Me and my wife departing for a new life in Australia

Art

Me and my wife departing for a new life in Australia

My wife and I are moving from Sweden to Australia at the end of July and I had my friend, Apollo (u/mrhanzell), make us this wonderful piece as Bluey-style characters.

We depart for our new life on 27th July and we really hope to settle down and one day start a family of our own in Perth.

I'm a quarter Swedish and Finnish (and half Hong Kongnese), so I chose to be a Swedish vallhund (coat pattern and colours) and Karelian bear dog (physique) mix to match the Nordic side of my heritage.

My wife is depicted as an American cocker spaniel as she used to have one and loves the breed dearly, and her wavy hair has always resembled the ears of a spaniel, so I've always compared her to one. She's also freckly and her coat pattern here reflects this.

in blueyby Jozrozfrank

1.7K

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1mo

-

1mo

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189

1mo

Awesome art!!!

Enjoy your future life in Australia!!!

OP

104

frank

1mo

Aye, my friend is very skilled and does an amazing job at getting the Bluey style down.

Thank you, Australia will be the fourth country and third continent I've lived in; it'd be nice to finally set down roots.

piedqueenfisher

24

1mo

Any idea if they’d do commission stuff for inquiring Bluey fans? 🤞

28

1mo

Welcome!! I’m from Brisbane, but all of Australia is great! I hope you love living here :)

OP

14

frank

1mo

Thank you kindly! I'll most certainly be visiting some day in the future. I really look forward to exploring the country.

42

1mo

Fantastic and enjoy your new life in the land down under.

OP

23

frank

1mo

I certainly will, thank you!

Hiphoplovechild

15

1mo

This is too sweet! Wishing you safe travels and so much happiness in this new chapter of life, OP!

OP

12

frank

1mo

Thank you dearly, you are too kind by far! ♥️

31

1mo

Watch out for magpies

OP

38

frank

1mo

I aim to befriend the local maggies.

15

1mo

Good choice

LiterallyAMagpie

14

1mo

Good choice mate. Wombaroos insectivore mix will make us your friend 😁 or a box of live bugs, yummmmmmm

OP

2

frank

1mo

r/Beetlejuicing

CaravelClerihew

7

1mo

Just don't do the same with the cockatoos

OP

1

frank

1mo

Are they troublemakers?

CaravelClerihew

5

1mo

Once you start feeding them, they expect to keep getting fed. If you stop, they'll start literally pulling bits off of our house

OP

4

frank

1mo

Crikey, I'll stick to the maggies and kookaburras then.

10

1mo

Welcome!!

FruityHomosexual

10

rusty.

1mo

Awesome!!! Enjoy your new life 💗

Comfortable_Key2244

9

1mo

This art is so cute!! Hope you guys have a great time in Australia!!

OP

6

frank

1mo

Thank you kindly! ❤️

14

1mo

That's really great! I wish I could live in Australia later too

OP

30

frank

1mo

Well, I'll quote you my response to somebody else with a similar desire:

My tip to you: look up the Working Holiday Visa (Subclass 417). It allows you to holiday in Oz for a year and find work to fund your holiday as you travel the country. If you meet specific requirements, you can renew it up twice more for a total of three years of stay.

This is my first step into the country, but I'll be applying for citizenship through family reunion as I got an uncle and his wife there who are citizens.

11

1mo

I have to finish university first :p

But I'll keep that in mind

OP

7

frank

1mo

Please do, it's an amazing opportunity to travel and see the country, and to get valuable experience ahead of entering the workforce.

What are you studying and where?

8

1mo

I'm studying computer science in my country (France), and I should get a Bachelor's degree in 3 years. Australia might be an opportunity for me to get a Master's degree later.

OP

6

frank

1mo

I wish you the best of luck and hope you make your way to Oz one day!

I studied game dev at Stockholm U, but the pandemic flunked me out. Been a struggle ever since, so I'm off to strike a new future in kangaroo country.

4

1mo

Sounds like a very good plan

Unfortunately I don't have family members living in Australia so I won't really be able to use that to get citizenship. I'll have to do my own research.

OP

9

frank

1mo

The path to citizenship is very difficult, it took my uncle and aunt 25 years to finally get it just two weeks ago. The main issue was Immigration constantly moved the goalposts, changing the requirements to be granted citizenship, so each time they met a requirement, they'd already switched it up. They even managed to get New Zealandic citizenships years earlier.

