Torn between family/ friends and life in the sun

[Hoola]

The age old dilemma:

Loving life in the sun, but missing family and 'old friends'...

 

We moved to the Gold Coast, from leafy Wiltshire, almost 4 years ago. I'm a GP, my husband is at home and looks after our 3 children, currently 13, 7 and 4. We live in a beautiful house with a pool, and a boat, and the kids all go to a great private school. I also enjoy my work much more in Australia, compared with the NHS in England, for many reasons. I would struggle to go back and work in the NHS, although I do have a great belief in the principle of the NHS and free health care for all, I would struggle with how it is managed currently. Generally speaking though, life should be great.

 

The difficulty is, we have a wonderful life here, but no one to share it with...

 

My 2 eldest (girls) are wanting to go back to England, mainly because they miss their grandparents, cousins and friends. We miss the company, the love, the feeling of belonging with family. I feel guilty that my children are growing up without that valuable time with their grandparents, aunts and uncles, and the fun of spending time with their cousins. And of course, the family in UK are also missing out on our 3's childhoods. The longer we leave it, the more 'distant' we will become from our family. I feel selfish for staying here, predominantly because work is more rewarding, and because of our lifestyle.

 

Other things I miss about England: There's so many things to do, culture, history, Europe, 'genuine' people, courteous drivers, old friends who you can reminisce with, the countryside, and houses that are built for all weather (having had a cold winter - I've gone soft) with central heating and double glazing! I love the Gold Coast, for the weather and the stunning beaches, but I find it shallow, superficial and actually a bit boring. But then, I'm not particularly into sports, or watching sports.

 

We have made 2 trips back to the UK since we emigrated. The first one was for Xmas a couple of years ago. Xmas here is not really Xmas! Especially when you have absolutely no family here. It was cold, wet and dark, and we could not wait to get back to the Gold Coast! The 2nd trip was recently, for 3 weeks in June/ July. The weather was fabulous, the evenings were amazing (it's funny how you forget so quickly about it not getting dark until 10.30 at night!), and it was lovely not to get eaten alive by midges! It was heartwarmingly wonderful to see the family, and to watch our kids have fun and share love with the family again. I didn't want to come back to Australia this time!

 

Have started looking at schools near our UK family, and am also spending an unhealthy amount of time on Rightmove! But know that if we were to move back, we would miss the sunshine, the warmth, and I would miss my job. And we couldn't afford to send 3 kids to private school in England, it's much more achievable out here. I couldn't go straight back into being a GP again, as I have been out of England for more than 2 years, and would have to have a period of induction and ?retraining. The morale in the NHS seems so low at the moment, I'm not even sure I would want to. But I would have to find some sort of job pretty quickly to support our family.

The smaller house, no pool/ boat doesn't bother me. The endless rain might though. Have been hearing what a washout the school summer holidays have been.

 

We plan to stay here until we get citizenship, which should be in the next 6-12 months hopefully. At least that way, we can always come back if we realise that we have made a huge mistake.

 

But right now, I am desperately missing family, and close friends. I know the red carpet treatment on our return will not last forever, but I also know that our family will welcome us back with open arms. Of course, if I could persuade them all to move over here, I would probably try. But that will never happen.

 

Would love to hear from anyone else going through the same. Emotions are all over the place at the moment.

 

:ssign16:

[Diane]

Having lived here in Australia for about 11 years now, I can feel your pain. It doesn't get any easier. My kids were 7 and 9 when we moved here - they have had the benefit of a great education, but my daughter (now nearly 21) misses family in England dreadfully and is talking about doing a year of her Uni course there next year to spend more time with them while she still can (my parents and inlaws are both in their mid 80s).

