Originally Posted by TouristTrap

I'm obviously not in Oz, but have seen it even here too, to a very small extent: Why do people spend a couple of years getting their visas, going through the time and expense of getting them, fly across the world, and don't give it at least 2 years - or however long it is to get citizenship over there now.

It takes at least six months to a year to really settle into a new city within your own country, where you feel at home in it, never mind in a country right across the globe.

People should look at it as a time of adventure. What you take with you, the good and the bad, when you leave, will add to your personal growth.

IMO, I wouldn't count it a failure UNLESS you don't give it at least 2 years in the place. As I've typed here before, there are hundreds if not thousands of people who leave every year, and once they're back in the UK or wherever, they realize they prefer it in Oz and go back again, and yes, they nearly ALL say they are going back for good because Oz sucks..etc..etc.. What if you're one of those even though you don't think you'll be, just as those others who go back didn't think they'd ever want to set foot there?

Originally Posted by Hutch

I think it all comes down to whether you think the standard of living in the UK is worth all the grief that comes along with it - the urban congestion, traffic volumes etc. For us as a family, our quality of life would be immeasurably better if we were within useable proximity to the coast (we tried to move to the coast in the UK but found it impossible with the budget we had) so our quality of life will be much better, having that amazing resource on our doorstep.

Originally Posted by paka

Life dont change that much by the coast.

Originally Posted by Hutch

This just illustrates how personal everything is. We spend a lot of time at the coast - I surf year round - nice thick wetsuit, hat, etc, we take the dog out for walks along the north Cornwall coast in all weathers. The scope for the activities we enjoy here will be increased enormously by easy access to the coast and vastly improved weather conditions.

Originally Posted by monkeyc

Agree - which is why I am still here and will be heading off to Sydney to give it a whirl before deciding if enough is enough!

Originally Posted by TouristTrap

IMO, I wouldn't count it a failure UNLESS you don't give it at least 2 years in the place. As I've typed here before, there are hundreds if not thousands of people who leave every year, and once they're back in the UK or wherever, they realize they prefer it in Oz and go back again, and yes, they nearly ALL say they are going back for good because Oz sucks..etc..etc.. What if you're one of those even though you don't think you'll be, just as those others who go back didn't think they'd ever want to set foot there?

Originally Posted by lostpom.com

Heres a question - What happens about your visa if you decide to 'give up', go back to the UK, then decide say 2 years later that you made a mistake and want to come back to Aus ? I'm guessing that your visa will expire, and you'll need to re-apply (and pay again). From what I remember, the main things they worry about 'expiring' are your health and criminal checks, which are only vaild for 12 months.

The criminal check made me laugh. I almost said 'I didn't realise you still needed so many points to get in'. Then thought better of it. These sort of jokes don't go down too well with Aussies !

Originally Posted by monkeyc

Hi All,

Just browsing through some of the posts here..the level of desperation to get that visa takes me back to when we went through all this in '03/'04.

Is UK plc such a bad place? Nah it's just different - nowhere is perfect.

We have been in Perth for 2 years now..the first six months were great - beaches, sunshine, etc, etc all the stuff you imagine enjoying when you are at the point most folks in this group appear to be. When the novelty wears off (oh yes it will - this is not a holiday) at least one of you will likely start to miss stuff you currently take for granted. If you have family here that will obviously be a help, but there are a lot of late 30's/early 40's Brits here that have taken the plunge 10 years too late and find themselves with a very difficult path back.

Examples?

Take an experienced gas fitter or plumber that had all the right ticks on the TRA assessment then finds once here that he can't work in the trade without undergoing a 2 year apprenticeship. (some of them end up driving courier vans or similar to survive - nothing wrong with that but it's not what they came here for)

Electrician? Similar story.

Painter? That's also a registered profession here chum - don't think you can just buy a van and get going as a contractor.

Quality of life is a subjective thing - is it having a pool in the back garden and living near the beach? Or is it having a dinner party with the friends you have spent half a lifetime with, a night out on the town with the boys/girls now and again, being able to drop the kid's off at your mum's place at the drop of a hat - don't even think about what your first Christmas will feel like, I haven't met an expat here that actually enjoys Christmas here even after many years - some of you will certainly be begging for Jan 2nd to come around so that you can forget about it for another year!

Many will end up sitting on the end of the bed, head in hands thinking "what the hell have we done!" (I thought it was just me until I confessed this to other ex-pats here)

Of course you won't want to hear this sort of stuff when you have spent a small fortune with DIMIA - 2 years ago I didn't either. No matter how much research you think you have done it will not be enough - there will be things you did not count on.

If you have spent good money on this and are determined to give it a go here's one tip above all others

DONT SELL THE HOUSE UNLESS YOU ABSOLUTELY HAVE TO!

Refinance and/or rent it out if you can (remember UK interest is currently lower than AUS) - that's what an Aussie going to the UK would likely do! If you still love it here after the novelty wears off you could sell up a couple of years down the line - if you don't you would have your HOME to go back to (i.e. not just a house)

Australia is a beautiful place to spend time (I have visited various parts of WA, Sydney and Melbourne since emigrating) but remember most things you will gain will eventually be balanced against what you are leaving behind.

The scales may not tip the way you think!

Good Luck All!

John

Originally Posted by kars

And yes we have thought of moving to Devon or Cornwall but then house prices are too much and work hard to find.

Originally Posted by Rooksie

are you serious!?!?! its like the Wild West down here!!!!! :scared: :scared:

Originally Posted by paka

why do you have trouble too there. i thought Cornwall & Devon ,didnt have it as bad.

Originally Posted by Buzzy--Bee

Or you end up with nobody knowing where the hell home is for anyone!!!

I am really hoping we can put down some roots in Oz which has never been home for either of us. NZ was never home for me and I'm not convinced that even after 12 years UK is home for Mrs Buzzy, although now we have kids that might be different.

Cheers

Buzzy

Originally Posted by Rooksie

you must be joking mate!!!!! there are things so bad happened to very very good friends of mine which i really wouldnt want to broadcast on here and these arent isolated events either, it happens EVERY weekend.

its gang warfare at the moment between torquay and paignton. last weekend my friends son walked out of a pub to go home and was smacked in the side of the head with a snooker ball being swung in a sock.

we have stabbings and rapes on a regular basis.


its all a far cry from Fawlty Towers mate

Originally Posted by WendyC

My son was at school last Thusrday and was stood outside his classroom waiting for his teacher when all of a sudden this guy ran up behind him, graabed him be the arm and spun him round, he then PUNCHED him in the face. The reason - He is WHITE!!!
My son now has a lovely black eye to show for it and the boy who attacked him has a nice day in court to look forward to. Not holding out much hope though he'll get a slap on the wrist at best.

Originally Posted by paka

why do you have trouble too there. i thought Cornwall & Devon ,didnt have it as bad.