First visit back to Blighty - discuss!
 

Sorry if this has been discussed before (looked but couldn't find) - tomorrow I'm going back to the mother land for 3 weeks after having been in QLD for a year.

How many of you did this and (a) had a great time (b) wished you hadn't bothered (c) encountered hysterical sobbing at the airport - arriving and/or departing?!

Was hoping to go back for better weather ;) but it seems half the UK is flooded :frown: Also struggling to fit all my woolies in my suitcase - it's only used to having shorts and t-shirts.

Flying with Etihad - anyone familiar with them? Just hoping they aren't the cut price airline with outside loos. :eek:

Re: First visit back to Blighty - discuss!
 

I'm going back to visit this year and have heard Etihad are OK, how much was the flight?

Buy some wellies:eek:

Re: First visit back to Blighty - discuss!
 

Went back last June and wished I hadn't bothered. It was nice to see friends and family but once that was done then ............. shopping which was good but since being here I have got over the need to shop all the time.

IMO once you get over the initial excitement then what? You have been there before - you lived there so nothing is new and exciting, just the same gripes and groans as before you left.

I can't see me going back to the UK for quite some time or if I do, then it is a flying visit on the way to Europe and people can come to see me in London this time, instead of me travelling all over the country. If they don't then so be it.

We have also decided that because we fly BC it is cheaper to fly those family members over here Economy that can't afford to come than us going over there. Also the family then get a great holiday and we get to go away somewhere we haven't been or want to go to, when they have all gone! :thumbsup:

Re: First visit back to Blighty - discuss!
 

Think it was $2100 and something - can't remember exact amount. Could probably have got cheaper at later date but had to be now or never!

My mum's paying cos she won't fly out here! :D

Re: First visit back to Blighty - discuss!
 

Went out with Qatar in November - incredibly good airline. Amazingly low cost and bloody good service.

Loved every minute of my time there and realised how much I missed my friends!

Cost about $1600 return Tigering it out of Perth.

Re: First visit back to Blighty - discuss!
 

I waited two years to go back the first time, burst into tears on landing, got off the plane and realised that the UK is "home". Now go back as often as I can, when I'm there I'm alive, in between I just exist. But each to their own - many people never go back at all.

Re: First visit back to Blighty - discuss!
 

:ohmy: yikes - where do you live and why's it so bad?

Re: First visit back to Blighty - discuss!
 

I feel exactly the same - I went back last april for the fist time, haviong been in oz for just over two years. Good to see family/mates etc. But I paid to come back one day earlier

Re: First visit back to Blighty - discuss!
 

I waited 6 years before I went home. I was scared about going back though because I wasn't sure after all that time how I would feel. Scared that I would love it and have to go through all the emotional turmoil again and, scared that I may not love it, then be in nomansland because I've never really totally settled here. I was like Polly, I absolutely loved it. I felt alive and I never wanted to leave again.

It wasn't just the shops, although they were fantastic, it wasn't just old friends and family, although we are all very close. It was my surroundings, the feeling that I belonged. It was overwhelming to be honest.

Re: First visit back to Blighty - discuss!
 

Been back once in 3 years and will go back again in June for 3 weeks.

Only going so my Mother gets a look at our daughter really. She's not a big traveller and getting on so ...

Upwards of 9 grand budgeted plus 3 weeks that I could usefully spend elsewhere having a better time.

Will enjoy 'catching up' with my Mum, 3 sisters and some mates but after the initial stuff is over it will just be a grind living in what feels like a stuffy shoebox in a shite area.

I have a side-trip to Amsterdam planned that will sweeten the deal.

Joyous. Looking forward to it like Bowel Cancer.

Re: First visit back to Blighty - discuss!
 

We've (sans husband) have a trip back booked for July for a fortnight. I swing from thinking it'll be cool, lots of people to see to oh god what are we doing, I'll be bored rigid after the first week. I am already stressing about the amount of time I am going to have to spend sitting in my mother's sitting room listening to her whitter. I want to see some people, really I do but not $6,600 worth:confused: We're only going because no one appears to have any interest in coming here (that should tell me something I think) and the olds are only getting older.

It sounds really really evil but things would be so much more convenient if the olds were to pop their clogs about a day after we got there. Oh god, did I really say that:ohmy: I don't want them to obviously but hell they have to go at some point and as we are executors for hubby's mum and step dad, we will have to go back then and......................oh hell:rolleyes:

Re: First visit back to Blighty - discuss!
 

Went back for November 07 and a little of December. Only went for money reasons, altho nice to see family ... :)

The news in Blighty (London) is more depressing than it was 2 years ago and .....

Oh I could go on, and on, and on, and on!