 

All I can suggest is you break the problem down into bite-sized pieces, rather than getting overwhelmed with the enormity of what you would be giving up here. Get your citizenship first. That's the first target. Once you've got that, sit down and look at the next achievable solution. At that point, moving back to the UK might look brighter than it does at the moment. Or perhaps just a trip there for a couple of months might be the next thing to plan. If you went there for a longer time than just a holiday, you could treat it as a recce visit in reverse. Talk to people about jobs, visit a few good state schools, that sort of thing.

 

I know it doesn't fix the problem - it is the age old dilemma of the migrant I'm afraid, and I'm sure many on here will know exactly how you are feeling.

[Johndoe]

Good advice from Diane there. You really have to ponder over those bite sized pieces rather than overwhelm yourself with the whole picture, although it seems that you have broken it down in your post.

 

I have to say, and likely many will disagree, that life does revolve around work. I agree with the work to live not live to work adage but the truth is, you spend nigh on a third of your life at work and if you're thinking that you may be unhappy in a paticular workplace, then you will be unhapphy for far longer than a third because it's ihighly likely that the unhappiness will be brought home.

 

I was in Wiltshire at the same time as you wuith a view/recce as to whether return was possible. I have an older son living in Salisbury and I mis him and his kids/my grandchildren, enormously

 

I'm a single parent with 2 young adults at home, one (Jake) of whom is autistic. He has a good job though working as an aide at the school that he went to as a child, and the other son works at Maccas part time and is also at UNI. They too were thinking about life back in the Uk as they too miss their bothers and the rest of the family there. They also love the history/culture/landscape etc.

 

On our return, we had a long chat and looked at all the individual pros and cons.........starting over, expense and lower pension for me, work, study etc. We agreed that the liklihood of Jake finding similar employment and being happy in it, were slim, as he loves his job here. Josh doesn't seem too bothered either way. In the end, it all came down to Jake's work situation so here we stay.

 

I understand where you're coming from with the NHS, and although it's 20 yrs agao for us, my wife at the time, being a clinical nurse, was the driver to move here. She felt that she couldn't nurse as she should be able to in the NHS and has been extremely happy with her role here and said that she could never return to the NHS. I know that most folk think the NHS service is wonderful but IME the vast majority of it's employees think otherwise which is illustrated by the high number of nurses who move here.

 

Good luck with whatever you decide

[duffer34]

I leave on Friday after 9 years in Melbourne and for those exact reasons if your on rightmove and this forum looking for advice then the deep down u want to go back. Get your citizenship and enjoy oz but for me i've done 9 amazing years and its time to explore UK and Europe and North America. Oz will always be here but family wont thats the bottom line. Take away the sun from the Gold Coast and u've not got much to stay for. I am going to buy a place in Europe with a pool and get a hot tub for the UK. Boats are great but they become boring quickly.

 

I need culture and soul Oz is great but not enough to keep me. Cant wait to get back, the uncertainty about coming or going is stressful and can impact on the family relationship. Ask yourself this, if you had 10 years left to live life would you stay here or be back!!!!, a place is nothing without the people.

 

best of luck and make sure you leave here with your ozzy passport, life is about options

[Perthbum]

Great post and good replies. Even though its true all you list about the benifits of the uk over oz, when the winter hits I bet you will be looking at those photos of oz. it's a big move you have to be 100%

[starlight7]

I was going to say that the Gold Coast wouldn't be the easiest place to live in because it has a very different culture up there. I would find it hard to make friends somewhere like that and in fact one of my friends moved up there and was desperately lonely for quite some time. She had a good job, too but found that a lot of the people were holidaymakers who weren't interested in making friends. Eventually she did settle but not easy. Very much hit and miss and who you just happen to meet! No answers, I'm afraid, just sympathy.

