Diane Watson

Which part of England were you living in?

Just wanted to let everyone known that I sold the house today so it looks like I will be headed back the end of April. I contacted the British Immigration Department and according to them as long as you enter on a British passport you have all the rights of abode and residency. I don't think I should have a problem as I can't foresee needing any benefits but you never know so I'd like to cover all my bases. I will also have enough money to last me 2 years and hope that I can pay annually for as many services as possible to establish some credit rating. I am also setting up an international bank account with HSBC as soon as I get my passport so that I have a current UK bank account before I arrive.

Thank you for this information. Can I apply for residency before I leave Australia and if so how did you go about getting it. Which government department do I need to contact?

I would tell your husband to not look at it as a demotion but rather a period of probation until he proves his worth. It sounds to me as if it is just monetary reasons holding you back, which is understandable, but sometimes you just have to let your heart rule your head. None of us are getting any younger and believe me the move becomes more daunting the older you get logistically, physically and mentally.

Isn't international roaming very expensive?

I will be checking out Pomsinoz regularly. I may be enjoying the challenge of setting up in a new country but I am determined to do it as easily and correctly as possible so everyone's advice is very useful to me. I am also checking other people's questions to see if any of my research will aid them, however in the future I will certainly include snippets of my blog if you think that everyone will be interested in it. The reason I set up the blog is because as my friends know when I get my teeth into a project I want to become well informed on the subject and tend to immerse myself in it to the point of boring them all silly with all my comments so I thought this way they could choose when and where I drone on :wink:

Would I need to apply for residency when I am British citizen?

As a history nut I hope to spend time visiting different parts of the UK when I can so I will take you up on your offer when I'm in that area and we can compare stories. I know that there will be days where I miss Australia. I often tell people here that when you have lived in 2 countries you always miss the country you're not in, so it would be good to chat with another ex-Aussie.

Thank you. This is my first blog. I thought it would be nice record for me to keep, inform my relatives overseas what is happening (and when I get to England my family and friends here how I am settling in). Then I thought setting down my stumbling blocks and discoveries might help someone else who decides to move back so I'd encourage you to share it (although I discovered that you need to put the link in the signature and not in the main post). It is a risk and I am trying to keep as many bridges un-burnt as possible. Some people do extreme sport - I do extreme living! As for the weather my internal thermostat never adjusted to Aussie weather. Even in the middle of winter here I am the one in short sleeves, sitting in front of the fan, sweating like a pig (although come to think of it have you ever seen a pig sweat? I wonder where that phrase came from).

I have started a new blog that documents the journey of a 51 year old single female's quest to return beyond the sea to England with only her loyal and trusty sidekick Jaydee the Jack Russell for companionship. It has been 33 years since I left England's shores permanently (I've been back for holidays), however I am a dual citizen and I still have family who will help me. However, I am very independent and looking forward to the challenge of establishing myself in a new country without relying on my family too much. Please feel free to follow my blog as well as comment and offer me suggestions as I traverse the rocky terrain of moving back - number 1 being everyone telling me I'm mad for leaving Australia - which surprises me - didn't they know I was mad before I decided this!

I am finally going back to England to be with my family after 30 wonderful years in Australia. I have enough money to buy a house without getting a mortgage but I would prefer to buy one over here so that I can move straight into it as I have a dog and my relatives aren't doggie people. Is there a solicitor in Sydney that handles overseas purchases or do I need to hire one in the Middlesbrough/Hartlepool area and has anyone bought a house in the UK from Sydney and can give me any hints of the best way to arrange it. I have found several properties on Rightmove that seem suitable and my family could check them out for me and arrange for building inspections but I'd rather deal with the solicitor face to face.