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Living overseas

Whether you're considering emigrating or an expat abroad, you'll find likeminds on this forum.

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Original poster

Moving to Oz on 4 year visa - DD best friends party day we due to leave what to do?

13 replies

mrsdelboy · 25/02/2008 08:36

Hi everyone. Just wondered what you all thought.

We are emigrating to Australia and if we like it we will attempt to become permanent residents, so we are looking at it as a permanent move.

Dh has been the one pushing for this and he has got a job over there. They have given us accomodation for the first 4 weeks when we arrive. They have booked it from Monday April 7. We are not allowed to stay over our 4 weeks.

We have not yet booked flights as we are still waiting for our visa's but we should get them in the next week or so.

DD is only 5 and is in reception but it is her best friends birthday party on April 6. They went to the same nursery and are now in same class at school. I have also become good friends with the mum. Previously we thought that we would be able to attend as we had an engagement on the saturday April 5.

But that has now been cancelled and so DH wants to now fly on April 5 or 6. He is saying that our accomodation is ready for the 7th so we should fly on the 6th or even 5th and stay in a hotel for the night.

This would give us extra few days to look for our own long term accomodation. He is not starting work until April 21. I am worrying about finding a long term rental as there are so many people going for each house. I have been worrying about this and have been telling him so. So he is now saying that it is more imprtant to get there asap.

I know he is probably right but i hate letting people down and they think we are coming to the party. DD's best friend would be really upset if we did not go.

What would you do? Push to fly out on the 7th April or go when DH wants?

Just asked DD how would she feel if couldn't go to party and she said she wouldn't mind if we were in Australia! So really it is me. I don't want to let my friend down or upset her daughter.

OP posts:

SueW · 25/02/2008 08:43

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at OP's request.

K999 · 25/02/2008 08:45

Well as DD does not mind then you should book your flights on a date that is convenient to you. I am sure the other little girl and mum will understand. You could always take the two of them out somewhere nice before you go.....a kind of early birthday treat!!

belgo · 25/02/2008 08:47

It sounds like you need to go on the 5 of April.

Arrange a special get together for your children before you go, almost like a miniture party.

ShinyDysonHereICome · 25/02/2008 08:49

Arrange a special tea for them before you go- they will get more 1:1 timew together that way

SueW · 25/02/2008 08:53

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at OP's request.

Original poster

mrsdelboy · 25/02/2008 12:05

Thanks for all your replies. I think I will do as you all say and get together with the little girl one to one. We have already bought her a going away present to give aswell as her birthday present.

SueW, I was quite happy with my life here and so have taken a bit of persuading from DH. However, as time has gone on I have been getting quite excited but now as it is getting nearer I am definitely getting pre-emigration nerves!

OP posts:

chloeb2002 · 26/02/2008 22:15

I think finding a rental property depends very much on where you are heading or where you wat to live...on a quickie... have you sorted school for DD? Just we are currently having some school stress so to pass on a piece of advice.. our DD started reception in uk following nursery to arrive in aus (queensland) and be expected to spend another year doing nursery in waht is caled prep here. so they dont do alot (none in DD's school) on the reading and writing front. we have currently applied to put her up to grade one and are awaiting the outcome. So if you want to continue eduction or may go back to the uk and want continuity then you mau need to do the same? I know it is different in NSW as I have a friend who is school teacher! but as a temp res you will have to pay school fees in NSW. not sure about other states...just to hope you dont fall into our trap!

sandcastles · 27/02/2008 03:46

Also be aware that house viewings here happen on an "open day". Which isn't actually a day, more an open hour, or half hour.

There is no "call the vendor & rock up any time". You can get several opens on the same day, we ended up looking at 3 on one day, with just 10 mins travelling time in between time slots.

So basically, you see a house you like, you find out when it is 'Open' you go along [with many others, usually] and look around.

If you like it, you grab a form from the agent who will be there, fill it in, send/take it back to the agent [asap, with references, pay details etc] & wait!

So I am not really sure that leaving here on the 5th will make THAT much difference, tbh.

Alot of opens happen at the weekend during lunch times or evenings on weekdays, so if you fly on the Sat you will be in the air until late Sunday/early Monday [depending on stop overs]. So you will have missed the weekend opens.

If you fly on the Monday you will arrive late Tues/early Weds. You could catch some opens on the Wed pm, but consider if trapsing around houses at 5.30pm [weekdays] with tired kid in tow, on your first day in Oz is really what you want to do. That is after you have sourced the opens [via internet, papers [weekly, not daily] & estate agents and found out what suburb they are in & found your way there.

At least leaving on the Monday you will catch the opens the next weekend with a few days to source potential properties. Find where they are & plan a way to get there, if you have no car straight away.

mymama · 27/02/2008 05:55

If you leave UK on 5th what day do you arrive in Australia?

We flew out from Heathrow at 9:30pm on 30th December and arrived 7:00am 1st January. Only 24 hour flight but you "lose" a day coming this way iyswim.

Agree with others. Do one on one special tea for your dd and her friend and fly out on the 5th.

ghosty · 27/02/2008 06:01

I agree with others. If you wait for everyone's birthday then you'll never leave ...
I have done this twice (from UK to NZ then from NZ to UK) and you just have to pick a day and go.
Have the 1-1 special teaparty and then you won't have to spend the last day saying goodbye to people at the birthday party (that's my least favourite bit of leaving, obviously )

dippydeedoo · 27/02/2008 07:10

mymama ..wow that was some good start to a new year !!

dejags · 27/02/2008 07:23

We are also moving to Australia (Brisbane) - about a month after you (30th May).

I agree with the others. It's a big, huge, scary move. I think you should have a tea party for your DD and her friend a week before you go and then leave on the day that suits you best.

Where are you going to?

arfishy · 27/02/2008 07:39

I would say skip the party and do a special day with DD and her best friend - in the excitement of a party you won't really get to say a proper goodbye anyway. 6 weeks is enough notice and to do special day with the two of them is a much nicer farewell for the two of them I think.

Where are you coming to in Australia? The rental market is very tricky in Sydney at the moment. Also bear in mind that houses are unfurnished here too.

Good luck with the move - we came over 3 years ago and haven't looked back.

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