Woofyhugger

Well, I commented in the UK version of this post, so it's only fair I comment here. I have been in Oz since I was a little fella, around 40 years now. Most things I love about Oz, I really don't get to see, do or enjoy anymore. I've either grown up, the novelty has worn off, or things that were once affordable no longer are. When I was in the UK I missed stupid things really.. the landscape of the country, the sound of the birds in the morning and at dusk, my genuine mates here in Oz that I have grown up with. That's really about it. After 40 years in Oz, everything is just the same old same old, but getting more expensive to buy or enjoy. I do love it though in Oz, it's looked after me well. I just don't enjoy the things I used to because I just don't have time any more, or don't have the inclination. Not hating, I love both the UK and Oz for different reasons.

My dogs to be honest, it broke me down being without them, I couldn't afford to have them over at the time, but they will be coming with me this time.

What do I love about the UK? In a nutshell.. the weather, makes you appreciate when there are absolutely gorgeous days. The proximity to the rest of the world. I haven't overly been able to afford travel outside of Oz much, not regularly, though my mates with decent paying jobs go away every year. On a registered nurses wage, and my bills, I can't afford to. Even travel to the other side of Oz is expensive. The UK.. Europe is on your doorstep, and I could afford to travel around, even the US is only a short flight away. I love the variety in the UK for shopping, the quality, affordability, even daily living items, way more choice and cheaper. I love the cars in the UK. I love the history, the culture, the architecture.. the list goes on. Like you Homeward, I love Australia, lived here in Oz for 40 years, grew up here as well, I sound like an Aussie, there is no way anyone could pick me for a Pom. Australia has looked after me for a long time eh, and I am thankful for that. But.. can't wait to get back to the northern hemisphere. I have never been happier than I was up there in a long time.

Hey Bunbury, I had so much going on back then, and I was a little nervous (and by little I mean a lot) at the prospect of being in the UK by myself, being really unwell when I was there, having some miscommunication issues with my brother in Horley I hadn't seen since I was a tot, and as such not catching up with him. And being in Manchester for the most part I felt so far away from my mates in London, and Mancs just wasn't for me, it was a bit of sensory overload. I did however love it in the UK though, but came back to Oz mostly because of missing one or two people and my dogs. I wanted to go back to Oz, but at the same time didn't as I knew I was only going back because I missed my hounds and mate. If I could have afforded or been able to get those few things from Oz to the UK, I would have stayed put, but alas, I came back. These last 2 years back have been pretty awful, I knew I should have stayed in the UK as soon as I got on the plane to leave. The whole time I have missed my mates in the UK, and opportunities to travel, new experiences. I just can't afford to travel anywhere as long as I am in Oz. Everywhere is just too far away and too expensive to get to. Better planned and sorted this time, and I will be getting my dogs shipped over once I get settled again. Love Oz (for different reasons to the UK), but been here far too long, done just about all there is to do over the last 40 years, lived in pretty much every state, and things are just getting more and more expensive. So much for me to do over there in the UK though, loved London so much, I felt at home, happiest I had been in many years, loved the shopping and affordability. So this time next year, I'll be well and truly back. But before the anti-Uk or anti-Oz mobs go to town, I have to say I love both places. I've done my time in Oz though, and can't see myself living out there other half of my life here.

I love reading posts like these. It's so soul destroying reading all the UK-hate, when all you want to do is to go back to the UK and start/resume life over there. I get so scared to post on the main forums sometimes, I never used to be like that but the UK haters are rife out there these days, to the point where they can be very nasty. Thanks homeward.

When I went back to the UK in 2010 I loved it, but after a short while I wanted to go back to Australia. So I came back. As soon as I landed back, I knew I had made a mistake and should have stayed in the UK. Don't get me wrong I love Australia, but it's not where I want to be so I am heading back in the new year to the UK. Sometimes it is hard to know where you belong. Sometimes we don't know where that is until you have gone back and forth. For an unfortunate few, you never work out where that is and ping pong regularly.. which is quite costly. If you have the option to come back to Oz, then there is always that window open to you. The Gold Coast is a lovely area, more so if you ever had time to enjoy the beaches and such. I lived on the coast for a while, yet never managed to get to the beaches much at all.. usually too busy working. Think of all the reasons why you came to Oz in the first place and then the reasons that drove you back to Scotland. If you repeat this process again, are you going to be faced with the same reasons and feelings that made you return to Scotland or to Australia originally? Only you know those reasons and feelings associated with them. Sometimes it's hard to work out where we need to be in life. Nothing says we have to stay put and can't go back and forth if that is how you are programmed. It would be great if you can work out where you need to be, but in the mean time, if you can afford to bounce.. then bounce. Come down here when it's winter up there? Maybe just to holiday before heading back.. though for a holiday I could think of nicer places to go that are warm and sunny and a lot closer to the UK. Hope you can sort things out mate.

