KALINDA

Well we did originally retire to the West Country - Devon - and were prepared to 'live the dream' there until our son decided to emigrate to OZ. He invited us to join him and his new wife and we arrived here in 2007 and have had a wonderful time during those years especially being around our two beautiful grandchildren. However circumstances have changed somewhat and my husband is dead set on returning to the U.K. ... probably in the South East where our daughter lives and where most of our good old friends and family are situated. I am very torn in this decision and am trying to be positive. I would be interested to hear from any others who have returned to that part of the country and hear views on whether it was a good or bad decision on their part. Comparison on cost of living etc. We have become Australian Citizens and so at least that will make travelling between the two countries a bit easier. I sometimes wish we had stayed in beautiful Devon and just travelled to Oz for frequent holidays but....then we would have missed out on the best years of the grandkids. Not an easy decision!!

Thanks for that .... you are right our son will have to live with this..he is a good and sensitive son who does a tough job as an Intensive Care Nurse and I feel so sad for him but his little family must remain his priority just now. We are still in contact with him and see him at least once a week with the children ...so sad though that we no longer have family gatherings. It was all such a bolt from the blue..no indications that there were troubles brewing. We are back in the U.K. for our planned holiday this summer so will have an opportunity to test the waters a bit. Whatever our final decision I know it is going to be tough and heart rending.

Well that is a relief...you hear lots of different takes on GP appointments and hospital appointments. I guess it depends on where you live etc and if you want to see a specific GP. I used to work in a surgery in the U.K. before emigrating and most patients could get an appointment to see a doctor but it might not have been their 'own' GP unless they could wait a day or more to see them. Anything urgent was certainly dealt with promptly.

Petals....I wish we had had the sense to settle just a little further away from than the 15 mins walk as at present. It has served us well while the children were younger as we were on hand regularly to share magical times with them. This problem has been going on since last November when the outburst occurred. The main victim in the onslaught was my husband ... and without going into detail it was pretty nasty. He is a very gentle, quiet man but when he is hurt it goes deep, especially when it all happened out of the blue...apparently she felt that we were not giving enough of our time to the children inspite of having them for days and sleep-overs on regular occasions since their birth. Naturally now that they are at school it is not so easy to have such regular contact as they have their own little lives to lead among their friends etc. When we came here in 2007 we came with the intention of making a lives for ourselves, independent of them so as not to crowd their space if you know what I mean....we have become volunteers, play bowls, have made good buddies here and travelled quite a bit....but we have got it all wrong apparently...up to now we thought what a wonderful life we were having, family close by, good quality of life etc...sad eh?

All this happened last November and since that time I have met with my daughter-in-law and the meeting was very sad and I hoped I put our case without being too harsh on her...however, my husband was the 'victim' in the situation and it was not very nice!! Can't and don't want to go into too much detail here. Time has passed and she did send a card to apologise for her behaviour and wanted to make amends etc...consequently my husband met with her and our son to hopefully go part way in a reconciliation...but it all went pear-shaped!! ....and hubby is now hell-bent on returning to the U.K. I have to point out that she has also treated her own mother badly and banned her from having the children ...and that was five years ago. We have been fortunate, thus far to be involved with the children on a regular basis but apparently we have not had them enough and exactly when it has suited madam! It is all a bit complicated and maybe we should have lived further away from them instead of 15 mins walk away which has suited both families very well until now. Our son is very much the 'piggy in the middle' here and I think is trying to keep peace and hoping it will all blow over...maybe it will...we will see.

My husband and I emigrated to Australia in 2007 on a Contributory Parent Visa and became Citizens in 2012....however family circumstances have made us rethink where we really want to be at the end of our lives e.g. here in Oz where so far we have been very happy and involved or back in the U.K. with our daughter and remaining relatives and good friends. Here we have a son and our two gorgeous grandchildren aged 7 and 9....it breaks my heart to think of leaving them but...unfortunately there has been a recent big rift in the family between our daughter-in-law and in particular my husband which has caused him to want to return asap to the u.k. I am so torn in this decision...in fact with a daughter in U.K. and a son here ...I have and would always would be torn...but where is it best for us to be? I guess my place and loyalties are for my husband of 45 years! Are we too old at nearly 70 to be contemplating another big move across the world? We would probably look to re-settle in the South East where we came from but it is looking a bit pricey!! Would welcome any reflections on our dilemma...any tips etc

Yes you can access the interest paid on the Bond money. It is just the Bond amount of $10,000 that stays with the Commonwealth Bank until the ten years are up.

I agree with Lucharmily.....our son and his then girl-friend emigrated to Australia in 2002 and as a parent it was a gut-wrenching experience to wave them off at the airport BUT we would never have stood in their way. Life is to be lived and opportunities have to be taken as they arise. They are now married and have two beautiful children. We were fortunate to be able to join them on a Contributory Parent Visa in 2007 and have had the most wonderful experiences with them. They are well and truly settled here and flourishing and it has been good to share good times with them. However, through unforseen family circumstances we are now contemplating a return to the U.K. I will be so sad to leave them but having witnessed their good life-style I will return knowing they are well and happy and it will be a good feeling to know that we gave them our blessing in the first instance. Through their initial emigration, we have all had rich and rewarding times in this huge, beautiful country. Go for it! I know your parents would not want to hamper your opportunities.