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I know a couple of people who ran up large UK debts knowing they were moving to Australia. I don't think finance companies chase these debts however I doubt the people in question will be able to return to the UK any time in the next 10 years. I presume same for you in reverse. Did you give the car back or sell it? Would have been difficult to sell with outstanding finance. And will that have repercussions for the new owner? Dunno.

We had a lot of family and friends waiting for us at the airport with 'welcome home' balloons etc. so it was an awesome occasion. Straight to my Mum's for M&S pork pies, proper ham butties and a few cans of John Smiths. Perfect.

Paul, has there ever been a scenario discussed on this site that you haven't had a 'mate' go through so that you can share his/her experience with us? You name it, a mate has done it, the Australian version of events is preferable and everyone agreed it was. Every time.

I looked at doing this when we came in 2008 to include what you've said plus starter packs for bank accounts, medicare etc. Didn't get going, a lot of people use a migration agent and this would be another expense after that. Plus, maybe the ship has sailed, the numbers moving to Perth now are nothing like they were 10 or 12 years ago.

We paid about $6k for a shih-tzu and a Kelpie, Perth to Manchester with JetPets. All they needed was the rabies jab and paperwork, which was straight-forward.

Been back 6 weeks and loving it, have crammed so much in. Joined the National Trust and done a bit of travelling, had forgotten how beautiful the countryside is, and there is so much of it. We can take the dogs everywhere, buses, trains, in pubs, it's brilliant. Lots of local walks too. The weather has been fairly kind, about 3 or 4 days non-stop rain, the rest OK. To be honest, it isn't the issue I thought it would be, we just dress accordingly, pooches included. It was 17 degrees the other day and I was sweating cobs, definitely a different heat! Not really applied for any jobs yet just easing back in, the job market looks fairly buoyant though. There is a sense of 'home' about it, it feels a bit more natural to be with similar people, I used to feel like a bit of a neanderthal at times in Oz, here I come across as a semi-intelligent northern bloke, which I am very happy with. All in all, we are 'stoked' at the moment.

To be fair, I couldn't be arsed, the form is too big. Plus, what do I get out of it? The chance to vote for a new PM every 6 weeks? Whoopee.

I've encountered the resistance you mention. It is understandable though, look at it from their perspective; it costs a fortune to get here, it costs a fortune when you get here, you're staying with rellies so it doesn't feel like a holiday anyway, after a couple of times it's all very samey and you could have about 4 European holidays for the same cost. Hard to blame anyone not being that keen after a couple of trips. Or at least thinking twice.

You sound like you need anger management counselling. Now that's probably something better in Melbourne for sure.

I agree with your friends, Liverpool's way better than Melbourne. Sorry haha.

Once every 2 years i.e. not enough. It's the main reason I'm moving back.

I live in Perth but spend a fair time in Adelaide on business. I like both places, a lot of people don't. There are some similarities between them, a small-big town feel completely unlike Melbourne and Sydney. Perth CBD is a bit newer and shinier. As mentioned, Perth is in a slump at the mo and Adelaide is much nearer the real action so, maybe go there.

We're using JetPets. It's about $5.5k for a medium dog and a small one. They've had rabies injections and, for all intents and purposes, are ready to go.

Just looked it up, you will need 1 each and they are $375.

They do expire and I expect you need one each. My wife and I have one each, not sure about kids. Am sure they were about $300 each.

Emma, do you think it's Perth or the FIFO working that it the main issue? Clearly, if you guys as a couple move 10k miles away, then he is working away all the time, it isn't going to be easy. I couldn't do it.

This is what I am doing. You know it only lasts 5 years though and, to get another one, you have to have been in Australia for 2 of those? I think.

@bug family I can empathise with some of your post, have similar feelings myself. I am tired of the rinse-and-repeat nature of Perth, it does have a shelf-life, for me anyway. And like you, I am not sorry I came, I have had some good times here but I will leave with a better awareness of what is important, and what isn't, and what I want to do with the rest of my life. And I don't want to do it here. Good luck with it all.

London is much more affordable than Sydney. And London commuter-belt is a much more desirable location than NSW sticks. One of the main drivers for us moving away from Australia is I am sick of living in the middle of nowhere because that's all that is either affordable or actually worth it. I'm not getting a multi-million dollar millstone around my neck for anyone, not with the way they run the economy over here.

No idea but the answer is "probably not". I turned my radio off in Perth about 8 years ago as most stations only seem to have 10 records and the chat in between them is inane in the extreme. I stream R2 now, appreciate that's not an option for you though. You have my sympathy.

Don't worry, we're moving back in a couple of months, that will herald a wash-out of a summer.

I'd echo most of the points the OP makes. We've been here 11 years, when we first arrived I applied for about 80 jobs, never received so much as an acknowledgement for most, had about 3 interviews from those applications and was lucky to secure a post. Lucky as in the guy interviewing me was also British. The oft-used "Aussie experience" is a real thing and can be a terrible hindrance in securing your first role. After that, it's pretty easy to move about but that's not the point of this thread. Perth has always been about 'who you know', that is still very much alive-and-well. I also agree about work practices being backward. Not just about the actual work, which in my experience in terms of methodology, process and best practice is aeons behind the UK, but also HR-type issues like jokey sexism and racism which (mostly) disappeared long ago in the UK. Extra word of warning, my wife took a lesser job to get on the ladder and has never been able to get back to her chosen profession. Prospective employers seem to look at what she is doing in her current role then ignore the rest of the CV.

Quinns Beach was shut today as there was a shark INSIDE the shark net .

Great that you're not bothered, go for it. There were 32 Metro beach closures in December due to shark sightings.

A shark closed Mullaloo at Xmas. There are shark nets at Hillarys and Quinns now, personally I'd stick to those areas.