What made you return to the UK?

[Jamie83]

Hi guys

 

I'm just wanting to get some idea of why people decided to come back to the UK? What were the main influences etc.

my story is that iv always wanted to move to oz. to cut a long story short I was all set to go in 2007 but met my now wife. It wasn't an easy decision but I fell in love. I do regret not going and I'm constantly hounded by it. Just want to get a feel of what made you comeback as she's very close to family so not convinced she will ever do it.

 

Thanks

Jamie

[Quoll]

Boredom, trappedness, and generally "finished with it". However life threw us a curve ball and the wheels fell off the aged parental wagon last year and I ended up not going back to Aus from the holiday I was on. For me it has been absolutely the best thing I could have done - I now have my life back whereas I felt like I was zombie marching towards a nursing home. It has been the people (obviously) but, outstandingly for me, the variety of everything: countryside, scenery, weather, shopping, experiences ... just everything. There is so much more to do and be part of. I love being able to go outside and do whatever I want to do - I have never walked so far in the countryside in my entire life. I am outside so much more than I ever was in Australia even when I was much younger and we had the kids. My husband doesnt like cold finger gardening but he has made a good go of the garden just the same and the bonus is that he doesnt have to water it twice a day either!

 

Australia was a nice adventure for the first 10 years but for the last 20 I have been looking forward to leaving it - at least for the good part of the year and when it didnt look like that was going to happen (intransigent Australian husband, who, by the way, has taken to the UK like a duck to water despite his assertions that HE would be depressed) then I got incredibly depressed (didnt realize just how low until I didnt feel that way any more! Situational depression is a very real phenomenon!). Despite less than optimal living conditions (sharing a small house with my parents, especially my angry dementia driven mum:mad: is a bit of a challenge but I go around with a perpetual smile on my face as opposed to the "OMG I am still bloody here" feeling I lived with in Australia.

 

I never really bothered too much about the people per se - we were (and still are) very independent and self sufficient and I cant imagine how hard it must be for someone who is totally enmeshed with their family; you have to be very selfish and self sufficient to make it work I reckon. It was easier for us as 30 odd years ago communication was far more challenging and we werent constantly teased by Skype, Twitter and Facebook - you were lucky if you got an aerogramme once a month and you only got a 3 minute phone call for birthdays or if someone had carked it! At the end of the day it is just another first world country with first world problems and benefits but for some of us it just doesnt gel despite being a lovely place for a holiday. On balance we did well there but we would have done equally well had we never gone but had gone somewhere else.

 

Sorry you still feel like it is unfinished business, I guess we all have those niggling little regrets of some sort or another (I always have a bit of a regret about not chasing a place at medical school when I had two small kids!) but not much you can do about it and the people in your life are always going to be more important than a nice bit of beach. You cant cuddle a country (or an occupation LOL)!

[Perthbum]

Boredom, I found no stimulation in Perth and time just dragged, other states might be different but for me Perth was liking living in slow motion.

[ali]

A lot of people seem to cite missing family and friends as a big draw to going back to the UK. Some are really pleased they did whilst others then find that they miss Australia and want to return. What I have gathered from a lot of posts is that if a couple aren't both behind the move then sometimes it can be a bit of a struggle with homesickness and one wanting to return and the other not ... not of course a forgone conclusio, whilst others have written about wanting to leave things behind or fix things ... whatever is wrong e.g. in a relationship will follow and sometimes moving only creates a bigger divide and isn't the best start to migrating.

[Harpodom]

If we went back, it would be of my instigation.

 

For me there will always be the pull of 'home' and everything that entails, like people having a shared 'language'. However if we went back it is quite likely that we would return to Aus at some point.

 

Thats what you get for having an Aussie spouse, tug of war.

[whichway1]

Absolutely 100% isolation.

 

My advice to any husband would be if you are going there with her and it is your idea, you MUST be prepared to help her integrate and not just leave her to it. Or if you are enjoying yourself don't assume that she is without checking. Had I been single I know for sure that my situation would have been completely different but I was not and my husband did not do any socialising with me and hence eventually I just slipped into insignificance.

