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!

Only my second post on this fabulous forum but I've been making lots of progress. I have finally committed to my decision to move back to the UK, after nearly 30 years in Australia! It's been a monumental decision but now I've made it, I feel a sense of relief and excitement, albeit tinged with some fear and worry. A South African friend here in Melbourne nailed my dilemma for me by talking about the push/pull factor for those of us split between two countries. For her, coming from South Africa, there was a lot of 'push' as she had many reasons to leave. However, not much 'pull' specifically to Australia for her other than it was a better option for her and her family. For me, I have no serious 'push' factors - for better or worse, I have made my home in Melbourne over many years, I have an adult daughter here, a good job, a house I love and some lifelong friends but I still feel like a round peg in a square hole. But...my 'pull' factor overrides all of that. In England I have my elderly parents, my other adult daughter, my sister and her family and also some lifelong friends who have stuck by me all this time. Also that intangible feeling that I need to be 'home' where I belong with people who get me and an environment and way of life that I love. Anyway, the push/pull factor really helped me make sense of my dilemma so maybe it might help someone else in a similar situation. I have signed up with an estate agent and my house will be auctioned at the end of November. Yikes! The Melbourne market is strong and I have my fingers crossed for a good result. I'm aiming for a 90 day settlement to give me time to then organise the move which would be around end February/beginning March. Does this sound realistic in terms of timing to those who have done this? I am in the process of getting quotes for my two dogs from Dogtainers and Jet Pets but wondered whether I should think about shipping quotes yet? I'm thinking of waiting until after the auction which still gives me a month before Christmas but would I be better doing it earlier? The logistics of the move feel like a mountain to climb but I'm trying to break it down into manageable projects - a garage sale before the house goes up for sale, a sale of other goods I'll need to get rid of just before I move, the sale of my car, when to resign from my job, the packing up of the house, the plan of where to live (for me and the dogs!) for presumably a week or two between house settlement and flight and so on. Any advice would be hugely appreciated! When I get to England, things should hopefully be simpler although I am under no illusion to the stresses ahead of me. I can move in with my parents while I look for a house to buy in the same area (New Forest and surrounds) and also a job. They are beyond excited at the thought of me being with them for a couple of months! The only complication is my dogs. My parents are not that well and are very elderly so I don't think they will cope with two bouncy dogs. I can't put the pups in kennels after all they will go through with the move so thought I could keep them with me except on the days I am house hunting and job hunting when I can find a good doggy day care. Has anyone else had this situation? Sorry for the long ramble, it's the first time I've written down that I'm really actually following my heart after so many years of wishing!! This forum has already helped me enormously and any advice readers can give me, or even just a thumbs up, would be incredibly appreciated.

Scousers1, I really feel for you. I have been in Australia a similar time and have driven myself crazy for years and years wondering if and how I could return home to England. I am separated and will be divorcing mid-year from a short second marriage, unrelated to my wanting to move back. I have a 26 year old daughter here in Melbourne and she knows I'm seriously thinking of moving back and is fine with it and has her own life, although she said it will be quite strange. And her Australian dad will be here which is a comfort. My other daughter, 28, is living in London and may well settle there. Like Quoll, I would envisage travelling back and forth in years to come. I think the biggest thing, for me, will be actually making the decision once and for all and acting on it. It's a very daunting process. Best of luck with whatever you decide. Take care.

SummersetRose, your comment is actually hugely helpful as I thought I was a bit mad too! We have so many similarities, I will also need to finalise a divorce (should be pretty straightforward I hope - a short second marriage that shouldn't have happened, all part of my feeling a bit lost I think), I have a 26 year old daughter in Aus and a 28 year old daughter who's been in London for 2 years and is probably going to settle there. My sister and my 4 adult nieces live in Somerset (Wiveliscombe) and my parents in Highcliffe. Dorset. I still have lots of my old friends scattered around England but all really supportive. Employment and future finances are my two big worries. Also transporting my dogs but the lovely people on this forum have already set my mind at rest somewhat with them! Best of luck to you too. It looks like we may travel this path together so I look forward to bouncing ideas and advice off one other. Take care x

Thanks so much, Antipodista and ScottieGirl! I am feeling quite empowered by your words and advice. The post-Brexit conditions are a really good point and something I hadn't considered. Costs are around what I was assuming which is great. I'm hoping the pension issue won't be too critical as I'll have my house proceeds too and, much as I don't like to think of it and don't factor it in, there will eventually be something from my parents. Guess I'm being super cautious and trying to think of everything. ScottieGirl, were your dogs ok when you picked them up and are they settling down now? I have two young dogs, a Cavalier and a Cavoodle, and I am wondering how they will cope, they're quite sensitive little souls!

Thanks, Quoll, for your encouraging words. I guess at this stage I'm trying to work out if this whole idea is even possible and if so to build the confidence to take the leap. Your idea of a career break and renting is a possibility too and worth considering.

Hello All, I'm new to the Forum and hoping I can use some of you very helpful and experienced people to bounce ideas off and get some advice on where to source information for moving back home to the UK. A little bit of background. I moved to Australia in 1985 when I was 22 with my Australian partner. Two daughters were born in Australia and then as a family we lived in Belgium and the UK for just under five years. Back to Australia in 1995 where I have been ever since. Children now grown up, one living in London possibly permanently, the other in Melbourne in her own place. I am now single, 54 and have basically been missing living in the UK since I came back to Australia in the mid-1990s. Finally, I have the choice of where to live and the pull to return to England is so strong. Elderly parents, sister and nieces are all there and when I go back to visit, it all just feels right with family, friends and lifestyle. My biggest question is just how realistic is it for me to consider moving home, especially from the financial point of view of retirement down the track? I have a good PA/EA role in Melbourne and would work in a similar job in the UK for at least another 10 years I imagine. I only worked in the UK from 1980-1985. I've worked in Australia from 1985-1988 and from 1996 to currently. I'm reading lots of interesting threads and learning as I go but my initial worries are: - If I return to the UK now, do I forfeit any access to an Australian pension after retirement? If I work for 10 years or so in the UK, giving me a total of 15 years, am I able to top up a UK pension and receive enough to live on there? Is my Australian work record considered at all by the UK when calculating a pension? - I'm happy to leave my Super here in Australia but can I access it and move it to the UK at retirement age? - What are my job prospects at my age in the UK? I would probably aim to live in Dorset, around the Ringwood area and would be flexible in what I do. - Not sure where on earth to start with everything that would need to be done - leaving my job, selling my house, shipping my stuff to the UK, finding out about flying my two dogs over and so on. I would need to be able to buy a small property outright in the UK as I wouldn't get a mortgage at my age. It all feels like a huge mountain to climb just thinking about the logistics! I'm going to the UK in July to visit family for 3 weeks and will spend some time doing research while I'm there. If anyone can help with where I can go for financial/pension info - websites, government helplines and so on, it would be much appreciated. I do still have a National Insurance number and have both UK and Australian citizenship. Thanks so much for reading. This is something I've been thinking about for so long but it all feels so completely daunting and maybe isn't even possible. No doubt, I'll have a million more questions as I progress through this journey!