Melbourne

[lulalullabye]

Hi, currently on a fact finding mission in Melbourne. We are here for a month and staying in Mount Martha.

We really like the area but wondered what it would be like to bring up a family there.

Anybody out there who lives around that area ?

hi there

we live in Sandringham and my mil lives in Mornington. Mt Martha is gorgeous, we love it for holidays and it is so close to Mornington which has every facility you could need, plus the city is not that far, a lot of people commute that distance although it would be a pretty huge committment to do that.

I know there are one or two mnetters who live that way, hopefully they'll be about soon

Thanks for that. We also like beaumaris but that is an option if we get here and the commute doesn't work.

The decision to come to Melbourne though is already made.
We love it.

How long have you been in Melbourne and have you made friends easily ?

morning

We've been back almost 2 years and I didn't know anyone around here (except my sil) when we arrived. I found it amazingly easy to make friends here actually, this part of Melbourne seems to have a huge British contingent and the people in this area are just generally so friendly. Its just got such a lovely, happy feel to it, being by the Bay. Beaumaris is beautiful, my dh sister lives there and thats where we stayed when we first arrived.
I guess it depends on what you want, you can have the beach lifestyle here and still be so close to the city, it takes my dh 25 minutes on the train from Sandringham station right into the city which is just so great, Beaumaris would be just a litle further because it doesn't have its own train line (one of the reasons we chose SAndringham - plus we fell in love with it and this little old house we live in!)

I can't rave enough about how much I love living here, it was tough for about six month, missing London and my friends and mumsgroup and just our life in the UK but I could'nt help but acknowledge how amazing our lifestyle here was for the boys (almost 3 and almost 5). Once I made good friends here it just made it complete. Gosh I am rambling now are'nt I!

btw, happy to meet up during your month for a coffee if you wanted to have a chat about everything, you are not far away and we'd love a trip down to Mt Martha if you don't have car or you could come up here and we could have a wonder about!

I would love to come and meet up with you. The area that you live in is sort of the area that we were looking at also.

We want to be near the sea and nearish to the city for Dh's work, but not so near that we are bringing our children up in a city, iykwim.

Dh has two interviews tomorrow so that would be a great time if you are free as I can drop him at the station. We do have a car with sat nav, so no problem to get to you.

I don't reall have any issues finding friends as we have moved a lot in the lat year or so and toddler groups etc are great for meeting like minded people.

Thankyou for being so friendly. Is that what everybody is like in Melbourne.

Have I already bored you on how much I miss Melbourne?

Used to live on Sims St, Sandringham and chose it because it was the end of the train line.

I can imagine why you miss it !

oh great, that sounds perfect. I only have ds2 tomorrow as ds1 is at kinder so that will make life easy!

What time are dh's interviews? I drop off at 8.45am and then we are pretty much free until 3pm pickup.

DS2 ususally sleeps at some point but its not a big deal if he misses it.

give me a shout on email

tuesdayandtheboys at gmail dot com and I'll give you all my details

yes, pretty friendly bunch here I've found. When we arrived our things were still on a boat several weeks away and a mum I met casually at a playgroup dropped round an enormous box of toys the afternoon I met her just so my boys had something to play with until their toys arrived. I couldn't get over how kind she was to a stranger but that seems to be way things are here!

Hi Lula,
I lived in Mt Martha last year, and currently work in Mornington. Mt Martha (beachside) is the most amzing place. Infact, we had lunch down there yesterday in a gorgeous restaurant on the esplandade.
We decided to move out of Mt Martha (well, Safety Beach to be precise) because we felt too isolated from the rest of the City and it was too much of an effort to go an explore the big wide world of Gippsland and the Dandenongs. We have now moved over to Officer, and feel a lot more connected to all parts of the City.
Mt Martha is so dreamy that property prices are going through the roof. I know lots of Brits who live in Mt Martha and Mornington, and they have a great social thing going, and they are really happy here. Oh, swimming...that was one reason we loeft Mt Martha as we swim a lot and the nearest pool is over at Hastings (nice pool, that is) and it was too far. We now live next door to HUUUGE and fab swimming pool. But those were our priorities for our children and yours will be different.
Commute to city from Mt Martha in rush hour will be no less than 1.5 hours, probably more on way home.
I am in the Frankston office tomorrow, and Mornington on Friday so if you want to come and meet for coffee then great! I can tell you more...

melbournemum, I will email you. Dh has only one interview at 2.30 so should be able to meet about 1.30 if thats ok.

DC would also like to meet for a coffee and will bring Dh etc. You tell where to meet and what time and we will be there.

Thankyou to both of you.

We could meet in Mornington at 12.30pm on Friday? At the Main Sail cafe on Main Street?? It's down near the beach end of the road and does lovely Sandwiches.
As of yet I have no appts for Friday and the prospect of meeting Strangers in cafes sounds good to me

Also, check out the Britvics forum hang on, will link...s7.invisionfree.com/BritVics/

This is a discussion forum for all Brits moving to Victoria. We found it invaluable when we were emigrating.

HiLulalullabye

I live across the bay at Ocean Grove but used to live near you in Mt Eliza. We used to spend a lot of time at Mt Martha and love it there. It's such a great area. Happy to help ....if you want to sail over to Queenscliff one day we could meet....my kids love the boat and see dolphins every time. Tilba x

Hi Tilba, might look into the ferry crossing, thanks.

We have about another 18 days left so will let you know.

Dc, we will be there Friday. Might only have one dc which would be good.

See you then.

hi lula

its going to be really hot tomorrow so why don't we meet up at a cafe and then once we've established that neither of us are too scary, we can always come back here in the nice cool air conditioning

The cafe is at the Bay Road Nursery Sandringham (Plants Plus)on Bay road, about halfway up on the right heading towards Bluff Road (Station St where you will drop dh run off Bay Road, Sandringam) You can't miss the Plants Plus Nursery, its bright pink and green and the cafe is great, it has a fish pond and a children's area as well.

Shall we say 1.30pm?

Hi Lula,

We have been out here for about 6 months, and although I miss my friends, we have started to settle and the lifestyle is fab, great weather, lovely beaches and very child friendly. People are lovely too, and I have met some super people through Mumsnet !
We are in Hampton, not sure if you are at school stage but there's masses of choice in this area and Melbourne as a whole.
If you get chance while you are here visit Sorrento it is just gorgeous!!

Wilbs do you want to join us?? what have you got on tomorrow afternoon?? xx

Oh a little mumsnet meet up

That sounds a better idea as you wouldn't want me stalking you .

1.30 sounds good, see you then.

Hello, sorry for the late response (eyebrows), I would love to come & meet you for a coffee, I am child free tomorrow so will pop along and see you both there!

oooooh, gorgeous. I"ll only small mister with me, do you know the place I"m talking about?

I will find it!! I am going to S/lands shortly so will find it on my way and look forward to coffee