If you ever set down that path, hit me up and I'm sure my uncle and aunt would be able to provide valuable advice through me.

6

1mo

New Zealandic

FYI, the adjective form for New Zealand is just New Zealand. I know, it doesn't follow the convention for Icelandic and Greenlandic, but hey, neither does Finnish, right?

More often, though, we (New Zealanders) just call ourselves Kiwis (noun), and the adjective form is Kiwi.

OP

1

frank

1mo

I stand corrected! Does it have to do with the Dutch origins of the name?

Continue thread...

6

1mo

Thanks everyone for the kind words, and for () to make this wonderful art to see us of! I'm really excited to be moving to Australia!

My husband surprised me with this beautiful surprise this morning, it's been in the works since last month and I had no idea! I can't even keep a surprise for a few hours!

I really love the character depictions of us, and spaniels have always had a special place in my heart. I'm just incredibly happy and want to thank everyone for all the kindness.

OP

5

frank

1mo

That's her! That's my dearest wife! 🥰

It's her sorry tail I'm dragging to the other side of the planet! 😁

5

bingo

1mo

Aww thanks for uploading it 💙

OP

4

frank

1mo

That there's the artist, everybody! He's fantastic and a dear friend! ❤️

And nah, mate, thank you for a most wonderful work of art! 💖

5

1mo

Do you do commissions? I'd love one of me and hubby

5

1mo

Woah! Do people just turn into cartoon dogs on the way to Australia?!

JK love the art and hope it’s fantastic!

OP

3

frank

1mo

A fella can dream. 🥹

5

1mo

Lycka till! Hur vågar ni flytta till det mest farliga landet djur och insektmässigt? hehe

OP

5

frank

1mo

Beväpnad med den här: https://redd.it/1bowt5t

3

1mo

Fair enough lol

SpacedOutDreamerBoy

4

bandit heeler wannabe

1mo

Aww, this is adorable!

OP

3

frank

1mo

Thank you, I'm so very pleased with the results too!

3

muffin

1mo

Wow your dog does look hapa

6

1mo

Can I come, too?

OP

7

frank

1mo

My tip to you: look up the Working Holiday Visa (Subclass 417). It allows you to holiday in Oz for a year and find work to fund your holiday as you travel the country. If you meet specific requirements, you can renew it up twice more for a total of three years of stay.

This is my first step into the country, but I'll be applying for citizenship through family reunion as I got an uncle and his wife there who are citizens.

7

1mo

Many congrats! :) 🍾 Such a great adventure!!

OP

7

frank

1mo

Thanks, I'm so excited! I've travelled a lot in my life, 12 countries in all, but my visit to Oz back in '09 will always be the best I ever had. Australia was always my favourite place, so I can't even describe how happy I am at the prospect of moving there.

4

1mo

As your on a work visa - have you lined up a job here? A place to live?

OP

3

frank

1mo

We'll start with a simple city job, nothing difficult, while we get our bearings and acclimatise. After that I got a job lead through my uncle within the mining industry.

3

1mo

This isn’t to put you off, come and enjoy as you can - but as an employer I am not taking people on WHV as the investment cost out ways the possibility of obtaining residency when I can hire someone that I can invest in long term - when I speak to people they constantly say that they just need a job that isn’t minimum wage to pay the bills here on a WHV given the rise in living costs and the struggles to secure accomodation.

In my area there which supports multiple industries but is a big player for mining and oil and gas I get highly qualified people apply but don’t get an opportunity due to the WHV.

With metals costs right now mining is still viable but will be hard work. It will be a drillers offsider in some terrible start up which will be an old caravan in the middle of nowhere and you’ll dual role - do a 11 and a half hour day and then cook for everyone and it will be a FIFO role. Right now I’m seeing more ‘skilled’ migrant workers coming in from organised offshore companies to fill gaps as they don’t have to pay them as much fly them in and fly them out - this is predominantly in oil and gas though, mining are stealing military personal as it pays better.

Be prepared for a hard fight for somewhere to live, you can flat share with others, join the massive queues for places for rent where they will ask you for proof of employment and earnings including a bank statement, or you will need somewhere in the $700k cash to buy prebuilt to beat out east coast buyers or wait a minimum of 15 months on titled land for a new build.

Don’t get me wrong, there is opportunity here, but it won’t be easy on both of you for at least a year or two in current conditions on your visa unless you have money in the bank I came here with 300k two years ago and we are having to sell our properties overseas now to try and secure a house and I got really lucky on my job - I’m on a 444 visa which gives me the right to live and work. Make sure you have a parachute exit strategy.

