Been Back 7 Months . Update
Feb 19th 2011, 12:47 pm
#1
Just Joined
Thread Starter
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 16
Been Back 7 Months . Update
As this forum helped us keep sane while in oz , thought i would post our update on life back in England to help others who are going through the, should i come back decisions.
We arrived back in June 10 to enjoy a very nice summer , no air con required and have enjoyed the snow and frosty sunny mornings of winter too (though not today grey wet and cold) still this is the first time we have had rain all day since returning.
Life feels like we never left family friends socializing no different ,and Man Utd top of the league . Did get a bit fed up being asked why on earth we came back , but got to the point by saying been there done it got the tshirt , why dont you give it a go , works for some and not others . This normally gets a mumbled response of excuses as why they cant. We do have a great tendency to moan in the uk when life really aint that bad , the media has a lot do with this .
Certainly went through different phases of mind set , first month great , why didnt we do this earlier? then buying a house and looking for work very stressfull , followed by what have we done from september too early november , thankfully from then on started to realise we are actually rather happy with everything , family close , own my house , am working, not in my trade(start in march) but still getting by , friends , the pub, xmas day and good old british humour (my god i missed that). Things are rather tough for some over here , but a lot of people have chose to live beyond there means.
The new government are making hard choices but hopefully will come good soon (ex labour voter , never again).
Besides petrol we find almost everything else a hell of a lot cheaper here and more choice.
We do make the effort of making the most of the sunshine ,if we no its going to be sunny in the morning at weekends we are up early and out walking the dog . I used to dread the summer in Perth and hated being outdoors during the day at weekends being fried and attatcked by flies . If i want hot weather i now go on holiday and relax and enjoy it instead of working in it .I notice the seasons more here and look forward to the changing natural scenery around us .
So for us we have no regrets we had 5 and half years away and enjoyed it , but Englands home and home they say is were the heart is.
We arrived back in June 10 to enjoy a very nice summer , no air con required and have enjoyed the snow and frosty sunny mornings of winter too (though not today grey wet and cold) still this is the first time we have had rain all day since returning.
Life feels like we never left family friends socializing no different ,and Man Utd top of the league . Did get a bit fed up being asked why on earth we came back , but got to the point by saying been there done it got the tshirt , why dont you give it a go , works for some and not others . This normally gets a mumbled response of excuses as why they cant. We do have a great tendency to moan in the uk when life really aint that bad , the media has a lot do with this .
Certainly went through different phases of mind set , first month great , why didnt we do this earlier? then buying a house and looking for work very stressfull , followed by what have we done from september too early november , thankfully from then on started to realise we are actually rather happy with everything , family close , own my house , am working, not in my trade(start in march) but still getting by , friends , the pub, xmas day and good old british humour (my god i missed that). Things are rather tough for some over here , but a lot of people have chose to live beyond there means.
The new government are making hard choices but hopefully will come good soon (ex labour voter , never again).
Besides petrol we find almost everything else a hell of a lot cheaper here and more choice.
We do make the effort of making the most of the sunshine ,if we no its going to be sunny in the morning at weekends we are up early and out walking the dog . I used to dread the summer in Perth and hated being outdoors during the day at weekends being fried and attatcked by flies . If i want hot weather i now go on holiday and relax and enjoy it instead of working in it .I notice the seasons more here and look forward to the changing natural scenery around us .
So for us we have no regrets we had 5 and half years away and enjoyed it , but Englands home and home they say is were the heart is.
Feb 19th 2011, 1:56 pm
#2
Forum Regular
Joined: Aug 2008
Location: UK!
Posts: 186
Re: Been Back 7 Months . Update
As this forum helped us keep sane while in oz , thought i would post our update on life back in England to help others who are going through the, should i come back decisions.
We arrived back in June 10 to enjoy a very nice summer , no air con required and have enjoyed the snow and frosty sunny mornings of winter too (though not today grey wet and cold) still this is the first time we have had rain all day since returning.
