Rosiehome

@bristolman. This was approx six weeks ago. Maybe things have changed in the world of banking since you came back?

@Marisawright. I also had great difficulty opening a new bank account in my own name despite having kept a joint account with HSBC for over 30 years. I could only have a basic account and no hope of any credit facility for the forseeable future. It took weeks for my 17 year old to get an account as he and no proof of address and had to apply for a provisional drivers licence before they would accept him. As you say they are apologetic about the situation but their hands are tied by the legislation.

@Progressive. I found the following information on the ATO website https://www.ato.gov.au/about-ato/about-us/contact-us/write-to-us/ " If you are sending your paper tax return from overseas, change the address on the pre-addressed envelope by crossing out 'IN YOUR CAPITAL CITY' and replacing it with: SYDNEY NSW 2001, AUSTRALIA It will help us if you also cross out the barcode above the address. If you are using your own envelope, mail it to: Australian Taxation Office GPO Box 9845 SYDNEY NSW 2001, AUSTRALIA"

I am in the same position. To submit the 2015/16 via online submission I think you have to wait until after 30/06/2016. To claim early because you have left Australia permanently you have to submit a paper tax return. do you mean you're not sure where to send it to because of the Australia post arrangement for payment? I would just post it to your former capital city. Maybe it wouldn't do any harm to add postage stamps to the envelope to make sure it gets delivered.

I have also tried online quotes and then rang the insurers to clarify as the NCD was earned in Australia. Direct line wouldn't recognise the Australian rating 1 for life and I failed to find any other insurance company that would. I even went through an insurance agency who did manage to find companies that would recognise the Australian discount but they turned out more expensive than the companies that weren't giving any discount! i suspect that yes they will accept whatever you fill in on your online enquiry but when I actually called them to clarify they said that no they would not recognise the Australian rating 1.

Hooray, I am finally home and just picked up the dog from the airport. He's happy and lively and I just took him for a walk where he had fields to run in instead of a crowded dog park. Everything looks so Christmassy here and the air is fresh rather than the heavy humidity that was starting to build in Brisbane when we left. I can finally let out a big sigh of relief and let go of some of that tension of the last couple of weeks. Thanks for everyone's support - I can't believe I finally made it!!

My kids always loved going to see all the beautifully decorated houses at Christmastime. Sometimes whole streets participate and the atmosphere is great. http://www.grahamquirk.com.au/see-brisbanes-christmas-lights-by-council-bus/

I had my final inspections with the rental agent and the owner today. A friend and I spent three whole days getting the place immaculate, only to have my bond deducted because "the garden needed tidying up". I am so over the whole renting experience in Australia. I've only two more days here, and it's been so stressful, I've missed out on seeing friends because I was trying to present a show home in someone else's property. I can't wait to check in my bags, take a deep breath and just collapse on that plane. I don't think I will breathe easy again until we have picked up the dog in Manchester and I can go and have that cup of tea with my Mum!

I am really disappointed with the way rental agents treat tenants. It's like anyone who has to rent must be the scum of the earth looking to vandalise property or do a moonlight flit. Despite my best efforts to clean and fix even the minutest mark on the wall, I will be amazed if I get my full bond back. Do the real estate get to make money on withholding money or does it go to the owner? I am relieved to know your move back went so well. It is a big decision to go back, but if you never try, you'll never know.

Thank you @Jacaranda. Eleven days to go now and I'm in less of a panic now I have left work and I'm working my way through the 'to-do' list. The stress of leaving is countered by the excitement of my family (especially my 87 yr old mum) who are counting the days until we arrive.

I struggle with the idea that the woman has to follow what the husband wants to do. In suggesting the OP would feel unsettled if her husband was unhappy in Wales, but using the same logic how can he be happy and settled in Australia knowing she is so miserable? I know she met and married an Aussie guy and she has tried her best to live the life he wants but if it's making her so sad then isn't there some compromise that can be made? I ended up resenting my husband for insisting we lived somewhere he knew made me unhappy. I have no easy answer but I don't think it's right to just sacrifice your happiness for someone's else's.

I can only sympathise having married an Aussie myself and followed him out here nearly 20 years ago. It is incredibly hard to come to terms with if you're not happy. I absolutely understand all you say about trying all ways to assimilate, but if it doesn't click in your head then it doesn't click. Sadly in these mixed marriages it can feel like one person always has to sacrifice their happiness to appease the other. I'm sorry you are in this situation. Life is too short to be miserable living somewhere you don't want to be. Is there any way at all he would let you go home with the children? You still obviously love each other, but it can cause a huge strain on your relationship when there is no compromise and you can begin to feel trapped and resentful. Hopefully a counsellor will be able to find some middle ground or ways for you to cope. I truly hope you find a solution. As Quoll says my heart goes out to you.

What an excellent way of looking at it...makes it crystal clear for me!

You are dealing with so much at the moment, no wonder your mind is whirling. As Ali said perhaps get out of the chaos for a while and sit down as a family and write out a For Australia/ Against Australia and a For UK/ Against UK . Sometimes writing it down and talking it through makes it clearer. If you reach a decision based on the pros and cons then just keep looking back at the list and the reasons for your decision when you are wavering. The last minute jitters are terrible things. I leave in only two weeks and I'm all over the place. I didn't realise how many people I am going to miss until it came to having to say the hard goodbyes. I have to keep re-focussing on what I am going to, rather than what I am leaving behind. Good luck. It's not an easy choice.

