Zack

It depends where you came .We went back to the Uk after 40 years,and not much had changed at all.The Coal Mine i worked at is now a Museum,The Beamish Mary.A few new Housing Estates a few new roads.But what remains is the panoramic countryside.Durham City and surrounds are beautiful.And a row on the River is wonderful.And it's so cheap to live.The people are still the same,The Salt Of the Earth. Everyone is happy go lucky,never heard anyone using, foul absence language,which is commonplace here in Australia.With kids and adults. We asked people. Was there a drug problem in schools,as there is all over Australia.They looked aghast at the thought of drugs in schools.Never saw any anti drunken violent behaviour in any town or city, all the time we were there for 12 months.And we went to clubs and pubs quite often,It's not in the British culture really.Unlike Australia it's part of their culture.A women is killed every day by her drunken partner.We wouldn't dare go out to clubs or pubs in Brisbane.or even in our Rural town.There seems to be a lot more to do for kids and teenages.Traffic congestion,never noticed any.A drive From my wife's sisters from Sawbridgeworth to Durham takes 4 hours on the M11 then MI.A drive from Gympie to our daughters 149 ks takes 3.5 hours,coming back can take 5 hrs.The one main road North to south the Bruce Highway in Qld is pathetic.Getting old in Australia We just cant afford it. My Wife and i can't get our cataracts done,theres a waiting list for 7 years.Pay youself it's $6000 each eye. Uk free My wife needs her knee replaced,another 7 year wait. Houses may not be as big in the UK But they a solid,doubled glazed and insulated,and centrally heated. We found the weather very mild,and no snow at the winter of 2013-14.We were quite well off with our Aussie Pension,and Uk pension, in fact better off. Cars ar cheap,insurance is cheap,and rego 20 quid a year.Is Cheap. All medication is free in the UK for those over 60.Unless the mining boom picks up again.Australia will struggle.Sad really as the Liberals Wasted the Countries Wealth,and refused to diversify.And tax the multinational mining companies.Conservatives always stuff great countries up.

Gympie is a great town,probably the most friendliest towns in Queensland, that i have ever lived in. lost of History.It's a old Gold mining town. The countryside is beautiful,green rolling hills.Reasonably cheap Houses,But then that depends on you and what you can afford.Mechanics here charge arround $80 p/hr No problem getting work,if you know what u are doing.And do the job right the first time.If you want to buy a house i have the best Looking Queenslander on 1/2 acre block for sale soon on the Southside 4570. How's Cambridge? used to work At Cowley Street on the National Express. Lovely cobbled streets,and bike riders that drive you mad? God luck contact me if you want for a chat.

Doomsayers of whatever you want to call them. There is no comparison with the NHS and The Australian Health service. The Australian Health Service is near to collapsing That's A FACT.We have just been told that the waiting list,to see a specialist,to get into hospital is dire.Then To actually get a bed in a hospital is years away. My wife has been told only last week,that she should get her cataracts done ASAP or she could be blind in a year. The only problem is, there is a five year waiting list,So we have to pay.She needs a knee replacement.That's a seven year waiting list.Or you have pay.The Medication system in Australia is pathetic. The medication i have been on for the last 10 years has been taken off the pps.and replaced with a another drug that cost 5 times as much.I have been told by my doctor,that i will have to go and see a specialist,costing $180 to see if i can get this other drug, and pay the concession card cost.Bulk billing on the Sunshine Coast is stopping it's hard to find a doctor that bulk bills.My young niegbours have two kids,and she was saying everytime she goes to the doctors and get prescriptons for the kids,it costs her over $300.Turnbull is Taking a axe to the Health Service,and education. Getting sick in Australia is very costly and it's going to get really bad,many people are dying on waiting lists Fact. 148,000 people are dying each year through botched operations. There a diseases in Australia that the Health service knows nothing about.They are putting death unknown on death certificates.Lymes disease,the Australian health service refuses to recognise, Sick Australians are forced to go overseas for treatment.

Well that would be warm,from were you come from,if your a real jock.

