thinker78 Posted September 19, 2016 Share Posted September 19, 2016 Just a quick post. I have now been back almost 14 months. Australia seems like another life, another planet even. Do I miss it? Nope. Occasionally miss the few friends I had there. Do not miss any other aspects. Even the coffee is good here, so there's nowt to miss Some ramblings; 1. I've been to the beach more this UK summer than the last 3 years in Australia. I put this down to; so much to enjoy at British sea sides, absolutely 100% enjoy sunny days more and make the effort, don't worry so much about UV, nasties in the ocean and snakes in the dunes. Beach for me also only a 15 min drive in the UK. Very accessible, and safe for kids. 2. Education- Child (7) now fully adjusted to UK schooling and loving all the opportunities. Has had wonderful support to catch up from Oz system. Education more intense here, but LOVE what she's covering- Romans, Stone and Iron Age, French, etc etc. Lots of school trips, extra curricular stuff. Goes to a wonderful theatre school, loves the cooler days! Moaned when it got really hot here, and found it annoying haha. 3. Society- see all sorts, but much prefer the general day to day with Brits. Found I have a very active social life and plenty of invites, and have made lots of new friends- this was hard going in Australia quite often- mostly ex pats etc. Feel I can be myself here, common cultural ground, sense of humour, etc. 4. Housing- South East hard going and that's tricky. Other parts of the country affordable. 5. Stuff to do- too much! and never enough time!!!! 6. Eating out- Too much! And not enough waist line! 7. Brexit- no one expected that, but take it from me, it's all going on as normal and we're not seeing too much change- yet. 8. Biggest bonuses- Family, old friends, simple pleasures, the rhythm of seasons here I love, the culture, walking everywhere, cycling, opportunities- mental health so much better. 9. Would I go back? No- not to live. Asked my child- she says 'no, maybe for a holiday'. It has definitely taken a year to find our feet and establish a life, so don't hop on the first plane back! xxx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johnny Kash Posted September 19, 2016 Share Posted September 19, 2016 Just a quick post. I have now been back almost 14 months. Australia seems like another life, another planet even. Do I miss it? Nope. Occasionally miss the few friends I had there. Do not miss any other aspects. Even the coffee is good here, so there's nowt to miss Some ramblings; 1. I've been to the beach more this UK summer than the last 3 years in Australia. I put this down to; so much to enjoy at British sea sides, absolutely 100% enjoy sunny days more and make the effort, don't worry so much about UV, nasties in the ocean and snakes in the dunes. Beach for me also only a 15 min drive in the UK. Very accessible, and safe for kids. 2. Education- Child (7) now fully adjusted to UK schooling and loving all the opportunities. Has had wonderful support to catch up from Oz system. Education more intense here, but LOVE what she's covering- Romans, Stone and Iron Age, French, etc etc. Lots of school trips, extra curricular stuff. Goes to a wonderful theatre school, loves the cooler days! Moaned when it got really hot here, and found it annoying haha. 3. Society- see all sorts, but much prefer the general day to day with Brits. Found I have a very active social life and plenty of invites, and have made lots of new friends- this was hard going in Australia quite often- mostly ex pats etc. Feel I can be myself here, common cultural ground, sense of humour, etc. 4. Housing- South East hard going and that's tricky. Other parts of the country affordable. 5. Stuff to do- too much! and never enough time!!!! 6. Eating out- Too much! And not enough waist line! 7. Brexit- no one expected that, but take it from me, it's all going on as normal and we're not seeing too much change- yet. 8. Biggest bonuses- Family, old friends, simple pleasures, the rhythm of seasons here I love, the culture, walking everywhere, cycling, opportunities- mental health so much better. 9. Would I go back? No- not to live. Asked my child- she says 'no, maybe for a holiday'. It has definitely taken a year to find our feet and establish a life, so don't hop on the first plane back! xxx Good on ya Thinker! Out of interest, did you move back to the area you were originally from in the UK or try somewhere completely different? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thinker78 Posted September 19, 2016 Author Share Posted September 19, 2016 Same area, but, with fresh eyes! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bristolman Posted September 19, 2016 Share Posted September 19, 2016 Glad its working out for you, I agree on all counts. I admit I thought the move would be harder than it has turned out to be and apart from it being a bit shaky the first year all is good. Even our Aussie kids express no desire to go back other than to visit a friend. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VERYSTORMY Posted September 19, 2016 Share Posted September 19, 2016 Sounds similar to us. We have only been back 6 months and Oz already seems like it wasn't real. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beaty Posted September 19, 2016 Share Posted September 19, 2016 Just a quick post. I have now been back almost 14 months. Australia seems like another life, another planet even. Do I miss it? Nope. Occasionally miss the few friends I had there. Do not miss any other aspects. Even the coffee is good here, so there's nowt to miss Some ramblings.......... ......It has definitely taken a year to find our feet and establish a life, so don't hop on the first plane back! xxx Good for you. I'm a firm believer in if it ain't working out where you are it's time to change it up / go home. It's constant inertia-moaners that get up my wick. Moaning long term but making no moves. B Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quoll Posted September 19, 2016 Share Posted September 19, 2016 Lovely update! So glad it is working out for you both! