Dismal England reactions?

Ok so it sounds like you shouldn't go back to rely on the NHS! I was speaking to an Aussie about this the other day, he was moaning about Medicare and wish they had the NHS. I questioned how long it has left and tried to explain the privatisation, he seemed much happier afterwards! Git....

So another friend in the UK has just found out were moving back. Again the reaction has been "Are you sure?" Then a paragraph about dismal England- from weather to economy.... anyone else getting this reaction? Is it really so bad? We're moving back for family mostly so we're definitely going but does make me a bit nervous for my children....

There is unfortunately a sector of the British population that are very negative, glass half empty types of people. When we gold people we were moving to the UK our friends were excited and very much looking forward to it.

The weather, well this 'winter' has been incredibly mild, middle of February and I was out all day yesterday in a t-shirt and tomorrow is supposed to be up to 17c. We have been back coming up to 5 years now and the summers have been good and except for the first one the winters have been generally mild.

The economy is fine, growing faster than predicted. The ridiculous claims after the Brexit vote have almost without exception proved to be groundless znd just scaremongering. Unemployment continues to fall practically every month.

The NHS is still wonderful although it is stretched. My wife had a bit of a scare with a lump, she saw a specialist in 6 days and had a biopsy 7 days later. It is not being dismantled by the Tories lol.

We have a fantastic life here, our Aussie kids have no interest in returning to Australia and are doing really well.

You just have to remember that for whatever reason some Brits are just negative about their country and just assume everywhere dose is better.

I really would not worry about the NHS.

 

I have just experienced it and went from calling my GP for an appointment to surgery in two weeks. That included two visits to hospital to see the consultant. The hospital was excellent, well staffed and modern. Could not fault a single aspect.

This is exactly the experience we had, absolutely fantastic service all round. That's not to say it isn't stretched, it certainly is, just as it is in Australia but so many seem to want to talk it down. It isn't being dismantled by the Tories for a start lol

Ok so it sounds like you shouldn't go back to rely on the NHS! I was speaking to an Aussie about this the other day, he was moaning about Medicare and wish they had the NHS. I questioned how long it has left and tried to explain the privatisation, he seemed much happier afterwards! Git....

We can only rely on our own experiences, we have several very bad experiences in Australia, son broke his arm and was left on a trolley for hours and was only seen by someone when we made a fuss. This was a young child with a broken arm in a lot of pain. His twin not wanting to be left out broke his arm about 2 months after arriving here, the whole experience could not have been more different. He was seen immediately and the treatment was superb. Both systems are overstretched and underfunded that is true.

I am posting this merely to demonstrate that both countries are experiencing a health funding crisis and you shouldnt think you will be taking a step down when you return to the UK.

http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/2017

This is exactly the experience we had, absolutely fantastic service all round. That's not to say it isn't stretched, it certainly is, just as it is in Australia but so many seem to want to talk it down. It isn't being dismantled by the Tories for a start lol

It most definitely is - it's being sold off bit by bit and being deliberately starved of funds. If only people would listen to those working in the organisation rather than the govt spin we might have a chance of saving it. There is so much goodwill working going on at the moment to try to keep services safe, but that goodwill is running out.

My husband is currently working a day each week for free in order to keep his patients safe and he's not the only one by any means. Other countries are actively recruiting our experienced and senior staff and the terms and conditions are, in the main, far superior to those here. There are seven consultant vacancies within my husband's trust and no one applies for them. Add to that the number who are retiring early, leaving medicine/nursing etc or moving overseas and you can see the crisis looming.

Having close friends and 2 family members working in various roles within the NHS, They all speak of the same issues huge cuts and a lack of staff. One is a sister of a ward has been in the NHS for 25 years told us at Christmas its gone past breaking point.

And yet in Australia they say there is an over-supply of doctors- and yet they still keep importing them from overseas. Don't get it, are these people in government stupid or what?

Having close friends and 2 family members working in various roles within the NHS, They all speak of the same issues huge cuts and a lack of staff. One is a sister of a ward has been in the NHS for 25 years told us at Christmas its gone past breaking point.

I totally agree ,and they are putting sticking plasters on gaping wounds...not literally

The bottom line is ,with the size of population rise ,the ageing population ,it is now unaffordable to provide current levels of service .

We had 470,000 more people arrive last year ,all entitled to free health care .

I cant debate the economics of the nhs ,because I don't know enough about it ...but ...5 years ago I could walk into our doctors surgery ,get an immediate appointment ,if I wanted a repeat prescription I could have it within a couple of years .

Now , i can only book an appointment by phone ,and may wait 7 days to get one ...and i just waited 5 days to receive a prescription .

That is either because of lack of funding or population rise or both ...but it cant continue .

I paid a visit to Solihull hospital to have a blood test for allergies ....the waiting was rammed full ....and i mean packed, i turned around and walked out ....now that's nothing to do with lack of funding ,that's just volume .

I totally agree ,and they are putting sticking plasters on gaping wounds...not literally

 

The bottom line is ,with the size of population rise ,the ageing population ,it is now unaffordable to provide current levels of service .

We had 470,000 more people arrive last year ,all entitled to free health care .

