 even though I had ordered some especially . Quantas were good as well the boys got a "wiggles" travel pack . Oh and always take a bottle of medised

Went to s'pore 2 weeks ago to find a place to rent and ended up buying an apartment 5 min walk for the aussie school. Will be moving for good on 3rd June so if your passing through we can meet for a coffee or come to ours for a swim!

Kaybee what days are you free to catch up?

Hi kamikayzed I came here in 1999 too. I'm moving to s'pore in 3 weeks and and am proud to say that ds1 will be going to the aussie school there. Was really starting to stress about schools in west london (we are in a really bad catchment area) then dh gets a job in s'pore - perfect! Where abouts in Sydney are you from?

quokka can't believe you are going so soon!
am free weds and fri's, or some tuesdays, ny of them good for you?

snap, laksa is my fav as well. You can get laksa paste from Sainburys, but I have never come across a good one in a restaurant!
There seems to be loads of aussie and Brit couples in S'pore