Katie22

I'm presuming this comment was probably aimed at mine and I really didn't mean that, sorry finding it hard to get my point across yet again. I just didn't go and live in areas where lots of Brits migrated to in an effort to try to integrate more and I do think that is not such a bad thing for a new migrant to do. From then on I have met very few Brits (other than clients in my workplace) so have not had the opportunity to make friends with them & most definitely would never try to avoid them at all, that sounds horrible!

My logic is just speaking out of personal perspective, I have 2 siblings in Oz and 2 in England. The 2 in Oz are really happy here and I cannot ever see them wanting to move back. Neither of them have much interest in social and world issues, they're both very materialistic and they both achieved their happiness once they got the big house with the big yard and both of them would agree with me and I love them both dearly too! As for other successful migrants I don't have have the knowledge to judge so certainly not judging you - sorry if it was perceived that way. When I first came over 12 yrs ago I knew I'd find it hard so ensured we didn't live in suburbs where all the Brits went and made determined effort to try and integrate more with Australians so all my friends here are Australian. The only contact I have with Brits are either through work or this forum which I just discovered this year - maybe that was my downfall!

i'm really sorry if I offended anyone as certainly didn't mean to be patronising about Aussies at all, just stating my opinion on why people I know have succeeded and I haven't - please don't take me so literally! And you're right I haven't settled here at all, I've given it many years but still feel the same. Most Brits do and good luck to them - you included!

Well speaking from someone who has not been a successful migrant and comparing myself to my 2 sisters who have been I would say that they both possess more selfishness (not in a nasty sense of the word) complete disinterest in social issues or world issues, more materialistic, and big desire to have the 'perfect' home with the big backyard - the Aussie dream! Also they both married Australians so that probably sealed the deal too.

Things do shut down over here over Xmas and January as it's holiday season. Private hospitals are quieter as specialists are on holidays so they operate less, few wards even get closed. Public hospitals maybe not so much but probably bit quieter for elective surgery. Depends what type of nursing you do. You'd probably find it easier to find a job you're after from February onwards. Your decision where you'd like to spend Xmas - in the cold or the sunshine?!

I do hope it gets better for you, homesickness is lousy! I really get what you're saying about UK humour though expect lots will disagree with me! Always found that Aussies tend to laugh at you rather than with you and never very good at laughing at themselves either, they also seem to be quite a serious bunch too. Maybe on really difficult days sit down with a bottle of wine and DVD of Fawlty Towers or whatever else makes you laugh and look forward to your next trip back!

My decision was made earlier this year quite suddenly really. I'd had several very stressful years with my teenage son and finally managed to get him back home and change his life around. Going through that time made me think a lot and as I've been living here for 12 years and wanted to return for most of them on and off I thought one day "what am I doing?!" Worrying about whether I'll settle back in England, get a job etc. seemed nothing in comparison to lying in bed at night not knowing where my son was and whether he was safe or not. Often we waste time worrying about mundane things when we should just follow the decisions from our hearts. So I too am busy saving to move next year. Both my kids want to come with me too which is a real bonus and if my son keeps on the straight and narrow by the time our flight departs then it will be the fresh start he needs! Life is truly what you make of it. I wish you all the best with your move Northern Bird x

If you've got good jobs, your kids are happy, and you're enjoying Australia, I'd stick it out for a bit longer. Search a few of your surrounding suburbs to maybe find somewhere different. The kids in my street are often out in the street playing - driving me nuts!

You're right, a lot of things we miss are just that - things, objects that really don't matter too much at the end of the day. Whenever I have visitors from England they always ask me if there's anything I want them to buy me and each year it gets less and less and it's been absolutely nothing for the last few years. A lot of "items" we miss can be got over here anyway. I miss things that aren't tangible and that I can never recapture here, sense of belonging I suppose. Definitely don't miss the dog poo either!

I'm not saying I spend most of my time reminiscing, I don't and when I do it's not necessarily about thatched cottages as I never lived in one! I've lived in Australia long enough to call it home and have gone way past the point of comparing one country to another but just because I live here does not mean I have to obliterate my affection for a place I spent 38 years of my life, and happy ones too. The past moulds us into the person we are today and ​good memories are the ones we should cling onto and not forget. So I just find it hard to understand when some migrants say there's nothing they miss but I'm older and also a bit of a softie too. I know for a fact that when I return to England either temporarily or permanently that I will speak of Australia with fondness, will remember all the good times, and will miss it too, it works both ways. I've also met lots of Italian and Greek migrants who've been here for decades and though they'll never return, they speak about their home countries with nothing but affection. Maybe it is just the whinging English!

I've met lots of English migrants mainly through my work and the majority of them are really happy here but I sometimes find it difficult to understand when they say there's nothing they miss and also a little sad too. Surely you must have some place in your heart for the country you originate from even if you never want to return? Both my sisters feel that way and I just don't get it but maybe some of us are just more sentimental than others? I miss so much about England and I love thinking about it, reading about it, watching programmes on it - makes me feel good and nostalgic and brings back good memories - where's the harm in that?

