MelT

I am another one who is wanting to go home.  I have never felt settled here.  The more the days pass the more I want to leave.  It will be 30 years in October since we moved down under.  I want to return with my children.  My biggest issues are... the ex husband - he doesn't see the kids at all as he is totally wrapped up in his new life.  The kids will be 14,15 & 17 by the time we go if we do.  And my other stumbling block is my current partner.  He wants to stay here and save up for as long as possible before going over.  Whereas I just want to go!  I am looking at flights now for April next year as I have a wedding to go to.  I don't see the point of going over all that way for a wedding and spending all that money for the 5 of us to only then turn around and come back to Aus for a few more months.  [emoji53]

I'm sorry but I couldn't ignore that racist comment from Melbpom.
It is just blatant racism and untrue.

While the UK may be a good choice for some to go back to, I do find the sly racist digs tiresome.
As if people in the UK are so friendly and will stop and say hello, implying in Australia no one says hello when you are out. That is an untrue racist dig at Australia.
Australia is just as friendly as the UK.
I always smile and say good morning to people when I am out walking my dogs and people respond and chat to you.
In any country you have to look approachable and smile at someone or say G'Day. If you look at the ground as you walk past, then no one will speak to you in any country.

Hi,

Just wondering if anyone has moved back to the uk and been able to transfer their private health insurance so pre existing conditions are still covered.

Thankyou:)

Hi all. It's been a little over 2 months and I'm absolutely loving it.
Came back on my own and now have a flat, my friends and family and even been on a few dates.
Best decision I ever made.

I think this is why migrating for us has been like a duck to water - we were a set family unit of 2+2 and have always had a focus on that.  We miss friends etc. but overall has been a good move for us.
It actually wouldn't matter where we were tbh (before Australia we were set on a step via New Jersey), just so happens at the moment there isn't anything that would get me out of Queensland.
It sounds like [mention=217307]Banana707[/mention] made the right call - good luck with your life back in the UK!
 

Hey,
I know I'm jumping the gun a bit, but we're planning on moving back home to the South West of England - now we're not actually moving until the end of next year, but I'm already excited [emoji846]
Is that wrong???
For us, we're going home (well, home for me) because we just don't want to still be here going nowhere when we're nearing 50.  The thought that it isn't that far off was a very scary wake up call.
Anyone else joining me on the Big Move around that time?
I'd love to hear from you and where/why you're moving [emoji846] xx

MelT, just wondering if you have moved yet and how you have gotten on? I’m in the same situation. I’ve been in Melbourne for 14 years and really way to move back to the UK. My partner (Aussie) is very willing and keen but I just worry about schools as my son has a genetic condition and will likely need some additional help. It’s a very tough call but I desperately want to be back in the UK, close to my family. TIA x

We are in the final stages, I hope.. of moving back. It has been hard as my parents, after all their talk about how much they wanted to go back have decided to stay here. Whereas, we are still going back home. My parents have now disowned us and have not spoken to us for 6 months.....Our house is on the market; we fly back n August as our son starts school in September.

Even our 14 year old son who has spent most of his life in Australia (although, has an English accent) feels a sense of belonging and more accepted in the UK. He had taster days at his new school in January and loved it so much, I have never seen him so content. It is a small private school that support children with dyslexia/learning difficulties and ADHD.

It certainly isn't going to be easy making this move, we still have to find jobs etc.. It will be worth it in the end. Australia has been good to us in some ways, but it just isn't home.

We decided we had to make the move now or never as the longer we left it the harder it will be to get jobs as we get older. Also We could not leave it any later otherwise our son would not be able to complete his GCSE's... then that makes things more tricky.. So hence why I say now or never.

My husbands family are all in the Uk as are all my family accept for my parents. So my husband is really looking forward to going home. Plus we have close friends we have kept in touch with and have seen on trips home so it will be great to have meaningful friendships again.. Although I am aware things may not be the same as before we left 13 years ago...

Hi,

I am in in the process of organising quotes for our move in August... Had various feedback regarding OSS Worldwide Movers which have not been so good.

Has anyone used Chess Movers, if so would you recommend them? Or can you recommend another company?

Thank you :)

What sort of prices have you been quoted? How much stuff are you taking back? If you don’t mind me asking.

Ah yes the panic..... [emoji23]

I had an offer on my house within 10 days but things have stalled a bit with their finances so hoping it gets sorted this week, otherwise I’ll have to have more opens and start again. I still have time to sell and leave at the end of June as planned.

Luckily I don’t have to worry about school starting dates. 

I have started to apply for jobs, not sure how that will go being offshore but worth a punt.

 I have made myself a spreadsheet with things to do which has helped, it feels like I add more than I cross off at the moment though.....

All the best, it is an exciting time despite the stress/hysteria/panic. One step at a time! 

I have found facebook market place really good for selling items. When i find something that is bot being shipped back i just take a quick picture and put the ad straight on mkt place. Amazing how many bits and pieces i have managed to move on over the last few weeks. We will have a final garage sale at some stage closer to the actual move date.

Have you organised the shipping yet? I have a few over the phone quotes, nothing final. Finding the prices a bit scary..

Good luck [mention=219513]RMG[/mention]. I would be interested in hearing how you go with the NHS. I will be a bit behind you. Maybe June time. My house goes on the market next week. [emoji3]

Maybe practice what you preach as well. I am the person I was talking about and tbh when I see someone saying they are returning because they have a food allergy I think there must be a lot more to it. Anyway like I said before I wish you luck and I hope your food allergy vanishes when you get home and that you head somewhere like Scotland where there isn’t any sun.

