G'day Aus, London calling... long time no speak! Been back for about 9 months now, all in all it's not too bad, you know - different hemisphere, same s*** ! Here's some random observations....(my opinions only, not facts!)

1. Cars parked on roadside facing different directions looks and feels wrong. Prefer the Aus way.
2. Deffo feels grimmer over here in the past few months. This Euro zone business (cut the Greeks loose that's what I say) is really dragging everything down. We don't know anyone that isn't watching the pennies and cutting back on luxuries.
3. Mortgages - (if you can get one) the repayments are ridiculously cheap compared to Aus. Admin fees still quite high (generally at least £1,000, some £3,000?!). Some lenders offering 95% mortgages and think I heard on the telly last night Nationwide are offering 100%.
4. Properties still selling like hot cakes in London and Surrey.
5. Fruit and veggies in the supermarkets - MINGING!!!! Mostly pre-packed, hardly last at all. And tiny! Apples seem the size of big tomatos!
6. The telly is awesome compared to Aus. No need for Sky, the Freeview is excellent. The dramas, the news, sports coverage, the comedy - all fantastic. Even the ads are better (apart from VB). I cringe when I think how bad the telly is in Aus apart from a few programmes.
7. Petrol - crazy expensive. Appliances/household goods - about the same price. Grocercies - UK cheaper apart from steak.
8. The sausages although tastier are very fatty.
9. Childcare - don't even get me started on this. For a baby less than 2 years old the cost is £69 per day where we live.
10. The coffee is AWFUL but the tea is DELICIOUS!


We have realised that our hearts are in the UK but our heads are in Aus. We feel very lucky to have the choice.

On balance, I think Aus offers a better life for kids, providing you can afford to live in a decent area and make sure they spend as much time as poss outdoors. I do feel that I had to 'dumb down' a bit in Aus and turn a blind eye to a lot of things, plus the salaries and cost of living are a bit shite but hey if that's the worst thing about it then we can live with that.

See you later groovers

I was fine when I first came back, hit 15 months and suicidal. what have I done coming back to the doom and gloom of UK and Europe. Wish I could turn clock back

It's a tricky one isn't it mate. On one hand we love being back in Europe and feeling like we're actually part of the world (if that makes sense)the humour, the history, countryside, the variety, etc etc - but on the other hand we can see that things have deffo taken a turn for the worst for lots of people. Seems that the poor are poorer and the rich are richer with all the people in the middle just trying to do as best they can but more and more financial obstacles being put in their way. So on balance we reckon Aus is the better bet, maybe not for us grown-ups in terms of £/$ but as the song says "we're doing it for the kids"!

Always a tug at the hear strings for first migrants but having grown children now, they feel no such tug at all. I find UK so different now that even though its my homeland its not me. That does not stop us chatting about what if now and again though the lot of the first migrants.

we have been back here for 18 months or so and concur with most things you say although I am not convinced about TV being better.
Still our daughter (5) does seem to have control of TV remote so maybe we would notice the lack of CBBC (CBeebies is for babies apparently!).

I find grocery shopping more expensive but I think that's because supermarkets sell everything- DVDs, magazines, bedding, clothes, alcohol....and it is easy to get carried away.
Books are a lot cheaper as are electronics.
Public transport is eye wateringly expensive and poor (London)

Days out seem expensive, but maybe that's because we are trying to fit a lot into our sojourn here. But ultimately horses for courses....

Consumjer electronics are something that I am into and I do a lot of research on them. I reckon a lot are cheaper in Australia or about the same price.

I would say that groceries are much more expensive here, but then you live in the UK and know what you are paying.

Good. That gives us hope.

In da groove, in da groove.

One of the things I immediately noticed when I went back for a visit was the amount of dog shit all over the place. Much cleaner in Oz.

when we first arrived the amount of litter astonished me, but luckily I am once again immune to it!

...and vast quantities of chewing gum stuck to the pavements, but eventually it all becomes part of the scenery!

Where we're you in the UK ? I found the North much 'dirtier' than the SW, not the whole area but in the Doncaster region where I stayed for a couple of days.

Intersting comments good and bad, do another report in 6 months plse.

Are Mortages in London really better priced? For rentals of London and Aus capital cities that ive looked on gumtree Aus seems to offer a comparable deal.

Base rate in the UK is 0.5%, mortgage rates start at about 1.99% (I've just remortgaged at that rate). Base rate in Aus is 4.25% and was 4.75% only a few months ago. Aus mortgage rates start at 6.something% (correct me if I am wrong). So an interest only loan could be less than one-third of the cost in the UK. So yes they really are better priced. That could change of course.

Aah thats the interest rate. But residential real estate prices? Thats why im thinking because When i looked londons rentals didnt seem cheap compared to aus capital cities as a lot of guys here seem to suggest

The OP was referring to the cost of a mortgage which is obviously going to be much cheaper due to the interest rates, nothing to do with rental costs.