supa

I can't imagine not cuddling my kids for 2 years. Never mind her struggling with the school issue, what about not being able to chat about it with her dad? Being away 1-2 days per week is one thing, but all the time is quite another.

Maybe we are just lucky, but we aren't finding the UK to be as bad as the media make out. To hear/read it, you would think we are all living off food banks, none of us have jobs and we are all being repossessed. I still maintain that if you are happy to keep your head down and graft and avoid the doomsdayers, it's actually a pretty fine place to live. I may also be trying to make the most of things though as our PR ran out in January and we didn't move because the exchange rate was so pants (and are now too old to try again!). I often wonder what it would have been like but with hindsight I know we did the right thing. We just couldn't have the life there we do here and we're also able to spend time with our rapidly ageing parents (not always a good thing). Wages are less here, but so is food stuffs for example and houses comparable/cheaper. We've been "across the channel" a couple of times in the last year too, which was lovely. In short, don't worry about coming back to the UK - it's as fine as you want to make it. x

Hi KM, no we didn't go in the end. We were granted our 175 permanent residency visa (almost) 5 years ago which runs out at the beginning of January 2014 (happy new year to us!!!) and we are now timed out. Unfortunately, the £ just died and we decided that our lives, financially, were better here and would have entailed us giving up far more than we were prepared to. Unlike you though we are cracking on a bit and hubby has now passed the magic 50, so we are now officially too old to go. The kids are now settled into good schools and well, life has just sort of moved on from Oz. Education may well seem a very long way off at the moment with your kids being that bit younger, but it does become a bigger issue as they get older and it definately complicates things as you will probably know and as highlighted in Caramac's post above. We intend having a very long holiday there someday, seeing the places we didn't get to (we had 2 x reccies, so we've seen a bit but not nearly enough). We've also got a dream of retiring there but that is a fair way off, so not worth processing the thought at the moment. Listening to people who are so torn after marrying Ozzies, I'm glad I married a Brummie (never thought I'd say that!). We are sort of sighing whistfully and saying wonder what it would have been like to have gone but we aren't "kicking ourselves" luckily, as we could have just said "hang it all" and gone; we did after all have a choice. We have just booked a holiday and are making the most of the whole "close to Europe" thing which, funnily enough, was a factor in our decision not to go. Really wishing you the best of luck with your decision x

I agree with the posters above and want to say I'm so sorry for your loss. I know it so, so hard. When we told my 77 and 78 year old parents our plans, my mum dissolved in tears but my dad immediately said go for it. His thinking was that it was a fab opportunity but that at his age, realistically, he wouldn't be around for many years more and he didn't want us to stay just for him. Horrible to say, but your family are your main priority. It may just be cold feet but I do agree though that it may be an idea to delay for a time yet if you really are having doubts. Moving and feeling miserable and trapped would be very, very hard. If you are able to visit your mum a bit, that I would have thought would help a lot; that along with daily Skype/telephone chats It could be that cancelling the move may take the pressure off you and focus your feelings and you decide then that it is actually what you wanted after all. Above all, discuss all of your feelings with your OH. I'm sure he would rather no go than have you unhappy and uncertain. Don't envy you at all and wish you luck.

Have to say that I think it would be better to rehome them, providing that the new owners are experienced with the foibles that rescue dogs can have and don't pass them on again. Having owned a rescue border collie mix for 15 years who had MAJOR behavioural issues, I would say that leaving them would be best all round; you will have enough on your plate with everything else. Unless you have owned a dog with problems, it's not possible to imagine just how draining it can be. We loved our pooch so much but to be honest, there were times when I wish we'd never taken her on! Do what's right for you, your family and the dogs without feeling emotional (if poss).

I think it's a good idea. We've got one in a holiday park and it's so lovely, mainly because there are facilities and also because most other people on the site are on holiday/relaxing and it is therefore a positive place to be. Yep, the site fees are a killer but it isn't too bad for us as we use it for holidays and most weekends so it's not bad value - depends how often you are going to use it once you have moved out. It's best if you buy one near where you are going to live so that you have a holiday home when you find somewhere more permanent. If you buy a young enough van you'll be able to hire it out through the park but they won't allow older vans to be used - nothing to stop you hiring it out privately to recoup some cash. As has been mentioned, they are freezing in winter; we shut ours down at end of October and ventured back at end of March, but gave up as it was too cold. They are cosy but have lots of ventilation, so keeping them warm is tricky. You can of course sell it eventually, but expect to lose a hefty bit of cash and the park owners to make a good bit of profit. Good luck.

I'm in the UK so can't help - I do feel very sorry for you. It's a brave thing to do to relocate on your own; I could never have done it, so well done to you. I googled on Social meets in Brisbane and came across this. Have a click and see if there's anything to take your fancy. It may not be something you would normally think of, but clearly there are others out there who want to have a bit more of a social life. As I've read so many times on here, no-one will come knocking on your door; you have to go out there and find your life for yourself. It may be that Oz isn't for you, but I think you may regret going home too soon. Having said that, given that you struggled when you were in the States too, it could just be that you are a homebird and that back home with your family is where you should be and that recognising this is what you need for peace of mind. I don't know - only you can decide. Good luck to you. x http://social.meetup.com/cities/au/brisbane/

Ceremony was mind-blowing - absolutely loved it. Only downside, Paul bloody McCartney. Somone stop him please.

Looks like a cracking place - now I just have to find that in Melbourne!

Difficult one for us as if we do come over, I would like to move to Mount Martha/Mornington as I loved the places when we have visited. However, it may be that OH would have more chance of a job in Geelong (I'm guessing a commute from say Dromana to Geelong would be out of the question - OH fancies a trip on the ferry every day!). We visited Geelong briefly and it was OK but we didn't get such a good vibe. The problem with Oz is that there are so many different towns, that trying to get one that fits is difficult. I love the beach and would love to live by it, but not at the expense of a friendly environment for all of us.

I know, you would have thought so, but hey. Yet more paperwork, moan, moan!!

Have downloaded the form but not sent off as I wasn't going to bother if not essential (loads on at the mo and haven't had time to sort), but will now deal. Thanks both.

I've renewed mine and my 11 year old's passports and obviously the new ones don't have the stamps in them. I understand and have downloaded the form 929(I think that's the number, though I don't have it to hand). It looks a bit of a hassle, but I'm not sure I'm comfortable with travelling without it in our passports. Do I need it or is it computerised, and taking the old passport with us as well would suffice?

When we visited we parked in the shopping mall and just walked around with no problems. I liked the fact that you definately got a seat being first on the line. Also, the express is a must as the others a bit of a pain. To a veteran UK train traveller, I would think you'd find it a relief.