Nijallo

Thanks bustamove, it’s definitely a rollercoaster time in those weeks leading up to the move! I found it really hard saying goodbye to old and dear friends but I am in frequent contact with them and FaceTime, text and email makes it so much easier. At least two of them are visiting at various times later this year - at least with Aussie friends you know they’ll always be keen to travel! With the house I’m buying, I am incredibly fortunate in that I don’t need a mortgage due to a great house sale in Melbourne and I have bought a modest home here so I don’t have debt. However I set up my accounts with Lloyds Bank when I arrived and I’ve been impressed with how helpful they’ve been especially in considering my personal circumstances, rather than a ‘one size fits all’ approach. I’m hoping to complete my house purchase in the next couple of weeks which fingers crossed will happen before my container arrives - it will be a close run thing! A lot of people suggested I rent first and take my time but for me it felt important to buy and put down my roots and settle as soon as I could. And with my two dogs that I brought with me, it would have been hard to find a rental property I imagine. I’ve been staying with my parents since I arrived which is not the easiest but a godsend nonetheless. I started a full time job this week (I’m a PA) so I had about 6 weeks to get settled before I started job hunting in earnest. I must say it’s been a really hard week. The job is at a lower level than I’m used to and is under resourced and incredibly busy. But it’s great to have that first foot on the door here and an ‘employed’ status which really helps with setting everything up. I will give it a few months and then perhaps look for something more suitable. It’s hard to work a 40+ hour week and also fit in the house buying arrangements, walking the dogs and helping my elderly parents! I’m not sure how I’ll manage moving in when my container arrives but hopefully things will settle a bit. Very best of luck with your move. I think wobbles are fine, it would be sad not to have some regrets about leaving a life well lived in Australia. At those times, I tried to think about what I was coming to rather than what I was leaving behind. Definitely not an easy time though.

I found it was really scary making the decision once and for all (after years of thinking about it) and setting the ball rolling but once I got into it and was committed by having the house on the market etc, I actually felt more relaxed about it all. When you focus on whatever task is next and in front of you, rather than the big picture, it’s much more manageable I found. That’s not to say I didn’t have wobbly days but at the back of my mind I knew I had to get through all the upheaval to get to where I wanted and needed to be. I wish you all the luck in the world when you embark on your own journey.

Thank you Redtop1! My dogs were reluctant to venture into the snow too after they realised how cold it was on their paws! But they did love the warm showers I gave their feet after a walk [emoji4]. Now that spring is on the horizon, our walks are getting longer and the mud situation is slowly improving! I couldn’t agree more with your observations of being back home, I’m glad you’re happily settled too!

Thanks for your good wishes Davo453. Each of our posts highlight just how personal these moves are and there is no right or wrong, it simply comes down to where the pull is strongest. All the best for your move back to Aus and the big blue skies!

After nearly 30 years in Australia and now in my mid-50s, I was waiting for the right time to come home to England and I finally made it! I arrived at Heathrow on 2 March right in the middle of the ‘beast from the east’. My sister couldn’t get out of Somerset to pick me up but thankfully my daughter came from London and collected me and my two dogs and delivered us safely to Dorset. The dogs, by the way, were totally fine and took the journey completely in their stride. They were bemused by the snow though! So it’s close to one month on and I’m so happy I gathered all the courage I didn’t know I had, survived the wobbly moments, and made the move. I’m staying with my very elderly parents which is not the easiest as Mum has dementia and Dad a good few age-related issues too. But to see how much they are enjoying having me home at last and, quite unexpectedly, how much joy the dogs bring them, I can practice all my skills in patience and make the most of this time with them. In my first month I have managed to open a bank account (easier than I’d imagined - Lloyds Bank have been great), buy a car and have an offer accepted on a house near Wimborne. Fingers crossed all goes smoothly! Job hunting is next on the list. I’ve been driving around Dorset to become more familiar with the area as I grew up in Surrey. What a beautiful county this is! I’m in the midst of moving the bulk of my money across now which is the only disappointment so far. With the exchange rate at around .54, I wish I had been able to do this last year when the pound was quite a bit weaker. On the upside, property prices are a lot lower than in Melbourne so it’s swings and roundabouts I guess. So after the ramblings above, the point of my post is to thank this group for their support, advice and insights. Incredibly useful and much appreciated. Also to say to anyone who is wavering about the move home and the enormity of the process, it really isn’t that bad when you break it down to a task by task basis and the rewards are so worth it. Each of our experiences are very different but, from my own perspective, I am so very happy to be home and don’t have a moment of regret. The UK has certainly changed since the 1980s but intrinsically it is still the same beautiful country, people have been so friendly and helpful, and I feel that wonderful sense of belonging again that was missing for so many years. Good luck to all who are on this journey of upheaval and new beginnings, whichever direction you are travelling. It is only those of us who have gone through this that truly understand what is really involved; practically, financially and emotionally.

