Australia is too bloody far away....from everything
Jan 22nd 2015, 10:18 am
#317
Crazy Cat Lady
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 65,493
Re: Australia is too bloody far away....from everything
Isn't the world on everyone's doorstep? 
Jan 22nd 2015, 10:35 am
#318
Chan eil aon chànan gu le
Joined: Feb 2009
Location: On the ning nang nong
Posts: 22,437
Jan 22nd 2015, 11:27 am
#319
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Dec 2006
Location: Now Devon
Posts: 951
Re: Australia is too bloody far away....from everything
Australia is much nearer to Asia that it is for Europeans, so isn't that a benefit?
But travelling from Oz to Europe isn't too bad. You can phone someone to-day and say "I'll see you tomorrow!" Before planes became cheap it used to take a month by ship, a good holiday though.
But travelling from Oz to Europe isn't too bad. You can phone someone to-day and say "I'll see you tomorrow!" Before planes became cheap it used to take a month by ship, a good holiday though.
Jan 22nd 2015, 11:30 am
#320
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jan 2009
Location: Brisbane
Posts: 20,821
Re: Australia is too bloody far away....from everything
Australia is much nearer to Asia that it is for Europeans, so isn't that a benefit?
But travelling from Oz to Europe isn't too bad. You can phone someone to-day and say "I'll see you tomorrow!" Before planes became cheap it used to take a month by ship, a good holiday though.
But travelling from Oz to Europe isn't too bad. You can phone someone to-day and say "I'll see you tomorrow!" Before planes became cheap it used to take a month by ship, a good holiday though.
Jan 23rd 2015, 5:23 am
#321
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Oct 2008
Location: Perth
Posts: 6,775
Re: Australia is too bloody far away....from everything
Australia is much nearer to Asia that it is for Europeans, so isn't that a benefit?
But travelling from Oz to Europe isn't too bad. You can phone someone to-day and say "I'll see you tomorrow!" Before planes became cheap it used to take a month by ship, a good holiday though.
But travelling from Oz to Europe isn't too bad. You can phone someone to-day and say "I'll see you tomorrow!" Before planes became cheap it used to take a month by ship, a good holiday though.
Of course a benefit for those that enjoy Asia like myself, but there are plenty with limited to no interest in that region and would only go somewhere culturally similar.
Jan 24th 2015, 8:18 am
#322
Forum Regular
Joined: Oct 2009
Location: Perth, Australia
Posts: 64
Re: Australia is too bloody far away....from everything
Australia is much nearer to Asia that it is for Europeans, so isn't that a benefit?
But travelling from Oz to Europe isn't too bad. You can phone someone to-day and say "I'll see you tomorrow!" Before planes became cheap it used to take a month by ship, a good holiday though.
But travelling from Oz to Europe isn't too bad. You can phone someone to-day and say "I'll see you tomorrow!" Before planes became cheap it used to take a month by ship, a good holiday though.
It's true, we are very close to Asia here, especially Bali. But I would so love to visit Europe!
Often visit Adelaide to see our daughter. We get the train to Gawler & I think of your Sister living there in her retirement village.
Jan 25th 2015, 12:21 am
#323
Just had a book published
Joined: Sep 2006
Location: Acacia Gardens, North-West Sydney.
Posts: 213
Re: Australia is too bloody far away....from everything
An interesting discussion! I feel the same way as the OP and tend to agree with most of Pollyanna's and Grayling's comments about Aus.
I've been in Western Sydney /North-Western Sydney for almost 10 years now and I'm just over the heat, the sweating, the latent anti-pommy stuff, the high prices, the insularity, the blind optimism and the rest. I would love to move back to England, but unfortunately my Aussie wife is having none of it, as she is attached by umbilical cord to her family, who are all in Western Sydney. Very frustrating.
We go back every year, and indeed have just arrived back from a 5 week trip seeing family and friends in Sheffield, London, Hastings, Cheshire and York. We have a 5 year old and a 3 year old, so I'm thinking that soon would be good, if I can get the missus over the line, which is easier said than done.
If I'm honest, I have to admit that because I get paid more here (I'm a Primary school teacher), we'll suffer a drop in income if we do move back to England, but for me it'll be worth it, as the extra cash I earn tends to be spent on flights back home and all the rest, including hotels in parts of the country that I haven't been to for a while.
Another difficulty for me is that although I have many friends in England, they have spread out all over the place, because of jobs or wives. Most of my mates grew up in Sheffield, and I still have some good friends there, but several others moved away to Hastings, Bristol, Cheshire, South Wales and Surrey, so even if we did move back, choosing a location would be tricky.
