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

I think some who question the merits of the NHS should look at the health system in the USA. I personally think the NHS is a good thing, but then I am all for universal healthcare. For those of you that states it is not free, you are correct, but I for one would rather pay through my taxes, to ensure that everyone has access to healthcare. Australia to me, appears to be me to be more of a two tier health system, a mix of the USA type and the British system. Canada is like Australia, except we don't pay anything to see a doctor, only dental, eyes and prescriptions. Also many of our employers pay towards the costs of benefits which cover the things like dentists and prescriptions. Like most things, you don't realize how good something is until you no longer have it. The NHS isn't perfect, but it is a good form of healthcare. Cheers Karen

Don't come to Canada then. In our elementary schools they stand and sing the anthem every day, even in High School it is played every morning. I don't think of Canada as an over the top in your face country when in comes to patriotism unlike our neighbors to the south. I think you should take pride in singing the national anthem of your country. I still get a lump in my throat when I sign the anthem at a baseball or hockey game. Cheers Karen

Congratulations on the birth of your daughter, Abigail is a beautiful name. So glad mum and baby are doing well. Sounds like things are going well for you. Cheers Karen .

You are 17701 days old. Yep getting closer to another milestone birthday. Cheers Karen

Yep my parents worried about me too, even though I was 45 at the time. Since we have been back my one daughter has rebounded really well. The other misses oz, but has settled in nicely. I am doing well too, although my relationship with my OH is still the same, but that had nothing to do with Oz. I have been back just over 3 years now, and it was the right move for us. Cheers Karen

I wouldn't worry what other people think to be honest. I suffer from depression, and hit quite a few low spots when I was in Oz. Getting the stuff out when talking to the counsellor is good. It's hard when everything is coming out of the woodwork, but it will get better. It's human nature to keep things from coming to the surface, easier to deal with. Are you going back to the UK for a holiday. That could be something to look forward to, and once there have an open and honest talk with your parents. If I remember correctly, your OH is not keen on moving back. Remember, if you need to chat, feel free to bounce off us lot of returnees. Some of us have been in your shoes before. Big hugs and take care. Karen

I think a bit of both to be honest. They have to deal with some terrible conditions. Removing children from a home is not a fun job. Jeez the abuse we had to put up with was not fun. Working with lots of aboriginal families and having them come in for their visits with their children only they were high as a kite, and then seeing them go off after being told they couldn't see their child because they were too high on drugs. Anyone that thinks civil servants get paid too much, should try working at DCP. Cheers Karen

I used to work for DCP in Midland, and I was a level 2. I make more at my job in Canada than I did at DCP. I can understand why they said no. The work that the social workers do at DCP deserve a higher pay IMO. Cheers Karen

To the OP, I feel your pain. My advice is to get back to the UK as soon as you can. I know how hard it is to pretend that everything is fine. When my OH lost his job, we were living in Perth and had no family around us. My one daughter had been seeing a counsellor at school for depression, she never settled properly in the 2 years we had been in Perth. I was miserable, carrying the load, I know how hard it is to get jobs. I ended up having 5 jobs in 2 years, most only lasted 3 months max. Life is too short to be unhappy, we too lost money on the move and moving back. I gave up a lovely house, that I know I will never be able to get again. But I have a lovely little house know that we are paying a mortgage on. My family is close by, and my daughter is happy again. That is things that money can't buy. Good luck with everything and if you need to chat to people, there are some lovely folks on here, who have been through similar situations. Hugs Karen

Ok, this is me speaking as a member not as a Mod. I cannot believe you posted this ParleyCross. This women, obviously had a horrible time and is suffering from depression to boot. I am so sick of people coming onto the MBTUK side of the forum, and putting people down. It is not on. I bet many of you who love to put others down, when they are scrapping the bottom of the barrel, do it with glee. How wonderful your lives must be living in Australia, having employment and enjoying things. Perhaps, we should all try and walk in others shoes. For those that have struggled here, and are having an absolute terrible time, we should offer them the shoulder to cry on. This forum has evolved so much since I joined back in 08. There are more people moving back and there will more to come in the future. If you can't say something nice, then please keep quiet, or keep off the MBTUK side of it if you are happy with your lot in Oz. Cheers Karen