Am I making the right decision?
#78
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 10,375
Re: Am I making the right decision?
Its not about 'bad', but once you move it just becomes another country with its ups and downs.
Money, jobs, marriages, children/grandkids in australia, spouses/family in australia, partner who wont move back, other countries currency/ property is no longer affordable, health reasons, sick relative, family law court reasons, interruption of children's education are just a few of the many reasons people stay.
In hindsight I would have loved to have had the knowledge and experience the posters living here give prior to arrival.
Money, jobs, marriages, children/grandkids in australia, spouses/family in australia, partner who wont move back, other countries currency/ property is no longer affordable, health reasons, sick relative, family law court reasons, interruption of children's education are just a few of the many reasons people stay.
In hindsight I would have loved to have had the knowledge and experience the posters living here give prior to arrival.
Last edited by Alfresco; Mar 28th 2014 at 7:28 am. Reason: Fix quote
#79
Re: Am I making the right decision?
Australia is a first world country with all the features of such - a democratically elected government which is admired by half the population and loathed by the other half, population and jobs centred around large cities and towns, rush hour traffic jams, graffiti, neighbours of varying likeability: in fact just about all the things we have to cope with in our daily lives are just the same here as in the UK, USA, Europe.
So what makes Australia different enough to make you want to come here? Well, that will depend on your interests: for me the original decision to come was to make a change from a life in the UK that was boring, stressful, and financially gutting: that is obviously not why CherryUK wants to make the move. My epiphany was the first time I was driving along the Strzlecki Track at night and realised that I could see stars all the way down to the horizon all around me: a magical moment and one totally unobtainable in Europe.
CherryUK, why don't you try and list the things that you are hoping for in your move (better weather, open spaces, larger house - anything): that way we can give you a more directed opinion.
So what makes Australia different enough to make you want to come here? Well, that will depend on your interests: for me the original decision to come was to make a change from a life in the UK that was boring, stressful, and financially gutting: that is obviously not why CherryUK wants to make the move. My epiphany was the first time I was driving along the Strzlecki Track at night and realised that I could see stars all the way down to the horizon all around me: a magical moment and one totally unobtainable in Europe.
CherryUK, why don't you try and list the things that you are hoping for in your move (better weather, open spaces, larger house - anything): that way we can give you a more directed opinion.
#80
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Oct 2005
Location: Hill overlooking the SE Melbourne suburbs
Posts: 16,622
Re: Am I making the right decision?
Generally I enjoyed living in Brisbane, it's certainly way better than Melbourne or Sydney for instance but it's not paradise. Oddly enough growing up in Victoria I used to think of Queensland as being a tropical paradise but it's not until you live somewhere you fully understand. There are lots of things to do in Brisbane and many of them are free. We used to do a lot of bush walking when the weather allowed, wildlife is a huge interest for me so that was a major plus.
What strikes a nerve if you like is when someone says something like 'better life for the kids' as really there are no guarantees you will get that. It will be a different life but not measurably better.
In the unlikely even I was to return to Australia then Brisbane would be where we would go so there are lots of positives as well.
What strikes a nerve if you like is when someone says something like 'better life for the kids' as really there are no guarantees you will get that. It will be a different life but not measurably better.
In the unlikely even I was to return to Australia then Brisbane would be where we would go so there are lots of positives as well.
To the Op: Australia has been good to me but it is very unfashionable for someone to find Australia great on this forum : for many many years. Years back there were particularly noisy wars between Godzoners and haters...(for some reason if you love all about the Uk like Teabags and Fish and Chips you're not a Godzoner!) Alot of positive posters who had done well had it beaten out of them...what has really changed for all, and I am being less facetious here: is that the cost spiked up about 6 years ago. Some of us who arrived 10 years ago got in before the big increases in housing and when the pound was stronger...
Australia is not for all, for some reason the more pedestrian your Uk life the more equally pedestrian you are likely to find Ausralia: this is because a lot of people come here chasing dreams, houses, space, weather and jetskis when they were better off with central heating, double glazing, the TV Times and mushy peas: and these things are missed by the very people who would never have thought it...
#81
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Oct 2005
Location: Hill overlooking the SE Melbourne suburbs
Posts: 16,622
Re: Am I making the right decision?
I have always said and I will say it again there is plenty to love about Australia and as long as people come with their eyes open then they will be fine. I have also always said that if the itch is there then scratch it, nothing is forever. I know there are some that like to paint me as a hater of Australia but that really couldnt be further from the truth as those who actually know me would confirm.
Give it a go, life is short.
Give it a go, life is short.
my final advice to anyone; a bit silly but also with a degree of knowing: don't be a ####wit. Don't limit yourself.
#82
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 14,040
Re: Am I making the right decision?