I also miss the trips around the rest of Europe, which is so easy to do. In Australia, I tend to feel isolated and cut off from many things, and the time difference kills me when it comes to trying to watch a game of football
I've been in Western Sydney /North-Western Sydney for almost 10 years now and I'm just over the heat, the sweating, the latent anti-pommy stuff, the high prices, the insularity, the blind optimism and the rest. I would love to move back to England, but unfortunately my Aussie wife is having none of it, as she is attached by umbilical cord to her family, who are all in Western Sydney. Very frustrating.
We go back every year, and indeed have just arrived back from a 5 week trip seeing family and friends in Sheffield, London, Hastings, Cheshire and York. We have a 5 year old and a 3 year old, so I'm thinking that soon would be good, if I can get the missus over the line, which is easier said than done.
If I'm honest, I have to admit that because I get paid more here (I'm a Primary school teacher), we'll suffer a drop in income if we do move back to England, but for me it'll be worth it, as the extra cash I earn tends to be spent on flights back home and all the rest, including hotels in parts of the country that I haven't been to for a while.
Another difficulty for me is that although I have many friends in England, they have spread out all over the place, because of jobs or wives. Most of my mates grew up in Sheffield, and I still have some good friends there, but several others moved away to Hastings, Bristol, Cheshire, South Wales and Surrey, so even if we did move back, choosing a location would be tricky.
I also miss the trips around the rest of Europe, which is so easy to do. In Australia, I tend to feel isolated and cut off from many things, and the time difference kills me when it comes to trying to watch a game of football
Jan 25th 2015, 1:29 am
#324
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Oct 2008
Location: Perth
Posts: 6,775
Re: Australia is too bloody far away....from everything
Small towns here charge more than was paying in southern Europe a few months back or pretty much equal or only a little more.
Too much is overpriced over the past decade. Value for money better to look elsewhere. That's where Asia on the doorstep comes in handy.
Jan 25th 2015, 12:35 pm
#325
Just Joined
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 3
Re: Australia is too bloody far away....from everything
Luckily we are in Malaysia, feels in middle of anywhere in the world.
Jan 25th 2015, 3:22 pm
#326
Proudly Deplorable
Joined: May 2003
Location: Alloha snack bar
Posts: 24,246
Re: Australia is too bloody far away....from everything
Also with age the long haul from all accounts gets increasingly tiresome. Health insurance another issue worth consideration with ageing as well with the cost.
Small towns here charge more than was paying in southern Europe a few months back or pretty much equal or only a little more.
Too much is overpriced over the past decade. Value for money better to look elsewhere. That's where Asia on the doorstep comes in handy.
Small towns here charge more than was paying in southern Europe a few months back or pretty much equal or only a little more.
Too much is overpriced over the past decade. Value for money better to look elsewhere. That's where Asia on the doorstep comes in handy.
put the needle on the record.........
Jan 25th 2015, 4:26 pm
#327
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Dec 2006
Location: Now Devon
Posts: 951
Re: Australia is too bloody far away....from everything
Are you more settled there now Aries? Adelaide has been very hot with bush fires, then they had floods! Now it is Perth's turn. Australia Day on Monday & a very hot week to follow.
It's true, we are very close to Asia here, especially Bali. But I would so love to visit Europe!
Often visit Adelaide to see our daughter. We get the train to Gawler & I think of your Sister living there in her retirement village.
It's true, we are very close to Asia here, especially Bali. But I would so love to visit Europe!
Often visit Adelaide to see our daughter. We get the train to Gawler & I think of your Sister living there in her retirement village.
Gawler is a handy location for the Barossa Valley, do you manage to get there for a spot of sampling? Seppletsfield Winery is a marvellous place to go for lunch or a picnic, and the long palm tree avenue from the main road is captivating. The Barossa Valley | The Barossa | Discover Seppeltsfield Road
Jan 25th 2015, 5:18 pm
#328
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Apr 2009
Location: Italy
Posts: 2,669
Re: Australia is too bloody far away....from everything
"It is truly annoying that I can't play table tennis or travel to visit friends in Germany."
Why not?
Why not?
Jan 25th 2015, 6:16 pm
#329
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Dec 2006
Location: Now Devon
Posts: 951
Re: Australia is too bloody far away....from everything
As my previous post mentioned, I have a painful knee. According to an orthopaedic surgeon it is caused by a degenerate medial meniscal tear, and because of my age, it will take time to repair itself. It happened about 6 weeks ago and appears to be getting worse rather than better. I can hardly walk, and hills and steps are agony for me. Playing table tennis which requires a lot of movement and knee pressure, or negotiating trains, stations and airports are therefore out of the question.
Jan 25th 2015, 11:27 pm
#330
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Oct 2008
Location: Perth
Posts: 6,775
Re: Australia is too bloody far away....from everything