[Chortlepuss]

After 9 years here, we are planning to head back to the UK next year. The weather is lovely for most of the year here in Brisbane and I'm sure we will miss it. We have good jobs but I miss family, friends, community, culture and travel. We rent a lovely house here but apart from the occasional visitor it is empty. When we've had visitors from the UK I'm aware of just how good life could be here if it was possible to meet like minded people and have a great circle of friends. I am sure people look at the pics of our glorious pool and think we're living some kind of charmed life. Meanwhile I am envious of the parties and communal activity in the UK! I was really touched by a comment from someone in this forum some time ago, who despite having a good life in Sydney said something along the lines of 'I would rather walk through the rain to see my mates in the pub than sit alone on a beautiful beach' It really resonated with me. My daughter is a nurse and for her it makes sense to stay here - she is paid well (much better than UK) and according to British nursing colleagues has an easier time of it. My GP tells me her life is much easier here than in London. So it is a difficult choice for you. IT (my job) is pretty much the same. I am pretty independent and have never been much into socialising. I struggle with the endless small talk here. Like access to great shops and cheap Mediterranean breaks, you don't know what you've got till it's gone and I long for a life where a friend pops in for a cuppa, or we all get together for an impromptu party, Even a walk to the pub. I'm in a great place in my head now because I know that I'm heading back. But any thought of retiring here with the endless isolation it would bring scares me silly.

[grahamffc]

Not a helpful comment as it really is a tough call with your children, they only get one shot at an upbringing. Having watched some of the wanted down under revisited programmes people often say they are enjoying spending so much more time together as a family since being in Australia. Surely this is because in the UK with a wider circle of friends and extended family a lot of time is taken up with things like birthdays, weddings, visiting older relatives etc? I know people always say they miss family and friends but in reality is it not the case that by removing yourself from them you are forced to spend more time together as an immediate family, which may be better? For instance, with kids the ages of yours going camping or to the beach at the weekend is probably more fun and stimulating than going to a nieces/nephews first birthday party, where you kids would no doubt be bored and want to play on an iPad or something. It's a bit selfish and obviously depends how close people are to wider family, but it may be worth bearing in mind.

[Quoll]

Good luck with your decision! To some extent I stayed as long as I did because of my job - loved it and couldn't have done the same back in UK so we bumbled along in our comfort zone until it was almost too late (we are back now for a while) but that meant our kids didn't have the extended family they would probably have enjoyed and both have independently commented on their regrets about that. I say we nearly left it too late because there is a point of no return beyond which it becomes nigh on impossible to leave - career, finances, relationships etc

 

You our might have to be careful about your eldest's age - GCSEs and all that.

 

I'm not sure where the "constant rain" meme comes from but down here in the East it's not been too bad at all (for the last 4 years anyway) - maybe it's the Cambridge microclimate which does so well!

 

so, good luck whichever way you jump!

[janlo]

It's ok having a big house with a pool and a great job. Will our children be able to achieve this in Australia?

 

Sooo take those away, all the things that's make the Australian dream for us parents?

 

From aged care to public education the UK wins as better place to live.

[bunbury61]

I leave on Friday after 9 years in Melbourne and for those exact reasons if your on rightmove and this forum looking for advice then the deep down u want to go back. Get your citizenship and enjoy oz but for me i've done 9 amazing years and its time to explore UK and Europe and North America. Oz will always be here but family wont thats the bottom line. Take away the sun from the Gold Coast and u've not got much to stay for. I am going to buy a place in Europe with a pool and get a hot tub for the UK. Boats are great but they become boring quickly.

 

I need culture and soul Oz is great but not enough to keep me. Cant wait to get back, the uncertainty about coming or going is stressful and can impact on the family relationship. Ask yourself this, if you had 10 years left to live life would you stay here or be back!!!!, a place is nothing without the people.

 

best of luck and make sure you leave here with your ozzy passport, life is about options

 

Euros is what we have been doing since we returned 20 years ago .....so much to se and do here .....i won't bother holidaying anywhere else now

We have done the u.s ...but there is far more here.

More depth ..history ....architecture...even good weather in some places.

...

[Guest]

When I saw the title of this thread I didn't initially realise that it was in the MBTTUK forum and to be honest ignored it - my answer would have been along the lines of 'once you live in the sun for a while you realise it's no great shakes and other things are far more important' but no-one on the cusp of migration ever believes that!