[wakeboard1980]

My wife

[Guest]

Righto, donned the old mod shoes for a minute and deleted some posts that were not really helping the thread. Lets not keep seeing that sort if thing eh

[Jamie83]

Wow missed the crack!! What was said? Ha

[Guest Shan29]

I moved to Sydney in Aug 2011 because my wife is from Sydney. At the beginning I was very excited and looking forward to migrating escpecially as I enjoyed my holidays in Australia. As my wife was not keen on moving to Uk I agreed to migrate to Sydney. Now over 1 year I can't wait to get back to Uk and have started the moving process by shipping some of my items back to UK. The first lot will be shipped next month. I have come to the conclusion that while I like coming on holidays to Australia I just feel that I am not suited to the living in Autralia. From my experiences in living for over one year I have found:

 

1) Customer service is crap if not non-existent - I have had bad experiences with many public and private organisations such as ANZ, Audi, Virgin mobile, Mercedes-Benz. They think they are doing you a favour even though you are paying for the services.

2) Most of the people are rude and have no concept of what an "orderely queue" is? Just jump and free for all

3) Sydney driver (can't really say about other states) are idiots and drive llike lunatics

4) IT especially internet is crap in some places due to lack of competition and in other places it is just crap even if it is ASDL2+ (i lived in 4 different locations around Sydney)

5) I am currently in a management job and find I am surrounded by incompetent staff and management who are also resistant to changes but wnat to expand??? And it is a private compnay.

6) Too far to travel and meet my family and friens in UK.

7) A bit like in India if you are not carefyl you will be cheated in all aspects.

 

 

There are more reasons, above are only some I have mentioned.

I accept that my decision is based purely on my stay in Sydney but I have also spent some time (relatively less) in Melbourne and Brisbane both on work and pleasure. I don't think that made any differences on my decision to either stay ot leave Australia.

 

 

I know it isclaimed in some surveys that Australia is a good place for good quality of life and bringing up children and to some extent I agree. Personally I am bored in Australia although I get lots of time to go for walk, gym, restaurant etc maybe because I am used to living on the go in UK. Generally the weather is good in Sydney but I did not migrate for the weather so this does not reall apply to me as I don't think it has made any differences to my mood significantly.

 

I also think if you decide to migrate to Australia it definitely helps if you have family or friends or some support especially in the early stages living in Australia to help you settle. I had my wife so it was somewhat easy at the beginning But over the year I just don't feel like I can adopt and settle in Australia.

 

While UK is far from perfect I am so looking forward, in fact can't wait to get back to UK hopefully by March 2013.

 

This based on my opinions based on my experiences and I am sure there are other who love Australia and don't regret migrating to Australia. With hindsight I think I should have done more research before agreeing to migrate to Australia.

[Guest chris955]

Lots of reasons for us, my wife never wanted to be in Australia and only lived there because it was where I grew up and lived so it was easy for her. For me because of my close ties with Australia it was actually harder as it many ways it was my home. Because of the things we are into and what is now our business I like to use this analogy, in Australia we could have a Ford or a Holden but here in the UK we can have a Ford, a Vauxhall, an Aston Martin, a Porsche, a Ferrari, a Jaguar.....you get the point There is just so much more for us here. Our kids are born and bred Brisbanites and have taken to rural life in England like ducks to water and refer to themselves as English.

In a nutshell we love it here and cant see what isnt to love, it's a beautiful country with great people.

[Stitch]

Hi guys

 

I'm just wanting to get some idea of why people decided to come back to the UK? What were the main influences etc.

my story is that iv always wanted to move to oz. to cut a long story short I was all set to go in 2007 but met my now wife. It wasn't an easy decision but I fell in love. I do regret not going and I'm constantly hounded by it. Just want to get a feel of what made you comeback as she's very close to family so not convinced she will ever do it.

 

Thanks

Jamie

 

For me I miss family terribly. We were very close to my family (drove us nuts, fought like cat and dog etc - but very close)...I stepped off that plane and my heart feels like it's been broken ever since. It's not a bad place to live etc here in Oz, although for us its a harder and more expensive way of life. My hubby has always wanted to come back to Oz to live and does love it here in some sense but even he struggles with the harder way of life too. The people we know that have settled better than us have been ones with no real family ties to speak of back in the UK. The ones who have been close are the people we know that have struggled.

[Westward Ho]

After 32 years i returned to the UK.

Dont get me. wrong ,i love Australia ,would have died for it many times as a firefighter. But....

 

1. I found my industry[manufacturing] going down the gurglar....our company introduced the day off here & there[no work] back in 2008.Today they are in Receivership.

 

2.People seperated with kids involved, get ripped apart by the CSA,with no help from other Gov depts,to keep your head above water.

 

Just my own experience,my 2 cents!

