About me
I was born by the beach. Unfortunately, it was Southend.
Every summer my parents used to drag me down to the beach and make me swim in it. “There must be better beaches in the world than this.” I thought. That was way back in the early 1960s. I went on to live for almost half a century in and around the Southend area.
At the age of 40 though, I pondered the question “Will I live here all my life?” So I asked my wife “Will we live here all of our lives?” She said she hoped not. She explained that she had always had a dream that one day she would live in the south of France.
Now there’s a thing. You see, that’s where my Mum had lived for most of her life until she moved to England to marry my Dad when World War Two came to an end. Well, they were allies!
“Okay, let’s do that then” I said. And with that was born in the five-year plan. So in 1998 we agreed to move to the south of France in 2003.
Then in 2000 my wife’s brother moved to Australia, taking with him his two daughters (as you would) aged four and six at the time. This was crushing news to my wife. She doted on her nieces and they were being taken away from her. Taken thousands of miles away from her. There were tears and plenty of them.
All they left behind was their dog. Baggy was now ours.
Baggy
We resolved to visit Australia at least every two years, and that’s what we did.
Bob at a better beach.
March 2002
Our first trip to Australia was mostly about my wife visiting her nieces (oh, and her brother) and far less about visiting Australia. We stayed in Brisbane all of the time and just did days out.
July 2004
Elizabeth was born in March of this year and we decided to take advantage of my wife’s maternity leave by flying out for a four-week holiday when she was just four months old.
Again, it was more about visiting the relatives and showing them our new daughter rather than visiting Australia. And again we hung around Brisbane.
We were also holidaying in France during this period with a mission to find our new home town. During our holiday in December 2004, we found it. We were going to move to Pezenas. We loved France and especially the Languedoc Roussillon region we had chosen. It boasted 300 sunny days a year, had a great Mediterranean climate, and was sleepy and relaxed.
I think we had half an eye on retirement (way too early) and another half an eye on the cheap French wine. It was seven hours door to door to get back to England, very convenient for keeping in touch with friends and family. And we really loved Europe, we’d seen a lot but had some more we wanted to see. For us, Australia was still just too far away from home for us to consider.
Then came our third holiday to Australia.
December 2005 – Jan 2006
The BobinOz logo image comes from this visit. Here’s the original.
Boxing Day Swim 2005
This was Boxing Day in the pool with my wife and daughter and our two nieces. This was the holiday but changed it all. Elizabeth was 18 months old and she was a little action girl. All of the sudden France seemed too sleepy for her. I talk more about this holiday in the first part in my post Moving to Australia – An Idea
Yes, this was the holiday in which we fell in love with Australia and changed our minds about our futures. Our five-year plan, which had already become a five-ish year plan had now been extended further. With France we could have just moved, with Australia we had the small matter of a permanent residency visa to sort out. You can’t just turn up.
The rest is all well documented in my series Moving to Australia and today we are very happy with our decision to come here instead of France. In fact, we couldn’t be happier. Moving to Australia has changed our lives. I decided I wanted others to know what it was really like to move to Australia. So Rob Kiernan, who used to live in England, launched BobinOz from his new home in Australia.
Ha ha some of you may be saying. No wonder you settled in Australia so fast, your wife’s brother and his family had been there for seven years by the time you arrived. You just latched on to all their friends, right?
Wrong!
Our daughter is five years old, their two girls are both teenagers. Most of our friends have young children and most of their friends have teenagers. The two just don’t mix. We see them on family occasions like birthdays and anniversaries. So we socialise with them about nine or 10 times a year. They have their friends and we have ours.
So each and every one of our friends we have made from our own efforts. It wasn’t hard but it was (and is) great fun meeting new people. Originally, Australia seemed a move too far, a move that was too final and maybe even a move that was too scary. 11,000 miles away from (virtually) all your friends and family. Today, we are so glad we cast aside all of those fears and jumped feet first into our new life.
This blog is all about how we took that leap and how our lives are now that we have done so.
Cheers
Bob
{ 34 comments… read them below or add one }
Hi Bob,
Thanks for a refreshingly simple site to read and enjoy. My wife and I lived in Brissie for 4 years ( Sunnybank) , but retrned to the Uk when our boy was 1 year old. We had a wonderful Xmas holiday in Uk and returned boomarang stlye within 6 months. Wel its 10 years now in the UK , and we dont hate life here , we just pine for the palm trees , sunny morns , open space ( even though we live in Devon ) , and lifestyle ,Sunshine coast beaches . We have dual nationality and so do our children , Sam , now 11 and Abby 10 . We may return 1 day , but for now thanks. JOhn.
