I’ve delayed an update to this blog until now, due to a variety reasons. First off, we have been busy tidying up the house, as it is now on the market. So far we have had three viewings, which doesn’t sound much, but in this current credit climate, is quite a few. We have even had a couple of offers, but they were rejected due to the very low offer. However, the second offer was close to the minimum we want, so I am waiting for the estate agent to earn their money and do their bit. If you are thinking of buying a house, then take a look at this website:
http://www.manncountrywide.co.uk/content/001_Search/Search_Results/Property_Details/property-sales-MKT_RPS-WLM080474-1213351124
So what else has been happening? Well, at the time of writing, I have 35 calendar days left with Orange, before they no longer require my services. As of the 26th July, I will be a free man, having served 11 and a half years with them.
On the Australia move, well the only progress since the last blog, is that the department of immigration have now acknowledged our medicals and have started to look at them. Otherwise, the only other news at the moment is that the Australians have slowed down in issuing visa’s, as they are now coming to the end of the years quota. The next window of opportunity starts on the 1st July, so hopefully we will see a increase in visa’s issue…ours included!!
Right, now I am off, to sort out another cupboard and put a load of crap, I mean good quality stuff, on ebay!
Sunday, 15 June 2008
Saturday, 10 May 2008
So, for everyone who keeps asking "when you going to Australia?"
Could you please pay a pound into my pay pal account. At this rate, if I got a pound for everyone who did ask, we would be able to travel there first class, or even our own private jet!
Seriously, it’s nice that people are interested in our progress. Well, I hope it’s nice or do they want to get rid of us? Anyway, it looks like my employer wants to get rid of me, having told me that my role at work is redundant at the end of September. Fingers crossed, I can get an early release date and leave at the end of July, in order to start packing, and selling the rubbish that we no longer need and watching as much cricket as possible.
So is there an update? Well, no, not really. According to one website I look at, the Australians are currently processing applicants who applied in November, we are a January applicant.
However, due to the supposed housing crisis, we are currently just tidying up the house, garden and any other odds and sods, in order to get a few estate agents in to put the house up for sale. A bit of a risk, but one we feel is worth taking. If anyone knows or is looking for a nice, tidy 4 bedroom semi with garage and rear back garden, in the suburbs of South East London, please point them in the way of this house that’s for sale
Seriously, it’s nice that people are interested in our progress. Well, I hope it’s nice or do they want to get rid of us? Anyway, it looks like my employer wants to get rid of me, having told me that my role at work is redundant at the end of September. Fingers crossed, I can get an early release date and leave at the end of July, in order to start packing, and selling the rubbish that we no longer need and watching as much cricket as possible.
So is there an update? Well, no, not really. According to one website I look at, the Australians are currently processing applicants who applied in November, we are a January applicant.
However, due to the supposed housing crisis, we are currently just tidying up the house, garden and any other odds and sods, in order to get a few estate agents in to put the house up for sale. A bit of a risk, but one we feel is worth taking. If anyone knows or is looking for a nice, tidy 4 bedroom semi with garage and rear back garden, in the suburbs of South East London, please point them in the way of this house that’s for sale
Thursday, 24 April 2008
More news...
Another chapter was added to the story today.
On the 14th April, the 3 of us attended a posh hospital in London to complete our medicals. After 3 hours of poking, prodding, blood taken and the most painful bit, paying over £500 for the privilege, we were passed fit!
These medical reports were sent to Australia, who know have everything they have requested, so it’s back to the waiting game!
On the 14th April, the 3 of us attended a posh hospital in London to complete our medicals. After 3 hours of poking, prodding, blood taken and the most painful bit, paying over £500 for the privilege, we were passed fit!
These medical reports were sent to Australia, who know have everything they have requested, so it’s back to the waiting game!
Saturday, 8 March 2008
'Ello, 'Ello, 'Ello...what have we here then???
No idea officer, as I have never heard you say it! and how do I know??
Well I have proof. The letters came back from the Met. Police today, telling us that we don't have a criminal record (well, I could own up to having a Duran Duarn single somewhere!).
This really goes to show that not all Millwall supporters have criminal records!!!