Life feels like we never left family friends socializing no different ,and Man Utd top of the league . Did get a bit fed up being asked why on earth we came back , but got to the point by saying been there done it got the tshirt , why dont you give it a go , works for some and not others . This normally gets a mumbled response of excuses as why they cant. We do have a great tendency to moan in the uk when life really aint that bad , the media has a lot do with this .
Certainly went through different phases of mind set , first month great , why didnt we do this earlier? then buying a house and looking for work very stressfull , followed by what have we done from september too early november , thankfully from then on started to realise we are actually rather happy with everything , family close , own my house , am working, not in my trade(start in march) but still getting by , friends , the pub, xmas day and good old british humour (my god i missed that). Things are rather tough for some over here , but a lot of people have chose to live beyond there means.
The new government are making hard choices but hopefully will come good soon (ex labour voter , never again).
Besides petrol we find almost everything else a hell of a lot cheaper here and more choice.
We do make the effort of making the most of the sunshine ,if we no its going to be sunny in the morning at weekends we are up early and out walking the dog . I used to dread the summer in Perth and hated being outdoors during the day at weekends being fried and attatcked by flies . If i want hot weather i now go on holiday and relax and enjoy it instead of working in it .I notice the seasons more here and look forward to the changing natural scenery around us .
So for us we have no regrets we had 5 and half years away and enjoyed it , but Englands home and home they say is were the heart is.
We arrived back in June 10 to enjoy a very nice summer , no air con required and have enjoyed the snow and frosty sunny mornings of winter too (though not today grey wet and cold) still this is the first time we have had rain all day since returning.
Life feels like we never left family friends socializing no different ,and Man Utd top of the league . Did get a bit fed up being asked why on earth we came back , but got to the point by saying been there done it got the tshirt , why dont you give it a go , works for some and not others . This normally gets a mumbled response of excuses as why they cant. We do have a great tendency to moan in the uk when life really aint that bad , the media has a lot do with this .
Certainly went through different phases of mind set , first month great , why didnt we do this earlier? then buying a house and looking for work very stressfull , followed by what have we done from september too early november , thankfully from then on started to realise we are actually rather happy with everything , family close , own my house , am working, not in my trade(start in march) but still getting by , friends , the pub, xmas day and good old british humour (my god i missed that). Things are rather tough for some over here , but a lot of people have chose to live beyond there means.
The new government are making hard choices but hopefully will come good soon (ex labour voter , never again).
Besides petrol we find almost everything else a hell of a lot cheaper here and more choice.
We do make the effort of making the most of the sunshine ,if we no its going to be sunny in the morning at weekends we are up early and out walking the dog . I used to dread the summer in Perth and hated being outdoors during the day at weekends being fried and attatcked by flies . If i want hot weather i now go on holiday and relax and enjoy it instead of working in it .I notice the seasons more here and look forward to the changing natural scenery around us .
So for us we have no regrets we had 5 and half years away and enjoyed it , but Englands home and home they say is were the heart is.
We are going back after 20 months, to the same place we lived in. We had no problems with the UK just wanted a new experience while we could (daughter was 2 at the time we left and now nearly 4 and time to start school).
We already have a few saying why are you coming back, stay there but these are people who have never left their current home more less moved city. We are originally Londoners that moved out to N Devon 5+ years ago.
We are definitely forward to leaving on the 21st March!
It is good that someone has put a positive posting since arriving home!
Good luck with job in March.
Feb 19th 2011, 2:03 pm
#3
Joined: May 2009
Location: Welly UK to Welly NZ to Welly UK
Posts: 2,227
Re: Been Back 7 Months . Update
As this forum helped us keep sane while in oz , thought i would post our update on life back in England to help others who are going through the, should i come back decisions.
We arrived back in June 10 to enjoy a very nice summer , no air con required and have enjoyed the snow and frosty sunny mornings of winter too (though not today grey wet and cold) still this is the first time we have had rain all day since returning.
Life feels like we never left family friends socializing no different ,and Man Utd top of the league . Did get a bit fed up being asked why on earth we came back , but got to the point by saying been there done it got the tshirt , why dont you give it a go , works for some and not others . This normally gets a mumbled response of excuses as why they cant. We do have a great tendency to moan in the uk when life really aint that bad , the media has a lot do with this .
