Originally Posted by jothefw

It was wonderful to see very close friends and family but it isn't a holiday!

Originally Posted by annb

ive been here 15yrs and still find going back to the UK very unsettling, my kids are only young and the only grandparents they have are in the uk and we have no other family around us here - I go back to the uk at least once a year and each time struggle with which place I would rather live. The first few years I was here (without kids) I couldnt care less, but now that the folks are ageing, the kids have no cousins/uncles/aunties around its hard. Over the years I have spent time traveling around visiting old friends and finding we have not a lot in common anymore, now when I go home I barely even tell people I am going back and those that I do tell, well they know where I live if they want to see me!! I do 'call australia home' but I still call the UK home as well!! Its hard, you are caught between 2 places and whilst you know that yes the lifestyle is probably better over here for your immediate family, it doesnt stop you wondering if leaving your 'extended' family behind is for the best. I honestly dont think I will ever be settled in one place or the other, I cant see myself living in England again, Ive got too much to give up here after 15yrs, but I do always wonder 'what if we went back'.
Im sure you will have a great trip though, just remember when you get back to Aus it will take you a few weeks to settle back down and stop those homesick feelings!

Originally Posted by Robbo2

Hi Guys!
Well, we're taking our first trip back to the UK to catch up with friends and family in a few days time...just wondered who else has done it/doing it soon?
We've been here almost 2 years and having recently sold our house in the UK and bought one here, we thought we'd take a trip back with the bit of money we had left over. It's now or never as we won't have the money: we'll end up spending it on something else.
My main reason for going back is to catch up with my good friends (the ones who aren't able to travel out here for many reasons) and also my Nan who is the grand old age of 86.
When we first left the UK, it was a 'let's try it and see' good bye. This time, I feel like I will be tying up those loose ends as we're here to stay.
Just wondered if any of you have any recent experiences??
Claire.

Originally Posted by Robbo2

Hi Guys!
Well, we're taking our first trip back to the UK to catch up with friends and family in a few days time...just wondered who else has done it/doing it soon?
We've been here almost 2 years and having recently sold our house in the UK and bought one here, we thought we'd take a trip back with the bit of money we had left over. It's now or never as we won't have the money: we'll end up spending it on something else.
My main reason for going back is to catch up with my good friends (the ones who aren't able to travel out here for many reasons) and also my Nan who is the grand old age of 86.
When we first left the UK, it was a 'let's try it and see' good bye. This time, I feel like I will be tying up those loose ends as we're here to stay.
Just wondered if any of you have any recent experiences??
Claire.

Originally Posted by Goodwin

I have just got back from our first trip back home after being in Oz for 2 years and boy was it a shock to see the UK again. You see it through completely different eyes. After the 2nd day there i wanted to come back home to Manly, Australia.

It was awesome to see family and friends but after thats done i was Australia-sick.
I finally came to the conclusion that i was the one that had changed, my expectations of whats nice, clean and a great way of life because i hated being back in the UK. It fully reminded me of why i left in the first place.

I promised my Dad i would go back every 2 years to see him as he will not travel, but thank god i will not have to go back for another 2 years!!!!

Originally Posted by pioneer

Hi,
we are booked to go to England in December, we have been here over a year now. My husband isn't bothered about going back, but I need to see my grandparent their 86. It will also be great to see my parents and family, but Im not sure how I will cope with the goodbyes again. I'm already feeling guilty about saying goodbye to my mum all over again! Our 3 children are the only grandchildren and mum still cries over them. It won't be much of a holiday in that sense, but I just feel the need to go back.
Sharon

Originally Posted by Goodwin

I have just got back from our first trip back home after being in Oz for 2 years and boy was it a shock to see the UK again. You see it through completely different eyes. After the 2nd day there i wanted to come back home to Manly, Australia.

It was awesome to see family and friends but after thats done i was Australia-sick.
I finally came to the conclusion that i was the one that had changed, my expectations of whats nice, clean and a great way of life because i hated being back in the UK. It fully reminded me of why i left in the first place.

I promised my Dad i would go back every 2 years to see him as he will not travel, but thank god i will not have to go back for another 2 years!!!!

Originally Posted by Robbo2

Many people have siad that to me Goodwin...that we'll see it through different eyes. I'm hoping I'll feel the same: ie that we'll be keen to come 'home' to Australia.
Oh well, 8 days to go........

Originally Posted by Robbo2

P.S. Did you get your citizenship or are you still waiting to hear?

Originally Posted by Robbo2

Hi Sharon,
That's exactly how I feel.......'the need to go back'....and my husband isn't bothered either. Infact, I'm going with my two girls of 9 and 7 and he's staying here to work!!! My nan is also 86 and if I don't go now, I feel it might be too late next year or the year after....

Originally Posted by Amazulu

I was back there a few weeks ago and although I have no axe to grind with the UK, it was good to get back home to Perth. This is our home now and this trip confirmed it. SE England is still mental, traffic is still insane. Surrey, Sussex and Kent are still beautiful. London is as crowded as ever but still a fantastic city. Seeing the COL over there confirmed to me that Australia is really no cheaper - drinking in central London is cheaper than in Perth for instance. We went over to France and Belgium which was the highlight of the whole trip. I do miss the cheap travel options but apart from that and a few other small things don't miss much else.

Originally Posted by Nu-Shooz

Drinking in London...cheaper than drinking in Perth crikey!!!

Originally Posted by Amazulu

Yeah, I was shocked too. I was drinking Guinness in a central London pub - The Argyle Arms, right next to Oxford Circus Tube, as central as you can get - and it was GBP3 a pint (AUD7.20 at today's ER). In Perth you would pay $8-10 for a Guinness (& it tastes sh1te. London Guinness is brewed in Dublin - Aussie Guinness is brewed f**k knows where) and Perth ain't London.
In Europe it is even worse. Drinking my fav. Belgian beer in Brugge cost me $4-6. Same beer in perth is $14.