Soozan

Hi Angelia Really sorry to hear you're not happy. I know exactly how you feel. I don't think I was brave coming home and leaving my husband. I think I would've been brave to stay in Australia. I really hated it and living there just made me so so depressed. If I had stayed, that would've been the end of hubby and me, our relationship would never have lasted. He was the brave one by letting us go. I was coming back here with my children, have friends and family here for support. I had no home to come back to, that's where I needed my strength. My hubby was so sick of seeing me and the kids unhappy it was him who went ahead and booked our flights back home. I was devastated at the time but it was for the best. It was agreed that he would follow in 12 - 18 months time. It was upsetting leaving him at the airport but we had to come home. The way I was feeling, staying in Australia wasn't an option. My hubby has been in Australia for 4 months on his own now and he was starting to feel depressed. He realised that he was missing out on the best part of our children's lives so what was the point staying in Aus just to be unhappy. My hubby came home yesterday, he couldn't stand being on his own any longer and we're thrilled to have him back. We are no longer home owners, doubt we'll ever be able to get back on the property ladder now and neither of us have a job. Hopefully something will come up soon. But we're happy to be back as a family and the kids and I are happy to be home. Think hubby is too. Good luck Angelia, I hope you find a way to be happy. xx

Wages may seem better but the cost of living is extremely high, and you really have to work hard for your money over there. We tried the move and were much worse off, we hardly saw OH because of the long hours and depending on where you move you can't guarantee good weather. We were in Sydney and it rained a heck of a lot!!

Australia is very expensive so take everything, what you find you don't need you could maybe sell in a garage sale or on gumtree. As for needing a washing machine and other white goods, you can rent these things (even beds). We rented a washing machine for around $30 per month until our stuff arrived, we rang one day and it was delivered the next, fitted too. I just rang when we no longer needed it and they came within a couple of days to collect it. We got rid of tons of stuff before me moved to Aus, which we now regret - we keep looking for stuff which we no longer have lol. Hope this helps.

Thanks for all of your well wishes everyone. I was so down in my last thread I can't believe it was only 7 weeks ago! I'm trying my best not to dwell on what we gave up to move to Australia, just really really happy to be back home and excited about our new start. We have done so much during these school holidays it's hard to believe we were ever in Australia. I have booked myself onto a course which starts in September once the kids are back at school to give myself a better chance and more options in the job hunt. Meanwhile, the kids and I will just carry on enjoying ourselves. Once again, thank you so much for all of your support. I'll pop in now and again to let you know how we get on. Soozan xx

Hi Sorry I haven't updated before now, but some members made me nervous since my last post. I thought I would update you all as to how I've been doing since we returned to the UK 5 weeks ago. Within the first week of my return I managed to secure a huge 4 bedroom rental which has been undergoing renovation, the children and I move in next week. I managed to get the children back into school for the last week before the summer holidays which they loved, it was wind down week so it was fun and they got to see all of their friends again. The weather has been fantastic, far better than I experienced in Sydney. We haven't stopped, I don't have a car but it has made no difference whatsoever. The public transport is really good here (which I now appreciate since returning). There is so much to do and everywhere is so easy (and quick) to get to. The children and I have had a fantastic time since getting back and I can honestly say we haven't been this happy for such a long time. I'm pleased we came back and we're loving life. We still don't know when OH will return, but other than that we're doing OK.

The friends I have made, my long lost then found relatives and most importantly my husband (fingers crossed it won't be long till he follows).

My husband did the back packing thing about 16 years ago and since then wanted to emigrate. He was offered a job in Sydney - he said this would never have been his first choice to move to, prefers other parts of Aus. I had never been before until we landed last November, I think programmes like Wanted Down Under build the country up too much and also happy memories my husband has told me. Life here is not how I expected it to be unfortunately.

Thank you, my children and I are leaving 1 week today. Still really sad that my husband has to stay but he is confident he will eturn sooner rather than later. I'm staying positive and looking forward to searching for a house to rent when I get back, it will be far easier than finding a rental here! My children are very excited about going back and making lots of plans as to what we'll do when we return. I'll let you all know how I get on. Thank you again for the well wishes.

Take care, you're a lovely person and thank you for your help. x

Thank you for your advice, it's really appreciated. It was my husband who went ahead and booked the flight tickets for us. I think if we stay it would do more damage than if we didn't, if my children were settled then I really would try my hardest to give it a bash but they're not. I've made some really lovely friends over here and I regularly meet up with them for coffee. My children have made friends too, they've both just had birthdays and parties for each of them and plenty of kids came but school and the playing out things are the big issue here. As we're in NSW we have to pay $4,500 per child per year for schooling, my 11 year old son has Moderate learning difficulties, he is borderline with his needs so is not eligible for extra help. His social skills are extremely high, but his language and academic skills are very low. On top of the school fees, then all of the `voluntary payments, books, stationary, PE lessons (I won't bore you by going on!) we also pay for speech therapy for him. It's costing us an absolute fortune. He sees his speech therapist for 1/2 hr per week - the rest of the time he has to struggle on in class. One teacher per class of 30, no classroom assistants like back home. The teacher allocates 2 students to help my son along - why are we paying fees for students to advise my son? Because my son is unable to get through all of his work at school he has to bring it home - we have a hell of a lot of homework to get through as well as speech therapy work. My daughter also comes home with a lot of work, so the hours of 3-6pm each day is spent getting through the work as well as having to cook meals. We cannot afford the expense in this country, I have tried applying for part time work but never ever get a reply. If I applied for full time then who would be here to help my children, my husband works such long hours he couldn't help them. My son was starting to do so well back home and so was my daughter, but as someone else has said - the schooling over here is a bit behind and I feel I have let my children down. We have parks nearby but with everything else I have to do with them, I only have time at the weekends to go and supervise. They tried playing out in the street once, my daughter loves her scooter but it's extremely hilly here by the way, and a neighbour complained! They're now afraid to play out - hope this answers your question whoever asked! It is a worry how things will turn out once we're all back together but my husband is such a lovely man and we've always had a very strong relationship - I'm hoping the saying `absence makes the heart grow fonder' will be true because `the grass is always greener on the other side' certainly isn't for us. Thanks again, Soozan

Good luck Desprado, and good luck to your son with his exams. x

Good luck Karen, hope all goes well.

Hi All We need to get quotes on shipping all of our belongings back to the UK. I have a friend who has just received a quote for her stuff today, as she hasn't been here 6 months yet the guy said they will have to pay duty on everything! Would anyone know if this is correct?

Thanks guys for the very kind words of good luck. We're packing up today, hubby hasn't decided where he's going to live for the time being. A very very sad day indeed. :cry: x