 

I cant debate the economics of the nhs ,because I don't know enough about it ...but ...5 years ago I could walk into our doctors surgery ,get an immediate appointment ,if I wanted a repeat prescription I could have it within a couple of years .

 

Now , i can only book an appointment by phone ,and may wait 7 days to get one ...and i just waited 5 days to receive a prescription .

 

That is either because of lack of funding or population rise or both ...but it cant continue .

 

I paid a visit to Solihull hospital to have a blood test for allergies ....the waiting was rammed full ....and i mean packed, i turned around and walked out ....now that's nothing to do with lack of funding ,that's just volume .

Shocking,,2years is shocking.

I totally agree ,and they are putting sticking plasters on gaping wounds...not literally

 

The bottom line is ,with the size of population rise ,the ageing population ,it is now unaffordable to provide current levels of service .

We had 470,000 more people arrive last year ,all entitled to free health care .

 

I cant debate the economics of the nhs ,because I don't know enough about it ...but ...5 years ago I could walk into our doctors surgery ,get an immediate appointment ,if I wanted a repeat prescription I could have it within a couple of years .

 

Now , i can only book an appointment by phone ,and may wait 7 days to get one ...and i just waited 5 days to receive a prescription .

 

That is either because of lack of funding or population rise or both ...but it cant continue .

 

I paid a visit to Solihull hospital to have a blood test for allergies ....the waiting was rammed full ....and i mean packed, i turned around and walked out ....now that's nothing to do with lack of funding ,that's just volume .

I can walk into our GP surgery and get an appointment within 30-45 minutes or phone in the morning for an appointment that day or if I want an appointment with a specific doctor then it will be a few days wait but I've never done that.

We do our repeats online and it takes 2 working days. Never had to wait a couple of years though lol.

I would have no objections to paying for some services, the lowest paid would still be protected and not have to pay.

I totally agree ,and they are putting sticking plasters on gaping wounds...not literally

 

The bottom line is ,with the size of population rise ,the ageing population ,it is now unaffordable to provide current levels of service .

We had 470,000 more people arrive last year ,all entitled to free health care .

 

I cant debate the economics of the nhs ,because I don't know enough about it ...but ...5 years ago I could walk into our doctors surgery ,get an immediate appointment ,if I wanted a repeat prescription I could have it within a couple of years .

 

Now , i can only book an appointment by phone ,and may wait 7 days to get one ...and i just waited 5 days to receive a prescription .

 

That is either because of lack of funding or population rise or both ...but it cant continue .

 

I paid a visit to Solihull hospital to have a blood test for allergies ....the waiting was rammed full ....and i mean packed, i turned around and walked out ....now that's nothing to do with lack of funding ,that's just volume .

It's the lack of funding and the loss of staff who haven't been replaced.

The ageing population is a 'problem' because of the cuts to the social care budgets, so there are fewer places in the community for those well enough to leave hospital, but not well or able enough to self care at home.

We also have a huge (excuse the pun) rise in obesity levels and that has put a massive strain on services. The NHS spends £1.5m an HOUR on diabetes (not all type 2 which tends to be lifestyle related). Add to that heart, kidney and associated diseases and you'll find that obesity has a much greater impact than half a million new people arriving, most of whom will be young and fit.

I obviously can't speak for the reason that the waiting room was full at Solihull, but going on other services, would think it's a lack of phlebotomists and the fact that primary care services are under strain. At one time many of those blood tests would have been done at the GP surgery, but a mix of understaffing and contracting out of services means the secondary care picks it up now. I have to have a minor procedure that even three years ago my GP would have done for me, but now has to be referred to secondary care. It's a ridiculous waste of money and time.

When we have had blood tests it has always been at the GP surgery, I had blood tests a few weeks ago, the nurse there took the blood and sent it off. I also had an ECG at the surgery. Lots of things that would have been done at hospital are being done in the surgery now.

Hi, we moved back to the UK 2.5 years ago after spending 8 years away. Some years in Perth and some in Melbourne. My daughters were 5 and 6 when we moved out there and so teenagers when we came back. It was me ( the wife!) of the family who wanted to leave (and I had for a quite a while) everyone else was perfectly happy. Within 4 weeks of being back I started to wonder " why on earth did I want to come back" and 2.5 years later I still feel that way and I have a lot of regrets about leaving Australia. Basically I let my heart lead rather than head and I know that some say that you should follow your heart...

Reasons for leaving: I wanted to see more of family and old friends; even after 8 years I didn't feel "at home" and I found it difficult to make close friends other than with other English people (despite trying hard and taking up opportunities when they presented, although maybe I could have tried harder..); I struggled with the high temperatures in the Summer (and didn't want to move to Tasmania nor somewhere like SW WA- as lovely as they are for a holiday); for some bizarre reason I wanted my daughters to be able to access UK Universities as domestic students rather than overseas (need 3 yrs residency) etc and so the list goes on. UK University fees are now some of the most expensive in the World, higher that in Australia (taking into account Commonwealth loans etc)..

