What was the main reason for moving back to UK?

[Tina2]

We are retired ,came back to the UK 2 years ago now going back to Adelaide because of the pull of family

Having said that the UK is so easy to get around we love it

would you have to live in a rural are as most towns rural is not that far away

We are in the north east where house prices are cheaper but we also have lovely ares we drive to regularly the Lake District is not that far by Aussie standards

Its a hard call for you we have a foot in both camps and we are quite happy in both countries but family ties pull

Hi Pat, we are 3 hours west of Brisbane, only place we could afford to buy a house and being retired as many will know life is extreamly difficult if you have to pay a mortgage or rent, so at least we have our own place. Love Tassie, but OH kids are in Brisbane so he wont leave the state.

 

Its just this gut wrenching feeling that I will end up dying here. As I said it never really bothered me while I was working I was just so busy, but gee in retirement what a difference. I am a country bumpkin sad to say, I know things would be even worse if we moved to the city and to be honest we would not be able to afford to do that ( we didnt ignore the fact we needed to plan for retirement, some things happened which wiped us out financially), and even if we did it does not remove the underlying problem, I miss the UK and all it offers, beautiful walks where you dont have to worry about being bitten by wild life, Oh God the flies, huge cattle flies that bite. I also have medical issues and remember how easy it was to get help in the UK compared to accessing medical help here.

 

I read in one of these post that someone was able to get free MRI or CT scan, well I can tell you where I am if I get sent to the City for a CT it is $90 and MRI hits around $500 with little back from medicare. If you cant afford a private specialist then the public wait is around 3 to 4 years.

 

I love the lake district, lived in Appleby for a little while when I was very young.

 

I know this sounds like a huge whinge and sorry I dont mean it to be that, I just want people to think carefully and put plans in place - just in case they end up feeling like I do. For those who love it that is fantastic I am really glad it has worked for you.

[Patphillips47]

Whinge away you won't be the first and certainly not the last I am sure

Medical wise we had in Oz Centrelink cards so for scans etc they were free

Hubby had hip replacements in Oz and UK in both situations he waited 12 months Oz was with Medicare UK with NHS

Personally we can fault neither but to get a scan X-ray etc in the UK we wait weeks - to see a GP if we want a specific GP then Arun it's 3 weeks appointment

My hubby never has super he had to give up work when he was 54 because of his severe arthritis so we were never money flush but we did have a decent standard of living

When we sold in Oz were were able to buy for cash in the UK and leave funds in the bank so that worked quite well

We bought a detached bungalow for £132500.00 in a nice cul de sac where the neighbours are great we will be sad to leave them

Your in a catch two situation though if hubby won't leave the state would he leave the country

I understand completely the feeling of home I have always said Don't burry me in Oz I want to go home

Yet I love Oz and call it home too lol

Appleby still does the annual horse fair it's a lovely part of the world

Good luck with what ever you choose to do

[Tina2]

Whinge away you won't be the first and certainly not the last I am sure

Medical wise we had in Oz Centrelink cards so for scans etc they were free

Hubby had hip replacements in Oz and UK in both situations he waited 12 months Oz was with Medicare UK with NHS

Personally we can fault neither but to get a scan X-ray etc in the UK we wait weeks - to see a GP if we want a specific GP then Arun it's 3 weeks appointment

My hubby never has super he had to give up work when he was 54 because of his severe arthritis so we were never money flush but we did have a decent standard of living

When we sold in Oz were were able to buy for cash in the UK and leave funds in the bank so that worked quite well

We bought a detached bungalow for £132500.00 in a nice cul de sac where the neighbours are great we will be sad to leave them

Your in a catch two situation though if hubby won't leave the state would he leave the country

I understand completely the feeling of home I have always said Don't burry me in Oz I want to go home

Yet I love Oz and call it home too lol

Appleby still does the annual horse fair it's a lovely part of the world

Good luck with what ever you choose to do

Thank you Pat, I wish you every happiness in Adelaide

[Slean Wolfhead]

Hi Pat, we are 3 hours west of Brisbane, only place we could afford to buy a house and being retired as many will know life is extreamly difficult if you have to pay a mortgage or rent, so at least we have our own place. Love Tassie, but OH kids are in Brisbane so he wont leave the state.

