Originally Posted by Reaver

Why spoil it?

Im 36 now, and the older I get the stronger the urge to leave the UK gets. Working hours here are some of the longest, some of the smallest houses compared to other civilized countries, we have a real immigration problem because the restrictions that other countries impose, simply arent in place here. The country is going to the dogs. The political parties are systematically destroying the country trying to outdo each other, and you cant even get a simple job in a pub or a fast food joint without a CV and several references. When I get my degree I will have to work my bollocks off just to get a mediocre wage. Any civilized country would be a considerably better choice than dear old blighty. Is it worth risking losing all that you have achieved because you feel the call of home? IMO, no it isnt, but thats just me.

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Originally Posted by toodlepip

I think you do what's right for you and your family. We're heading back after almost 5 years, like someone else said we didn't come here because we thought England was a shithole, we came to experience life in a different country and for adventure.

I'm completely bemused by responses from people when I tell them we're heading back, it's almost always 'Don't you like it here?' or 'Do you hate Australia that much'. Why does it have to be 'England Bad, Australia Good' or vice versa? Really simplistic thinking yet it seems to be how so many people see it (both English & Aussie!). My Aussie mum is taking me wanting to come home to UK as a personal rejection of her country when it's not at all. We have no regrets about coming, but I know we'll regret staying any longer - that's a personal decision about what's right for me and my family and there will always be people who think we've done the right thing, and people who think we're nuts - really I don't care what other people think! (though wouldn't mind some pithy responses as I'm getting bored with continually having the same conversation in response to 'don't you like it here anymore' - said plaintively )

These threads always degenerate into a 'which country is better' competition. It's perfectly possible to like both! The oft quoted phrase 'same shit, different bucket' springs to mind - some of us just like changing the bucket more often than others -because we're all different!

Good luck with what you decide to do, it sounds like you all want to go home - so try it, from my experience once the thought of 'I could do it' enters your head, it doesn't go away! It's a good time to go in terms of the exchange rate etc, and presumably you have citizenship - you can always come back to Australia again .

Originally Posted by Pollyana

And some people will tell the truth, not to rub your nose in anything but cos its true. Badge doesn't work longer hours, he rushes home to his lovely wife.
Some of us however just do work longer hours.

Originally Posted by Bernie Barfly

Unless Happyjacks ask him to do the late shift,straight after his shift at Coles

Originally Posted by Pollyana

Now that just wouldn't be fair would it....specially if it was late night and full of people just wanting chips and not being polite

Originally Posted by Bernie Barfly

He'll need to move to north queensland then

Originally Posted by Mike-T

G'day all

First time poster here. Just found out about this site after living in the Antipodes for 15 years.

Well, I have lived in Auckland for 7.5 years, and I have now lived in Perth for 7.5 years. I am married with 3 boys who are now 17, 14 and 12. We are now in a position where we could comfortably return to UK and be mortgage free. And it is very, very tempting. Currently in Perth, we have a huge mortgage, which we can easily afford to make the payments, but to be mortgage free is very appealing.

We have had 3 trips to UK as a family since we emigrated and each time we loved it and did not want to leave, (despite being told by friends that a trip "home" would make us realise how lucky we are living down here) but financially it was impossible to return home.

But now, we could easily do it. We are from Manchester, but don't intend returning there. I have been doing a fair bit of research on Norfolk/Suffolk. It sounds like a great place to live (never been there). Property prices seem very reasonable, kids seem to do well at school and crime rates are low compared to the national average. But, we don't know anybody in this area. Are we mad?

I have a successful business here in Perth. I work 6 hours a day Mon-Fri, no weekends, life is pretty good. But, I am becoming more and more English in my old age. England really is calling me home and the urge to return is getting stronger.

It'd be great to hear from anyone who has returned to UK (good and bad stories.)

So, are we mad, or shall we do it?

Originally Posted by Pollyana

I dunno, what about that one near the Royal Brisbane, always looks busy and most of the customers have had a few....

Originally Posted by Bernie Barfly

Yeah but it's run by very happy smiley indians,who's second language seems to be 'pish talk',so no matter how drunk you are yer order is NEVER wrong

Originally Posted by Mike-T

G'day all

First time poster here. Just found out about this site after living in the Antipodes for 15 years.

Well, I have lived in Auckland for 7.5 years, and I have now lived in Perth for 7.5 years. I am married with 3 boys who are now 17, 14 and 12. We are now in a position where we could comfortably return to UK and be mortgage free. And it is very, very tempting. Currently in Perth, we have a huge mortgage, which we can easily afford to make the payments, but to be mortgage free is very appealing.

We have had 3 trips to UK as a family since we emigrated and each time we loved it and did not want to leave, (despite being told by friends that a trip "home" would make us realise how lucky we are living down here) but financially it was impossible to return home.

But now, we could easily do it. We are from Manchester, but don't intend returning there. I have been doing a fair bit of research on Norfolk/Suffolk. It sounds like a great place to live (never been there). Property prices seem very reasonable, kids seem to do well at school and crime rates are low compared to the national average. But, we don't know anybody in this area. Are we mad?

I have a successful business here in Perth. I work 6 hours a day Mon-Fri, no weekends, life is pretty good. But, I am becoming more and more English in my old age. England really is calling me home and the urge to return is getting stronger.

It'd be great to hear from anyone who has returned to UK (good and bad stories.)

So, are we mad, or shall we do it?

Originally Posted by Amazulu

Sounds like you've made your mind up to move back so asking for opinions about it is kind of bizarre

Just do it

Originally Posted by Mike-T

No Mate. If I had made my mind up I would have already "done it"

I am thinking that it may be a good move and I think to discuss it with friends and also with people on this site (migrants, and would be migrants) is very interesting.

The implications are HUGE after 15 years away from UK and 2 kids born and bred here, and the other was only 2 when we left UK, so they have to be considered. It's not something that can be rushed into.

I think if it was just me, I would definitely go home, but I cannot be that selfish, I must consider my wife and boys. That is why is good to hear other peoples opinions. From people who have already done it, people who are thinking of doing it, and people who would rather poke their eyes out than return to UK.

For what it's worth ALL of our mates think that we are completely bonkers for even considering it. And 90% of our friends are Brits.

The main thing stopping me is that we have witnessed so many people go home, only to come back within a few months all the poorer (financially), but maybe wiser!!!

As I said in my first post, maybe I am mad, maybe I'll get over it.

Originally Posted by Pollyana

One thing that amazes me is the determination of some of the people who do move back. There are a lot of them in the UK forum (that I posted the link to earlier) who are moving back in their 50s and 60s, many of them on their own, with no family back in the UK, and having been abroad for 20/30/40 years.

Me, I sit here and um and ah and reconsider and chew it over and always come to the same conclusion, leaving everything else aside, my financial situation here is good, but if I leave, I lose it and I have no money and no job. And thats with just me to consider. With a family in the equation it must be one heck of a decision to be faced with.
Only thing I can say is what I say to everyone who asks if they should move here in the first place.....get a large sheet of paper and write the For Aus things in one column and the For UK in the other. If everyone in the family does it then it might help a little.....maybe.........

Originally Posted by Beedubya

Whilst I agree with you in principle Polly that lists of for and against's are good, but for me it came down to FEELINGS, how where my FEELINGS being in the UK vs my FEELINGS about living in Australia............no contest......