Originally Posted by quoll

My parents just had a similar experience - and that was a surprise for them because they usually know someone who knows someone. And that was in East Anglia.

Originally Posted by Kapri

Absolutely!
I think this must be the case with some people.
I am going to emigrate for an adventure not because I live in a sh** hole.

In my area, like lots of others, there isn't gang warfare, chavs roaming the streets looking to film a happy slapping or immigrants taking all the jobs and leaving none for me!

Yes, there are plenty of areas in the UK that I wouldn't choose to live, there are also plenty of areas in Australia where I wouldn't choose to live.

Originally Posted by northernbird

I think it depends where you are. My hairdresser is from Harrogate and he told me that his brother who is a joiner is really struggling for work over the past 12 months and hasn't ever struggled in 25 years.

Originally Posted by Mike-T

Well, we were back home last year and they all wanted to stay in UK!! I know, I know it was a "holiday" and we can't go off that.

I keep coming around to being mortgage free. It is very appealing. Another appeal is having holidays. In 15 years, we have had 3 trips to Manchester, and we go camping in January. We can't afford anything else. We couldn't afford our first trip back home, we put it on our mortgage. We had to go back for our own sanity. Another trip was for funeral/s.

I'd love to go to Bali, Fiji, Samoa etc. But it is way beyond our budget. Spain, Greece, Turkey wouldn't be. I miss overseas holidays.

I miss going to the pub and being able to afford a pint of proper beer. It's 6 quid a pint in Perth. I'm over the beach. This summer we just haven't been to the beach, it's too much effort. I just don't see what we are doing in Perth. I think the time is right, our eldest will be starting uni next year (teaching course is $18,000/year here) so we are prepared to pay UK fees. Middle child is very intelligent and the youngest is going up to high school next year, so I think it's now or never.

I still don't klnow if I'm daft or if it is the right thing to do. Maybe I'll snap out of it...who knows.

Thanks for the comments, it all helps.

Originally Posted by Dave Teddyboy-No1

Most houses in Queensland are Queenslander,dont forget your in the tropics there,and the climate is a lot different

Originally Posted by Kiwilass

Wait a minute...you get to leave an isolated place with few options to live mortgage free in a very interesting, NOT isolated country with loads of history and family and culture?

Dude, do it.

Originally Posted by chris955

I struggle to recognise the UK that some people talk about to be honest. Before I went back to the UK a few people said 'you'll see what I am talking about when you get there', well I'm afraid I must have disappointed them because I didnt see the gangs on every corner and the dirty streets and 100's of unemployed begging on the side of the road. Like you there are plenty of places I wouldn't live in the UK but I can point to a dozen areas within 20k's of where we are here I wouldn't live for free.

Originally Posted by verystormy

Well said. If it is so bad then how come when i tried to get some fellow geologists to move over here i couldnt get a single taker. Fully expensed move, slightly better money than they are on now and a roster of week on week off compared to the 6 week on 2 off they do now. Not one single taker.

Originally Posted by jad n rich

<snip>OZ houses are usually crammed together like sardines, and people live with all their doors and windows open, out cooking on decks, kids screaming in pools, sitting outside till all hours.

YOu wont find a place on the planet where your neighbours are more in your face or IME inconsiderate.
<snip>