 

Its just this gut wrenching feeling that I will end up dying here. As I said it never really bothered me while I was working I was just so busy, but gee in retirement what a difference. I am a country bumpkin sad to say, I know things would be even worse if we moved to the city and to be honest we would not be able to afford to do that ( we didnt ignore the fact we needed to plan for retirement, some things happened which wiped us out financially), and even if we did it does not remove the underlying problem, I miss the UK and all it offers, beautiful walks where you dont have to worry about being bitten by wild life, Oh God the flies, huge cattle flies that bite. I also have medical issues and remember how easy it was to get help in the UK compared to accessing medical help here.

 

I read in one of these post that someone was able to get free MRI or CT scan, well I can tell you where I am if I get sent to the City for a CT it is $90 and MRI hits around $500 with little back from medicare. If you cant afford a private specialist then the public wait is around 3 to 4 years.

 

I love the lake district, lived in Appleby for a little while when I was very young.

 

I know this sounds like a huge whinge and sorry I dont mean it to be that, I just want people to think carefully and put plans in place - just in case they end up feeling like I do. For those who love it that is fantastic I am really glad it has worked for you.

 

This post resonates with me.

There are lot of whingy posts by people who just haven't got what it takes and complaints about neglible, minor issues that couldn't be sorted out by a bit of steel in their backbones and a bit more rubber in the soles of their shoes.

You however, seem to have really toughed it out and proved your resilience. I hope things work out for you.

[Johnny]

Well, to stay on topic, the main reasons we moved back (not in any particular order):

 

 

• Nicer/cleaner environment
  
• Bigger variety of things to do
  
• Better job prospects with better pay and regular training
  
• Better weather (seasons)
  
• Better Travel at home and Europe
  
• Better/Bigger House with more land/space/views etc
  
• Better Supermarkets & Shops (MUCH better)
  
• Better food (and far cheaper)
  
• Better cars and more fun roads to drive them on (well, in rural Scotland at least)
  
• Proper countryside where you can go out for a day (not snake infested burnt dry scrubland)
  
• Pubs/Pub Grub/Carvery
  
• Hobbies/Interests (of which there were no clubs for in Perth)
  
• Culture/History - you don't appreciate it until you've lived in a concrete city with none whatsoever
  
• Family & Friends (the biggest reason of course)
  
• Animals - more space and better environment for them
  
• A large green garden and growing lots of things (compared to the burned sand pit/ semi-concrete garden we had in Perth where almost nothing grew well)
  

 

 

There's probably more but these are the first ones that come to mind....

[Croft]

Well, to stay on topic, the main reasons we moved back (not in any particular order):

 

 

• Nicer/cleaner environment

• Bigger variety of things to do

• Better job prospects with better pay and regular training

• Better weather (seasons)

• Better Travel at home and Europe

• Better/Bigger House with more land/space/views etc

• Better Supermarkets & Shops (MUCH better)

• Better food (and far cheaper)

• Better cars and more fun roads to drive them on (well, in rural Scotland at least)

• Proper countryside where you can go out for a day (not snake infested burnt dry scrubland)

• Pubs/Pub Grub/Carvery

• Hobbies/Interests (of which there were no clubs for in Perth)

• Culture/History - you don't appreciate it until you've lived in a concrete city with none whatsoever

• Family & Friends (the biggest reason of course)

• Animals - more space and better environment for them

• A large green garden and growing lots of things (compared to the burned sand pit/ semi-concrete garden we had in Perth where almost nothing grew well)

 

 

There's probably more but these are the first ones that come to mind....

 

Can I just contrast this with our experience? Let me preface this by saying we didn't leave the UK because we hated it - my OH got an opportunity we couldn't refuse so we made the move. The only thing I really disliked in the UK was the commuting!

