Frankozuk

Well I thought it was time for an update. After my mums passing I decided to wrap up living in London and return to Sydney. It seemed quite logical, I had to leave where I was living in London and luckily I have an apartment in Sydney and my tenants lease was up so It was easy to just jump on a plane and move back into my old place. I got back to Sydney in January and after catching up with old friends enjoying some sunshine good food and coffee it was time to get back into Sydney life. It is now August - I work freelance and its been ok - I have a life a car a few mates. I really can’t complain. Problem is I just find Sydney so - Dull - after being back in London it just feels small a bit parochial and too hot in summer - theres a lot a like too after all I have spent 30 odd years here and I really do love the place. But I love London too, thing is now I have no family in either country and I am a orphan now - which is weird but you play the hand you are dealt. Thing is with that situation - one is truly free and can really go anywhere and not really have to justify it to anyone. So I am thinking again of going back to London as I really miss it - work is good for me there, unfortunately I no longer have a place to stay there but I will just rent something like the other millions of folks - so its not that big a deal. So I am thinking rent my place out in Sydney again. Go back to London and live and work, it will be different because my mum is gone and I will feel that deeply but I will have a new experience of the place. Or I could just accept that my UK time is done and just get on with things here in Sydney where I have a nice life (mostly) but just a bit bored. I am 55 now so getting a bit long in the tooth - but as was pointed out to me there is nothing wrong with being a ping ponger - its actually a good option if you can make it work. So I am clearly undecided but I obviously got re Londonised with my time back there and I just miss it. I will think about it a bit more but if going back last time taught me anything it was not to let fear rule my decision making. I am in a bit of a unique situation I think - its tricky to know what to do. Anyway Sydneys great and London is great I love both but I feel Londons not done with me quite yet or I should just concentrate on building my life up here again.

A few observations from my time back in UK. Well its a year later and I have been living in London for 12 months now. Many things have happened. I was worried about work and I got some, not better work than I got in Sydney - much the same really and about the same money. Off the top of my head things that I really notice here, Its too crowded, there is no space here and everybody wants some. The food is dreadful and expensive and for the coffee lovers - prepare for disappointment. The Indian food is great, the humour is fabulous and the Englishness is excellent if thats what you crave. If you have been living in Australia for a long time which I had been 20 years - My standard of living is much the same but its just different. I thought accommodation to buy and rent in Sydney was crazy well its much worse here, space is at a premium and be prepared to pay a lot for it - I reckon 10 to up to 20% more than Sydney. I have travelled to Europe a couple of times but you don't go too much cause you need to work to be able to keep your head above water in London. Summer is great, Winter is hideous and it lasts and lasts. A 3 zone weekly Oyster card is £37.80 thats about $80 a week just to move around. I personally came back because I had an itch that needed to be scratched and plus I had an ageing mother who I wanted to spend time with while I could. Well for me coming back despite the cost the crowds the bad food and accommodation issues, London is still one of the best cities in the world, it is eclectic, interesting, fun, ever changing and engaging - there is only one London and it is a wonderful adventure being here. My mother passed recently and I will be eternally grateful that I was here for the last year and I have no unfinished business or guilt for not being here. For me coming back was one of the best decisions I ever made, but that chapter of my life is over now and I will return to Sydney and back to my Australian life which I have always loved. Don’t underestimate coming back, it is a big deal and there is lot of change to deal with, its hard and it can be lonely too but if you want to come back for a while or permanently, do it, but remove the rose coloured glasses first. An old friend of mine once said if you don't do anything - nothing happens, he also said you can go back but you can't return. I think both are true. I’m glad I got off the fence and to the airport but I am happy to leave again too.

Well I have not posted for a long time, but I have been active. I still had a lot of confusion about what to do so I went over to London for 2 Months - Mid July to Mid September and I had a great time, I really got to get a good feel of London again and I did quite a lot of work there too which really made me feel like I was properly back not just on holiday. Work was fine much the same as here really and the money was much the same too but just a lot more going on which is good for me. Commuting is not so much fun, the Tube in rush hour is hideous but you get used to it. I had forgotten how big London is and how many flavours it has depending on what part of town you are in. There really is something for everyone. I did not find it much cheaper than here, clothes yes but eating out and supermarkets maybe a bit cheaper. I think accommodation is actually more expensive than Sydney - space is certainly at a premium. London has a particular energy that I really enjoyed. I really noticed how much more crowded it is too. So after 2 months I came back to Sydney and its been OK, the coffee is good the weather is nice but it all feels a bit flat to me, there is nothing wrong with Sydney its a great place but I think I am not finished with the UK yet. I work freelance and I am single with no children so it is easy for me to move around, I have made a decision to go back for a year. I have rented my apartment out furnished and that will cover my costs here. I have put my personal stuff into storage and I am going with a very full suitcase for a year with an open mind. I am lucky enough to have free accommodation with family when I first arrive until I get sorted. I am leaving on friday and I am nervous because its a big change and I second guess myself all the time, but the flat is rented the ticket is bought the suitcase is packed and I don’t actually have anywhere to live here at the moment, so I am off to London finally after a good 10 years of will I won’t I ? I will report back in a few months when I have some experience to share. More will be reavealed.

I have not posted for a while but I am still in Australia but have just put my Apartment up for rent after much indecision so the mortgage is covered - I have been looking for work in London and have had a very positive response from there - it seems its picked up a lot in London and its really busy in my line of work ( I think the rest of UK still suffering though ) . I do continually question if its the best move for me, but really I am just treading water in Sydney and I am so bored and even if it doesn't work out in UK I think the change will do me good and give me a new appreciation of Sydney when I return. I basically have work and accommodation to go to and I am not walking away from a job here as I work freelance - I have some old friends still in London - everything can just go into storage in Australia. I will just travel light and see how it goes. I think its just the fear of a big move after so long - but really if I think about it - its not such a big deal, everything is still here and I really have nothing to lose. I have dual nationality so thats not a problem. Nothing ventured - nothing gained. I hope I don't talk myself out of it, because I think I will regret it deeply in years to come, especially around spending some time with my ageing mum while its still possible. Anyway if I do get it together, I will report from London.

Thanks so much for the positive response - I am in a lucky position I can rent my place out in Sydney and stay with family until I get myself organised in London. As you all say I can go for as long or short as I want. I do hear good reports that things are really picking up in London too. The one thing I know for sure is that if I don't go even if it's just for a while i will always regret it - especially if it's just fear of the unknown. I will try to organise myself to arrive in the spring. Thanks all.

Hi all i have been living in Sydney for 20 years. I am still single with no kids and my work is freelance. I have been wanting to move back to London for a year or two My mum is there and getting on. I have been feeling this way for a very long time. When I speak with my friends in Sydney quite a few long term expat Brits themselves they are very negative about the UK and it has rubbed off on me. I am now 53 and a bit worried about getting work although I have spoken with recruiters in London in my line of work and they are quite positive about my prospects. i have an apartment in Sydney and the rent will cover the mortgage. I love Sydney but I feel I want to go home for a bit while I am still able and my mum is still around. Sydney is not going anywhere and I will always regret not going even if it's just a year or so. In my heart I know I should make the trip and not let the fear of the unknown stop me.