Is the grass greener?

**The Ropey HOFF** · 21-06-2012, 05:19 PM

people get really tetchy when people say its better in the uk, or its better in Australia and who can say where is best, i like to look at facts and figures and the facts are Australia is doing far batter than the uk and has been for years, it doesn't mean i dislike the uk, its just a simple fact. Why this fact annoys people i don't know, hopefully one day the uk will come out of this long financial slump, i have a lot of family and friends here and theres a good chance i won't get to Australia, but ...... i have a good life here in the uk, but i am not blinded by this and don't see whats happening to millions of people who are having it tough.

**scrumpy** · 21-06-2012, 07:01 PM

Greener or not, it will always need cutting!!! unless a bush fire takes care of it for ya

**fairystar32** · 22-06-2012, 12:57 AM

I think it depends on your expectations, what you want out of life and how you embrace the experience. It is NOT the UK, you should embrace it as a new country, new culture, different food, prices different, wages different, lifestyle different.. etc... and not expect the UK with sun.
It drives me mad when I see people moaning how unlike the UK it is, how the food is different, how the prices are higher, the heat etc... it isnt the UK, if you like the UK so much then stay there IMPO. Its a DIFFERENT country with its own problems and own positives.

If you come with your eyes wide open, ready for new experiences and challenges and acceptance then you will stand a far better chance of making it home.

We came for a new life, new journey, new experiences. We came for family life and outdoor life, we came because we knew whils't it was a totally different way of life and we would need to embrace it, we disliked the UK and didnt want to retire there or raise our kids there. We came because we dreamed of living somewhere just like here.

Whilst we have gone through huge issues here and recently health dramas, missed faimly deaths in the UK and health issues, miss my family and friends as do the kids, we accept it for all the postives and things we have gained and For us the grass is glowing and bright green ;)

**calNgary** · 22-06-2012, 02:44 AM

For me and my family its greener on the Aussie side of the fence.. Dont get wrong its gone brown a fair few times , especially in our first few years here, but with some determination and plenty of watering it always turns lovely and green again..

So IMO,, the grass is as green as you want it to be,

Cal x

**tuckerfa** · 22-06-2012, 01:36 PM

Moved here 4 years ago with 2 boys aged 15 and 13.
The grass is greener for us BIG time. Oldest gaining an OP3 (QLD system) after only 2 years in the Qld education system and now doing a Paramedic degree looking to go to med school for a Phd and the youngest now doing an apprentiship in a trade that'll lead to a bloody good amount of money when he finishes. Both living at home, both driving there own cars fully insured.
Coming from a small northern English town, miles away from any major city, this would never of happened.
I'm voting for the GREENER side of things.
Good luck everyone. Hope it works out for you. Give it a real good go. Not just a few half arsed months. :)

**Johndoe** · 23-06-2012, 04:06 AM

Originally Posted by tuckerfa

Moved here 4 years ago with 2 boys aged 15 and 13.
The grass is greener for us BIG time. Oldest gaining an OP3 (QLD system) after only 2 years in the Qld education system and now doing a Paramedic degree looking to go to med school for a Phd and the youngest now doing an apprentiship in a trade that'll lead to a bloody good amount of money when he finishes. Both living at home, both driving there own cars fully insured.
Coming from a small northern English town, miles away from any major city, this would never of happened.
I'm voting for the GREENER side of things.
Good luck everyone. Hope it works out for you. Give it a real good go. Not just a few half arsed months. :)

Hi tuckerfa,

Good old Walney eh? Used to shoot across the Lune Deeps in my boat and fish overthere. It's a long shot but you wouldn't have a copy of "Nature Boy" would you? I believe it was shot around there, I've been trying to get my hands on a copy for over 15yrs but as soon as one comes up on amazon, it's snapped up....................and you're right..............the grass is greener here, and the sea is also bluer.....................and warmer

***Fiona*** · 23-06-2012, 04:18 AM

I dont know about greener but life here is certainly more enjoyable than life back in the UK for us and overall a better standard of living.