It’s just goes to show that Australia isn’t always for everyone. Although, perhaps I detect a slight hankering for a return? I am a very perceptive guy (… “pine for the palm trees, sunny morns, open space…. and lifestyle, Sunshine coast beaches” and “We may return 1 day”) were the subtle clues I’ve picked up on.
So look after that dual nationality, and I may see you back here soon. Thanks for the kind words and do stay in touch.
Bob
hi Bob,
Its great to get an honest opinion of someone local (I spent every summer in Southend with the grandparents). My wife and I after our five year plan are moving to Oz in 3 weeks. We have been so many times before but obviously holidays and living are two completely different things and its good to get some real life facts from an English point of view, just wanted to say keep up the good work and thanks for helping
James
Hi James
It’s good to hear from you and I’m glad you have been enjoying my site. I hope it has helped in some way.
It sounds as if you have an exciting month ahead, I hope it all goes well. Don’t forget to say goodbye to Southend cockle sheds, and cockles. I don’t think we have them here.
Good luck and when you have settled in, perhaps you could let me know how it all went.
Cheers
Bob
Hi Bob, just found this site after watching some program on Sky1 about couples making the decision to leave the Uk for Aus.
May I enquire what you do for a living and maybe your wife and how do you cope with child care, benefit system if any?
Cheers.
Hi Dave
Glad you found my site.
Both my wife and I work from home. My wife runs a dog care business for dogs emigrating to Australia who have to spend time in quarantine. I build and run a number of websites. So neither of us have to worry about childcare, it is normally other peoples children who end up around our house after school!
But I do know there are plenty of facilities here to take care of children whose parents work. If you can be more specific about what exactly it is you’d like to know and what sort of benefits you’d like to know about, I’ll look into it for you.
Cheers
Bob
Hi Bob
I literally stumbled onto your website when investigating gardening in Oz. Hubby and I are like you used to be – hankering to live the ‘year in Provence’ lifestyle in France. Trouble is the lingo…oh well you gotta earn a living!! Australia seems like a real possibility with his work so we’re seriously looking into it and your website has filled me with enthusiasm – thanks!!
Hi Caroline
We ummed and aaahhed lots over France v Australia, but in the end the language problem and our perception that France was a bit sleepy and yes, hard to find work for us English, swayed us to Oz.
Absolutely no regrets. Or regret rien! We love it here and so does our daughter. I’m thrilled that I appear to have enthused you about Australia.
Hope to see you here soon.
Cheers
Bob
Been reading more of your blog at work (don’t tell) and am now even more enthused; very helpful to read all about the application process and it has made me think just get on with whilst we’re still discussing things…at least then the plan is in motion.
Re France vs Australia – please tell me what I hope to hear that the wine is great there too??
Caroline
Your secret is safe with me. I say yes! Get the paperwork started. It’s a long process so why wait? Our plan was, if Australia won’t have us, we’ll just go to France.
My wife is the wine drinker, and you might like to read my post about the cost of wine here, click on this link wine prices. But in a nutshell, red wines are really good and the whites aren’t bad either. Prices are low enough to experiment. You’ll have fun checking them out and I don’t think you’ll be disappointed.
Printed out the engineer skills assessment form today and getting the CV sorted tonight…now to pick an agent.
One quickie – any advice on breaking the news to family in the UK that you’re upping sticks and leaving for sunnier climes?
There’s not an easy way to break the news to your family. There will be tears, especially if you have children. But if you do have kids, sell it on the idea that you want a better life for them (it is).
And when they come out to visit you, they will see for themslves how much better it is and they will forgive you for moving……..probably…..I think.
Let me know how it goes.
“The BobinOz logo image ”
Bob, why this photo after all?
As you can see, my head is taken from that photo, along with my can of beer in my nice little pink stubbie holder and super-imposed on my banner.
I used that image because it was during that holiday, at almost that time, that I realised Australia was where I wanted to live. So it seemed fitting.
Also saved me the bother of getting one done professionally. No good at posing.
Bob. Brilliant stuff. We are currently in the process of securing a 457 visa so will be Perth (hopefully) by June 2010. Love the no nonsense blog. Funny but informative stuff. Can’t wait to leave the UK. 39 years in a cold climate is far too long.
Hi Jasper
Good to hear from you, sounds like you’re on your way soon. Hope everything goes smoothly, I think you’ll love it here. We’ve never looked back.
Let me know how it goes.
Bob
Just a g’day from Redcliffe from a Pom who was born in Rochford Hospital.