 

We spent 5 years in Perth & I can identify with everything you say - the crucial bit for me is the fact you actually miss the UK itself. At the time we moved back I remember saying we weren't moving back for specific people but for a type of people - I was realistic that friends would have changed/moved on etc. and it could never be the same but I have lived all over the UK and never felt the same isolation I felt there, I have always made friends very easily. As it happened when we moved back it really was as if we had not been away, as one of my friends put it 'you left a Jules shaped hole when you left that was never filled so of course you fit straight back in', after two years back now we have made new friends too.

 

I work full-time and my husband stays at home with our son and I do think that does pose some particular challenges, it's much harder for a man to join the mummy mafia and at work like I didn't fit with any social group - I was neither free to do the after work drinks with the single or at least childless women nor did I fit with the married men having a sneaking pint before rushing home to their wife and kids - I work in a very male dominated industry so maybe it is different as a GP.

 

I wouldn't overthink it - with citizenship it isn't a case of making a binding commitment to either country, you can live in either at any time depending on where suits you best at a particular time. For us we felt whilst we were still working and a holiday was likely to be for a week rather than 3 months Europe had more to offer, I didn't like the early specialisation in WA schools - our son at 9 had his heart set on going to the College of Arts at 11 - and yet should he really have the talent to pursue his dreams in computer animation he will have a lot more opportunity in the UK, especially in Scotland.

 

We'll get him settled on a life path and then in (semi) retirement with Europe, Australia and NZ available to us the world is our oyster - a villa in France is our plan at the moment A year in NZ is appealing though and should our son settle in Australia who knows?

[wattsy1982]

Hi @Hoola.

 

Great post, so honest and non-biased.

 

We too live on the Gold Coast, been here since 2013 and like you, we like the lifestyle but hate n being able to share it.

 

I can relate to SO many of your feelings. Firstly;

 

Loving life in the sun, but missing family and 'old friends'...

 

also,

 

The difficulty is, we have a wonderful life here, but no one to share it with...

 

...we have all this and all these things and I just want to share it with my parents,sister, cousins, aunts, niece etc. Seems such a waste to not be able to.

 

We miss the company, the love, the feeling of belonging with family. I feel guilty that my children are growing up without that valuable time with their grandparents, aunts and uncles, and the fun of spending time with their cousins. And of course, the family in UK are also missing out on our 3's childhoods.

 

This is the BIG one for me, ive got a close group of real mates, theres about 7 of us in the group and 5 of us started playschool together when we were 3, 30 years ago! During the years we have all done things at similar stages, first house, marriage, kids etc. Being here and not being able to talk to anyone about anything pre 2013 I feel that my life didnt exist, but thats who I am, where I came from, what made me the person I am today. I wouldnt say im a 'needy' person but I miss a mate ringing meand asking if I wanted to do x,y,z where as here I seem to do all the arranging etc.

 

My parents miss us all, expecialy our 2 boys (5 and 3) terribly but they are so supportive, they never lay on the guilt trip or anything, infact, whenever I have a moan they are the first to say "what do you want to come back here for" and "look at all you have got there, you would never be able to have that here" Yes that is true but it all comes at a cost, its a trade off and for me 'people' now mean more than 'things' Ill admit I lost sight of whats important in life for a while and became impressed with what we could acheive next and then as soon as we did something I would tell my parents etc...and thats when It made me feel sad that in my eyes, and im sure theirs, although they never said, it was like I was choosing these things over them.

 

Other things I miss about England: There's so many things to do, culture, history, Europe, 'genuine' people, courteous drivers, old friends who you can reminisce with, the countryside, and houses that are built for all weather (having had a cold winter - I've gone soft) with central heating and double glazing! I love the Gold Coast, for the weather and the stunning beaches, but I find it shallow, superficial and actually a bit boring.