Maybe practice what you preach as well. I am the person I was talking about and tbh when I see someone saying they are returning because they have a food allergy I think there must be a lot more to it. Anyway like I said before I wish you luck and I hope your food allergy vanishes when you get home and that you head somewhere like Scotland where there isn’t any sun.

There is a huge amount of people all over the world with allergies who manage to live with them on a daily basis, be thankful that’s all you have to worry about. Goodness knows what you would do if you were put in a wheelchair or had a serious medical condition that you knew would take your life but didn’t know when.  How do you know you still won’t have allergies to canola and corn when you go back? 
‘As for skin cancer, my mum currently as it and as been fighting it for a number of years and that’s living in the UK, my Aunty got skin cancer also living in the UK. 

There is a huge amount of people all over the world with allergies who manage to live with them on a daily basis, be thankful that’s all you have to worry about. Goodness knows what you would do if you were put in a wheelchair or had a serious medical condition that you knew would take your life but didn’t know when.  How do you know you still won’t have allergies to canola and corn when you go back? 
‘As for skin cancer, my mum currently as it and as been fighting it for a number of years and that’s living in the UK, my Aunty got skin cancer also living in the UK. 

We were very close to the Black Saturday fires and had houses burn in our suburbs, we have had the flooding as well including the Cat 5 Cyclone Yasi but it would never ever turn me against a place. The UK has had serious flooding so does that mean you will be moving away from there when the next flood hits? 

So have you done your research with these gm foods you talk about once the UK comes out of the EU and is no longer bound by it's legislation and just say they allow these foods will you be upping sticks again?

Pray tell when any returnee ever holds themselves accountable? It's always Australia/Aussies to blame. No doubt some have bad experiences, but I've yet to hear any of them question why?. Someone going on about dry heat and bushfires on another thread
OK, I understand their dream is shattered, albeit taken 'em a long time to decide, but for feck's sake, didn't they research?.............and never mind that crap/excuse so oft recycled on PIO about research doesn't equate to actually living here..............of course it does, the research should show, if done properly, (eg a whinge on PIO) in past and future to another past/potential migrant, exactly what that returnee is whinging about,  just as others have whinged similar in the past and those whinges should have been picked up....................it's all there...............on PomsinOz which ranks high in Google................so give me a break................folk who have lived here for 8 or more years and all of a sudden they're saying "I didn't expect this"...................some bugger whinging about "dry heat" and another about humidity........that's just a bail out for some other failure in their lives/expectancy. If you "didn't expect this" then that would have become apparent long before 8 years, or even 30 as some have whinged about. FFS how many millions around the world live in "dry heat" or humidity and yet just go on with their daily lives and live fruitful and satisfying existences? OK, you don't like either, which could be understood, but this constant emphasis/excuse by returnees that Oz should somehow have to apologise for it's climate is ludicrous.
If you're bailing out, have the ball to say simply, "I miss family" or "I miss England's seasons", or "I miss Centreparcs" but puuuuuuuuuuuuurleeze, don't think that after all those years here, that you can blame it on "location" 'cause the truth of the matter is, if that really is the reason, then you're a feckwit for choosing that location and how come it's taken you so long to realise?

No one doubts the extremes of the Australian climate and if anyone migrates here without knowing about them I'd have to ask which rock they've been living under.   In this age of media saturation any  person with half a brain should be aware of them.  (I also think they contribute to a certain dark sardonic humour which others can find difficult) .   I have  personally experienced  both bushfire and flood but never  the  desert climate implied on here as being ubiquitously "Australian".    The only time I have not been able to get into town was because the road was closed by snow,  not by a desert sandstorm.  [emoji37]

That particular poster is very narrow mind and has become a bit of a troll.

I hope the OP (and others) won't let the obvious bitterness and twisted outlook in Home-and-Happy's posts get to them.  I am very, very sorry that Home and Happy went through such a dreadful time in Australia - although I have to say, it sounds as though it was completely self-inflicted, since no one was forcing them to stay - but their posts are just ridiculous.  Hot dry desert air?  Really.

To this I just reply, we wanted to come home! [emoji6]

We are returning at the same time and have already secured a place for our son (who is also in Aus Grade 9) at a private school in Kent. He starts grade 9 at the new school on the 6 September. I think the schools are open to being flexible as the syllabus has changed for the GCSE's. It is best to contact the schools directly. I contacted initially by email then by telephone. We finalised the choice of school (with visits and taster days) on a mad planning trip to the UK last month.

That was one of my supposed UK pros - no more daily sunscreen application on the kids and no more sand everywhere. However after 6 months of muddy, smelly clothes & dogs, muddy floors and puddlesuits and having to throw clothes away cos the mud is so ingrained..... hand me the Nivea and thongs! [emoji23] 

I grew up and spent most of my life in the uk and never has issues with 6 months of muddy clothes. Had horses so used to dealing with mud....dressed and cared for my clothes and gear accordingly....We lived in Victoria initially when we moved to Australia. and found the weather including the fires (lived through black Saturday in Victoria) far worse than than the UK. Australia has an unforgiving and extreme climate. I have been in Australia for 13 years now (in Qld for 7) and can't wait to move back home...Everyone appreciates things differently.