[whichway1]

For me I miss family terribly. We were very close to my family (drove us nuts, fought like cat and dog etc - but very close)...I stepped off that plane and my heart feels like it's been broken ever since. It's not a bad place to live etc here in Oz, although for us its a harder and more expensive way of life. My hubby has always wanted to come back to Oz to live and does love it here in some sense but even he struggles with the harder way of life too. The people we know that have settled better than us have been ones with no real family ties to speak of back in the UK. The ones who have been close are the people we know that have struggled.

 

i have never heard it better said bout your heart being broken that is exactly exactly how i felt in oz. are you still in oz?

[Guest guest74886]

I moved to Sydney in Aug 2011 because my wife is from Sydney. At the beginning I was very excited and looking forward to migrating escpecially as I enjoyed my holidays in Australia. As my wife was not keen on moving to Uk I agreed to migrate to Sydney. Now over 1 year I can't wait to get back to Uk and have started the moving process by shipping some of my items back to UK. The first lot will be shipped next month. I have come to the conclusion that while I like coming on holidays to Australia I just feel that I am not suited to the living in Autralia. From my experiences in living for over one year I have found:

 

1) Customer service is crap if not non-existent - I have had bad experiences with many public and private organisations such as ANZ, Audi, Virgin mobile, Mercedes-Benz. They think they are doing you a favour even though you are paying for the services.

2) Most of the people are rude and have no concept of what an "orderely queue" is? Just jump and free for all

3) Sydney driver (can't really say about other states) are idiots and drive llike lunatics

4) IT especially internet is crap in some places due to lack of competition and in other places it is just crap even if it is ASDL2+ (i lived in 4 different locations around Sydney)

5) I am currently in a management job and find I am surrounded by incompetent staff and management who are also resistant to changes but wnat to expand??? And it is a private compnay.

6) Too far to travel and meet my family and friens in UK.

7) A bit like in India if you are not carefyl you will be cheated in all aspects.

 

 

There are more reasons, above are only some I have mentioned.

I accept that my decision is based purely on my stay in Sydney but I have also spent some time (relatively less) in Melbourne and Brisbane both on work and pleasure. I don't think that made any differences on my decision to either stay ot leave Australia.

 

 

I know it isclaimed in some surveys that Australia is a good place for good quality of life and bringing up children and to some extent I agree. Personally I am bored in Australia although I get lots of time to go for walk, gym, restaurant etc maybe because I am used to living on the go in UK. Generally the weather is good in Sydney but I did not migrate for the weather so this does not reall apply to me as I don't think it has made any differences to my mood significantly.

 

I also think if you decide to migrate to Australia it definitely helps if you have family or friends or some support especially in the early stages living in Australia to help you settle. I had my wife so it was somewhat easy at the beginning But over the year I just don't feel like I can adopt and settle in Australia.

 

While UK is far from perfect I am so looking forward, in fact can't wait to get back to UK hopefully by March 2013.

 

This based on my opinions based on my experiences and I am sure there are other who love Australia and don't regret migrating to Australia. With hindsight I think I should have done more research before agreeing to migrate to Australia.

 

Yep I recognise No 5, and I bet they are all being paid mega bucks just because they turn up and churn out the same old garbage day in day out.

 

And my No 1 here in QLD is---- where can you go out of an evening and have a decent beer and a decent meal without it either A) costing the price of a mortgage repayment or B) not in surroundings approximating to a motorway services crossed with a funfair casino.

 

And if it makes you feel any better there is no way you can find out all the idiocies from the other side of the world or by being here for a few weeks, it takes months of experience to realise that this is as good as it gets.

[ali]

I moved to Sydney in Aug 2011 because my wife is from Sydney. At the beginning I was very excited and looking forward to migrating escpecially as I enjoyed my holidays in Australia. As my wife was not keen on moving to Uk I agreed to migrate to Sydney. Now over 1 year I can't wait to get back to Uk and have started the moving process by shipping some of my items back to UK. The first lot will be shipped next month. I have come to the conclusion that while I like coming on holidays to Australia I just feel that I am not suited to the living in Autralia. From my experiences in living for over one year I have found:

 

1) Customer service is crap if not non-existent - I have had bad experiences with many public and private organisations such as ANZ, Audi, Virgin mobile, Mercedes-Benz. They think they are doing you a favour even though you are paying for the services.

2) Most of the people are rude and have no concept of what an "orderely queue" is? Just jump and free for all

3) Sydney driver (can't really say about other states) are idiots and drive llike lunatics

4) IT especially internet is crap in some places due to lack of competition and in other places it is just crap even if it is ASDL2+ (i lived in 4 different locations around Sydney)

5) I am currently in a management job and find I am surrounded by incompetent staff and management who are also resistant to changes but wnat to expand??? And it is a private compnay.