Certainly went through different phases of mind set , first month great , why didnt we do this earlier? then buying a house and looking for work very stressfull , followed by what have we done from september too early november , thankfully from then on started to realise we are actually rather happy with everything , family close , own my house , am working, not in my trade(start in march) but still getting by , friends , the pub, xmas day and good old british humour (my god i missed that). Things are rather tough for some over here , but a lot of people have chose to live beyond there means.
The new government are making hard choices but hopefully will come good soon (ex labour voter , never again).
Besides petrol we find almost everything else a hell of a lot cheaper here and more choice.
We do make the effort of making the most of the sunshine ,if we no its going to be sunny in the morning at weekends we are up early and out walking the dog . I used to dread the summer in Perth and hated being outdoors during the day at weekends being fried and attatcked by flies . If i want hot weather i now go on holiday and relax and enjoy it instead of working in it .I notice the seasons more here and look forward to the changing natural scenery around us .
So for us we have no regrets we had 5 and half years away and enjoyed it , but Englands home and home they say is were the heart is.
We arrived back in June 10 to enjoy a very nice summer , no air con required and have enjoyed the snow and frosty sunny mornings of winter too (though not today grey wet and cold) still this is the first time we have had rain all day since returning.
Life feels like we never left family friends socializing no different ,and Man Utd top of the league . Did get a bit fed up being asked why on earth we came back , but got to the point by saying been there done it got the tshirt , why dont you give it a go , works for some and not others . This normally gets a mumbled response of excuses as why they cant. We do have a great tendency to moan in the uk when life really aint that bad , the media has a lot do with this .
Certainly went through different phases of mind set , first month great , why didnt we do this earlier? then buying a house and looking for work very stressfull , followed by what have we done from september too early november , thankfully from then on started to realise we are actually rather happy with everything , family close , own my house , am working, not in my trade(start in march) but still getting by , friends , the pub, xmas day and good old british humour (my god i missed that). Things are rather tough for some over here , but a lot of people have chose to live beyond there means.
The new government are making hard choices but hopefully will come good soon (ex labour voter , never again).
Besides petrol we find almost everything else a hell of a lot cheaper here and more choice.
We do make the effort of making the most of the sunshine ,if we no its going to be sunny in the morning at weekends we are up early and out walking the dog . I used to dread the summer in Perth and hated being outdoors during the day at weekends being fried and attatcked by flies . If i want hot weather i now go on holiday and relax and enjoy it instead of working in it .I notice the seasons more here and look forward to the changing natural scenery around us .
So for us we have no regrets we had 5 and half years away and enjoyed it , but Englands home and home they say is were the heart is.
Good to hear you don't have any regrets, home is where the heart is for sure.....I didn't feel like a 'whole person' while we were away and it wasn't for as long as your OE! Good luck & continued happiness 
B
Feb 19th 2011, 3:05 pm
#4
The Kwisatz Haderach
Joined: Aug 2008
Location: North Wales
Posts: 8,080
Re: Been Back 7 Months . Update
It sounds great Shane. Make sure to keep coming back and updating.
Feb 19th 2011, 8:25 pm
#5
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Sep 2007
Location: Canberra
Posts: 8,378
Re: Been Back 7 Months . Update
Good to hear things have worked out for you guys! Isnt it nice to get your life back instead of something that passes for a life? I hope it continues to be great for you!
Feb 19th 2011, 9:44 pm
#6
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 88
Re: Been Back 7 Months . Update
Thank you! I enjoyed hearing about your experience going back. Still thinking about it myself, but right now more thinking than doing. I look at all the good things in San Francisco, and then I vacillate, but when you mentioned the English humour.... 
On people's comments to you about the move: If I return I'm not going to tell certain people, including my mother! I'll just call her and say "oh btw I live in England now". (She lives in Ireland). I feel like they will only ask too many questions or put the media's spin on things. But that's the same the world over. For instance my mum says "everyone's leaving Ireland, the country's falling apart". Yet if you look up the numbers, migration is actually down. And she has a great standard of living.
