Hoola

Hi Looking for some 'pre-loved' furniture, including a some outdoor lounge furniture, a bar height table with stools, a lounge coffee table, a queen bed and either a single bed or bunk beds. Maybe some lamps too! Thought I might post here, thinking of those who have decided to return home to the UK. Ideally in the Gold Coast area. Would appreciate photos if anyone can help with these items. Thanks

So, time has gone on, we are about to apply for citizenship. We are actually briefly back in the UK again at the moment. Unfortunately, not a planned trip. My husband's dad died unexpectedly (at the age of 69), and we all wanted to come and say our goodbyes and be with the family at this time. We are all feeling very cheated, and desperately sad. I also have the added guilt as he was such a family man, and it would have made him so happy if we had returned to the UK while he was still alive. The weather is atrocious (wet, windy, cold, dark November!), but I am still sitting here, hugging family, watching my kids play with my cousins like they saw each other yesterday, and wondering why I live in Australia... Right now, I just want to wrap my mum in law up in a soft blanket and take her back to Oz. And the rest of the family!

Wow, thanks for all the replies, it has been so nice to know that I'm not the only one who misses 'home'. Breaking it down into bite sized pieces is a great idea, I had become overwhelmed with all the 'what ifs', schools, houses, job, timings... We can apply for citizenship in November, so that will be my first aim. I think the idea of popping back for an extended period is also a good one. Probably during the long school holiday in December/ January. This will also be a good test to see if I really miss the UK, ha ha! I suppose my only worry with this is it would not be until Xmas 2016 (we can't afford 2 trips back in 1 year!), by which time my eldest will have turned 14, and it will be a worry regarding her moving back so close to GCSEs. She's an August baby so perhaps we would be able to hold her back a year, as she will only be a week older than some of the kids in the year below. Has anyone had any experience of moving back with teenagers? How did they cope? I love that quote 'I would rather walk in the rain to see my mates in the pub than sit alone on a beautiful beach', I remember reading that on POI in the past, it really stayed in my mind too. And the question regarding, if I had 10 years of life left to live where would I go? Well that kind of clarifies things for me. But it's such a big move, I want to be 150% sure that we're not rushing into this! A few of your comments also made me chuckle, like when it's winter in the UK, I'll be looking at the Xmas photos on the beach, so true!! But then hopefully, I'll then look up and see my kids playing with their cousins, Granny singing as she potters around and Gramps nodding off on the sofa after a eating too much food! And the small talk. Aaah! The small talk. I don't have much opportunity to meet the mums at school, as hubby does almost all of the pick-ups, but when I've taken kids to parties at the weekend, the small talk drives me crazy. I usually try to avoid the 'perfectly made up, dressed for a wedding, type mums' as I know that within 30 seconds of our conversation starting my eyes will glaze over, and I'll start sending subliminal messages of 'please, just tell me how you're really feeling, tell me about how you're NOT perfect sometimes'... I so miss meeting up with my 'old friends' and having a good old chin wag and laughing with each other about silly things that we've said, mistakes we've made and learned from, and how neither we, nor our kids, are perfect. I find the only people I can do this with are other poms and the occasional mum from Melbourne or Sydney. @wattsy1982 Thank you, your comments sounded very much like what I've been thinking, and I agree about the missing seasons. I used to HATE winter in England, and probably still will, but having said that, there's something really special about wrapping up in your coats, scarves and gloves, on a crisp morning, and hearing the crunch under your feet as you explore the frosty fields, and watch the haze rising as the sun warms the ground, then get back wet and cold, and make hot chocolates and sit by the fire (or radiator!) and thaw out. And you're right, the seasons do mark out time really well, I get totally lost about where I am in the year over here. Whereabouts on the GC are you? We're in Broadbeach Waters. Well, I'm going to start looking into how to apply for citizenship... Keep the comments coming, it's great to hear from others going through the same, or those who have made a decision to go (or stay), and how this has worked for them. Thanks very much everyone :cute:

