What do you miss?

SuperSocks

Hello folks. Some of the very hawk eyed of you may have seen me here a few times in the past year. For those who haven't - I'm moving to Australia in 2 weeks on a 457 sponsored visa to start a 4 year graduate engineering contract.

This thread has a dual purpose. Firstly it is so you Irish abroad can reminisce about the things you miss from Ireland. This could then help me to figure out what to pack/request to be sent over.

Also, any other general advice on what not to forget when packing is welcome (aside from the obvious passport, ticket, clothes, wallet etc.).

Cheers!

Mellor

I think this thread was already done, may have been two separate threads, ie one about food people miss from home (superquinn sausages), and one about handy stuff to bring from home (an irish 4 plug extension lead)

Do a search

SuperSocks

I did a search on missing things before starting the thread, The topic your referring to was actually started about taytos, and briefly extended to sausages.Not exactly a comprehensive list, I reckon people miss more than that. Plus it was done 7 months ago so I'm sure there are new readers who might like to share.

Regarding the packing topic I admit I didn't search that, but only because I tacked the question on as I wrote the post.

If it is too arduous to type out "I miss lazy sarcastic Irish people and freddo bars", then I apologise for troubling you.

Mellor

I was pointing out the other thread to help you, but given your attitude I really wish I hadn't of bothered tbh. Ironic that you called other lazy when you didn't bother to search.

BTW. They have Freddo bars here. Birdseye potato waffles are surprisingly (given some of the oher foods) absent from australian freezer aisles

SuperSocks

The "lazy sarcastic" bit was a referral to myself, although I must point out again that I did do a search and deemed that another thread wasn't a bad idea.

Apologies for the defensiveness, but I miss-took your post's meaning to be chastising rather than helpful, which was annoying after I had actually searched for the topic.

Thanks for the heads up on the Freddos. Waffles are gross.

PhiliousPhogg

I miss a decent media and sports commentary.

Mellor

SuperSocks wrote: »

The "lazy sarcastic" bit was a referral to myself, although I must point out again that I did do a search and deemed that another thread wasn't a bad idea.

Apologies for the defensiveness, but I miss-took your post's meaning to be chastising rather than helpful, which was annoying after I had actually searched for the topic.

Thanks for the heads up on the Freddos. Waffles are gross.

Most irish chocolate bars are availible, caburys are pretty universal. But they are all slightly different, even the freddos , I've been told that this is due to the higher average temp in australia that the chocolate includes a natural waxy compound so it melts at a higher temp. Could be boll0x tbh.

Top deck is available here but discontinued in ireland.

Zambia

After a few years you think that is what chocolate tastes like.

man1

Mellor wrote: »

Top deck is available here but discontinued in ireland.

Whats top deck?

mandrake04

man1 wrote: »

Whats top deck?

man1

mandrake04 wrote: »

They must have discontinued that in Ireland before the 1970's.:D Never remember that. Looks nice though:pac::pac::pac:

Golden crisp is my fav!!

ElleEm

When I lived abroad I missed Lyons teabags, Manhattan popcorn and cheapo crisps (Meanies, Banshee Bones etc.).

ellaq

That waxy taste in cadbury chocolate is probably the vegetable oil or palm oil that they make it with here. Doesn't taste like chocolate at all. The cadbury snack bar is the one that my family at home always request. It is the one with the different fondant flavours. Whittakers from NZ is superior chocolate, made the way that cadbury used to make theirs once upon a time.

I have been here so long I miss nothing. Probably helps that I don't drink tea, teabags are the only thing that my OH misses.

gnilhsa

I miss suasages!! like sexy denny sausages that we get at home!! not very keen on the chicken and beef sausages!! i didnt even really like suasages much at home, but man i'd love some, with a heap of heinz (not watties, YUCK) tom sauce!! YUMYUM!!

Zambia

Heinz are only a dollar at present .

karl bracken

Try the british lolly shop when you get over for some home stuff, theres a few in Sydney not sure where else.
Unfortunately no sausages tho!

hussey

couple of very detailed threads about where to find decent pork sausages - there are lots of gourment butchers around and have decent ones.

Coles/Woolies are pure muck when it comes to pork sauages!

Pugins

Food-proper Cadburys,Barrys Teabags, Chocolate Kimberleys, Tayto, pork sausages, waffles, bagels, brown bread. Got some of these posted over and discovered Paddy the Irish butcher in Kew, Melbourne who stocks alot of these. Havea great brown bread recipe which I make regularly. So actualy missing waffles the most!

Non-food-family and friends, good radio stations

TommyTheGun

SuperSocks wrote: »

Hello folks. Some of the very hawk eyed of you may have seen me here a few times in the past year. For those who haven't - I'm moving to Australia in 2 weeks on a 457 sponsored visa to start a 4 year graduate engineering contract.

Hi supersocks.

