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Hi frm Wamberal, NSW; Introduction
Topic Started: Jan 21 2008, 08:31:47 AM (238 Views)
chelle72


Hi, I'm Chelle i'm a scot now living in Australia for 16months now a stay at home Mum looking to meet new people and hopefully make some friends :thumbsup:
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Tiredwithtwins
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hi chelle,
welcome to the forum :welcome:
not sure how many of us are from up your way (im still in the uk!!!), but a few members are from nsw area so hopefully someone will be along shortly to say hi!

welcome again ...

sue x
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Anne
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Wonderful Winsome Wench

Hi Chelle :welcomesign:

I'm Anne and we've been living in Perth for nearly two years now :thumbsup: Just trying to swot up for the citizenship test :wacko:

I have quite a few friends here from Scotland and they all seem to be sure that they've made the right move :thumbsup:

See you around the forum, and again - :welcomesign:
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chelle72


Thanks for the replies already I am still pretty new to this country and still suffering from major bouts of homesickness but days like today when it is raining hard remind me of home so I don't feel so bad!!! :thumbsup:

I hope the weather is better where you are!! :D
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Anne
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Wonderful Winsome Wench

Perth has not seen ANY rain for 33 days now and they are not expecting any for at least another 3 weeks!!!!!! :blink:
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chelle72


Well we have seen more rain than sun here lately!!! It has been pretty much raining here all week with brief bouts of sun the plants are loving it!!! :D
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Snappy
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Sexy Sizzling Schmoozer

Hello Chelle welcome to the forum. I'm living up in the Far North Queensland in the wettest place in Australia although yet again this year Babinda took the Golden Gumboot from us...not that I'm complaning too much about that one!

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chelle72


Babinda? Golden Gumboot?? not too sure what all that means but if I were to guess is Babinda a town and when you say Golden Gumboot is that Golden Wellies??? Sorry my boyfriend may be Australia but I am still trying to catch up with all the slang he thankfully doesn't use a lot cos he knows I don't understand a word of it!!! :lol:
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rjs
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Richly Joyful Sylph

Hi there ,
Another Perthie here ,was a newbie to the site not long ago ,can tell you the natives dont bite & have been very friendly :thumbsup: Welcome.
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ProofReader
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G'day and welcome from me in Brisbane, Chelle. :wave:


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Lynnj
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Hi :welcomesign:

I'm in Perth too, originally a Scot too.
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ohippy
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Original Opulent Optimist

:welcomesign:

I'm sorry, but I'm WA too :blushing: but have been here about the same amount of time as you - we landed on 31 August 2006, wow has it flown by.

Hope you stick around !
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chelle72


Thanks to everyone you have all been so friendly helps knowing there are people in the same postition as me out there just a shame you all seem to be on the other side of Australia!! :(

How did all you other expats find settling here? and what tips and advice can you give to someone still suffering major homesickness!!
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ohippy
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Original Opulent Optimist

I can't say I've ever wanted to go back to the UK but, at times, I have and do struggle at 'settling'. To begin with it was the shops I missed most but now it's more to do with missing my mates and having to make so much effort to start all over again.

I have good and bad days, I get through the bad days as best I can (I have been known to sit and watch back to back Columbo dvds all day) but, tbh, those days are few and far between now. I think it helps to have the attitude that this is now home so you have to get on with it.

All I do know is that we had friends who missed their family like crazy and struggled so much with Oz that they ended up returning to the UK in April 2007. They'll be back next week, to me that says it all. :thumbsup:
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chelle72


I think for me Christmas is the worst I just went through my 2nd Christmas here and I don't think I am ever going to truly enjoy it as much as back home in Scotland though don't get me wrong I had a nice time - I just miss the weather from back home and the excitement of snow I am from the Highlands of Scotland and the prospect of a white Christmas was a real thing for us I love that.

I have without realising it starting thinking of here as home - I do miss my friends and family soo very much that is a given and I had such a hard time getting on that plane and coming back here when I recently took a trip back to the UK as I was enjoying it so much.

