BritInParis

Practically speaking if you hold a British, Australian or US passport then your border experience will be the same as you can enter the UK on any of those passports via an eGate. The only issue will be proving your status if you decided to stay on at which point it’ll be easier to simply renew your British passport.

themerlin

Interesting comment, I have often thought the same, but that could also be age

Pollyana

Mmm be interesting to know how younger people view the friends/acquaintance thing, and in the days of social media contact, do they still value in-person friendship as much as older people?

Having been back in the UK a couple of months now, its interesting to reflect on the friendships with Aussies that really counted as friendships rather than acquaintances, and also which are likely to survive the distance.
One very good, enduring friendship with a lady about 20 years younger than me, one lady around 10 years younger, one with a guy my age (late 50s), two with ladies around my age - Aussie wives of long-time expats & BE posters. TBH that's probably it, there are several casual mates who are messaging me occasionally but I can see the novelty will wear off soon.
Lots of expat friends across Australia, mostly met through BE, most of whom feel more like "real" friends, and I have plenty of faith that those friendships will last, we understand each other and are in tune, more than I am with most Aussies.

What is also rather interesting is that as I'm coming across friends from over 20 years ago, over here, we are just slotting back in together as if the years away hadn't happened. That's a really lovely experience!