Jane66

Hi, like you, we are heading back to the UK early 2015 and we are starting to get some idea of shipping and who to use. Have been in touch with Grace (because of good reviews read on the net - they've also had some bad ones too!) but would be very interested to see how you go with your walkthrough by them and your first impressions! I think from what I've read they all seem to be very much around the same price, but people have haggled and got a better price! Good luck with your move :smile:

I don't believe this list - why? because Perth is not on it!! If it's based on a bottle of beer, then Perth has to rank close to number 1 - most places are $7-$10 per bottle which is more expensive than Oslo surely??

Interesting, I've been getting quotes for our blue heeler to fly from Perth to UK in around Dec/Jan 2014/15. I have been told that he can fly Emirates from Perth to UK, however, due to regulations in Dubai, he has to come off the plane and stay for 7 hours where he will be exercised and fed/watered. I'm interested because you say they don't take them off the plane in Dubai? wonder if I've been given the wrong information?

No we plan on moving lock, stock and barrel. I think it really is time to move on to a new chapter in our lives, we do not anticipate returning. By the way - we went to a bar in the city yesterday, they wanted $15 for a bottle of cider - I had a photo on my phone of Tesco's shelves offering the same cider (only 3 months ago) three bottles for the equivalent of $10!

We have been in Perth in 13 years. Ready to move back now. Loved Perth when we first got here, fantastic place to live UNTIL ........ the prices for just a cup of coffee have rocketed, everything is seriously overpriced. We went out to Leederville a few weeks back with another couple. A night out and a couple of share plates and a taxi home cost us EACH couple $250!! A round of drinks in seriously over priced bars was $50+ one place the cheapest glass of wine was $15. Had enough of being ripped off, ready to head back to the UK. Time to move back to be closer to family and friends, time to pay $10 for two pints of beer and a glass of coke (that was in Leicester Square in London in 2013).

We used our Aussie ones last year to enter UK - simply because the queue was shorter for international than EU/British passport queues!

Yes - definitely works in UK with UK sim. Took mine last year, taking it again in a few weeks.

Good luck to you Hayley with your move back!! We are waiting for our boy to finish high school next year and we are following right behind you!! Will have been here 13 years before heading back. Initially we loved Perth, it's been a great place for my son to grow up, but sadly no longer for us. Prices have sky rocketed, we don't go out much because it's so expensive to have a night out. Only a few months back, we went out for drinks and dinner (four of us) and between us, we spent $400 - and we didn't have a meal we had tapas plates. What an expensive night! . We didn't come here for the odd (expensive) night out and to spend all our money on rising bills and day to day living costs. Can't wait for the months to pass so we can leave and head back to family and friends in the UK.

Looking to fly our dog back next year from Perth to UK. I've had a bit of a look on the net, but has anyone on here used any pet transporters in Perth to go back to UK that they would recommend? Names of businesses would be appreciated. I have sent emails to a couple, but no replies back which is a bit concerning!

Aus citizens are treated as domestic students even from here, whereas UK citizens are, generally, treated as international ones when they've emigrated. Just something else to consider... Question - We are heading back end of 2014 once our son has finished high school in Australia. Just checking your quote above - are you saying that the university fees in the UK are cheaper if you say you are an Australian citizen rather than a returning UK citizen? (son was born in UK been away 13 yrs)?

Thanks for your story. We've been here 12 years and plan on returning once our son has finished high school next year. Can't wait, had a great time here in Australia, but ready to come home now. This next year cannot go quick enough!

Just some advice, choose very care fully the area to where you come back to, we are wanting to move because of the lack of opportunities for our kids when they leave education. Over the last couple of years there's been a massive shift away from there being good well paid jobs, with good terms and conditions and decent pensions in the package, not many jobs haven't been effected and there's been a massive reduction in overall wages up and down the country. Over 8 million people work less than 30 hours per week, most jobs advertised are low paid and part time as well. If you have an idea what your child wants to do, then research what potential jobs there are in the area your thinking about going to. Best of luck. Thanks for the tips Hoff. In Perth, unless you work in the mines (which is quite hard to get into unless you are already skilled and have friends that can get you in) Perth pretty much has lots of part time and lower paid jobs. Nearer the time we will do more research as to what areas offer what opportunities in the UK. If nothing else, he will have the opportunity to travel around Europe and who knows, may end up doing something there instead! Thanks for your tips though, much appreciated.

