Originally Posted by kevntrace

Hi Stu,

Sounds like you are enjoying it over there. I am from Plymouth too - always nice to find another Plymothian. I grew up in Brixton and went to secondary school in Ivybridge, so I know it well - although it has changed since my days there.

I still love Plymouth and Devon and go back every year to visit. I will be heading there for the last two weeks in August. My wife and daughter flew back there about a week ago (lucky blighters), and we will all be coming back to San Fran at the end of August. Because we don't have family in the US, and our daughter is only 3 years old (no school yet), we want her to spend some quality time with grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins etc. Plus my wife is a full-time mum so no employer issues involved for her with an extended stay in the UK.

I would like to move back to Plymouth one day, but no concrete plans as yet. Plus my wife loves it over here and I think she would rather stay long term. We will see what happens.

We spent a short 6 weeks in Adelaide back in 2001 when I worked on a project out there. Adelaide was pretty put I don't know if I could live there long term. I was living in a corporate apartment so got to experience most of life's daily activities (grocery shopping, laundry, hospitals etc) in an Australian setting, which you typically don't when you are on holiday. So I like to think I got a little bit of a taste of daily Australian living.

I hope you enjoy your stroll on Dartmoor and your trip to the pub. I am hoping to do the same come August!

I was just web-camming with the wife and she tells me there is some scandal with the Argyle goalie having killed two young boys in a car crash - his alcohol level was over the limit, plus he had no auto insurance I gather? Absolutely tragic for the families involved. My thoughts go out to them.

Originally Posted by Mikeyc

15 years? How the hell did you manage that?

Congratulations and glad it’s working out for you back home in the UK. I’m out of here in 12 months, sounds so far away, but I’m sure it will fly in, I’m counting the day’s, hours and minutes!

Mikey

Originally Posted by sdunx

Will update you all again soon, for the moment I'm going walking on Dartmoor and then finding a pub for lunch.

Originally Posted by sdunx

Dunno, should've applied for parole years ago. 15 years included 2 commuting to Sydney with my job (had a flat in Parramatta - would rather live in Beirut than there), good thing is I certainly appreciate 'home' now!

Originally Posted by Triboy

Whereabouts in Somerset? I'm from Wells

Originally Posted by TraceyW

I take it he got the job???

Originally Posted by mumof5

Hi Tracey think you got me mixed up with the lady going back to Yeovil. However I hope your congratulations are a premonition as My OH will need a job!!!

Originally Posted by TraceyW

Bugger!!! Sorry. But good luck with the teacher training. Just finishing mine after 4 years. Long hard slog, but worth it

Originally Posted by sdunx

Well after 15 years in Australia (1 in Adelaide, 14 in Brisbane) I finally made it and escaped the boring penal colony that is Australia.

I'm luckier than most in that I am setting up an office for my Australian employer so they are paying me and also contributing a large chunk of the rental for my home/office.

I'm originally from Plymouth so have based myself in Ivybridge which is about 10 miles north up the A38 towards Exeter. I have rented a four bedroom detached house in the Woodlands area, I absolutely love it here. It is a 15 minute walk to the centre of Ivybridge which has 6 pubs and enough shops to satisy most needs.

I can honestly say I am happier than I've been for years, the main reasons are as follows:

I feel at home and have a sense of identity, I am not nor never will be an Aussie, they're very different from us.
The Devon countryside and beaches are wonderful and I love being out and about (weather has been kind which I know makes a difference).
I keep bumping into family which is great, went with my younger brother and his son, my wife and son and my daughters Aussie boyfriend strawberry picking yesterday just outside Plymouth, and the only other people in the field were my mum and my eldest brother and his wife.
Everything is so close and there's loads to do, pubs are fantastic, shops are loads better and booze is cheaper (I'm pretty easy to please!).
People are much more laid back in country Devon, it's an absolute myth that Aussies are laid back, they're manic, greedy and totally self centred - Aussies friendships are often vehicles to see what they can get out of it.
My 8 year old son's school is fantastic, he was in Kimberley Park, Shailer Park in Brisbane 1,200 kids, huge classes and principal etc totally unapproachable. He now goes to a lovely quaint primary school in Ivybridge with 170 kids and 18 in his class, they treat kids like kids and the headmaster is a really nice bloke who takes the time out to greet the parents every morning. My lad now plays football every day and has more friends than he ever had in Australia, he loves going to school which really helps.
Society is nowhere near as pedantic in its application of petty rules, you can walk along the road with a beer, take kids in the pub, drive faster without being harrassed too much and there is definitely more freedom (however the net is closing in). I just hope the law makers/enforcers stop short of turning UK into a sterile, bland and controlling society as Australia.

