What and why?

SO what are we actually doing I hear you ask yourself. Well we're seeing parts of our new country! We decided back in January 2001 to actually apply for permanent residency after visiting Oz 6 times since 1995...definitely cheaper to move here! Having decided this we sent our application off at the end of November 2001 with medicals and police checks included (in PR speak we "front loaded" the application). At this point in time we applied based upon my skills assessment (Information Technology) as this was on the "Fast Track" list. We then sat back and waited.

And waited...and waited...and waited.

July 2002 arrived and we really hadn't heard much from the Migration Department in Adelaide...although just to cheer us up they did take Inf. Technology OFF the fast track/in demand list. Eventually the clearance arrived in August 2002...we had the PR visa but had to validate it before the end of November (due to fact we front loaded with meds and police checks). SO we had a 3 week holiday and returned to the UK and back to work / life as normal. It was only when we both resigned from our jobs at the end of January that it all started to become real!!!

So we booked a one way ticket and arrived in Australia on the 21st May 2003. We both decided that if we we going to make such a big move then we wanted to see more of the country before getting into the day-to-day of earning a living!

Having family both in Sydney and Melbourne has really helped in getting started on our trip. The Bedford camper can was supplied by the Collins family in Clifton Springs/Drysdale (thanks guys!) .

So we have well and truly set off on our "big trip" and the remaining pages give you a glimpse of the things we have seen and done during this time.

As we are travelling we only get a chance to update the live site at suitable internet cafes, i.e. those offering a broadband connection.

Not sure when / where we're going to stop so keep looking...

George and Nia Hâf Kirkham