Lady Tottington

11 hours ago, Fergie said:

Hi

I’ve been reading this site for years and never posted anything, but here goes

We moved to Qld nearly 15 years ago, the first year I had to pinch myself, I felt so lucky and blessed to be here, thought the beaches were beautiful etc, but after a year or so the shine started to fade, it felt like I’d been on a long holiday and now I wanted to go home. I don’t like the constant heat and humidity ( live on the Gold Coast) miss the seasons, the pubs, the walks, being close to everything, even the weather. I know it’s beautiful in many ways here, but for whatever reason it’s lost on me.  We have 3 sons, who have swallowed the Ozzie pill and love it here, never want to go back to the Uk to live, so one by one they have grown up and we couldn’t move back because  they were in year 11-12 at school, had girlfriends etc, now my youngest is 19 and I can see light at the end of the tunnel. I love my boys to bits and I have great relationships with them all, 2 are married, one with 2 children, whom I have every Thursday. And then my 19 year old, who isn’t quite sure what career path he wants yet, but when he’s sorted and settled , we plan to move back, I’m guessing in the next 2 -5 years. Im 54 and very aware the years are ticking on. I’ve been very unhappy here and unsettled for 13+ years, also I’ve tortured myself about leaving my kids and grandchildren behind, as it’s not what I ever envisaged for my family, yet I’m not happy here. it’s caused me terrible anxiety to the point of palpitations, panic attacks and insomnia as it’s always plaguing me. Has anyone gone back under these circumstances? Have you settled? Any advise? Also we are fortunate enough to be able to come back and visit every year or so. 

Hi Fergie,

I know where you are coming from, we lived on the Gold Coast for near 10 years, loved so much of the place, our daughter was 13 when we arrived, during our time there we added two boys to the family, I didnt start feeling home sick for the first 6 years it was after our first trip home. Then in 2018 we moved back to the UK. I missed my mum so much (we were very close, we used to send her a ticket for Oz every year to come over to us for a couple of months) as time went on I too suffered terribly with anxiety, palpitations, tears upon tears, felt like I didn't want to be there. So we moved back to UK leaving my daughter over in Oz at Uni, with her friends, boyfriend, she too didn't want to return.

I arrived back with a hole in my heart, missing my daughter so much, its made me ill, in a way I feel like we made the right decision at the time, I managed to spend a quality couple of years with my mum, we crammed so many memories into a short space of time, but April last year she contracted Covid 19, unfortunately claiming her life. I feel very blessed that I could be with her right at the end, to tell her our goodbyes, and how much she was loved, I would never of had that had I been in Oz. but now I just want to get back to Australia, I don't feel settled here at all, I miss my baby girl too much, so do her brothers. Facetime, phone calls and WhatsApp is just not enough I just end up in tears when I hang up, so we are returning summer this year flights pending (fingers crossed). 

So yes I understand you dilemma but for me, its not worked out, so I'm heading back, 

Good luck to you x

On 26/01/2021 at 21:22, Marisawright said:

I am so sorry to hear that.  All the best for getting back to Oz.

Thank you x

2 hours ago, Dorsetbrit said:

So quick update, flight has been cancelled but after some begging with Singapore airlines we have been provisionally put on a flight for the 8th of Feb just waiting for confirmation. Ive done a little research and chances are we will test positive after having the virus first detected 12-14 days ago and a little less for the wife. I read on the Australian website that you can test positive but have a doctors note to say its been more than 14 days since a positive test and has had no symptoms for at least 72 hours. I’m trying to find out that the airline is aware of this and what I need a doctors not to actually say. We are now on our 6th flight!

Oh no. and it seemed so positive, fingers crossed you all get off on the 8th x

On 24/01/2021 at 21:24, Toots said:

Are you returning for a holiday or to live Lady Tottington?

We are returning to Oz permanently, I returned back of 2017 to UK because I really was home sick for my mum mainly, but in April 2020 my mum contracted Covid and died 6 days later so I have no ties here and my daughter is still in Australia.