Anyway, congrats on your return!
On people's comments to you about the move: If I return I'm not going to tell certain people, including my mother! I'll just call her and say "oh btw I live in England now". (She lives in Ireland). I feel like they will only ask too many questions or put the media's spin on things. But that's the same the world over. For instance my mum says "everyone's leaving Ireland, the country's falling apart". Yet if you look up the numbers, migration is actually down. And she has a great standard of living.
Anyway, congrats on your return!
Feb 19th 2011, 9:44 pm
#7
Home Sweet Home
Joined: Jan 2010
Location: Surrey, England
Posts: 5,128
Re: Been Back 7 Months . Update
Thanks for the update Shane, it's so nice to know that this half life does go back to A FULL LIFE!!
When I did my year in the UK I went out almost every weekend to different places, and loved it. Here in Australia I am just finding the humidity too much to deal with and I don't want to do anything much.
Anyway off to finish my packing/cleaning, only 6 sleeps for me.
Feb 19th 2011, 9:46 pm
#8
Home Sweet Home
Joined: Jan 2010
Location: Surrey, England
Posts: 5,128
Re: Been Back 7 Months . Update
Thank you! I enjoyed hearing about your experience going back. Still thinking about it myself, but right now more thinking than doing. I look at all the good things in San Francisco, and then I vacillate, but when you mentioned the English humour....
On people's comments to you about the move: If I return I'm not going to tell certain people, including my mother! I'll just call her and say "oh btw I live in England now". (She lives in Ireland). I feel like they will only ask too many questions or put the media's spin on things. But that's the same the world over. For instance my mum says "everyone's leaving Ireland, the country's falling apart". Yet if you look up the numbers, migration is actually down. And she has a great standard of living.
Anyway, congrats on your return!
On people's comments to you about the move: If I return I'm not going to tell certain people, including my mother! I'll just call her and say "oh btw I live in England now". (She lives in Ireland). I feel like they will only ask too many questions or put the media's spin on things. But that's the same the world over. For instance my mum says "everyone's leaving Ireland, the country's falling apart". Yet if you look up the numbers, migration is actually down. And she has a great standard of living.
Anyway, congrats on your return!
Feb 20th 2011, 10:31 pm
#9
Forum Regular
Joined: Sep 2010
Location: N Yorkshire was Alberta
Posts: 96
Re: Been Back 7 Months . Update
You see lots of that on this part of the forum too, there are NO JOBS in the UK so I am moving to Australia or Canada or wherever, like they think the streets are paved with jobs and gold LOL!! Or they are leaving for the "better weather" - the novelty of that soon wears off for SOME.
Feb 20th 2011, 10:52 pm
#10
Finally Home!
Joined: Mar 2010
Location: Used to be New York, now North Yorkshire
Posts: 3,610
Re: Been Back 7 Months . Update
Its so funny to read all the negative stuff from Brits and then actually go to England yourself. It's nothing like they say. I'm starting to wonder if the Daily Mail gives away special glasses that distort reality.
Feb 20th 2011, 10:56 pm
#11
Forum Regular
Joined: Sep 2010
Location: N Yorkshire was Alberta
Posts: 96
Re: Been Back 7 Months . Update
Well said Quoll.
Thanks for the update Shane, it's so nice to know that this half life does go back to A FULL LIFE!!
When I did my year in the UK I went out almost every weekend to different places, and loved it. Here in Australia I am just finding the humidity too much to deal with and I don't want to do anything much.
Anyway off to finish my packing/cleaning, only 6 sleeps for me.
Thanks for the update Shane, it's so nice to know that this half life does go back to A FULL LIFE!!
When I did my year in the UK I went out almost every weekend to different places, and loved it. Here in Australia I am just finding the humidity too much to deal with and I don't want to do anything much.
Anyway off to finish my packing/cleaning, only 6 sleeps for me.
