Plugging into OZ

It has been a good first week. I think we surprised ourselves by getting the first few things sorted. There are so many little things to do to get engaged into the local systems. We had done a little bit of fact finding and getting the applications downloaded. First thing was getting the tax file number. As mine was done online only Paul’s had to be sorted. Checked out all the ID papers for Paul were together. As usual the passport, birth certificate (since Paul’s in British this would not do) alternate was citizenship certificate and a lease letter showing our address considering we would have no utility bills to show this were needed. Our friend was to provide us with the letter to confirm our address as he runs the estate agency.

The second day we took the bus into The Pines Shopping Centre. It is not far to walk but hey the hills make it hard for my poor legs. As our friend was coming to give us the lease letter we asked for a lift there. The post office told us that it was too small to process verification of ID for Paul’s tax number application. We would have to go to Doncaster post office. It was annoying not to get one thing planned for the day done. But since our friend was going to run us back home, we did a run of Coles the supermarket there for some essential food items like milk, porridge, bread, cheese, some nuts, a lighter as there are only matches in the house to light the cooker, some pak choi and pasta.

At home we filled the application form for Medicare. We can do one form for Paul and put me on to it as well. The additional documents needed were the usual passport and citizenship for Paul, my passport and visa letter, and the invoice from the removal company confirming that we were having our household moved to Australia. The office was in Doncaster Shopping Town. Well the application for medicare card was painless. The lady behind the counter went off with all the documents to show to her boss and retuned in a few minutes and said that ok, you will get your cards in about 3 weeks. The visit to the post office was a disappointment. After standing it what turned out not to be a queue for about 10 mins we got into the real one. Only to find out when our turn came that this also was not the right level post office. We had to go to Boxhill post office which was in another small shopping centre. AAhhhhh ……… So having stopped for a quick fruit juice we were back at the bus stop and strangely enough caught the same bus that we had come to Doncaster in for Boxhill.

Boxhill shopping centre is the site also from bus garage and trams and trains. The shopping centre has a main building with lots of food market and fast food places. The post office took about 5 mins to check ID… the man behind the counter was surprised to see such an old format of citizenship paper and asked from when it was. He got Paul to read the agreement and sign and that was it! By now it was lunch time and so went to a healthy eating place for a sandwich and some fresh fruit juice. Paul had carrot juice while I had a mix of watermelon and apple…. Strange but nice. After all this walking about my legs were giving up. \we would have liked to look at the food market and the fresh produce but it would have to wait for another day. Went back to the bus stop to wait for the 295 which we kind of just missed. However, while sitting about I noticed that there were other buses that went straight to The Pines and so we decided to be adventurous and go for the new route. Sadly I think we got the only bus that did not have a working AC… lol As we reached The Pines we again just missed the 905 which takes us home. From the bus stop there is a short walk which always when retuning home seems just that bit much, especially as some of it is uphill. Just had gnocchi and some stir fried greens for dinner and called it a day in front of the TV.

Friday the 21^st we rang for a appointment at the driving license place and got one for the 4^th Feb. Then we went to the city. Took the 905 to the city centre. Thought as we were going early so maybe we should go right to the end of line and have a walk about. Bad move!!!!!!! We actually needed to get off at Melbourne Central and walk two blocks to get on to Collins Street from Lonsdale Street. The bus enters the city centre and runs all the way down Lonsdale Street. We needed to go to lower end of the Collins Street and by going a few streets up from Melbourne Central we had a long trek back. The area is not flat as one might think. The block seem bigger as well and so all in all the walk that day would have covered a couple of miles. Checked out where our bank was and then went to find the job agency where Paul had a meeting. But before the meeting we had to find somewhere to have lunch. As we walked along Elizabeth Street towards Flinders Street Station we saw a small board saying OM Vegetarian restaurant. This is a small restaurant run by the Ghurkha Institute who are running some hospitality courses. The food is basic thali with a veg and dal, rice and nan along with some pickle. This is eat as much as you want for $6.50. We enjoyed the food a lot.

Paul’s meeting place was a test to find your way there we think. The Agency is on floor 30. When we get there they say recruitment lot are on 27^th floor. There we get asked to wait and suddenly the receptionist remembers that actually today the gentleman is seeing people on the 21th floor! I think the idea is that if you can find your way to the right floor and office you must be keen to get a job and it is some sort of aptitude test. Anyways I sat and looked out on the beautiful view from the windows and rested my legs. After this we decided to call it a day and went looking for a bus. This time we got 908 which took us to The Pines via Doncaster Park and Ride. From there back on to 905 and the uphill walk home. I think we had picked the one day which was not so sunny but also very windy. So all in all I was cold and in need of some warmth desperately. It was not so bad in the sun and out of the wind.

The weekend was upon us fast. Since we had been out and about everyday and it was fairly warm on both Saturday and Sunday we decided to stay put at home. Had the joy of cleaning the house with brush for me and hoover for Paul as well as washing clothes. Oh the excitement of being able to dry the clothes on a line outside in fresh air! Paul is in heaven! ehehehehe

Day 1 in our new home – 18 Jan 2011

On the way to our new home we stopped on the way to buy some milk, tea, coffee and sugar so at least we could immediately have a hot drink and some cereal for the next morning. We drove up the drive that leads into a garage. There is a fence around the front garden and a veranda where the front door is. A front garden has roses and so many pretty one.. also there are roses in the drive. The house looked small… our perception of the size is that generally the house is one room deep and so we assumed the same before entering. The front door opens to a corridor with the sitting room opening to the left, though there is no door. On the right of the corridor there are 3 bedrooms. Ours is the first one with the view out into the garden through windows that are floor length. There is a shower and toilet at the end of the corridor.