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bunbury61 Posted September 19, 2016 Share Posted September 19, 2016 Just a quick post. I have now been back almost 14 months. Australia seems like another life, another planet even. Do I miss it? Nope. Occasionally miss the few friends I had there. Do not miss any other aspects. Even the coffee is good here, so there's nowt to miss Some ramblings; 1. I've been to the beach more this UK summer than the last 3 years in Australia. I put this down to; so much to enjoy at British sea sides, absolutely 100% enjoy sunny days more and make the effort, don't worry so much about UV, nasties in the ocean and snakes in the dunes. Beach for me also only a 15 min drive in the UK. Very accessible, and safe for kids. 2. Education- Child (7) now fully adjusted to UK schooling and loving all the opportunities. Has had wonderful support to catch up from Oz system. Education more intense here, but LOVE what she's covering- Romans, Stone and Iron Age, French, etc etc. Lots of school trips, extra curricular stuff. Goes to a wonderful theatre school, loves the cooler days! Moaned when it got really hot here, and found it annoying haha. 3. Society- see all sorts, but much prefer the general day to day with Brits. Found I have a very active social life and plenty of invites, and have made lots of new friends- this was hard going in Australia quite often- mostly ex pats etc. Feel I can be myself here, common cultural ground, sense of humour, etc. 4. Housing- South East hard going and that's tricky. Other parts of the country affordable. 5. Stuff to do- too much! and never enough time!!!! 6. Eating out- Too much! And not enough waist line! 7. Brexit- no one expected that, but take it from me, it's all going on as normal and we're not seeing too much change- yet. 8. Biggest bonuses- Family, old friends, simple pleasures, the rhythm of seasons here I love, the culture, walking everywhere, cycling, opportunities- mental health so much better. 9. Would I go back? No- not to live. Asked my child- she says 'no, maybe for a holiday'. It has definitely taken a year to find our feet and establish a life, so don't hop on the first plane back! xxx Well done thinker ...good on ya .. I envy you ,because although iam in the main happy in England ,mainly because this is where I belong . Part of me will always miss Australia ....not the weather....not even the so called lifestyle ...no I miss some of the great Aussie friends I had ,some of whom have now ,sadly passed away ....some great memories Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Franklin05 Posted September 20, 2016 Share Posted September 20, 2016 Lovely to read how well you are doing. We're looking at returning and I enjoying reading stories like these. The housing situation in the South doesn't surprise me, I think housing issues and costs are high for most people at the moment. Just seem to be the way it is both in Australia and the UK. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grizzly111 Posted September 20, 2016 Share Posted September 20, 2016 You make a very good point about 'being yourself'. I never thought about it until then. I'm in regional Australia at the moment and come to think of it, I do find it hard to be myself since I share so little in common with the folk here. I have to say that if I left today, I really wouldn't miss anything significant (maybe only the winter weather) about Australia! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marisawright Posted September 21, 2016 Share Posted September 21, 2016 I very much relate to the "being yourself" thing. We see a lot of people talking about "belonging" or homesickness, but I wonder if it's that sense of self that is really at the root of it? I had the same problem when we moved to the UK for a year. I didn't feel like myself there, and in hindsight I shouldn't have been surprised - because I always felt like a square peg in a round hole growing up in the UK, and migrating to Australia was like escaping to a new life where I could really be me. Now I'm back in Australia I can feel the old "me" coming back. Unfortunately I'm now racked with guilt because my husband has realised he had that feeling of "being himself" when he was in Europe, and says it's the first time in his life he can remember feeling like that (his family migrated from Yugoslavia when he was only 8). So he is not happy about being back in Australia at all and I feel responsible for that. I just have to keep reminding myself he was the architect of his own fate - I told him I'd be willing to stay in the UK or Europe for another few years if we moved somewhere nicer and more affordable, but he was too damn lazy to do anything about it. We are still chewing through money at an unacceptable rate in Melbourne but at least we'll have the Aussie pension to fall back on if he spends it all, unlike in the UK. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Michaela60 Posted September 23, 2016 Share Posted September 23, 2016 Just a quick post. I have now been back almost 14 months. Australia seems like another life, another planet even. Do I miss it? Nope. Occasionally miss the few friends I had there. Do not miss any other aspects. Even the coffee is good here, so there's nowt to miss Some ramblings; 1. I've been to the beach more this UK summer than the last 3 years in Australia. I put this down to; so much to enjoy at British sea sides, absolutely 100% enjoy sunny days more and make the effort, don't worry so much about UV, nasties in the ocean and snakes in the dunes. Beach for me also only a 15 min drive in the UK. Very accessible, and safe for kids. 2. Education- Child (7) now fully adjusted to UK schooling and loving all the opportunities. Has had wonderful support to catch up from Oz system. Education more intense here, but LOVE what she's covering- Romans, Stone and Iron Age, French, etc etc. Lots of school trips, extra curricular stuff. Goes to a wonderful theatre school, loves the cooler days! Moaned when it got really hot here, and found it annoying haha. 3. Society- see all sorts, but much prefer the general day to day with Brits. Found I have a very active social life and plenty of invites, and have made lots of new friends- this was hard going in Australia quite often- mostly ex pats etc. Feel I can be myself here, common cultural ground, sense of humour, etc. 4. Housing- South East hard going and that's tricky. Other parts of the country affordable. 5. Stuff to do- too much! and never enough time!!!! 6. Eating out- Too much! And not enough waist line! 7. Brexit- no one expected that, but take it from me, it's all going on as normal and we're not seeing too much change- yet. 8. Biggest bonuses- Family, old friends, simple pleasures, the rhythm of seasons here I love, the culture, walking everywhere, cycling, opportunities- mental health so much better. 9. Would I go back? No- not to live. Asked my child- she says 'no, maybe for a holiday'. It has definitely taken a year to find our feet and establish a life, so don't hop on the first plane back! xxx Quick one there is no Oz system education, it's completely different in every state or territory and they start a year later so always a year differential from U.K. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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