Feb 21st 2011, 1:07 am
#12
Forum Regular
Joined: Aug 2007
Location: UK again
Posts: 219
Re: Been Back 7 Months . Update
Thanks for the update, always good to get a "real" persons view of things instead of the media.
Feb 21st 2011, 6:27 pm
#13
BE Forum Addict
Joined: May 2007
Location: England
Posts: 4,212
Re: Been Back 7 Months . Update
As this forum helped us keep sane while in oz , thought i would post our update on life back in England to help others who are going through the, should i come back decisions.
We arrived back in June 10 to enjoy a very nice summer , no air con required and have enjoyed the snow and frosty sunny mornings of winter too (though not today grey wet and cold) still this is the first time we have had rain all day since returning.
Life feels like we never left family friends socializing no different ,and Man Utd top of the league . Did get a bit fed up being asked why on earth we came back , but got to the point by saying been there done it got the tshirt , why dont you give it a go , works for some and not others . This normally gets a mumbled response of excuses as why they cant. We do have a great tendency to moan in the uk when life really aint that bad , the media has a lot do with this .
Certainly went through different phases of mind set , first month great , why didnt we do this earlier? then buying a house and looking for work very stressfull , followed by what have we done from september too early november , thankfully from then on started to realise we are actually rather happy with everything , family close , own my house , am working, not in my trade(start in march) but still getting by , friends , the pub, xmas day and good old british humour (my god i missed that). Things are rather tough for some over here , but a lot of people have chose to live beyond there means.
The new government are making hard choices but hopefully will come good soon (ex labour voter , never again).
Besides petrol we find almost everything else a hell of a lot cheaper here and more choice.
We do make the effort of making the most of the sunshine ,if we no its going to be sunny in the morning at weekends we are up early and out walking the dog . I used to dread the summer in Perth and hated being outdoors during the day at weekends being fried and attatcked by flies . If i want hot weather i now go on holiday and relax and enjoy it instead of working in it .I notice the seasons more here and look forward to the changing natural scenery around us .
So for us we have no regrets we had 5 and half years away and enjoyed it , but Englands home and home they say is were the heart is.
We arrived back in June 10 to enjoy a very nice summer , no air con required and have enjoyed the snow and frosty sunny mornings of winter too (though not today grey wet and cold) still this is the first time we have had rain all day since returning.
Life feels like we never left family friends socializing no different ,and Man Utd top of the league . Did get a bit fed up being asked why on earth we came back , but got to the point by saying been there done it got the tshirt , why dont you give it a go , works for some and not others . This normally gets a mumbled response of excuses as why they cant. We do have a great tendency to moan in the uk when life really aint that bad , the media has a lot do with this .
Certainly went through different phases of mind set , first month great , why didnt we do this earlier? then buying a house and looking for work very stressfull , followed by what have we done from september too early november , thankfully from then on started to realise we are actually rather happy with everything , family close , own my house , am working, not in my trade(start in march) but still getting by , friends , the pub, xmas day and good old british humour (my god i missed that). Things are rather tough for some over here , but a lot of people have chose to live beyond there means.
The new government are making hard choices but hopefully will come good soon (ex labour voter , never again).
Besides petrol we find almost everything else a hell of a lot cheaper here and more choice.
We do make the effort of making the most of the sunshine ,if we no its going to be sunny in the morning at weekends we are up early and out walking the dog . I used to dread the summer in Perth and hated being outdoors during the day at weekends being fried and attatcked by flies . If i want hot weather i now go on holiday and relax and enjoy it instead of working in it .I notice the seasons more here and look forward to the changing natural scenery around us .
So for us we have no regrets we had 5 and half years away and enjoyed it , but Englands home and home they say is were the heart is.
All the best
Feb 21st 2011, 6:31 pm
#14
Home Sweet Home
Joined: Jan 2010
Location: Surrey, England
Posts: 5,128
Re: Been Back 7 Months . Update
Feb 23rd 2011, 1:30 am
#15
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Dec 2009
Location: Leicester UK
Posts: 793
Re: Been Back 7 Months . Update
Great update Shane!! Glad you are happy with your decision!