Of course there are annoying things, if you believe the press every teenager is running around stabbing people, the place is packed full and every second person is an illegal (or legal) immigrant and the place is going to the dogs. The press also makes Australia out to be utopia where everyone is friendly, nobody works hard and life is easy - what a load of bollox! Also wish I could have a quid for every person who asks me 'why have you come back to this shithole' - it's certainly not that! people just don't appreciate what they've got, I've lived all over UK, in US, South Africa and Australia and can honestly say that South Devon is the best place in the world to live from my point of view.

i know its only six weeks and my experience is specific to me so may not be relelvant to others. IMO the UK has improved dramatically since I left and Australia has declined through arrogant complacency. For me and my family this is the best move we've ever made, my opinion may change over time but I'm living for the moment and am currently in bliss!

Will update you all again soon, for the moment I'm going walking on Dartmoor and then finding a pub for lunch.

Originally Posted by sdunx

Well after 15 years in Australia (1 in Adelaide, 14 in Brisbane) I finally made it and escaped the boring penal colony that is Australia.

I'm luckier than most in that I am setting up an office for my Australian employer so they are paying me and also contributing a large chunk of the rental for my home/office.

I'm originally from Plymouth so have based myself in Ivybridge which is about 10 miles north up the A38 towards Exeter. I have rented a four bedroom detached house in the Woodlands area, I absolutely love it here. It is a 15 minute walk to the centre of Ivybridge which has 6 pubs and enough shops to satisy most needs.

I can honestly say I am happier than I've been for years, the main reasons are as follows:

I feel at home and have a sense of identity, I am not nor never will be an Aussie, they're very different from us.
The Devon countryside and beaches are wonderful and I love being out and about (weather has been kind which I know makes a difference).
I keep bumping into family which is great, went with my younger brother and his son, my wife and son and my daughters Aussie boyfriend strawberry picking yesterday just outside Plymouth, and the only other people in the field were my mum and my eldest brother and his wife.
Everything is so close and there's loads to do, pubs are fantastic, shops are loads better and booze is cheaper (I'm pretty easy to please!).
People are much more laid back in country Devon, it's an absolute myth that Aussies are laid back, they're manic, greedy and totally self centred - Aussies friendships are often vehicles to see what they can get out of it.
My 8 year old son's school is fantastic, he was in Kimberley Park, Shailer Park in Brisbane 1,200 kids, huge classes and principal etc totally unapproachable. He now goes to a lovely quaint primary school in Ivybridge with 170 kids and 18 in his class, they treat kids like kids and the headmaster is a really nice bloke who takes the time out to greet the parents every morning. My lad now plays football every day and has more friends than he ever had in Australia, he loves going to school which really helps.
Society is nowhere near as pedantic in its application of petty rules, you can walk along the road with a beer, take kids in the pub, drive faster without being harrassed too much and there is definitely more freedom (however the net is closing in). I just hope the law makers/enforcers stop short of turning UK into a sterile, bland and controlling society as Australia.

Of course there are annoying things, if you believe the press every teenager is running around stabbing people, the place is packed full and every second person is an illegal (or legal) immigrant and the place is going to the dogs. The press also makes Australia out to be utopia where everyone is friendly, nobody works hard and life is easy - what a load of bollox! Also wish I could have a quid for every person who asks me 'why have you come back to this shithole' - it's certainly not that! people just don't appreciate what they've got, I've lived all over UK, in US, South Africa and Australia and can honestly say that South Devon is the best place in the world to live from my point of view.

i know its only six weeks and my experience is specific to me so may not be relelvant to others. IMO the UK has improved dramatically since I left and Australia has declined through arrogant complacency. For me and my family this is the best move we've ever made, my opinion may change over time but I'm living for the moment and am currently in bliss!

Will update you all again soon, for the moment I'm going walking on Dartmoor and then finding a pub for lunch.

Originally Posted by Tableland

I give you 24 months before you're posting from QLD.

Originally Posted by quoll

Great post - another vivid green with envy here!!!!

We are going home for a quick visit next month and DH thought he would like to visit Totnes - maybe I can persuade him to stay Devon really appeals to me!

Originally Posted by mumof5

Oh I love Wells, I remember singing christmas carols in the cathedral very special.
I'm going back to Bridgwater, family are there and I'm doing my teacher training in Bath so I need all the free childcare!!! Oh I can't wait.