We seem to have prospered since we arrived, nothing to do with bringing money with us and setting ourselves up...we came with very very little...my husband now has a better job, more opportunities to earn decent money, I am doing well in my nursing career...not sure if that would be any different in the UK though...we seem to be financially more comfortable despite claims that Australia is horrifically expensive we have not struggled. We struggled back in England...we own our own home here...something that was not possible to achieve in the UK....never seemed able to save...we enjoy a more active outdoor lifestyle...due to the weather and pleasant surroundings....

Its not for everyone....but if you have a clear idea of your aims and expectations and these tally up with your chosen destination then you have a good chance of finding greener grass over here.

**northernbird** · 23-06-2012, 04:23 AM

Originally Posted by Bye bye UK

An old saying reference "The Grass is Greener" is this true?

I think not my belief is the grass can be greener if you want it to be green, going to Australia thinking lots of sunshine, big houses and clear beaches is classed as a dream.

This dream can be real only if you want it to be real, don't think it's easy and have visions that all will be okay, because in reality it's tough just like the UK.

I've read several threads from people writing various things about Aus and the UK, stating negative thoughts to people who trully want a better life.

People in the UK who don't want to work as the state funds them well get away with murder, genuine people here in the UK who are working all hours to put bread on the table are punished.

I just hope the spongers can't enter Australia and the ones who are hard workers can get the green light ASAP.

Good Luck to all you genuine people...

For some it is and for some it isn't. Don't be swayed by the posters that tell you how much better Australia is doing than the UK. They are right but it is all being propped up by the mining industry and many areas of industry are struggling. Think long and hard before you make the leap. I arrived 7 years ago and it's home for me now but I wouldn't be coming now with the current situation in both countries I would deffo be staying put in the UK.

**northernbird** · 23-06-2012, 04:37 AM

Originally Posted by tuckerfa

Moved here 4 years ago with 2 boys aged 15 and 13.
The grass is greener for us BIG time. Oldest gaining an OP3 (QLD system) after only 2 years in the Qld education system and now doing a Paramedic degree looking to go to med school for a Phd and the youngest now doing an apprentiship in a trade that'll lead to a bloody good amount of money when he finishes. Both living at home, both driving there own cars fully insured.
Coming from a small northern English town, miles away from any major city, this would never of happened.
I'm voting for the GREENER side of things.
Good luck everyone. Hope it works out for you. Give it a real good go. Not just a few half arsed months. :)

We are from across the bay and my husband did his apprenticeship at Vickers. We nearly bought a house in 1988 on Lindal St, fell through because it was valued at 22k GBP which was 5k below the asking price and we couldn't stump up the difference. So glad that never came off as I am not sure we would have ever escaped Barrow! Still despite all of that given the drop in house prices in UK and the poor exchange rate in addition to the massive rise here in cost of living I am not sure I would make the move now given what I know now. I agree though if you are going to come, do your research and give it a good go. I see so many posts here complaining about stuff that if they had done their research they would have known. Good luck to all.

**Phil & Vikki** · 23-06-2012, 05:42 AM

For us, we are still trying to figure out is it is greener for us or not. We have not been able to move into the 'dream ozzy house' yet and if we want to it is going to cost a small (well big) fortune. The cost around 800k, by the time you convert this back to UK pounds, you cound get a really nice house for that price. So either way, if you want a nice house either here in Australia or in the UK, you are going to have to pay. We still have to work hard here as we did in the UK for every penny that we have and it is as easy to spend it here as it is in the UK. We are in Sydney and recently there has been so much rain and cold weather it remands us in being back in the UK. So for us we are not living the 'dream' yet, but we hope to start to soon.
When considering coming out here, people have to remember that there is no easy ride and it will be hard here just like in the UK. Most people have to work hard for their money, be it here or in the UK. The wages may seem far better here, but that is most of the times balanced out by the cost of living. The beaches are nice and the job prospects are good here and yes Australia does seem to be doing far better than the UK economically at the moment, but with every up, there is always a down. We do not know how long it will take, but they usually come.
In saying all of this though, we would still say to anyone considering moving out her, to give it a go. Like one of the big issue sellers was saying on New Street in Birmingham, a few years ago, 'give it a go, your mom will never know'. It is better to of tried and failed than not tried at all. It is true, it can be greener out here, but it most of the time takes a great deal of work to get it green.