So anyway our experiences of coming back. I will just mention that we were very lucky and my husband had also been offered 2 different jobs back here in the UK at the time, both as good (and one even better) than his job in Australia so we didn't come back to unemployment and he could well have eventually been made redundant in Australia due to a downturn in the mining industry and manufacturing. Anyway, the bottom line is that it was a complete hassle and frankly a nightmare at times in trying to sort out and establish life here again in the UK. By that I mean it was a nightmare trying to get school places (all schools are full and frankly there are not a lot of good ones in the State Sector in the area we had to live- dictated by job). Dealing with the LEA was like dealing with the military. Rude, unhelpful and totally lacking in flexibity. Despite the fact that we were born and bred here, still had UK bank accounts, NHS numbers, NI numbers and the fact that my husband was employed immediately it was very difficult and a hassle trying to sort other things out like getting reasonable car insurance, securing a house rental etc etc. The rental market in the UK is in crisis, there is little affordable decent accommodation available unless you want to live somewhere very remote (outer Hebrides maybe?). I know I am sounding negative and obviously we did get sorted eventually but it was extremely difficult despite the fact that are British Citizens, born and lived here for 40 years, paid taxes and NI for over 20 yrs etc. Why so difficult? The UK wasn't exactly welcoming so prepare yourselves for that.. When we moved to Australia, it was 100% easier. From school places to car insurance to bank accounts etc.. Everyone was pleased to have us there and to have our business. There is no doubt that during our 8 years away (2006-2014) the UK had changed a lot. A big obsession with security checks etc etc.

On starting at secondary school my daughters were initially horrified.. and said they couldn't stay there they had to leave. Everyone (girls) were made upto the nines in makeup, carrying handbags, gossiping and there were/ are many miserable depressed faces. At their High school in Australia there was no make up, lots of fun and kids were happy. They have settled now and made some friends but only the other day my youngest daughter said she missed talking about books they had read with friends at school (she is 15); here it is frowned upon by peers to show/admit that you actually read. So unless you can afford the exhorbitant fees of an independent school, be warned about most State Secondary Schools here in the UK. That said my eldest daughter has just got 12A*s in her GCSE's last Summer but it was down to sheer hard work on her part (and maybe from coming from such a good Education in Australia) and not to do with teaching. Apparently half the time teachers don't turn up on many occasions, there are kids swearing (at teachers and others), asleep at the desk, over 30+ in the class and so on. So frankly up against all that she did pretty well. I will just mention I am not talking about a rough inner city school here it's one in a nice semi rural area of W Sussex.

You are probably hoping there is no more but what else!? The hope of meeting up with family and old friends has been a complete disappointment (apart from parents and maybe a couple of old friends to be fair). Most friends have either not wanted to meet up or are just too busy.. Everyone here is much too busy and stressed compared to Australia. I know someone reading this might say why would anyone want to meet up with such a whinger (!). Point taken I am just trying to give a true picture. Frankly people won't make the effort, or don't have time or have simply moved on- probably a combination of all 3. Anyway I have stopped trying as have got the message and one new friend I have made who has lived overseas many years has in their wisdom advised- on coming back from overseas you have to start afresh. Make a new life with new friends etc as people just don't want to know- there will always be one or two old friends for whom this isn't the case but generally it is the case. They were right, you can't just slip back easily and you do have to start again.

Now I haven't even started on the weather.!I found Australian Summers stifling- I like the outdoors, walking and the like and couldn't do it for several months or not properly anyway. But I have found the grey, damp weather for a good half year or more as you find in the UK very depressing. I never wished life along in Australia whereas every Oct to March I wishing for it to be Spring again..

I haven't got into the disgraceful roads here (pot hole after pot hole), high taxes (making you feel quite poor and bear in mind high Council taxes- payable even as a tenant unlike in Oz)d), heavy traffic and overcrowding (yes health service in a crisis- all about juggling figures and not patient care) and then couple with all this there is this constant bombardment in the news now about Brexit, terrorism everywhere you go (esp Europe etc).

Anyway sorry to be so negative but truly think very carefully about throwing it all in and coming back. Think about your children's future. We have Citizenship so may well turn around one day and go back but are tied here now due to job, finishing education etc so are now trying to make the most of things.

What do I like about the UK? Apart from being able to see parents of course, then what I do like is what I would describe as "the depth" pf people. When someone asks how you are or speaks to you, perhaps just in a shop etc they seem to genuinely mean what they are saying.. There is a certain genuine friendliness that I didn't feel in Australia, even with strangers. The quirkiness of the UK. It's scruffy in many parts but there is character.. Whatever others might say I feel that the last couple of years the job market here has been pretty good.. not sure how it will keep going in the future. Online shopping and deliveries. All huge here and brilliant service. Sometimes you even get a delivery at 10pm Saturday evening. Post delivered on a Saturday!

Anyway there is lots to think about and it is just our experience.

Hi, we moved back to the UK 2.5 years ago after spending 8 years away. Some years in Perth and some in Melbourne. My daughters were 5 and 6 when we moved out there and so teenagers when we came back. It was me ( the wife!) of the family who wanted to leave (and I had for a quite a while) everyone else was perfectly happy. Within 4 weeks of being back I started to wonder " why on earth did I want to come back" and 2.5 years later I still feel that way and I have a lot of regrets about leaving Australia. Basically I let my heart lead rather than head and I know that some say that you should follow your heart...