I think in everyday life I too miss the shops but I think the thing I miss more than the shops is the food. I still crave what I consider "normal" food!! Thankfully my sister sometimes sends me food parcels from home I just wish I could just go to the supermarket and do a food shop without that horrible sinking feeling I am not going to be able to buy the things I really want!!! Maybe I sound silly but you never realise until you are away from home how those little things make all the difference!! :D
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BIX
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Boner-fide Bonza Bloke


G'day Chelle and another welcome from me. :)

I'm further up North than anyone else but you mustn't hold that against me. :wink:

I look after the zebras up this way :hungry:
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BIX
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rjs
21st January, 2008 - 02:30pm
can tell you the natives dont bite


You need to come closer mon cherie :kiss:
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ohippy
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Original Opulent Optimist

well now you've met Bix our resident lion :crazy:

I understand what you mean about the food, I always said we'd eat Oz food and not buy English stuff but, truth is, I do go to the English shops every now and again and our closest three supermarkets all do English stuff too so I'm quite happy there. I do think it's harder for some if you go back for trips though, just try and remember that life wouldn't necessarily be like that if you actually lived there. :dunno:

As for Christmas I have to say I totally agree and we rarely had the snow. If I had the money I would spend every Christmas in the UK, hit the shops for the sales then head back here for the tan :yes:
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Lynnj
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ohippy
21st January, 2008 - 07:20pm
well now you've met Bix our resident lion :crazy:

I understand what you mean about the food, I always said we'd eat Oz food and not buy English stuff but, truth is, I do go to the English shops every now and again and our closest three supermarkets all do English stuff too so I'm quite happy there. I do think it's harder for some if you go back for trips though, just try and remember that life wouldn't necessarily be like that if you actually lived there. :dunno:

As for Christmas I have to say I totally agree and we rarely had the snow. If I had the money I would spend every Christmas in the UK, hit the shops for the sales then head back here for the tan :yes:

Oh God i couldn't think of anything worse..... Snow was lovely when it fell first of all and you looked at it out the window, or even if you went to build a snowman in it, but then practical things like going to work meant taking your life in your hands and then when it turned to slush...... o i don't even want to think about it. I once got snowed in for a week on my own with 2 kids.

As for food.... the only thing i ever missed was aberdeen butteries when i was pregnant with O.

I have never ever ever ever felt the least inclination to go back for a visit and have thought of WA as home from long before i moved here, i just happened to be born somewhere else.

But thats me and i am not typical ot most migrants, so just ignore me :P
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chelle72


Yes it is true about the slush hated the stuff unfortunately it comes hand in hand with the lovely snow so I definitely don't miss that for sure!!! As for the food I have become one of those people that goes looking for British food and gets excited when she sees a shop selling Irn Bru!! :D much to my boyfriends disgust as he is trying to Aussifiy me as he puts it!!!

But no matter how long I am here even if it is the rest of my life I will never ever like Vegemite foul stuff dunno how anyone can eat it and my boyfriend loves the stuff!! :no: but I have become a fan of Lammingtons and Tim Tams yummy!! I also like telling my friends and family back home how long I have gone without wearing a coat! :lol: it amazes them that someone could go a day or two without wearing one never mind weeks at a time though not lately the old coat has had a dusting and is back in use with this rain!!! :P
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Bordy
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Braw Auld Bampot
Hi Chelle, I'm with Lynn re the snow. I was from the Scottish Borders & saw enough snow to do me a lifetime.
Ive been in Melbourne coming up on 9 years & never been back.
That will change this year when I go back for three weeks in June.

I'm already looking forward to getting back home to Melbourne though. :)
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Snappy
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chelle72
21st January, 2008 - 01:55pm
Babinda? Golden Gumboot?? not too sure what all that means but if I were to guess is Babinda a town and when you say Golden Gumboot is that Golden Wellies??? Sorry my boyfriend may be Australia but I am still trying to catch up with all the slang he thankfully doesn't use a lot cos he knows I don't understand a word of it!!! :lol:

Sorry yes Babinda is a town and the golden gumboot (wellie boot) is given to which ever town has the most amount of rain in Australia.

Have to agree on the Tim Tams although I've got into the pink ones recently...yum!

I've been out here for nearly 3 years (this April) and it has been a really tough few weeks for me recently on the home sickness side of things, mostly to do with the death of a good friend. I could just pack up quite easily and go back to the UK. Nothing to do with food, weather just the people. If they all moved to Oz my life would be just perfect. I know that if I did move back I would sorely regret it as I start to think about the things I would miss here in Oz and apart from people the everyday stuff kind of wins hands down for me. So it kind of feels like

I'm in a limbo land of not feeling very settled at the moment but I know it will pass. :wink:
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chelle72


I am so sorry to hear about the death of your friend - I may go on about the food but missin my friends and family IS the hardest bit. Like you I would love if they would all move here I know then I would love it here all the more. I think for me it is the distance more than anything the fact that they are not just a short drive away or flight the whole time and expense of getting to the UK and back make it so hard.

