chilliboy

Hi, we've been back in the UK since summer 2016 - . Things for us as much better in the UK, i got a good job and my employer has funded further training to retain me! I couldnt get a permanent job in Oz. My wife has also got a job and sees how the Australian equivalent of her job was "backward" i.e had not embraced evidence to move forward - she works in health. Anyway, i used pickfords to go to Oz and they were awful, i used allied to return to the uk and they were excellent. I see now though that they have merged!!!! I would wait for a few responses and go with the majority positive vote! LettonPercival were an outstanding insurer for us. Good luck.

It took our stuff 15 weeks to get to us from the UK,We used Pickfords and the communication from the Australian end was v poor.Our container remained in Sydney for about three weeks and then for some reason was driven past us to a depot to be driven back down again.Boxes were missing and our sons bed arrived without any sides or mattress so our sons bed didn't arrive.Items were also damaged.The remote controls for our TVs were cunningly hidden in items which had no relation to anything electrical and it took us days to find them!Funny now,not at the time as they couldn't be turned on!We used Letton Percival for insurance and they were absolutely excellent.I would advise anyone moving to itemise every single box with 100% detail of what is in it and if using a company ensure you have seen the box leave the house before ticking it off.On our move day we had so many boxes that it was impossible to be sure everything had been added to our list and we were so stressed we just ticked everything. Another thing hindsight has shown us is that a removal company wants to generate as big a volume of space as possible when packing and loading.We had our bulky cushions from our sofas packed separately and not sat on the sofas,nothing was flat packed,we even had an empty laundry basket packed into a box which could easily have had stuff placed in it.If we packed ourselves I believe we could've saved over a third of the space,which would've meant big savings. We return to the UK in July and will be using move cube and planning our packing like a military excercise!Anyone got any info about movecube?

We will be home in July, my mood is already starting to lift and I'm looking forward to the weather,traditional ales and pubs,actually watching quality television programs again ( not bothered turning it on in Oz) and seeing the colour green again

This is a good thread to celebrate all things British that returnees are looking forward to and have missed,this is not disrespectful to Oz or down on it but a feel good thing for those going home.For me I am looking forward to: normal not excessive weather,seasons,country pubs,Sunday roasts,watching British sport both live and on the tv,the bbc with its local news,local and national radio,good comedy,the nhs!,corner shops,cold pies and pasties,cheaper cars,faster internet,easy access to Europe,nil venomous things,nice grass on lawns,different types of housing from Edwardian,Victorian,terraced,semi detached etc,etc,real ale,snuggling under a heavy duvet,wearing thick coats,bobble hats and gloves and Christmas and Christmas markets! There will be a lot of things in the uk I dislike but these are some of the things I will look forward to.

Yes I will be going back to the UK permanently,thx

Goodbye grey sky, I'm on a permanent residency.

Hi, I have just started work in healthcare and will only be working until the end of June this year.I understand that I am obliged to contribute to super but I will only be paying in for 4 months.Does anyone know if I can claim back all my contributions because I am paying in for less than 6 months? And can anyone recommend a fund for this short term period.Any feedback will be greatly appreciated.thanks.

Thanks very much for this, I tried Ghost ship last year and was very impressed! I shall get on to it or on it even!

I will be booking a movecube in the next few months! Hopefully they drop off at central coast,we will also have stuff to leave behind ? Garage sale or second hand store.Looks like the Aussie bubble has deflated for many poms!

The best advice I can give you is do not sell your home and your car! If you can rent your home and leave your car with someone after declaring it SORN.Also if you can put some of your belongings in storage or rent your home as furnished.This will give you a chance to try out Oz before making a huge commitment.

I miss uk real ales,Oz has some nice craft beers but no proper real ales like uk,Oz beer is also ridiculously expensive.Second hand cars are also well overpriced.The Internet is expensively priced and I find slow,the guy that connected our internet said speeds will drop significantly over the next 18 months or so due to the amount of households sharing the nbn hubs.I miss being able to buy a pasty or cold pie in a shop,from what I've seen their either burning hot in the display heaters in garages or frozen in supermarkets.I do love the Oz Turkish delights though,they are bigger and the jelly is much tastier than in the uk.

Wow! Stressful and exciting I suppose, at least you're going where you want to be so I imagine you will be pretty focused. Although we planned our move to Oz in detail there was always going to be last minute things to complete like selling cars,stopping insurance,utilities etc,etc but we managed it all within a few days. We plan to return to the UK in early July but if a job comes up that suits we may also need to leave at the drop of a hat.Good luck.

no I got registered with AHPRA before coming, the hospital admin teams have taken this long to sort my paperwork out,still waiting but now hope to start work next week,although I've said that before!

Interesting to read, I ,like your wife ,work in health and was offered 2 jobs the week after I arrived in November 15 and am still waiting for the employers to sort their admin out before I can start, it really is an unfunny joke.4 months paying rent without earning is slightly stressful.

I agree, the move has cost us a lot both financially and emotionally, only lasting for 19 weeks is not being a failure.You had the balls to try and have realised it wasn't for you,you won't have any "what ifs" now regarding the Oz question.