The Crow

Brean - I know it well. My OH's parents (and extended family & friends ) had a caravan there. Nice sand dunes - the rest of it - the pits of the earth IMHO

cresta57

Complete turn around for us. We've been here for four years at the end of the month. We didn't come by choice it was more of a drastic change in health of a parent that brought us running here. We came from a 3 bed terrace property in Grimsby, Lincolnshire, where we had lived for over 15 yrs. Here we moved to a small rural community very similar to the one I grew up in back in the U.K. The community spirit/feeling is still very big here, people care about where they live.
In the U.K Deb & I worked for the same employer [Deb was in the office] I was a builder/tiler/roofer just about anything connected with the building trade we did it. Here I found work impossible to source without a licence, so much so that I found myself doing the course as soon as we could arrange it. The only logical step forward was then to work for myself. Four years down the track we have an established business and work for a few local builders & cabinet makers. It hasn't been easy as the "locals" are very suspicious of any change so it took some work to build up trust and rapport with them. Deb & I both work together as tilers, teamwork maybe? If you listen to Deb she does the work & I do all the talking.
We bought a block of land early on and set about obtaining finance to build our own home. A "lo doc" mortgage was the only option available so we built a 4 bed high set hardiplank home. We have spectacular views over the nearby hills and the light pollution is next to nothing so we often gaze up at the stars of an evening. We have a spa on the back deck so after work it's nice to enjoy a beer or two while relaxing.
leisure wise in the U.K we used to spend all out spare time restoring & showing cars, custom, classic or hotrods we were at shows nearly every weekend. Here I've not even been to a car show, I get my V8 fix listening to the hoons on the highway. In place of cars we now have boats & scuba diving. My son is a keen diver & we recently upgraded our old tinny to something big enough to dive from. When we're not diving we fish or go over to Fraser Island just for a walk or a picnic.
Touching back on the community spirit thing, we're far more community minded here than we were in the U.K. We joined our local sports & social club not long after arriving. Deb was President last year, I'm Providore this year. It takes up a bit of time as I'm responsible for ordering in all the alcohol etc. as well as monthly stocktakes. I work behind the bar there on Thursday & Friday evenings as a volunteeer.
Deb & I are also members of the local Rural Fire Brigade, I'm an active member attending call out's & controlled burns etc. Deb is support staff, they provide radio back up and make sure we're all fed & watered when we're out in the field. Our son recently turned 16 he's now an active full member of the brigade, he did his first controlled back burn at the weekend, I'm very proud he's chosen the RFB over hooning or drugs. He's made friends and fitted into life here much better than I could have hoped for.
Summing up life here in rural Qld is like stepping back to 1960's Lincolnshire. There's a real sense of community spirit that makes you proud to live here. I wouldn't swap my old life for quids

OzWannabee

SOLD!!! We'll be there ASAP!!

sasbear

Work

I no longer teach high school - something that i would have continued to do back in the UK. I now work in IT recruitment in a payroll/admin role. 40 hours a week and flexible, whereas the teaching was longer hours due to the planning and assessing. I did enjoy my job back in the UK and I still keep in touch via email/facebook/msn with loads of students who I once taught. Here the job is more relaxed and I switch off as soon as I leave the building.

When I get home from work I generally sit and chill with a glass of wine and hubby cooks the meal.

Hubby hates his job and wishes he had the same job as he had back in the UK. He used to drive for Wilkinsons and worked very long hours but the pay was good. Often working 60 + hours per week wasn't high on my agenda and this job he has here, although it is a manual, heavy job, he only works approx 40 hours a week and doesn't work Saturdays.

Consequently our time together is now longer .....

Spare time
I don't think much in my life has changed re this - although i do find time to read more. Not sitting at the kitchen table marking essays! I drink about the same, and we have just started to entertain folks - as we did in the UK. As a couple we never really bothered going out to socialise as such in pubs/clubs - so still the same in that department.

Hubby has taken up fishing (not very good though) and also has more time on his hands to drink and cook - hence me being on WW point diet!!

Has my life changed? Yes and no.

Would I go back to what I had? Not on your Nellie!

