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My understanding is that you have to leave Australia on your Aus passport if you have one so he would need to get that one. Someone else may be along with better advice. We got our Aus passports within a couple of weeks.

I am so sorry you're going through this. Have you told him how you feel? The way you have said it here clearly shows how much he means to you. Does he know this move is not because you have you stopped loving him but because it's something you need to do for yourself? Whatever the future brings, wishing you peace xx

I think you're right that your counselling session allowed you the space to bring up some stuff you've been holding in. It's positive that you're giving yourself somewhere you can talk about how you feel, and hopefully it will help you find some further clarity. I hope your trip home in July will be what you need. I remember feeling like you, pretty much from the start I knew Oz wasn't for me long term, it can feel so isolating, vent away here if you need too.

Sorry for the delay in getting back to you, I've not been on the site for a few days. We got quotes from King & Wilson, Grace, OSS & Kent. We are still waiting for the quotes from the last two. There is a thread about Grace and how good they are, I am sure they are good, but we were really put off by the guy that came to do the quote. He didn't seem to know what he was talking about, when we asked him questions he didn't have the answers. So not sure we would go with them but then we haven't had all the figures back. Good luck.

It sounds like you have had some good advice already. Just wanted to add my support. So sorry to hear you've been so unhappy. It can be so difficult to love someone but know in your heart that you desire different things. I really hope you both find a way to communicate and some happiness in the future. Thinking of you.

We have just had 4 different companies in to quote. We've had 2 of the quotes back for a full container and one was a little over $6000 so I think a shared container should be less. We are moving back from Melbourne, don't know if it varies from different states.

It has come at last, I admit I had a bit of a wobble about whether we were doing the right thing, but it didn't last long. I think I just panicked because my son was talking about having no friends n the UK. I know he'll be fine, he's a very confident little boy and staying here just because he has friends here is not a reason to stay!! Just getting organised now. Feel a huge sense of relief.

Flights booked, we leave here 5th June, a few days in KL visiting a friend and arrive home on June 8th. Just over 7 weeks, very excited!

Thank you for your kind words Aunt Agatha. I hope you don't have to wait too long xx

We applied for the test on Nov 14th, had the test on Dec 17th and now ceremony is on 10th April. I think it depends where you are as some places have longer to wait. I am in Melbourne. Hope that helps.

Really??!! I had no idea about fast tracked passports, do you just pay a bit extra for them? Do I need to ask for this at the post office? Sorry for all the questions!! I need to work out a plan for work as I work with vulnerable people so a sudden departure can be a bit traumatic, but we have time. I am so much more excited today than I was yesterday!

Thanks Quoll. It has been hard enough witnessing Dad's decline on Skype, so I imagine I will find it quite confronting when I see him. It's early stages but he is easily confused. I want to help care for him but we won't be living with him, I have a young son and we were planning a different area for school, but at least I will be a lot closer.

We finally got the date for the Citizenship ceremony - 10th April! Now we can plan and organise our move back. I am so excited but really scared too. I know we're doing the right thing, especially as in the last couple of weeks I heard that my Dad has now been officially diagnosed with Alzheimer's, I know I need to go back. How long does it take to get Aussie passports? So much to do now!

We did our test in Dec (also in Melbourne), we were advised of the test 2 weeks before we did it. However, we are still waiting for a ceremony. I have called my local council who were able to give me the ceremony dates but said immigration are the one's who inform you when you will have the ceremony. Called immigration and they were unable to tell us when we might have the ceremony, simply saying it can be anywhere from 3-6 months from the test.

(((((Hugs))))) So sorry to hear you are having such a difficult time. I have no words of wisdom but understand where you're coming from. I don't feel like me over here, and although I feel more used to living here it's not where I want to be. I also went through a phase of being at home with a young child while DH was at work and getting adult conversation. It's hard, and I think for me it made me realise that although I was a wife and a mother I needed to reclaim me back too. I realised that as much as I loved my husband I wasn't willing to sacrifice my own emotional wellbeing for his happiness. It's taken some work to come to a compromise but we are going to go back. We are waiting for the citizenship ceremony and then we will go. He still isn't convinced it's the right choice but it's not like he will be totally unhappy in the UK. I had reached a point where I would have ended our relationship, not because I wanted too but because I knew I couldn't live like that anymore. I hope it won't come to that stage for you. Counselling sounds like a good idea, it'll be good for you to have the space to express what you're feeling to someone impartial. Thinking of you and hope things improve xx