Totally not related to the original post, but if you dont mind me asking, how did you go about getting the job? I have never heard of anyone getting a job like that so if you could pass on any useful information either by posting it or by PM if that would suit better, then that would be great.

Im hoping to get back to Australia asap.

Thanks,
Tom

Zambia

Your asking supersocks how he got his foot in the door?

Ozeire

gnilhsa wrote: »

I miss suasages!! like sexy denny sausages that we get at home!! not very keen on the chicken and beef sausages!! i didnt even really like suasages much at home, but man i'd love some, with a heap of heinz (not watties, YUCK) tom sauce!! YUMYUM!!

The closest to Irish sausages i've found here are the Italian style pork sausages in Aldi. Never use to shop in Aldi back in Ire but find it great value here.

hussey

Found these in David Jones in CBD

Not exactly sure how they are 'irish pork sausages' and also have a label saying 'local product'

But they were pretty tasty!

Mellor

Coles are selling a new brand of sausages also labeled Irish Poker sausages - avoid them they are muck

sonic.trip

Never knew there was an Irish butcher in Kew, must give that a try some day. Coles/Woolworths sell cumberland sausages made by the british sausage company and they are actually pretty nice $5.95 for a pack of 6.

I miss waffles, superquinn brown bread, nice sausages, white pudding. I think the chocolate here is fine but some friends think it's different. I love that they have top deck which they don't at home.

Can I ask how you got sponsored for a graduate engineering job from Ireland?

Pugins

sonic.trip wrote: »

Never knew there was an Irish butcher in Kew, must give that a try some day. Coles/Woolworths sell cumberland sausages made by the british sausage company and they are actually pretty nice $5.95 for a pack of 6.

I miss waffles, superquinn brown bread, nice sausages, white pudding. I think the chocolate here is fine but some friends think it's different. I love that they have top deck which they don't at home.

Can I ask how you got sponsored for a graduate engineering job from Ireland?

Paddy the Butcher (what else!) is on Cotham Street. Make their own Irish pork sausages, thick and thin. Have Irish bacon too, and black and white pudding. They also sell Barrys and Lyons teabags, club orange, chocolate kimberleys, Bisto gravy, Taytos, Snax, Chipstix etc. Wouldn't be doing my weekly shop there but nice every once in a while for a treat.

sonic.trip

Pugins wrote: »

Paddy the Butcher (what else!) is on Cotham Street. Make their own Irish pork sausages, thick and thin. Have Irish bacon too, and black and white pudding. They also sell Barrys and Lyons teabags, club orange, chocolate kimberleys, Bisto gravy, Taytos, Snax, Chipstix etc. Wouldn't be doing my weekly shop there but nice every once in a while for a treat.

Been here since January and never once heard anybody mention it, I'm so excited I can just hop on a 16 to Kew outside my door too! I assume it's expensive though from your comment about the weekly shop?!! I have the barrys teabags from home so might take a trip there this week for some sausages and white pudding

brendansmith

I really want to enjoy my time here in NZ but I cant.
I find myself spending my days balling my eyes out.
I cry throughout the day and fall asleep at night eventually after I've worn myself out from crying.
Why??? Why Christ? Why cant I get Irish sausages here??
If there is a god, how could he let me suffer so greatly?

Gregsor

Looking to get into the CelticKoala shop in Brisbane before Christmas to get some fine saussies and White pudding for the big fryup,anyone tried their products?
Expensive albeit!

whosyour_daddy

SuperSocks wrote: »

Hello folks. Some of the very hawk eyed of you may have seen me here a few times in the past year. For those who haven't - I'm moving to Australia in 2 weeks on a 457 sponsored visa to start a 4 year graduate engineering contract.

This thread has a dual purpose. Firstly it is so you Irish abroad can reminisce about the things you miss from Ireland. This could then help me to figure out what to pack/request to be sent over.

Also, any other general advice on what not to forget when packing is welcome (aside from the obvious passport, ticket, clothes, wallet etc.).

Cheers!

A little off topic but how did you land a sponsored 4 year engineering contract in Oz as a graduate?

STIG83

The missus, Tayto Crisps, Proper pints of Carlsberg, proper burger and chips, taco chips.
miss all them.......

Wintergreen

I miss my girlfriend.

Don't forget to bring your girlfriend!!

Seriously though I don't miss anything in particular. My roommate used to buy Barry's tea for $20 a box in an expatriate shop which I always taught was mental.

People just let the sausages go & find something else!

STIG83

Wintergreen wrote: »

I miss my girlfriend.

Don't forget to bring your girlfriend!!

Seriously though I don't miss anything in particular. My roommate used to buy Barry's tea for $20 a box in an expatriate shop which I always taught was mental.

People just let the sausages go & find something else!

Your missus coming over?