You're right @Marisawright and @Chortlepuss, if I'd have always had as good a social network as has emerged since I announced I am leaving, I may not have decided to go! I've said somewhere before, the New Years period always depressed me here. Christmas was ok because I could have fun with my kids but New Years Eve I always felt I was missing being with close friends or family. I think being single doesn't help at my age...most people are doing "happy couple" type stuff at New Year with other couples. All this sounds so logical now but in the wee small hours all the doubts creep in. I am obviously not consuming enough wine to get me through the night...must try harder!

So, Chortlepuss, how long do you have left in Australia? Will you be home in time for Christmas? Quoll, I will be heading straight to M&S for some thermals!

Thanks for the reply Quoll. Looking back at my post now I'm a bit embarrassed...I do sound a bit raving! Note to self; don't post on public forum when stressed out at 2am. It will all seem better in the morning.

I am a leaving Brisbane in just over two weeks and I am having all kinds of last minute anxiety and jitters. I feel it's almost overwhelming and I don't know where to start listing all I'm worrying about. I came here 19 years ago after marrying an Australian Perm Resident. We lived in the UK for five years and then came here to be near his family. That relationship ended six years ago and I've been single by choice for most of that time. He found someone twenty years younger and I suspect that is turning sour on him now. I am sad to be leaving so many good friends over here. The irony is after my separation I felt so alone out here but now I'm leaving so many friends have come out of the woodwork wanting to catch up before I go. Even my ex's family who I always got on really well with and have stayed close after the split have asked me to a farewell get together. I really love my job here and I wake in the night wondering if I'm mad to leave it and the lovely people I work with behind. i have two sons. My 17 year old is really looking forward to coming back with me. (He has friends over there from a two year stint back in the UK a few years ago that he has stayed close to). However my 20 year old originally said he wanted to stay another year but is now saying he doesn't know if he'll follow me anytime soon. He wants to do more study and can't do it in the UK because of the three year residency rules for tertiary education. I am dreading leaving him behind although he seems to be fine about it and has a great network of friends here. i am stressing about getting my bond back on the property I am renting.The agents seems determined to find some little excuse to with hold some of it. The house is in great condition but she's already nit-picking over tiny details like small marks on walls despite us having lived here for 3 and a half years. Is this not normal wear and tear? I have to get a roadworthy to sell my car and have just found out it will cost about $2k to replace seatbelts the dog has chewed! Arghh! To cap it all my ex is really emotional over my son and I leaving. He says he wants to follow us over and has even asked if there is a chance of trying to work things out between us as he can't imagine being here without us! I was looking forward to leaving all that heartache behind and having a fresh start. Everything is booked including the dog. I don't feel able to deal with his sadness and I'm hoping it won't sway the 17 yr old. I have had some fabulous times over here and I don't hate Australia or Australians like some on the wider forum but have never felt it was home. I suffered long bouts of depression due to missing home and family. I'm so looking forward to spending time with my Mum and my brother and sister, nieces and old friends but I'm finding this last couple of weeks so stressful. It's now 2.30am and as usual I'm wide awake churning all this over. Is this normal? Please tell me it will all be worth it! Goodness this has turned into quite the rant....had to get it all out!

I couldn't agree more! I have rented since my marriage broke up, but have previously owned substantial properties over here when agents were bloody falling over themselves to get business. Rental Agents are either bits of kids with no idea when you need something fixed or hard nosed battle-axes. I resent being treated like a second class citizen and have had to fight tedious battles even to the point of taking one agent to court...(they agreed to release my bond the day before the court case.) Best of luck Chortlepuss, it's an added stress neither of us need on the eve of returning to the UK, and I hope it goes well for you.

I am in the same situation. I am leaving the country on 22/11 and the rental property about a week prior to that. I asked the agent to come and do an inspection a couple of weeks ago. We went through the house together and I asked her to point out anything she forsees as being a problem whilst I have time to fix it. I have also insisted on being present when she does her final inspection and will take scuffy's advice and ask for the release form being filled out there and then. I had considered withholding the last months rent, but (maybe naively) I am hoping that if I do the right thing, they will too.

@mouse I am still in Brisbane, but I'm heading home on 22/11. I am finding the goodbyes sad as I've made some good friends and I love my job. Sometimes I think I must be mad too, but I am also kept buoyed up by the PIO posts from people who have gone back and love it. Whenever I am waivering I think about New Year's Eve. I always find it hard (almost depressing) over here - never feeling quite part of things and with the prospect of another year away from family. This NYE I will be facing a lot of uncertainty about getting a job and a place to live but I will be spending it with loved ones, and I will have the support of family. @Jacaranda I can't wait to have Europe on my doorstep and be able to explore so many different places without having to spend hours (and a small fortune) on plane travel. Here's to our new adventures!

Hi Mouse I can understand your feelings. I also met an Aussie when on a six month working holiday and ended up living here. Nineteen years later and I've been single for six years and ready to go home. I loved Australia when I came in my twenties and spent some fantastic times in Sydney when we were child free. However times and lives change and so do you. Australia was a great adventure when I was much younger. Now I'm older I have different priorities and for me I'd rather be in the UK near family. I'd say keep exploring your options over there. I know it's an expensive exercise but peace of mind and feeling at home is priceless. Australia is a huge adventure but it's not necessarily for ever. Good luck!

You could try Letton Percival. They have been recommended on this forum before. Another is https://www.insure-your-move.com

Sound advice. I am in the throws of a huge sort out ready to ship. I'd add start early, especially with selling things. Then you are less tempted to settle for silly offers people make for quality furniture just because you are desperate to get rid of them as time is running out. I'm taking basics that are expensive to replace such as sofas and beds, but I'm ditching the flat packed cheaper stuff. I found that there is a basic cost to shipping regardless of the amount you take based on costs for packing, transporting, customs etc. this may be for example £1000. After that the cost of individual items becomes negligible e.g £150 for a bed. £200 for a dining setting etc.