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Post by Caseysmom on Apr 12, 2017 22:02:11 GMT -5
Wow that's expensive, hope you can find something quick. No hotels with weekly rates that accept pets? Good luck finding something today
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Post by biteybird on Apr 12, 2017 23:51:48 GMT -5
Thanks! I got two 'offers' today from places I've inspected. By 5pm this afternoon I will have looked at 8 properties in the last 3 days! One of them I will not accept, as it's TINY and has no wardrobe or any space to speak of. I put in two applications this morning - plus I.D. documents; unbelievable the amount of documentation proof you need to give them! - and one had mine as 'priority'. But the one I really want is furnished for the same price, so I rang the agent and asked her how long it would be before I heard back, as I only have 48 hours to accept the other offer and pay a bond, etc. So she said she'd have a look and get back to me within the hour. Fingers crossed I get that one!  |
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Post by Jan and Shah on Apr 13, 2017 4:38:35 GMT -5
Any news?
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Post by biteybird on Apr 13, 2017 5:26:29 GMT -5
I got the one I wanted! It's $350 per week (I know!!!), but so is everything else and most of them are unfurnished. At least this way I won't have to buy tables, chairs, couch, fridge/freezer or washing machine. It's about 15 minutes' drive from work. It is in a quiet area with lots of retirees in a cul-de-sac street and has a carport at the front of the unit, so at least my newish car won't be in the weather the whole time. I'm pretty happy to get it, considering the other stuff on offer that only have open car parking. The unit is in 'Calma Gardens', Ludmilla (you can look up the area if you're interested). Phew! Now I can relax a bit over Easter, knowing I've somewhere to go on Tuesday. I paid the bond and 2 weeks' rent this afternoon (the pain, though, parting with $2100 in one hit....). :0
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Post by Jan and Shah on Apr 13, 2017 17:12:18 GMT -5
Congratulations Biteybird - well done. That's pretty expensive rent for Darwin but at least it is furnished and you have under cover parking for the car. In Sydney, the rents are through the roof and there always seems to be a shortage of places to rent - which allows the landlords to push up rental prices. Enjoy your Easter - you deserve it. Hope the Easter Bunny is good to Bonnie and doesn't bring her anything too naughty.
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Post by Caseysmom on Apr 13, 2017 22:04:35 GMT -5
Congratulations, that area does look nice , now you can relax. Has the storm passed?
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Post by biteybird on Apr 13, 2017 23:57:21 GMT -5
Yes, there was just heavy rain and wind most of Tuesday, but by Wednesday it had gone. So nothing to worry about, thanks! |
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Post by biteybird on Apr 14, 2017 1:15:03 GMT -5
That's pretty expensive rent for Darwin but at least it is furnished and you have under cover parking for the car. In Sydney, the rents are through the roof Hi Jan, well the rent prices in Darwin were, about 6-8 weeks ago, at least $100p/w more than they are now. Apparently about 8000 workers (Emgas?) were laid off recently and since they left town the rental prices have dropped. I think I've been quite lucky. Granted, it took four full days of running around, emailing, phone calls, inspections and paperwork, but I think I'm a lot better off than many other people would be - at least I'm on paid school holidays while looking. There's no way I could have done this working a 'normal' job without taking a few days off. Hope you and Shah have a great Easter! |
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Post by biteybird on Apr 19, 2017 6:14:16 GMT -5
Well, just finished my 2nd day and I'm exhausted already! But I put a lot of that down to learning new stuff and running around a lot looking for somewhere to live, etc., preceded by driving from Melbourne to Darwin. I did have a lazy Easter weekend though. Two of my students are "Nil by Mouth" and have to be fed twice daily at school, directly to their stomachs via a plug. It's called 'peg-feeding'. So that is really new for me and I don't want to stuff it up. Luckily my assistant is REALLY good and knows all about it and I tried a little bit of one of the student's feeds today. They don't have as many meetings here as at my old school, also less playground supervision duties and more teacher preparation time....so far, so good. |
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Post by biteybird on Apr 25, 2017 2:13:46 GMT -5
One week in....and I'm feeling good about this move so far! Apart from my hubby being in Melbourne, everything else is great: -Less traffic and only a 15-min drive to work - tick! -Not cold - tick! -More salary (when I get paid...) - tick! -Less work meetings - tick! -More teacher preparation time - tick! -Kids not as violent - tick! -Lots more support from Occupational Therapists and Senior Teachers - tick! Except...most of the staff get to school from 7am (some arrive at 6:30), but the payoff is that they can leave after the kids go home and bus duty is over (around 3-3:15) if they wish. The early mornings are hard, but it's easier to get out of bed because I'm not cold. If I still feel the same (that is, positive) about this move in 1 or 2 months' time, hubby will leave his job and move up here, too. |
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Post by easttex on Apr 25, 2017 4:40:14 GMT -5
You're smart to get through the honeymoon period before moving hubby, but it all sounds very promising! I've turned into a real morning person, seldom sleeping past 4 am, though I like to just putter around and enjoy the quiet solitude until sunrise. Having to be actually productive by 7 wouldn't be easy.
I'm glad it's going so well. How is Bonnie adapting to the new routine?
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Post by biteybird on Apr 25, 2017 7:21:05 GMT -5
Thanks, Easttex! Bonnie has been remarkably well-behaved, considering she had to stay in her sleeping cage for nearly 2 weeks and was dragged halfway across the country in about 5-6 days. She's a bit nippy, but that's normal. I'm sure she's wondering what's going on, though. She hasn't said "goodnight" since we left Melbourne (which she used to say at least once when I put her to bed in her sleeping cage), but I'm sure she'll be fine. Thanks for asking. |
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Post by julianna on Apr 29, 2017 13:36:38 GMT -5
It is so nice to hear that things are going well... congratulations. Renting apartments and costs sure are different here in Northern Ontario. They might want to have first and last months rent and might ask for references but that is about it. The really nice apartments (new buildings) would probably rent from $1000. per month. Average apartments rent from about $600. per month. Most apartments have the heat and hydro included and believe me... you need the heat around here... lol.
I am sure Bonnie will adjust fabulously. As long as she has her Mom around... she knows she is safe. Oscar is nippy too... and he hasn't gone anywhere... lol. Take care biteybird.... and keep us informed. I love hearing your new adventure.
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Post by Caseysmom on Apr 29, 2017 19:41:19 GMT -5
wow, way cheaper in northern Ontario, down here you wont find much under $1500 per month, and often parking costs extra
Glad you are both settling in, hopefully Bonnie will get used to being there and start saying good night. Seven is pretty early to be out and at work, but geting off at 3ish sounds good. Like easttex, i don't sleep in anymore, but I do wake up around 630-7... I don't think I could function getting up at 4.. hope you go to bed early
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Post by biteybird on Apr 30, 2017 0:19:59 GMT -5
I think I'm getting better at the early mornings - easier than in Melbourne, because I don't have to fight traffic on the way to work. I generally leave school about 4:30pm, so I suppose 7:20-4:30 each day is a reasonably long day. I've been making a point of not doing any school work at home, but I don't know how viable that will be...we'll see.
Gee, rent...if we decide to stay in Darwin a while I might rent out my Melbourne house rather than selling, as if we want to go back later there would be no way we could afford to buy another house in Melbourne. The rent from the Melbourne house would cover us renting a place in Darwin.
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