Gosh Rachel, what a tricky situation! At the end of the day you know your son better than anyone and you know in your heart what is the right thing to do. If his dad lived in the same country as you then I expect it would be a far easier situation but letting him live in Australia, the other side of the world is a totally different ball game! He's still so young and he's getting to that age when he wants to detach himself from his mum and is probably idolising his dad more. But at the end of the day going to stay with his dad for holidays will be very different to living with him and he's just too young to understand that, I doubt very much either if he truly understands how much he will miss you - at the moment you're just mum and you're just always there! Good luck with your decision x

English sense of humour

I just think you need to be honest with your husband how you feel. Remember that you deserve just as much happiness as your kids and your husband. Of course becoming a mum means you put your family first but it doesn't mean that you are not heard and not listened to either. An unhappy mum is not what your kids will want or need. My situation was little similar. I'd already been to Australia three times before we migrated, and one of those was a year working holiday. I loved the place but knew that it was a holiday destination for me and nothing more. I went along with it as likewise thought it would give my kids a better life. Has it? For one maybe but certainly not the other. Obviously in hindsight I realized that I was very vulnerable and insecure at that time and when you're feeling like that you just let things happen around you as that's a far easier situation than facing confrontation. Keep strong and listen to your heart!

Sounds to me as if you're just being sensible which you need to be when you have young kids, different scenario if you didn't. However, sometimes in life you need to get out of your comfort zone and take chances. Depending on your expected standard of living will probably depend on how you get on, sure it is expensive living here in Oz but with bit of budgeting and determination for a while, there's a strong chance that it all could work out. Sure if it doesn't you can go back but remember that would cost a lot of money too. Just make sure you and your husband are on the same page. I came over 12 years ago after persuasion from mine, I really didn't want to do it - big mistake. As the kids got older it just wasn't easy to move back and as he was always dead against it I never could. We're now apart and I'm going back next year as my kids are older but it's 13 yrs later and England has probably changed along with me. However saying that Australia hasn't been unkind to me, I've got a good life here but it's never ticked the boxes in my heart that's all. The majority of migrants love it and there is a lot to love, you just need the right positive state of mind to make it work. Good luck with your decision making!

Have a great time and safe trip! Be sure to recharge your batteries full of everything you miss about good ol' blighty - I'm jealous - enjoy!

He is as I expected him to be and I am sorry to say he is doing just what I thought he would. Have always tried to not allow personalities interfere in my political decisions but I do find him more dishonest and tactless than the average politician

You know what I'm getting at!

You seem to be a deeply religious man, which surprises me from some of your previous posts but I think I'll stop there! I do have personal experience of youth drug addiction myself so am well aware of the people out there who help, religious and non religious. - they're all great people.

I agree but disagree too. The school chaplain at my son's previous school is currently facing charges for sexual abuse, but innocent until proved guilty I suppose. When my son was facing adversity he had fantastic support from non religious organisations such as Mission Australia - fantastic non-judgemental bunch of people and government funded too However, I might give this argument a miss. You know what they say about talking about sex, politics and religion. I'll gladly talk about politics, sex probably not great idea on an Internet forum but I'm steering clear of religion. The only thing I will say is I expect Tony is having to confess his sins on a daily basis.

$245 million I meant!

Most definitely a Utopia world you are describing and funnily enough you didn't last 5 mins yourself with the "treat other people gently" one so just goes to show how hard it is to follow those guidelines in life! Sure the whole public system needs to be looked at and savings can be made. Don't see how the copayment of $7 is going to help though when it's going into medical research and not back into the hospitals. I know in one public hospital when elective surgery is routinely cancelled, patients brought in, got ready for theatre, waited 6 hrs then told no can do, off you go home and we'll contact you with new date. Why? Bringing them in when you're very confident there will be no beds and also allowing theatre lists to be organised EVEN knowing there is a high likelihood of the list not being completed. The surgeon comes in, changes the order because he knows he won't finish it and wants the big case first. Why won't he finish it, because he needs to be somewhere else by 1 pm. Why won't anyone say anything to him - because he'll make your life a misery if you dare to question him. Thousands of dollars are wasted in unnecessary cancellations. Defunding drug and alcohol services as it's self-abuse. Bit mean, especially not nice for innocent people whose loved ones have been affected by substance abuse. The majority of this country's expenditure on drugs is spent policing it, a small proportion is spent on prevention, education and rehabilitation. Helping people get off drugs will decrease hospital admissions, decrease crime, decrease drug related deaths and decrease suicides. Drug abuse causes mental illness - yes. Mental illness causes drug abuse - yes. Mental illness can cause drug addiction. Many poeple who have serious mental illnesses, schizophrenia and bipolar, often turn to drugs and alcohol to escape the turmoil in their heads, they represent a lot of the homeless. Money can be saved from the public health system and from the welfare system without taking away from the low paid. Tell you what, you could take the $245 he's set aside for a school chaplaincy programme.

Now surely that's a little bit mean?!

Yay, we agree on something! - well not sure about the castration bit though ......!!!!

I have said so many times that I do not support the so called "dole bludgers", and yes if people on low incomes are buying cigarettes and alcohol then sure they can afford the copayment. I am talking about the people who do not abuse the system, the vulnerable, the elderly, the disabled etc., these are the people who will suffer. If the liberals want to attack these "dole bludgers" then they need to look far more closely at their welfare system and attempt to put steps in place to target the right people. But they're not doing that, they're targeting everyone on a low income, earning or not. And their propogranda is making lots of people believe what they're doing is right too, that's the sad thing. Of course people shouldn't produce child after child if they can't afford it, but we're heading into dangerous territory if we're talking about sterilising them - I don't know what the answer to that one is, I wish I did.