1 hour ago, Dorsetbrit said:

We are booked to fly on the 4th and an update on Singapore airlines says that flights from the UK can go ahead as passengers will remain on the aircraft. This means the flight may actually go after five cancellations! It’s just getting the test done. We have had COVID over the last week so pray this gets out of our system. We are on the south coast and can’t see any other way other than driving to Heathrow for a drive through 2 days before then drive back again to fly. Has anyone done the test to fly or have any better solutions. At this stage I’ll do whatever it takes! Thanks guys and keep fingers crossed for us it’s been a long wait. 

Good Luck, hope everything goes ahead, I'm returning at some point this year, still looking at flights, Singapore said they are not flying from Manchester so looking at Qatar or Emirates, its so disheartening with all the cancellations.

Keeping my fingers crossed for you all x

13 hours ago, Ballaratburd said:

We have our citizenship so going home and “trying it out” is a definite option. It’s just a very overwhelming decision to make I suppose

Hi, Thats exactly what we did. 9 years in QLD, felt home sick, missed my mum so much, worried about her, missed my friends, history etc etc, we have been back 3 years this November, we have holidayed the UK 5 times a year in the first 2 years back, caught up with our friends and our children have bonded with the grandparents. Unfortunately my mum contracted Covid19 in April and passed away, she was the main reason for my longing to return and right now I feel empty, I managed to cram so many memories with her whilst back which Im greatful for, but IMO UK has changed so much in the time we was away and we are in the process of returning to QLD in January, good luck, and if you have citizenship, you can always return. x

Hi guys, hope everyone is safe and well, just wondering if any of you fellow Poms can advise me?

Is it possible to get an Aussie Mortgage to purchase a house in Oz whilst still residing UK??

Thanks 

Sam

We entered the UK to live on expired British passports without any bother at all, having travelled on our Aussie ones.  The border control officer just laughed at how the kids didn't look like their photos any more (they were 6 months and 1 in their passport photos, and 9 and 11 when we returned), and waved us through with a cheery 'Welcome home"!

I too entered on an Expired UK passport 8 months ago, still expired today lol as for my kids (3&5) they are here on their Aussie passports not even applied for UK ones, don't see the point in applying or renewing till we book an overseas holiday [emoji16]

Did it always require a degree? I vaguely remember there being some theatre technicians when I did my stint in OT.

Nope it didnt need a degree many years ago as it wasnt regulated by a governing body, but then Registration came in and all ODP's have to be on the register and are valid qualified members of the peri-operative team.

Is this a fairly recent qualification? I trained and worked in the NHS in the 80's and it's not something I've ever heard of?

Nope its been around for ever, I work in the theatres mainly in Anaesthetics but in Recovery, scrub, resus and also can work in ICU in some hospitals.

Hi,

May I ask what you'll be doing in the NHS?

Yes im an ODP,

Thanks, it just makes me feel better knowing others have been through this. I feel like she is still so young but i am very unhappy here. My parents are here too and are now very unhappy and want to return to the UK. However, i think this will split me and hubby up. I dont think he will leave her here. It is killing our relationship over the last 5 years being here feeling like this. But i really struggle now to do anything. Havent even put an xmas tree up!

It is so sad to feel so trapped, thats exactly how I felt, trapped, I had anxiety, stopped going out, hated talking to people about how good my weekend was when in actual fact, id been at home all weekend, not seen a soul since leaving work on Thurs till returning to work on Tues, I felt life was passing me by, and I was only existing in a place the sun shined and the sky was blue, but so lonely. Our parents are aging and have some minor health issues and I wanted to be near them, near my life long friends, I wanted to start living again, instead of existing. The way I see it, is you only live once, this is not a rehearsal, life is too short and happiness is priceless. I love my daughter so much, but I also encourage independence and hopefully she will come home, but that has to be her choice, good luck x

Si i guess she had already left home ? My daughter is still at home snd i dont see her going anywhere in the near future. When you say she has her own life what exactly does that mean? Sorry, i am so confused on what to do in my life right now.

