Raychelsb

Hi Sarah! You will no doubt meet with people from here. Everyone's so friendly and helpful. You could keep an eye out on here for the meet ups that get arranged. I fly out next week and I am lucky that my best friend from school lives there already, but I have made an effort to make my own friends too. I met up with Emma from on here a couple of weeks ago and she flew out this week to start their new life. I also intend to meet a couple of other lovely ladies I've made friends with on here but not had chance to meet yet. Keep in contact on here, and I am sure you will settle in no problem. I actually think having children is a great way of meeting new people. (I have no children of my own so have to put myself out there!) Good luck and keep us posted Raychel x

Hi Jen My husband needed to buy some bedroom furniture as he moved into a house last week and out stuff doesn't ship from the UK until next week. (I also fly out next week.) He went to superamart and bartered to get a double bed and mattress, 2 bedside tables and a tallboy for $900. We were very pleased with that - considering the tallboy shows online at over $500. He had to collect it himself but borrowed a friends trailer. I've looked online and theres a lot of styles to choose from so probably worth having a look online and compare prices to Ikea. And try bartering! x

I have just today booked Britannia for our removals but have decided to use Insureyourmove for our insurance. Haven;t booked it yet as I need to go through valuations for things tonight so not sure how detailed I will have to be on their form- I gather from the website that you just put topline for them but we shall see! Why is nothing straightforward!

I got a nice surprise this week with my Nectar and Boots loyalty cards, both having £20 on them when I thought I only had a few quid to use up before i leave. Do any shops in Perth have loyalty cards like this that are worthwhile?

We were given the latest Lonely planet guide by our neighbours and it is a great book. Also, recommend Bill Bryson's one on Australia, not exclusively WA but a great read, funny, and good to learn some history etc on Aus.

Yeh hes good, we've been very lucky - he was offered a 3 month contract before her left, so he started that the week after he arrived. He was then offered a job on the mines but was offered a better package to stay where he was. He was then interviewed for the Fiona Stanley hospital and that went well but he turned that down too to stay where he is, which should be turning into a permanent job soon. It;s been a huge relief that work is out there. It seems a lot of places take you on temp (in the trades) but make you permanent, a way of try before you buy I suppose! Me on the other hand, I am struggling even getting interviews from over here, so hope that will change once I am out there. How about you for work?

No but my husband has moved into a place last weekend which already has white goods plus sofa, tv cabinet and dining table and chairs. He has bought a new TV (ours will then go in a bedroom) a bed, chest of drawers and outside furniture - not expensive stuff, just things he has seen on offer and/or bartered on etc. So we have the basics to live on out there and we are happy to wait for our stuff from there.

I havent heard of the mould/mildew cover, I won't be taking that out. The price you've quote sounds pretty much the rate for a sole container from what I have heard and seen on here. I don;t want to pay for the sole container as we are not in a rush for our things anyway, we have the basics out there anyway. Good luck with your move Keefo!

Thanks. I'm discounting this company (who are named on here quite a lot and are one of the major players ) as they keep coming up with what I would say is bull to justify the extra £1000. I'm aware if extra fees for goin through customs and prepared to pay a few hundred on too if the quote for the fees and also insurance but not £1000 worth! Getting one more quote tomorrow and will decide which if the others to choose

Hi All I have now received 4 quotes from Shipping companies with two coming in at a very similar cost of £2400 to £2700 for between 550 cubic feet to 610 cubic feet. One company has quoted me for the same volume at over £3500! I have gone back and pointed out the massive difference, and they said 'Other companies may price lower but do not include items such as export pack and unpack, customs clearance, Terminal handling charges and DAFF fees. At XX all of these charges are included in our price, we are the only company that can include the DAFF fees. Other companies will need to use agents/brokers that will incur extra administration costs. Also we have our own office at your destination so you will always be dealing with XX. Other companies cannot offer this and use service partners instead. This could then incur agents fees that are not included into your proposal. At XX we do not use agents so no extra fees are incurred.' Now, is this extra fees and admin costs true? I have read posts from people who have used agents out there such as Kents and seen good reviews, so using other agents out there rather than the companies doesn't bother me, and are DAFF fees really going to total another £1000 on top of the other quotes??

Hi everyone Ive had a few shipping companies quote me to come and pack our belongings and ship out as a groupage consignment. My brother in law runs a despatch company and has contacts with shippers and I have just been quoted for them shipping door to door in our own 20ft container and the quote is a significant saving. The catch is that we have to pack and load our own goods and do our own inventory. I am happy to do this to some extent, and all of our stuff is pretty much packed anyway as it is in storage at a relatives house. I just wondered if anyone had experience of doing this themselves and if they recommend it, or whether to steer clear, spend a bit more and let someone else have the hassle?? Thanks!