 

Reasons for leaving: I wanted to see more of family and old friends; even after 8 years I didn't feel "at home" and I found it difficult to make close friends other than with other English people (despite trying hard and taking up opportunities when they presented, although maybe I could have tried harder..); I struggled with the high temperatures in the Summer (and didn't want to move to Tasmania nor somewhere like SW WA- as lovely as they are for a holiday); for some bizarre reason I wanted my daughters to be able to access UK Universities as domestic students rather than overseas (need 3 yrs residency) etc and so the list goes on. UK University fees are now some of the most expensive in the World, higher that in Australia (taking into account Commonwealth loans etc)..

 

So anyway our experiences of coming back. I will just mention that we were very lucky and my husband had also been offered 2 different jobs back here in the UK at the time, both as good (and one even better) than his job in Australia so we didn't come back to unemployment and he could well have eventually been made redundant in Australia due to a downturn in the mining industry and manufacturing. Anyway, the bottom line is that it was a complete hassle and frankly a nightmare at times in trying to sort out and establish life here again in the UK. By that I mean it was a nightmare trying to get school places (all schools are full and frankly there are not a lot of good ones in the State Sector in the area we had to live- dictated by job). Dealing with the LEA was like dealing with the military. Rude, unhelpful and totally lacking in flexibity. Despite the fact that we were born and bred here, still had UK bank accounts, NHS numbers, NI numbers and the fact that my husband was employed immediately it was very difficult and a hassle trying to sort other things out like getting reasonable car insurance, securing a house rental etc etc. The rental market in the UK is in crisis, there is little affordable decent accommodation available unless you want to live somewhere very remote (outer Hebrides maybe?). I know I am sounding negative and obviously we did get sorted eventually but it was extremely difficult despite the fact that are British Citizens, born and lived here for 40 years, paid taxes and NI for over 20 yrs etc. Why so difficult? The UK wasn't exactly welcoming so prepare yourselves for that.. When we moved to Australia, it was 100% easier. From school places to car insurance to bank accounts etc.. Everyone was pleased to have us there and to have our business. There is no doubt that during our 8 years away (2006-2014) the UK had changed a lot. A big obsession with security checks etc etc.

 

On starting at secondary school my daughters were initially horrified.. and said they couldn't stay there they had to leave. Everyone (girls) were made upto the nines in makeup, carrying handbags, gossiping and there were/ are many miserable depressed faces. At their High school in Australia there was no make up, lots of fun and kids were happy. They have settled now and made some friends but only the other day my youngest daughter said she missed talking about books they had read with friends at school (she is 15); here it is frowned upon by peers to show/admit that you actually read. So unless you can afford the exhorbitant fees of an independent school, be warned about most State Secondary Schools here in the UK. That said my eldest daughter has just got 12A*s in her GCSE's last Summer but it was down to sheer hard work on her part (and maybe from coming from such a good Education in Australia) and not to do with teaching. Apparently half the time teachers don't turn up on many occasions, there are kids swearing (at teachers and others), asleep at the desk, over 30+ in the class and so on. So frankly up against all that she did pretty well. I will just mention I am not talking about a rough inner city school here it's one in a nice semi rural area of W Sussex.

 

You are probably hoping there is no more but what else!? The hope of meeting up with family and old friends has been a complete disappointment (apart from parents and maybe a couple of old friends to be fair). Most friends have either not wanted to meet up or are just too busy.. Everyone here is much too busy and stressed compared to Australia. I know someone reading this might say why would anyone want to meet up with such a whinger (!). Point taken I am just trying to give a true picture. Frankly people won't make the effort, or don't have time or have simply moved on- probably a combination of all 3. Anyway I have stopped trying as have got the message and one new friend I have made who has lived overseas many years has in their wisdom advised- on coming back from overseas you have to start afresh. Make a new life with new friends etc as people just don't want to know- there will always be one or two old friends for whom this isn't the case but generally it is the case. They were right, you can't just slip back easily and you do have to start again.

 

Now I haven't even started on the weather.!I found Australian Summers stifling- I like the outdoors, walking and the like and couldn't do it for several months or not properly anyway. But I have found the grey, damp weather for a good half year or more as you find in the UK very depressing. I never wished life along in Australia whereas every Oct to March I wishing for it to be Spring again..

 

I haven't got into the disgraceful roads here (pot hole after pot hole), high taxes (making you feel quite poor and bear in mind high Council taxes- payable even as a tenant unlike in Oz)d), heavy traffic and overcrowding (yes health service in a crisis- all about juggling figures and not patient care) and then couple with all this there is this constant bombardment in the news now about Brexit, terrorism everywhere you go (esp Europe etc).

 

Anyway sorry to be so negative but truly think very carefully about throwing it all in and coming back. Think about your children's future. We have Citizenship so may well turn around one day and go back but are tied here now due to job, finishing education etc so are now trying to make the most of things.

 

What do I like about the UK? Apart from being able to see parents of course, then what I do like is what I would describe as "the depth" pf people. When someone asks how you are or speaks to you, perhaps just in a shop etc they seem to genuinely mean what they are saying.. There is a certain genuine friendliness that I didn't feel in Australia, even with strangers. The quirkiness of the UK. It's scruffy in many parts but there is character.. Whatever others might say I feel that the last couple of years the job market here has been pretty good.. not sure how it will keep going in the future. Online shopping and deliveries. All huge here and brilliant service. Sometimes you even get a delivery at 10pm Saturday evening. Post delivered on a Saturday!