Chris I've always found it interesting the way you sound off Brisbane as being the better place and indeed the only place for you but it also seems from forum lore to contribute more than it's fair share of the very things that you have also dismissed about Australia!
To the Op: Australia has been good to me but it is very unfashionable for someone to find Australia great on this forum : for many many years. Years back there were particularly noisy wars between Godzoners and haters...(for some reason if you love all about the Uk like Teabags and Fish and Chips you're not a Godzoner!) Alot of positive posters who had done well had it beaten out of them...what has really changed for all, and I am being less facetious here: is that the cost spiked up about 6 years ago. Some of us who arrived 10 years ago got in before the big increases in housing and when the pound was stronger...
Australia is not for all, for some reason the more pedestrian your Uk life the more equally pedestrian you are likely to find Ausralia: this is because a lot of people come here chasing dreams, houses, space, weather and jetskis when they were better off with central heating, double glazing, the TV Times and mushy peas: and these things are missed by the very people who would never have thought it...
To the Op: Australia has been good to me but it is very unfashionable for someone to find Australia great on this forum : for many many years. Years back there were particularly noisy wars between Godzoners and haters...(for some reason if you love all about the Uk like Teabags and Fish and Chips you're not a Godzoner!) Alot of positive posters who had done well had it beaten out of them...what has really changed for all, and I am being less facetious here: is that the cost spiked up about 6 years ago. Some of us who arrived 10 years ago got in before the big increases in housing and when the pound was stronger...
Australia is not for all, for some reason the more pedestrian your Uk life the more equally pedestrian you are likely to find Ausralia: this is because a lot of people come here chasing dreams, houses, space, weather and jetskis when they were better off with central heating, double glazing, the TV Times and mushy peas: and these things are missed by the very people who would never have thought it...
#83
Re: Am I making the right decision?
My only suggestion (and it is only a suggestion ) is that you and your partner sit down together with a huge piece of paper.
Name 2 columns UK and Oz. Under the UK column, list your reasons for leaving, under the Oz column, list your reasons for moving there. Let loose and list them all - whether other people think they are or aren't valid reasons is immaterial, these are YOUR reasons.
Then, for each of the columns, list what you know will a positive by staying in/moving to that country. Then list what you know will be a negative by staying in/moving to that country.
Then move onto what may be a positive in each country, then what may be a negative.
Go to comparethemarket.com (ok, that bit's silly, don't do that) - but you do need to have a good look at each column, decide what are deal breakers or otherwise, and go from there.
It all sounds rather pedestrian, but you may be surprised by what's revealed. In the event that it doesn't reveal anything, all you've lost is a bit of paper and time Whatever you decide, I wish you the best of British as well as the best of Australian
Name 2 columns UK and Oz. Under the UK column, list your reasons for leaving, under the Oz column, list your reasons for moving there. Let loose and list them all - whether other people think they are or aren't valid reasons is immaterial, these are YOUR reasons.
Then, for each of the columns, list what you know will a positive by staying in/moving to that country. Then list what you know will be a negative by staying in/moving to that country.
Then move onto what may be a positive in each country, then what may be a negative.
Go to comparethemarket.com (ok, that bit's silly, don't do that) - but you do need to have a good look at each column, decide what are deal breakers or otherwise, and go from there.
It all sounds rather pedestrian, but you may be surprised by what's revealed. In the event that it doesn't reveal anything, all you've lost is a bit of paper and time Whatever you decide, I wish you the best of British as well as the best of Australian
#84
Just Joined
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 4
Re: Am I making the right decision?
Hi CherryUK,
I hope I can be helpful!!
I'll start with my story....I first came to Melbourne at the end of 2006 on a temporary visa, my mum in particular wanted to know that I would return to England. After a couple of years I got my permanent residence, the phone call home to tell them was awful and my mum didn't talk to me for a couple of months after. Anyway Aussie citizenship followed and then in early 2012 I moved back to the UK..... I moved back to Melbourne in the middle of 2013 after finding one English winter was enough!!
I went back to the UK mainly because of my parents but came to realize that I really do have to live my life for me. These words are often said but really feeling them and knowing it is something else. I hate being so far away but I am happier in Oz and that's just how it is for me. It is important to look forward, what do you want for your children? If you were in the same position as your parents are now what would you want for them?
As for living in Oz I haven't been to Brisbane yet but I adore Melbourne and hope to spend the rest of my life here. If you come out and don't like it, bear in mind it can be difficult at the start, you can always go back.
Good luck!!!
I hope I can be helpful!!
I'll start with my story....I first came to Melbourne at the end of 2006 on a temporary visa, my mum in particular wanted to know that I would return to England. After a couple of years I got my permanent residence, the phone call home to tell them was awful and my mum didn't talk to me for a couple of months after. Anyway Aussie citizenship followed and then in early 2012 I moved back to the UK..... I moved back to Melbourne in the middle of 2013 after finding one English winter was enough!!