Talk to your new housemate and find out what is expected, especially if you are entering their home. Every situation is going to be different, as we're all different people with different expectations, different boundaries and different requirements for our personal space and privacy. The only way to establish what is the best thing for you to do, is to talk to your housemate and try get some rules sorted out, and get the low down on what each other wants to get out of this and what they expect. Some housemates just want someone in to cover rent/bills and not so much a new friend. Some expect the new housemate to become a friend, socialise with etc. It changes from setting to setting. Talk! That's my best advice. I have shared many, many times. Have fun.

Cherry Ripe bars! Yum!

I guess it almost feels like people here in Oz aren't into making new friends, almost like it's the attitude of, "oh we have friends already, we don't need any more". At least that is how I have felt these last few years. Or that they are happy to keep you as a friend online, perhaps catch up once or twice and then it just seems to be limited to that. I lived in the same house for 7 years in one place in Melbourne, and never met the neighbours. Apart from a wave here and there. Sad really. I'n my current house, there is an elderly lady next door. She's been lovely and we chat often out the front, or have a quick cuppa. But it does seem like nowadays, people are either wary, or just don't seem to want new friends.

Woofyhugger aka Matt Moved to Australia with my parents in 1974. Lived in Brisbane for 30 years, Sydney for 1 year, and Melbourne for 9 or so. Went back to the UK for the first time in 2010 for a few months. Absolutely loved it. Came back to Oz to tie up some lose ends. Moving back to the UK at the end of 2013. Love Australia, it's looked after me these last 40 years, but I don't want the rest of my life to be another 40 in Australia. The thought of that makes me feel trapped and depressed. Bring on the cold, wet and snow. Something I couldn't get enough of in the UK. Yes, I'm sad.

I was in the UK a couple years ago, and going back at the end of the year indefinitely. When I was there in 2010, I went to register down the local GP clinic and they picked up on my Aussie accent which unfortunately is very strong and full of aussie slang.. and asked what on earth I was doing back in the UK and why would I want to leave beautiful Australia. Like mentioned by someone else above, I said to them had they ever been there, or only seen it from Home & Away or Bondi Rescue? The only quantification one of them had was spending 2 weeks at the Gold Coast for holidays. I laughed and said, so you haven't been to Australia then! They all think there is a magical pot of gold at the end of the Aussie rainbow here.. for some people that pot is empty on arrival. They just don't get it.

I've been in Australia now for almost 40 years. I found it used to be easy to make friends in the early years, but the last 10 years, especially recently, it seems to be harder and harder to make friends. It's not the same country it used to be, no country would be after 40 years have passed. The friends I have made here though, I have had for a long time. Any friends I have made in the last 10 years seem to be more of an aquaintence/fairweather type. The culture here has changed a lot, it's a lot harder to get in to the tight cliques. I was in the UK a couple years ago and made friends straight away, and felt included. If someone saw me by myself, they soon grabbed me and brought me into their group. I'm not slagging off Oz, hell, I've been here forever, its looked after me these last 4 decades. But making friends here at least nowadays is not easy. It takes time, even work friends take some time for them to want to include you in any social events. I am looking forward to getting back to the UK though at the end of the year, I miss my mates there, and strangely speak to the more often than I do my Aussie mates.

