Charlieboy

You have to try cauliflower cheese, yummy!!! http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/358608/cauliflower-cheese

Ive just had to goggle that one!! Sounds delicious but complicated to make!!!

Aww I'm with you I'm afraid! We're having a roast tomorrow, possibly one of the last of the season as the weather gets balmier! since we're moving into BBQ and salad weather were going out with a bang and it's yorkies puds, broccoli and caullie cheese, roast spuds, mash spuds, carrots, sprouts and cabbage! And my hubbies home made chicken gravy a la Jamie Oliver style with chicken wings, celery the lot, it takes him a good hour to make it!! I will be interested to read from others though as after weeks of rainy days and Sunday roasts I do need some inspiration!!

Totally agree and very we'll put! I have a good life here and am very happy, but I knew someone who lasted 8 weeks and to be honest in their circumstances and experiences I'd have gone home too, everyone has different experiences, expectations, circumstances and I totally get that.

This is a tricky one and I'm certainly not going to judge, being in debt is not nice, it's easy to get there and hard to get out. it's very tempting when you think you can walk away and start again, and I believe that it's possible that you can when you migrate to the other side of the world. But deep down, can you really walk away Scott free? Would it possibly turn up to haunt you years later when you least need it to? I don't know and it's something I'd always have there in the back of my mind, I'm 4 years in OZ, went from 457 to PR and just passed citizenship test last week and awaiting a ceremony, no plans EVER to return to UK but nevertheless, my UK loan, which I've struggled to pay every month since leaving, will finally be paid off in 2 more monthly payments! So I will take the pledge and then close down the UK bank account as the loan is repaid and literally make a full, clean break! I will agree with comments on here though, the UK banks and lending institutions are their own worst enemy as they give no lee way to migrants who want to repay their debts, they actually make it harder because you're not in the UK, it doesn't surprise me that people get frustrated and just walk away with an 'up yours'......

We sold our Uk home a few months ago, we had a great agent who had previously rented it for us and subsequently sold it, they recommended a solicitor, the solicitor scanned all the documents to us which we printed out, there were strict money laundering rules to adhere to so we had to have everything certified but luckily UK accepts accountants, I walked into a local firm with original passports and other docs, they happily copied everything for us and certified it and when I asked 'how much do I owe?' They were so awesome and said 'no worries, no charge'!! Needless to say I dropped a few bottles of expensive wine off later that day!! Everything then went 'Aus Post Courier' guaranteed so many business days and tracked, think it cost about $50 and arrived literally 2 working days later and everything went smoothly after that from our side, just a few 'chain' issues beyond our control but our being in OZ and doing the paperwork from here was a doddle!!

Thought I would add my point of view! I do find the statement from the OP 'in the first year we went everywhere...' Interesting, was that everywhere in Perth?....everywhere in WA?....everywhere in OZ?... And still found it boring??? I came from a big city in the Uk, possibly along the size of Perth, I know if I'd spent a year going 'everywhere' in that city I would have been bored after a year!!! But it being a city within a country, I did venture out of that city and found other things to alleviate the boredom, similar to here really, I've extensively travelled WA and have to say I defy anyone to say it's boring, it's truly amazing but vast, you have to be prepared to travel long journeys to get to these stunning places but i suppose that could possibly a little ..... Boring??!!

Thank you! And I think you're absolutely right! When it came to the Reno I outright refused to quote a budget as I said you'll just spend all of it, sadly, the builders I've met, a demolition and rebuild would cost about the same or slightly more, we've decided we love the character of the house and want to preserve it so we've opted to Reno.

Well I'm scratching my head wondering why Perth isn't No 1!! Got to say we had a good laugh in the office today with our new Melbourne gal and we pointed out now she's left for Perth, Melbournes gone back to number 1!! She's laughed her socks off but admitted she loves Perth more ha ha!!!!

Just read this thread and wow! I'm so impressed and good luck to you all but I'm wondering where on earth we went wrong?? We bought a block in Coogee, 600sqm and we stretched to the end to pay $500k but thought it was worth it. I read so much on self building and it seemed the right way to go but after doing the rounds and hating all the McMansions (which we did not want and could not afford!) we found a great builder, we had a good rapport and we progressed to plans and stuff, it just got worse and worse, in the end for a 3 by 2 with no fancy schmancy stuff we were heading towards $700k for the house alone. We had a massive panic attack and with a bit of smart maneuvering backed out of house and have offloaded the block and gone to plan A. Renovate our 3 by 1 on a 775 Sqm block with amazing views. But again, are we niaive, no fancy work, this is a reno not a rebuild, just upgrading to a 3 by 2, a few extra rooms as in a lovely master, a lovely space for daughter, the essentials etc were getting quoted $300 to $400k to renovate. We are about 1k from Freo, the area is regarded as 'not good' yet we have the best neighbors and everyone on the road is amazing, it has to be up and coming surely!! We're not looking for a profit, this is a 10 year investment in our future home as we are very happy here, but I'm just feeling like we're doing it all wrong, any advice is most welcome!!!

P

Hi everyone! I've just joined PP, I live in Perth, love it and want to say hi! Got a few questions but will post them on the relevant parts!! I love this forum and love Perth and love reading all your posts!!