The age old dilemma: Loving life in the sun, but missing family and 'old friends'... We moved to the Gold Coast, from leafy Wiltshire, almost 4 years ago. I'm a GP, my husband is at home and looks after our 3 children, currently 13, 7 and 4. We live in a beautiful house with a pool, and a boat, and the kids all go to a great private school. I also enjoy my work much more in Australia, compared with the NHS in England, for many reasons. I would struggle to go back and work in the NHS, although I do have a great belief in the principle of the NHS and free health care for all, I would struggle with how it is managed currently. Generally speaking though, life should be great. The difficulty is, we have a wonderful life here, but no one to share it with... My 2 eldest (girls) are wanting to go back to England, mainly because they miss their grandparents, cousins and friends. We miss the company, the love, the feeling of belonging with family. I feel guilty that my children are growing up without that valuable time with their grandparents, aunts and uncles, and the fun of spending time with their cousins. And of course, the family in UK are also missing out on our 3's childhoods. The longer we leave it, the more 'distant' we will become from our family. I feel selfish for staying here, predominantly because work is more rewarding, and because of our lifestyle. Other things I miss about England: There's so many things to do, culture, history, Europe, 'genuine' people, courteous drivers, old friends who you can reminisce with, the countryside, and houses that are built for all weather (having had a cold winter - I've gone soft) with central heating and double glazing! I love the Gold Coast, for the weather and the stunning beaches, but I find it shallow, superficial and actually a bit boring. But then, I'm not particularly into sports, or watching sports. We have made 2 trips back to the UK since we emigrated. The first one was for Xmas a couple of years ago. Xmas here is not really Xmas! Especially when you have absolutely no family here. It was cold, wet and dark, and we could not wait to get back to the Gold Coast! The 2nd trip was recently, for 3 weeks in June/ July. The weather was fabulous, the evenings were amazing (it's funny how you forget so quickly about it not getting dark until 10.30 at night!), and it was lovely not to get eaten alive by midges! It was heartwarmingly wonderful to see the family, and to watch our kids have fun and share love with the family again. I didn't want to come back to Australia this time! Have started looking at schools near our UK family, and am also spending an unhealthy amount of time on Rightmove! But know that if we were to move back, we would miss the sunshine, the warmth, and I would miss my job. And we couldn't afford to send 3 kids to private school in England, it's much more achievable out here. I couldn't go straight back into being a GP again, as I have been out of England for more than 2 years, and would have to have a period of induction and ?retraining. The morale in the NHS seems so low at the moment, I'm not even sure I would want to. But I would have to find some sort of job pretty quickly to support our family. The smaller house, no pool/ boat doesn't bother me. The endless rain might though. Have been hearing what a washout the school summer holidays have been. We plan to stay here until we get citizenship, which should be in the next 6-12 months hopefully. At least that way, we can always come back if we realise that we have made a huge mistake. But right now, I am desperately missing family, and close friends. I know the red carpet treatment on our return will not last forever, but I also know that our family will welcome us back with open arms. Of course, if I could persuade them all to move over here, I would probably try. But that will never happen. Would love to hear from anyone else going through the same. Emotions are all over the place at the moment. :ssign16:

Hi Everyone We've recently moved from Wiltshire to the Gold Coast (loving it so far, been here 1 week!), and are looking at moving money from UK to Oz. We sold our house before we left, and cars, so it's quite a good sum of money, and our whole nest egg/ security/ deposit for house in Oz. Have registered with Currenciesdirect, as they seemed to offer a good rate and fast transfer time (2 business days), but getting slightly cold feet as know of people who have lost their money when going through a broker rather than bank... Does anyone have any experience of using Currenciesdirect? Or can they recommend another company? Is it safe transferring money this way..?? Thanks

CT, you seem very organised, which is good. We got our visa last week and booked flights the following day... We leave on 17th nov. When do you head off? Can those less organised than you pick your brain?? Did you make a list of all the things you needed to do? My head is spinning, I've made several lists and still feel like I've left things off... And at some point need to do some of the things on the list! Do you have a gold standard list that we could crib off you..?! Need help!!!

Thank you for your really helpful reply, Petals. We are moving to Queensland (gold coast) in November. We will be on a 457 (to start with, hoping to get PR at some point). Would we be able to get these benefits on a temp visa? Probably a stupid Q but do kids have to pay to see gps and hospital drs? Will definitely join ndss, great tip Thanks again, great post!

Hi. Hope you don't mind me tagging on to your thread. My 9 yr old daughter is also a type 1 and we were wondering the same! Going to be a bit of a shock I think...

We're going on a 457 but I'd also like to know...

I think it depends on your GP! I'm a GP and one of my pts goes abroad for 4-5 months each year and I've agreed to give him enough to last. (Europe) Does anyone know: Is there a maximum that you're allowed to bring in to Australia? My 8 yr old daughter has type 1 diabetes so I'm trying to stock up a little bit before we go!

Please let us know the other locations of your expos when you have decided. Would love Bath/ Swindon as an option..?

Congratulations! It's such a good feeling isn't it?

Hello again! Hope you don't mind me tagging on to this but wondering the same things as you are!

Ah well, hopefully we'll manage to sell it... More funds towards the ever increasing cost of moving! Thanks

Hi Fergal Hope you dont mind me tagging on to this, we're in a similar situation to you! Look forward to some answers!