ble

Well I was hoping to be going back in time for teh school year this year ...
But of course it is all hindered on a job for OH.

Can't complain as I am at home with 3, soon to be 4 children. (well I do complain but doesn't get anywhere - so I joined this website).

OH was highly thought of in his field in Scotland and his old company will take him back as soon as they have the work in the company (well can hardly ask them to kick someone off the team).
So hoping that it will be the early part of next year.


My fingers and toes are crossed for that.

OH doesn't mind where we live, (and his theory is that we are here now so why move again) but I want to go back as I feel that life is dead here in NZ. I changed too much in my time away to settle back here. I got used to history and culture and humour all around, and it just isn't here.


So we too, are just going with the flow and I am hoping and praying that something comes up soon. I am clearing out cupboards and kids drawers of out grown stuff. Researching what to ship and what to sell etc while I wait for d-day.

Of course I threaten to book the kids and my tickets one way regularily and the other day my OH told me that that was fine - just to give him the news whilst stripping off - If it gets us home and him a happy man - Not a problem.

Lorry1

I've read a couple of posts where people have commented about being 'socially shunned' after making the descision to return to the UK. Why do you think this is?
I hope it doesn't happen to me, as I have made a few good friends here and would like to remain so.

I guess they feel a bit betrayed as they have opened up to you and welcomed you to their 'home'.

We have had fantastic opportunities here and hubby is about to start a great job working for a huge company. After 3 years we are finally financially secure, and earning the comparison to what we did in England.
I too have a great job working in a Travel Agency with the hours I want.

But...it doesn't make me happy enough to stay.

lilybilly101

I hope it won't happen to you! I feel like there's an elephant in the room all the time and that we are the subject of much discussion. We are constantly being 'advised' what to do even down to out 2 month road trip. I think they may have good intentions but I'm honestly not sure some days!

I have a new baby (so not a great deal of sleep) and had vertigo/ear infection so was pretty ill for a while, so maybe I'm just paranoid. Friends would go off to places I couldn't venture on a good day never mind with a spinning head. It was really grim and again I felt very isolated. My girlfriends in the UK called daily as they were so worried. They're so sweet and confirm my reasons for going home. I have the most loving, funny, loyal and dynamic friends and I can't wait to share good and bad times with them again.

I do have a couple of friends here who have shown 100% love and support. We'll miss them terribly but they've promised to come over. They both love the UK so we'll see them again. I think those that are critical of our move are doubting their own existance here.

Your true friends will support you regardless of whether you stay or go. And goodness....the job thing will be tricky to leave eh? Life is so COMPLICATED!

hayleyatfla

I have wonderful friends in the U>S but my best mate in the entire world is in the UK and when i speak to her or visit it is like not a day past, I may move back by early net year, it will be nice to have kids and grow old having a cuppa once or twice a week with my child hood BFF, they get the laughs and all the silly crap we did so much more than anyone here would,i miss the realness... good luck girl!

hayleyatfla

I completely understand I have mates here, but nnot like home... just to have a laugh and a cuppa and feel at home again would be lovely, i have been in florida since i was 12 and now i am 32 and still never really felt at home. i know gettting a job and getting set up will be tricky but right now i am inbetween jobs have lost everything and living out my friends spare room ,so england is sounding lovely right now.. good luck!

Bailey1

My boyfriend and I are planning on going home to Dublin within the next two years. We have been in Australia since July 2008 (oh, how those 2 years have flown by) and, while I enjoy living here sometimes, most of the time I wish to be back in rainy Ireland with my family and friends around me.

We will likely be moving to Melbourne in February/March 2011 and will live there until July 2012 at which stage we will apply for our Australian citizenship. After this we will hopefully move back to Ireland where there will be numerous well paid jobs.

I cannot wait to get back to Ireland however circumstances at the moment mean that we need to stay here.

I am enjoying plannning our return home and will be following this thread to hear of other people's plans about returning home!!!

bettyboo67

Wow, there seem to be so many of us and quite a few in Canada too.
We are hoping to head back in the next year or so, I would love to think it will be next year , hubby is thinking 2 years but that is because he is more worried about the economy than I am.
We have just sold our house (which is a huge relief) and are moving into rented accomodation . We are going to try and make the most of the time we have left and renting will hopefully give us a bit more cash to do that.
I think our time here has taught me a lot, I find the people here a bit too conformist and suburban life is just too dull. Looking forward to getting back to somewhere with a bit of life- warts and all.