Nett, My Cavvy is 2 years old and a largish male. His crate is a size bigger than my female Cavoodle’s (3 years old) as she’s a bit smaller and they also advise that short-nosed dogs should have more space for good air circulation. It’s been a simple process going through JetPets and they’ve worked hard to tailor the dogs’ flights around my own. They can’t be on my flight as my stop in Dubai is only two hours and they must have a minimum stop of six hours for health reasons. Mine will fly around 15 hours before me and after an 11 hour refreshment stop in Dubai will land at Heathrow about four hours ahead of me. With around an eight hour processing time at Heathrow, in theory we shouldn’t be waiting more than a few hours at most to pick them up. The package for both dogs, rabies and C5 jabs (they were nearly due so I got them done) and health checks, all the flights, crates, customs etc and 7 days in kennels before we fly (after house settlement when I move into a serviced apartment) the total cost was a shade under $6000. I’m quite nervous about how they will cope and will be very relieved when I see them at Heathrow! One thing to note is the microchip must be international ISO standard and must be inserted (if not already) before the rabies jab. The vet checks all this though. Good luck with your planning and you’re right, before you know it you’ll be on your way! [emoji190][emoji190][emoji4]

Thanks so much Redtop1, that’s very helpful advice. My problem has eased somewhat as my sister and partner are now travelling from Somerset to collect me and the dogs, and my daughter is borrowing a car and also coming from London to help out! I have been without family help for such a long time, I just assumed I’d sort it out on my own as I’ve been used to doing [emoji2]. What luxury to have some help! With two cars and the crates dismantled as you suggest (mine will be in a PP50 and a PP60) I think we’ll manage the trip to Dorset. The wait at the ARC will be a bit tedious but manageable, especially with a family reunion going on [emoji4]. My dogs are scheduled to arrive about five hours ahead of me so that may reduce the waiting time a little, fingers crossed. I have my TOR number now, removalists are booked, dog vaccinations done so pretty much on track. A million farewell events to get through which will be a bit of an emotional roller coaster and then the house settlement to get through as well.

My departure date of 1 March is starting to feel like not too far away at all! Today, JetPets delivered the two crates for my dogs - a Cavalier and a Cavoodle. The crates are massive! I’m just wondering how others have managed at the other end. My plan is to hire a car on arrival, drive to the Animal Clearance Centre and wait until the dogs are ready. They fly in about four hours before me so in theory it should work well. I’ll have two large cases in the car plus hand luggage. Dogs can both sit on the front seat or wherever they can squeeze in but will the crates fit in a car? The JetPets rep said the bolts can be removed that hold the top to the bottom which would help. The crates are P60 size. Also, as I’ll be on my own, will they hold on to the dogs while I get the crates to the car? My parents are much too elderly to drive to Heathrow and my sister is in Somerset so too much of a trek and she’ll be working that day. I can hire a large car, probably an estate, but interested in what others have done. Thanks as always for your wise advice [emoji2]

I’m sure you’ll be fine. My daughter seems to juggle her money ok and is able to have occasional holidays and long weekends away and do all the dinners out/socialising she wants to. Having said that, I wouldn’t want to see her credit card statement [emoji38] but she’s always been an avid shopper! Her rent is a bit over £800 per month including bills. There are 4 of them with a room each in the flat. She’s in a nice area close to Parsons Green tube station so commuting is easy and it’s a big saving not having a car. Some things are cheaper, some more expensive - I think it all evens out in the end. Hope that helps a little!

My daughter is also 30 next year and she moved to London almost three years ago having always lived in Melbourne except between the ages of 2 and 7 years. A bit easier for her as she has dual nationality but she went with no job, contacts or place to live. She’s an HR consultant and after a couple of short term jobs in the first year, she settled in a great job at the BBC, has been in a really good flat share in Fulham the whole time and is really happy. She spends a lot of what she earns but could definitely be more frugal and save if she wanted to. She’s talking about buying a flat there now so is pretty serious about staying. Which is great for me as I’m moving back to the UK at the end of Feb after 30 years in Melbourne! I would grab the opportunity with both hands. You will have doubts and tough days but it doesn’t have to be forever and will be such a great experience. I’m a bit biased being from London but it is such a great place to live! Melbourne is a great city too but London has a unique buzz and Europe is on your doorstep. Good luck!!

Thank you Beckfield! I am leaving one daughter here (she’s 27) which is incredibly hard but my other one (29) moved to London 3 years ago and will stay in the UK. Wherever I live, I can never have all of my family with me which is the same for most of us on here probably and something we have to learn to live with. I’ve missed my parents and sister terribly over the past decades. I wondered and wondered for years if I could go back and never thought it could actually happen. But it seems it can so please take heart and trust your instincts. Once I actually made the decision and set the ball rolling, it was a huge relief and I felt much happier.