6) Too far to travel and meet my family and friens in UK.

7) A bit like in India if you are not carefyl you will be cheated in all aspects.

 

 

There are more reasons, above are only some I have mentioned.

I accept that my decision is based purely on my stay in Sydney but I have also spent some time (relatively less) in Melbourne and Brisbane both on work and pleasure. I don't think that made any differences on my decision to either stay ot leave Australia.

 

 

I know it isclaimed in some surveys that Australia is a good place for good quality of life and bringing up children and to some extent I agree. Personally I am bored in Australia although I get lots of time to go for walk, gym, restaurant etc maybe because I am used to living on the go in UK. Generally the weather is good in Sydney but I did not migrate for the weather so this does not reall apply to me as I don't think it has made any differences to my mood significantly.

 

I also think if you decide to migrate to Australia it definitely helps if you have family or friends or some support especially in the early stages living in Australia to help you settle. I had my wife so it was somewhat easy at the beginning But over the year I just don't feel like I can adopt and settle in Australia.

 

While UK is far from perfect I am so looking forward, in fact can't wait to get back to UK hopefully by March 2013.

 

This based on my opinions based on my experiences and I am sure there are other who love Australia and don't regret migrating to Australia. With hindsight I think I should have done more research before agreeing to migrate to Australia.

 

Sounds like you've had a nightmare time in Aus - no wonder you want to go back to the UK. Good luck with the move

[northshorepom]

B) not in surroundings approximating to a motorway services crossed with a funfair casino.

 

:laugh:

Best description I've seen of the average suburban pub

[legoman]

I know of a contracts manager of a gas plumbing electrical company who used to be a chicken treat manager here in Perth, they have a huge turnover of staff and losing contracts everywhere, can identify with the manager post, doesnt seem to be any urgency anywhere to get the job done right,

 

I think most coming here appreciate a lot of what the uk has to offer once settled away from there, Oz is good, different, but better?, I,m not so sure.

and until you been here a while living it and not on hols you will not know what we mean.

o/h grew up here and meets up with her old school pals,she says they have never moved on from the eighties, and most never been out of wa let alone oz

[pob]

I have read lots of posts on here and there are many reasons that people leave oz.

But if you read them most are "I miss my Mommy" posts. How great it is to be near friends and family again, or I miss my family and mates in the pub.

[Guest Shan29]

Thanks. Certainly my experiences in Aus haven't made me want to settle in Aus. But I won't say my entire time in Aus has been horrible, had some good times too!

[Guest Shan29]

Sounds like you've had a nightmare time in Aus - no wonder you want to go back to the UK. Good luck with the move

 

Thanks. Certainly my experiences in Aus haven't made me want to settle in Aus. But I won't say my entire time in Aus has been horrible, had some good times too!

[legoman]

I have read lots of posts on here and there are many reasons that people leave oz.

But if you read them most are "I miss my Mommy" posts. How great it is to be near friends and family again, or I miss my family and mates in the pub.

 

 

 

Its called having a life and enjoying it pob

[ali]

I have read lots of posts on here and there are many reasons that people leave oz.

But if you read them most are "I miss my Mommy" posts. How great it is to be near friends and family again, or I miss my family and mates in the pub.

 

Moving to Aus can be a very isolating experience at first and it's no wonder people miss those who are close to them. I certainly had 'people sickness' (not home sickness) particularly at times of celebrating birthdays or special events.

[Perthbum]

I know of a contracts manager of a gas plumbing electrical company who used to be a chicken treat manager here in Perth, they have a huge turnover of staff and losing contracts everywhere, can identify with the manager post, doesnt seem to be any urgency anywhere to get the job done right,

 

I think most coming here appreciate a lot of what the uk has to offer once settled away from there, Oz is good, different, but better?, I,m not so sure.

and until you been here a while living it and not on hols you will not know what we mean.

o/h grew up here and meets up with her old school pals,she says they have never moved on from the eighties, and most never been out of wa let alone oz

Good post, it s same ..... Different country and you defiantly do appreciate what the UK has to offer which you did take for granted when away.

[whichway1]

I have read lots of posts on here and there are many reasons that people leave oz.

But if you read them most are "I miss my Mommy" posts. How great it is to be near friends and family again, or I miss my family and mates in the pub.

im not quite sure i understand what you are saying. missing people or being alone most of the time has a huge impact on anyone. we are social beings after a long time of being isolated i think its perfectly reasonable to have had enough.