Pixie77

We're moving back after 5 years - two young kids & no family is tough, my daughter will be 4 soon & has friends she sees nearly every day whom she's know since birth & I do feel guilt for taking her away from that & them both from some parts of this life style.... then their birthdays Christmas Easter comes along & they ask if nanna can come, can grandad pick her up from childcare like everyone else & I feel guilty saying no. So basically I think to some extent guilt & parenthood go hand in hand - I think it's a sign of your sensitivity to your children that you feel guilty & second guessing yourself, I'm sure our children will be fine, you're the most important influence in their life right now so you need to be happy to make them happy. Our house goes on sale tomorrow I've certainly got the jitters about what we're doing but family are waiting in UK & we're luckily enough to have a job for hubby too. So I'm trying to look at it as a big adventure no regrets. Good luck!

OK thanks. We're moving back so sounds like its worth it! Something I hadn't though of, I thought as they're automatically dual citizens they would be OK on Australian passports!

So have I completely overlooked this?? I have a 3&1 year old both with Australian passports- do I need to get UK ones (we're both citizens of UK) or can they travel on Australian??

Thanks snifter, I've contacted 2 schools, one said no under any circumstances the other said yes as long as council agrees so we're applying to council now. She just seems so young!

Has anyone successfully deferred their child's place with Oxfordshire council? My daughter turns 4 in August but we won't be in Oxfordshire until about November so she won't be in nursery/school until then so we're going to defer her reception place & start her in nursery. Just wondering how easy it is. Got the forms & we need to supply evidence...hoping a letter from childcare will be enough.

Shipping. Has anyone sold most stuff + just gone with basics & a move cube? Just wondered whether it's worth shipping white goods as we will be renting initially & seems a lot of properties include these. Also they're quite cheap in uk. Also some of our furniture is basic Ikea... not sure if worth shipping. Just not sure how sensible it is or should we just take the lot & then we're sorted? will take beds possibly sofa & chairs &few boxes of household stuff. Hmm

Thanks so much- good to hear such a positive account of England as we prepare to head back ?

Thanks yes this comment was from a friend who's never been out of Europe let alone lived elsewhere- she lives 3 miles away from where we grew up! Yes bit worried about nhs. Hubbie has a job to go to so that helps & obviously family. Yes I agree it is what you make of it- just having a few worries.

So another friend in the UK has just found out were moving back. Again the reaction has been "Are you sure?" Then a paragraph about dismal England- from weather to economy.... anyone else getting this reaction? Is it really so bad? We're moving back for family mostly so we're definitely going but does make me a bit nervous for my children....

Hi - I'm living a parallel life! Been here just over 5 years, two little ones, house &two cars to sell! The only good thing for us is that Hubbie is transferring to UK office so we know he has a job & the area we will live. So practicalities- - find out how long houses take to sell in your area. - job hunt in uk now- at least put feelers out. Do you have a timeline or jobs yet? - start pulling together a plan of how you want to do this. Our plan is house on market, sell one car, ship belonging, upon house sale book flights & few nights accommodation before we go. We have a list of everyone to contact- tax return, center link, Agl! Etc. Sell other car last minute or leave with a friend to sell. We're going to family first so no big issues to deal with upon arrival. You? - don't know ages of your kids but we're deferring our daughter's school place as she should start this September. She only turns 4in late August so she's not in kindy here yet (childcare though) & July/ August is when we're moving. Just a thought! We're also had shippers in to get quotes so we have an idea of costs. As I say I'm in the same position so I don't have advice just plans, I'm sure wiser people will along soon ? goodluck!

Exciting times! Goodluck with the move & thanks for the advice

Thank-you that makes perfect sense just what I needed- don't need to over complicate it!

Thank you for your help- things I hadn't even thought of there so big thanks

We're looking at chess too. Or we might be ruthless with our stuff &go with 2 movecubes from sevenseas!

Oh you sound like us! It was easier coming to Australia as it was just the two of us. Now there's 4! We thought about me going ahead with the kids but I'm not doing a 22 hour trip with a 3 year old &18 month old alone- I refuse to take that particular challenge!! So did people just wait for the utility bills & settle up once in England? Would like to have everything done before we go , we're looking at selling ourselves so we are definitely staying for settlement. Just trying to get a bit more organised!

How long after house sale did people actually go? We want to go asap after sale but wondering about paying utilities & closing accounts etc. We'll be staying in a hotel so want to go as quickly as possible.

Been here in SA for 5 years & had 2 kids here. Went home in October & we both had that moment of why are we in oz &all our family in uk (lpool) ? So we're waiting to sell up &move while kids are little & my parents etc still in good health. Just don't see us aging here ..... want to go home

Thanks all. We want to return for quality time with grandparents but also the rest of the family is under pressure &could do with us there to help. Grandfather in hospital at moment so Hubbie may be going alone sooner than planned for a visit..... we have a house to sell so we can't move to quickly anyway. Onkaparinga has estimated 6-12 months for citizenship so we do need to rethink our plans.....

Advice please. We're in Adelaide. Onkaparinga council. We're about to start citizenship &were planning on heading home around July/August. Unfortunately health issues of grandparents are putting us under pressure & hubbie is pushing to leave sooner without citizenship. We have 2 children both Australian. I'm worried about the future if we don't get citizenship but believe it can take 6months plus (we haven't even done forms yet!). Any advice? We're obviously in a rush to get back to England to support family but citizenship is important too....

So we're hopefully heading back to UK in about 6months. Hubbie is transferring so we won't be going back to where were from. Heading to Oxford way & having only visited once I'm trying to get a feel for cost of living. I've looked at right move for houses but utilities? Food prices? No idea where to look. A few people have mentioned Oxford is very expensive (comparable to inner London) especially with the 90 min commute to London now making houses etc increase. So any ideas on utilities for a family of 4? I'm so out of touch now!

Thanks for the tips. We're in Adelaide , house around the 350,000 mark. Selling as moving back to family.

Thanks for reply. Yes we've had two separate RE out &both have valued house,( we only bought about 18 months ago) I'm fairly confident with it &I'm thinking honestly what is the 2.2 commission for? We pay market &advertising costs on top of this so why not have a go ourselves? Also been looking at "for sale by owner" website which includes for sale sign &advert on real estate etc. Seriously thinking of going that way.

Has anyone sold there house themselves- no estate agent just a conveyance? We bought privately & I'm thinking of doing it just after some advice....

Interesting read &glad you're settled in. We feel the same, been here 5years with Hubbie also from England- now got 2 children age 3 &almost 1 and the need to be close to my family &friends is huge- went home in September to introduce baby to both families &I struggled to come back.... we head home for good (although will be dual citizens) in July this year with Hubbie transferring to UK office ? will be a few hours from family but at least weekends/ Christmas Easter birthday etc will be family occcassions. Can't wait. Great to read your post. Good luck

Thanks- wow a week! Ok yeah don't really want to move in with friends but could if needed