Chortlepuss

Gosh I have never thought of 40’s as old! I’m sorry you’ve had that experience- tbh it doesn’t surprise me - in QLD the best person for the job doesn’t always matter. My last job finished in June last year and by then I was aware of how few people my age were in the office. When I see websites for IT companies or features on LinkedIn, it’s all trendy bearded blokes or young women in their 20’s. Then you have to read all the bollox about IT skills shortages! V frustrating

Hi KateB I’m nearly 58 and making plans to retire at least part of the year in the UK. My friends and ex colleagues in the UK are still working some part time, some with new careers. I do miss working but as someone who has worked in IT since the late 1980’s I’m now seen as ‘too old’ to work in Queensland so although I apply for jobs and sometimes get interviews, I rarely get anywhere. it is hard - I’m not quite ready to embrace retirement and know I’d be better placed to get some work in the UK but my family are here and not in a position to move so stuck for the moment. I think you should be fine for work once you move, ageism is everywhere but maybe there is just so much more opportunity in the UK? Note Marisa’s comments on pensions though - super important to be able to receive pension once you finally retire. May be worth seeing a financial advisor re: existing super - if you reach preservation date before you leave you could withdraw it before you leave and invest it in UK. You will be taxed in UZ on Australian pension income if you are over tax free threshold

Hey Marisa - am I right to assume that once I reach preservation age in Australia and am retired I can take all the $ out of my super and put it in my account - and the UK tax man will not tax it as long as I am still resident in Australia? I am completing UK tax returns as I have a rental property... Thanks...

Hi Watsy Glad to hear things are picking up - it's great that you are giving it time. I will be facing a similar decision as to where to live in a few years once I'm retired - my hubby loves the heat in Qld but I am over it! We bought a house here 3 years ago and I am feeling more positive about Australia now I don''t have to struggle in the insecurity and frustration of a rental. We still have a house in the UK which we rent out and I am hoping to spend part year in both countries but it is complicated re: tax/super/UK pension etc... Plus grown up kids who have settled here .. I hope you have a lovely Spring and Summer and enjoy those long days that I miss so much!

I say it because I know a couple in a similar position and her partner loved the UK to bits but for work reasons they had to return to Australia and he is now reluctant to go back to the UK due to family obligations. Also know a couple of Australian families from work who lived in (and loved) London for at long while but eventually couldn’t cope with the climate and returned. So just my observation of experience - the OP’s partner could well be different but her message seemed to suggest an attachment to work here.

Some great advice here especially re: waiting till you’re settled to have kids. I’d be tempted to give it a little more time but beware that you could get yourself into a tricky situation. I came over to Brisbane in my 40’s over 12 years ago. If you’re used to the vibrancy of British cities it is very dull, albeit improving. My kids were young and personally I think if you have a young family, and are not so into the social side of things you can make it work. The flora and fauna are fantastic but like you, I find it wearing to drive for hours to get anywhere decent. My kids are grown up now and have had fabulous opportunities here (one is a nurse and about to buy her own house aged 25!). I now feel stuck. I have had a great time but never stopped missing the British countryside, European travel, the weather (!) that enables you to be outside most days of the year with correct clothing. I have met a lot of nice people here through work and activities but no close friends. If I retire here, it is likely to be just me and my husband and we get on well thankfully but I miss our friends and family and the company of others. I am so tired now of the heat and the climate has changed notably even in a decade here. I find solace in my trips home and the prospect of spending at least part of my retirement back home. If I was alone and child free I’d be on the plane tomorrow, grateful for the experience but excited about moving on with my life! Sorry to ramble - but you need to completely enthusiastic about making it work in Australia before you commit completely - and I suspect that moving your partner over with you to the UK may not be the best outcome for him.

Just to say I absolutely loved it! A great vibrant city, beautiful coast, can see that it would be a brilliant place to live - especially near the sea

I shall enjoy following your adventures back to Australia Quoll - always entertaining x

Yep! Sunshine Coast knocks spots off Gold Coast IMHO - with Currumundi Lake my favourite - when I’m loaded (ha ha..) I’ll get myself a lovely holiday cottage there....

Golly! I think I’m in the minority when I say the Gold Coast beaches are not for me - Caloundra, Currumundi, Noosa, fabulous. Gold Coast hinterland is lovely I think. But much better beach experiences to be had!

I’m from the south of England - I love it, I really do. But if I was young with kids and looking for work life balance, I’d go North unless I absolutely had to be based down south for work. In the UK at the moment as a tourist - Newcastle and Leeds have struck me as fabulous places which are liveable with a short commute and relatively manageable house prices/rents. Hear great things about Scotland - even my mate working in Edinburgh commutes to work in half an hour and doesn’t earn a fortune. Yet she’s an hour away on a flight to Gatwick! I’d explore your options closer to home before throwing in the towel. You want to be sure of your decision- ping ponging is jolly expensive!

I’m going to Newcastle next week as a start of a two month touristy break around the UK. Never been and looking forward to it but just checked the weather forecast never mind, i’ll Pack my brolly!