Hi Pat
When I was a lad, Rochford was famous because it had something like 27 pubs! That’s a lot of boosers for a small place.
Not so many pubs in Redcliffe, but the beach must make up for that.
Thanks for stopping by.
Hi Bob, just found your blog, and think it’s great to read your experiences after the move.
We have already moved countries twice (between South Africa and UK) and now considering a move down under. We are still debating whether we want to go through another country move, but your blog really helps with the practicalities
Hi Heather
Glad to hear my blog is helping you out. Here’s some more help…. go on, go for it! You won’t be sorry. Just one more teensy weensy country move.
Hi, Bob!
Totally adore your blog!
Well, it’s love from first site
We are in the stage – Idea!
Hope someday somehow someway be there too…..
Hi Narzanka
Thanks for the compliment, totally appreciated! I hope the idea grows and we see you here soon.
Cheers
Bob
Hi Bob, I stumbled on your website after googling “red back spiders”.
My two children (8 and 11) and I are in the process of selling our house etc in Wellington, New Zealand to make the move to Gold Coast. I have to thank you so much for posting the website re schooling over there as this was a major issue for me. As we know nobody over there, we are relying on the internet to inform us as much as possible as to what we should expect when we get there. We have stayed in Main Beach twice and like that area so have started our search from there.
Unfortunately for us, it looks like we may have to leave our little Jack Russell behind as it looks like our best option to start off with is a furnished apartment.
I will be checking your website frequently for more advice … so thank you in advance for your wisdom!
Hi Dawn
I am glad to have been some help to you. Your kids will love the Gold Coast, it’ll seem like paradise. Its theme park central, keep your eye out for the cheap entry passes for local residents. Oh, and of course the great beaches.
If you do have to leave your Jack Russell behind, make sure you go back for him at some stage. Otherwise you might just miss him more than you thought.
Good luck with the move.
Hi Bob! What a great site! Exactly what I was looking for in my haphazard searching online. My hubby and daughter and son and I live in California and are considering a move to Australia within a couple of years. His mom’s family is all there and he can easily get dual citizenship (which I think means I and the kids can easily get a temporary-to-permanent visa, if I understand things correctly), so at least that’s one headache we won’t have to worry about (too much). The logistics of moving so far do seem overwhelming, but I REALLY appreciate all of your helpful info, especially about the schools. Now we have to figure out how to make a living there and whether our senior pooches could make the trip or not…
Very exciting! Thanks for getting me enthused.
Cheers!
Hi Christina
Glad to have been of help. It’s good to hear you are thinking of coming over, I hope it works out well. How old are your pooches? Our chocolate lab was one month off 10 years old when we brought him out here. He took it all in his stride. Have you read Baggy’s story?
Hi Bob in Oz
Me and my wife have decided to move to Australia after spending a couple of years pondering the idea.
Just a quick question ,…How long did it take you from deciding to go—— to landing in oz .
Regards
John ex visitor of southend beach 1975 now living in lancs
Hi John
It’s a good question and one I know I have answered somewhere here on this blog. But can I find it? Nope! So I’m not surprised you couldn’t either.
But luckily, it’s not the sort of thing you forget. We decided to move to Australia in December 2005, but didn’t put our plan into action until January 2006. We got off to a false start with our migration agent, because our first choice was hopeless. She messed us around for three months.
At the beginning of April we started using a different agent and by November 2007 we were living in Australia. So start to finish, depending on when you call the “start” is around 20 to 23 months. Door to door.
It’s a long journey, but worth travelling.
Good luck, I hope it goes smoothly for you.
PS. I was on Southend Beach in 1975. Where were you standing?
Hi Bob
sorry g-day Bob ( I am already their )
yes thank you for the quick response to my message, me and my wife have set a target of 12-18 months.
Just touching on the agents work or lack of, we have heard a few stories about misplaced paperwork ,various fee prices etc, so we have decided to get the ball rolling ourselves as with a lot of the information required ( education certificates, passports, marriage certificates etc etc) can only be obtained by your self anyway so we decided not to sit around and wait for the agent to call us and get these things,so touchwood everything works out .
Southend 1975 I would of been 6 and sitting in a small fishing boat, or fishing off the beach.
It was so long ago I cannot remember specific details but i do remember Bournemouth park school and my street was Ruskin avenue.
Just a note to Bob in Oz readers-if any one would like to double check our application once completed we would be very grateful as any mistake could be costly and time consuming ..preferably anyone with admin or executive background welcome………
Bob have a great day and Im sure we will chat soon.
