lynniep

thank you everybody for your responses! As it turns out, we are no longer relocating, but I'm sure this post will be useful for others

I absolutely sympathise. My situation is quite different, but I utterly get where you're coming from an in a way you (all the posters on here) have helped me make my decision. My hubby has always wanted to live in Oz. I still dont know why specifically - he just tells me so. He moved there briefly in 2004, then came back for to UK for me - we got married, and moved to Sydney for 15 months. Not permanently - I had taken a sabbatical and told him I would make a decision whilst out there if I wanted to stay, or return. I was pretty torn actually, as I loved it, but even though I made some friends I missed home, and my family (well, my dad). Towards the end of my sabbatical I found out I was pregnant, and really wanted my folks and friends around me, so came back. He followed reluctantly three months later after he'd made some money. I was so happy to be home - there was this tight feeling in my chest that I hadn't realised was there - but it went as soon as I stepped off the plane at Heathrow. Sadly he has pined ever since - reads the SMH every day, has a whinge now and again, sometimes a lot. He keeps saying 'you're being selfish - it will be better for the boys' but I honestly don't know why or how? because it has beaches and its warmer in summer? Fast forward and he's had an amazing job offer which would take us back to Sydney. I've been having a really hard time making the decision. I've tried to ignore my gut feeling and be practical. Is it better for my boys from a life quality point of view? Can we afford it even though he'll be paid lots, considering the house prices? To be honest, Sydney isn't winning. And from all the comments above, I suspect a few years down the line I'll be desperate to come home and won't have the option because he would never leave, and he'd never let me take the boys with me. Its not ideal, because one of us is always going to be unhappy. He said to me in an email today he's going to tell them 'no' because he can't face my whingeing for the next 10 years. But then thats what I have whilst we are here.

Apologies if this is in the wrong thread - please tell me to shift it if so! i'm going to ramble now...thinking as I type Hubby has been offered a job in NSW (North Ryde). Its an EXCELLENT offer (and not going into it blind - lived near there for 15 months back around 2005). Havent made a decision yet, but before I do, I'm floundering over how long it will take us to sort the move out if we go ahead. ( I say 'I', because hubby has already made his mind up - he'd have never come back to UK if it was up to him) We will be given relocation expenses and 6 months accomodation at the other end so thats not such a big worry thank goodness. Over here I need to give a months notice at work. I have two young children both in daycare (1 and 4) I cannot really get much done whilst I'm still working. I have a TON of 'stuff' I'd really want to sell before we (if we) go - which would all need, well, sorting, and selling. Nothing major, just stuff (kids equipment, furniture, tons of clothing, outdoor play stuff, bikes, etc etc. Hassle, bah. I'd also need to do up the house a bit (quite a lot actually) to make it market-ready. Two cars to sell. Just stuff, you know. And I'll have to do it all myself (although hubby will be in charge of the house sale) I'm guessing we'd put the house on the market and leave the country even if its sold or not, I dont know, what do people normally do? I dont think renting is a plan at all, we need the money as a lump sum. I reckon as well as the months notice for work, in which time I'd get very little practical stuff done (my boys are, ahem, demanding) I'd need at least another month where I'd leave the kids in nursery and get things done. I'd prefer 6 weeks though. Anyone else who has done this with a family - how long did you need to really get ready?

We used http://www.excess-baggage.com/ to ship our stuff from Edinburgh to Sydney, although it was purely boxes - we sold any furniture we had beforehand. They do do full household removals if you require it though. I'd give them 7/10. They only deliver and pick up on a weekday (although it depends on your location - if not living within 25 miles of London thats the case) and TNT (sub-contractors) initially forgot to deliver one of the boxes (we only ordered 10 tea-crate sized cardboard boxes so it wasnt that hard) but there was always someone available at Excess Baggage to speak to with any gripes or questions (I had one main point of contact who was very good - I always asked to speak to him and he'd ring me back if he wasnt around). You can get a quote off their website which should be easy if you've already packed up your stuff. I thought it very reasonable - around 450 quid. My shipment went by sea (door-to-door), which is less expensive obviously, and I had it stored for one month in London which is an option if you want it. It arrived at port 5 weeks after shipping. The quote I had for door-to-door by air was about 700quid and is apparently 3 to 14 days delivery time. We paid extra for insurance. Its think it worked out at 5 % of the estimated value but I can't really remember . You have to give them a fairly comprehensive inventory of whats in your boxes and approx values. There was no problem at this end - I got an email telling me my boxes had arrived, and shortly aftwards the delivery documents which I faxed back to them. They rang me a week or so later to say someone had cancelled a delivery and did I want my boxes which was yes obviously. Almost everything was in one piece (I lost a few mugs and stuff) although they are REALLY rough with it. I think that happens whoever you settle with - these delivery guys have too much to lug about to be gentle. No notice was taken of my 'Top of Box' signs. Its a good job I wrapped the electricals (dvd, ps2 etc) with thick towels. All in all I'd recommend them although I have nothing to compare it to. They did what they said they'd do with fairly little hassle. The problem at the beginning with the wrong number of boxes was their mistake and they rectified it straight away at no extra cost to me. I would say check your bill thoroughly though. My initial invoice was wrong due to human error. I initially had my quote changed (to a lower rate) and rather than creating a new order and scrapping the first, they changed the first - but not sufficiently to avoid confusion for people processing further down the line. It meant my first bill was based on my initial quote. It only took a call or two to sort out and they were apologetic and re-billed me but it could have gone smoother. It was handled well though which I why Im not saying avoid them - they werent deliberately trying to rip me off. That lot of rambling may or may not be useful. Good look with the move though!!