LAND DOWNUNDER

[CarolineM 0]

Hi all! Except for the lack of good chocolate I hope all had a happy Easter. Not much news here - Stewart celebrated his one year in the US so that was fun.

hope everyone is well and I'm SOOO thinking of all of you with interviews coming up! GOOD LUCK!

[Moonie 0]

Hello All,

Hope everyone enjoyed their Easter. I did not realize how unacceptable our chocolate is! Anyhoo Go USA

[Elle 0]

Hi All!!!

Goodluck to those with upcoming interviews!!

Really quick q...for those who are shipping or have shipped items from Oz to the States -- did you guys have to pay customs fee? Im looking into this one shipping company but they want to charge $590AUS for customs (and door to door delivery). But I thought if you are sending personal belongings on a immigrant visa, and goods are 1+ yrs old and you have no intention of selling you dont have to pay a customs fee? Anyone have experience with that? I'm going to check if the Post office Sea Mail will charge customs because if they dont, it might be cheaper for me to send two boxes of 20kgs at $160 a piece.

OOh Aussie dollar is going strong -- who is exchanging their money now? Im tempted to!

[hampster 0]

It is 2 days, 11 hours, 56 minutes and 0 seconds until,

Friday, 13 April 2007 at 10:00:00 AM (Adelaide time)

For my CR1 Interview @ Sydney Consulate

Tamzo22 good luck with yours.

Deciding wether to have some "CADBURY'S CHOCOLATE"

Maybe have a "Crunchie" or some "Kit Kats"

Cheers

Paul

[Rings 10]

YAY Hampster! Good luck to you! I just know everything is going to work out for you because you have done everything so well this far. I hope that everyone is doing well and thank you so much for the Aussie recipies! I am going to try my hand at some of them when David comes home.

[AussieGal 0]

Hi Folks

I read this forum all the time, nice to see all the posts and fellow Aussies i dont contribute much as i never know what to say. Good luck with your interview Paul and I wish everyone else going through their journeys and where they are at all good stuff and thanks for all the recipes.

If anyone is ever is in Durango let me know, be nice to meet

Take care

Parys

[Kath 0]

hi aussiegal

how ya doing....mate you can post anything here some days i dont have anything to say ...lol..i have finished with USCIS ..but the guys and gals are great in here nice way to keep in contact with fellow aussie that have gone through or going through the process...

i arrived in the states in June 2006 too..im in toledo ohio...there a few aussie in colardo or going to be there...so there will be a few in ya state soon lol Did ya get to see your aussie dvd's yet..lol i read you were looking for a dvd player ages ago...

hi caroline wow a year already ... what did you do to celebrate...

hi rings remind david to bring on his next visit in may a few things that he wont miss in oz while waiting for his interview..oh also tell him to get some medication that he knows works in oz over with him...that way they are there when he lives there...eg..headache tablets...allergy tabs...i wish i had of brought more over with me ..the stuff here is too strong for me they send me gar gar lol...

hi elle

sorry cant help ya on this one mate...i didnt bring stuff over with me ...from what i have read on here ya right about that 1 year thing...maybe aussiegal can help ya out she brought stuff over with grace brothers i think it was...

hi hammy and tamzo

good luck to you both ...you will do fine...let us know how you go we want updates from both of you lol i get so excited when i know the aussies are going for their interview its a new life style starting over but also a sad time too..

moonie hi ya ....when ya had aussie chocy mate nowt is better lol...i dont know what it is that makes it different...prob the cocoa...but there is definetly a difference...lol...and in sayin that we do also get the cheap yukky chocy also there...lol...

take care you lot

kath

ohhh forgot to add...i went for my oreientation today at the hospital...went went will be doing one day a week for 4 hours in the pharmacy dept/gift shop...labeling bottles...serving customers..counting out medication..sort perscriptions stock refilling..

gotta have a TB test done...will start in a few weeks my doc an reference person is slack in returning the forms lol..bought a jacket that volunteers wear..so im all set ...nearly lol

Edited April 10, 2007 by Kath

[Kath 0]

bugga...tried to edit what i put on the end..arrh well start again...

bloody hell i did a refresh what i typed before and its there noww so have deleted it... this post lol B)

Edited April 10, 2007 by Kath

[girlfrmoz 0]

Congratulations Kath!!! That's awesome news and it sounds like the work will be interesting. So when do you start?

