An Introduction

I'll start by giving you a little background...

In 2010, I made the huge decision to make the move from a small country town in Carmarthen, South Wales, to Canberra, Australia.

Now this was not on a whim I might add, while living in Wales, and working as a chef at Vincent's restaurant in Swansea, I met a gorgeous Aussie girl. Em came to work for us as a waitress, and the rest as they say is history. We're now married and expecting our first child.

This of course was a big factor in deciding to up sticks and move to Oz. It wasn't a decision rushed, and I needed to do a lot of thinking before deciding to take the plunge. Leaving your whole life as you know it behind you and moving to the other side of the world is not done lightly!

Family and friends were told, and met with a fair bit of trepidation at first. Any mother, grandmother, father, aunt, uncle, would have their concerns.

It hit hard for the family at first, but they gradually came around to the idea and realised it was something I had to do.

Em had lived in the Wales for 4 years, at first with her parents and brothers who moved to Wales "for a year" and ended up staying 3. They eventually moved back to Oz, and let Em in Wales to live with me in Swansea.

As you can tell in this situation, one side of the family will be without their son or daughter, not easy for anyone.

So the visa forms were applied for, filled out, evidence gathered, medicals completed, police check conducted, statements taken, and all the necessities ticked off the list.

Then the wait.......

The agonising wait, hearing nothing, and taking months. Not knowing is the worst, you can't make any plans, you just........wait.

It all came through fine. I now had a "Partner Migrant Visa"

Packed up, said our goodbyes, jumped on the plane to start a new life in a new country.

I had been to Australia a couple of times before with Em so I had an idea of what the life, the people etc were like. Visiting before hand, and for a length of time is advisable before you up and move your life.

So....now I'm here I aim to blog my way through "What the go is" as the Aussies say.

Hopefully if your thinking of making the big move, some of the information in here you'll find useful. Things you might not have thought of perhaps, or stuff you just want to know.

Well....off we go!