gasdoctor

Final straw for me was that after doing a 40hr week we were still struggling with finances and again thought wether to cut out the broadband or cable. dont get me wrong but we dont go ou, no holidays, no family a crashed up car worth 300 dols now we looking to cut back further, I am tradesman for christ sake and meant to be in demand here. we came for a better life and frankly its a nitemare. too tired to fight on

chels

At the moment, I'm not at the final straw stage. I started taking St Johns Wort the other week and that's masking a lot of the feelings, and hopefully giving me some motivation to try and do the things that other people tell me I should do: make new friends, try new hobbies, get out and enjoy the big open spaces more, integrate myself into the Australian culture, stop calling England home, start thinking Australia's the best thing since sliced bread.

Can't help thinking that I'll still think Australia isn't for me, but at least I don't cry all the time about it.

OH is talking about the possibility of us moving to Hong Kong (with his job) so there is light at the end of this long, miserable tunnel.

ANA123

The pull of home is mainly people for me. Though I have never really settled here i've got out there and made friends seen a bit of the place, changed jobs to try and find reasonable hours and conditions (unsuccessfully), none of it has made any difference to the way i feel and that empty unconnected feeling. Intellectualy there have been times when i think things are better here for my daughter but emotionally i dont believe anything here can compensate for the sense of belonging she can only get from family and lifelong friends.

gasdoctor

My 9yr old son wont show himself on my webcam when his nan or cousins are online, I thought it was because he felt silly being on a cam, turns out he cant face seeing them as his stiff upper lip could quivver and he would get upset in front of me and them. Also his cousins were taken for a long weekend in eurodisney, simple things like that he missing out on with family. Only live once and gotta be happy and for us thats the uk. glad we can say we lived in Oz glad we have the choice and sense to go home

Hayley

Had a bit of a final straw moment this weekend when my US taxi driver asked if it had taken me long to learn the language. :scared:

by the sea side

OMG that's scary.

Hayley

I know- had to say not long at all.
to which his reply was- what language do you speak in england?
I wasn't v. nice I'm afraid- sarcastically said, "what language do you think we speak in ENGland? ENGlish!!"
He looked miffed.

by the sea side

So this guy wasn't the sharpest knife in the draw.I hope everyone isn't like that!

Hayley

of course not but with all due respect I can see the most chavy, uneducated Brit would maybe ask an American a stupid question like," did you ever see anyone get shot?" but I can't see them being as clueless as to ask an American what language they spoke!

Mercedes

Have you been to Hong Kong? Its a dump.

TheVickers

god, thats heartbreaking! If we go home I'm glad I will be able to stand up and say we tried that in years to come we won't have any "what ifs"

We came to Canada for a better upbringing for our child but what kind of upbringing will it be without having grandparents to spoil you and cousins to play with.....its been really hard for me taking her away from her nan's and grandad...only time will tell I guess.

Jo x

chels

Yes, have been to Hong Kong. But thanks anyway for the positive comment.

by the sea side

[QUOTE=Hayley]of course not but with all due respect I can see the most chavy, uneducated Brit would maybe ask an American a stupid question like," did you ever see anyone get shot?" but I can't see them being as clueless as to ask an American what language they spoke![/QUOTe Yes I don't think a chav would have been that clueless.Chavs are really one of a kind.They were one of the things I didn't like about Britain.

Dreamaway 10

Hi Rooksie I have just been browsing through the posts and I think I may have missed something ! Duh! on my part.
Very interesting to see you are back home.
As I can recall you left almost the same time as me.You left before me I think. I was the one who was stressing over the house sale on hindsite it was an omen not to go.Should have followed my intuition but you know what its like.Got to try it as you will always be thinking what if.,etc.
Now don't get me wrong I also noticed that you were in Caloundra we went there a few weeks ago and I have to say I was not impressed at all.
I think you just know that its not right some know straight away others take considerably longer.
Where I am is beautiful it really is but I have made my mind up and we too are coming home.
I wish I had never sold my home but I did.
At the end of the day it has been a real eye opener and I have learnt an awful lot about myself.
Just hope I do not regret it when we move back I think that could be awful.
Anyway glad to hear that you are settled now and have a little one.
I have realised that the village I used to live in has everything I want for my children and know that we can make a go of it.Makes you realise that the UK is not all bad and that's probably why there are so many people living there.

Mercedes

Well I thought if you were depressed in Sydney, you might even be moreso in Hong Kong and more isolated. I was surprised how many people didn't speak English, thinking there may have been more since it had been under the British for a while. I can still remember trying to do charades for buying a packet of laxatives. I preferred Singapore, or maybe Dubai?