LAND DOWNUNDER

[StellaR 0]

Yeah, what's with the cream (odd stuff) in the US and the pumpkin &.....&....? The soya milk is disgusting (most might think it always is I guess). Pavola wedding cake sounds great but........is it possible? Yeah did the meat pie (was a disaster with the gluten free flour). Had to have lamb cutlets, never again, cost a furtune in Joplin. Yes and I believe there may be still some rissoles left in the freezer. At least I had some success there. Bit embarrassing after skiting about what a good cook I am. I asked him start on a compost so I can grow vege's when I get there. Never thought of myself as being too fussy before. Now I know I am. We really are spoilt here with food aren't we. Just shows how much I love this guy cause I do love my food. I'm sure the recipes will come in handy from the "mates up-over"site.

Now on to bussiness. I have been checking out Air New Zealand flights and they have one that goes to Kansas City, which is the last airport on my trip. I was wondering if this would be my POE airport or would they consider LA to be???

I am really hoping to get the immigration stuff done at Kansas City (where Andrew will be picking me up)instead of LA so I don't have to stress about missing connecting flights (as I did on the way over last time) or maybe of booking a hotel in LA so as to give myself plenty of time. As this particular flight could be considered all one International trip. I was thinking I could avoid doing it at LA.

Thanks for any info any one,

Stella.

[CarolineM 0]

POE will have to be your FIRST point of entry - where you would go through customs

So it would be LAX - from what I hear it doens't seem so bad though!

[StellaR 0]

Thanks Karo, such a quick reply and oops if I sounded like I was insulting US food. You do grow the most lovely men, one in particular I can think of anyhow.

Stella.

[kaffykat 0]

Hiya again Kath,

It's $242 for myself and my daughter for the medicals, THEN it costs $88 for the x-ray and $90 for the bloodtests making a nice little total of $662. Nice little business they got going there and rude to boot, sheesh.

Edited February 24, 2006 by kaffykat

[CarolineM 0]

I make Pies for Stewart all the time when he's here. I THINK i've mastered the American version of it

His FAVORITE pies in the world are Beaumont's - and I can say mine don't taste like those. I love pavlova, rissolles (sp?) and pies....not a fan of pasties or sausage rolls though.

I can't WAIT to get back to Oz!! I miss Stewart so much!! 20 days.

And no worries, When I can actually answer someone's question I get so excited!! I feel like I know what i'm doing for once.

[mwfaith1971 0]

kaffy,

hold off on getting the vaccinations until after you do the medical. they do a blood test that will show what you are immunised against, so, if you do need a vaccination then you only need to get specific ones done.

if you daughter had chicken pox when she was younger then she will be immune...you can only get it once. i have never had it before but i am apparently immune so i must have come into contact with it when i was a child and it didn't show up.

in regards to the pie maker, you can get them on ebay over here for about $15 if you don't want go through lugging one over here and then getting the adapter.

no worries about the link...my wife found it for me a while ago. there have been some great discussions on there and the majority of the people are very helpful. tonight we are doing this:

In the spirit of Mates Up-Over, whose objective has always been to support Aussie Expats, and find ways to "connect" with other Aussie Expats ... we introduce "Aussie Phone Madness"!

The first Aussie Phone Madness, is this coming Friday night (24th).

Here's the deal:

- You email me your phone number to rosemj@matesupover.com

- Phone numbers can not be sent any later than 6pm on Friday night.

- I put all the phone numbers into a hat and pair them off

- I email you back, with a phone number only - no name

- I include a time for you to call that number

- You call that number and talk for a maximum of 10 minutes

- You will also receive a call from the person who drew your number

- Entries will not be accepted unless I "know" the person

- Phoning times will be 8.15 pm, and 8.30 pm.

- Let me know if you'd prefer not to be given and Australian phone number.

- Shy people are especially encouraged to join in

Let's see how this goes .. it might very well be a regular event.

should be fun.

hope all is going well with everyone...i'm going to the golf range this morning to hit some balls and then probably do nothing for the rest of the day. i hate not working but when you are told that you will be given a job and to wait...what can you do?

matt

Edited February 24, 2006 by mwfaith1971

[CarolineM 0]

oooh Stewart is v. shy. I will tell him about that when he gets here

[aussiewench 9]

Yeah that Aussie Phone thingy does sound cool....I havent joined the site yet but I'm going to.....it looks like fun.