 

Anyway there is lots to think about and it is just our experience.

Thank you for such a well wrote out post, I'm sorry that things haven't worked out for you going back. Do you think you would return?

Its funny you say about friends and family as we are all guilty of thinking if we go back everything would get back to normal and it doesn't happen like that, they have usually moved on in to different circles or too busy with their own life.

There is unfortunately a sector of the British population that are very negative, glass half empty types of people. When we gold people we were moving to the UK our friends were excited and very much looking forward to it.

The weather, well this 'winter' has been incredibly mild, middle of February and I was out all day yesterday in a t-shirt and tomorrow is supposed to be up to 17c. We have been back coming up to 5 years now and the summers have been good and except for the first one the winters have been generally mild.

The economy is fine, growing faster than predicted. The ridiculous claims after the Brexit vote have almost without exception proved to be groundless znd just scaremongering. Unemployment continues to fall practically every month.

The NHS is still wonderful although it is stretched. My wife had a bit of a scare with a lump, she saw a specialist in 6 days and had a biopsy 7 days later. It is not being dismantled by the Tories lol.

We have a fantastic life here, our Aussie kids have no interest in returning to Australia and are doing really well.

You just have to remember that for whatever reason some Brits are just negative about their country and just assume everywhere dose is better.

You've found the rose coloured specs again or did Theresa send you some new ones with the propaganda pack.

Hi, we moved back to the UK 2.5 years ago after spending 8 years away. Some years in Perth and some in Melbourne. My daughters were 5 and 6 when we moved out there and so teenagers when we came back. It was me ( the wife!) of the family who wanted to leave (and I had for a quite a while) everyone else was perfectly happy. Within 4 weeks of being back I started to wonder " why on earth did I want to come back" and 2.5 years later I still feel that way and I have a lot of regrets about leaving Australia. Basically I let my heart lead rather than head and I know that some say that you should follow your heart...

 

Reasons for leaving: I wanted to see more of family and old friends; even after 8 years I didn't feel "at home" and I found it difficult to make close friends other than with other English people (despite trying hard and taking up opportunities when they presented, although maybe I could have tried harder..); I struggled with the high temperatures in the Summer (and didn't want to move to Tasmania nor somewhere like SW WA- as lovely as they are for a holiday); for some bizarre reason I wanted my daughters to be able to access UK Universities as domestic students rather than overseas (need 3 yrs residency) etc and so the list goes on. UK University fees are now some of the most expensive in the World, higher that in Australia (taking into account Commonwealth loans etc)..

 

So anyway our experiences of coming back. I will just mention that we were very lucky and my husband had also been offered 2 different jobs back here in the UK at the time, both as good (and one even better) than his job in Australia so we didn't come back to unemployment and he could well have eventually been made redundant in Australia due to a downturn in the mining industry and manufacturing. Anyway, the bottom line is that it was a complete hassle and frankly a nightmare at times in trying to sort out and establish life here again in the UK. By that I mean it was a nightmare trying to get school places (all schools are full and frankly there are not a lot of good ones in the State Sector in the area we had to live- dictated by job). Dealing with the LEA was like dealing with the military. Rude, unhelpful and totally lacking in flexibity. Despite the fact that we were born and bred here, still had UK bank accounts, NHS numbers, NI numbers and the fact that my husband was employed immediately it was very difficult and a hassle trying to sort other things out like getting reasonable car insurance, securing a house rental etc etc. The rental market in the UK is in crisis, there is little affordable decent accommodation available unless you want to live somewhere very remote (outer Hebrides maybe?). I know I am sounding negative and obviously we did get sorted eventually but it was extremely difficult despite the fact that are British Citizens, born and lived here for 40 years, paid taxes and NI for over 20 yrs etc. Why so difficult? The UK wasn't exactly welcoming so prepare yourselves for that.. When we moved to Australia, it was 100% easier. From school places to car insurance to bank accounts etc.. Everyone was pleased to have us there and to have our business. There is no doubt that during our 8 years away (2006-2014) the UK had changed a lot. A big obsession with security checks etc etc.

 

On starting at secondary school my daughters were initially horrified.. and said they couldn't stay there they had to leave. Everyone (girls) were made upto the nines in makeup, carrying handbags, gossiping and there were/ are many miserable depressed faces. At their High school in Australia there was no make up, lots of fun and kids were happy. They have settled now and made some friends but only the other day my youngest daughter said she missed talking about books they had read with friends at school (she is 15); here it is frowned upon by peers to show/admit that you actually read. So unless you can afford the exhorbitant fees of an independent school, be warned about most State Secondary Schools here in the UK. That said my eldest daughter has just got 12A*s in her GCSE's last Summer but it was down to sheer hard work on her part (and maybe from coming from such a good Education in Australia) and not to do with teaching. Apparently half the time teachers don't turn up on many occasions, there are kids swearing (at teachers and others), asleep at the desk, over 30+ in the class and so on. So frankly up against all that she did pretty well. I will just mention I am not talking about a rough inner city school here it's one in a nice semi rural area of W Sussex.