No she was still living at home with us, we found her a nice apartment and made sure she was set up. She has to live her own life, I cant live my life to suit her, nor would I expect her to live her life to suit me, she is now an adult, can make her own decisions, pay her own bills and be totally independent. Just like I was at 21 going on 22. The question is your happiness too, are you happy there or do you want to be here?? Your daughter then has to decide if she wants to stay in Oz or return, then I guess your daughter needs to be able to support herself should you return and she stay. Its not an easy decision. Its very difficult, it took months to make our decision.

I have 19 year old daughter (only child) who will not leave. How do you become ok with leaving them here? Not critising just trying to figure out how i do this?

Its never ok, it broke my heart, but she is 21 going on 22, she has her own life and is old enough to make her own decisions. We talked about it, cried and decided that she needed to finish her degree at uni, she needed to do her travelling and then she would return to Blighty. If by any chance she does not come back then I will have to reconsider returning. This is her decision, and staying in Oz is a decision made due to circumstances, and I needed to leave as I needed to be near other members of the family that need us and right now she needs to do what she needs to do.
But it certainly is not easy, although we will shout her ticket 3x a year to come home, infact she lands back here next Sunday for xmas [emoji7]

My family are all from Yorkshire, so they'd agree!

[emoji23] [emoji23] [emoji23] [emoji23] [emoji23] [emoji23] [emoji23]

I think the east is dryer than the west, as a general rule.  That's certainly the case up here in Scotland, although I think the winters are colder in the east.  The difference between Yorkshire and Lancashire might be something to do with the Pennines.

Lancashire is on the dark side [emoji23][emoji23][emoji23] Yorkshire on the RIGHT side of the Pennines [emoji7][emoji7][emoji7] haha

So 4 weeks ago a job offer and today we waved good bye to our belongings as it travels the 12 week journey. I can't believe in 4 weeks, we have done so much but we are now rattling around an empty house, jobless, carless and furnitureless [emoji87][emoji87][emoji87] just waiting to board that Big Bird back to Blighty on Sunday.

Still got very mixed emotions, im tired and stressed but very very excited, thank you for all you that helped, guided and gave advice, hopefully I will be on here again next Spring (UK) letting you all know how fantastic, freezing Yorkshire is and this was the best decision in years!! Bon Voyage [emoji16][emoji6][emoji16][emoji6]

Knock $$$$ off the advertised price asap, something is better than nothing[emoji120]

Ive already knocked 2k off, we even have talked about taking it with us [emoji55][emoji55][emoji55]

We are heading home in a couple of weeks, we sold our house couple of years ago and are in rented so thats easy, we have used gumtree for a lot of stuff, OH was offered a job and we had 5 weeks to get back so its been a rush. The car is the worst item to sell, I needed it for work and so only advertised it last week and had no interest whats so ever, lets hope it goes in next 7 days. Good luck with your planning [emoji4][emoji6][emoji4]

Technically the UK one would not be valid as it has to have their current address on it

Hmmm but it has my UK address on it [emoji6][emoji6][emoji6]

I agree with some of the others just buy a 12mth one, the police are out in force on our roads ,more so in the run up to xmas it isnt worth the fine if your caught.
Will you need a hire car when you land? as you will need a valid licence to hire and drive one, so not sure how you would go if you had an expired licence as it would be invalid.
Cal x

No we have got a car we just need to insure it when we arrive, I have my UK licence and I did renew my Oz one for 12 months, I was too worried Id get pulled and fined haha [emoji6] roll on 26th of Nov, [emoji4]

just a bit of advice, the licence will show up as expired on the database .. and if you are pulled for a RBT then chances are you are fined etc ... for the 100$ is it really worth it .. just go the local office and get a 12 month licence ...

Thanks but im just too honest, not got the cheek to drive with no licence so renewed for 12 months [emoji6]

blimey .. talk about organised!!
 

I am trying to be, but believe me it feels like chaos lol

Sounds like its all going well [emoji4]
Enjoy your last few weeks. It'll be hectic but enjoy what you can of it [emoji4]

Thank you, [emoji4]

Your first job on arrival should be to stock up on M&S thermal underwear LOL (it’s fab stuff). Sounds like you are doing great though! 

[emoji23] [emoji23] [emoji23] [emoji23] thanks Quoll
Trafford centre first shop [emoji41]