I went back to the UK mainly because of my parents but came to realize that I really do have to live my life for me. These words are often said but really feeling them and knowing it is something else. I hate being so far away but I am happier in Oz and that's just how it is for me. It is important to look forward, what do you want for your children? If you were in the same position as your parents are now what would you want for them?
As for living in Oz I haven't been to Brisbane yet but I adore Melbourne and hope to spend the rest of my life here. If you come out and don't like it, bear in mind it can be difficult at the start, you can always go back.
Good luck!!!
Last edited by PominOz; Mar 29th 2014 at 1:30 am. Reason: date error
#85
Banned
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 22,348
Re: Am I making the right decision?
My only suggestion (and it is only a suggestion ) is that you and your partner sit down together with a huge piece of paper.
Name 2 columns UK and Oz. Under the UK column, list your reasons for leaving, under the Oz column, list your reasons for moving there. Let loose and list them all - whether other people think they are or aren't valid reasons is immaterial, these are YOUR reasons.
Then, for each of the columns, list what you know will a positive by staying in/moving to that country. Then list what you know will be a negative by staying in/moving to that country.
Then move onto what may be a positive in each country, then what may be a negative.
Go to comparethemarket.com (ok, that bit's silly, don't do that) - but you do need to have a good look at each column, decide what are deal breakers or otherwise, and go from there.
It all sounds rather pedestrian, but you may be surprised by what's revealed. In the event that it doesn't reveal anything, all you've lost is a bit of paper and time Whatever you decide, I wish you the best of British as well as the best of Australian
Name 2 columns UK and Oz. Under the UK column, list your reasons for leaving, under the Oz column, list your reasons for moving there. Let loose and list them all - whether other people think they are or aren't valid reasons is immaterial, these are YOUR reasons.
Then, for each of the columns, list what you know will a positive by staying in/moving to that country. Then list what you know will be a negative by staying in/moving to that country.
Then move onto what may be a positive in each country, then what may be a negative.
Go to comparethemarket.com (ok, that bit's silly, don't do that) - but you do need to have a good look at each column, decide what are deal breakers or otherwise, and go from there.
It all sounds rather pedestrian, but you may be surprised by what's revealed. In the event that it doesn't reveal anything, all you've lost is a bit of paper and time Whatever you decide, I wish you the best of British as well as the best of Australian
Once the OP has that bit out of the way, I suggest she and her family progress to stage two: involving airline tickets, suitcases and a couple of bottles of champagne!
#86
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 10,375
Re: Am I making the right decision?
Coming out with an Australian spouse and children together, makes ' just going back' slightly more complicated.
Not being negative, but its something that needs to be discussed way up there above the weather and house size.
#87
Just Joined
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 4
Re: Am I making the right decision?
No wonder this gets confusing!!! Don't take the words so literally 'jad n rich'. If it doesn't work out you do 'just go back' because having some contingency plans in case you don't settle in Australia is essential. If you don't have them before you leave the UK then you probably shouldn't be moving in the first place and that is an entirely different discussion. I was giving 'CherryUK' the credit for already thinking these things through.
#88
Re: Am I making the right decision?
Sorry but I really have to disagree with that. Many people cant just go back for so many reasons.
Coming out with an Australian spouse and children together, makes ' just going back' slightly more complicated.
Not being negative, but its something that needs to be discussed way up there above the weather and house size.
Coming out with an Australian spouse and children together, makes ' just going back' slightly more complicated.
Not being negative, but its something that needs to be discussed way up there above the weather and house size.
That's it exactly!
There have been so many posts on this and other boards where some poor soul has had the goal posts changed on them and Aus will not let kids go!
#89
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 14,040
Re: Am I making the right decision?
Sorry but I really have to disagree with that. Many people cant just go back for so many reasons.
Coming out with an Australian spouse and children together, makes ' just going back' slightly more complicated.
Not being negative, but its something that needs to be discussed way up there above the weather and house size.
Coming out with an Australian spouse and children together, makes ' just going back' slightly more complicated.
Not being negative, but its something that needs to be discussed way up there above the weather and house size.
#90
Banned
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 22,348
Re: Am I making the right decision?
Sorry but I really have to disagree with that. Many people cant just go back for so many reasons.
Coming out with an Australian spouse and children together, makes ' just going back' slightly more complicated.
Not being negative, but its something that needs to be discussed way up there above the weather and house size.
Coming out with an Australian spouse and children together, makes ' just going back' slightly more complicated.
Not being negative, but its something that needs to be discussed way up there above the weather and house size.
Last edited by paulry; Mar 29th 2014 at 11:55 am.