Not gone yet, planning to go in approx. 16 months. Leaving because: a/ Isolated b/ Very expensive to go and see the rest of Australia - the cost of a flight return to Sydney from Perth is more than a return flight to Bali or further overseas c/ Boring - not enough things here - done most things in the first couple of years ...... d/ Prices of everything have increased significantly since we arrived 13 years ago. e/ Paid the equivalent of 22 pounds for two glasses of wine and an ashtray of nuts at some "small" bar in the city - disgraceful. f/ Want to leave and go back to UK and feel like we are living in the 21st Century not stuck in the 19th ...... g/ Even if you go away for a couple of nights, the cost of poor accommodation in WA is $150+ per night and it's not even 1 star h/ Completely and utterly bored with the place I/ Shops here are very overpriced and dull. Whilst we are glad we made the move, our son has grown up in the sunshine and had a fab childhood, but it's time to move on. We are looking forward to going back and enjoying Sunday lunches at the pub (at a reasonable price unlike here), being able to travel to Europe very easily and cheaply, the opportunities for our son once he's left school and shopping.

It's a lot cheaper than it is in Perth!! 22 pounds for two glasses of wine here now at a bar in the CBD. That's why the UK is better for you !!

Thanks Diane. I may contact a sixth form college (or equivalent) and see if they can shed any light on it. It is a pain about the international fees, it should be that if you were born there then you are entitled to home fees, we did live and work in the UK for 30 years so it's not like we've not contributed. Would be good if we could get his ATAR converted to both GCSE's and A Levels. Thanks :biggrin:

Hi Diane, no he's not going to be going to university as he will be treated as an overseas student which means massive fees (even though he was born in UK) so uni is not an option for him. Just need to find out about the conversion of what he gains here to UK equivalent.

We are planning on going back to UK once our son has finished his ATAR (end of 2014). Has anyone gone back to the UK with their child and converted an ATAR/TEE to UK equivalent? Were there any problems? I've tried to do a bit of research, but I can only see that it's converted back to A Level equivalents - what about GCSE's? Any help would be appreciated. Thanks :biggrin:

I'd be interested to hear how it went - did you find you had many dramas or was it pretty much plain sailing? what about cost - did you manage to do it yourself cheaper?

Hi Bob, to take our dog from Perth to UK, can you clarify what he needs to have injection wise? Also, can he fly on the same flight we fly on? we'd be going Emirates from Perth to Birmingham - is this possible? Can you give me a rough price? He will be around 14 yrs old - do you think it would be too stressful for him? Any info would be greatly appreciated. Many thanks :biggrin:

19 months and counting - would go tomorrow if we could Geordee! I would say go back before you son starts high school as it would be difficult to move whilst he's at high school. We wish that we'd moved back when our son left primary school. Perth has lovely beaches and weather, but that's about it really. How expensive has it got since we arrived? We paid the equivalent of 22 pounds for the other day for two glasses of wine in a bar in the city yet in the UK recently, we paid less than $10 for two pints of Becks and a coke (that was in Leicester Square in London!) Crossing the days off on the calendar !!

I so can't wait to get back the UK. Been here 13 years and now itching to get back to UK. Waiting for our son to finish high school and as soon as he has his ATAR we are off!! Can't wait to walk to the local pub, buy a beer at a reasonable price and then go for a good curry. No decent curries in Perth and very expensive too. We have other friends who have been here same time as us and they are heading back. Miss the summer nights, the country walks, Sunday roasts at the local, cheap groceries and quick travel to Europe.