Hi

Was wondering how many of you had a wobble about going to Australia, the enormity of the task to get everything sorted, saying goodbye, finding a house there, schools etc...

or is this just a normal feeling???

Hi Mummy3

I know how you feel! I'm at the stage where I'm totally focused on getting a CO. I think I'm almost blind to the rest of the issues on purpose because I have to do things in small bitesizes or it just feels too overwhelming! I know its silly but I will have to face the reality of it all soon - and I do want it- but like you it seems like such a huge hurdle! If only we could fast forward through the uncertainty and upheaval to a time when we're settled in lol!
I'm worried about leaving family behind too esp parents but I think this is bound to be normal. At the end of the day we'll be a plane journey and a day away if we need to come back.
Don't worry - youre not alone in this!

Its very normal, it is a huge task and there will obviously be worries that it wont work out and all the usual stuff. Just try to do one thing at a time and dont be overwhelmed by it all.

The wobbles get worse and reach their peak in the couple of weeks before you leave.

You only regret what you didn't do etc etc....

BB

Totally normal but you will get it done. I think the adrenaline you live on for the last few months get you through!

I would do it all again though, now we're here. It has been totally worth it for us........A lad in a shop was chatting to me yesterday about living here and was shocked when I said we have no desire to go back. I went for a 2 week trip when my niece was born last year but was so happy to get back!

I am not the most organised of people but if you make lists and have a calendar for when things have to be done, it'll be fine. Good luck!

If you mainly concentrate on what needs doing before you leave and leave things like finding schools and a house and a car and, and... until you get here, it should make it a bit more manageable. It's all about lists and priorities. The goodbyes will fall into place over the last couple of weeks. What's most important now is the logistics of the move out of the Uk - the packing, the sorting, the sale of the house, cancelling utilities and advising all services, booking the removalists and the flights. Don't leave everything until later. Decide what can be done now and do it now, eg. You can already advise the post office you are moving from whatever date. The redirection (best to redirect to family in the UK to start off with) won't kick in until the date you choose, but if you sort it out now, at least it's out of the way. Emotions will run high but don't worry, that's normal. Get the kids to help pack their own boxes, choose what they want to take (within reason ) and get them excited about the trip, even if only the plane journey to start off with. One little thing that is sure to help is to get them Trunki suitcases http://www.trunki.comif you can afford them. Kids absolutely love them and they make the trip itself a little easier.

You have accommodation sorted for the first 4 weeks right? Is your OH starting work as soon as you land? If he's not, you'll have plenty of time to look for a house as a family, and then schools and everything else will fall into place. All you need organised before you on this end is the first week's accommodation and a car. Wait until you are on the ground for everything else.

Get accommodation in the city so you can then get a feel for it. It is also easier to drive to the suburbs you choose from the city and you can extend your search to suit your needs rather than starting in one suburb and feeling like everything is remote. Try not to look at houses for rent here yet as you'll only feel anxious about missing out on some. There will be a house for you when the time is right. Also, I know you have your heart set on a few areas but keep an open mind (well, Montmorency is still the best but hey, there are other places that are not too shabby too). As I said, schools will work themselves out once you have decided where to live. And to decide where to live, you need to be here and see it for yourself. Happy to help when you get here btw, I'll show you around and we can have coffee at one of our many cafés. I can even give you a school tour

As for having a wobble, you will have many. Let them come and go, they are normal

I'll raise you a cake with the coffee and a tour of the beach, harbour and pier after the school tour

BB

Ah the wobbles, there were (and still are!) many. It's only natural given the huge move you're making, try not to give in to them too much. Make a nice big list of things to do, then crack open a bottle. I spent most of my last fortnight in London off my face, great for dealing with the wobbles. By the time we got to Heathrow we were practically nonchalent about the whole thing

There will always be wobbles, I still get them now, been here for 8 months

Best of luck with the move and don't forget there are a ton of people on here who've been there done that and are exceedingly generous with their advice and support. I know we couldn't have done it without BE...

But is your cake homemade by a French woman? Cos mine is so there!

The wobbles are nothing , I have been known to wake up with WTF have I done moments after 11 years!!!!!!

Thank you everyone, so reassuring to wake up to a page full of comments!
My OH was worried last night as I stopped googling houses to rent and didnt keep showing him areas to look at!
I am becoming an expert on transport links!
I emailled some shipping companies last week, the fact we got an offer on the house made everything seem so real.

Thank for the coffee/cake offers, will take you up on them when we get there! Now, homemade cake mmmm

The first steps from your 'safe life' to a 'new and uncertain life' will always have wobbles. You need these wobbles in life in order to try new things.

I remember the horrific dreams I had just before we emigrated - really disturbing and all down to stress. You wouldnt be normal if you didnt have doubts.

Just remember to keep doing normal stuff that does not involve Australia and remember your friends/family are not moving with you and will relish in the normal stuff you can do with them whilst you still can.

Thank you and thanks for the karma!

Am a lists person, so will get to that. We only moved here 2 years ago so all that is fresh and same solicitor is handling the sale!

Ok, so need some dates to work to, am hoping the company will give us those in the next week or so, but am anticipating second week in June, and then it will be my birthday a week or so later, that will feel strange and tbh probably a bit forgotten!

Buzzy and Elice-in-Oz, Def for coffee and cake, Can't wait!

And breathe..... Where's the wine??!

Had a wobble today, kids were happy playing, not much of a tv person so put some music on - eeek.
Was trying to tackle a few bits of paperwork in preparation for the move and then had the whizz of emotions circling round.
We can think of more than a dozen reasons to move to Australia but there's only 3 reasons to stay - it did hit me how hard it's gonna be saying goodbye to those three reasons. I've never been good at goodbyes no matter what form they take.
Contemplating on chickening out and not doing proper goodbyes at all actually

I wouldnt personally deny yourself or your family/friends of proper goodbyes. They are so important for whatever reason you need to have them, things must not be left unsaid, undone, or even that final 'look' that says 'Yeah, you/we may be leaving but we are still family and we sill love you'

Dont deny yourself of that, that hug, those words, that 'look' is very important and yes it hurts at the time but it gives yourself and your friends and family that closure to a point to enable you to move on.

Liken it to vomiting if you like, it hurts, its unpleasant, its crap but once its done you can move on and get better and feel better.

And dont underestimate the shock of landing in another country, when you think 'what the hell have I done?' and the sheer panic that makes you want to run back to what you know yet run back to what you wanted to leave in the first place.

Dont make any major decisions about anything when you get there, go with the flow, get rid of the panic, dont look back to the UK as a safety net - because your safety net has gone and you have to work on a new one.

'Home wasnt built in a day'.