MissMissingEurope

On 20/02/2018 at 23:24, meme78 said:

We've done SO much in the UK since we've been here. London is on our doorstep-we've done the theatres, museums and galleries. We've been camping, visited castles and stately homes. We did our first trip to Spain and it blew her mind- our friends who speak 3 languages introduced her to a world she'd never known and she loved it. We've learned the geography of Europe, met people from so many places, she learns French and Dutch at school. We have things to do every weekend- not always costly- and we don't miss the geographical or cultural isolation that we had in Australia. There is just so much to do here. Sure- winter is testing by February- but so was the Adelaide summer- day after day of not being able to play outside, park equipment being too hot and fearing sunburn. We live near a small beach here and she loves it just the same- it's nothing on an Aussie beach but it's got water, safe swimming and no sharks and plenty of sand to build castles. School is harder here- they push them more and it's less fun. But, what can you do? I find the teachers excellent and the extra curricular stuff really good, if you're keen on that. Our lives here are richer for culture- without a doubt. We aren't outdoorsy, so not being able to do things outside all year doesn't bother us. Generally though, we are more engaged with life and the world. I lived in Perth for a spell and I can see where you're coming from. It is more of the same. There is nowhere to go barring a big drive or flight. Here, we can drive for an hour and be somewhere totally different. And we can catch a plane and the same goes again. Good luck! 

Hi it sounds like you have a wonderful lifestyle in the UK! It's all of these kind of experiences i'd love my kids to have. If you don't mind me asking, where are you living? I would very much like to live somewhere close to London but I don't know if we can afford it.. 

On 09/03/2018 at 01:02, Ferrets said:

As they have dual citizenship hasn't that horse already bolted to an extent in that they could all move back here as soon as legally entitled?

I appreciate that you need to do what's right but trying to avoid getting "stuck" when the kids have the passport anyway doesn't seem a good reason to me; quality of family life, happy family etc. yes, but not parent concern about where grandchildren may be born 

I see what you're saying.. I know that they could end up wanting to move back here one day (and being able to as dual citizens) but I feel like it might be less likely if they have grown up in the UK.. there is no way of knowing of course. I just don't want to end up like some of the older people i've met here who deeply regret not moving back then their kids were young. 

On 03/03/2018 at 06:20, Skani said:

I have never been to Perth.  But your version of Australia is nothing like the Australia where I live.   I have NEVER  experienced 

 

Where do you live, just out of curiosity? 

1 hour ago, Peach said:

It sounds as though your family and friends are getting on with their own lives across Europe and you're giving up your own independent life (and that of your kids) just to be part of theirs.  Shouldn't they be trying harder to be part of your life?

I do have family come here to visit every year. Family and friends isn't actually a main reason for wanting to go back, it will just be a bonus really. 

On 24/02/2018 at 04:14, Tulip1 said:

Did you visit Europe a lot then when you were in the UK

Yes I did and I have family and friends living in a few different countries in Europe. I miss being able to go and visit them. I can't afford to from Perth, especially with 2 kids.. it would cost just as much to move back so that's what i'd like to do! 

On 20/02/2018 at 16:04, rammygirl said:

Have you lived anywhere else in Australia? I live in the Adelaide hills. A great local community with four distinct seasons including Autumn with yellow and red leaves. And a cold winter with frost on the grass. 

Yes, I have also lived in Melbourne and Cairns.. we have considered Hobart or Canberra but they are even further away from Europe than Perth is so i'm not sure i'd be able to settle there either as it's the isolation from Europe that really bothers me about living here the most. 

1 hour ago, Quoll said:

However, never imagine that you are going back to exactly what you had - if you’re one of the lucky ones, you might slot straight back in, but as a lot of folk have found, the holes left in other peoples’ lives by their departure have healed over, often with scar tissue, and there isn’t the space there any more.  Move forwards to your next adventure!

We would definitely move somewhere totally new for the adventure  Honestly, if we had the money I would happily jump on a plane tomorrow. We have a LOT of saving to do before this becomes a realistic option for us but i'm sure we will get there one day (hopefully in the next 2.5 years, by which time I can get long service leave which will help a lot). 

43 minutes ago, Marisawright said:

...but have they lived there, or just had a holiday (anywhere looks good when you're in holiday mode!)

It's people who have only been here on a holiday or working holiday.. totally different scenario to living here for 8 years! 

41 minutes ago, Marisawright said:

Are these people who live in Australia, or people who live in the UK?   

It's both actually. Many of the UK-based people who say that to me have actually been to Australia. As for people in Perth, it's not so much Australians but other Brits who have moved here. I find that most of them love Perth and would never consider moving back in a million years! 

Hi everyone, i'm a new member on here but a long-time reader of the MBTTUK forum! I've been in Perth for 8 years now with my husband and have 2 kids who are 4 and 1. We are all dual UK/Aus citizens. We have been considering moving back for years now and have pretty much decided that we will do it, but it will take us a couple of years to organise everything and save up enough money to do it. We have already ping-ponged once over 10 years ago so we are aware that both places have their pros and cons and we aren't looking at the UK through rose-tinted glasses/with a grass is greener outlook. 

Reasons for moving back: wanting to be closer to friends and family, boredom with Perth, not liking the isolation, hating suburbia, bored of the samey weather and lack of distinct seasons, missing Europe (oh so much! I have NEVER stopped missing Europe since we arrived here) and the ability to travel cheaply, wanting our kids to grow up being able to experience all the Europe has to offer instead of living in the insular bubble that is Perth. 

We aren't sure where in the UK we will move back to yet. I feel that if we are going to move back, we need to do it soon because if we stay here too long we will get "stuck" here.. our kids will become proper aussies, they will attend high school then probably uni in oz, may settle and have kids here and then it will be so hard to move back! At least if we move soon and it doesn't work out, we can always come back before the kids start high school (though i doubt we would do that). I have met elderly British people here who long to go back to the UK but are stuck here because they have kids and grandkids here. I just cannot see myself living here into old age. 

The thing is, whenever I mention this plan to anyone (family included), I get really negative reactions and people telling me that it would be a terrible mistake to move our kids away from this place that apparently is "the best place in the world to raise kids". They make out like the UK is some third world country that's a terrible place for families and it really makes me worry that they are right and we are going to make a terrible mistake. They also comment on how awful the UK weather and act like we would be crazy to go back to it but honestly, i''m bored of the Perth weather.. i'm sure i'll miss the heat but weather is not everything. 

Because of the negative reactions, sometimes I feel like giving up on the dream of going back and just accepting that the best thing for our kids is just to stay here, even if we don't want to. Then again, I don't want to look back in 10 or 20 years and think "what if?"

I guess i'm just looking for some reassurance from someone.. did you move with young kids and find that it was actually ok? Do your kids have a good quality of life in the UK? Has anyone had similar negative reactions from people?