fourcorners

Ha ha! Yes, it's very important to have fun. Although by memory most of that was the motorbike trailer. Not really that much fun in my opinion, but not an essential piece of life kit so it went into the fun category! It's going to be put to use later this week to take the motorbike for it's preliminary MOT, then all being well it's going to Exeter so get approved for road use in the UK then it'll get some number plates. OH rode it round the garden at the weekend and already knows he's going to have a lot of fun on it. He's missed it for the last few weeks! I'll have to do an update for June soon....

Ergh, I typed a long reply this morning and obviously forgot to press 'post'! We're a family of 2 adults and a 1 yr old. 3 bedroom detached cottage with oil fired central heating. We do have solar panels for hot water so that saves us a bit of oil when it's sunny! This is in Cornwall too so maybe cheaper than other areas (but lower wages perhaps). Hope that helps to put our figures into perspective for you.

We've been back just over 4 months now, and the last 2 months have been much easier financially than the first 2. I've kept a spreadsheet of our costs month by month and for living expenses we now spend about £1000 per month. That includes all bills, food, eating out, fun stuff/treats and running 2 cars (but not rent/mortgage). In fact here's a breakdown: [TABLE=width: 300] [TR] [TD=width: 75][/TD] [TD=width: 75]March[/TD] [TD=width: 75]April[/TD] [TD=width: 75]May[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]Food[/TD] [TD=align: right]1064.83[/TD] [TD=align: right]612.18[/TD] [TD=align: right]596.72[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]Household[/TD] [TD=align: right]819.33[/TD] [TD=align: right]369.49[/TD] [TD=align: right]144.79[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]Fuel[/TD] [TD=align: right]64.81[/TD] [TD=align: right]272.64[/TD] [TD=align: right]221.37[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]BT[/TD] [TD=align: right]98.39[/TD] [TD=align: right]64.93[/TD] [TD=align: right]9.54[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]Water[/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD=align: right]31.82[/TD] [TD=align: right]31.79[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]Council[/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD=align: right]239.92[/TD] [TD=align: right]121[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]EDF[/TD] [TD=align: right]45[/TD] [TD=align: right]45[/TD] [TD=align: right]45[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]TV[/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD=align: right]145.5[/TD] [TD=align: right]0[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]Mortgage[/TD] [TD=align: right]0.24[/TD] [TD=align: right]0.24[/TD] [TD=align: right]0.24[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]EE[/TD] [TD=align: right]10[/TD] [TD=align: right]35[/TD] [TD=align: right]10[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]Cash[/TD] [TD=align: right]90[/TD] [TD=align: right]80[/TD] [TD=align: right]165.08[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]Fun[/TD] [TD=align: right]146.57[/TD] [TD=align: right]288.23[/TD] [TD=align: right]597.11[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]Presents[/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD=align: right]65[/TD] [TD=align: right]0[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]Shipping[/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD=align: right]124[/TD] [TD=align: right]0[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]Books[/TD] [TD=align: right]2.17[/TD] [TD=align: right]15.89[/TD] [TD=align: right]8.46[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]Life Ins[/TD] [TD=align: right]41.75[/TD] [TD=align: right]41.75[/TD] [TD=align: right]41.75[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]Car[/TD] [TD=align: right]29.09[/TD] [TD=align: right]3747.14[/TD] [TD][/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]Furniture + appliances[/TD] [TD=align: right]995.97[/TD] [TD=align: right]315[/TD] [TD=align: right]434.5[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]Oil[/TD] [TD=align: right]212.31[/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]Dentist[/TD] [TD=align: right]18.5[/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]Boiler[/TD] [TD=align: right]3098.5[/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]Expenses[/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD=align: right]26.49[/TD] [TD=align: right]-344.72[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD][/TD] [TD=align: right]6737.46[/TD] [TD=align: right]6520.22[/TD] [TD=align: right]2082.63[/TD] [/TR] [/TABLE] May's total includes just over £400 for a motorbike trailer, and £400 for a bicycle, hence why I now say we're on about £1000. We always pay annual premiums for any insurances and all our were paid in March and April (2x cars and house insurance). The household figures have come down a lot too but we've moved into our old house which was rented and needed a new boiler and other maintenance. The £1k food bill in March basically restocked our cupboard and we ate out a lot. I didn't do a spreadsheet in Oz but we paid everything from my account and paid $2k per month rent and $3k for living expenses each month. So, once things steady themselves, I'm sure you'll see a reduction like we have. We too had been looking for a sofa and on a friends advice went to the British Heart Foundation. Got a beautiful upholstered chesterfield for £200. It is shocking at first, but having done this 5 times in the last 10 years we knew what to expect. You get better at seeking out the places where you feel you're getting good value for money. And even I, who was desperate to move back, suffered a few weeks of culture shock, even though we moved back into our old house! I'm fine now, in fact loving each day and the opportunity we have here. We bought one of our cars from The Car People. We also bought a 2 year mechanical warranty which might just pay for itself this week as one of the suspension springs has snapped! Having freedom with a car is essential if you can afford it. My car is a 54 plate VW polo and it's fantastic! Bought from my uncle but at market value for £3k. Cheap to run and spacious yet easily fits down all the lanes. I'm waffling now, but get out there and start enjoying yourselves!

