Miley123

Thank you so much fourcorners for this invaluable information, you are a star!! Can I just ask how many people are in your household? We are a family of 4 and I was looking at recent media articles which said on average we would need 2,000 GBP per month for all things other than mortgage/rent, so your info has shown that its not quite that high and it makes a big difference when you're trying to work out what we need to earn to have maintain quality of life etc. Even seeing the cost of life insurance is a great help as we didn't know whether to keep it on here or cancel and your rates are much cheaper than ours in Perth which are over $200 per month. Thank you for taking the time to upload this info so happy its all working out for you xx

Thank you VERYSTORMY for your reply, I really appreciate it. It's fantastic to know my son is going into a very supportive environment, the university support seems amazing, over here they wouldn't even do his NAPLANS verbally and had to be tested as all the other children eg via reading and written only. I feel so let down by his education to date, his school has been telling me since kindy they thought he had ADHD and was generally 'slow' and for years I argued he did not show the symptoms of ADHD apart from when doing literacy. When his external tutor who we had to pay for on top of his school fees suggested getting him tested for dyslexia, the school told me I was wasting my money but I went ahead anyway and the results showed that he was moderately dyslexic but had a high IQ, hence why he starts to lose focus when literacy comes into play he gets agitated that he can't understand it. He knows he is behind and it frustrates him greatly and I was just so relieved when I spoke to his new headmistress in the UK how much differently my son would be educated and taught to suit him rather than him having to fit the mould of every other student. I am really positive about his education now, where as if we were staying I know I would have a battle on my hands at his current school. These views are just based on my experiences at school over here though I appreciate all schools are different and I wonder if he had been at a state school in Australia he would maybe have gotten more support.

Hi RMac, I too have the same concerns as we will be heading back in a few weeks and my two boys when they start in September in the UK will have missed 6 months of years 3 and 6 and go straight into year 4 and 7. To top it off my 8 year old has just been diagnosed as dyslexic so is two years behind in reading although all other areas he is ahead of his years. So my two have been having extra tuition out of school to try to bridge the gap in that they are missing 6 months of their present academic year. You can get an idea of standards in UK from school websites, many have their curriculum on their websites, this is what I used to guage the levels. Hence I was very worried about my youngest moving with his dyslexia and missing 6 months of school but I have to say that the school we have got him into couldn't have been more helpful and accommodating, especially considering the way they adapt their education methods for children with such difficulties in mainstream classrooms, I was very impressed and relieved. My son will receive much more support and specialised training from a state school in England than anything he has received in a private school in Australia which to date has been none (very frustrating). So to try to relay your fears, yes there may be differences in education levels (losing 6 months academic year for one) but the schools I have been in touch (primary and secondary) with have all been very helpful and on the ball to assist the children get over this hurdle. Infact all the UK teachers at my son's current Australian school have all told me on the quiet that his dyslexia will be much more supported in England then what he has received over here so that's from a professional point of view too. I appreciate all UK schools are different but from what I have experienced so far it has all been positive. Hope this helps, good luck

Thank you JonnoM for that info. My hubby is IT consultant too, we are heading back in July and he says the worst bit about moving back is having to build up his network of contacts again so good to know that you are doing well in the contracting sector.

Well done Helz, great to hear you are happy and everything is going so well, it was all worth it. xx

Hi Marisa, I have relatives, nearer Winchester though, who are very much into their dancing too and are out quite a lot with it through the week so there is a demand for it in the area and there are classes/schools around and about, though personally don't know of any in the city centre but more in the out lying towns/villages so not sure this helps.

There are plans for the Southampton city centre to be transformed, there will be a new waterfront area built called Royal Pier http://www.discoversouthampton.co.uk/future/city-centre-masterplan/royal-pier and a new area for resturants and bars adding to the side of the West Quay area http://www.discoversouthampton.co.uk/future/city-centre-masterplan/heart-of-the-city so hopefully it will have a fresh new look in a few years time.

I have lived around the Southampton area since I was a child, not in the city but there are many lovely villages in the area and the South Downs, we are heading back to a place just outside of Winchester (Southampton side) which is a lovely city but close to everything going on and an hour on the train to London. Guildford is lovely too having lived there but very pricey, although Winchester is not cheap either.

So so sorry LR, glad you could take comfort in being there for your Dad at this sad time. Thinking of you xx

Oh my goodness Huggy 3 weeks wow, that is exciting!!! So glad it's all slotting into place and you feel better about it all, let us know how you go

Thanks Quoll :cute: seems all very surreal still but am really looking forward to it now, fed up living in limbo. Will let you all know how we get on.....

Hi Huggy, I was like you about a year ago when we made the initial decision to return to the UK, and worried about it for the next 12 months, but now with 8 weeks to go before we return those fears are subsiding and the excitement is taking over. Any doubts or fears I had are gone and am looking forward to a new and exciting chapter in our lives. As you get a date and it gets closer you can start to plan more about where to live, schools etc and I think it definately helps knowing what you are moving back to and having a direction forward, for us none of these plans were in place 12 months ago and so it was all unknown and much more scary. Good luck with it all, it is certainly an emotional roller coaster xx

Sorry to hear that Debbio, its hard enough for those of us who want to go back to make the move so can't imagine how difficult it must be for you. I am in Perth so removal companies will quote differently but we are going with Pickfords who came out to be the best quote and most flexible, the other company that came in with a similar price was Keys Bros. Good luck with it all xx

Better late than never, I've been posting in the public MBTTUK forum for a while and just found this closed one and am loving it :yes: We are on 67 sleeps till we fly home arriving 5th July. Seems strange to think in a few short weeks our whole lives will change but at the moment our day to day life is pretty much the same. So far... house is for sale, job notices given, schools notified, flights booked for us and our dog, removals at the ready when we give a date... so just waiting now for house to sell and sort the cars to sell too. Think thats all this end, on the other side in Blighty we have family to stay with to start with, schools sorted, and hopefully a nice summer to enjoy a few weeks holiday before we buckle down and start trying to earn a living. Good luck everyone!

Good for you Blondie, well done! We're right behind you arriving in Blighty in a few weeks, so its great to hear about positive moves back, reaffirms that it is the right decision to go. Keep us posted... Cheers