No it's not .You can have dry heat,and humid heat/Wake up for goodness sake

It's the biggest problem Australian Courts have to deal with 79% of cases are involving.Nieghborhood Disputes.The Rule of thumb i go by.Is don't buy next to Aussies that don't look after there gardens,barking dogs,another clue,look out for broken windows,lots of seating table on the deck,and beer bottles In the Long Grass.Another Tip Watch Out For Dirt Bikes,And Heavy oil stains on the drive. It's the hardest thing to find in Australia Nice Quiet Neighbours. Good Luck,If u are on the sunshine coast i have just the house for you! Quiet Peaceful in a rural setting 5 min. drive to town.

Iv'e bought and sold a few house since we came to Qld in 1986.And only ever had one problem.I once paid $5000 deposit to the Agent,and she didn't pay it into the trust account.And took off with the money.There are so many SHARKS in Australia.My advice is to take all the paper work plus the contract to your Lawyer.My Lawyer Charges $450 conveyancing +serches. Whatever you do don't go to one of these so called cheap conveyancing firms.It could end up in tears.Your contract won't become uncontional,untill you get finace arranged,and your bulding. and pest done,that's usually 21 days.but it really depends on your bank.then it becomes unconditional,but the pest and bldg inspection,has to be Ok'd by u.And completed by the agreed date.If it's not OK you can pull out. If everything is fine,BY YOU And u have Signed.That's it you Can't pull out.It's not like the UK.were u can pull out anytime for no reason.In Qld all the Stuff about flooding is written in the contract,but your agent should make you aware,if any the flood water effects the property u are buying.Don't pay a huge deposit.Pay the lowest Possible.That is refunded if anything is wrong,and you only pay one deposit.You can if you wish Add your own conditions to the contract.

I can't see how you are on a full Aussie Pension.? We have lived in Australia since 1986 and we receive a part Aussie Pension.When you applied for your Aussie pension at 65,they would have sent you forms to fill out.Asking you if you if you are entitled to any other aged pensions,from any other countries,or any work related pensions. Centrelink sends letters off to the Uk to see what pensions you are entitled to.Then your Aussie Pension is calulated.You then recieve a Aussie pension Minus what u recieve from your other pensions.It seems that hasn't happened.you should contact Centerlink and inform them,as you should't be recieving a full Pension.And you may have to refund the Difference if any, back to Cenrelink.

No Experience Needed to be A real Estate Agent in Australia.Being In Jail For Fraud May Help JOKE.They even gave me a job and i have alway been a truck Driver.But u have to work to get a sale.Picking People up and driving them everywhere,to maybe 5 house at a time.Yeah That was in 1986 when times here were tough for owner drivers.But Anybody can Get A job As a Real estate agent, There's no wages you get paid commision. I don't think Real Estate Agents are on the Most wanted list in Australia are they?Wouldn't think u would get a sponsor for a Real Estate Job .They send u on a course for a certificate and you get it, if you don't fall asleep.What do Agents Do In the UK? We went out with one once. To a empty house she didn't even know what stock they had.Then when we phoned up to look at another occupied house, you had to find it yourself.And if the Owner was in you got to look at it.If not you couldn't see it. What Qualifications do you have for that?In the UK the Real Estate Office Does Not hold any keys.Over here once the Contract is signed ,it's legal and binding,if finance, pest and building inspections are done within 14 days.But u can get it all done in 14 days.Unlike the UK it Takes Forever unless it's a auction.