 

We live in the inner suburbs in Brisbane, on an express bus route into the centre. We have access to theatres, art galleries, museums and world class shopping a 20 minute bus ride away - or 15 minutes in the car. We have one of the largest shopping malls in Asutralia on our doorstep. We have been discovering some excellent restaurants not just in the CBD but dotted around in some of the most inauspicious places, like trading estates! There are two excellent large botanical gardens (more around the area) and quite a nice planetarium.

 

Around Brisbane are mountains with some pretty decent roads for driving, some quite close in. It is green and lush, almost too lush as I need to mow our garden a couple of times a week during the summer! I really need to trim the hedges right back, yet again.

 

I do miss country pubs and a decent bitter, but friends have shown me some great bars around Brisbane, and to be honest that's what makes for a great time, not the setting. I went back to University here to do a Graduate Diploma in Education and have made stacks of good friends from that. Our son has now started school and we're making lots of friends through that too. He is going to a very prestigious school which would cost us several times more in the UK. Activities, when not free, are an awful lot cheaper than the UK we have found.

 

History? Well, that's what you go back to Europe for. Or appreciate the 40,000 years of uninterrupted Aboriginal history.

[Johnny]

Can I just contrast this with our experience? Let me preface this by saying we didn't leave the UK because we hated it - my OH got an opportunity we couldn't refuse so we made the move. The only thing I really disliked in the UK was the commuting!

 

We live in the inner suburbs in Brisbane, on an express bus route into the centre. We have access to theatres, art galleries, museums and world class shopping a 20 minute bus ride away - or 15 minutes in the car. We have one of the largest shopping malls in Asutralia on our doorstep. We have been discovering some excellent restaurants not just in the CBD but dotted around in some of the most inauspicious places, like trading estates! There are two excellent large botanical gardens (more around the area) and quite a nice planetarium.

 

Around Brisbane are mountains with some pretty decent roads for driving, some quite close in. It is green and lush, almost too lush as I need to mow our garden a couple of times a week during the summer! I really need to trim the hedges right back, yet again.

 

I do miss country pubs and a decent bitter, but friends have shown me some great bars around Brisbane, and to be honest that's what makes for a great time, not the setting. I went back to University here to do a Graduate Diploma in Education and have made stacks of good friends from that. Our son has now started school and we're making lots of friends through that too. He is going to a very prestigious school which would cost us several times more in the UK. Activities, when not free, are an awful lot cheaper than the UK we have found.

 

History? Well, that's what you go back to Europe for. Or appreciate the 40,000 years of uninterrupted Aboriginal history.

 

You certainly can contrast by all means.

 

Brisbane I have no doubt is better than Perth, but the hot sticky humid climate would drive me bonkers and that's why we chose Perth.

I love my 4 seasons too much, especially at this time of year when the weather changes so fast. It was 14 degrees yesterday and spring has sprung, clear blue sky and sun shining all day. Hard to believe only 2 weeks back it was snowing heavily and I had my coal fire roaring away !

[CJT]

Can I just contrast this with our experience? Let me preface this by saying we didn't leave the UK because we hated it - my OH got an opportunity we couldn't refuse so we made the move. The only thing I really disliked in the UK was the commuting!

 

We live in the inner suburbs in Brisbane, on an express bus route into the centre. We have access to theatres, art galleries, museums and world class shopping a 20 minute bus ride away - or 15 minutes in the car. We have one of the largest shopping malls in Asutralia on our doorstep. We have been discovering some excellent restaurants not just in the CBD but dotted around in some of the most inauspicious places, like trading estates! There are two excellent large botanical gardens (more around the area) and quite a nice planetarium.

 

Around Brisbane are mountains with some pretty decent roads for driving, some quite close in. It is green and lush, almost too lush as I need to mow our garden a couple of times a week during the summer! I really need to trim the hedges right back, yet again.

