chigal

Hi - we switched to using Express VPN and have had more luck with that. Still twitchy but better... We have a Mac Mini hooked up to the tv and now just watch UK and very very rarely Australian.

Hello! Anywhere with good bus and/rail links I suggest in the absence of a car. Canning Bridge train station has good connections by bus to Curtin and by rail to Leederville so anywhere around there could work eg Como, Manning (higher crime in parts) or if the budget allows, Applecross. I've heard good things about South Perth Primary. Unsure about Como in terms of government schools as our kids are in the private sector - at the moment. We may move the youngest to Como Secondary given the EMiTS program (a quick google search will give more info). For South Perth Primary you'll need to be zoned to the school to guarantee attendance there. Their website should provide zoning or 'catchment' information. If you go private eg Wesley College in South Perth, so long as you can pay the bill you're in..or should I say bills (endowment fee etc.). That said, there is or certainly used to be quite the waiting list for Wesley. Personally, I'd be looking ahead to what secondary schools are around and good particularly in the state system (assuming that's your preference). I wish in hindsight we had done that. Check out Rossmoyne, Applecross (although recent reports aren't so good) and Willeton. There is also Perth Modern for the super smart kids by way of an entrance exam - well worth the move but do your research and know the cut off dates).

Hi Simon and welcome to the forum. IT isn't our area so we can't offer any assistance there I'm afraid. School wise I suggest Shelley (not cheap but close to the river and zoned to Rossmoyne which is one of the best government schools in the State. Willeton is now rivalling Rossmoyne so that's another area to look. Bateman also and that general area could work well with good freeway links. Our kids are at a private school which isn't cheap but it's good and they love it. There is also South Perth, Como and Victoria Park just immediately south of the river all of which are an easy commute to the CBD. Applecross High has been well regarded but seems to have gone downhill of late and a number of friends have commented on the poorer standards with one going as far as removing their child from the school and going private instead. The coast is maybe a 20 minute drive from the suburbs mentioned with the river considerably closer. Grab googlemaps and take a look around re links to the city. Victoria Park is a higher crime area so keep that in mind but it is becoming more upmarket and with improvements at nearby Burswood may well make for a sound investment. In my opinion it's undervalued. One can walk to the city from Vic Park and it is well serviced with shops, restaurants and cafes. Hope that helps even a little a bit.

Hi everyone, We have both IP Vanish and Express VPN and both have been working very well for BBC and ITV and Express VPN has allowed us to access Amazon Prime for the Grand Tour! However Channel 4 is proving problematic and seems to detect we are out of the area (and then some!). Just wondered if anyone else is experiencing similar issues?

Hi Louloubelle - I fully empathise with you. I've been out of the UK since April 2000 and while I love many things about living in Perth, I have never been able to handle Christmas away from my family back home and a 'summer' Christmas! We went home...other home!..for Christmas 2016 and will be returning every year now - it's given us the best of both worlds that way. I've been increasingly homesick of late - unsure why...might just be that as I'm getting older I'm craving the familiar! We've sussed out how to get British TV here in Perth now and that's helped considerably. We are here for at least another seven years until the youngest is through school so I'm determined to make the most of it. Not sure where we'll go after that - might be to the UK, might be Canada..might be elsewhere in Australia or we may remain here - too early to tell! All the best with everything - happy to help where I can :-)

Hi Colin, I'm an oldie from years ago on here but decided to return to see if I could meet up with some more fellow expat Poms! Read through your posts and wish you all the best with the move :-) We are SOR - happy to help where we can.

Hi all, I used to to be on here years and years ago..so long ago that I couldn't recall any login details! Back to being a 'junior'!! Great to see the site still thriving :-) Ex West Sussex with a Canadian husband (happy to help any Canadians too!). Both employed (Analyst/Electrician) and have children (ranging from 11 to 27) plus one crazy cat. I just thought I'd pop in and say hi and offer assistance where I can - particularly to anyone coming to or already SOR (South Perth-Como patch in particular).

Hi, we are over in Como so not too far away. Neither a wine nor coffee drinker but always up for a cup of tea!