The sitting room is fairly big with sofas, coffee table, TV, book shelves and side table with telephone. Here also the windows are forming the outside wall with a view into the garden. The kitchen is off from the sitting room and can be closed off with sliding doors with frosted glass. The kitchen is fairly big having the fridge-freezer to one side and cooker and sink on the other. There is a small breakfast bar with a microwave on it and there is a side room for larder and washing machine. From there one step down is the largest room running the whole breadth of the house. There is another small toilet off this room. There is a dining table, some of our landlord’s exercise machines and the other end is like office with cupboards and desk with computer equipment. The whole wall is glass with the view of the back garden. There is of course a wooden decking that leads to the garden with its washing line and fruit trees. It is so good to have trees of apple, blood plum, nectarine, limes, and banana. We have been eating the plums which are sweet. The next door garden has a pomegranate tree as well. This is a big garden. The drive leads to a garage and a room behind it which is in the garden.

Upon entering the house and having a quick look around it appeared dark as all curtains were drawn. Once I opened all curtains and saw the house in full light it struck me that this was a huge house. The wooden floors run through the rooms and make it also look big. I think I am going to like this new home. We made some tea and porridge then relaxed for a while. So as not to go to sleep we started the job of plugging into this country. I rang immigration and gave my new address, checked with ANMC about the registration fees. Paul looked up the medicare and tax file number sites about applications. I did my tax number application online and was told I would be sent one in a few days. Poor Paul was asked to go to a post office to show his id …. Also we had to go in person to apply for medicare whose office was in Doncaster shopping town. We had a short walk into the nearby Newman’s Shopping Centre. There is a pizza hut, a bottleshop, hairdressers, kebab shop, fish and chips shop, newsagents. Also there is a bus stop there. By the evening Paul had to stop for a nap while I just watched TV….. some freeview channels ensures fair amount of choice. By 10 pm I was ready to call it a day….

The Flight to Oz

The Singapore airlines flight to Singapore was on time. It was the A380 plane and fairly comfortable. Paul found he had plenty of leg room. We did get another dinner but I just had some fruit and water. After that the lights were dimmed and were kept that way for most of the time. I spent time watching Megamind and Adventures of Adele…. A French film that is a good fantasy. Also saw part of a comedy stand up show. I did manage to have an odd dose rather than a good sleep. This left me with a headache. The breakfast was actually good, upma, some channa dal, potato veggie, half paratha, fruit and the usual small roll with tea. Landed at Changi airport after 12 and half hours of flight.

We had a 2 hour break here and luckily the next flight was from the same terminal and so did not need to take the monorail between terminals. I had to change my woollen socks for the thin ones given on the plane as my feet were getting too warm and swollen. Then, we had a short walk up and down the concourse, to stretch the legs. We wondered why the whole floor was covered in carpet and that too looked like a single piece. Veryyyy big carpet….

Soon we boarded the next flight, the final leg of 7 hours to Melbourne. This time I put on the bollywood songs instead of movies and so had a bit more sleep. Again had a meal… which we actually enjoyed. Over all the service in Singapore airlines is good. I did not have to call for service even once. Almost every half hour to hour the stewards came around with drinks to keep all hydrated. Actually we were going to be early but someone took ill and we had to delay the take off to off load them and their baggage.

Landed at 7 30 am. Worrying that I had got medication to declare and how would that go….There were separate lines at immigration… Paul had a new passport and so he could use a fast track process and was out in 2 mins. Meanwhile I had a longer queue but it moved fairly fast. All I got asked was what exactly I was declaring? I said medication and I had the prescription. The baggage was already coming out on track 5. Both bags came almost at once. As we piled them on the trolley and moved towards the exit a customs officers came over and asked if we had anything to declare. Again I said medications and he told us to go towards exit and we would be told where to go. This left us wondering if we would have all our bags looked through. Also we could see there were x-rays for bags set up too. One lady asked us to stand against the wall and a sniffer dog went over us and our luggage. After which she just waved us towards the exit. There was no checking on our bags for the medications I declared. Hurrayyy, as we got out to the arrivals lounge in about 40 mins. Very quick I believe as Ranjit who was picking us up was stuck in traffic and was sure he would have time to get to airport before we got out.

The Move - 16th Jan 2011

Sunday here at last….. last day in UK. Sarita came to help throw away last of the things like mattress cover, couple of pans, the little tv etc. Also made a couple of black bags full of things she was to take away with her. We went to the Airfield for lunch as it is just at the end of the road. After a nice leisurely lunch and got back home to make a couple more calls to my friends and family. Got Aaron to take away yet more things like last bits of food, a plant pot, a duvet, a freeview box etc. We got the bags finally packed and we were ready to go to the airport at 5 30 pm. We picked Aaron up and dropped of the last bag of goodies at the Joneses. It was dark and wet..typical of British weather. However, the traffic was not bad and we got to the airport in record time. Said goodbyes to my baby and hoped to see her on skype during the week. I am not so sad as I know we can see and speak to each other often and when we have settled down she wishes to come out to Oz.

Off we went and handed the luggage which was quick as we had already checked in online. We went through the security and sat inside for a bit before going for dinner in the restaurant. It was time for the gate to be announced as we finished our meal….. a 10 min walk to the gate and we were ready to leave one life behind for a new one.

The Move - 15th Jan 2011

Saturday dawned and we went over our list of moving. Checking every aspect – all services to be terminated. Rested a bit and then had a visit from my niece and nephew one after the other. It was a day of saying goodbyes till we next visited UK. I made a few calls to my friends in UK. My friend Sandhya called but I said I would call later. However it was very late to ring India in the end. It was a strange sort of a day. I think mentally I was saying good bye to so many things that had been my life for 25 years.