Desire

After 5 years of being unhappy here and accepting that my feelings aren't going to change. I'm having to look long term before i can return.
Eldest daughter is 15, so would be unfair to disrupt her education now. Plus she is happy here If i focus on when she finishes school youngest will then be 15! same problem.
To keep me going, i tell myself that i will head home when the youngest reaches 18. It might be that i have to return alone If thats the case i might not be brave enough but the wishful thinking helps me get through my day.

ann m

Just checking you or he has researched this element too. I think joining any UK force now, you have to have been a resident in the country for the three years preceding your application (bit like the university fees ).

I'm pretty sure this is the case so just a heads up (but don't take me as gospel). No harm in a few years of life experience before joining anyway

charleygirl

I live in the USA been here 13 year twins 18 next month and a 19 year old, I too will probably be going home alone... i have been here and unhappy for all the 13 years........wanting to go back but put the family first and now.......58 years old and may have to go it alone. My plans are in the works, I have made enquiries about my pension, found out I still have a bank account open.... going back for 8 weeks in Sept. ( my family dont know yet) My mum is 88 and I want to spend time with her, I have missed so much and I know my family have missed us all so much too..all those Christmases spent with out us and us with out them.......
Applied for my Citizenship this past week,my family are all US citizens.

Jon77

I guess I dont really belong here as I am British and moving back to Australia. We lived in Australia from 2002 until 2005 and to be honest looking back I didnt make the most of the opportunities that came my way before we decided to move back to the UK.

After the first year back in the UK it slowly became apparent that we had made a bad decision. Australia has it's fair share of social issues but the chav culture that seems to have taken hold here now is pretty bad.

My son was born a few years ago and that really changed our view points, we took him over to Australia at 6 months old to meet some family and we loved it. I know it was just a holiday, but being a bit more mature (was early 20's when I was there originally and straight out of Uni) I was just able to apprechiate what was on offer more.

We have just been through the coldest winter since 1979 in the UK. From around the 19th December until the 14th January we had snow on the ground and every day the temp was close to freezing, dropping to -12c some nights. The car got stuck, we couldnt get public transport to work as they were either on strike or wouldnt run in the conditions, it really ground us down and motivated out move back to Australia even more.

I wish we remained in Australia back in 2005 and never thought about coming back to the UK, it would have savend much time and finances, I feel sick when I think about the money we have wasted.

But we have a family now and we are in our early 30's and now is the time to settle for good.

All we have to do if we get home sick for the UK again is think of winter 2009/10 and what a shocker it was.

Jon77

The economy is on a knife edge here at the moment and I can understand his concerns. I work in the public sector here and I feel the axe every day ready to fall on me. Unemployment will hit the 3 million mark by early next year I would think as the public sector cut backs take hold in the Autumn. The private sector will not generate enough jobs to take the potential flood of public sector redundancies, it is hard here at the moment, lots of uncertainties.

Personally I can't wait to jump ship and get out of the UK again asap. Not saying that Australia will be any better, but at least they regulated their banks better and have vast natural resources which helped shelter them from the worst.

Lorry1

only -12? you're lucky

Mind you, this winter was relatively mild compared to the last 2 we were here. The lowest this year was -19 compared to -30/35 last year

That's one thing I really appreciate here in Canada - it snows and the ploughs come out. There are no delays, life just carries on as normal.

Jon77

When we left Australia we were not shunned so much at that end, but in the UK I would say it has been difficult.

When I talk to a person about my past or in an interview for a job the response is always the same 'Why on earth would you come back'. At work I am always that crazy person who went to Australia and was insane enough to return. It does grind you down after a while.

Unfortunatley in my line of work I have come in contact with people who have tried and failed to get to Australia

Lorry1

That's harsh!
The thing people don't understand is how tough it is to be away from friends and family. I definately appreciate the UK more now that I have been away for 3 years.
It all seems so lovely and easy to emigrate but in reality when you have left, it's really tough!

You just have to learn to brush it off and remember why you left OZ. People think you're mad returning, but they haven't left their lives, friends and families and can't appreciate how tough that is!