Pisco Sour

Family and Friends of course. A bit of a given there.
Christmas - It just isn't the same over here
Eamonn Dunphy and the lads - He's an absolute legend and I miss listening to his punditry dreadfully
Euro 2012 - Following on from the previous one, it will be very difficult being away from the buzz in Ireland next June.
Irish athletics - Unless I find a live stream that works on my crap slow internet I'll miss Fionnuala Britton possibly winning gold (or a medal) at today's European Cross Country Championships. Being here when the Europeans Athletics Champs are on next June will be tough. Can't afford to come back to Europe for both Europeans and Olympics so obviously can only do the one.

Wintergreen

STIG83 wrote: »

Your missus coming over?

She's coming over for New Years in Sydney for a week so I cant wait, going to be great! Then im going home in March to sort out some stuff and ill come back on my 2nd year visa at a later date, hopefully she'll come too.

sudzs

I miss Kerrygold butter and Cashel Blue cheese.

...and affordable organic stuff.

jackbhoy

sudzs wrote: »

I miss Kerrygold butter and Cashel Blue cheese.

...and affordable organic stuff.

Do some some Woolies/Coles still stock Kerrygold? I remember being somewhere in WA in campervan few years ago and getting Kerrygold in supermarket.
Woolies Tasmanian butter is pretty good substitute as well...

sudzs

jackbhoy wrote: »

Do some some Woolies/Coles still stock Kerrygold? I remember being somewhere in WA in campervan few years ago and getting Kerrygold in supermarket.
Woolies Tasmanian butter is pretty good substitute as well...

I found the Woolies Tasmanian butter allright and thought it was good!!

But am out in a small country town now with just an IGA... Watsonia seems to be the best of the rest.

What Australia lacks in Irish food it certainly makes up for in Tim Tams and Magnum Egos

mise_me_fein3

if you're in sydney you can get good sausages and black pudding frrom a butcher in hornsby...don't know the name but theyre nice, my uncles travels from the central coast to get them

seipeal1

1. The right hook on newstalk. Miss George Hook and all the controversy he does.
2. Good decent Guinness.
3. the folks.
4. Thats it. Nothing else. Love it out here. How lucky are we?

CatFromHue

What I missed in NZ was a good pint of.........milk! Cheese and bread were also other big things.
A good newspaper or news show was also lusted after.

jackbhoy

- Guiness and my local pubs.
- Decent print and broadcast news media.
- Going to Leinster/Ireland games with mates.

Cooperspale

The BBC
Being able to buy buffalo mozzarella for 1 Euro! Gooseberries, cooking apples.
The GAA championships, going to or watching live with the gang
Reading 5 different newspapers on a Sunday afternoon
Going to an old school pub, Grogan's Castle lounge, Peter's pub etc
Friends and family, Skype is great but not the same.

kdevitt

Friends & Family
My cars
Macaris - chips and burgers here are awful
Beer down my local - Aussie beers were nice and different for a while, now I just want a draught Budweiser
Proper winters
Proper Xmas
Proper sausages

hussey

Pints in every pub
Smithwick's (even though only a recent thing for me)
Chippers - That MSG 'cuddy' sauce
Pennys/dunnes - Cheap socks & jocks
Watching Football on sunday.
Champions league down the local

myflipflops

Watching Leinster in the flesh.
Talking sh*te with my mates in person.

Deleted User wrote: »

What Australia lacks in Irish food it certainly makes up for in Tim Tams and Magnum Egos

I don't get the obsession with Tim Tams some irish people get.

They are just Penguin bars!

Mellor

myflipflops wrote: »

I don't get the obsession with Tim Tams some irish people get.

They are just Penguin bars!

Firstly, pengins are great. Childhood staple.

Second, Tim-tams come in a lot more variations.
In absense of a honeycomb, or chewy caramel penguin, i'll settle for a tim-tam

davepatr07

Sausages are muck here. Nothing like home. Even the chocolate doesn't taste good. Things I miss...King Crisps, Tea with a Jacobs fig roll, 3 in 1 chips, Pub on a wknd night, Staffords bread (If you come from Wexford), A cold Christmas, and Mom's cooking.

Liam90

kdevitt wrote: »

Friends & Family
My cars
Macaris - chips and burgers here are awful
Beer down my local - Aussie beers were nice and different for a while, now I just want a draught Budweiser
Proper winters
Proper Xmas
Proper sausages

Hold on a minute! Are you saying your missing the freezing dull depressing winters where it is extremely hard to even get out of bed in the morning, your missing them winters?

kdevitt

Liam90 wrote: »

Hold on a minute! Are you saying your missing the freezing dull depressing winters where it is extremely hard to even get out of bed in the morning, your missing them winters?

Yeah those ones.

whosyour_daddy

kdevitt wrote: »

Yeah those ones.

Jesus Christ!
The day I "miss" these rotten winters will be the day that I need to go to the mental asylum. Can't wait to leave them behind me.