tea4too

Thanks for clarifying, I guess this was my point really. I don't tend to visit this part of the forum much but the thread title caught my eye and I've enjoyed reading some of the replies. I get the impression that much depends on that potentially elusive feeling of belonging and whether we are able to completely uproot and replant elsewhere, or alternatively leave behind a significant piece of what makes us individuals when we move. The degree and the reasons my differ, but it clearly isn't simply about how long or short a time people live in any particular place. T x

Not sure where you lived before emigrating, but please don't assume that your negative experiences are standard for every one who lives in the UK. Of course there are areas (often ones that have suffered from decades of lack of investment, with low income households and significant numbers managing chronic ill health ) where the level of crime you describe is an issue. But is would be wrong to imply that house break ins and car thefts are accepted as a natural consequence no matter where you live. It's not my experience , nor that of my extended family who live right across the UK. I would add though that I'm genuinely pleased that you have landed on your feet and are clearly enjoying all that your new life in Australia has to offer so far. However, as someone who successfully relocated within the UK I know that it's also possible to find a lifestyle here that's very different from the one left behind. As with most first world countries, where you live can and does make a huge difference. Tx

You can apply for a National insurance number online, information and guidance here:. https://www.gov.uk/apply-national-insurance-number

People's love for where they live is great to read and few would pretend they didn't want to experience the same degree of contentment in life themselves. But we are not all cut from the same cloth and what you describe would not necessarily deliver the same degree of happiness for everyone else, myself included tbh. However it would be a shame for buglife's thread to disintegrate into a list of pros and cons about Aus and UK so I'll resist the temptation to counterbalance, but in general terms I don't recognise the grey and limiting UK lifestyle regularly portrayed by a number of posters. It's not my life and I don't see it as an inevitable consequence of living here. Both Aus and UK are first world economies and over the decades life has changed in both countries. People are more mobile, generally better educated and thanks to the internet have a wider view of their expectations and opportunities. Life has not stood still wherever you live, both countries provide a (different) lifestyle that will either support a sense of home and belonging, or it won't. In terms of the thread title however, how long it takes to work that out is not always as cut and dried. T x

"You may have to pay tax when you sell ('dispose of') your UK home even if you're not a UK resident for tax purposes. Even if you have no tax to pay, you must tell HMRC you've sold the property within 30 days of transferring ownership..." The Gov.UK link provides more information . Tx https://www.gov.uk/tax-live-abroad-sell-uk-home

I suspect Bug Family has weighed all of the issues for a considerable time and not reached any decisions lightly. However in general terms it's not necessarily unusual for a parent to spend long periods of time away from their children, often due to work commitments or career choices, but it is not a given that their relationships will automatically fall apart as a direct result. It is possible for parents to work together to ensure children know they are loved and have not been abandoned or forgotten. It may take more time, effort and/or imagination, but Bug Family's earlier posts indicate that he is on amicable terms with the children's mother and that is likely to make a significant difference. T x

...... still wondering what your news might be BF, and watching this space while keeping everything crossed for you. Tx

I'd just add that Education is managed and financed differently within in the UK. If you live in Scotland it is necessary to attend a University in Scotland to qualify for free tuition - attend Uni in any other part of the UK and fees are payable irrespective of having a Scottish home address. T x

The 'only 24 hour' sentiment bothers me every time I read it, because as someone who remained in the UK I know that my Aus family cannot physically respond to every crisis or every cause for celebration irrespective of how significant or minor it might be. In fact most of the time they are unaware of issues that arise and are routinely dealt with by others here. Living thousands of miles apart does change the dynamics of relationships to some extent, and while an unscheduled return to the UK might be possible within 24 hours in my experience it doesn't happen, except perhaps in the most distressing of situations. Others may have a different experience, but maybe when weighing the pros and cons of migration those with close family ties shouldn't overly rely on the fact that the journey time is only 24 hours . T x

It's a good question. The legislation has recently been amended with effect from August 2021 - it's not an easy read but this might help: https://www.ukcisa.org.uk/uploads/files/1/england_he_who_pays__home_fees_public_version2_28.5.21.pdf From a student finance point of view things the rules differ depending upon where the student 'normally' lives (England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland), but undergraduates are required to reapply each year of their course for the next instalment of their grant/loan. If the undergrad is under 25 years of age and normally lives with their parents details of their income is also required, with parents having their own section of the application form to complete. Not sure if future eligibility would be affected by a family move overseas, but the Student Finance team should be able to advise. T x

The UK Benefit system is complex and difficult to navigate, but this government link might help to signpost the type and level of support available. T x https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/social-care-and-support-guide/money-work-and-benefits/benefits-if-you-are-over-state-pension-age/

Your post set me thinking about the adjustments we make when close family move away, and I think it is maybe inevitable that relationships change. Everything shifts slightly, including expectations, needs, responsibilities and even how we reflect on some memories. The greater the distance, the longer the separation, the harder it is to maintain the closeness that daily familiarity tends to nurture. Any shared experience tends to be something that happened in the past, whereas current 'news' involves people we or they either don't know, or no longer spend time with. Each party becomes an outsider looking in, interested in catching up and keeping in touch, but separate. Maybe it is part of the price of emigration because even the frequently declared 'only 24 hours away' is impractical for all those little things, good and bad, that create the glue of mutually dependent relationships. None of this necessarily means that people care less for loved ones, or that they are forgotten, and when people do eventually get together it can often feel as though they were never apart. However irrespective of which side of the world we live, there is little choice but to get on with life and fill the gaps that the absence of loved ones create. But in truth, it would have naffed me off too HappyHeart. Tx