Now, we have the medicals booked up in April, more money, but hopefully the light at the end of the tunnel is getting bigger.
Well I have proof. The letters came back from the Met. Police today, telling us that we don't have a criminal record (well, I could own up to having a Duran Duarn single somewhere!).
This really goes to show that not all Millwall supporters have criminal records!!!
Now, we have the medicals booked up in April, more money, but hopefully the light at the end of the tunnel is getting bigger.
Sunday, 3 February 2008
On the first, well 3rd day of February....
I just checked my credit card account. The immigration department have just taken some money from it. Thats good news!! That means that the VISA application has been recieved and hopefully, some more progress will be made.
Saturday, 26 January 2008
That Famous English Test...
Well, as they say after all the songs have been sung in the Eurovision Song Contest, Hello London, can we have the results from the UK jury....
Well, here goes: (All scores are out of 9)
Listening - 9 points
Reading - 8 points
Writing - 8 points
Speaking - 9 points
Overal Score - 8.5 points!
So what does this mean?
I can now claim 15 points, which makes 125 points and we are now able to apply for our VISA!!!!!!!
Well, here goes: (All scores are out of 9)
Listening - 9 points
Reading - 8 points
Writing - 8 points
Speaking - 9 points
Overal Score - 8.5 points!
So what does this mean?
I can now claim 15 points, which makes 125 points and we are now able to apply for our VISA!!!!!!!
Sunday, 13 January 2008
Now I think I know what I am doing, here is the story so far.
I blame Grayson.....and then I blame Tom......
IF Grayson hadn't met Kendra and asked me to be best man at the wedding, I probably would never have set foot in Australia...
IF Tom got his career break when he asked, then he MAY have come back to England after his trip......
However, these things happened, and Grayson and Kendra are in Perth, and Tom and Connie are in Sydney and having now made 3 visits, its time to make the move for a new start and some decent weather.
Back in June 2007, I just joking said, let move to Australia. The response was a laugh, but then a few weeks later, Clare said that she had been looking at houses and jobs in Perth..that's were the story really begins.
A quick search of the internet to find plenty of discussion forums. The best one for generic moves to Australia is http://britishexpats.com/. What ever the question, no matter how trivial you think it is, there is always someone with the answer. From here, I found that there are several agents that will help you with the move. After a few phone calls, I decided to go with a company called Go Matilda http://www.gomatilda.com/. Speaking to the agent and giving all our details, we were told how the process works and the different stages of it. Al looked plain sailing, until we were told we were 10 points short of the magic number of 120...
However, all is not lost as I was told that I can do an English test, and providing I pass, then I get 15 points, making our total 125. More about the english test later...
So, after signing the agreement form with the agents, we then needed to get a skills assessment completed. This meant getting various references from all my full time employment since leaving school, copies of all my qualifications since leaving school, and any other information that would assist me in getting my skills accepted. Once all this information was completed (I must thank Trevor Hall, Branson Jackson, John Wohglemuth and Mike Bowling for their assistance) I sent of certified copies to the Australian Immigration office. I was told that the process would take around 8 weeks to complete, so imagine how surprised and happy I was when I got an email from the agents after only 3 weeks, that my skills had been assessed and they were needed in Austrlia! Eventually, Clare got her skills assessed and they to were needed, and before we know it, it is November 2007 and stage 1 was complete!
So what happens now? I asked that question on the website forum, and was told to have a few beers and celebrate. So after a nice bottle of wine, we were told a few days later that one of us needed to do the forementioned english test. Looking at where the test centers are and the avaliable dates, the first one that either one of us could do was on the 12th January 2008. Now who had to do the test? Well either one of us could do it, but as the test date was on Clare's birthday, I said that I would do it. Six weeks to prepare and get to see what type of exams there were to do....More to follow about the exam itself...
So in the meantime, discussons of where are we going to live once we get there were happening. We knew that we wanted to go to Western Australia and knew that we wanted to head out to the Perth region. So eventually, we narrowed the area to 2 places: Mullaloo or the strip between Rockingham and Mandurah. Once we saw the house prices we decided that the latter was going to be the one for us.