 

I remember when we first announced we are moving here my mum said "wont you miss the seasons" me reply was "NO WAY, if i never see another cold, frosty day again I will be happy" how wrong I was! I miss the variety that the weather/seasons bring, for example food, clothes, activities, moods, scenary, anticipation etc.....its a great way to mark/gaugae the time of year by things that need doing etc.

 

I personally think that the Gold Coast is all you listed above, as nice as it is isnt a good reflection of Australia and it is tough here to make a real life...one to compensate home anyway.

 

Xmas here is not really Xmas! Especially when you have absolutely no family here.

 

YES

 

it's funny how you forget so quickly about it not getting dark until 10.30 at night!), and it was lovely not to get eaten alive by midges! It was heartwarmingly wonderful to see the family, and to watch our kids have fun and share love with the family again. I didn't want to come back to Australia this time!

I really miss this, skyping my parents at 10pm UK time and they are still sitting in the garden and the birds are singing...not squarking! BUT also when we ring them in the winter and the house looks all cosy and they are sitting in front of the fire...

 

also spending an unhealthy amount of time on Rightmove!

 

Snap!

 

The smaller house, no pool/ boat doesn't bother me. The endless rain might though.

 

This is the biggest compromise we will have to make and it worries me that it could make or break the move back. That said I want to remember whats important in life and I would rather be indoors in a smaller house watching my boys playing with nanny and grandad than here in our open plan house on their own! We went to a friend of ours daughters 16th party the other week (they are also from the UK) and as she was opening her presents and cutting her cake etc her grandparents were watching her via skype...it broke my heart and vowed to my wife there and then that I ddnt want that for my kids.

 

We plan to stay here until we get citizenship,At least that way, we can always come back if we realise that we have made a huge mistake.

 

Same here, and also should your kids ever move here when you are older it makes it easier to just come along too. My wifes parents briefly looked into coming here but it would cost them about £100k which is mad!

 

But right now, I am desperately missing family, and close friends. I know the red carpet treatment on our return will not last forever, but I also know that our family will welcome us back with open arms. Of course, if I could persuade them all to move over here, I would probably try. But that will never happen.

 

Agree with the above but I feel that even if all my family did move here I would still miss 'home' as a place.

 

My wife is a midwife so sympathises what you say about the NHS and things here too. At the same time she missed the bedside care they can/do give in the UK as oppsoed to the 'conveyer belt' business it is here. She worked in a small hospital in the UK and was very much out of her comfort zone coming here but its made her a better midwife, more confident.

 

Like @Quoll said, I dont look back on home as 'constant rain' infact, I would say here in QLD we get more rain bt just in a shorter time. The rain NEVER kept us indoors back home, neither does the sun here.

 

Once again, really like your post and it could have been me writing it nearly word for word.

 

Someone here said to me "will you regret the kids not growing up with their family or will you regret not being in the sun on the beach"

 

Go with your heart, its not usually wrong.

 

Good luck!

[thinker78]

Who wants to be lonely in paradise?! (if indeed it is that.....)

Home after 9 years with one child who has lived only in oz. Definitely been where you are. No regrets! Why?

Parents are not here forever. Childhood is short. Kids thrive on extended family (if you get on) .

UK life is different not worse. Life is short and fragile- the fact that your kids want to go back to family is very positive.

I've done too many lonely Aus Xmasses, watching people with their own family, to ever put the sun first again.

It's a rainy bank holiday here. Do I care?! No! Off out with the grandparents, dad's cooking a roast and i'll probably nip down the local for a glass of something later on- just normal, warm, every day living but more amazing to me now than any beach- get citizenship then give your children the best gift- love of family x

[thinker78]

PS wattsy- it's literally amazing to hang out with people who have known me and my family for years! i love bumping into people and having things in common. i did not realise how important it is to feel connected to one's past- but it is. it is so comforting.

[CowlingAFC]

I'm also in the same boat and can relate to a lot of these points.