I was interested, so checked out the context of the poll and found that in general terms a daily shower is not considered essential for good health and hygiene. It seems Dermatologists claim many skin ailments are aggravated by the habit, green campaigners question the negative impact on the environment, hairdressers warn too much washing strips the hair of natural oils, and a Professor of Virology is on record as saying that a daily shower could actually be bad for us as it strips away beneficial bugs that the body uses to to ward off infections. I guess it's all about balance, like most things in life. T x

You sound like my Mum, Jez. She was mightily miffed when she rang yesterday and I told her I'd got three loads of washing dry and needed to water the pots! But it just goes to show that for a relatively small landmass, the UK can experience very different weather at any given time. Lovely blue skies and warm sunshine here again today though - hope it's a bit drier for you. T x

Is there a weather thread in Aussie Chat? While I have a passing interest in the climate and temperatures across Australia, I wouldn't have thought UK Chat was the best or most appropriate part of the forum for entire conversations on the subject. T x

Anyway ...... back to OP ....... hopefully not speaking too soon, but the weather in the UK is beautiful just now and has been for a few days . The garden is looking good, the sky is blue and clear apart from the odd fluffy cloud, and it's lovely to sit out in the evening watching the bats swoop above our heads! Mid June should be the longest day but for now it still seems pretty light at nearly 10.00pm. Happy days T x

I think this was true up until 25 years or so ago, but the opening of the Eurotunnel along with the introduction of regular cheap flights to Europe has made a difference and as fares became relatively cheaper the choice of destination expanded considerably. It's not unusual now for people to book a few days in Europe to celebrate birthdays anniversaries or just as a short break. And without breaking the bank most of our friends seem to have a main overseas holiday as well as several long weekends away either in Europe or the UK. Not so much in recent months of course but UK cottages and holiday lets are currently experiencing a boom in bookings which, in view of the consequences of the global pandemic, is a bonus for the local economy and possibly our health too. I appreciate however that not everyone is able to find the joy in a wet and cold weekend in the middle of a UK winter, or summer for that matter! T x

The UK benefit system can assume a 'notional income' If someone chooses not to claim an income to which they are entitled. I don't know whether this happens in Australia but suspect it might. T x

Well to be fair I think the author of the post I quoted is best placed to decide whether my reply missed their point or not. But I'm not sure anyone is suggesting that a host country deliberately sets out to make individuals unhappy and, having reread the OP, I can't see where the poster has blamed the host country for an untenable predicament? People move constantly, sometimes a few hundred miles as in my case or thousands as in most of those on PIO. But to some extent we all contribute to the community in which we live and work through our taxes and the professional and social interactions we make. If we are happy and settled - great. On the other hand if we don't like certain aspect of the culture or lifestyle I would have thought that living in a civilised democracy means we are free to say so, without being accused of being at fault for not being a member of the happy and settled group. T x

I think it's about degrees of difference. So long as people obey the law, pay their taxes and don't force their views on others I see no problem holding negative/ positive views about a country of residence. The 'fit in or push off' narrative ( being polite here) doesn't allow for people to feel different unless they pretend otherwise. And that in itself seems more than a bit totalitarian and generally not very healthy, either for society or the individual. Tx

If you've not already done so the first step is to check your record - what you've already paid and any credits you may have received. If there are gaps in your records it may or may not affect your final Retirement Pension entitlement as some years don't count towards your pension. The government website is a useful place to start and does provide some contact details. T x https://www.gov.uk/check-national-insurance-record

With apologies to the OP as I'm not looking to take the thread off track, but I don't see it is as bashing either. Threads in Aussie or UK Chat are likely to have an Aussie or UK focus, with varying and different opinions expressed depending on personal preference. Trolling for the sake of it is a completely different issue, but mostly I see people posting their thoughts and occasionally getting jumped on because some-one else disagrees or misunderstands a thought or intention. Tx

If the thought of a return to his old life is at the heart of your partner's reluctance to move, perhaps together you could shift the focus? It's not always necessary to return to the place or even the area you left, and establishing a new life somewhere else in the UK could be a new and possibly exciting chapter for you both. Lifestyle and job opportunities differ depending where you relocate to, as does the weather and house prices amongst other things. There are choices when it comes to settling in a village, a town or a city, on the coast or the countryside. However if it's really important for you to to be close to family and friends, draw a ten or twenty mile circle around the location and start researching what your options and opportunities might be within a visiting radius. Neither of you may end up with everything you want or need, but life is too short for one of you to give up on happiness in order to make the other happy. Hopefully you can find a compromise that works for you both. T x

I'm so sorry it has come to this for you and your wife but, sadly, you are not alone in experiencing the type of regret you describe and over the years there have been many posts from people expressing similar feelings. In general terms it is possibly one aspect of migration that is glossed over at the planning stage, as it is relatively easy to agree to an adventure 'for a few years' when everything is still theory and conjecture. Plans naturally focus on work opportunities, living standards and lifestyles, but immigration tests other less obvious things too and that is the real gamble. Yet realistically how can anyone confidently commit to managing feelings that are impossible to identify or quantify in advance? Good luck @Pendragon, the goalposts moved and I understand your need to feel centred. Tx

Child Benefit, or Family Allowance as it was formerly known, is just one of the state benefits that automatically credits a recipient with NI contributions. But there are a number of situations where it's necessary to apply for credits, so it's worth people checking the government website if in doubt. Tx