Sorry to hear your news but glad you were in the right place at the right time.

Well worth applying for child benefit straight away too. Even if as a family you earn over the threshold, if one of you isn't working you'll get national insurance credits. I've just sent off our application, was fairly straightforward and should hear back soon.

Yey! We are settling back in too, been back just over a month now which has flown by! I should start a thread soon when I have chance to sit down....

I know, and here it's been the hottest week I can remember, it's been 39+ since last Thursday or so! 40C today, then we're in Perth tomorrow for a few hours at 29C, then 3C when we arrive at Manchester at 7am!

1 day left!

12 days in Australia left!

Oooh that sounds ideal, thanks for the tip! I'm sure even OH wouldn't balk too much at $25 each, he's done a fair bit of flying over the last few years and did enjoy his frequent flyer gold status whilst he had it!

Sounds like a good outcome considering everything. Do you think there's a chance after a few months he will follow on? It might take something like this to make him realise what he has. Do you want him to do that, if you think one day the resentment can give way to love again?

Flights are booked! We're getting $3k from OH's company towards the flights, which covers them fortunately. We're off on the 13th of Feb via Qantas/Emirates. Got a buyer for the car too who's letting us keep it for another week or so. Just waiting on one more shipping quote than hopefully get the packing date locked in. All getting real now, bit apprehensive about flying with a 10 month old but we'll get through it!

Yes hopefully they'll think its too much hassle to find their own. We should know soon. OH has kept HR aware of our plans so it's not a shock to them!

Yes. We are on 457 visas. My OH handed in his notice on Tuesday and at the same time submitted a travel request form for us all, and copied in pages from the DIAC websites. They are responsible to remove you from the country if you request it. This is because Australia doesn't want people with expired visas to overstay in Australia if they can't afford return flights. It doesn't matter if you were made redundant or if it's your choice. For us, our sponsoring company have made it clear that they will not renew 457 visas or sponsor for permanent residency, so they can jolly well pay for our flights. Someone else who is on 457 has just left and had their flights approved, so we're just waiting for confirmation of ours. We picked out some flights, not too expensive but not the cheapest as we have a 9 month old, hopefully they'll just go along with our suggestion.

We are, probably flying on the 13th from Kalgoorlie to Manchester via Perth and Dubai. PM me if you think I can help and let me know all the details.

And a great side-effect of now having made a decision and OH handing his notice in - we have both slept better than at any point since our LO was born. We sleep more quietly, deeply and feel more refreshed in the morning (even though LO still stirs several times per night, I can get back to sleep much quicker). It really does feel like a weight lifted. I think we're flying on Feb the 13th and arriving on Valentine's day into Manchester. OH thinks there'll be no problems with his company paying for the flights as they've just approved them for another pom on a 457 who is heading home. OH has made sure anyone on a 457 knows their rights and requests the flights. They'll learn that they'll probably spent more money repatriating us all than it would have cost to extend the 457 visas! Their loss.

I grew up around West Yorkshire on the edge of the Pennines so it's an area I like. I don't like some of the bigger towns like Huddersfield but there are lots within commutable distance. Can't wait, once we arrive back we'll stay with my Mum in that house. Lots of space, and Mum likes to keep a nice warm house which will help us reacclimatise without too much of a shock! She's currently doing up a pair of cottages near York as well. Such a shame she doesn't get to stay long in these houses, we lived in some fantastic barn conversions growing up.

