Beckfield

One more thing Juliaoz01 if I may: what exactly is the west end? Do you mean areas to the west of the city, or is the western area of the city itself?? Thank you,

Hi Juliaoz01. This is fabulous info.. Thanks so much. I have noted the areas you mentioned and am about to google real estate there. Yes, I can tell you miss it... I feel for you. Homesickness comes in waves, in my experience. Sometimes it's a dull ache and other times it's full blown agony. I hope you can get home for a "Newcastle fix" soon. Thank you again for all the info.

Sounds like you enjoyed it Verystormy. I looked at Whitley Bay on images and it's really beautiful. We were going to go to Scarborough, which is more or less home for us, but we are concerned there mightn't be many employment options - especially for young daughter. I have a fear of the unknown, with Newcastle, as we are a quiet country family and it looks to be an enormous city. Fantastic for entertainment, uni, etc, but could be overwhelming for very "un-streetwise" girl! House is going back on market this coming week. Gave up last time after 9 months. Here's hoping! Thanks for your interesting reply.

Thank can1983. Might need to invest in some thermals then. Lol.

Thanks Toots, that's helpful. Whitely Bay looks lovely from the pictures online.

Hi everyone, are any of you familiar with Newcastle? If so, which areas are safe/unsafe, and which are pleasant environs. We have young adults who will be relying on public transport. Any info appreciated. We have looked online but the opinions are quite conflicting. Thank you!

Thanks Marisawright, I've done all the above and have someone who's good at this stuff looking at it for me. Haven't listed it for sale again yet. Appreciate your help, thank you. Here's hoping!!

@paulswin Great to hear you sold.. you know how it feels, so frustrating isn't it? Mine was on for almost a year. You must be so excited about going back. I think you were wise to not hang out for the highest price, but to take what was offered, so you can get on with your own plans. Hope it all goes really well and your children settle well into their new life. All the best.

Hi Everyone, lovely to read so many positive comments about returning to UK. I was trying to sell our house so we could go but it just wouldn't sell despite all our efforts and price reductions. As the hankering/homesickness is still there I am about to try again. We thought we'd be home by last Christmas but the best laid plans... If it doesn't sell this time we'll probably give up.

Hi Marisawright, Yes, we did discuss look at renting the house out but when we looked at others' properties that are currently rented out around here most of them are not looked after at all and the yards all let go - hate to think what the insides are like... It kind of scared us to be honest, that we would find our house in a poor condition afterwards. We are kind of resigned to being stuck here... over the tears and disappointment stage, and just hoping a miracle might happen. Have to keep smiling !

Yes, you have a good point bristolman. We're all different. Personally I would never have left our own country in the first place - but didn't have a lot of say in the matter, being just a little 'un at the time... I have always missed it... Left school, went to work, saved like mad to get a ticket home. Had been missing my grandfather so much it was almost unbearable.... Finally saved enough, and went home. My grandfather died just before I got there. No words to describe it really... Anyway, to me no matter what, England will always be home and I will always love it. I have dreamt of going now we have no commitments to keep us here anymore, for so long. Still trying to sell the blasted house! If anyone on this forum is a praying person, this might be a good time. I can see no means of selling this house other than with divine intervention. Best wishes to all.

Best of luck to you and your family Lady Tottington. Can imagine the mixed emotions. Please let us know how it goes and how you feel to be home.

Hi MissMissingEurope, I hear what you're saying about wanting to go but still feeling doubts due to others' opinions. Personally I don't think this country is any better than anywhere else as far as raising kids is concerned. The western world now seems to be blending into one and Australia is largely adopting American ways, values, morals and habits. There are good things about living here, for sure, but it's not paradise as it's often painted to be and the climate is becoming so hot that in the not too distant future large chunks of it will be uninhabitable. We now have regular blocks of summer when the temps stay in the mid 40's. When I was a kid 30 was considered a heatwave. Not any more. I too have lived in WA and felt cut off from not only the world but also from the rest of the country. I hope you arrive at the decision which is best for your family, despite others' views - including mine! Wish you all the very best.

That's so exciting Tricky. Wish you and your family all the very best. Lots of happy times ahead.

Hello Tricky, I really sympathise with that feeling of uncertainty as to what's best for your family and whether you should go back or stay in SA. Personally, I would certainly go. Bonds with extended family can't really be forged easily when the visits are few and far between, and your daughter is just a tot, so it would be really lovely for her to grow up knowing her extended family. I was a child of a migrant family back decades ago, and we always missed our grandparents and aunts, uncles and cousins so much. Whenever there were weddings or other special family occasions we were always the ones who were stuck here unable to go, and to some extent it affects your identity because you're cut off from your relatives and feel removed from the clan, if you know what I mean. We missed out on lots being so far away from everyone else we loved. Living 30-50 minutes away is nothing, given the distances we all do living in Australia. I travel an hour to the nearest major town. So personally, I say Go, and rejoin your family. Life's so short.... and the need to belong is so important. All the best!!

Wonderful. Thank you Newjez. The paint pots idea is really smart. I haven't heard of it before.

This is fabulous info Marisawright. Thank you! We had a massive cull and garage sale a few months ago, so we've dealt with the clutter, but looking around I think I can improve further on it. So empty is good. And here's me thinking I should put something in the second living area so it doesn't look so naked. It's empty at the moment except for a bookcase. Lol. I'll put in place all these suggestions. Here's hoping. Thank you for bothering to pass on all this helpful stuff. Very much appreciated.

That's good (about the cats). Yes, won't get another dog in the short term. Still missing the one I lost too much, but one day... Yes, I organised a shipper and got the rabies needles done a few months ago. We thought we'd be in England by early December last year. Lol.

That's really nice to hear. My little dog died 15 weeks ago but we have 2 indoor cats (indoor because we love the birds too!) and I miss my dog terribly. Loved her to bits... Anyway we thought we'd go to one of the rescue places and get an older dog in need of a loving home, but with the house not selling we don't know whether we're Arthur or Martha. I like your rental idea. Would they also allow 2 cats in a rental do you think? One of them is 13 and we've had her since kittenhood. We could never part with them. Rentals in NY seem to be quite expensive from my research this morning. I might broaden the search. Thanks Verystormy. Appreciate your input.

O! No worries, thanks Ali.

I wasn't aware there is a real estate page here. How do I send you a private message? I'm not terribly savvy technologically. Can you outline steps? Thanks!

Thanks for the encouragement bristolman. My spirits have plummeted I'm afraid but you're right, we have to keep hoping. I think when your house takes so long to sell you feel as though you're in limbo and everything is on hold. I don't feel as if it's going to happen at all now. We're kind of resigned to that depressing fact. Hope against hope we're wrong.

Sounds great. And they let you have your little dog there?

Well the market here is slow, as I said, but we've had it for sale now for 8 months and there have only been a few viewers - and I'm almost certain some were just nosy locals. Yet the number of "page visits" on the online real estate page is enormous.