[Cowboy1600]

Originally Posted by nomad

I've got some friends out that way that could show you a good time. But DUDE.... stick to the beach! The only Canadian winter activities worthwhile are hibernation, rally and maybe ski/snowboarding. *shrug* I'm only game for the first two.

Edit: ok, ok, ok, HOCKEY... but to me that should be a year round sport.

hahaha.....hockey....dont play that much in Aus, specially ice hockey.. wonder why?

First thing we are doing is a meet-up to take you to a cricket one-dayer. Its a condition of entry into Aus that you undergo an intensive cricket education program, designed around beer wenches and Bay 13

[RPinOZ]

Originally Posted by Cowboy1600

hahaha.....hockey....dont play that much in Aus, specially ice hockey.. wonder why?

Shows how much you know, Cowboy. My father-in-law played for the Melbourne Blackhawks in the 50s and later was president and chief coach of the ACT Ice Hockey Association. I still have his Montreal Canadiens sweater. And my wife was instrumental in getting an ice hockey rink built in Canberra when she was 13. We've still got the newspaper clippings. So there!

[aussie_929]

Originally Posted by Cowboy1600

I live here now and the weather isnt too bad. Its cold in winter, hot in summer, miserable in autumn and beautiful in spring....whats wrong with that?

Except the winter lasts 10 months of the year

[Cowboy1600]

Originally Posted by RPinOZ

Shows how much you know, Cowboy. My father-in-law played for the Melbourne Blackhawks in the 50s and later was president and chief coach of the ACT Ice Hockey Association. I still have his Montreal Canadiens sweater. And my wife was instrumental in getting an ice hockey rink built in Canberra when she was 13. We've still got the newspaper clippings. So there!

well to you....as I said....dont play much so bollocks to you!!!! hehehe

[Cowboy1600]

Originally Posted by aussie_929

Except the winter lasts 10 months of the year

No....maybe 4 months....granted not 3

[Will]

Well it has come to hockey to get me too post in this thread.
Firstly as an ex-pat american, Melbourne is the shizzle po pizzle mild winters (no snow unless in the mountains) and the summer isn't too oppressive. It's the sporting capital of a sport nuts country so, lots to see and do. yadda yadda
I played Ice hockey here for many years but, thanks to the fact we have one rink that is virtually a condemmed builiding and the insurance was out of control, ie $1200 for the season, I'm back on inline, no contact of course

[The Sook]

Haha Yeah, take a yank to a cricket game after we just spanked their sorry arse in a test only the other day. Hahahahahaha. That's just cruel. Ha

[matt232]

Originally Posted by hokoyo

How do you handle that method of turning around trams, what is it, keep left then turn right?? Riding over those tram lnes in the wet would be a lot of fun to!

I originally prefered Sydney to Melbourne but these days a lot of Sydney people seem to have an attitude problem, but there again one should not generalise. They are both cities anyway and cities have their good points and their bad.... Drove through Sydney a couple of weeks ago on the way to the airport, yikes those roads are crap and narrow!

Anyway i prefer Perth!

Oh yea Nomad Welcom!!

YOu mean a hook turn (animation at the bottom of the page, press play) ......Its simple and generally a lot safer than sitting out in traffic trying to make a right hand turn. I started out riding a push bike around the city and they are allowed to do a hook turn at all interections so I got a lot of practice. Also good for bikes because it means you hit the tram track perpendicular. Its all good.

You definately have to be carefully on the Tram tracks even in the dry but there are usually enough routes from A to B for avoid the tracks if need be. I'd say the Parking on the foot path and free use of City link by bikes outweighs any of those problems.

[nomad]

Dude... Hook turns? WTH? We have trams (we call 'em street cars) too and get along just fine without driving all over the map. Now... I gotta figure out how to drive on the left side of the street AND make a hook turn? I'm so gonna get runned over.

[Cowboy1600]

Originally Posted by nomad

Dude... Hook turns? WTH? We have trams (we call 'em street cars) too and get along just fine without driving all over the map. Now... I gotta figure out how to drive on the left side of the street AND make a hook turn? I'm so gonna get runned over.

No fear my friend!! We'll teach you!!

Hehehe.....hook turns are easy, and make a lot of sense when you think about it. In fact, Id say they are easier than sitting in the middle of the road waiting to turn. Less chance of being freckle punched.

[matt232]

Originally Posted by Cowboy1600

No fear my friend!! We'll teach you!!

Hehehe.....hook turns are easy, and make a lot of sense when you think about it. In fact, Id say they are easier than sitting in the middle of the road waiting to turn. Less chance of being freckle punched.

Much easier, only you only have to worry about the Trams and Hook turns in Melbourne. If you are sent elsewhere then there is only the stress of learning how to ride on the correct side of the road.

Have you checked out about what you have to do to transfer your car & bike license to and Aussie one? You might be able to get a internationaly licence.

[nomad]

Matt, that's a good thought too. I gave a little thought to the license thing. I figure it's the same as here and that you can get a transferrable International permit. I suspect since we are both common wealth countries, that they'll do a straight transfer of qualifications. I'll definitely look into it more thoroughly.

