Merry Christmas!

Well I have to keep reminding myself that its only 5 days until Christmas day, no signs of snow yet! It is so weird, I don’t think I’ll ever get used to having a Summer Christmas. This is the time of year that I really wish I was home, but that’s only because I want the picture postcard Christmas of snow covered hills and trees, in reality it will probably rain! The weather here has been lovely, been up to 32 degrees so far, they have forecast 34 on Christmas day – phew! Not sure if we will do a BBQ in the sun or close the blinds, turn the aircon on high to make it cold and have a ‘British’ Christmas with the traditional roast.

The boys are here and its great to have the family back together again, we have some laughs and have been out and about. We are hoping to get away for a few days somewhere, but everywhere’s pretty booked up and flights are so expensive, so we may end up on a road trip! We have been into the city today to do some Christmas shopping, some of the old arcades have beautiful traditional Christmas decorations up, and the choir were singing carols so that felt Christmassy. Steve and the boys are going to the 20/20 cricket match at the MCG on Friday night and then the test match on boxing day, the football and rugby season are finished for the Summer here.We will go into the city on Christmas eve and New years also as there is loads planned – Melbourne is such a fantastic city, always something going on and free public transport to!

Ellie has got herself another part time job, so she has the one at the checkout at the deli/grocers, all day Sun 9-6 and and Monday evening and one at a clothing store now, doing 2 x 4 hour shifts. She can work both whilst she is on holidays but when she goes back to school will have to choose which one is best. She has already saved up $750 in 7 weeks! She is saving for her Europe trip next September as she plans to buy clothes as they are expensive here, plus she moans that they are unfashionable here! I hope that UK chains continue to expand into Australia, First we had Zara in Sept, now Topshop & Topman opened last week, people were queuing overnight to be the first through the doors. WH Smith also opened a few weeks ago in the main train station concourse, bet we don’t get Primark!! Ellie is on school holidays now until the end of Jan, the main summer holiday period here now so we will probably pay Topshop a visit. What we really need is for Amazon to expand onto Aus, they are offering free delivery but the government will not allow them to sell the top 30 books here. They are controlling the prices, same with the music, it costs the equivalent of 10 pounds for one paperback book here, people don’t believe me when I say we can buy 3 or 4 for that price in the UK. Anyway – I don’t pay it, just annoys me how we are overcharged for everything, I just go to the library or download onto the ipad.

We may have to explore applying for permanent residency in May as the government are looking at taking the tax relief off overseas residents brought over to Australia to work, it will equate to a 20% pay cut for Steve which is not good as it is one of the most expensive places in the world to live here. If we were permanent residents here it would give Steve the opportunity to work for any company, at the moment he is tied to his company as they sponsored our visa, and also it would get Ellie in to University at Australian citizen prices which is about $3000 dollars per year rather than the overseas students rate which is about 3 times more expensive! If we applied for residency before Tom leaves uni he would also be on our visa which means he could work in Aus also. It’s not to say we intend to stay here permanently, it would give us the flexibility to work in both countries, whichever suits, and we could have dual citizenship once we have been here 4 years. It’s something we will have to think about and take advice on in the next few months I think.

My job is going ok, I feel a lot more settled now, our new manager is great and we are getting new staff in the new year, so hopefully the service will continue to grow and improve. I am on hols for 3 weeks (some unpaid) whilst the boys are here, only working boxing day as they will be at the cricket and it’s double pay!

We finally have new tenants in our house, the previous ones left at short notice, but at our request as there was some difficulties obtaining the rent for the past 2 months. The new people are just a couple with a small dog and have signed for 18 months, so by that time we should know what our future holds.

Hope you all have a lovely Christmas and happy new year!

4 Comments

Margaret
December 22, 2011 at 11:43 am

Hi Gill,

Glad all going well at the moment for you all.. Yeh, 34 degree’s on Christmas day dose not seem right, although we are predicted to be around 15 degree’s here…

We had a little flurry of snow earlier but all clear now and very mild..

Looks like Ellie is getting a bit like you, more than 1 job on the go…

Seems residency will suite you all down to the ground, best of both worlds.

Have a great Christmas with the family and hope 2012 brings you all much joy and success..

Take care

Margaret xx

little ben
December 22, 2011 at 7:50 pm

Hi Gill

Glad you all well and that you are enjoying the SUNSHINE, we can’t complain at least we haven’t got the snow and ice like last year.

Glad the job is going ok for you and Ellie, lets hope she makes the right choice after the hols. I’m at home now till the 10th January we finished for the hols yesterday yipee.

I dont blame you thinking of applying for residency it will leave you with more options.

Be in touch soon have a lovely Christmas and hope 2012 brings you all what you wish for.

Take care

Love Kath

trudy
December 23, 2011 at 1:23 pm

Hi Gill,
Sounds like you all truly settled and happy in aus. Have a lovely christmas and a fantastic new year.
Love Trudyxxx

Jackie
January 1, 2012 at 9:21 pm

Hey, get much more info from blog than when we talk on the phone. Hopefully when I’m in France we can chat every week. Things sound great and Ellie seems to be well and truly settled x

Marshs Down Under

Marsh family blog from Melbourne

4 Comments

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