Fisher1

I came to live in Australia because I wanted to watch my grandchildren grow. I love living here and am happy and settled but could have been just as happy and settled in several other places including Spain. My daughter and grandchildren were the compelling reasons behind my move.

Thanks!

Thank you!

Hi all we are in our first trip back to the UK after two years, and we’re told that if we rang the DWP and informed them of our presence in the UK, with dates, they would upgrade our pensions for the period we were here. We have tried several times to ring the DWP but never succeeded in getting through to anyone. Does anyone know if it’s possible to claim a temporary upgrade by post, and if so, who do we write to? thanks in advance.

It was the last form we were asked for before issue of a 143 (parents) visa. We had to get a Belgian police check as well as a UK one - you need one for every country you have lived in during the ten years preceding the request for police clearance. We actually found the Belgian clearance simpler and cheaper to obtain even though it had to be translated from French by an immi approved translator. Just find out what you will need to provide (ID, photographs etc) ahead of time so you’ll be able to do it quickly when the time comes. Good luck.

I was being ironic

Oh I don’t know, I’ve seen some episodes where they have shown really nasty little houses ... right before they show the really nice one that’s just about affordable, what with the higher wage they’re going to earn, especially if there are two adults who might work - in between spending more time with their families - on the beach ...

Haha found a bit on you tube...

When I saw it I would have bet money on never even visiting Australia, let alone moving here to live - funny how things turn out sometimes. I’d love to see it again from this angle

Given the discussion about the merits of Melbourne vs Liverpool and the difficulties of settling into a new place, can I go off topic here and ask if anyone remembers a tv series with Tim Healey back in the eighties called “Boys from the Bush”? It dealt with Aussie/UK differences in a very funny way and I would love to watch some of it again now that I have ended up in Australia, but unlike many other series I’ve never seen or heard of it again. Just curious.

I honestly believe that the place is only part of feeling content and happy. You can be happy anywhere, but if you are missing another place, it’s hard. I’ve done the homesick thing and it really hurts, I know. I’ve actually lain in bed in the morning with my eyes shut tight (aged twelve) and pretended I was in bed in my previous bedroom. I’ve moved as an adult and felt totally displaced and unhappy just two hours travel from my former home. Believe me it does pass ... it depends on how happy your life is apart from the move. I found Australia tricky at first, being SO far from everything I had before, but I was so happy to be near my daughter, the rest just slotted into place. Have faith, you’ll get your head round it if everything else fits. Good luck with it all.

Nobody wants to be a "when I" but I find most Australians I've met have been quite interested to know why I moved and where I came from. I'm glad to report that nobody seems to have their world unduly shaken by my revelations about the fleshpots of Llandudno. As for thinking that your home town is the best thing since sliced bread, even when it clearly isn't ... I tend to find that you get out of a place what you are prepared to put in, and that some people can live happy lives just about anywhere. Good on them.

Dont know but I guess not. I was simply saying it pays to get help and Alan Colllet is good for the Australian side of things.

Hi I can’t comment on the USA but arrived from UK 5 months into the UK tax year and two months into the Aus tax year, 18 months ago. Because of the dual taxation agreement between UK and Aus (is there one between US and Aus?) that means we can’t be charged tax in both places at once, we had to file returns in both countries. We had to find an accountant because we couldn’t manage the Australian tax form. I can highly recommend Alan Collet who posts on here for Australian tax forms. He did both the UK and the Aus forms for us in the end and saved us an awful lot of money.

Keswick is a lovely little town.

To be fair to the bug family, it was Can1983 that began the criticism. I found Can1983 offensive because Liverpool was my original home town and I spent my first twelve years there. I try to ignore posters who rubbish my home city, or the city I lived in for many years (Birmingham) - but I understand why some feel the need to make a strong retort. Particularly if some sort of snobbery seems to be at play.

I'll never understand why some people need to big up one place by criticising another. Everywhere is different and there are always things you don't like. Scratch the surface though, and most places have pure gold somewhere. Even Holyhead.

Hmm yes, one of my favourite restaurants is the Oyster Bar on Circular Quay ... unfortunately I can’t afford to eat there

I think most people only buy them occasionally. Don’t get running away with the idea that people in the UK exist on s diet of salt ridden ready meals - most people couldn’t afford it!

Agree with all the above suggestions. Especially as much direct debit as possible ... we had a nightmare with Scottish power and were living round the corner from my mum at the time ... if it’s direct debit it just ticks over. Very difficult time for you, I hope you get things sorted into some sort of routine.

You’re right, loads of money spent. Fantastic new shopping centre, new Dockland development with museums on the Albert Dock and close by. Lots of decent hotels and restaurants. I must be a certain kind of person to think it’s a great city - if the people are anything to go by, it always was. My dad was a bobby on the beat in Toxteth ... he could tell a few tales in his day!

I must try that one day ... more interesting than the lottery!

That is so funny, I was reading your post and thinking I must write and suggest Chester ... Now listen. I was born in Walton and lived in Old Swan till I was twelve, when my family moved to Christleton, just outside Chester. We then moved to North Wales. since leaving school I have lived in Birmingham, Luxembourg, Brussels and Wales again. I’m now settling in Kiama, NSW. There is one thing I can tell you about moving to a new place - it can be exciting, but it is nearly always difficult and can be depressing. It sounds to me as though you are a bit down and everything’s getting on top of you. I think you might want to look outside Liverpool at some of the great places to live that are also within easy reach for family events etc. There are lots of nice places on the Wirral, Chester is a fantastic city and North Wales is only sixty miles away. It depends what you are after in the way of leisure activities. I can’t deny the weather is a pain, but there are compensations ... you don’t get ancient buildings with hundreds of years of history in Melbourne. My recent knowledge of Liverpool is limited to shopping trips and the odd theatre visit because my last home in the UK was in Llandudno. I have a friend who lives in Greasby and she has a very active social life, often skipping over to Liverpool and to Chester. I know it’s a drag, meeting new people and smiling your face off while you try not to wish you were with your old friends in the last place, but it does get easier. I’d say give it a couple of years and see how you feel then. Our rule of thumb has always been join everything and then drop the things you don’t like. You meet some surprisingly nice people along the way. Good luck and try not to overthink it all. Just be nice to yourself. Chocolate is good.

Liverpool is great if you are a certain sort of person? Wow, don’t hold back will you.

where did you go panning for sapphires? sounds interesting!