 

My delema is I think getting my citizenship should be a priority but I really don't know if I can stay another 2years

[Marisawright]

I'm also in the same boat and can relate to a lot of these points.

 

My delema is I think getting my citizenship should be a priority but I really don't know if I can stay another 2years

 

I think for a family, it's crucially important to stay until you get citizenship - because further down the track, it's possible children will want to return and if so, it's a lot easier if parents have the right to return also.

 

However for someone like you, who's got no ties in Australia and no one else to consider, I wonder whether it's worth struggling on? It's only worth it if you think you may want to return one day - do you think that's likely?

 

You haven't really said what's soured the experience for you. You were so excited and happy to get PR, how did it all go wrong? Are you sure you really hate Australia, or is it just that you've got yourself into debt or had a relationship breakup or whatever? Have you thought about moving to another part of Oz, like Brisbane, and see whether you like it better? Different parts of Australia are more different than you think. I know people who hate Perth but love Sydney, for instance.

[Guest Possibilities]

It's ok having a big house with a pool and a great job. Will our children be able to achieve this in Australia?

 

Sooo take those away, all the things that's make the Australian dream for us parents?

 

From aged care to public education the UK wins as better place to live.

 

Every international education rating has Australia far higher for public education.

[Jacaranda]

Thinker,what a lovely post!:cute:To the OP,I'm also in "leafy"Wiltshire,and ,although I haven't been here all summer,Im sure if it would of been "that"wet my friends would of mentioned it.Yes we've had some rain,but only occasionally!People are more important than places,houses and material crap!

[wattsy1982]

I'm also in the same boat and can relate to a lot of these points.

 

My delema is I think getting my citizenship should be a priority but I really don't know if I can stay another 2years

 

Same here, people say its 'just' another 2 years...but at times, 2 weeks feels a long time!

 

I said previously we are looking to stay for citizenship for the kids, thats true in a way but I guess we are mainly doing it for us, incase our kids come back then we can easily...if the kids dont come, we wont.

 

It would make it easier for the kids to come but if they really wanted to then they would get visas like we did i suppose. I would rather get citzenship and never use it than get to 50/60 and the kids decide to come here and we cant join them.

 

But for you @CowlingAFC I would say dont bother...just my opnion tho.

[DonnaC]

I have to be honest, before I would have thought you were mad, but I have recently had a baby and have to be honest, as much as my family drive me around the twist, I have really missed them, especially the past few days.

I have been very teary, and am planning a trip back to the UK in the next few weeks with my son. Looking forward to it and dreading it in equal measure. I know I have already missed out on so much, and see Facebook posts from friends that are 'in jokes' for our group.....and I know this was my decision, but cant help but feel left out.

 

Looking forward to seeing family and friends, but worried it may make me want to go back. If I could move them all here life would be perfect.

 

Good luck in making a decision, but def get your citizenship first.

[Marisawright]

I said previously we are looking to stay for citizenship for the kids, thats true in a way but I guess we are mainly doing it for us, incase our kids come back then we can easily...if the kids dont come, we wont.

 

... I would rather get citzenship and never use it than get to 50/60 and the kids decide to come here and we cant join them.

 

But for you @CowlingAFC I would say dont bother...just my opnion tho.

 

That's exactly the point I was trying to make. The big downside of migration is that it can separate families, so it's sensible to plan for that eventuality.

[Marisawright]

I have to be honest, before I would have thought you were mad, but I have recently had a baby and have to be honest, as much as my family drive me around the twist, I have really missed them, especially the past few days.

I have been very teary, and am planning a trip back to the UK in the next few weeks with my son. Looking forward to it and dreading it in equal measure. I know I have already missed out on so much, and see Facebook posts from friends that are 'in jokes' for our group.....and I know this was my decision, but cant help but feel left out.

 

Looking forward to seeing family and friends, but worried it may make me want to go back. If I could move them all here life would be perfect.