Good luck and I hope all the best for you

OP

1

frank

1mo

Oh yes, I am aware of all that as I have an uncle and his wife in the country who are supporting us in our move. They work within the mining industry as well and are fairly confident they can get us a paw in, so we won't be applying blindly without anybody vouching for us.

As for accommodation, we'll be living with them to start with, and eventually subdivide their large property and build a smaller house on that, so we are set in that regard thankfully. We may someday buy one of the other properties they own if that is a possibility in the future.

It was my uncle and aunt's proposal for us to make the move and we have their full financial backing in this endeavour, which means we have a good safety net should things not work out forcing us to leave, though we're all fairly confident it won't get to that. Especially since I'll eventually be applying for citizenship through family reunification channels myself as that is a path open to me. The WHV is merely a paw in the door for us to get the ball rolling.

3

1mo

I knew a couple with their house on the market but they decided to take their listing down.

OP

4

frank

1mo

Thanks for the tip, such as it is, but we have lodgings planned already since I have family in the city, so all is good. ^^

3

Emotionally Damaged Bluey Fan

1mo

G’day, cheeky dogs.

OP

2

frank

1mo

What? Cheeky dogs? Cheeky dogs‽ Well I never! We are good dogs!

2

Emotionally Damaged Bluey Fan

1mo

Oh sorry. I’m just used to hearing other people greet people like that.

OP

2

frank

1mo

Yes, yes, I was playing along. 😉

3

Emotionally Damaged Bluey Fan

1mo

Oh sorry, I ruined the joke. Didn’t I?

OP

2

frank

1mo

It's okay, your worry about causing offense is a reflection on your kindness. ❤️

3

rusty/mackenzie

1mo

Backstory of Mia’s family?

OP

2

frank

1mo

Heehee, one sure gotta wonder. :p

3

grandad

1mo

How do you say "drop bear" in Swedish? 😉

OP

4

frank

1mo

Fallbjörnsjävel!

Okay, not really, I added a cheeky word in there.

Fallbjörn would be it.

Bulky-Somewhere-8574

3

1mo

Lycka till !

OP

2

frank

1mo

Tackar! ^^

Prestigious_Tap_4818

3

mackenzie

1mo

thats relatable, though im still a year half away from fully graduating in which i can do that myself! Best of luck out there guys!

OP

3

frank

1mo

And I wish you luck with your studies and hope you make your way to Oz as well one day!

Prestigious_Tap_4818

3

mackenzie

1mo

Thanks for the confidence boost! i appriciate the kind words and again, wish you the best life in a new world of exploration and fun encounters!

OP

3

frank

1mo

You'll ace it, I'm sure! The pandemic flunked me out of game dev studies at Stockholm U, but you've got a clear run of it, so I believe in you! 💪🏼

3

1mo

Did you tell your wife that you were moving out west before or after the wedding?

OP

2

frank

1mo

We were supposed to get married back in 2019, but we all know what happened that year. So we are, strictly speaking, only engaged, but we have been together for eleven years.

randomperson420465

3

1mo

Cool art! Ok have fun there just watch out for any spiders

OP

2

frank

1mo

Just a matter of being careful and respectful around the critters. And always checking one's boots and any clothes left on the floor.

Adventurous-Ad1228

3

1mo

Excited for you! And also a tad jealous lol 😆

It's been my dream to move there, but my husband is so close to the 45 year age limit at this point, and they've made it so impossible for American families to immigrate there 🫠

We spent a month traveling the coast in a little camper van in 2019, right before the world shut down, and we absolutely loved it there! Everything about it. It was refreshing when compared to the US at least. I hope you guys enjoy it as much as we did!

OP

1

frank

1mo

I went camper vanning in West Australia back in '09! I was visiting my uncle and it was the best vacation I'd ever had across the 12 countries I've been to through my life!

What visa is the 45 year limit applicable to? I'm applying through a Working Holiday Visa (Subclass 417) with an age limit of 30 or 35 (depending on your nationality), though that one is not open to US passport holders. I'm 30 this year in Nov, so the limit is right on the horizon as Sweden has it set to 30. 🫠

Also, why or what has made it more difficult for Americans to immigrate to Oz?

3

1mo

Välkommen till Australien!!

