twinsmom65

Agree with you Kev. I remember being shell shocked when I first arrived in OZ with the price of coffee. Was never into Starbucks in Canada, Canadians love their Tim Hortons coffee which is just regular drip coffee. I pay $2 for an extra large here. I remember paying $7 for a coffee in Perth, mind you it was a cap. In Oz, I used to get my coffee from McDonalds. I guess I am not a huge lover of fancy coffees, just a plain and simple girl! Cheers Karen

My grandmother used to fly out to Canada from the UK on a regular basis, usually every 2 years, she did it up until her mid eighties, however, I could see that as she got older, the flight took more of a toll on her. The flight from the UK to Canada is only about 7 hours. The flight to Australia is bloody long, no matter which way you look at it, and I don't know if it was me, I if would put that pressure on my parents at that age. I think the key to being a successful migrant, is you have to be selfish. I find the most successful ones are the most selfish. Not being negative against them, I think it is great, if you have the attitude, that it is your life to live, and buggar anyone else. Unfortunately I don't have that attitude. Some days I wish I did LOL. Cheers Karen

Nobody should be considered a failure if they return to the UK or wherever. No one has a crystal ball and sometimes things don't work out. That does not equal failure. I still can't understand why it is a competition between those living in Oz and those who have returned. We have to remember that everyone at the start of their journey all had the same intentions, move to Oz, start a new life. For some the journey was easy, jobs came easy, they settled well in their new life. For others the journey wasn't quite as smooth, difficulty finding employment, poor health, the pull of family and friends. Nowhere in the visa application does it mention that you must love Australia in order to emigrate. So if you don't settle you are not a failure, you gave it a shot which takes courage. I just wish people on both sides of the camps could put themselves in each others shoes, then perhaps more empathy would be expressed. Cheers Karen

Hi KiwiinAus, Just wanted to send hugs and fingers crossed for next week. I was being tested earlier this year for uterian cancer, luckily the biopsy results came back clear. I think the not knowing and waiting was the hardest part for me. Cheers Karen

Hi EW, it's been 4 1/2 years since we moved back to Canada from Australia. It was not hard to slip back into our old life. My daughters were 17 when we moved back. They ended up at 2 high schools, and I did wonder if they would cope with all the moving around we did. They have turned out great, my one starts college in September for Dental Hygiene and the other is just finishing up an esthetician course. I do feel for you, I have read your posts for numerous years and knew how unhappy you have been in Australia. I think your trips back to the UK did keep you somewhat sane lol. I wish you all the best and hope that you eventually get to move back to the UK. Cheers Karen

I haven't lived in Oz for over four years, but I am a certified credit counsellor and here are some of my tips. Buy fruit and veg when in season, freeze for later use. Buy in bulk non perishable items when they are on sale. Places like Best for Less are great for underwear and such. Remember, any place you live will only be as expensive as you make it. Once you lived in a place for a while, you will find cheaper places to shop at. Cheers Karen

Have been reading this thread with interest. In Canada we have universal health care, and are not charged a cent to visit any doctor, it is always bulk billed. When I lived in Perth, I went to a doctor who bulk billed and it was great, reminded me of the Canadian system. My fear for Australia is that it's health system is looking more like the American system. They even have private hospitals in Australa (we don't have have them here in Canada). For everyone who says it's only $7, are probably employed and on a decent wage. For me the biggest worry is for the low income earners or people on fixed income, benefits and pensions. $7 is a lot to them. It can mean the difference between buying food or a visit to the doctor. My role in Australa was a welfare officer, so I was exposed to those who were at the lowest end of the economic scale. Those folks are the ones who will be affected the most. I think it is easy to say, it doesn't affect me, I'll be alright. But we have to remember we are all only a paycheck away from it happening to us. I would hate to see Australia end up the way the USA have gone with their health system. Great for the haves but lousy for the have nots. Cheers Karen

Hi ya 3Fat cats, first of all glad you had a nice visit back in the UK, I know you have struggled in Oz with depression, hopefully with you moving back, it will help alleviate it. Sometimes you just know, and I am a firm believer in going with your gut instinct. I am sure that thing will all work out for you in your move back home. Life is too short to be unhappy all the time. Best of luck with the move back and hopefully hubby won't be too far behind you. Take care. Karen

There were only a couple of things that irked me whilst I was living there. The no shoes thing I don't miss, one time was shopping at the local IGA, and there was a guy shirtless and shoeless and in the middle of summer, he was sweaty as anything and leaning all over the veggies. I can tell you I didn't buy any veggies that day lol. There is a reason for the policy of no shoes no shirt no service. The other is stubby shorts on men, not the best look IMO. That's about it, pretty much everything else about Australia I really liked. Cheers Karen

Hello all, sorry some of you may see your posts are gone, sorry had to do a major tidy up and some of them contained quotes to the deleted posts. Keep up the positives...it's a great thread !! Cheers Karen

Hello all, Sorry had to delete a few posts, as the OP had been edited and therefore those posts that were referring to the unedited post were out of context. Hope this explains why they were deleted. Oh and yes Parley Cross, it was me that deleted your post as well. Cheers Karen

Hi Blobby,Yep curse of the ex-pat I am afraid. It is perfectly normal when you are in the midst of daily life, to look back on your time in Oz with almost rose tinted glasses. We tend to only remember the good things, and put the negatives out of our mind.Have a look at your old posts on here when you were living in Oz, and that will show you how you really felt about the place.I don't know where I belong, don't belong in the UK, don't belong in Oz and not sure I belong in Canada. But I will not uproot my family again, and so I just have to make the best out of my life here in Canada. It's not a bad life after all and I could do a lot worse.CheersKaren

Ok, can we please get back on track, without getting personal with each other. Your co-operation is greatly appreciated :yes: Cheers Karen

Ok, have read through the posts and must say I am a little disappointed in some of the attitudes of some members. Jeez a person can't have an opinion without being jumped on, oh I forgot they can have a positive opinion but not a negative one. We have to remember that these are the OP's opinions, and yes when we are not happy a lot of us do take it out the place, I know I have. Emotions do funny things to us, even more so if we feel we are stuck and don't have options. We have already had one member request her account be closed after she was jumped on for her not so positive opinions. Remember this is Moving Back to the UK. Perhaps we could all be a little more emphatic towards members heading back, just as we give positive enforcement for those moving to Oz. As a returnee myself, I was lucky and received tremandeous support on my move back from PIO. Just try and place yourself in the persons position. Now I have deleted some posts and if I have to come back and find more personal attacks I will issue warnings. Thank you all in advance to agreeing to play nicely. Cheers Karen

So sorry to read of your troubles. Hope you are on the mend health wise. Tough decision ahead and only one that you can make. Make up a list, at the end of the day life is short. Do what makes you happy. Cheers Karen