I was just trying to make him smile

I would go mad though without a bit of "me" and "us" time. Kids are great........









when they're someone elses

I think everyone gets these thoughts - we got our visa granted a month ago and while we husband was jumping for joy I was shaking at the thought - (the first wobble of many I'm told!!) but you know what - we've talked about this for years and althought living in London earning decent wages in a house that cost a fortune for what you get - you have to think is this it.??

For us its time to start living a better life and not just working to live. I want to spend more time with my daughter than she does at nursery and instead of sitting in front of TV I want to walk down the beach after work - not sure if its Rose tinted glasses but like all the others say, if its not right come home what have you lost, nothing!!

Good luck and maybe through expats if we all live near each other we can meet up and talk over a few beers about our great new lives.

Thanks for all the comments we received. A quick update - we have moved out of our house, pulled out of the purchase of the other house (it was a new build) and gone into rented accomodation for a few months. We have booked a week in Spain over Easter and will decide while we are there what we are going to do in the future.

Cheers,

Chris & Angie

[QUOTE=Vic&jase]
I think this sums up a lot of peoples feelings - what a lovely happy post, it's really cheered me up.

Well good luck with whatever you decide. Keep us informed

Hi Chris and Angie, just have a good think about this, you've done all the hard work "It's better to know you've failed trying, than to have failed, not trying"
We have, I think a comfortable life here in London, 1st we thought about moving out a little, to get the clean air, country feel etc... and Australia escalated from that. We feel at our time in life we have to experience the greener grass on the other side, We also want to give our children that experience.
As for family we will miss loads, but to be honest we do not really see much of each other and only live a few miles apart. I feel, hopefully, when they visit us in aus, the 3/4 weeks they are there, will be quality time.

We went to Lanzarote this xmas just to talk about our decision, and as soon as we got of the plane our decision was made, there is no where else like Australia.

Good luck in all your decisions its a toughy

Sous

Good luck in your choice.
We've only been here 7 weeks n it is a rollercoaster. We came over expecting worst case scenario. That way you can't be disapointed!

We are just seeing it as an opportunity for us n our kids to experience something "DIFFERENT" some things better - some thing not......but wot a great experience.

And those walks on the beach.....brilliant. And the parks.....by the beach.
That's what we're enjoying. This time last year we hadn't even "thought" of emigrating. Decided in June - here by Feb! That way we didn't have a lot of time to analyse. In the words of Peter Kay - we just booked it ....and f**ed off!

It's not for the fainthearted - but hey...you'll always be remembered back home for "Remember that family that emigrated to OZ!"

Gotta go ......get ready for a bbq - "With our kids" (wish that bloody eski would hurry up an arrive on the ship from UK!)

L-j

You are far from on your own with this one!
I'm sure everyone with good jobs, happy children and wonderful friends go through exactly the same, I know we are. My hubby has a very good job with fantastic prospects, as they just about to expand, our children are very settled at school, some of my friends I have had for the whole of my life, and of course my parents, well they are getting older..... but saying all that, we have the opportunity, we HAVE to take it. Next time something goes wrong in the UK, we would always think - what if...?

We are moving to Melbourne, and we booked our flights 4 days ago. our house hasn't yet sold so we are having to leave it empty and up for sale, and we are choosing to leave our wonderful life here to become homeless and broke in Australia. We must be doing it for a reason, we must believe we can make it work. I think the problem is when everything is going so well over here, you wonder why you would want to give that up. I know, i feel that way, but am still determined to give this once in a lifetime opportunity a go.

In a couple of years my eldest will be in high school, so doing it now should make it easier for the children too! Hope you continue with your plans, go for it! We too are in the West Mids, Sutton Coldfield, but i really don't want my children to grow up in the suburbs of Birmingham, it's got to be better over there - I'm sure

Thanks for that - but I was always brought up to believe that Sutton Coldfield wasn't a suburb of Birmingham!!!

Chris

Back in the good old days eh! Unfortunately as you probably know Bham has adopted Sutton Cfield to cover their debts! Where else are they going to get the money from?
Good luck with everything Chris
Jacky

I have always wanted to go to Australia to live since I backpacked around Oz in 1998. Husband never been up for it. Changed his mind suddenly in January (cold weather, job dissatisfaction etc etc) and I already have a migration agent on the case!

My philosophy is like a lot of people say on here. England will always be there if you change your mind. Moving to Australia really excites me but scares the hell out of me too and I know if we get the visa the week before going I will think we have made the wrong decision. I do actually live in the same town as my parents and two sisters and leaving them will be hard. Especially as one of my sisters is being extremely negative about the whole thing.

Plus I absolutely hate spiders!!!!!!!!!

I don't want to get ten years down the line and realise we don't have enough points to go.

Why not say you'll go for three years and make a decision at the end of that?

We are hopefully Perth bound. My husbands occupation has been put on the MODL today so yippeeeeee. Hopefully that visa might be granted sooner rather than later??????????

Reading this thread with a lot of interest. I can relate to the fears and questions asked in this one. I ask them myself. But something makes me carry on.

What I would like to know is how do your children have a better life there, what specifically? How is the state schooling standards wise? For that matter upon arrival are your children allowed to go straight away?

And the insects and suncream is a worry, surely its not that bad in Melbourne? Copeable?

Hi Chris and Angela, we have just done it. I also sometimes had doubts and was worried about the unknown. I agree with other here and also say you only have one shot of life. Go for it I had to leave my seriously ill dad behind and it broke my heart even though he urged us to go because of the way the UK is going. We are at least giving our kids a better chance in life and a possible healthier lifestyle. Wishing you the best.
Lesleym