How exciting for you both! 😁 I hope life here is exceptionally good for you

OP

2

frank

1mo

Men tackar tackar!

That is my dearest wish and hope as well!

Dragonfly_Tight

3

1mo

Curious if bluey influenced your choice to do AUSTRALIA?

OP

2

frank

1mo

Surprisingly, no, actually! I only started watching Bluey about two months ago at the behest of the same friend who drew this piece for me, but the plans for the Oz move have been in motion since summer last year when my uncle and aunt in Perth proposed we move with their assistance.

3

1mo

Dont forget to get those new Dallorbucks when you get there!

3

1mo

Something funny from a couple of people I know who've moved here from Sweden (Brisbane not Perth)
They find our winters colder, in a way, because they are so used to thoroughy insulated and heated homes. Brisbane houes are typically as open to the elements as they can be, so what cold there is flows right into your house and into your bones.

So on a winter's evening, my northern European friends would be rugged up in jumpers etc and my Indonesian wife and I would be hanging out in t-shirts or whatever.

OP

2

frank

1mo

Yes, this was my experience when I visited my grandmother in Hong Kong several years ago in December as well. The missus and I froze indoors, but the moment we stepped outside we only needed thin autumn jackets, while everybody else needed puffy jackets and hats.

The thing we're thankful for is that my uncle and his wife built their house with insulation because they wanted it done proper, so while we stay with them in the beginning that shouldn't be an issue. We'll be building a house on their property as well and we'll likely build it similar to theirs.

KillerFish_From-Dieg

2

1mo

Mia cheated on Captain (fr the second char look just like Mia)

OP

3

frank

1mo

Well, the artist, as well as I, certainly took inspiration from her character design. The main difference is my wife here has more freckles because she's pretty freckly irl, and she's more of a shortstack in height and girth which is also reflected on the character design here.

Mia was a good springboard to base our design off, as I knew I wanted my wife to be a spaniel given that she has a strong affinity for them.

Creepy-Confection236

2

1mo

My friend has Valhunds. They're amazing dogs! Welcome to Australia 🇦🇺

OP

3

frank

1mo

Thank you very much! ^^

2

1mo

Do you like Sabaton?

OP

1

frank

1mo

Would it be dreadfully stereotypical if I said I do indeed like hard rock and metal?

2

1mo

That's very cool!

It is my understanding that Australia has very strict immigration policies, no?

OP

2

frank

1mo

To apply for our Working Holiday Visa was very easy and it got automatically approved within seconds of our application being sent in, though Sweden is also a very strong passport to hold, and I believe the difficulties in visa application generally applies to countries with weaker passports that Australia sees as risks of holders staying past their visa allowance.

As for our permanent plans, I have family in the country who are citizens and will be applying to stay permanently through family reunification channels which will make the entire process significantly easier.

User deleted comment

1mo

OP

1

frank

1mo

Well, it's a good thing Perth will be slightly warmer in the winters than Sydney (have a peek at the gate sign in the picture again 😉)!

Yeah, my uncle warned me about the lack of insulation, though that's why the house he and his wife built is insulated according to Nordic standards, so we'll be staying with them until we get our footing and while we build a smaller house on their property which will likely also be insulated. We may eventually buy one of the other houses they let out as an Air BnB some day.

Thank you very much for your tips and consideration, it's very kind of you. ❤️

🍰

2

1mo

I hope bluey makes an episode about you guys. These characters look so awesome

OP

1

frank

1mo

It would certainly be very striking if we should ever appear in the background! Is that even a possibility?

2

1mo

i love the bluey style

I_Once_Ponch_a_Monke

2

1mo

Hope you love it here!

Unable_Tumbleweed364

2

1mo

Congratulations! Australia is the best.

2

1mo

Go get em mate

AquasunScorpiomoon

2

1mo

This is awesome! Best of luck with your move!!

OP

1

frank

1mo

Thank you kindly!

2

chilli

1mo

I’m moving to Florida on the 27th as well, cheers to new beginnings:)

OP

1

frank

1mo

Eyy, what a coincidence! I'll think of you as I take off!

2

muffin

1mo

I'm a day tardy to the party, but as an Australian citizen, I personally welcome y'all with open arms. Hope you guys have a safe, and happy trip, and settle in nicely. ❤️ :D

OP

2

frank

1mo

Thank you, kindly. We look so very forward to it! ❤️

PokemonFan642838

2

1mo

Enjoy have a good life

OP

3

frank

1mo

Thank you, I certainly look forward to it! ^^

2

1mo

Awww this is such sweet art. Thanks for sharing and I wish you plenty of good memories to come with your life in Australia!