I can only echo what Scottydog has said already. To answer the OP and not make judgements on what's morally right or wrong, (There seems to be a lot of people in this thread that are shining pillars of society that has never done anything wrong in their lives, I know I certainly have.) I can say that as long as you don't come back to Australia AND as long as you don't try and get something on credit in Australia, then you will be fine. It's highly unlikely they will contact you in the UK, as they eventually stop trying to contact Australian's who are still in the country. Once a company has sold your debt to a debt collection agency here, and they have not been able to contact you after some time using the details given to them by your lendor, they will list your last known details along with the debt details with a credit reporting agency (if the original lendor hasn't already) here in Australia and it'll stay on file for about 5 - 7 years if it's a large sum. I think it's 3 years for small amounts. After that time it "falls off" your credit report. If it's rental arrears, they will take it from your bond and likely put you on the bad tenants list, so you will be unlikely to be accepted for a rental property in Australia again without trouble. Rental properties, especially in major cities here like Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane are not left vacant for long.. unless it's a dive. The jilted landlord will also likely be reluctant to rent his/her house out to non residents again. Seriously people, don't judge the OP, we don't REALLY know all the ins and outs of their situation.

I think, that if you base your life's happiness around your career then stay in your job, right where you are. No matter what country. But for me.. Life is too short to not take a risk, not to see if life could be better for you (not just financially) somewhere else. If we lived by the notion of staying put because the job market is in a right state and we are lucky to have our job, we'd never leave our home countries, instead staying in them and moaning about how we wished we could live somewhere else. I've lived in Oz my entire working life, and it's one thing to say our job market here in Oz is better than the UK... but if you don't have the right qualifications, it doesn't matter what country you live in. I'm lucky I'm a nurse, I don't have any trouble where I am. But others aren't so lucky. I just don't see the point in telling people not to come to a country because the job situation is dire. Some people need to relocate because of family, or study, or they are in a rut in their own country, or want to experience a different culture, or may have been long term unemployed in their country (including Australia) and want to try their luck elsewhere. There are a truck load of long term unemployed in Australia, just as there are in any other country. There's a truckload with great jobs in both countries. I think it's grossly unfair to make such a generalised comment, when we are all individuals with VERY different skills, and goals in life. Some people are happy to sit on benefits all their life and contribute to the unemployment numbers. Others try their hardest to get work but can't either because they aren't skilled enough, or there are too many people going for the same job. Some are too fussy and knock back jobs because they dont like the pay rate, or perks, or location. Its no different here in Australia. We have a smaller population, and with that a smaller number of jobs available.. but it's comparative elsewhere. Either way, life is too short to live it where you aren't happy. Moving country won't necessarily make you happy, you may think moving to Oz will be your pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. But I don't want to burst your bubble, but depending on your situation and skills, that pot of gold might be empty when you get here. Then again, it may not. It works the same when travelling the other direction. Don't let realists or doom mongers put you off of moving. If you want an adventure, if you want to take a risk, if you want new experiences.. be it good or bad.. grab it by the balls and go for it. Again, Life's too short to sit at home and moan about the status quo all day.

I agree with Quote also. I've lived in Oz nearly 40 years, and the stuff they show here in Oz is crap, unless it's UK or US filmed. I have no idea how or why Neighbours and Home & Away have lasted so long. At least the smart one left and made a successful singing career, like her music or not, she's probably better off financially than those STILL on those soapies working their tired old drag. I download any TV shows I want to watch. :err:

Thanks Snifter for moving the thread. I bookmark straight to the MBTTUK forum so didn't know there was even a Pets forum haha. Cheers for the info! Matt

Thanks very much for that LC. Awesome help. It's only something I am contemplating at the moment, but at least I can get some numbers sorted to see if it is feasible for me to take my 3 boxers to the UK. Many thanks. Matt

Hey Guys. Has anyone "recently" moved back to the UK with their dog from Australia? I am curious to know approximately how much this cost. Cheers Matt

Mine is the opposite, I was born in the UK, but lived in Oz continually since I was 3 (I'm now 41). I went back to the UK a couple of years ago for the first time, and since coming back to Oz, I can't get the UK out of my mind. I love it there, (including the cold, rain, and people moaning about the economy) and there is a daily nag for me to return, so I'm currently saving like crazy to make it happen. I do have unfinished business there, a lot of it to see and things I need to do. Once you have been somewhere in the world, especially somewhere you felt a connection, that link will always be there. Sometimes it's very deep seeded.

Thanks Tradie, that's exactly how I am going to look at it.

Yep. I was so convinced I was never coming back to Australia, I had rationales for everything. And I did love the UK. On coming back, I was glad to get home. Now again, I want to go back. I think something may feel so right for that particular moment in your life.. and that's not a bad thing.

