caramac

I'm sorry to hear that, but I'm definitely up for a coffee/lunch soon. Should be in Norfolk sometime in Sept/Oct, depending on how well house hunting goes this week

Too good an offer to refuse, and I is constrained by pension rules in the UK, so it seems like a good idea for a few years. It's complicated - two are going back soon, eldest finishes uni next year, then is off to live in either Russia or Japan, middle and I are spending a year back near you (are you still here), while she applies for grad posts and we'll travel back and forth in the holidays. House hunting in both places begins in earnest next week - a foot in both camps!

We're sitting at Melbourne airport waiting for our flight home after three weeks of suburb hunting. We all loved Mt Eliza, so it's probably where we'll end up buying in the end. It has a lovely relaxed feel to it and is close enough to Dandenong (where my husband will be working) to commute. None of us want to leave!

St Kilda. 31/7. A bit chilly, but beautiful!

I'm very sorry to hear this news. Sincere condolences to you and all who love Scott xx

My eldest did the same in 2013, although the cost of the ticket had gone up a bit (£300 iirc - still very good value)! They also had a few overnighters on the train, but the hostels were incredibly good value, especially in Eastern Europe - £5-10pn. It's a great way to see lots of places on a budget and you meet loads of other young people doing the same thing. I'd do it now if I was free for a month or two (think I'd need hotels rather than bunk beds now though :laugh:)

We went to Canada (Vancouver and Vancouver Island, which was our favourite) last year and all loved it. If you can make it work, I'd definitely recommend it. Beautiful, amazing place and the people couldn't have been more friendly and welcoming. We only saw bears at Grouse Mountain though :wink: We also went to Seattle and Portland which were easy by train - very lovely journey once you get through US border control!

Your son will probably have to be assessed before any (if any) benefits are paid. As others have said, this government is making life difficult for some of our most vulnerable citizens, so you may (depending on your son's disability and your circumstances) need to be prepared for a battle.

It completely missed us here. It was a bit dull and drizzly, but that was about it. My parents are in Cheshire and they said it was pretty bad for a while, and planes trying to land at Manchester were having a hard time of it, but it seemed to pass quite quickly. This winter has been really good up here - much better than last year which was dull, cloudy and wet. This one has been mostly bright and sunny with a few frosts, but no snow (again). Really lovely.

I will. There are some beautiful places around, including where we live at the moment. We're very lucky.

Shhh.. don't tell everyone or it won't be affordable much longer. I look at all the space and untapped potential up here and wonder why everything and everybody is crammed into the SE - crazy, but it's lovely not having to live down there.

I'm glad you've not had this - it completely floored me for over a week and I had time off work which is unheard of! I doubt the flu jab would have prevented it either - too many different strains around for it to be a perfect science.

I think, fingers crossed, I'm at the end of this now. Had it since New Year and sound like I've got a 40 a day habit! It's nowhere near as bad as Whooping Cough, but it's definitely not nice.

:laugh: Luckily for us, most places seem to be!

Exactly! We have to pay our daughter's rent in London (she's at uni there) - one room in a shared house costs over a third of what we're paying for a six bedroom farmhouse up in the wilds! This year she's in Russia and her rent is £250 pcm for half a two bed flat. Not looking forward to her being back in London next year! We're looking at Melbourne for later this year which will be more expensive than here or Tassie! Maybe we should have a rethink..

Yes, it would be different. We're in the north of England too and our rent is a third what it was in Sydney in 2009. Our house here is a bit bigger by one extra bedroom and reception room, but obviously no pool .

If those are your reasons for moving them I'm sure you'll be fine (once the initial reverse culture shock passes!). It's tough moving either way, especially when you're not 'escaping' something negative, and it can take time to settle. The first time we came back it took me a couple of years to stop comparing things here negatively with Australia. However, our children settled immediately and have had a very happy upbringing here (with another brief time in Aus in the middle). They have had some amazing opportunities and continue to do so. Our eldest is 22 and currently spending a year in Russia as part of her degree and the middle one has just found out that she's got a place to go and study in Shanghai with the British Council at Easter which, apart from her airfare, is fully funded. They had so many European visits and exchanges when they were at school, which were very affordable - they have grown up with a very global outlook. Children have very similar opportunities here in other ways - swimming, scouts, drama etc. That's no different and we found it a lot cheaper because many activities are subsidised (although that might be a bit different now with the cuts councils are having to make). We do go to Europe fairly often, sometimes on a whim if we find a good deal - it's very easy and affordable from here. Just be prepared for an adjustment period and try not to replicate your Australian life here - there are different opportunities for you to explore and take advantage of! It's a tough move either way, but nothing has to be forever if you don't want it to be.

