tillyd

It seems a lot smaller than a large one. Just wondered what you have managed to fit in one.

When you put it in your checked luggage was it in its box? I was just a bit worried as you know how they throw those luggage cases around.

Thank you. Well I just had a difficult conversation with him I said that I has started the ball rolling and I may not come back after my trip. I feel sort of numb right now but I'm sure the enormity of what I have just done will hit soon. I am so gutted, we've been together 24 years, most of my adult life.

Yes I understand how that feels but they are in the honeymoon period of their own life changing decision. I think that by saying how bad the uk is, it actually makes them feel justified in their decision to emigrate.

My son wants me to take his Xbox back to the uk with me from Brisbane. I was wondering if anyone had done this and if they had any issues. thanks.

Thank you for listening. I do plan to tell him before hand, I respect him enough not to just leave. I just hope that he doesn't move our funds because at the moment I am not able to do anything if that happens. I just hate having to have any king of decisions over the phone but my time is so limited.

Well the animals have had all there shots, I have quotes for shipping. I guess its just making that final step I'm sad, scared and so unhappy that it has come to this. i think you are right, I have to just do it. The sad fact it we still love each other, we just don't want to live in the same country

No not really, he is away working for another two weeks. I have asked him before to go to marriage counselling but he declined. I cannot delay my trip as I am going for a family commitment. We will see each other for 12 days between now and the end of May. He will actually not be here when I leave for my trip as he is on a bucks weekend and he will be working again when I (if I) return.

I have booked a trip back to the UK for next month. Recently I plucked up the courage to tell my husband that I want to move back, he doesn't. I again asked my husband if he will return with me or not. Both times I never really got a definite answer, in fact he hasn't mentioned it again. Instead he booked us a long weekend trip away. I think he is trying to make me see how beautiful Queensland is, hoping I will stay. Now I am in two minds, just get on with planning my move but without him, not retuning from my trip. Alternatively, returning but to what? Am I just delaying the inevitable? i need to make arrangement for my two pets and my things to be shipped back. i feel like I have finally opened my heart for it to be ignored. I love him but I cannot carry on with the emotional and physical symptoms to myself. He seems to be in denial and this is what always happens when I say something he doesn't agree with. I have come to realise that my feelings count too. i do feel like jumping on that plane and never coming back but I have so much to sort out in so little time.

Sorry I'm just a bit over it all

Because I have no family here, only a couple of people I can call friends but they are busy leading their own lives. He loves it here with his camping, 4 x4 driving etc. He says it's hard on him as he is stuck in a hotel room night after night, I realise that but he wanted the bloody job.

Well as the wife of a fifo worker I can tell you it sucks. Since Christmas I've seen him about 15 days. No, I didn't object to him taking the job but he was so unhappy in his last job I couldn't see an alternative. He was very pleased that he got the contract. How ever I am now stuck here, lonely and spending all my time alone. So much for a better life with more time to enjoy things together ... I think not.

Thank you. We have only had it 6 months. I will check out the contract. I guess we will loose money on it but not a lot I can do about that.

It is so hard some days. I am seriously looking at returning myself as I can just see a future of loneliness. With kids and grandchildren in the uk I cannot really see what Australia can offer me anymore. I realise that you cannot base you life on you kids, after all they have there own lives to lead. However I will be doing what is right for me. Life here is very lonely, especially as my husband works away most of the time. It's about time I followed my heart and not my head.

I can see it from both sides My mother was distraught when I first left the UK, she couldn't look at me without crying. I felt so guilty. Now 10 years later both my children have left Oz and moved back to the UK which was something that no-one could foresee. It makes me very sad and somedays I cry. How the tables have turned.

Just wondering as we have a car on finance, the other is fully paid up. Not sure what to do about it as I will need to obviously get rid of it if we move.

Thank you, I started to feel like what I am feeling is unreasonable. I can't really see any light at the end of the tunnel. I wish I didn't feel like I had to make a choice, my husband or my sanity. I am waiting for my citizenship to be finalised before any major decisions are made. It will give me some time to think things through. I like it here never truly settled and now that I spend most of my time alone it's sort of coming to a head.

Thanks everyone. I do work full time so it's not as if I don't have anyone to talk to during the day. However, I have been asking myself, is this it? This is not how we thought it would be. Yes, I do want to be a nanna that is close to her grandchildren, just like my mum is and my grandmother was to me. Both had the grandkids over all the time and my grandmother was my inspiration, from whom I learnt a great deal from. I have suggested marriage counselling in the past but he wasn't into it unfortunately. He's a good man but his dream isn't mine anymore. I feel a bit resentful that he is off all over the place working in a job he likes, whilst I'm stuck here alone taking care of the animals, the house and all of it really. Im not depressed yet .... But I know I can feel it lurking and I have to try damn hard not to fall although I am very emotional. I have tried to make a life here but for what? What's the point anymore - the only think keeping me here is my marriage.

Well we have been her 8 years and over the last couple of years both kids have returned to the uk. My husband works away so I am very much alone. I have no other family here. Now grandchildren are in the picture too. I am sooo lonely. Yes I have friends but not the kind of friend I have back in the uk. I am at a point now where I feel my life is at a fork in the road. Stay or go. i would go tomorrow but my husband likes the lifestyle, his dream is acreage, big shed, camping etc. he earns good money. He has never been close to his family. I love my husband but if I mention retuning he sort of sweeps it under the carpet. i am so torn, I feel like it's my marriage, or my sanity and my family. I haven't had my family in one place for 4 years and I'm not sure I can do this for much longer.

I filled in my form last week and took it to the post office. Only needs countersigning if your appearance has changed a lot since your last passport photo. They also send you old passport with your paperwork. $275 i think it cost me.

Thank you everyone but I don't think that I have made myself very clear. What I meant to say is that I would like to go back, I don't want to be across the other side of the world from my grandchild. I want to see him or her grow up, be apart of their lives. How can you do that when you are half way around the world? I am very close to my daughter but I have no intention of moving in with them or anything like that. My dilemma is I feel torn, my family here and my family back home. For once i feel like being selfish but I am so worried about the cost.

Thanks for your reply, been here about the same time as yourself. I just feel like I will be ripping my family apart .... again My heart is telling me to go back, but my head keeps butting in. I feel like I have left her alone for so long and had my adventure that now I need to step up to the plate and put her first.

I have just been told my daughter in the uk is pregnant. I am over the moon. But ...... I feel torn. I alway said that when grand children come along I will go back. I want to be the nan that my mum and my grandmother always were to me. Daughters need the support of their mums and I know she misses us badly. Problem is, we have a life here and my husband loves it. I also have a teenage son in Australia too. So very confused. I really want to be there for my daughter but if I go back I know I will be going alone.