OP

2

frank

1mo

And thank you for your kind words! I look forward to happy adventuring and a fine life ahead!

2

1mo

Welcome to Australia! Perth is a beautiful place. A few things to check out from my time living there: rottness island and the quokkas (so cute), swan valley wineries, everything fremantle has to offer (great seafood places) also recommend road tripping up to the pinnacles sometime worth the drive.

OP

5

frank

1mo

Ah, I loved the Pinnacles! I was there when I visited back in '09, when my uncle and I campervanned up that way!

He visited the quokkas a couple of years ago and I hope to as well!

I'm am so hyped about the wineries! We drove through back then as well, but I was only a teen and couldn't partake. 😭

Seafood. I'm going to eat so much seafood. I grew up in Hong Kong where seafood was as fresh as can be, but it's been harder to get ahold of good fresh seafood in Sweden.

I hope you make your way back to Perth some day too!

3

1mo

You're gonna love it.

I'm from the east coast (Brisbane) and only lived in Perth for a couple years for my partners work (he is actually there atm for a couple weeks for work again) definitely want to go back and visit again to see all the new changes. I believe Elizabeth Quay is really pretty now too it'd recommend my favourite bar there called the Lucky Shag (Clever play on words based off a bird)

Once you're settled you will have to visit the east coast too each state has something different to offer. Once again wish you guys all the best with the move and love the fan art :)

OP

3

frank

1mo

I'll absolutely be sure to check out Lucky Shag! I've added it to my GMaps to-go list!

I look very forward to exploring Perth, and now with more time than the two weeks I had back in '09! And the missus and I will definitely be driving across Australia in the future to explore as much of it as we can! We'll see if you pop back to Perth or if we hop into Brisbane first! ^^

3

1mo

We visited my bil over Xmas, stayed in Fremantle and visited Rotto. So amazing. OP ( and everyone else) must visit!

OP

1

frank

1mo

Aye, we look very forward to exploring West Australia and beyond as well!

1

muffin

1mo

What an exciting journey! As for the picture, your friend did an awesome job.

OP

1

frank

1mo

Thank you, and yes he is very skilled. ^^

One_Professional5994

1

28d

Perth?!🇦🇺😳😳

OP

1

frank

28d

Yeah, I got an uncle there. What's so odd about moving to Perth?

Diamondcaretaker

2

27d

Omg! I love the art

1

1mo

Meanwhile, Australian Wildlife: “Oh, goodie. More food.”

OP

6

frank

1mo

The emus and drop bears can try me, but I'll go down fighting .

Psychological_Risk26

1

1mo

Congratulations! I’ve also really been wanting to move to Australia someday too!

OP

2

frank

1mo

Start by looking up Working Holiday Visa as a first try at being in the county for a longer period. That's how I'm getting my first paw in.

Psychological_Risk26

1

1mo

Umm, I think you accidentally downvoted me lol

OP

2

frank

1mo

I don't believe so, the upvote arrow is lit up for me. Perhaps somebody else did? Though I can't fathom why.

Psychological_Risk26

1

1mo

I don’t understand either lol

Psychological_Risk26

1

1mo

Sounds good, thanks for your advice! Like another person said, i’m in college right now, so I might wait until i’m finished to apply for the working visa. I also have a family member that’s lived there for around 20+ years, so maybe he could help me out too. Hope you enjoy your new home in Oz!

OP

2

frank

1mo

Yes, then you're in an excellent position to make such a move as having family there would open up the possibility of applying for citizenship through family reunification as I assume they are citizens by now?

I'll be doing similarly through my uncle.

Psychological_Risk26

2

1mo

Oh good! He’s my mom’s cousin, and I think he is a legal citizen at this point, but I don’t know him too well since i’ve only met him a couple times.

OP

2

frank

1mo

Then I hope you find your way there too, some day. ^^

Psychological_Risk26

2

1mo

Thank you! Also, I hope you enjoy living in Australia, mate!

OP

2

frank

1mo

Thank you, kindly! ❤️

Psychological_Risk26

2

1mo

You’re welcome 😊❤️

0

Lighter

1mo

I'm gonna try ~~illegal immigration~~ sneaking. /s

OP

2

frank

1mo

🚔

1 missing reply