So whats Mandurah like, you maybe asking? Well take a look at this http://www.mandurah.wa.gov.au/. It should give you all the information that you need to see the lifestyle we are hoping to adopt. Mandurah is around 50 minutes drive south of Perth and linked to the city by a new train line. If you want to see the type of housing that we are looking at, then this site http://www.realestate.com.au/ will help you.
So finally, Christmas and the New Year came and went, and before long, it was time for the English test. Registration was at 8.30am, but the first test didn't start until 10am. For the first three hours the exams consisted of reading, writing and listening and then in the afternoon was a speaking part. I got home at 5.30pm, so it was a long long day.
So did I pass? Well I don't know. The results are sent out 13 days after the exam, so hopefully, on the 25th Jan, I should have some good news. If the results are good and I have reached the mark required, then our VISA application can be sent off..
IF Grayson hadn't met Kendra and asked me to be best man at the wedding, I probably would never have set foot in Australia...
IF Tom got his career break when he asked, then he MAY have come back to England after his trip......
However, these things happened, and Grayson and Kendra are in Perth, and Tom and Connie are in Sydney and having now made 3 visits, its time to make the move for a new start and some decent weather.
Back in June 2007, I just joking said, let move to Australia. The response was a laugh, but then a few weeks later, Clare said that she had been looking at houses and jobs in Perth..that's were the story really begins.
A quick search of the internet to find plenty of discussion forums. The best one for generic moves to Australia is http://britishexpats.com/. What ever the question, no matter how trivial you think it is, there is always someone with the answer. From here, I found that there are several agents that will help you with the move. After a few phone calls, I decided to go with a company called Go Matilda http://www.gomatilda.com/. Speaking to the agent and giving all our details, we were told how the process works and the different stages of it. Al looked plain sailing, until we were told we were 10 points short of the magic number of 120...
However, all is not lost as I was told that I can do an English test, and providing I pass, then I get 15 points, making our total 125. More about the english test later...
So, after signing the agreement form with the agents, we then needed to get a skills assessment completed. This meant getting various references from all my full time employment since leaving school, copies of all my qualifications since leaving school, and any other information that would assist me in getting my skills accepted. Once all this information was completed (I must thank Trevor Hall, Branson Jackson, John Wohglemuth and Mike Bowling for their assistance) I sent of certified copies to the Australian Immigration office. I was told that the process would take around 8 weeks to complete, so imagine how surprised and happy I was when I got an email from the agents after only 3 weeks, that my skills had been assessed and they were needed in Austrlia! Eventually, Clare got her skills assessed and they to were needed, and before we know it, it is November 2007 and stage 1 was complete!
So what happens now? I asked that question on the website forum, and was told to have a few beers and celebrate. So after a nice bottle of wine, we were told a few days later that one of us needed to do the forementioned english test. Looking at where the test centers are and the avaliable dates, the first one that either one of us could do was on the 12th January 2008. Now who had to do the test? Well either one of us could do it, but as the test date was on Clare's birthday, I said that I would do it. Six weeks to prepare and get to see what type of exams there were to do....More to follow about the exam itself...
So in the meantime, discussons of where are we going to live once we get there were happening. We knew that we wanted to go to Western Australia and knew that we wanted to head out to the Perth region. So eventually, we narrowed the area to 2 places: Mullaloo or the strip between Rockingham and Mandurah. Once we saw the house prices we decided that the latter was going to be the one for us.
So whats Mandurah like, you maybe asking? Well take a look at this http://www.mandurah.wa.gov.au/. It should give you all the information that you need to see the lifestyle we are hoping to adopt. Mandurah is around 50 minutes drive south of Perth and linked to the city by a new train line. If you want to see the type of housing that we are looking at, then this site http://www.realestate.com.au/ will help you.
So finally, Christmas and the New Year came and went, and before long, it was time for the English test. Registration was at 8.30am, but the first test didn't start until 10am. For the first three hours the exams consisted of reading, writing and listening and then in the afternoon was a speaking part. I got home at 5.30pm, so it was a long long day.
So did I pass? Well I don't know. The results are sent out 13 days after the exam, so hopefully, on the 25th Jan, I should have some good news. If the results are good and I have reached the mark required, then our VISA application can be sent off..
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