 

I do miss country pubs and a decent bitter, but friends have shown me some great bars around Brisbane, and to be honest that's what makes for a great time, not the setting. I went back to University here to do a Graduate Diploma in Education and have made stacks of good friends from that. Our son has now started school and we're making lots of friends through that too. He is going to a very prestigious school which would cost us several times more in the UK. Activities, when not free, are an awful lot cheaper than the UK we have found.

 

History? Well, that's what you go back to Europe for. Or appreciate the 40,000 years of uninterrupted Aboriginal history.

 

As the Aboriginals were nomadic there really is not a lot to see for the 40,000 years of "uninterrupted Aboriginal history".

[Johndoe]

As the Aboriginals were nomadic there really is not a lot to see for the 40,000 years of "uninterrupted Aboriginal history".

 

You ain't been looking then.

[CJT]

You ain't been looking then.

 

Perhaps you could be so kind as to point out some of the things I should look out for driving around Brisbane, ancient monuments etc....

[Guest241083]

.........here's a start......http://www.visitbrisbane.com.au/brisbane-greeters/book-a-greeter/your-choice/interests/aboriginal-heritage?sc_lang=en-au

........think you'd have to get out of Brisbane to see paintings etc.....enjoy...!

[CJT]

.........here's a start......http://www.visitbrisbane.com.au/brisbane-greeters/book-a-greeter/your-choice/interests/aboriginal-heritage?sc_lang=en-au

........think you'd have to get out of Brisbane to see paintings etc.....enjoy...!

 

Thanks for the links, but I think this kind of makes my point that I would have to go looking for these things. In Europe you are surrounded by the history it is so much more visible.

[Guest241083]

Thanks for the links, but I think this kind of makes my point that I would have to go looking for these things. In Europe you are surrounded by the history it is so much more visible.

 

 

..........agreed but it's there....!

..........Australia is a vast country.....

.........and the evidence of the aboriginal people often in more rural places.....

..........the cities more given to recent people's....

...........I guess if you want to see it.......you've got to search for it....

...........and it's well worth doing ime.....

 

 

..........just to add.......the aboriginal people were nomadic....

..........they learnt to live in harmony with the land....

..........to make little impact on life and land around them....

...........so to find evidence of their ways.....

............often paintings......is interesting....

.............their history passed down by word of mouth....songs...

..............now our museums ,can show us....

...............we don't have the historical buildings of Europe.....

.................but a vast landscape that with a little understanding....

..................we can see how a people lived and survived....

[calNgary]

Thanks for the links, but I think this kind of makes my point that I would have to go looking for these things. In Europe you are surrounded by the history it is so much more visible.

 

But you still have to travel to see it if its in Europe, it isnt on your doorstep, which really is no different to travelling in QLD to see it here - If your into that kind of thing of course.

 

Cal x

[CJT]

But you still have to travel to see it if its in Europe, it isnt on your doorstep, which really is no different to travelling in QLD to see it here - If your into that kind of thing of course.

 

Cal x

 

The whole of Europe fits into the whole of Australia, I know which I would find more interesting to drive around - But each to their own. London would be a pretty good example of a city in the UK with a rich visible history, I would consider that to be on the doorstep.

[Guest]

QLD is better for weekenders I find, but obviously more options in Europe for a holiday, but how often do you go to Europe? I prefer looking forward to every weekend to looking forwards to summer holiday 1/2 times a year. Driving to noosa for easter, will take about 1.5 hours. To get to Spain or whatever I would need an hour to get to airport, need to get there a couple of hours in advance. Then get to destination at the other end. Probably about a 6 hour journey each way.

