Slow progress

After a very quick start in our integration into Australian life, things now have started to stagnate. B has another week before his future boss is back and he can start work, and I have not heard anything from the pharmacy in Epping since I dropped off the supervised practice form. I will have to give them another call today.

So our house is sorted, well nearly. We still have not managed to find out which garage is ours. Our agent has been off sick so we have heard nothing from them yet. Our shipping isn't arriving until March so we still have time, but it would be good to know it is definatly there. The agent told us when we signed the lease that we shared a double garage with the shop downstairs, but there is no double garage, and the shop keeper denies all knowledge. Very strange. Rent is a lot more expensive in Australia than in the UK, but there are some benefits. As a tennent you do not pay the Australian equivelent to council tax or water rates, which when taken into account actually makes the rent seem quite reasonable.

Getting our utilities connected was a little more stressful than necessary, it seems that when the units were built the meters were registered at the wrong address making it impossible for the energy company to locate them. Still, threatening to go to another supplier soon enabled them to find the meters and get our electricity and gas conected.

We were not in such a rush to get our phone and internet connected, but that too has been organised, and someone should come this week to install our modem. The internet is a lot more expensive in Australia than in the UK, to get a broadband service with a wireless modem, you are looking at an average of $100 a month, and even that is a capped amount. Where as in the UK unlimited wireless broadband and phone can cost as little as £20 a month.

I now have my tax file number which I picked up from the ATO last Friday, and my Medicare number. We have an appointment with VicRoads in about a months time to get an Australian driving license. So we are nearly fully functioning Australian residents.

Adam