I am so glad for mobiles and the internet if it were not for these things would be a lot harder I regularly get texts and picture messages even little videos from my family and friends and MSN and email make keeping in touch that much easier and when you are chatting to them it doesn't seem such a large distance between us.

I think back to how hard it was when I first came here and although things are not 100% great yet I know I am improving I just need to get a wee job make some friends and get some kind of life back again I love being at home with my little girl and don't want to leave her but I think I need adult company or I will go insane!!!
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Snappy
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Sexy Sizzling Schmoozer

I was going to ask you if you were working as that does make a massive difference. I'm back in work on Thursday and I can't wait as I know my frame of mind will alter slightly when I have other things to worry about :lol:

I think for me I have good friends here but not people that just know you inside out as yet and that just comes with time and a lot of patience. I keep concentrating on things I love about Oz and still try to Ooooo and Ahhhh at certain things here that in reality are unbelievable.
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chelle72


I think working will make a big difference to my attitude and adjustment here I am dying to get back to work practically anything right now!! I am torn though as I want to be here for my little girl as my partner works away just now and I think at least one of us should be constantly around plus looking for something just part time and close by for travel purposes is restricting my options unfortunately but still it will all come right eventually - I hope!!! :wink:

Went out today to the local shopping centre I am amazed how I can go there and come back having spent and fortune seemed to have bought next to nothing and never even did what I went there for!!! :lol:
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Anne
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Wonderful Winsome Wench

chelle72
23rd January, 2008 - 06:15pm
I think working will make a big difference to my attitude and adjustment here I am dying to get back to work practically anything right now!! I am torn though as I want to be here for my little girl as my partner works away just now and I think at least one of us should be constantly around plus looking for something just part time and close by for travel purposes is restricting my options unfortunately but still it will all come right eventually - I hope!!! :wink:

Went out today to the local shopping centre I am amazed how I can go there and come back having spent and fortune seemed to have bought next to nothing and never even did what I went there for!!! :lol:

When of the best things to make you feel settled is when, eventually, you go to a shopping centre and bump into someone you know :yes: It'll come :thumbsup:
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chelle72


Yeah that will be good it's weird knowing your not going to bump into anyone in some ways it is good having a clean slate so to speak!! I am having a very postive day today - I went out with my sister in law did some shopping got some bargains for my daughter and then had my third ever driving lesson which went well. I have been previously learning on a manual and finding the whole gears thing very hard and confusing with everything that goes on when driving but today I had a lesson on an automatic and what a difference it was so good to actually drive and not have to worry about "listening" to the car trying to see when the gears needed change I think automatics are the way to go!! I do want to eventually learn a manual as well but I think til I am more confident driving an automatic is best for me at least!!!

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Tiredwithtwins
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Anne4Terry
23rd January, 2008 - 10:14am

When of the best things to make you feel settled is when, eventually, you go to a shopping centre and bump into someone you know :yes: It'll come :thumbsup:

im still home in the uk, and that doesnt happen to me now :(




























might change my username to billy no mates :crazy: :nosepicker:
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Jane
Jaunty Jolly Jewel
Hi chelle :welcomesign:

Sorry I'm late it's a kind of trade mark I miss posts all the time! :blushing:

I'm still in the UK and although I do see people I know I've only lived in this town 2 years , and have lived in 8 towns/cities in 15 years. These folk I bump into are new friends since I moved here, there's no-one I have history with. So in a way when we do get to Oz it will be just another move. My best friend (Alli) is married to an aussie and they live in Melbourne with their 2 children, another friend is a doctor in Florida and last year one of my other mates moved to Germany when her husband company transferred him over there. I'm not in touch with anyone I went to school with! Alli has always said to me that it best not to go home for at least 2 years...... it worked for her because her family missed them so much that they all live in Melbourne now!

I have to confess that I love Vegemite and have since 1987 when I shared a flat with an aussie in Exeter!

I'm sure you'll find the forum a useful place to meet people who share some of the experiences you do, and who are willing to support you on the bad days. :D

Jane
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chelle72


Thanks too late about the advice about not going home for 2 yrs I went back last year more to show everyone my little girl whilst she was still little I hated thinking of them not knowing her at that age. It was good in a way it did help but I found it harder leaving them all the 2nd time. I just think as with all things it is going to take time. I am still looking for a small part time job something more for me than money thankfully I can do that.

On a big plus my partner is home tomorrow he works away just now which doesn't help as I then extra lonely with him not being here either!! but I will be all smiles for the next few days having him here.

I am afraid vegemite is just something you either love or hate and I hate I also hate Milo which my partner and family think is mad of me!!!! :S
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