I have lost an awful lot by fulfilling my/our dream. But I haven't lost my sense of humour or my ability to realise - we are only here once - so make it count!

gedge

reading some of the responses and comparing this with our experience makes me wonder whether we somehow missed an opportunity to make things better

for me the big change is really around work
in the UK work was my life, on call 24x7 and regularly working unsocial hours - i recall early one boxing day morning getting a call and having to go out in the driving snow up to the train station to get a clear reception, i stood there on the platform in the freezing cold and wondering wtf i was doing
commuting was always a drag too, but i got paid a good salary and was able to live comfortably

in comparison, here i work standard hours very rarely have to worry about out of hours support issues and travel is an easy half hour
i get paid an ok salary enough to get by on

for my wife, well you can't compare because in th UK she was in FT employment where as here she is a FT mum
although here she has the benefit of being able to enjoy more time outside in the garden or down the beach than perhaps she might in the UK, this is offset for her by having no one to share this with

so we have a bit more time together and can enjoy evening walks on the beach etc. but we're not as comfortable money wise (to be expected with the other changes in our life) and my OH misses her family and friends

when i weigh up the more sunshine and more time against the homesickness it's clear that we're not really any better off

esperanza

With the cosmopolitan entertainment complex that is Brean Leisure Park!

katiesel

Hi we have been here a year, life for me has changed little. I did not intend to do the same work here, I really intended to make a big change. We had all these plans and ideas about what we were going to do and how it was going to be and then when we eventually did arrive here, we kind of panicked and Have ended up basically with the same life as we had in the UK! Our life in the UK was fine and our life here is fine too. But it is not the big cahnge I had intended, maybe next time!

hevs

I don't think you can actually make homesickness "better" if you just don't feel it, then it isn't there

Are you going back?

gedge

from reading some posts on here (for instance Plug's last update) it seems that for some people the homesickness fades with time
we did what we thought was right to expediate this but alas it wasn't to be, so yes we have plans to return next year

tipp1974

Very good thread with great posting by people.
I was in Oz 5 years ago on a work/holiday visa and loved every minute of it. I looked into trying to get permanent residence visa or sponsorship at the time but didn't have enough points and couuldn't get sponsorship. Anyway, now if I do the IELTS exam and get the 7 score - I will reach the magic figure and can apply for permanent residence.
Someone made the point that they were stuck in a rut at home. I know exactly how they feel. In Oz 5 years ago my free time was filled with outdoor activities, the beach, park, walks etc. All stuff that doesn't cost the earth. At home (Ireland), weekends are only filled with going to the shopping centre, the pub or just keeping in from the rain. I am so looking forward to being able to apply for permanent residence and hopefully look forward to enjoying the Oz lifestyle again.
I do realise that once you get to Oz there is a lot of hard work to do to get settled, new job, house etc but it is so worth the effort and of course there is a risk involved in leaving behind what you already have at home.

Vanessa

At first I found it quite difficult - nothing was familiar and everything seemed an uphill struggle.

However, 28 months on and I love it. I work for a relocation agency on an ad hoc basis which gives me plenty of free time. My days are now spent down the gym, organising renovations (which are now nearly complete) doing the housework and looking after the hubbie. (oh and shopping and having lunch!) In the UK I worked full-time prosecuting for Trading Standards and Environmental Health and, apart from the advocacy, I don't miss it one bit.

I Went back to the UK in the summer and hopefully, will not have to go again for a long time. don't get me wrong, it was nice to see old friends etc but I really missed Aus and couldn't wait to get 'home'

I will always be proud to be English but for the foreseeable future my life will be Australia. In a perfect world, when we retire, I would like to do 6 months in France and 6 months in Australia (or something similar) but that will depend on health and budget and by that time inclination to get on a 24 hour flight twice a year!

TrickyTree

Good luck in whatever you decide to do mate.
I think we have come to a similar conclusion and after I get citizenship at the back end of 08 we will head home for a spell starting 09.

rabsody

homesickness is just one of those things that can't be helped i think. i find mine still waxes and wanes dramatically even after 7 years.

i LOVE your new avatar!!! a fellow blur fan? or just think modern life is rubbish LOL!!

gedge

thank you, that's the first comment
if you look closely you'll see that "modern" has been shortened
and yes deffo a fan from the very beginning

rabsody

me too, i loved them from the beginning and i still love albarn now with his latest projects too (haven't heard that album he did with the guy from the clash tho, queen something?? have you heard it?). wasn't hugely keen on coxon's solo stuff. i think 13 is one of my favourite albums - it's sooo depressing!!! next time i'm back in blighty would be great to see albarn's stage version of monkey too LOL!!!

sorry OP