Swerv-o

No, not yet - I have a nice comfy lifestyle here right now, and a new and interesting job - I have also been renovating my old terrace house which I have nearly finished. I think I'll spend a year enjoying the fruits of my labours, then look at a move in maybe 12-18 months time.

There's no rush. London's not going anywhere...


S

EnglishLass

Hi Blackcab,
I'm wanting to go back home, but my OH is Australian and we have Aussie-born kids, so no easy solution there. Heading back for a long holiday though in the hopefully-not-too-distant-future, and we'll see how everybody feels then...

Moses2013

That's fine then. Was just thinking that if you really want to retire in France, now is one of the best times to buy in France and probably the best time to sell in Australia.

spouse of scouse

Even us 'born and breds' agree with that, Polly - well, the sensible ones do I'm looking forward to the much cooler weather of the UK

nic75

Oh how I aspire to be able to choose to go indoors because it’s 40 degrees outside. I’m sitting in my office in Glasgow, looking at a grey sky and dreaming of Brissie where I’ll be in a couple of weeks.

spouse of scouse

Hahaa - it's a bit like horses for courses, Nic

I can't complain about the summer heat here to my nieces in Liverpool, they post pictures of themselves in Arctic-type coats and tell me I'm crazy. I used to love the long, hot summers when I was younger, but I'm a bit over them now.

nic75

Same with our son. He can't tell us that it's a bit chilly in the mornings / evenings in winter when it's 19 degrees without being told that he's turned into a softie and to remember when he was up to his ankles in snow or going to work in minus 10 degrees.

spouse of scouse

Oh how quickly they forget. Scouse (my husband) well remembers trying to get the car started for work, something about kettles of boiling water! He's been in Australia for nearly 25 years and is over the hot summers too - just hope he doesn't get too much of a shock in his first winter.

Are you emigrating to Brisbane or just visiting?

nic75

Just visiting our son and his Aussie wife. They were married last year and expecting our first grandchild in January. So back again then. Our 6th time in 3 years and love it every time.

spouse of scouse

6 times in 3 years - you must be racking up those frequent flyer points! How exciting about your first grandchild, that'll be a special trip. Hope all goes well and that Brissie turns on some nice, warm weather for you

nic75

We did the first 2 courtesy of bcworlds fab info. But now we're going twice a year is back to cattle class with emirates. But we stop dubai and singapore and our flights this time were only £830 so makes sense for us

verystormy

We have been here 6 years and I have just started applying for jobs back in the UK. Not because we are unhappy here, but I am out of work and struggling to find anything here. So have decided to apply for roles back in the UK as well as here.

I think people can be happy or unhappy in either country.

BadgeIsBack

That's the windscreen - careful you don't crack it....People sometimes forget that when they are cold they forget what it felt like to be warm - and when they are too hot they would love to be cold - or cool. People talk about how it is easier to warm up etc but when people are cold and am feeling it - it's hard.

I am looking forward to Spring now but in the main I look forwards to Daylight Saving. I would take Melbourne's climate with a few days of 40 a year over the UK given the choice. People forget there are months in Melbourne where the weather is not particularly hot or cold - try Oct-Dec, Mar-May (etc). There are probably few places in the world where the weather is just right. I've heard people say LA is great for that but then you have to live in LA and deal with the pollution..

Beoz

I totally agree. I'm in Oz right now, living happily and would happily live back in the UK too.

Its not where you live. Its what you do with it that counts.

BadgeIsBack

There are places like Silicon Valley where the weather is very nice all year around with doses of sun - and good employment perhaps. Still cold at night in winter - if you want to be warm at night you are almost obliged to go to the tropics.

I don't think anyone likes hot weather not even a local. I think in the main, Australia is a good place if you like the outdoors - it is still very much an outdoor lifestyle. It's not too bad.

I'm also a Francophile - but a bit of a rose-tinted one - in other words, it is on my own terms when it suits me. Funny how people love Paris and the south of France and their movies but the economy and red tape can be something else again and it is sort of geared as a socialist country. It seems in the south that it's hard to get things down - etc etc. I think lots of countries have bizarre red tape and funny conveyancing rules.

We have bought a flat overseas which we plan to use as a second retirement hub. The kids can hole up in it too on gap years etc.