Now....still on 'food' .....can ya buy sausages in the US like we have out here I never seen any while I was there

[Kath 0]

hi kaffy

thats incredible...where do they get off charging these prices i wanna know...i reckon the embassey needs to look into this..

some good websites to look out for fares are

www.bestflights.com.au

www.costlesstravel.com.au

www.lastminute.com.au

www.airfaresflights.com.au

take care kath

hi

hey there matt glad to hear ya still alive an kicking mate...got home an the heat hit me ..i had got so use to ohio cold lol...that sounds like a fantastic idea ... a lady on my flight was so rapt to hear an aussie accent she hadnt heard one in 2 weeks so this would help in that area cos i know i miss the accent....ohhh matt on food business...when i get over there matt if ya dont mind can i ring ya from time to time thats if ya wife wont mind mate

aussie

i did not find one damm sausage in toledo that are like ours.. robbie is a big polish sausage fan although i love um too they are just not like our banger in a nice piece of bread with onions.mmmmmmmmmm damm it was the first thing i made when i got home lol...and their bread sucks too ..i just cant put my finger on it but its not the same as ours..

[StellaR 0]

hi kaffy

thats incredible...where do they get off charging these prices i wanna know...i reckon the embassey needs to look into this..

some good websites to look out for fares are

www.bestflights.com.au

www.costlesstravel.com.au

www.lastminute.com.au

www.airfaresflights.com.au

take care kath

hi

hey there matt glad to hear ya still alive an kicking mate...got home an the heat hit me ..i had got so use to ohio cold lol...that sounds like a fantastic idea ... a lady on my flight was so rapt to hear an aussie accent she hadnt heard one in 2 weeks so this would help in that area cos i know i miss the accent....ohhh matt on food business...when i get over there matt if ya dont mind can i ring ya from time to time thats if ya wife wont mind mate

aussie

i did not find one damm sausage in toledo that are like ours.. robbie is a big polish sausage fan although i love um too they are just not like our banger in a nice piece of bread with onions.mmmmmmmmmm damm it was the first thing i made when i got home lol...and their bread sucks too ..i just cant put my finger on it but its not the same as ours..

[aussiewench 9]

aussie

i did not find one damm sausage in toledo that are like ours.. robbie is a big polish sausage fan although i love um too they are just not like our banger in a nice piece of bread with onions.mmmmmmmmmm damm it was the first thing i made when i got home lol...and their bread sucks too ..i just cant put my finger on it but its not the same as ours..

Dang.......maybe I gotta buy myself a sausage maker too to bring with me. Wonder if can get the skins though.....shute I love my sausage n onions on a sanger

[aussie angel 0]

StellaR

i came through lax in december on a k1 visa and it was a breeze no problems at all i was totaly through and out of the airport with in 1 half hours from the time we landed.

also in regards to your vaccinaitions i went to my own gp and got a blood test done to see what i needed and what i didnt i took a print out of the required ones from the ausis site here the only one i need was tetnus so it was done by my gp and all bulk billed i then got the doctor to print out a vaccanition record and a copy of my blood tests and i took them to my medical the doctor at the medical accepted them as proof and filled out the proper from and he also gave me a copy of it as well i got this done well before my medical so i had it all to take hope this helps

Karo112 do you have a receipe for pastry for meat pies? or someone lol it just dont seem to work like it does in aus

Kath&Rob hows it all going for you i love the pic of the big heart i need to set up that site and put my pics on it to

[Kath 0]

hi aussie

we have talked about that ...you must be able to buy um if robbie suggested i make my own lol will enquire about this one lol..

i just rang my local doc pathology place...i asked her if i could get the hiv on medicare she reckons i should be able to...told her about the 60 dollar fee they were gunna charge me an she said go for it just get the pathology sheet from your doc and i will do it...so next week will do that..better 60 dollars in my pocket than theirs i reckon..

take care

kath

[StellaR 0]

Just thought I'd add my bit on Best Flights. I had a hell of a time with them and in the end the management said they were going to have an internal investigation about it. They were always very nice just incompetent. I have almost forgotten every detail but they almost gave me a stroke. First they booked me dates that went over the 90 day thingy (I trusted them to count 90days) then for weeks they just couldn't seem to get those dates right on my ticket. They kept telling me it was ok & not to worry. I kept telling them I was worried and felt the correct dates on my ticket would help me not to worry and thought it was only fair with the money the things cost. They just kept sending me over & over again tickets with wrong dates. Must of rung them several times a day. Asked to speak to management and they did sort if a couple of days before I was to leave. I also have gluten and lactose intolerance & also asked for an isle seat (spinal problems) which they continually told me they had sorted. I rang the air lines myself to check on tickets & guess? what no mention of either of those requests. Thought I got that sorted till the actual flight. The flight attendants (Air Tahiti Nui) were very good and did try to find me something to eat on the plane but I was extremly hungry by the time I got to my destination. Glad I took some snacks with me, half my hand luggage was food.

Know I will be joining that up-over site. After many months of not hearing an Australian accent when you do get to hear one you feel like they are your best friend.

No Aussy style sausages in Joplin either.

Stella

[aussiewench 9]

Karo112 do you have a receipe for pastry for meat pies? or someone lol it just dont seem to work like it does in aus

I'm pretty sure I seen a recipe for pie pastry in the recipe section of the link I just reposted of Matt's...'matesupover'