You're right that the economic risks gave me cold feet, but as for family ties, they are already in Adelaide. If my mother and stepfather weren't there then I wouldn't consider moving there. Similarly, I wouldn't consider another Australian city for the same reason. I think our young daughters would really benefit from having grandparents around.

I can definitely see the attractions of Adelaide and Oz in general. I've always wanted to live near the sea, for example. The schools there look really good. The problem is that IT jobs are rare as hens' teeth so I'd have to set up on my own, which might well entail using the lump sum we'd take there to buy a house cash as collateral. That's a real risk and one I'm reluctant to take right now when the UK IT market is starting to pick up strongly (twice the number of jobs being advertised as a year ago) and the cost of houses is slowly reducing.

My wife teaches at a Further Education College. We emailed the TAFEs in Adelaide but there were no vacancies and we were left with the distinct impression that what vacancies do arise are filled almost immediately. So the prospects for her don't look good.

Despite all this we are still considering going, it's just that I don't feel we can justify it just yet.

hi again glittababe. look at all this indecision! we are all going through the same thing and of course, those who have made the decision, whether to go or not go, feel they've done the right thing and advise accordingly (i don't mean they necessarily tell you to do the same!)

did you try the 'today i have to go, tomorrow i never can' test?

my mum went 25 years ago, the week after i got married (i hadn't seen her since i was 9). all my brothers and sisters (4) went too. over the next few years all my aunts and uncles on her side went too (5) and lots of her friends. all of these after visiting her, or one or two just because of feedback. my brother came back for 6 weeks once in 81 for a family emergency and said he would never come back again, nor has he. my sister came over and worked for a year in 95 and has not been back. mum has been back lots to see my children over the years. she likes the cooler weather but only for the first few days!

Maybe you'll start a trend in your family. i'll bet there are lots of emigrants out there who have a similar experience.

you will find an ozzy suffolk and once the fear and loathing of everything being unfamiliar has worn off you will be home again. good luck with the house sale, ours goes on at the end of the month in dreadful anticipation of the meds etc going through ok. we so hate the grey winters, we have a european back up plan.

xx dawn

Morning Dawn! I did do the test and felt absolutely gutted with the prospect of NEVER being able to go to australia again! It leaves you feeling really empty (didn't help that it pee'd it down with rain yesterday evening either). I don't think my family will follow! They're happy in their own little homes loving Britain. They don't really give much thought to anything or anyone else! Mind you I've seen lots of posts on here from people in Suffolk, so maybe there'll be a Little Suffolk going on in oz when we finally get back!

lol Little Suffolk! Have visions of the ole suffolk farmers, cycling down surfers, head to tow in English ladies fashion stating "I'm a lady" (their beards flowing in the wind behind them)! Its not a pretty thought!

who says its not like that already???

if you check out the Adelaide university costs from this link you could see the average cost of a student in Oz

http://www.international.adelaide.ed...ug_summary.pdf

i expect our daughter could get around 10k debt here in the UK but in Australia this looks as though this could double and evn though you would hopefully have a good career in either country you still have to pay the money back in both countries!

Ian, those fees are for international students, not those people with permanent visas or citizenship.

Just out of interest, with PR how much are we looking to pay for our lovely lot to go to uni? Also, if we sent them back to the UK would we have to pay the international rate there? Just curious really, I tend to think where ever we are we'll have to pay!

link to uni of qld fees page -
http://www.uq.edu.au/study/index.html?page=947

Thank you! Right I'm off to buy some more shoes/trainers for work as my old ones have holes in them! Thanks again and take care X

Just been on the police section of this site and got some really good advice for husband regarding the selection process he was so concerned with. Its not all doom and gloom! Mark is eligible for another career break (as his was cut short), he can take it anytime from now up to three years. Within that time if he applies to a police force in oz and is successful, he can hand his notice in to the UK. It'll hopefully work for us as he's worried about losing this security.