Moving back to UK after 30 years..

[britgirl]

Hi all,

I'm a lurker on here but figured I should finally post!

Bit of history:

I was born in Singapore, went to the British School, lived there 7 years. Moved to Australia. Been here 13 years. Mother is British - she left the UK after Uni and Dad is from New Zealand who left NZ after school. Parents have split up and now Mum, brother and I are stuck here: no family at all, no good family friends, etc. Mum is close to her mum and brother who live 15 minutes apart in South of England. Also quite a few family friends, old school friends and other family in the region. I feel really lonely and out of place.

I personally, have always wanted to live in UK, I have felt like I don't belong in Australia but I also don't really belong in UK. Except thankfully, we visit the UK and my grandparents and cousins twice a year! And thus it wouldn't really be a culture shock as we know what to expect.

I would like Mum to retire to South of England, and I could hopefully work in London. I'm just scared that Mum will regret it, and my brother won't want to come, and we will live far from my dad etc.

I just always feel like we are missing out on so much living near grandparents etc. And worried we are running out of time to spend with them.

Considerations:

2 dogs, brother about to start University next year, me 2 years of degree to go, quality of life in South of England.

Advice? Thoughts? Similar experiences?

[Melbpom]

Hi Britgirl and welcome to PIO. My first thoughts are that you and your brother are in a difficult phase right now with university. If you go back to the UK to finish your studies I think you'd be looking at international fees. Also you haven't mentioned whether you've discussed a family move back with your mum, it could be she's waiting until you and your brother are on your feet.

[Quoll]

Wait until you've both get your degrees otherwise it'll be awfully expensive then do what you want to do with your life. Let your mum make decisions about what she wants to do with hers, you don't have to stick with her and your brother can do what he wants with his life at the end of Uni too!

 

Assume your mum is a UK born British citizen in which case you have citizenship too so the world is sort of your oyster really!

 

Quality of life in England - amazing!

[newjez]

Hi all,

I'm a lurker on here but figured I should finally post!

Bit of history:

I was born in Singapore, went to the British School, lived there 7 years. Moved to Australia. Been here 13 years. Mother is British - she left the UK after Uni and Dad is from New Zealand who left NZ after school. Parents have split up and now Mum, brother and I are stuck here: no family at all, no good family friends, etc. Mum is close to her mum and brother who live 15 minutes apart in South of England. Also quite a few family friends, old school friends and other family in the region. I feel really lonely and out of place.

I personally, have always wanted to live in UK, I have felt like I don't belong in Australia but I also don't really belong in UK. Except thankfully, we visit the UK and my grandparents and cousins twice a year! And thus it wouldn't really be a culture shock as we know what to expect.

I would like Mum to retire to South of England, and I could hopefully work in London. I'm just scared that Mum will regret it, and my brother won't want to come, and we will live far from my dad etc.

I just always feel like we are missing out on so much living near grandparents etc. And worried we are running out of time to spend with them.

Considerations:

2 dogs, brother about to start University next year, me 2 years of degree to go, quality of life in South of England.

Advice? Thoughts? Similar experiences?

 

 

Welcome to my life.

 

Similar story. Brought up in both countries. Don't belong in either.

 

I did feel I would be closer to my UK family. But you can't get back the history you never lived.

 

Sometimes you just have to make the move to move forward. I did. I still have regrets even though I wouldn't change anything.

[Johnny]

Hi all,

I'm a lurker on here but figured I should finally post!

Bit of history:

I was born in Singapore, went to the British School, lived there 7 years. Moved to Australia. Been here 13 years. Mother is British - she left the UK after Uni and Dad is from New Zealand who left NZ after school. Parents have split up and now Mum, brother and I are stuck here: no family at all, no good family friends, etc. Mum is close to her mum and brother who live 15 minutes apart in South of England. Also quite a few family friends, old school friends and other family in the region. I feel really lonely and out of place.

I personally, have always wanted to live in UK, I have felt like I don't belong in Australia but I also don't really belong in UK. Except thankfully, we visit the UK and my grandparents and cousins twice a year! And thus it wouldn't really be a culture shock as we know what to expect.

I would like Mum to retire to South of England, and I could hopefully work in London. I'm just scared that Mum will regret it, and my brother won't want to come, and we will live far from my dad etc.

I just always feel like we are missing out on so much living near grandparents etc. And worried we are running out of time to spend with them.

Considerations:

2 dogs, brother about to start University next year, me 2 years of degree to go, quality of life in South of England.

Advice? Thoughts? Similar experiences?

 

I think the south of England would be lovely, the weather for starters is much better than where we are Scotland and you are certainly close to civilisation. What young person wouldn't want to be part of the scene there. After you graduate, the worlds your oyster, opportunities galore for graduates in the South, and you are able to nip over to France, Netherlands or Belgium for long weekends with friends. Compared to being stuck in one city all the time in Australia, you would really love the life in Britain.

[Phoenix16]

Gosh, I think this post is a leveller for parents and really drums home how migration can impact children. good luck to you, you've had some great advice on here, get your education sorted and then the world Is your oyster xx I would say your Dad, having travelled the globe in his time, will be happy for you to go wherever makes you happy xxx

[Johnny]

Gosh, I think this post is a leveller for parents and really drums home how migration can impact children. good luck to you, you've had some great advice on here, get your education sorted and then the world Is your oyster xx I would say your Dad, having travelled the globe in his time, will be happy for you to go wherever makes you happy xxx

 

You're spot on Jessie. I think a lot of people seem to want to fulfil "their" dreams when they migrate but have no idea just how it pulls the rug from under the feet of everyone else, especially the kids.

 

I know where we lived in Perth it was nice for small children and absolutely wonderful for the elderly but I would never wish it on a teenager or somebody young & single like the OP.

[bunbury61]

I think the south of England would be lovely, the weather for starters is much better than where we are Scotland and you are certainly close to civilisation. What young person wouldn't want to be part of the scene there. After you graduate, the worlds your oyster, opportunities galore for graduates in the South, and you are able to nip over to France, Netherlands or Belgium for long weekends with friends. Compared to being stuck in one city all the time in Australia, you would really love the life in Britain.

 

Yeah that nipping over to Europe is definitely available .

We used to go on an annual golf trip to le touquet in northern France .

30 mins off the ferry from Calais .

On a Friday night the balcony of the Westminster hotel and casino ( just like a bond film ) would be full of people from the south East over for the weekend ...finish work early and over on the ferry or tunnel.....truly beautiful spot .