[Johndoe]

I think that the point made by Tink is that there is more to history than what is immediately available/visible and sometimes our lives are enriched by doing just a bit more digging around. I went to bribie island within a month of arriving here and wondered how the weather had managed to heap up piles of pippi shells in one spot. It was a good year later that I learned that they had accumulated over hundreds of yrs from where the original inhabitants had fed themselves on nature's bounty. I was no less in awe of that than I was whilst standing in in St john's Chapel in the Tower of London or marvelling at Salisbury Cathedral

[Guest241083]

The whole of Europe fits into the whole of Australia, I know which I would find more interesting to drive around - But each to their own. London would be a pretty good example of a city in the UK with a rich visible history, I would consider that to be on the doorstep.

 

 

.........I enjoy both.......the density of Europe ......it's amazing architecture .....

.........but also the vastness of Australia....

.........to be somewhere where there is no one for hundreds of miles.....

.........to camp out under the stars in a land with so much untouched landscape is amazing....

.........I do think part of enjoying any country.....

..........is embracing and enjoying what it has that defines it.....that makes it enjoyable and interesting ime...

[Croft]

Brisbane I have no doubt is better than Perth, but the hot sticky humid climate would drive me bonkers and that's why we chose Perth.

 

Humid yes, hot no. It hasn't even topped 40 here this summer. Besides, that's what aircon is for (and you do get used to the humidity very quickly).

[bristolman]

You certainly can contrast by all means.

 

Brisbane I have no doubt is better than Perth, but the hot sticky humid climate would drive me bonkers and that's why we chose Perth.

I love my 4 seasons too much, especially at this time of year when the weather changes so fast. It was 14 degrees yesterday and spring has sprung, clear blue sky and sun shining all day. Hard to believe only 2 weeks back it was snowing heavily and I had my coal fire roaring away !

 

Brisbane is miles better than Perth but yes the humidity can be a real killer. I would go out into my garage/workshop and the swear would roll off me before I started doing anything. Spring has definitely sprung, a bit chilly but lovely blue skies.

[Johnny]

Brisbane is miles better than Perth but yes the humidity can be a real killer. I would go out into my garage/workshop and the swear would roll off me before I started doing anything. Spring has definitely sprung, a bit chilly but lovely blue skies.

 

I cant cope with the humidity, "dripping" with sweat, and having 3 showers a day and changing clothes all the time just to feel normal.

 

I know they say it doesn't get too hot in Brisbane but 35 degrees with high humidity for me feels way worse than 40 degrees of dry heat in Perth.

[bencrom81]

I cant cope with the humidity, "dripping" with sweat, and having 3 showers a day and changing clothes all the time just to feel normal.

 

I know they say it doesn't get too hot in Brisbane but 35 degrees with high humidity for me feels way worse than 40 degrees of dry heat in Perth.

 

agree with a lot of your views john. having just sweated myself through my 7th Sydney summer, its only now ive accepted I just cant stand the heat. I don't understand the UK mindset of unless youre boiling your internal organs on a beach to sunstroke, you cant be enjoying yourself. hence the excruciating facebook posts of Aus weather status from ex pats.

 

that said, a Sydney winter is pretty glorious.

[Guest]

I don't like being boiling hot, but I love swimming. It's great on the hot days going to the pool or swimming in the ocean. Nothing better than going for a long swim in the ocean.

[Johnny]

Nothing better than going for a long swim in the ocean.

 

 

I know I went swimming in the ocean in Warnbro Sound once and really enjoyed it, but shortly after we heard someone had been attacked by a shark in the same spot and it was all over the news that night.

 

It certainly gave us the chills.

 

So much so that I never really went into the water again.

 

I tried it once but I came out after 5 mins.

 

The sensation of "pleasure and fear" all at once felt just a bit "too weird" for me.

[bristolman]

agree with a lot of your views john. having just sweated myself through my 7th Sydney summer, its only now ive accepted I just cant stand the heat. I don't understand the UK mindset of unless youre boiling your internal organs on a beach to sunstroke, you cant be enjoying yourself. hence the excruciating facebook posts of Aus weather status from ex pats.

 

that said, a Sydney winter is pretty glorious.

 

Its not really a UK mindset, I have plenty of Aussie friends have the same view. Family in Perth quite literally live on the beach.