So funny how experiences differ. Maybe it’s an Interstate thing? I love working for British bosses here when I get the chance (contract IT). They are so much clearer on expectations and honest in their conversations than Aussies with their tendency to passive aggression and bullying... QLD winters waaay better than UK winters - but QLD summers? Much nicer to be out and about in UK then cooped up in the Air-con. Weather in Brisbane now just perfect however! I’ve found Aussie males way ahead of British in the boasting stakes - I’m constantly reminded by my management consultant colleagues how fabulous and talented they are and how much they know about everything. They seem to be frightened of their Aussie women (one male colleague said he was ‘pussy whipped!’) I do admire the way that Australians celebrate success though, and their optimism even when punching above their weight.. Just my experiences though - I’m sure it’s different for everyone

Living in a big Australian city will give you plenty of opportunities to buy decent meat - in Brisbane, my local organic butcher sells lovely bacon without all the nitrites and horrible dyes. Pretty excellent sausages too - all sourced from free range animals. I rarely eat meat, so buy good quality when I do - I won’t eat Danish bacon or non free range meat here or in the UK. Quality over quantity every time. I’ve no doubt there are many decent butchers in Sydney and Melbourne also - just avoid the crappy meat in the major supermarkets.

You’ll hear many views about the best place to live and people arguing about the benefits of North of the river or South. Staying central and exploring once you get here is a good move - a lot of rentals near new farm and a great place to be based to explore. Advice I was given prior to coming here was live close to work and commute to beach etc at weekends and holidays. Great advice, as although distances can look small, driving is horrendous with rush hour starting about 6:30 am. Public transport (train, busway, citycat) the only way to get to work in the city unless you want to sit in traffic and pay some of the highest parking charges in the World! So many nice places to live but very quiet as you go further out with little to do bar a few early closing restaurants - people in Brisbane get up super early (gym classes start at 5am) and go to bed early (9pm not unusual) to take advantage of the climate (stinking hot by 9am for much of the year). Good luck with your move!

It’s difficult when you move back to build your credit rating up. When I moved back (for 16 months) I had to apply for one of those dodgy credit cards for high risk people! It had a horrendous interest rate but I put what I could on it, making sure it was paid off each month. My bank (been with them over 30 years) wouldn’t give me a low balance credit card despite me having lots of cash in my account. Good luck with your move home!

Thanks everyone yes - think we will travel with it all in hand luggage - hopefully won’t be too much questioning as he gets stressed easily. Don’t fancy having to replace his meds in UK if luggage lost!

I'd say it's pretty normal - I was ready to turn back at Singapore when a cock up with hubby's visa app looked like Australia might not let him in! A very daunting and brave thing to do, and whilst many people dream of migrating, not everyone has the gumption to do it - would be strange if you weren't a little stressed

Hi - Has anyone experience of transiting Singapore Airport with controlled drugs? We are heading back to UK from Australia for a holiday and will be stopping at Singapore - my son is on some pretty heavy medication due to bipolar/ADHD - some of which is not allowed into Singapore without permission. We are not leaving the airport and will get Dr's letter and ensure all medication is labelled - anything else we should be wary of? Many thanks for any advice

I must admit, I’d be tempted by Amsterdam over London - sounds like a fabulous opportunity to live in a thriving EU city with relatives a short flight away. I think London living is like Sydney - fine if you’re really loaded but who wants to commute?

Thanks VS - we are staying with my sis who lives next to the Fairy Dell - and have a trip to Whitby by train over the moors planned!

Off to UK in August for two months! I’m going to be a proper tourist & visit places I haven’t been before that I’ve always wanted to get to. If you’ve got hints & tips on things not to miss in the following places (preferably accessible by public transport) please let me know! I like Nature, Gardens, Walking, Art, Comedy, Theatre, Pubs, Music (esp Folk), train trips & great food (I’m not very rich though). Love veggie/vegan food! Thanks for any suggestions! Stops include.... Newcastle Middlesbrough Leeds Oxford Bristol Cheers for suggestions! Caro

We’re hoping to retire in the UK and I fancied Stroud- house prices still OK - it’s not glamorous so doesn’t attract the London commuters so much, is near fabulous countryside and (for me anyhow) has an arts/craft vibe. I’m from SE UK (near Brighton) but want a change - plus it’s too expensive there now.

Don't suppose you know if you can receive payments from UK source into UK sterling component without paying currency transfer fees? If so, this account would be brilliant for me....

As said before Australia is a relationships based jobs market rather than skills. A mediocre local candidate will always win over a highly skilled immigrant. I’d urge you to try your luck with management consultancies - ASG have taken over SMS but SMS recruited a lot of UK ICT staff (they liked their large scale project experience). I’ve got work via a consultancy that I wouldn’t stand a chance of getting as a contractor. Going for junior roles has never helped me, and being good at what I do seems pretty irrelevant. It’s connections that count. A consultancy will get you these. Good luck, it’s pretty tough out there. I’m nearly 60 and female so next to no hope but you’re still not that old for a senior level male...