 

You are probably hoping there is no more but what else!? The hope of meeting up with family and old friends has been a complete disappointment (apart from parents and maybe a couple of old friends to be fair). Most friends have either not wanted to meet up or are just too busy.. Everyone here is much too busy and stressed compared to Australia. I know someone reading this might say why would anyone want to meet up with such a whinger (!). Point taken I am just trying to give a true picture. Frankly people won't make the effort, or don't have time or have simply moved on- probably a combination of all 3. Anyway I have stopped trying as have got the message and one new friend I have made who has lived overseas many years has in their wisdom advised- on coming back from overseas you have to start afresh. Make a new life with new friends etc as people just don't want to know- there will always be one or two old friends for whom this isn't the case but generally it is the case. They were right, you can't just slip back easily and you do have to start again.

 

Now I haven't even started on the weather.!I found Australian Summers stifling- I like the outdoors, walking and the like and couldn't do it for several months or not properly anyway. But I have found the grey, damp weather for a good half year or more as you find in the UK very depressing. I never wished life along in Australia whereas every Oct to March I wishing for it to be Spring again..

 

I haven't got into the disgraceful roads here (pot hole after pot hole), high taxes (making you feel quite poor and bear in mind high Council taxes- payable even as a tenant unlike in Oz)d), heavy traffic and overcrowding (yes health service in a crisis- all about juggling figures and not patient care) and then couple with all this there is this constant bombardment in the news now about Brexit, terrorism everywhere you go (esp Europe etc).

 

Anyway sorry to be so negative but truly think very carefully about throwing it all in and coming back. Think about your children's future. We have Citizenship so may well turn around one day and go back but are tied here now due to job, finishing education etc so are now trying to make the most of things.

 

What do I like about the UK? Apart from being able to see parents of course, then what I do like is what I would describe as "the depth" pf people. When someone asks how you are or speaks to you, perhaps just in a shop etc they seem to genuinely mean what they are saying.. There is a certain genuine friendliness that I didn't feel in Australia, even with strangers. The quirkiness of the UK. It's scruffy in many parts but there is character.. Whatever others might say I feel that the last couple of years the job market here has been pretty good.. not sure how it will keep going in the future. Online shopping and deliveries. All huge here and brilliant service. Sometimes you even get a delivery at 10pm Saturday evening. Post delivered on a Saturday!

 

Anyway there is lots to think about and it is just our experience.

Isn't it amazing how 2 people experiences can be totally absolutely polar opposites.

'Think about your children's future', yeah that is what we did and they are loving it as they have so many choices. I'm sorry it hasn't worked out honestly I am but I just don't recognise the place you are describing.

You've found the rose coloured specs again or did Theresa send you some new ones with the propaganda pack.

Oh go and annoy someone else.

Isn't it amazing how 2 people experiences can be totally absolutely polar opposites.

'Think about your children's future', yeah that is what we did and they are loving it as they have so many choices. I'm sorry it hasn't worked out honestly I am but I just don't recognise the place you are describing.

But that's good that people have different thoughts. The best thing is that most people here have had the chance and courage to try somewhere else even if it didn't work out. What a huge achievement for them all.

But that's good that people have different thoughts. The best thing is that most people here have had the chance and courage to try somewhere else even if it didn't work out. What a huge achievement for them all.

Oh absolutely, I don't disagree at all. It's just interesting how experiences can be so totally different.

Hi Sorry that I appear so negative in my first message I just wanted to paint a realistic picture of what can be facing on returning here! Despite the difficulties in getting sorted with school and housing etc things are now quite ok if you see what I mean. But really I mean just ok when you think half the year we are waiting for the next half Spring and Summer!) My husband has probably got a better job than he had in Oz- although we are poorer than Australia and I think it is high taxes for one thing (inc VAT and Council Tax) and higher rents. I will mention that the obstacles and trials of re establishing back in this country are not just my own experiences- I have a couple of friends who have also returned back to the UK and have had the same difficulties. It is just something to bear in mind. It isn't an easy thing to do. It is very hard when the heart says one thing but the head knows it is probably not the right thing (as in our case). Anyway good luck with your move...

Hi, we moved back to the UK 2.5 years ago after spending 8 years away. Some years in Perth and some in Melbourne. My daughters were 5 and 6 when we moved out there and so teenagers when we came back. It was me ( the wife!) of the family who wanted to leave (and I had for a quite a while) everyone else was perfectly happy. Within 4 weeks of being back I started to wonder " why on earth did I want to come back" and 2.5 years later I still feel that way and I have a lot of regrets about leaving Australia. Basically I let my heart lead rather than head and I know that some say that you should follow your heart...

 

Reasons for leaving: I wanted to see more of family and old friends; even after 8 years I didn't feel "at home" and I found it difficult to make close friends other than with other English people (despite trying hard and taking up opportunities when they presented, although maybe I could have tried harder..); I struggled with the high temperatures in the Summer (and didn't want to move to Tasmania nor somewhere like SW WA- as lovely as they are for a holiday); for some bizarre reason I wanted my daughters to be able to access UK Universities as domestic students rather than overseas (need 3 yrs residency) etc and so the list goes on. UK University fees are now some of the most expensive in the World, higher that in Australia (taking into account Commonwealth loans etc)..