The biggest thing is getting certified by your "Australian Computer Society"... before I can apply for my visa, they need to certify that I can use a computer. Not only do they require previous job references but they require my university degree... ok, no biggie... but then they want my transcripts from Univ too! hahaha... that's crazy, I never thought anyone would ever look/care about my marks... and now your government does? hehe... funny. They need my employer to verify my competence in all my programming languages, Hardware skills, software skills and *maybe* will require a list of all the projects I work on. Hell, they not only want my resume but a document explaining each item on there. Wow... And *THEN* I start the visa proces... see you guys in 2010.

I'm really not worried about driving on the left. I was in Trinidad for a while and it didn't seem too bad... however, I only drove a little ways. I'm more concerned about my emergency actions or my trained behaviour if I'm driving tired.

Another concern that has cropped up is my credit rating. Over here, they monitor your credit history and based on that lend you money etc. from the bank. Moving to a new country, I'll have no history... that is going to be difficult to get a mortgage.

[Cowboy1600]

Originally Posted by nomad

Another concern that has cropped up is my credit rating. Over here, they monitor your credit history and based on that lend you money etc. from the bank. Moving to a new country, I'll have no history... that is going to be difficult to get a mortgage.

I wouldnt be too concerned. You will have to rent for a year or so, just so they know you arent going to skip town but banks here lend money to just about anyone.

[Zop]

Before you leave, don't forget to pack Bacchus into your suitcase.....or maybe just your carry-on bag

[matt232]

Originally Posted by Zop

Before you leave, don't forget to pack Bacchus into your suitcase.....or maybe just your carry-on bag

[nomad]

Originally Posted by Zop

Before you leave, don't forget to pack Bacchus into your suitcase.....or maybe just your carry-on bag

hahaa funny you should mention it; I left him a standing offer to come visit and figured that the US postal service was taking care of the rest courtesy of Chain stuffing him in a mailbox... I'll chip in for priority post if necessary.

[Bacchus]

Originally Posted by Zop

Before you leave, don't forget to pack Bacchus into your suitcase.....or maybe just your carry-on bag

Awww, thanks Zop, that's so thoughtful of you!

LOL @ the rest of the comments too.

[aussie_929]

LOLOLOL I love your avatar bacchus!!!!

[Bacchus]

Originally Posted by aussie_929

LOLOLOL I love your avatar bacchus!!!!

Thanks! I just wish more Americans appreciated that avatar - this is gonna be the scariest (and most important) election in the history of the U.S.! We've already hit rock bottom with dubya, how can so many "intelligent" Americans want this ass-clown for another 4 years? I'm not even a religious sort, but, PRAY for our asses!!! Thanks again!

[Bacchus]

And this post is just for the sake of postwhoring, since I've been remiss in your Aussie thread as of late. I'll be off-line in a few days (for how long, I don't know), so I'd better whore my azz off for awhile.

Arnold: "Ahll be bach!"

[matt232]

Originally Posted by Bacchus

And this post is just for the sake of postwhoring, since I've been remiss in your Aussie thread as of late. I'll be off-line in a few days (for how long, I don't know), so I'd better whore my azz off for awhile.

Arnold: "Ahll be bach!"

Terminator 4?

[Bacchus]

Originally Posted by matt232

Terminator 4?

HELLO! Trying to get some anti-bush shiat going here... I know that there can't be too many Aussies that are too fond of our present "president" out there.

[Cowboy1600]

Originally Posted by Bacchus

HELLO! Trying to get some anti-bush shiat going here... I know that there can't be too many Aussies that are too fond of our present "president" out there.

Im all for anti-bush....but I guess im too busy being anit-howard. We, like you bacchus, are ruled (yes ruled, we hardly live in a democracy) by this little fascist prick by the name of John Howard. He, like your bush, is a far right ultra conservative. His number 2, peter costello, recently spoke at Scots church about how we need to regress back to the Judeo-Christian values our country was founded upon. Not bad coming from someone so actively involved in the Iraq was, Afganistan, manditory detention of refugees etc etc. If you want a good laugh read this

Just lately he Howard has been touting how he would launch pre-emptive strikes on any country who threatened us. No country has of course, he just like beating his chest. The sooner we rid the governments of attitudes like those of bush and howard the better.

I HATE JOHN HOWARD

[Bacchus]

Cowboy! Wish you could vote here!

[matt232]

Originally Posted by Cowboy1600

Just lately he Howard has been touting how he would launch pre-emptive strikes on any country who threatened us. No country has of course, he just like beating his chest. The sooner we rid the governments of attitudes like those of bush and howard the better.

If little Jonny (Howard) is making those threats, the rest of the world will be laughing along with the Aussies and telling him shut the phuck up.

[aussie_929]

Originally Posted by Bacchus

Cowboy! Wish you could vote here!

I can vote there and will be this year

[Will]

Yep me too, went down to the consulate last week to register. Living abroad it's so much clearer to see how his foreign policy completely both sucks and blows.