When I left Australia for the UK, I mostly just missed my dogs I left in Oz. There was too much in the UK I preferred to Australia. However, when I came back to Oz, I was so glad to see the typical Australian skyline full of gum trees... at least where I live. But that was really all I missed. Oh.. and cheap public transport.

Thanks guys. Aaron, I went over 2 years ago, but missed my dogs and ended up coming home. I need to toughen up. Ghost, very true indeed. Anywhere becomes the same old, same old given long enough. Though I think it may take a while up there, at least enough to keep me occupied for quite some time haha. Hey Colin!! Yeah, getting the RRV from London was a bit daunting, thank god I took paperwork with me to the UK that proved long term ties, but it was getting sweaty and nervous in the office there at London House. Still valid for 3 more years, though I will get my citizenship before I leave. I'm not planning on going back till the end of the year, I should have enough saved by then. Anita, yes, definitely feel trapped and in a rut at times. More so, I know in myself I don't want to live my life in the current situation. I want to see and do new things, and over 30+ years I have well and truly exhausted Australia in the time. And I miss my pub in Soho. haha. /waves @ the Duke of Wellington. I am going to keep saving for the rest of the year, and in December, I will make a decision. At least I can go, and make no definite plans to stay or return, just play it by ear. It's funny how we can change our minds, even when we are sure we are doing something we want... or don't want... only to do a complete 180 degree turn.. and then turn again. heh.. human nature. Cheers Matt

Hey Guys. Some of you may remember. For those that don't in a nutshell. I was born in the UK but moved to Australia when I was only 3. I have lived in Australia for almost 40 years. My whole family moved here except my brother. I went to the UK 2 years ago to meet my brother "for the first time" so to speak, and to live there permanently. Well, permanently only lasted a month, and I found myself missing my 3 dogs and my ex partner of whom I am very close to, we still live together very happily. Anyway... Through various circumstances I wasn't able to see my brother when I was in the UK.. I know!! How did that happen.. we just couldn't meet up before I left to return to Oz. So, here I am 2 years later, missing London a lot, wanting to see my brother, and fed up with Australia. Don't get me wrong, I love Australia, it's looked after me for the last 38 years. But I just have this uncontrollable pull to give it another go in the UK. It's hard to explain. I now find myself saving madly to return. I feel like I need to see what my life would have been like if I lived in the UK all those years. I know that sounds odd, but it's how I feel.. but I am worried the same will happen and I will miss my dogs. I can't bring them with me, the expense is more than I can deal with, let alone making sure I have accommodation big enough for 3 very energetic dogs. And I can't take them away from my ex who loves them dearly and would like to go to the UK, but can't. Is there anything I can do to make myself not miss them as much as I did last time which was a major reason for me returning? Should I just stay in Oz? The same old humdrum, every day. I live in a small country town now in the middle of Victoria, my friends are 4 hours away in Melbourne so I only get to see them once in a blue moon. And I feel like I'm just gathering dust out here. I'm not a fan of Melbourne, so I don't want to move closer to the city. When I was in the UK, I had the best time, loved London, the vibe, Soho, the buildings and history, the quaint warm and friendly pubs (so different from the Oz ones), I loved the rain, the cold (it never rains where I am), made a load of friends who I keep in contact with regularly, and there's so much to see and do there, not to mention Europe. Oh and believe it or not, I miss Primark LOL! Anyway, thanks for listening, it's pretty much a rhetoric post.. I think I just needed to put my thoughts down somewhere.. much love, Woofy aka Matt

Hi mate. Im also and Australian permanent resident. Lived in oz almost my whole life but returned to the uk in 2010 without a resident return visa. I decided I wanted to come back to oz, but I needed to get a RRV from the Oz embassy in London. For me it was easy as I had with me all my "ties" to the uk which I had to supply, like school reports, tax slips, tenancy agreements etc. I was given a 5 year RRV. I can come and go up until the 5 year period expires but if I want to stay in Australia I need to be back before the RRV expires. Which I am. Just make sure whether it's 3months or 5years, you are back before it expires if you wish to remain in Australia. Or you will need to apply for a new RRV and you may find it difficult. Once you have an RRV, just renew it before leaving the country if it will expire while you are abroad. Cheers matt