WelcomeIf you are new to Poms In Oz and migrating to Australia or currently living in Australia feel free to say hi to all the other either in or moving to Oz.
Hullo - I wanted to 'formally' introduce myself!!!
Hi
I've just realized that I've been posting on here for a few weeks without ever introducing myself. Apologies for that - I guess the internet has overcome my shyness. If this was a 'real' party, I'd still be hiding 'in the kitchen'.
Anyway, my name is Dave and I live in The New Forest just outside Southampton. I first went to Australia in Nov 1978 on a working holiday visa. After renewing it for six months in 1980, the Australian Govt announced an amnesty for anybody who was in the country illegally or legally at the cut-off date. So I applied for permanent residence and then became a citizen on Australia Day 1983.
After brief stays in Perth and Adelaide, I settled in Sydney and I lived there till Oct 1996 when I was made redundant from my job at Garden Island Dockyard after fifteen years service. I was very upset but it did give me the chance to visit my parents in the UK. That was meant to be a holiday but now I've been back here for twelve years and working for Royal Mail.
My dad passed away in June 2005 and since then I've become unsettled. Should I stay here where I like my job or should I return to Sydney where my brother lives? Thinking about moving back to Australia lead me to Poms In OZ.
Contrary to some impressions, I'm not an enthusiastic advocate of returning to the UK by the way. I Like both countries but also like to both criticize and defend them. There are plenty of Aussies who have ended up living in the UK. Perhaps they never, like me intended to stay, but once you've been living in a place for a while, it begins to grow on you, regardless of the weather. Anyway, as other people have said, it's the people you miss not the things. My parents are both gone now and I've got family in Sydney so it's just a question of getting my act together and making up my mind.
HI Dave, Thanks for the post and your introduction. Sorry to hear your parents have both passed away, and pleased to hear that you have your brother even though he is in Australia. Have you been back to Australia for a holiday? Bet your brother would love to see you. Divided between 2 countries can be difficult where do you live!
Anyway WELCOME to PIO and look forward to your further posts
I must say myself that I joined PIO few weeks ago but have not officially said Hello to all in PIO.
Sincere apologies for this. I got carried away by all the interesting and informative postings.
Hello everyone. I hope you all find happiness in OZ or indeed anywhere you decide to spend the rest of your lives.
Thanks for the welcome. I used to go back to Sydney every January but then I worried that my dad was getting too frail to be left on his own. I didn't mind in a way as I HATED the journey. If ever a minute can feel like an hour it's on a long flight! I went back for a few months in 2006 after a six year absence. I flew Business Class too - I don't regret a single penny of that!!! My brother Neil is telling me to come 'home'. He says our other brother - Mick who emigrated a second time to the USA - is also talking of returning to Sydney. So that will give me even more impetus to return myself. Some of my friends here say 'why not stay with Royal Mail till you get your pension - it's only six years.' I'd have no chance of emigrating now would I! Nine years past the cut-off.
Dave
