MelT

We are moving back next month after being in Australia for 13 years. It has been a hard decision. Like many others we have never felt settled and have been home sick since 2008.. I would get legal advice re: ex as a very good friend of ours has just won a 5 year court battle (v traumatic and expensive) to get sole parental responsibility and move back to the uk with her son. Although the child is only aged 7. I understand the courts consider the childs wishes as they get older. Best to cross the ts and dot the is so that your plans to go home are not jepardised at the last minute. I hope all goes to plan and you make the move without too many hurdles.

Absolute nonsense. I have just re-read the post and it is not in the slightest bit racist. Can't people just be happy for a positive outcome for someone whatever country they live in?

That's a little harsh. I do not find the comments on here racist. Just sharing life experience..

Hi, Just wondering if anyone has moved back to the uk and been able to transfer their private health insurance so pre existing conditions are still covered. Thankyou:)

That's wonderful news :) Great to hear the move has gone so well :)

We moved to Australia 13 years ago and initially had simular feelings about the move as yourself.. However i don't think we envisage how we may feel in the long run. We change over time and the things that are important to us may change over time too.... We are moving back to the uk in August. I know it wont be easy, but we will appreciate things more about the uk that perhaps we used to take for granted. Hoping you settle well and enjoy the time in your new home.

Hi, Yes we are the same :) moving this August... just negotiating the sale of the house and trying not to keel over with the stress... to top things off i have surgery 4 wks before flying home.. and now hubbie has injured knee nd will be doing thre same.. making the most of our private health insurance before we leave lol... We are excited too although hubbie is getting a bit panicky about the volume of things we need to sell in the next month including boat and car. Lots of garage sales...

Hi, We are in the final stages, I hope.. of moving back. It has been hard as my parents, after all their talk about how much they wanted to go back have decided to stay here. Whereas, we are still going back home. My parents have now disowned us and have not spoken to us for 6 months.....Our house is on the market; we fly back n August as our son starts school in September. Even our 14 year old son who has spent most of his life in Australia (although, has an English accent) feels a sense of belonging and more accepted in the UK. He had taster days at his new school in January and loved it so much, I have never seen him so content. It is a small private school that support children with dyslexia/learning difficulties and ADHD. It certainly isn't going to be easy making this move, we still have to find jobs etc.. It will be worth it in the end. Australia has been good to us in some ways, but it just isn't home. We decided we had to make the move now or never as the longer we left it the harder it will be to get jobs as we get older. Also We could not leave it any later otherwise our son would not be able to complete his GCSE's... then that makes things more tricky.. So hence why I say now or never. My husbands family are all in the Uk as are all my family accept for my parents. So my husband is really looking forward to going home. Plus we have close friends we have kept in touch with and have seen on trips home so it will be great to have meaningful friendships again.. Although I am aware things may not be the same as before we left 13 years ago...

Hi, I am in in the process of organising quotes for our move in August... Had various feedback regarding OSS Worldwide Movers which have not been so good. Has anyone used Chess Movers, if so would you recommend them? Or can you recommend another company? Thank you :)

I was quoted $4600 for 1/2 a container (15 cubic metres) and $7500 for a whole container (28 cubic metres) + insurance. The quote was with OSS Worldwide Movers.

I have compiled lists too.. checked them at for the first time in ages at the weekend and surprised by how much we have done. Just need more time and energy. I am hoping to start applying for jobs soon too. Once the house is on the market and we have de-cluttered i will have more time. I have found facebook market place really good for selling items. When i find something that is bot being shipped back i just take a quick picture and put the ad straight on mkt place. Amazing how many bits and pieces i have managed to move on over the last few weeks. We will have a final garage sale at some stage closer to the actual move date. Have you organised the shipping yet? I have a few over the phone quotes, nothing final. Finding the prices a bit scary..

Hope all goes well with the move. Great to hear your plans have all fallen into place. We are not far behind either.. fly back late August/Early September for school starting on the 6th Sept... Just finishing tidying up the house to.put on the market as soon as possible...my feelings of excitement are slowing moving towards feelings of panic.... feel like we are running out of time with only 120 days to go..or so...not that i am counting or anything.. lol..

FYI my food allergy did vanish when i retuned to the uk in 2013 for a holiday and to visit family and friends. That is when i did a food type exlusion diet when i returned to Australia. Also visited in January this year and could eat anything without getting sick. Getting sick generally involves severe stomach pain (the type that makes you cry and sceam) and the need to have immediate access to a toilet for the diarrhea it expels... as well as fighting secondary skin infections whilst the skin bleeds and breaks down. That is why i cannot eat GM foods. Not life threatening but very debilitating. Now my son has developed an allergy to GM too.. not fun listening to your own child crying and sceaming in pain.

Oh dear. That is so sad... I thought playground politics stayed in the playground all those years ago. I was obviously wrong.

I have had serious health issues. Maybe that is why i have decided life is to short to live like a hermit... unless you have lived in someone shoes dont pass judgement.