Hi CarolineM, how you are you!

Tamzo and Paul you are almost there!!! YAY!!! Hey Paul, what were the name of those luggage locks you recommended??

Hi Elle, sorry I don't have an answer on the customs costs, have been slack with the shipping cause I am not going to do mine until I am working over there. I have sent stuff via air mail though 10kg cost me approx $145. It's expensive but saves me worrying about excess baggage costs.

Hey Aussiegal...I think Durango is somewhere near where I am going to be isn't it???

Being a little chocolate connoiseur I can definitely say that in USA chocolate the food regs allow the use of less cocoa than here in Oz and that is what makes the difference. Sad but true! Sigh.... But OMG Teddy Grahams are so much nicer than our Tiny Teddies...seriously. I could eat a whole box!

[hampster 0]

Kath, AussieGal, Rings , Elle , Tamzo22 ,

CarolineM, Moonie and Lyndel , and the M.I.A. Aussiewench..

I too am a Chocoholic

But have been a good lil Vegemite and been watching my Cholesterol

Thanks to the above metioned Chocoholics for your ongoing support,

Stirringness lol and your advice and on this my Visa Journey.

It is 2 days, 2 hours, 7 minutes and 53 seconds until

Friday, 13 April 2007 at 10:00:00 AM (Adelaide time)

for my CR1 Interview In Sydney

Cheers

Paul

[Poi_n_J 0]

Kath, AussieGal, Rings , Elle , Tamzo22 ,

CarolineM, Moonie and Lyndel , and the M.I.A. Aussiewench..

I too am a Chocoholic

But have been a good lil Vegemite and been watching my Cholesterol

Thanks to the above metioned Chocoholics for your ongoing support,

Stirringness lol and your advice and on this my Visa Journey.

It is 2 days, 2 hours, 7 minutes and 53 seconds until

Friday, 13 April 2007 at 10:00:00 AM (Adelaide time)

for my CR1 Interview In Sydney

Cheers

Paul

Am gonna be quick cos I'm at work and the boss'll be back in a mo...

Just wanna say goodluck Paul, you'll do great I know it..!!!

J loved The Great Ocean road and the B&B was lovely nestled in truly gorgeous aussie surroundings and the rainforest walks were amazing...looking forward to showing him more, maybe Ballarat next...

Good luck everyone else on their journey; Rings, Moonie etc.. and congrats on starting the job Kath..

Be back soon.....

[hampster 0]

Kath, AussieGal, Rings , Elle , Tamzo22 ,

CarolineM, Moonie and Lyndel , and the M.I.A. Aussiewench..

I too am a Chocoholic

But have been a good lil Vegemite and been watching my Cholesterol

Thanks to the above metioned Chocoholics for your ongoing support,

Stirringness lol and your advice and on this my Visa Journey.

It is 2 days, 2 hours, 7 minutes and 53 seconds until

Friday, 13 April 2007 at 10:00:00 AM (Adelaide time)

for my CR1 Interview In Sydney

Cheers

Paul

Am gonna be quick cos I'm at work and the boss'll be back in a mo...

Just wanna say goodluck Paul, you'll do great I know it..!!!

J loved The Great Ocean road and the B&B was lovely nestled in truly gorgeous aussie surroundings and the rainforest walks were amazing...looking forward to showing him more, maybe Ballarat next...

Good luck everyone else on their journey; Rings, Moonie etc.. and congrats on starting the job Kath..

Be back soon.....

Priscilla,

thanks for your kind thoughts and well wishes

Glad he loved the Great Ocean Rd

we stayed on the beach at a place called Henty Beach Caravan / Cabin place,

on the G.O.R. we stayed in a brand new 2 bedroom cabin it was beautiful.