It's the lack of funding and the loss of staff who haven't been replaced. The ageing population is a 'problem' because of the cuts to the social care budgets, so there are fewer places in the community for those well enough to leave hospital, but not well or able enough to self care at home. We also have a huge (excuse the pun) rise in obesity levels and that has put a massive strain on services. The NHS spends £1.5m an HOUR on diabetes (not all type 2 which tends to be lifestyle related). Add to that heart, kidney and associated diseases and you'll find that obesity has a much greater impact than half a million new people arriving, most of whom will be young and fit. I obviously can't speak for the reason that the waiting room was full at Solihull, but going on other services, would think it's a lack of phlebotomists and the fact that primary care services are under strain. At one time many of those blood tests would have been done at the GP surgery, but a mix of understaffing and contracting out of services means the secondary care picks it up now. I have to have a minor procedure that even three years ago my GP would have done for me, but now has to be referred to secondary care. It's a ridiculous waste of money and time.

It most definitely is - it's being sold off bit by bit and being deliberately starved of funds. If only people would listen to those working in the organisation rather than the govt spin we might have a chance of saving it. There is so much goodwill working going on at the moment to try to keep services safe, but that goodwill is running out. My husband is currently working a day each week for free in order to keep his patients safe and he's not the only one by any means. Other countries are actively recruiting our experienced and senior staff and the terms and conditions are, in the main, far superior to those here. There are seven consultant vacancies within my husband's trust and no one applies for them. Add to that the number who are retiring early, leaving medicine/nursing etc or moving overseas and you can see the crisis looming.

Exactly.

We're about to move the opposite way again (probably not permanently), but not because the UK is dismal (depending on where you live obviously). There's an awful lot of uncertainty and the NHS is being deliberately brought to its knees, but mostly people are just getting on with their lives. We live in the north of England and just had a really lovely winter and spring isn't far away. I love the English countryside and the accessibility to so many interesting places. We can get to anywhere in Europe cheaply and easily and there is so much to do. When we left Australia the last time I had a few people (Australians) say how lucky we were to be going somewhere where our child would be exposed to so much culture (Europe). You know your reasons for moving, so I wouldn't listen too closely to someone who hasn't been in your situation.

Two of my daughters are at university and they'd agree that there are students on their courses who have been taught 'to the textbook' and never question anything. They expect to be spoonfed all the necessary information (which is impossible in the four hours contact time my middle one gets each week). There are more who can think critically and have been taught to question - they're the ones currently sitting on high grades and I'm sure future employers can spot the difference, just as they're aware that degrees awarded from different universities have different 'value'. Sadly, Mr Gove's changes to the education system are going to do nothing to help the next generation become more thinking, critical learners. Apparently, children are just receptacles to be filled with facts.

Born in Cheshire, moved at 21 to Wiltshire, then London, then Norwich to do my RGN training. Met my husband there then moved to Hexham, Northumberland. Married, had first child, then back to Norfolk, had two more kids, moved to Perth, Norwich, Sydney, Norwich (husband went Melbourne), back together in Northumberland where we've been for that last 5 1/2 years. Looking likely that we'll be back in Australia this year..

Exactly.

Yes, the domestic applications are down, as are those qualified nurses from the EU - too risky for anyone to make that commitment at the moment. Along with the exodus of experienced nurses, the NHS is almost past crisis point. We're looking to leave again for a few years and my husband (dr) has been approached by Australia, Canada, SE Asia, amongst others. He went to a meeting re SE Asia last weekend and there were six of his colleagues also st that meeting and there are jobs available for all of them. This is from a trust which already has multiple vacancies it can't fill and has had a trip to India to recruit from there. It's very sad to watch what's happening, but good will only lasts so long and highly qualified and experienced staff have lots of options which have better working conditions than the ones they're expected to live with now.