Well, 13 days eh! fear and stress can make you do crazy things can't it?

Emigration has to be one of the hardest things do do in the whole wide world.
Everyone who has done it always says "we knew it was going to be hard" but sometimes it's just way too hard.

We've been here in Perth for almost 2 years now. The biggest adventure of our lives and also the most difficult. I still don't feel 100% settled and at 'home' but I'm working on it every day because the rest of my family love it here.

If you are going to try this emigration lark again, you must be prepared to give it at least a year. So many things can change in that time.

Good luck to you

The morning we arrived in Perth, we got to the hotel, hubby and kids fell asleep and I sat in the room and cried! We were staying in a decent hotel and I hadn't bought a pair of dressy shoes with me! Our room was in the shade and it felt cold, I wanted to go home to my mum. If someone had offered to take me to the airport, I would have gone right then.
Nearly 12 months down the line and I am so glad we came (and stayed!) It takes a bit of time to adapt but I feel we have settled well and love it here.

Tracey

Ditto, you have to have this attitude or there is no point ever moving from your comfort zone. We did exactly the same with the same thoughts of how it would be an adventure and experience if it didn't work out.

Don't live with regrets, try to commit yourselves to a minimum stay of say 2 years whatever happens, try to see as much as you can of Oz so you can think of it as a working holiday if you do return to the UK. YOu never know you may just love it here.

One thing I would say is I think to make this move you have to have a strong relationship with your immediate family (husband and kids) as thats all you've got for most of the time. You need to love each others company. No parents, no in-laws (unless you count the months they visit you living in your back pocket!!).

Hope whatever you decide works out for you.

Louise

Louise, we really must stop agreeing with each other.

Seriously agree with your last paragraph regarding relationships - it can get tough. And also be prepared for visits of relatives, friends and inlaws - who are likely to stay for weeks (possibly months) on end. By the end of May (9 months since we will have arrived) we will have had guests staying for a total of 21 weeks !

Try this....lived here 31 months had visitors 15 months :scared:
6 months was as a base while my friend backpacked but she stayed 6 weeks went off for a few, back for a few more etc. and we stored her things!!

Maybe that's why we haven't been homesick, not had chance to miss people yet!!!

Beat that?

Louise

So now with my eldest sitting GCSE's and booked to go onto do A levels i think we are stuck.

We came here September after our eldest had finished his IB (GCSE equivalent) he is now working towards his VCE and loving the subjects (he is very academic and is doing maths, further maths, computing, physics etc). I think that the VCE programme is better than the current A'Levels in the UK and will still be accepted worldwide for University entry. Our son has no real plans to settle in Australia permanently (may change is mind in time) but is planning to get his citizenship so that the choice will allways be there.
The main thing that I would say is if you choose not to come back then make sure it is for the right reasons as if not it will always be there as a regret and will make you miserable.
Good luck.
Nicky