Just Depends where you live in the UK. Aussies seem to all go to London,The Most Expensive place u could live. On averages according to Australian consensus.Comparing Australia with the UK. Cost of living in Australia is 4 times greater,than living in the UK.We have lived in Rural Australia for 39 years.We can't afford to live in Australia any longer,so we are going home to the UK. Aged people can't get medical treatment,Unless they pay for it.there is at least a 5 year wait for everything, sometimes longer.Rates are Now So high when i die my wife would be forced to move,she couldn't afford to pay the rates.Heating or cooling costs on a widows pension..There is No Public transport.Without a Car you have had it. The Government is making it harder for the elderly. Australia is the only country in the world that openly declares. The Elderly are a burden on the Country.The Liberal /National Party are anti Elderly.In the UK Medical costs over 60 years old are free.Pensioners on the State Pension pay no rates.It's free. Syd U are missing a lot.The Australian Government are saying anyone on $180,000p/a in Sydney,Melbourne,Perth and Brisbane, isn't on a good wage.And needs help.Most Young Couples in Australia will never own their own home.Even Rural Queensland on the Sunshine Coast my house in a good area is over $400,000 We can buy a nice semi or detached houses in the North of England for 130,000 Pounds.Half the Cost than in Australia, And it's centrally heated and has double glazing.Unlike the Paper houses in Australia.Where you think the Birds singing are sitting on the bottom of the bed.

After 37 years we have never got used to the heat and humidity,In fact the older you get the worse it gets.I am now thinking This Global Warning Thing Is 100% true.When they say the norm will be 50 degrees. We live on the Sunshine Coast,It's Aptly Named, we have never known the weather to be so unbearable,with so many cockroaches for so long,And we used to live out west. On the News this morning,they say there is more people leaving the Sunshine Coast than Coming in.Not surprised it's so overrated. And expensive.

Mixed Marriages just don't work! i know. i'm a Geordie and married a Londoner.

They give cars away in the Uk you can buy a good car with Mot and Taxed for 600 Pound.On Gumtree Get your insurance from Skippy,they will accept your no claims bonus from Australia

That's so True i have to Admit.It must have been the Drugs I was on at the time.What can i say.But Now hopefully i have come back to my senses.They say there's no fool like a old fool? Reading Those two posts you have dug up.Were True at the time,i let little things like the car insurance,the banks etc get me down.Little Did i know things have changed so much in Australia now.I have to Correct what i said about my neighbours, having to stay out of the country for 12 months,that's not true.By law they can Stay out one day, and come back in.Then stay for 12 months. As they Still have a house in the UK they stay there for 6 months,then come back.

Just my opinion. But i find it unbelievable the amount of money some people are paying,to these rip off merchant,for a visa application to get to Australia. And then Getting to Rip Off City and Pay More. Australia is so overrated. Why don't people just come for a holiday.And Look for a job while they are here.And if they a lucky enough to find a employer that wants to take them on,He/she will sponsor you.There are so many Horror Stories of People spending Thousands,then when they get here,the Australians don't recognise their qualifications.My neighbor's son has spent a fortune,he has a good job in the UK on the Railways. He spent 30,000 pounds.having interviews in the UK by Australians that were sent to the UK to interview him at his expense.He finally got here,after 2 years jumping through hoops.But now he has to do a 2 year course in Australia ,before he is qualified to Australian standards.Then to add cream to the Cake,his parents,that came out here, to be with their daughter who is a staff nurse.Have been refused permanent residency,after they had a new house built, they wouldn't let them buy a used house.They Thought When they Could only have a new house built, they would let them stay But no They said that was never agreed to So what could they Do?.They have to leave Australia every year,and come back after a year absence.Unless they pay the Australian Government $500,000. They can't have any medical treatment at all,without paying.Knowing Australia as i do.They would have to pay me to come here.

