InkBlots

Not just a stick, but a broom. Every morning I used to go along my drive waving the broom crazily to catch spider webs which collected overnight from the trees and bushes. I even thought of putting up a notice for no loitering, but couldn’t face teaching them to read. The broom was also handy to sweep away possum droppings . . . . .

Bondi Beach was my biggest disappointment with Sydney, world famous, but grossly overrated. I haven't lived in Sydney, only Melbourne and Adelaide, and like them both.

I don't believe there will be any real problems with Spain over Gibraltar. With Article 50 activated, a number of EU countries will try their luck. Since the Brexit referendum last year, the UK has daily been faced with threats, sour grapes comes to mind with the realisation that EU coffers will suffer a big hole that other members of the bloc will have to fill. Unfortunately there is also a lot of angst by Brits who voted to remain in the EU, they refuse to accept that they lost. Millions signed an online petition for the referendum to be run again, but would they have this attitude for a general election if they lost? Despite its foibles, Australia is a much more peaceful place to live, there are many marvellous communities to enjoy.

I disagree with this, there are many different places in Australia which are worth considering. Having spent half a century in Oz I think I have plenty of experience. Certainly Tasmania and Adelaide should be considered, though I also like Melbourne. Returning to the UK to live isn't necessarily the best, but it depends where you go and your finances. It can be extremely claustrophobic.

Is it reckless to go? This afternoon I sent an email to a friend in Adelaide who waved me off from the airport 5 years ago last week, and I said she should have tied me to a post and talked me out of leaving Australia. Holidays back to the UK would have been better. I suppose I have a longer history in Australia than most, arriving at Adelaide's Outer Harbour in early 1960, and flying out in November 2011. During my 51 years in the country I lived in Adelaide and Melbourne, travelled a lot in Australia, and also overseas. Where I initially lived in 1960 I was surrounded by other poms, but through my work, belonging to sports clubs, and moving a number of times, I mixed with many other nationalities. For those of you who have moaned about the whinging pom culture, it is necessary for you to make an effort to diversify. I made many trips back to the UK to satisfy the draw back to my homeland, but I was always pleased to arrive back in Australia. I regret being back in England now, I thought I was making the right move, but life is not the same. Health issues have troubled me over and over again, much of it caused by the climate and my hilly environment, so returning to my beautiful seaside home town was unwise. On Friday I suffered a mini stroke, and one of the ambulance officers had lived in Australia for a few years. I detected her Aussie accent, but she was astonished that I didn't have one despite living in Oz for many years longer than the average Australian has been alive. We all have different needs in life, and I must admit that it took me only 13 months before I realised that Australia wasn't a bad place at all. It wasn't the same as England, and sometimes seemed like the American Wild West, but that was the wonder and excitement of being half way around the world. Moving to another country you need to have a sense of adventure, and even when I lived in a flat in a small town in Germany, I found that everywhere I turned was just as exciting as exploring the new world of Australia. Do you always travel from A to B, or do you have the inquisitive nature to see a different route or an interesting turning and wonder what you will find if you go that way? I played sport at a high level so this helped, it was marvellous to drive interstate in groups for tournaments, and at times driving between cities overnight added to our experiences. There is no perfect place for everyone, village life in England is very different from village life in Australia (though tiny settlements are often called towns!), and the seaside environment in both countries varies. Despite my many visits on holiday I didn't comprehend that my home country had changed so much, living here is not the same as holidaying or seeing programmes on TV which glamourise everything. Nevertheless, Australia is not for everyone, and we all have to make our own decisions, good or bad, reckless or otherwise.

The power was given to the people of Britain in the form of a vote in June, remoaners should not believe that their moves to overturn democracy is the way we should conduct ourselves.

It was because David Cameron wanted to put it all to bed, not expecting that leaving the EU would win. However since the referendum we've had the situation that the losers have tried their hardest to overturn the vote, but if it does get changed because of a legal technicality, I'm sure there will be a big furore. So can we now try to overturn everything we don't like, including sporting results? It would appear that democracy in the UK is dying.

Back in England I'm missing having a separate laundry. The kitchen in my flat is very tiny, so having a washing machine in there making access to the gas meter extremely difficult, isn't my idea of fun. I just wish the rest of the flat and the leafy location on the side of a hill hadn't tricked me into buying the place.

Agreed to a degree, you get what you pay for. Walking through UK shopping centres (apart from the few indoor malls in some towns and cities), is like heading back to the dark ages. Leamington Spa has an attractive shopping centre with stylish buildings in the shopping area, but come to my beautiful hometown of Torquay, the shopping centre is run down and unloved! Though as for Perthbum saying that new houses in Oz have no quality, this is now the same in the UK. My Adelaide house was all brick and with a tiled roof, but that was built in 1962.

If you qualify for the relevant visa, Australia is well worth the experience. The rest depends on your own efforts. I was a £10 Pom and arrived there when the cities were much smaller, so over many years I witnessed the country's amazing development and population increase. Australia will have its ups and downs but will continue to grow, new migrants are a necessity.

CRP82 I'm not surprised by your quick decision to return to the UK, I've done the same, but just as quickly returned to Australia. Uncertainty can prompt many of us to want to be somewhere else no matter where we are. Perhaps anxiety does play a part in your difficulties, not knowing whether to remain or leave Australia (sounds a bit like Brexit!), though if after a while you feel that the UK isn't the best place for you, don't be afraid to move back to Oz. You've travelled between the two countries before, so the length of the flights are no big deal. Are you happy with your new job, and do you get along with your work colleagues? Are you happy with where you live and the general location? Are there any aspects you like and don't like in the UK? Have you previously disliked the UK's weather which prompted you to return to Australia, and did the weather in Australia play a part in your move back to the UK? There are many things which play a part in our feelings, likes and dislikes, we have to try and sort out which are more important.

Very wise, holidays good, permanent living not so good.

I well remember those days, though Earls Court was called Kangaroo Valley. I had a friend living there.

For those planning to return to the UK this year, they should also realise that things have changed in the UK as well, but I will leave it to them to decide if the move back has been worthwhile. Hopefully 2016 will be a good year for them.

I'm in Torquay, South Devon in a nice leafy suburb, surrounded by mansions, many converted into flats, but not convenient for me. Built on hills, you need a car to get around.