 

So anyway our experiences of coming back. I will just mention that we were very lucky and my husband had also been offered 2 different jobs back here in the UK at the time, both as good (and one even better) than his job in Australia so we didn't come back to unemployment and he could well have eventually been made redundant in Australia due to a downturn in the mining industry and manufacturing. Anyway, the bottom line is that it was a complete hassle and frankly a nightmare at times in trying to sort out and establish life here again in the UK. By that I mean it was a nightmare trying to get school places (all schools are full and frankly there are not a lot of good ones in the State Sector in the area we had to live- dictated by job). Dealing with the LEA was like dealing with the military. Rude, unhelpful and totally lacking in flexibity. Despite the fact that we were born and bred here, still had UK bank accounts, NHS numbers, NI numbers and the fact that my husband was employed immediately it was very difficult and a hassle trying to sort other things out like getting reasonable car insurance, securing a house rental etc etc. The rental market in the UK is in crisis, there is little affordable decent accommodation available unless you want to live somewhere very remote (outer Hebrides maybe?). I know I am sounding negative and obviously we did get sorted eventually but it was extremely difficult despite the fact that are British Citizens, born and lived here for 40 years, paid taxes and NI for over 20 yrs etc. Why so difficult? The UK wasn't exactly welcoming so prepare yourselves for that.. When we moved to Australia, it was 100% easier. From school places to car insurance to bank accounts etc.. Everyone was pleased to have us there and to have our business. There is no doubt that during our 8 years away (2006-2014) the UK had changed a lot. A big obsession with security checks etc etc.

 

On starting at secondary school my daughters were initially horrified.. and said they couldn't stay there they had to leave. Everyone (girls) were made upto the nines in makeup, carrying handbags, gossiping and there were/ are many miserable depressed faces. At their High school in Australia there was no make up, lots of fun and kids were happy. They have settled now and made some friends but only the other day my youngest daughter said she missed talking about books they had read with friends at school (she is 15); here it is frowned upon by peers to show/admit that you actually read. So unless you can afford the exhorbitant fees of an independent school, be warned about most State Secondary Schools here in the UK. That said my eldest daughter has just got 12A*s in her GCSE's last Summer but it was down to sheer hard work on her part (and maybe from coming from such a good Education in Australia) and not to do with teaching. Apparently half the time teachers don't turn up on many occasions, there are kids swearing (at teachers and others), asleep at the desk, over 30+ in the class and so on. So frankly up against all that she did pretty well. I will just mention I am not talking about a rough inner city school here it's one in a nice semi rural area of W Sussex.

 

You are probably hoping there is no more but what else!? The hope of meeting up with family and old friends has been a complete disappointment (apart from parents and maybe a couple of old friends to be fair). Most friends have either not wanted to meet up or are just too busy.. Everyone here is much too busy and stressed compared to Australia. I know someone reading this might say why would anyone want to meet up with such a whinger (!). Point taken I am just trying to give a true picture. Frankly people won't make the effort, or don't have time or have simply moved on- probably a combination of all 3. Anyway I have stopped trying as have got the message and one new friend I have made who has lived overseas many years has in their wisdom advised- on coming back from overseas you have to start afresh. Make a new life with new friends etc as people just don't want to know- there will always be one or two old friends for whom this isn't the case but generally it is the case. They were right, you can't just slip back easily and you do have to start again.

 

Now I haven't even started on the weather.!I found Australian Summers stifling- I like the outdoors, walking and the like and couldn't do it for several months or not properly anyway. But I have found the grey, damp weather for a good half year or more as you find in the UK very depressing. I never wished life along in Australia whereas every Oct to March I wishing for it to be Spring again..

 

I haven't got into the disgraceful roads here (pot hole after pot hole), high taxes (making you feel quite poor and bear in mind high Council taxes- payable even as a tenant unlike in Oz)d), heavy traffic and overcrowding (yes health service in a crisis- all about juggling figures and not patient care) and then couple with all this there is this constant bombardment in the news now about Brexit, terrorism everywhere you go (esp Europe etc).

 

Anyway sorry to be so negative but truly think very carefully about throwing it all in and coming back. Think about your children's future. We have Citizenship so may well turn around one day and go back but are tied here now due to job, finishing education etc so are now trying to make the most of things.

 

What do I like about the UK? Apart from being able to see parents of course, then what I do like is what I would describe as "the depth" pf people. When someone asks how you are or speaks to you, perhaps just in a shop etc they seem to genuinely mean what they are saying.. There is a certain genuine friendliness that I didn't feel in Australia, even with strangers. The quirkiness of the UK. It's scruffy in many parts but there is character.. Whatever others might say I feel that the last couple of years the job market here has been pretty good.. not sure how it will keep going in the future. Online shopping and deliveries. All huge here and brilliant service. Sometimes you even get a delivery at 10pm Saturday evening. Post delivered on a Saturday!

 

Anyway there is lots to think about and it is just our experience.

