5 Year Anniversary Today of our Arrival in Oz !

Its been a little while since I was last here. Others have previously mentioned that the ones who successfully emigrate are too busy getting on with life to share an update. So for those who are interested, I thought I'd share a bit of how we are getting on 5 years in. We arrived 5 years ago with four kids in tow, hubby had a job and we had a place to stay for two weeks as the house we had thought we were going to rent fell through at the last minute. We hadn't visited before but came with the attitude of looking for solutions where there would invariably be problems. So after a bit of stress we found a house in North Lakes QLD to live in. Younger kids started school, one of them hated it and struggled to settle in. Hubby's job wasn't quite what was promised but as GPs who train in the UK have to work in shortage areas for 10 years then getting another job is not always easy. Fast forward a little and we moved up to The Sunshine Coast and hubby was lucky enough after a year to find a job in Nambour. Kids settled in the local school (one was still very homesick) Oldest son is a nurse and he got a local job, 18 yr old son got a job in hospitality. We have lived in 6 houses in the last 5 years, hubby has had two jobs, I've gone back to uni to train as a Dietitian and kids have now all settled in really well and our family has doubled in size with them all now having partners. We've had many visitors staying with us and have made lovely friends. I still get nostalgic for some things from the UK especially when I hear certain songs " Life in a Northern Town" is one that always gets me (Obvs a teenager in 80s) The home we have recently bought is more European in style and in a funny way has made me a little homesick .....it feels like my old friends should also be calling in for a cuppa not just my new ones. I have found the coast to be a wonderful place to raise a family and a gentle underlying kindness that the Australians don't always realise they possess is very evident. Aussies seem quick to forgive and move on. Weve been back to the UK to visit family and friends which is always lovely. Id say financially we've gone back a good few years but overall we don't regret the move and really can't imagine both of us returning to work in the NHS again. One of the things we did to help ourselves settle was to come with the attitude that if we didn't like it, we would move back. To this day I allow myself the freedom of thought to think I'm not trapped anywhere (even if the reality is different due to our children living happy lives here and me not wanting to live away from them). As pictures have popped up over the past few days of us leaving the UK 5 yrs ago I have realised that in order to be able to leave, I had to shut down my guilt trip emotions ,as had I really thought about how sad everyone was that we were leaving, I would never have been able to make the move. So this year we will have a great Xmas to look forward to as my parents and nieces (my sister passed away 9 yrs ago) will arrive on Christmas Day. They are thoroughly looking forward to a dip in the pool and a saunter along the Esplanade at Mooloolaba Beach in the glorious sunshine and so are we. Whether you decided to stay in Oz or return to the UK it doesn't matter as long as its the right thing for you and your family. Don't stress it just enjoy the freedom of choice that you have. Have a beautiful day folks  xx