sdunx

From Brisbane to Ivybridge, Devon after 17 years in Oz. Am in Brisbane on business and holiday at the moment, I am so chuffed I left three years ago as I don't feel anything much for this place. Don't get me wrong it's nice but simply not for me. The other thing is (ignoring the crap exchange rate) it has got so ridiculously expensive! I reckon prices for food/drink etc have gone up around 20-40% since we left. I actually can't wait to get home to beautiful Devon, (where I was born) which will always be my real home

Pollyana

Visiting the UK from Brisbane and I can back up the price thing - every time I come back I marvel at how little prices have risen here compared with how much they go up each year in Brisbane
Really glad its worked out well for you coming home

quoll

Good to hear that you have found your niche! Heavens above, is it 3 years already? I can remember you leaving!!! Enjoy your holiday but it sounds like you are missing some marvelous English weather - Devon must be fabulous at this time of year (have a friend from Dittisham who, in her declining years, would like to return there but ....!)

Irish Guinness

So pleased that you have found your special place,there is something about knowing you belong that nothing else can ever replace,can't explain it you just know......
Also agree on prices they have gone through the roof in Oz.food,electric,water.
I love Devon and Cornwall visited ther each year when I return for holidays.

sdunx

I lived in South Africa for 2 years in the 80's also. Having travelled a lot I'm totally content being in home in Devon, took 25 years of travelling around to achieve it though! Thanks all for your kind comments

Peakaboo

My wife and I are thinking of returning and retiring to the UK in the next year or so after living in South Africa for over 40 years with an 18-month return to the Isle of Man in the middle of it all! Our only daughter is now married, with a family, and lives in London so we have decided to return. The reason for this message in this thread is that we don't really know where to live when we return and I hear so much about Devon and Cornwall being "God's own country" but is it not a lot more expensive to live there than other areas? Don't think that we should live too close to family and hopefully, they would want to come to holiday with us! Any suggestions?

Pistolpete2

One thing that can make things expensive for you when you live in holiday areas is the number of visitors you get who for one reason or another forget to contribute. Sometimes, to be fair, it goes the other way though.

The Moving Back to the UK over 50s has a lot of chat about Devon in particular and the areas around Totnes, Torquay and Teignmouth. Not much about Cornwall as most regard that as too far from London. See also MBTTUK Location Location Location

If you live in Truro or that post code, for example, you can get delivery from Sainbury's or Tesco for instance but not Waitrose, so your prices should be typical nationwide. In Devon, there are many quality farm shops, particularly in South Devon.

Devon is THE most popular retirement destination for the English.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2009/ma...t-saga-housing