Have to agree with some of the school comments, I do feel for you, My Aussie daughter has commented the same , make-up, handbags etc ,there are a few Chav's as she calls them in her classes, however she has made a good small set of friends (3-4) same as in adelaide and to be honest, she also had Chav's in Adelaide even in her private school - just different accents and different clothes, it's life skill to be able to spot these people and navigate around them wherever you live. The clothes and appearance do not indicate the integrity of the person. Here projected GCES'a are looking mid-top band and that's where she needs to be.

We applied in-year, and our location was dictated by schools (minimum ofstead outstanding in all categories at least the preceding year) and not work (I work up in london , so any rail working network is fine lol ), we also had the kids baptised catholic in Oz which was very useful as our two teenagers went to the top of the queue and we had 2 Catholic schools to choose and one Grammar for each (had a bizarre father ted style interview to get them in lol, my CoE aussie wife thought it was hilarious)! Our youngest goes to the local village CoE, and that's been fine so far, except there is a little small mindedness amongst the local villagers on a certain topic, which my wife as an born and bred aussie stays well out of.

Our big key thing is that the school we have chosen is excellent at pastoral care, tuition and managing learning difficulties, our child is doing far far better than in Oz.

We had no issues with banks, security etc, I worked in law/criminal in Oz (lol that sounds wrong) but you get the jist. I also know how to push through the process and get things moving, even with no history of rental, no credit rating (which is a scam here to be honest) we managed a beautiful cottage in east sussex, pets no problem, bbq and open firepit, boys learning to shoot, and now a cat that hates me....

As regards friends, my wife is not entirely delighted that most of my old mates are still around London and we catchup whenever we can, but many have moved away and our life now revolves around the children - as it did in Oz, no difference there.

As regards Tuition fees, I don't think Australia is any cheaper , even with CSP , I had two chaps working for me in sydney in 2012 that had debts in the low 100's, and that was for a basic degree.

Weather is what you make of it, I've cycled in 38 degrees in Sydney/adelaide and -4 here in UK/Europe and the saying that there is no such thing as bad weather just bad clothing.

the big difference we notice with UK (east sussex) vs australia (adelaide) is the options presented, options for work, travel, play, courses, experience, learning, experience etc, we felt intellectually stifled, narrow and closed down in adelaide. Our network of friends that we have now regular contact with extends to Ireland, Africa, France, Channel Islands and the US (might pause on that while things settle down)....

For us its a journey, we are both Aus and EU citizens having lived in UK for many years prior to going out to oz, and it is always valuable to have options, right now Europe/Uk is where we choose.

I am describing what is a realistic picture of the UK! Can you seriously tell me that taxes are not high (and higher than Australia), the health service is in crisis, UK Uni fees are exhorbitant so much so that kids are now reconsidering going due to a 40-50k debt at the end of it, roads full of pot holes, high rents, traffic, overcrowding, do I really need to go on.. There is equally lots of opportunities and choices for kids in Australia... For example it rates very highly when it comes to opportunities in Science and Scientific research. BTW, it has worked out, I simply point out the difficulties in re establishing here and how much harder it is than Australia, my daughters are achieving well academically (through their own hard work mind you as Education here is poor compared to a good school State school in Melbourne) my husband has a good job.. etc etc...

Hi Sorry that I appear so negative in my first message I just wanted to paint a realistic picture of what can be facing on returning here! Despite the difficulties in getting sorted with school and housing etc things are now quite ok if you see what I mean. But really I mean just ok when you think half the year we are waiting for the next half Spring and Summer!) My husband has probably got a better job than he had in Oz- although we are poorer than Australia and I think it is high taxes for one thing (inc VAT and Council Tax) and higher rents. I will mention that the obstacles and trials of re establishing back in this country are not just my own experiences- I have a couple of friends who have also returned back to the UK and have had the same difficulties. It is just something to bear in mind. It isn't an easy thing to do. It is very hard when the heart says one thing but the head knows it is probably not the right thing (as in our case). Anyway good luck with your move...

Yes but how is it realistic if you appear to be describing a different country to the one we are living in ? I was in a t-shirt yesterday as this 'winter' has been do mild. We certainly aren't waiting half a year to be able to comment things, we actually found the oppressive heat far more restricting.

Our kids want to the primary school in the village for a couple of months and the lovely lady in the office asked about secondary schools and as we didn't know she organised a visit to the very good school in the next town. It was a good choice as the boys have flourished.

We certainly contact feel as though we pay more taxes here, our food bill is lower and our council tax is higher but the houses aren't comparable in any way.

I am describing what is a realistic picture of the UK! Can you seriously tell me that taxes are not high (and higher than Australia), the health service is in crisis, UK Uni fees are exhorbitant so much so that kids are now reconsidering going due to a 40-50k debt at the end of it, roads full of pot holes, high rents, traffic, overcrowding, do I really need to go on.. There is equally lots of opportunities and choices for kids in Australia... For example it rates very highly when it comes to opportunities in Science and Scientific research. BTW, it has worked out, I simply point out the difficulties in re establishing here and how much harder it is than Australia, my daughters are achieving well academically (through their own hard work mind you as Education here is poor compared to a good school State school in Melbourne) my husband has a good job.. etc etc...

I think you have made up your mind, that's fine. I think your definition of realistic might be very different to others.

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