I came to Australia in 1985 because I’d met an Australian. After two daughters, born here, 5 years in Belgium and back in UK, then back to Melbourne mid-1990s, divorce and life in general, I am finally going home to England at last. I’ve just sold my house and booked my flight for 1 March. Pretty scared but in my heart I know it’s the right thing to do. I’ve never really belonged in Australia and am so excited that I’m finally able to do this. It’s not easy at all but you know in your heart what’s right. Don’t worry about what anyone thinks, it’s only how you feel that matters. Good luck!

My plans are moving along pretty well and I am mostly very excited but occasionally somewhat terrified about the big decision to move back to the UK after more than 25 years in Australia. Despite some obvious sadness at leaving various aspects of my life in Melbourne, I have not yet had a single doubt that I am making the right decision in returning to the UK. I know it will be a rocky path once I arrive and it will take time to settle but I am so looking forward to finally being home. It's been such a long time coming considering I've been wanting to return since 1995! I wonder if you kind souls can give me a bit of guidance. My house is due to be auctioned on 25 November, only two weeks to go, yikes! I have told the agent that my strong preference is for a 90 day settlement as I imagine this gives me a realistic timeframe to organise everything that needs to be done. My question is that, if a bidder offered the right money but wanted an earlier settlement, what can I realistically agree to? Could I do it in 60 days? I've already organised the dogs' booking with JetPets, they are only waiting on me to confirm when to book the flights for them which will be two days after my flight I think. I've sold quite a bit of stuff that I won't be taking with me but will have more to get rid of once the house is sold. I'll also need to sell my car nearer departure date. I'll contact probably three shipping companies to compare quotes and intend to do this straight after my house sells at the auction (fingers crossed at least!). I also intend to book my flight as soon as I know my settlement date - is it realistic to fly out 2 or 3 days after settlement to allow for any delays with finances or should I wait longer? All advice appreciated!

I really feel for you with your dilemma. My own journey is not supposed to sound negative but I think it highlights what can happen almost by stealth in your youth but takes decades to get back to where you want to be in life. It may well work out wonderfully for you, I truly hope it does. I'm British and came to Australia in the mid-80s only because I had met an Australian and we were living together in London when his job moved him back to Melbourne. I was only 22 and I happily accompanied him and enjoyed the first five years or so in Australia, which included us getting married and having two children. His job then took us to Belgium and then the UK for five years and that point, in the mid-90s, I knew without a doubt that I wanted to stay in the UK but it couldn't be done, at least not without splitting up the family. So we all came back to Melbourne, me very reluctantly, and in hindsight I struggled a fair bit despite having a good job and lovely friends. By 1999 we had sadly separated which made no difference to my situation as I wouldn't have uprooted my children and taken them so far away from their father. It did mean that I was stuck in Melbourne with absolutely no family support though and that was pretty tough at times. Fast forward to 2017, my beautiful daughters are 27 and nearly 29 with the older one living in London and the younger one recently buying a flat in Melbourne. I have by no means been miserable for the past 20 years but I have never felt that I truly belonged here and have been at my happiest and most content when I have visited home. So finally, and it's been a long time coming, I am selling up and moving back to the UK early next year. One daughter (in London) is very happy, the other is sad but supportive. It is certainly the case that once you have lived in different countries, no one country will be 100% the right place, for you or those close to you. I have my old friends in England who are so excited that I'm finally coming home, I have wonderful friends in Melbourne who I'll be very sad to leave. My now very elderly parents need some support and I want to properly get to know my now adult nieces. I'm so looking forward to making up for lost time. So, do think long and hard about your future and I wish you all the very best with your incredibly difficult situation. The people you love are of course the most important factor, but you need to be happy and content in your environment too. Good luck with whatever you decide.

Thanks so much for your super helpful comments everyone. Scottiegirl, our situations seem rather similar! How have you found adjusting back to life in the UK? I now have quotes from Dogtainers and JetPets and I must say JetPets have been really helpful over the phone. Although more expensive, I like the whole package approach where they also take care of the vet work by having a vet come to the house for the rabies jab and so on. I guess the Dubai stopover for the dogs will change to Singapore now that Qantas are changing their route from next March which may be better from a heat point of view at least. I may get the rabies injection done this side of Christmas so that's one thing out of the way. I think I'll wait until my auction on 25 November and then get shipping quotes once I know how long settlement is (very useful to know that the quotes are only valid for three months!) and then I can immediately apply for a ToR. May I ask which shippers people have got quotes from and who they ended up going with? I've read on here before not to accept the first quote so presumably it's reasonably negotiable? In settling near the New Forest, I am really looking forward to some lovely long dog walks. In the initial weeks I should be around a fair bit other than house and job hunting so I'm hoping my parents will be OK. Mum has a level of dementia and is mainly in bed, Dad had a very bad fall a couple of years ago and needs to walk with a frame and is fairly doddery. The thought of my dogs charging up the hallway and bowling him over is my worst nightmare. Between me, another dog walker and some day care, I'm hoping it will work out!