First thing is.Make sure you are making the right Decision.Australia wouldn't be the best place to immigrate to at this point in time.Thousands are moving back to the Uk.Even 25,000 Australian 's immigrated to New Zealand in 2015.We have retired, we have lived in Australia since 1986.Had a good life.But no better than our life long friends at home.In the Uk.Infact if i had my life to live over.we that's my wife,2 sons and 2 daughters.would have stayed where we belonged Never really Settled here,there is a lot of anti pommy feeling with some Aussies.. It's your Choice.But In My Humble opinion,you give up far too much.For so little return.Money ,a bigger house, Sun And Beaches Mean Nothing In the end. In fact we will be glad to see the back of the heat and humidity.It's getting worse.Or maybe it just gets worse as you get older. Probably a good reason for us to return is.Australia isn't a nice place to grow old. When i Die My wife would have to sell up she couldn't afford the up keep of the house we have.Rates etc are seriously high.Cost of Living very high.Without a car life wouldn't be Worth Living and they are bring in restrictions on elderly drivers all the time.My wife has been told she will have her liecence takenoff her if she doesn't get her cataracts done.There's a 7 year waiting list,her knees need to be done thas a 5 year waiting list.The Medical costs for private care are too much.They have taken Just about all the Medication we take off the PPS.So we now have to Pay 5 times more for priscriptions.Everyone is Soon Going to have to pay to see a doctor.That's $97ea + medication.My neighbour a young mother with 2 children,says every time she visits the doctor with her children,if cost her around $300.They say Australia is heading for a recession,I'm not surprised,now that the mining boom is over,Another Company has just gone Broke,And 3000 have lost their jobs.Australia is broke and borrowing $100 million a day to stay afloat.But Good Luck At Whatever you do.

There's not a lot of work on the Sunshine Coast,in fact there is supposed to be 60% of the population unemployed.It bears that out, as when we go shopping during the week,the shops are always full.I keep saying to my wife, does anyone work here that's at Hervey Bay.Gympie ect.And there's so many houses for sale.And there's talk of recession, the Conservative Government has no answers.Just cuts,and more to pay,they are hitting the health service.Plus there is a exodus from Australia to New Zealand,where the economy is booming.

Don't waste your money taking it back to the UK.I sold my 2005 auto ford focus absolutely immaculate condition for 700 pounds.

Anyone that makes a noise is a big hit in Australia.Aussies thrive on noise.They Love Jimmy Barnes u know.He reckoned the theme song from Titanic wasn't music.And the singer was rubbish!

I'd Be Very Careful.I think it might be best for your husband to come out here and check things out on the ground. I've recently been talking with 3 Geordie blokes,That are Bricklayers and Couldn't get a job in Brisbane.They have spent their saving,as rents,cost of living etc here in a decent place are very expensive,more so in Melbourne.They were telling me that they had to go on a course,as their UK papers as a Bricklayer.Wasn't up to Australian Standards.Apparantly they had been given the OK in The UK before they Left they would be fine.It's happening with other Trades.My Neighbor's son has just come out last month,and has to do a course. It cost him Thousands in the UK for them To Interview him in the UK to make sure he was Qualified..He worked in the UK on the Railways as a Electrian.

Mental Health Has been a issue in Australia for decades.The Liberal Government closes their eyes to anything Mental, Medical or Education.They just don't want to pay.For the Public's well being. Like All Conservatives.Foreign aid is more important.Back when Tony Abbott Was Minster of Health in The Howard Government, They had Billions in surplus,It was the Height of the mining boom, it was raining money into Government Coffers.But to save money Abbott Closed all Mentally ill Patients Halfway Houses down,and all the mentally ill patients were thrown out on the streets.The Police were up in arms about it,as they had to take them off the streets and find them somewhere to sleep.When Howard was asked to allow over 75 year olds.To have free Medication. Howard Laughed and said it would cost a fortune .At the Same Time They were running the Hospitals into the Ground.Through Lack Of Funding.As the State Governments Couldn't afford their upkeep.Schools suffered the same fate,No funding.for air/cons or anything else.

Been Here since 1986 and never yet have i acclimatised. it's a Myth. Even the Abo's can't stand the summer heat some years.

It Depends on how old you are,over a certain age,forgot what it is.But the Insurance costs much more than the air fare.

When i went back i changed my Aussie licence for the British equivalent.I phoned them up,as i wanted a PSV Licence and a HGV Licence, As my British licence had expired.All i had to do was to get medical.They Sent Me the Full British Licence and my Aussie Licence back.No problem.

You won't save several thousands.It cost us $3300 all up for our two mini foxies.You may save a couple of hundred.But remember you do one thing wrong.And they pick it up at Heath-row,they won't allow your dogs to enter the country. Personally i'm all for saving a quid.But Your dogs are part of the family,and you need to have peace of mind, that all is done right.