The Shetland Isles v Australia

Gobbledegeek

Gobbledegeek

Gobbledegeek

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Joined
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Location
Bendigo, Australia.
Which would you choose? You’d think it was a no-brainer with Oz the clear winner but each location has its pros and cons.

My wife has been offered jobs in both with the Shetlands post paying much better in addition to being a step up career-wise. We were half way through the emigration process when we were invited by The Shetland Isles local authority to spend a week there and having done so are a little less sure about our decision to emigrate to Oz.

Having thought long and hard about what’s best for both the children and my wife’s career, there is quite honestly very little in it from our point of view. On a purely selfish note, skiing is a three hour drive from the location down under but would have to endure a 12 hour ferry crossing to Norway.

Money shouldn’t be a deciding factor but it will cost a substantial amount that we don’t really have to opt for Oz. Both offer the same relocation package with Shetland willing to pay up front as opposed to reimbursing and we don’t want to go into debt to get to Australia and find ourselves struggling for 12 months or more.

I obviously don’t need an OcUK poll to make such a huge decision for me but I would be interested in your views.
 
Oz is a once in a life time opourtunity, but you have to look at which will benifit you in the long run.

I for one would probably take the shetland island if you have a family as it will provide a stable area for the kids. But saying that they will never forgive you when they grow up and realise they could have grew up in oz.

At the moment (being 21 and all) I would move to Oz with out a second thought, you can always work harder and make your way up the ladder down under.

KaHn
 
My money would be on the Shetlands. The other side of the world is just too far for me, plus I'm into all that cold and wet outdoory stuff.
 
Climate would be a huge factor in the decision for me, Oz is a huge place though and you don't mention what part you have in mind.

Also, don't get too excited about skiing down under unless you like manmade snow or ice.
 
skiba said:
Climate would be a huge factor in the decision for me, Oz is a huge place though and you don't mention what part you have in mind.

Also, don't get too excited about skiing down under unless you like manmade snow or ice.
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Victoria, Bendigo specifically and the skiing at Mt. Buller and Mt. Buffalo use no more manmade than the rest of Europe.
 
I think the isolation and the climate might grind you down after a while. Granted, improved communications mean that the location isn't as much of an obstacle as it once was but, for instance, when you go looking for a new car you're going to be limited.

During winter the days are very short on Shetland and the weather can be very harsh. I'm on the north coast of Scotland and we get day after day of lashing rain and grey skies, it doesn't bother me because I'm used to it but it's a world away from the climate in the South.

On the plus side, air travel to the mainland is now subsidised (up to 40%), so you could be in London in a few hours if need be, and I reckon you could get to Cairngorm/Aviemore in less than 3 hours. You already know that the isles are very affluent so I imagine you'll be fairly well off. If the weather is big deal, go for Oz but it was me in your situation, I'd go to Shetland.
 
Personally Oz would be a definite, hands-down, no brainer.

The only thing I would miss would be my family and friends here, but I know for sure that they would be chuffed to bits to visit and also flights aren't even that expensive nowadays, probably as much as it would cost to fly from the Shetlands to the mainland :p
 
I would say oz, give you that chance to experince a different life style. I've been to the shetlands when i was working didn't like it that much in terms of being young and single, but for a family it would be good. The main crime you have to watch out for is drink driving there.
 
Then I would say Oz, Victoria seems like a nice place, you will be a bit out in the sticks but not any more so than in the Shetlands and you will have much better weather. Just depends if you can handle being that far from home I suppose, some people like the comforts of home and being near family, some don't mind.
 
I loved Australia. But I couldn't live there really - I just didn't "get on" with it, I don't know what it was, but I guess I just wasnt inspired by it. I'm too much of a Med man I guess.

I could happily spend a year there maybe, but I couldn't live there for the rest of my life. The people are nice and friendly, and the weather is good, and there's lots to do and see. However it is SO far away it makes you somewhat out of the way.
 
skiba said:
Then I would say Oz, Victoria seems like a nice place, you will be a bit out in the sticks but not any more so than in the Shetlands and you will have much better weather. Just depends if you can handle being that far from home I suppose, some people like the comforts of home and being near family, some don't mind.
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There are much better places then victoria :)
QLD for one has extreemly low taxes and a lot of clubs and is usally hot most the time.
NSW has the big citys and world famous landmarks.
SA have more different styles of terrain then you can poke a stick at and a city that has been planed out very well.
WA, well is WA :p
 
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