I also have to agree with the other comments on here about the difference it makes once you are stuck thousands of miles away from family when you have children. Perhaps women feel this more than men. We brought an 18month old over here and subsequently had a child over here. As a young mum I struggled terribly without the support of family around me. I felt my kids, my siblings and my parents sadly missed out on those relationships only family can provide. True they have had wonderful outdoor lives with friends and swimming pools in the garden and fantastic beaches down the road. However they have really missed out on cousins, aunts and uncles and grandparents in their lives. We have often visited the UK over the years and even spent a two year stint back there when they were in primary school. Now they are 16 and 19 and are both planning to return to the UK. Now divorced from my Aussie husband I will be right there with them! I had a fabulous time in Australia as part of a couple. It's a friendly, laid back, outdoorsy kind of place but I cant wait to come home.