Regards John & family
Hi John
Small world, when my mother went into labour to give birth to me my parents were living in a rented house in Bournemouth Park Avenue. I then lived in Newington Avenue just around the corner until I was about five years old.
I don’t blame you for getting the ball rolling yourselves, I know a few people who did the paperwork without an agent to help them. If your skill is not in question, for example you are a nurse or a doctor, then I think that’s half the work done. It only gets a little more tricky when you have to prove your skill.
Let us know how your application goes.
cheers
Bob
Hi Bob
I came across your blog via googling ‘move to australia’. I have enjoyed reading your posts and i am feeling a lot better about my return to Australia.
I lived in Sydney for 6 years and i met my husband on holiday in Cairns. I am originally from London, UK and my husband is from Edmonton, Canada. We are currently living in Edmonton, Canada, as my husband (then boyfriend) visa run out so we moved to Canada temporarily. We and have been here for nearly two years. I have hated living here and we have had a terribly time deciding on where we should live. After living in Edmonton, going back to live in London seems like paradise. Luckily i got my Australia citizenship before i left. In fact i needed and Australia passport to get a Canadian working holiday visa.
The problem is, we have too much choice and family to consider. We have thought about moving to a nicer part of Canada, or going back to the UK. But my parents are encouraging us to go back to Australia as they saw that i was happy there and its a better place to bring up children. Our decision is complicated by the fact that we now have a baby on the way and in many ways i want to give it an Australian upbringing. I feel that we can achieve a lot more in Australia and live a better lifestyle. I feel that the secondary education is better in Australia and not sure i want to have my child go a school in London. Things we getting bad when i was at school 15 years ago and from what i hear things have gradually got worse.
However i am hesitant to be so far from all our family and friends. This is my first child and lots of people have said that it would be better to be nearer family for support. My husbands family would love us to stay in Edmonton, but that is not going to happen. I would rather go back to the UK. I am lucky that my husband is happy to go anywhere. He would live in the UK but he has only been there for a total of 6 weeks and not actually lived there, so he is not really familiar with how life is there.
So we have our application submitted for my husbands Australia visa, which should be an easy process as we are married. We could be back in Australia at the end of the year. We plan to head to Coffs Harbour and look for work, or Brisbane if all fails. Sydney is just too expensive.
I love Australia as a country and have travel extensively throughout the country. I wad so proud to become a citizen. I love the fact that the population is relatively small and there is plenty of space,not to mention the brilliant beaches. There is always somewhere to go and visit and so much diversity. I have missed it very much. I think if we chose to return to the UK i would always be hankering for Australia.
I would just like to know how you and your wife have copped and felt without having your parents around? Do your children know their grandparents? How easy was it too meet friends and are people generally supportive of each other?
Many thanks
Ursula
Hi Bob
Thanks for the advice Bob, I think we will have to approach someone about the application as this would be more sensible due to some of the complexities surrounding the application.We have actually spoke to the wife of a Nurse who completed his own application,so he did say he would give it the once over for us.
Its funny how you can meet a whole net work of people who have completed or are applying for the same goal.
Just another question Bob which came to me last night, I know Australia has the nice weather, beaches, barbies, fishing etc etc etc….but can you tell me do they have them things they seem to irritate you betwen the hours of 5pm to 8pm their bigger than a mozi. as surprising as a snake and as deaf as a bat . I do not know what you call them in Aussie land but in England they are them ****ing door canvassers….. and if so what are the gun laws and regulations their in Oz …….(.only joking about the gun laws of couse for any government officials who read your site and track my isp).
so have a great day Bob… dont forget to tie your wallaby down.
Regards
John
Hi Ursula
I have to admit that is one of the things we struggled with, Australia is so very far or way from all your family and friends. That’s why originally we were going to move to France. We could be had finished off a glass of wine in our French home and within seven hours been sitting in an English friend’s back garden. The distance didn’t matter.
Australia though, different story.
You are lucky to have fantastic parents, as much as they’d love to see their grandchildren grow up, they recognise that Australia offers a better life.
As for parents, well, mine are long gone. My wife’s parents generally live six months in the UK and six months here, they have invested in a property here. So yes, our daughter does get to see them. As for friends, checkout this post and the top 3 related posts you’ll see links for at the bottom of that article.
Goodbye Sam, Goodbye Samantha
I hope it helps some.
Cheers
Bob
Ah John
You haven’t read my ebook have you? “20 Reasons Why YOU Should Move to Australia”. I think I cover that question in the first or second chapter.
But rest assured, if you hate door-to-door salesman, you’ll love Australia!