HarryofEngland

I agree somewhat about POMs here. I meet a lot from all over the UK. I have no problem with those who believe it was the best move of their ;life, or those half and half, and those who are unsure if they made the right move. Good luck to them I hope they are happy and all turns out well whatever they do. I do detest the POMs who slag of the UK, call it a shithole and I have met plenty. I suspect these people have niggling doubts or are nor quite sure about a lifetime here. To these I say to these people that Australia did not pay your Visa Fees. it did not pay for your move here, it did not provide you the means to come here and buy a lovely home, 4 wheel drive perhaps jetski, it didn't educate you or give you free health care or put a fantastic police for to keep you safe, it didn't provide an fantastic armed forces/defence to keep you free. Britain did. I hope these people are very happy and have a great life here. Just don't slag off the country that made it possible.

Hi Anna, I've been here 18+ years. For about 5 years I was quite happy, my daughter was doing well in a private school and we had a good social life with many of the other parents, incidentally mostly expats. Once she left school, as a matter of fact an amazing number of the couples we were friends with divorced, moved out of the area etc etc. I then realised Australia was not for me. I just don't and never will feel I belong or can relate to the 'culture/mindset' of Australians. Anyway, most of my family and my wifes joined us here including Mums and Dads and to be honest I was stuck here. I feel that Australia and Australians are so intense about itself/themselves it seems sometimes almost that nowhere else in the world exists. Every time I talked about leaving I got 'What about your parents, what about your daughter etc' Last year I told my fantastic wife enough was enough. But the same ties came up 'What about your parents, what about your daughter etc'. I have to say were are nearer retired. So we have decided to spend our years between UK/Europe and back here to see parents and my daughter. I would not come back other than for family ties. What I get from Australia, the climate, I can get most of the year in The Med. Greece Italy etc. What I get there is the history, cultures, food etc and variety I don't get here. Conversation that goes beyond the weather and 'we need rain'. Not sure if you live out of Australia for a long time if you loose your citizenship? My sensible wife has said that one day we my reach the stage (or run out of money) where we don't want that long flight and we may wish to live here with our daughter. We are home from Jan-April, I was going to stay longer and do some travelling but feel a bit selfish so now back in April. We share caring for Mum-in-Law (94) with her other daughter. There are lots of positives here and anywhere. One of mine is having spent lots of time in Asia, Laos, Cambodia, Thailand, Vietnam and the lovely country, history and food there. Hope it all works well for you. Life is so short do what makes you best happy. Good Luck