Well, after over a year of looking for jobs and other opportunities, we have just nailed it! OH has accepted a job in Cornwall, 8 miles from our house there. It's actually where I used to work, but they advertised OH's 'dream job' on their website and I came across it last Tuesday. He applied on Wednesday, phone interview on Thursday and job offer on Friday. They want to put him at Principal Engineer grade and will move him up to Associate Director once he's chartered. He'll be doing lots of travel to mine sites all over the world which will suit him and hopefully keep his itchy feet at bay for a bit longer than usual. They also said they would have work for me on a case by case basis during their busy periods. Which suits me fine! He starts on March 30th and has just handed in his notice at work. So we're flying back probably around the 13th of Feb and will have 6 weeks with families and friends. We'll fly into Manchester and spend time with my Mum first, find a car, do some walking, try and acclimatise to the weather (quite possibly the worst time to move from Aussie outback summer to northern UK winter!). Just feels like everything has just fallen into place, worth the wait! The inly sticky bit is that our tenants in Cornwall have until the 9th of April to move out (we had to give 2 rent periods notice and just missed out on getting them out by the 9th March). Hopefully we won't have any problems with them, felt bad chucking them out as they've been good tenants, but it is our house after all! Trying to claim our flights from OHs company as we're on 457 visas, sent in passport scans and our preferred flights. Finger's crossed!

We lived for a while in the southern half of the Peak District (northern half too expensive due to proximity to Sheffield, although Sheffield is nice, one of my favourite cities in the UK). There are some lovely spots near Buxton and its relatively quick to get to Manchester airport. And also very easy to get to Cheshire, and just a hop over the hills to the M1. I used to be able to get down to Devon in about 4 hours where my boyfriend was living at the time. Basically it's a beautiful part of the world but with good road links, but it feels like you're out in the countryside. Matlock is another nice spot but a bit further away from any airports. Or a bit further northwards but still in the hills, how about Holmfirth area? Again easy to get to Manchester and the M1. My Mum's currently selling a lovely house in Holmfirth - http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-46499804.html/svr/1120?premiumA=true - this used to be a 60's bungalow! Not that I'm trying to get it sold for her but gives you an idea of prices, she is right on the edge of the hills and a great primary school is about 50m walk away. Or completely different, how about mid-Devon? Much cheaper than near the coast, relatively unpopulated and a sense of free space (can't beat Dartmoor). There's Exeter airport (Exeter is my No.1 favourite UK city) and Bristol is about 1hr drive depending where you are. 3-3.5 hours drive to London ish.

More like 6 months in the outback, we only have two seasons, summer and winter. In between are transition periods lasting no more than a month. I get bored of opening my curtains to scorching sun every day (in fact most days they stay shut to keep the house cooler). Makes being a stay at home mum pretty boring!

This will be our last Christmas in Australia. Most of our friends are having family Christmasses or are back in the UK themselves on holiday. So we thought it would be pretty quiet just us 3. Then at the weekend we got an invite from some other friends and there will now be 6 adults, 3 kids, we are taking a prawn starter and a black forest cake which I have to make tomorrow. Should be a lovely day and thankfully not too hot (28C forecast). They're not close close friends but have been ever so kind in the past, brought us meals when our LO was born and we've helped them collect fire wood. Whilst it wasn't our baby's first Christmas back home with all our family, I'm sure it will form some lovely memories for us to take away with us.

Fantastic!!! Congratulations and well done to your OH! I bet you feel like everything is all falling into place. Now just to enjoy your last xmas in oz!

I have some friends in Brisbane who recently needed hospital treatment. Her 2 year old fell over and smashed her front teeth, requiring general anaesthetic to remove the remnants. Medicare didn't cover it so they had to fork out $2000. Then a few weeks later the mum fell over and broke her wrist in three places. She had to pay for the gap for the anaesthatist and surgeons fees. You wouldn't have to do either in the UK, would have all been done with no bills. I have had abdominal surgery in the UK and received excellent treatment, they even fit in my operation around my university term times. In reality, if you're working, you pay for both the NHS and Medicare, only with Medicare it seems there are hidden costs

Agree with Thinkers points above. We have ping-ponged and each time we get rose-tinted spectacles! We're about to move back to the UK again after the recent arrival of our first child. One thing I would say is, if you're thinking about starting a family, you can't put a price on having nearby family support. It has been incredibly hard doing this on our own (I think it also raises the risk of post-natal depression but don't have research to back this up). Last weekend my cousin came to stay for a few days who is great with babies. It made me realise what we have missed out on in terms of support from family. It was great, we had our first meal out sans baby since said baby arrived 8 months ago! So for 'any real child' as you put it, I would say the choice IS simple - it's around extended family. And it's already too hot, can't go outside for long periods with a baby when its this hot, so effectively stuck indoors for the next 3 months. The air of positivity where I live has definitely gone. We're in a large mining town and about a dozen business have closed in the last few weeks. People are quitting their jobs because of negativity in the workplace even if they don't have a job to go to. People are leaving town and their livelihoods to try and find something more stable, often moving back to their home towns. If you want further adventure, why not try somewhere new - how about Italy?

3 and a half months, more or less. Can't wait to book our flights!