Tr1boy

I know I said it before, but now my back is fixed ( which alone has been worth coming back) and I'm back to full health, I think it's time to pull stumps on the UK.

After my redundancy I struggled to find a suitable role (found plenty way lower, and lost out on one job because apparently I'd be able to do it 'too well'), and Mrs TB has finished her latest CPA exam and is still looking.

We've looked at relocating, but when things aren't going right here it's very hard for me to look her straight in the eye and not feel guilty.

But the main reason is WE ARE GOING TO HAVE A BABY which is brilliant, except I'm 48 yrs old

Playtime is over for Mrs FP and I as we now have to think as a family and can't sink any more money in waiting to see if something happens. With our long corporate history and contacts in Sydney I'm pretty sure we can turn this around over there. The trade off course is house prices, which are much cheaper here and we can be easily mortgage free with plenty of change. However steady income is still required, so the trade off is higher cost of living vs a healthy (er) job market (I realise it's contracted a lot).

My parents are 76 and 80 and whilst it would be nice for them to be around, it's not like they are in the next street and won't be zipping up and down the motorway to babysit like they did 15yrs ago for sister's kids and I wouldn't expect them to.

Extremely had decision to make, as I don't think Oz is the obvious answer, I think it's slightly more favourable than here. Mrs FP tried real hard here as did I, and whilst I'd love to say everything is going well on the job front, it just isn't and I have limited time left to work at a level that will pump enough money into our future.

Mummy in the foothills

Congratulations
Theres a nice surprise.
Wherever you end up I hope you will be really happy, well actually I'm pretty sure you will. 48 eh! You'll be great. You've already done it all, so this will be a new adventure.

Pollyana

Wow!! Many congratulations, and good luck wherever you go!!

quoll

Wow! Congratulations! Put your pragmatic hat on and do what has to be done. I guess you could cover all bases with one last big hit at blanket applications for something in both countries and see which one turns up trumps - keep all your options open until the last minute. Bringing up a kid in Australia shouldnt disadvantage them but you will need to factor in more for visits back to the grandparents (as I am sure you are only too well aware!). Does this spell the end to triathlons though?

Jerseygirl

Congratulations Mr and Mrs T.

Sally Redux

Congratulations to you both!

Tr1boy

Thanks all, we are very excited


Yeah that's pretty much what we are doing, just blanket bombing here and applying for the appropriate roles in Oz. We have some things to get done first if we do move. They include a trip to the French Alps to ride the big mountains, and a driving holiday on the Californian coast.

As for triathlons, well Mrs TB has said she'll make sure I have enough time to train and she's actively encouraging me to get a new road bike and a new TT bike. She means well but I know from my previous marriage how hard it is to look after kids with no grandparents on hand. So realistically I reckon it'll be cycle racing and TTing in my future. But that's ok and probably wise given the spine history

NiHao

Many congratulations!!!! A new baby, that is so exciting

Is better Job prospects the only reason you want to leave the UK or is there other stuff that you don't like about UK life or prefer in Australia? Do you (especially your wife) have friends in Australia?

What sort of timeline are you thinking of for the move?

Again, many congrats on the baby!

Tr1boy

The job/career thing is a big part of it. There are things I dislike about being back in the UK, but certainly prefer it over Oz. Both my wife and I have a shed load of good friends in Oz, as I lived there for 22yrs and she lived there for 16yrs, so no issues there. I suspect Mrs TB will get a load of new friends when she has baby as well.

Probably will move late June/early July.

NiHao

Yes, children definitely widen your friendship circle but it can also be isolating when they are very young so its really good that you both already have friends in Oz.

I need to go back and read some of your old posts to catch up on your story, I think I'm remembering that Mrs TB preferred it in Oz and it sounds like your basically okay in either place?

Gosh things are going to move really fast for you! Its an exciting time.

fulwood

Triboy, Very happy to hear about the baby! Wish you all the best wherever you end up..

windsong

Congratulations on the baby!!!!!

Now . . . I don't want to put a damper on things . . . but listen to your heart. Where does it say you really want to be? I know the job-searching is getting you down but I think that eventually something will come up for you. Have you talked to any headhunters?

Don't move because of the baby. If you don't listen to that inner voice it will come back to haunt you eventually, so examine your reasons for wanting to move back very closely before you do anything. Having said that, all the best to you whatever you finally decide.

feelbritish

Wow new baby and a different future that is for sure! Congratulations to you both! Just go with whichever way the wind blows!

Tr1boy

My personal heart says I'd rather be in the UK, but in my 'married heart' I've pretty much always known that we'd return eventually, and now now my 'family man heart' says that's the right thing to do.

Although I've only been out of work since Feb, essentially I wasn't paid between March and November last year, because my contract only allowed for 13 weeks of sick pay before being stopped. I did get pension and thankfully my health insurance paid, and a car allowance but no basic pay.

I use boutique agencies because what I do is quite specialised, headhunters are a rare breed in this economy and whilst I've been headhunted a few times before, it's not happening here for me in this economy.

I'm not prepared to sink anymore of our savings into this adventure, with lost savings, lost wages, lost interest and exch rate the whole thing has cost a tidy sum.

No need to examine my reasons for staying or going, been doing that since we arrived 3yrs ago. Mrs TB and 'bump' are my only consideration now and I've mentally been in a good place with whichever way the cards fall for some time now.

Snap Shot

Congratulations ! Do you know when the baby is due ? How many weeks' pregnant will your wife be when you board the flight to Aus ? What's the maximum weeks pregnant they will let her fly ?

Good luck with your return to Australia.