 

Good luck in making a decision, but def get your citizenship first.

 

If I had a dollar for every woman who wanted to go home after starting a family, I'd be a rich woman. Having a baby does change your whole perception. I do hope you work it out!

[Hoola]

Wow, thanks for all the replies, it has been so nice to know that I'm not the only one who misses 'home'.

Breaking it down into bite sized pieces is a great idea, I had become overwhelmed with all the 'what ifs', schools, houses, job, timings... We can apply for citizenship in November, so that will be my first aim.

I think the idea of popping back for an extended period is also a good one. Probably during the long school holiday in December/ January. This will also be a good test to see if I really miss the UK, ha ha! I suppose my only worry with this is it would not be until Xmas 2016 (we can't afford 2 trips back in 1 year!), by which time my eldest will have turned 14, and it will be a worry regarding her moving back so close to GCSEs. She's an August baby so perhaps we would be able to hold her back a year, as she will only be a week older than some of the kids in the year below.

Has anyone had any experience of moving back with teenagers? How did they cope?

I love that quote 'I would rather walk in the rain to see my mates in the pub than sit alone on a beautiful beach', I remember reading that on POI in the past, it really stayed in my mind too. And the question regarding, if I had 10 years of life left to live where would I go? Well that kind of clarifies things for me. But it's such a big move, I want to be 150% sure that we're not rushing into this!

A few of your comments also made me chuckle, like when it's winter in the UK, I'll be looking at the Xmas photos on the beach, so true!! But then hopefully, I'll then look up and see my kids playing with their cousins, Granny singing as she potters around and Gramps nodding off on the sofa after a eating too much food!

And the small talk. Aaah! The small talk. I don't have much opportunity to meet the mums at school, as hubby does almost all of the pick-ups, but when I've taken kids to parties at the weekend, the small talk drives me crazy. I usually try to avoid the 'perfectly made up, dressed for a wedding, type mums' as I know that within 30 seconds of our conversation starting my eyes will glaze over, and I'll start sending subliminal messages of 'please, just tell me how you're really feeling, tell me about how you're NOT perfect sometimes'... I so miss meeting up with my 'old friends' and having a good old chin wag and laughing with each other about silly things that we've said, mistakes we've made and learned from, and how neither we, nor our kids, are perfect. I find the only people I can do this with are other poms and the occasional mum from Melbourne or Sydney. @wattsy1982 Thank you, your comments sounded very much like what I've been thinking, and I agree about the missing seasons. I used to HATE winter in England, and probably still will, but having said that, there's something really special about wrapping up in your coats, scarves and gloves, on a crisp morning, and hearing the crunch under your feet as you explore the frosty fields, and watch the haze rising as the sun warms the ground, then get back wet and cold, and make hot chocolates and sit by the fire (or radiator!) and thaw out. And you're right, the seasons do mark out time really well, I get totally lost about where I am in the year over here. Whereabouts on the GC are you? We're in Broadbeach Waters.

 

Well, I'm going to start looking into how to apply for citizenship...

Keep the comments coming, it's great to hear from others going through the same, or those who have made a decision to go (or stay), and how this has worked for them.

 

Thanks very much everyone :cute:

[bristolman]

We spent best part of 12 years in Brisbane and by and large enjoyed our life, literally one day we decided to look into a move to the UK. I won't say a move back because I grew up in Australia. We made the move 3 years ago and certainly don't regret it, our Aussie born and bred kids are loving it. We are also finding the education better and the school our kids are in has a very good reputation and 'rating'. The summer has most definitely NOT been a wash out and my wife commented just the other day that nothing we have done this summer has been affected by the weather. The trouble with the British is that if we had 6 months without rain the day it does rain they would complain about the terrible weather.

Our kids do 'complain' sometimes in the winter but now they realise the really dark short days only last for a matter of weeks.

The winters haven't been severe or long anyway, spring comes around so quickly.