Make sure you take Joshua to Eureka Stockade as well.

lot of aussie history there eh!!

With your dates of your NOA1 my calculations ( rough estimate)

your 130 should be approved by around 1st May 07..

just a rough estimate as i stated 74 days seems to be the "norm"

our 130 was approved in 68 days from sending in ours.

wishing you a great time while joshua is in town.

Cheers

Paul

[Moonie 0]

Wow it just seemed like yesterday you guys had 22 days to go before your interviews!

Good luck!!!

Us waiting on the sideline want all the details

My poor Aussie hubby to be got stung in the head by a bee! What a strange thing!

Thanks for explaination as to why our chocolate is so

When I was in Melbourne I went to Haigh's I believe had me some brownies and champagne truffles It was good!

I had an interview today for a job that I want, close to home...way more money and happy looking people!

I hope I get it..not working sucks XXX!!!!

[Poi_n_J 0]

Priscilla,

thanks for your kind thoughts and well wishes

Glad he loved the Great Ocean Rd

we stayed on the beach at a place called Henty Beach Caravan / Cabin place,

on the G.O.R. we stayed in a brand new 2 bedroom cabin it was beautiful.

Make sure you take Joshua to Eureka Stockade as well.

lot of aussie history there eh!!

With your dates of your NOA1 my calculations ( rough estimate)

your 130 should be approved by around 1st May 07..

just a rough estimate as i stated 74 days seems to be the "norm"

our 130 was approved in 68 days from sending in ours.

wishing you a great time while joshua is in town.

Cheers

Paul

Oh that sounds like it would have been superb...I will keep Eureka Stockade in mind, cheers.

Thanks for your calculations, I do hope you're right, although if we don't figure out our tax debacle our I-864 aint gonna go too smoothly....

Again, good luck

It's his 30th today, gonna wine and dine him tonight...

[hampster 0]

My poor Aussie hubby to be got stung in the head by a bee!

What a strange thing! ouch

It's his 30th today,

gonna wine and dine him tonight... and

Happy 30th Birthday Joshua!

Birthday Cake Recipe for our boy!

Birthday MudCakeServes: 8

Ingredients

250 g butter

200 g NESTLÉ PLAISTOWE

Dark Cooking Chocolate,

broken into small pieces

2 cups sugar

1 cup hot water

2 Tbsp NESCAFÉ Blend 43

2 egg, lightly beaten

1 1/2 cups plain flour

1/2 cup self-raising flour

1/4 cup NESTLÉ Baking Cocoa

200 g NESTLÉ PLAISTOWE

Dark Cooking Chocolate,

extra 1/2 cup cream]

Method

1. Combine butter, PLAISTOWE Dark Cooking Chocolate,
   
2. sugar, hot water and NESCAFÉ Blend 43 in a pan.
   
3. Stir over low heat until the mixture is smooth and the chocolate has melted.
   
4. Cool for 10 minutes then transfer mixture into a large bowl.
   
5. Add eggs, beat well.
   
6. Add sifted dry ingredients to the chocolate mixture,
   
7. blend thoroughly. Pour mixture into greased and lined 23cm deep round cake pan.
   
8. Bake in 160ºC oven 1½ hours or until cooked.
   
9. There maybe a little moist cake mixture on metal skewer
   
10. when inserted into centre of cake, this is normal for mud cake,
    
11. do not over cook.
    
12. Stand cake in the pan for 10 minutes then turn out onto wire rack to cool.
    
13. Combine extra PLAISTOWE Dark Cooking Chocolate
    
14. and cream in heatproof bowl, place over simmering water,
    
15. stir until melted and smooth.
    
16. Refrigerate 30 minutes until thick,
    
17. spread over top and sides of cake.
    

Enjoy your time together!!

Thanks Moonie

"had an interview today for a job that I want,

close to home...way more money

and happy looking people!

I hope I get it..not working sucks XXX!!!!

Good luck sent your way for you,

to get this new happier more money job!!

Cheers

Paul

Edited April 11, 2007 by hampster