3FatCats

Personally I think you have compromised enough already and I would have just stayed in the UK, so kudos to you on going back for 6 months. Remember that "right" feeling, there is nothing quite like it, and the greatest good luck for a quick return x

We went on the 457 in 2011 when OH was 49. We always knew PR would be tricky, but it was just us 2 no kids. Before even considering this, decide now if you as a family can deal with it being a temporary experience. Anything extra at this point is going to be a bonus. If you think you would like 4 years in Aus, then enjoy it, and be realistic you will go home once it is over. If this were to be the case for me, I would be expecting a very good package, including both relocation fees and a company car. It could be a lucrative deal if the company are willing, and you will get a great experience. If, on the other hand, you are honestly hoping this will turn into a PR route, stop now and do nothing more until a good migration agent has advised you. Once you are in Aus, you may spend every waking moment trying to find a PR route, it is hard work, stressful, expensive...you may not live life enjoying Aus, but worrying about getting your PR, and that would be a shame.... So, just be realistic and well informed from the start, and good luck with your choice!

That sounds lovely!

oh poor cat....so sorry about that :sad: We moved back into our own house, but have had to do major work after tenants....we are into thousands in repairs so all our savings are gone....just as well we have work or I would have been losing sleep! C'est la vie.

Added above

Oh I am so sorry to hear about your cat! :frown: Hope you can find a loving home? This may sound like a completely one sided statement, but the move back has been perfect for me. I think I put up with so much in 3 years in Sydney that I now feel free! To try and be objective I will say the following: - weather in July was amazing, hot and sunny. August has turned cooler, quite a few rainy days, but also some blue skies like this week, just cooler. Radio said yesterday that temps may be warmer than average into November, fingers crossed. - jobs, I hit the ground running with appointments set up from Sydney and had 1 offer I refused and 1 well paid offer I accepted which I am now doing. I have to travel around 1 hour each way but the company, salary etc was too good to turn down. OH started contracting from the first week and is going permanent this month in a managerial position with fairly competitive salary, bonus for him it is a 5 min drive round the corner (lucky sod!) - prices, OH reckons some things and life in general have risen in 3 years, I am not so sure. Life in Sydney was so expensive I still think here is better, but time will tell. Still prefer paying my mortgage than someone elses... - traffic/driving, has become slightly more aggressive, less giving way etc and I am honest, the M60/M62 are the roads from hell. Caught the train twice, fairly cheap for day returns, not been on a bus. Petrol is what it is, got good insurance rate by showing Aussie no claims doxs. - shops, are excellent and loving the variety, choice, prices, deals... What I would NOT do in hindsight is ship all our goods. Bargains to be had here on furniture and house goods, I should have sold/ dumped more stuff in Aus and bought here. Also sick of waiting for our container, it stood idle for 5 weeks in Sydney after we left, and is now 1 week in Malaysia at the transshipment hub, ETA Felixstowe 23rd Sept and hopefully home in October! So 3 whole months. Not impressed.... The 3 fatties are fine, they have done international travel a few times now. No problems to report, both Jetpets and Bob at PetAirUK were great :wubclub: They come and go as they please and seem happy which is good. Not sure what else to report on but feel free to ask questions!

I have been back since early July. OH secured work before we left, I got a well paid job within 4 weeks. Can you be flexible on location and perhaps contract? Most recruiters I worked with all said the market is in a great place now compared to 12 months ago which I guess is true. Hopefully you won't have too much trouble! In the end, if you want to come back you kind of just have to do it? Good luck x I am daily grateful for being home :cute:

None for me so far, for the OH it will likely be different. He will be gloomy about the weather and lack of good diving (his opinion). I am never going back.

Holidays....as many as possibile, any length! Being able to afford them is the tricky part :wacko: Being back now I am looking forward to day trips and weekends in the UK, there are many places I still have to explore locally, and longer holidays abroad when I can. If everything goes to plan should be back in Thailand next April (fingers crossed) doind some more diving. My travel wish list is a mile long....I don't even know if I'll see all the places I want to in my lifetime.

Been back 6 weeks now. Have started work and done major work to the house. Just to say IT IS AWESOME BEING BACK! :jiggy:

Just read the latest on this thread and congrats to both @fourcorners (you got the job! no matter you turned it down) and to @Aunt Agatha, guess this means you are now coming over? X

Go to the Blue Mountains! Leura will likely be pricey, but there are plenty of other villages/small towns where your budget will buy a nice property. Train line is OK, drive also not bad, stunning countryside, community spirit, cute houses....actually, this is probably the only area I would consider living if we ever went back to Oz. Do let us know what you decide!

I used to live in one like the Sydney house! :eek:

That is such a shame, when it is obvious from a few posters it is indeed possible....

Did you try via a travel agent? I have been on a few Costa vessels, also owned by Carnival...

Anjelica Huston here....:animal-bat:

Big hugs, no words are enough.... Xxx

Re the on board visits, if it is a special visit they sometimes have open days for the public i.e you queue up. If just a normal port call, the best bet is to have a word with a travel agent. Say you are thinking of booking a cruise but would like to go on board first to have a look, they usually have some passes. I have done this in a past job and visited several Costa and MSC vessels, I even held a staff Christmas party on board once. Alternatively, if you know anyone who works for a line, they can help sort it out. Good luck!

You can indeed go onboard during port call, often for a tour and lunch. They make money from day visitors when the ship is on a turnaround in port, maximising their off time, try it out! :wubclub:

Just seen this thread, I too love ships! Used to work in ship building industry and saw many of the giant cruise ships built from the first plates up to the finished article, it is amazing. I used to live in a big port city and there would often be 3 or 4 giant cruise ships in harbour together :wubclub:

Winston Hills is where we started out, then moved to Castle Hill. The bus on Old Windsor Road from WH takes 20 mins to Parra and then take your pick from any train, however, busses are full in the peak hours. From Castle Hill intergchange the city busses get straight onto the M2 and into the city quickly, there are also plenty and you never wait for long. For the OP, you could also check out North Parramatta and Northmead for proximity to trains. Otherwise, Castle Hill, Baulkham Hills, parts of Cherrybrook? or even Bella Vista and the early part of Kellyville.

Seven Hills has a train station, if you like it there of course. Castle Hill is good as the bus interchange is there, so you get on at the start and can sit down.

I knew I wanted to return from the minute I landed, and don't have kiddies, but it still took me 3 years to do the deed! It is such a scary decision, with so many attached emotions and what ifs. In the end I just said we should decide or toss a coin, because life was on hold and we were getting nowhere. We have been back less than a month and I wish we had done it sooner. I have slotted straight back in and am finally feeling like myself again. If it helps you to set yourself a plan with some non-negotiables and a rough timescale then do that. In the end, it isn't hard when things actually get going! It took us just 8 weeks to un-do our life in Aus, get stuff in a container and bums on a plane....good luck x

I was down as a tentative, but I haven't secured a job yet and can't be gallavanting off to Bristol spending money. Will look forward to the next one! Have fun.

We only moved through work, and love our home/area. We have been back 20 days and have slotted straight back in. Our house is needing considerable work but it will be fine. To be honest, apart from the need of a job, it feels like I never left.