Congrats on the move and the anniversary. But a bit premature on Susan7's behalf to call you an Aussie. A four year working visa is just that. Not at all the same thing, Susan, as the right to work where you will and do as you please - there are all sorts of strings attached which most Aussies know nothing about.

Not an issue for Mel and her other half as clearly they work for a big international organisation who will always be there; and after four years they'll move on; and they'll always, as Mel says, be American.

Mel - have a fantastic four years.

Just posting because I do believe that most Australians have no idea of the conditions attached to a 457 business class visa.

Congrats from a fellow 457er here in Sydney. Just so you know....we had to have chest x-rays coming from the US as well.

nelsonian -

Columbus, OH? Any particular reason they chose OH?

I'd imagine they're in reverse sticker shock moving to the US from NZ.

afterall and dkw -

We're learning about the buisness visa as we go - can't even open a bank account without the visa, etc. Interesting about the chest x-rays - apparently its not country specific.

Melnq8 DD and SIL are jazz musicians, DD plays the Hammond B3 organ and moved to Columbus so she could get lessons from Tony Monaco a top Hammond B3 player.

They're also having trouble getting US credit cards as they have no credit rating.

Hope you find a great place to live in Perth. By the way there is a new Indian restaurant in Nelson called Mango, they have also opened a branch in Richmond (where we live), you will have to try it on your next trip to this area.

Like you say the chest X-ray is not country specific. In fact if you were to want to renew your 457 visa, then you'd have to have another one even after being resident in Australia for four years. I don't have a problem with this - TB is a highly contagious disease and that's what they're looking for.

I guess what started to bother me after a while is that the conditions make you feel like a feudal serf. If you lose your job you have to leave (and quickly). Fair enough. But when you're on your third 457 and long ago lost any desire to return "home" it really does your head in!!

Are you allowed to tell us what's taking you to Perth?

nelsonian -

Will look forward to trying out Mango on our next visit to Nelson, which hopefully will be soon.

afterall -

Spouse is in the oil business, so we've lived outside the US for about 12 years. I'm the 'trailing spouse' so I'll be looking for work once we get settled. His visa is job specific, but apparently I can work for any company willing to hire me. I guess we'll see if that's the case soon enough.

Welcome Melnq8 - you got here! And it seems like you missed winter. July was quite cold and wet but we turned on some sunshine for you!

It's a good time of the year to explore the hills (John Forrest or Walyunga National parks) for a picnic or check out the wineries etc in the Swan Valley and Upper Swan.

Did you choose your screen name while doing time in Kuwait?

eigasuki -

<Did you choose your screen name while doing time in Kuwait?>

Yes, not very creative I know, but it made sense at the time.

We're loving this weather so far - blue skies, crisp mornings, great for walking. We've already experienced some of those freezing winds down St Georges Terrace - it's like a wind tunnel.

When does wildflower season get underway and where's a good spot to see them?

Found myself back at Kings Park yesterday and will probably head back there tomorrow. Can't seem to get enough of that place.

Well, Kings Park will be the best, easiest place to check out the wildflowers. The Botanic Gardens there have supposedly over 1700 species and there's a festival throughout September.

Of course you can't beat seeing them in their naturasl state though that's getting harder and harder as the environments are developed.

There's thousands of varieties depending on the climate but some are rather small. Of course depending on your view of what wildflowers are, you'll see Geraldton Wax and banksias blooming alng roadsides just about anywhere, even some kangaroo paws. Around November/ December look out for the native Christmas bush It's an orange parasite.

Great to know the nq8's have landed.

Have a brilliant time in our country.

It is already wildflower season. The flowers start in the North - Kalbarri and Geraldton and move south. There is lots of information on the web about what is blooming. I found the local portions of the Western Australia tourist websites to have a lot of information. Also visit the Vistor's Center in Perth. They can give you information also.

Here is the main wildflower guide:
http://www.wildflowerswa.com/en/default.htm

For example here is a page for the Coral Coast (Enebba and Geraldton)
http://tinyurl.com/5rdlo4

For the Wheatbelt area:
http://www.wheatbelttourism.com/en/W...rs/default.htm

Also see the Western Australia Wildflower Society:
http://members.ozemail.com.au/~wildflowers/index.htm

For Perth - here is the Kings Garden site which has the daily events. Do go on one of the walks.
http://www.bgpa.wa.gov.au/

We found lots of flowers around Eneabba area: http://www.eneabba.net/
We stayed at The Heights B&B in Jurien Bay and loved it. We found lots of flowers on the way between the main hwy and Jurien Bay and also at Lesueur National Park.

The main guide above can help you with other areas.

I've posted my website in the past. I have lots of pictures of the wildflowers on the Australia section of the site. There is a link to my blog if you want information on how I researched it.

http://www.martageorge.com/

I am so jealous. I would love to be there now. Enjoy!

Many thanks for the links travel4flowers - I've not had much time to do any research, too busy househunting (which has been very discouraging by the way).