No we haven't got as far as sorting a venue yet, but to be central for everyone I would imagine Fremantle/Coogee area or that kind of central distance going inland too? So those NOR and SOR have equal distance to travel. If anyone does know of anywhere, let me know.

No Alex, we still haven't got anything together as not enough people at the moment. Still need about another 7 or 8 for 5 a side. Hubby is in North Yunderup near Mandurah but he will be happy to travel closer to Perth to make it a central meet up. Just need some more takers if you know anyone to round up!

Hi, I have just this afternoon booked my own Go Walkabout insurance (last one was for my husband). I've booked 17 days worth on the silver insurance for £25. My main concern was medical cover before I register with medicare, so I wasn't too bothered about topping up for baggage etc (I won't be taking anything expensive) but as part of the insurance I got £50 baggage, £100 clothes, £250 jewellery, £25 cosmetics, £100 photographic. So basically £525 worth of contents my case (although it says up to £500 in the small print which is plenty for me.)

My husband passed hi carpentry vetassess last year and we sent certified copies too but no photographs. He passed, is now living and working in Perth and I join him in 3 weeks. Good luck with the process.

HI All My husband has just bought a smart tv in Perth, and is hoping to get something like an Apple tv box to hook up some tv on demand films etc. He also has a WII out there which we have always used to get Netflix at home. Is it possible to get Netflix UK over there? I have seen loads of articles on how to trick your device to think it is in the USA, but we would like UK Netflix. Any other hints or tips for good tv packages would be appreciated. We don't want to subscribe to anything like Foxtel as we don't watch that much tv, it would just be nice to have access to movies every now and then, and a few UK tv shows. Thanks!

My Husband flew with Etihad last month and I go with them in a few weeks, we booked them because they were much cheaper. He said the flight was fine, and connection through Abu Dhabi easy too. (Unless he is just saying all that because he knows I have to do it soon!) We flew with Emirates last year and were impressed, particularly the Dubai to Perth leg as the plane was so empty we could lay out. Other half says both legs with Etihad were busy. He didn't eat on the flight (he was too emotional after goodbyes!) so can't comment on that part.

Yeh hubby still wanting to play, although he's moving near to Mandurah this weekend. We still need some more takers then we could try to find a place somewhere equal distance for everyone. Any one?

We were supposed to be taking our Boxer Dog and he had all his vaccinations etc. i was so worried about him going through the flight, he was 11 years old, but relatively fit and healthy and our vet who had treat him all his life gave him the all clear. Unfortunately two weeks after we got our visa, Scooby passed away suddenly (well we had to put him to sleep as his spondylosis flared up very badly very suddenly). We found this to be his way of telling us he wasn't up to the move, and in some way was a relief to us that the decision was taken out of our hands. Financially I would have done anything to take him with us, it was health that was on my mind. I can imagine what you are both going through and really don't know what advice to give. I do think that it may be a decision you regret, unless you are very comfortable that he is going to a fantastic loving home. I can't wait to get to perth and get settled so we can get another boxer. I hope you can make a decision you are both comfortable with, I know either way it won't be easy for you. Take care and all the best x

I eventually went with Towergate through CIA and got a good deal. Paid slightly more than I wanted, but got a lot more out of them than any of the other insurers i got quotes from which was A LOT! I got free contents (I wasn't going to get contents) , free accidental damage, loss of rent cover and malicious damage. Not sure on drainage cover but i am sure you can ask. If you get an online quote, they ring you and try to beat it if you leave a phone number on the quote form. Good luck, it really stressed me out when sorting this.

Cheers Druid as always. He's noticed the power steering fluid is leaking too, I guess it's cheaper to keep topping it up!

Hi all Can anyone give me an idea on what it is like over there costwise for having work done on cars? I mean, is it a rip off?! My husband's car he just bought second hand has a few niggles he would like to get fixed (and possibly a new timing belt) but we have no idea what it is like over there getting a good mechanic at a reasonable price. He's going to ask around at work if anyone knows a good garage. Any recommendations from you guys welcome, feel free to PM. Thanks as always

Hi Everyone, We may have the chance to rent and possibly buy a house in North Yunderup which is an area we had never considered even looking due to the commuting into the city. Does anyone know what this area is like to live? We want somewhere with a small community feel, close to nice scenic walks, the beach but not too far from a town. Looking on google earth etc it looks lovely. My husband is in Perth now and is going to check the house and area out at the weekend. Anyone know how it is for commuting into the CBD - I presume train is the way to go? Thanks everyone

Wow fab news! What a relief! I am STILL waiting for feedback on my interview I had about 6 weeks ago. Each week I have chased and they have said it is between me and 4 others and I should hear soon.......still waiting! xx

Hi From what I understand (my husband has recently bought a used car from a dealer) you don't HAVE to have it inspected unless the rego ran out over 3 months ago. So if you buy one with rego, no inspection, if you buy one where rego ran out less than 3 months, still no inspection. Thanks