Bloody glad to be back is all I can say ... :thumbsup:

I missed one of them when I was there ... :( Brother in law went with mates and it would've been excellent, but couldn't afford to take off the night in question, and the few that followed off so blew out! ... :(

They had a ball tho! ... :curse:

Re: First visit back to Blighty - discuss!
 

Amen to all that.

Re: First visit back to Blighty - discuss!
 

Went back after 2 years and felt like I could have/should have stayed. Went back seven years later and felt like a foreigner there.

Re: First visit back to Blighty - discuss!
 

Went back for 3 weeks last Oct. Loved it. No flooding either, was very mild.

Will be going back again soon.

Re: First visit back to Blighty - discuss!
 

There's always the next time, when you have PR and have made your fortune.:D

Re: First visit back to Blighty - discuss!
 

Doubt there will be a next time to be honest, unless! ... :eek:

No fortunes to be made by me either, altho will be happy with 'getting by' ... wouldn't want to be rich!

http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u...s/pinokkio.gif

Re: First visit back to Blighty - discuss!
 

I was just about to say "you're kidding me':ohmy: then i saw the nose:lol:

Re: First visit back to Blighty - discuss!
 

Hey, think big. Boat now, charter boat next. Money to be made here with one of those.

Mine beats yours.....
http://img208.imageshack.us/img208/2548/fibalotxee8.gif
:rofl:

Re: First visit back to Blighty - discuss!
 

Weve just booked to go home too in JUne which will be a year since we arrived, not sure what to expect either.

We were going to fly wih Etihad too but decided to go with Singapore again. I did a thread about Etihad Airlines a while ago and I'm just going to try
and find the link for it............

http://britishexpats.com/forum/showthread.php?t=502364

C x

Re: First visit back to Blighty - discuss!
 

We're going back end of Sept time after nearly 2 years of being here

Looking forward to seeing my family especially as my bro is getting married and we had a falling out before i came over and we only made up on the phone so didnt see him!:(

Am excited but aprehensive too!

Re: First visit back to Blighty - discuss!
 

http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u.../surrender.gif

Ok, your prize ... http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u...mileys/1st.gif

Re: First visit back to Blighty - discuss!
 

You probably want to clarify that - I presume you mean "executors for will purposes" rather than any other type of executors.

Wouldn't want any misinterpretation! ;)

Re: First visit back to Blighty - discuss!
 

In the in laws case, yes for the wills. In my mother's case....................I would hate to incriminate myself :lol:

Re: First visit back to Blighty - discuss!
 

Thanks for the link - glad the reviews seems positive cos it's too late now!! Will update on my return!

Re: First visit back to Blighty - discuss!
 

Aaaw, thanks for that. It's been a long time since I won anything.:(

Re: First visit back to Blighty - discuss!
 

I've found a loop hole if you're interested? ... :rofl:

Re: First visit back to Blighty - discuss!
 

what? for getting away with murder? Hey I could be interested;)

Re: First visit back to Blighty - discuss!
 

oi oi oi

No pushing i was here first i'll have you know!!

Re: First visit back to Blighty - discuss!
 

:eek: ... I was only joking!

http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u..._the_phone.gif

(Paul dials 000)

"Hello can I have the police, I have something you REALLY should know!"

Re: First visit back to Blighty - discuss!
 

Will they be interested in a UK crime:confused: Especially one where I can claim emotional whatsit.

Re: First visit back to Blighty - discuss!
 

Prob wouldn't be interest in an Aussie crime! ...lol

Emotional whatsit was my loop hole ... :sneaky:

Re: First visit back to Blighty - discuss!
 

Been in Oz just over 3 years now and I headed back home after 1 year and have just returned from Nottingham after spending 4 weeks over xmas and new year. Both times I have run out of time and thought 4 weeks was not long enough. So many family and friends to see and I seem to slip back into life in England like I have never been away and have a great time. Even leaving at the end of the holiday seems a little easier now its still sad but no tears. I think in the long run we will return for a stint in Blighty we are lucky that I dont mind Oz and the wife doesnt mind England. Only problem might be where we live I want Nottingham the wife wants London (typical aussie what is there fascination with the place). The other plus is I got to see real football well Forest anyway. :thumbsup:

I'm alittle like Polly I think I went out more times in 4 weeks in Nottingham than I have in 3 years in Brisbane. It also makes me realise what I left behind and probably makes me more determined to return one day.

Re: First visit back to Blighty - discuss!
 

Been in Perth for nearly 2 years. Just spent 4 weeks over Christmas in the UK with my daughter and came back yesterday evening. Had a fantastic time. :D
Great to see my husband & dogs ... but
God its bloody hot here :ohmy:


Nicky

Re: First visit back to Blighty - discuss!
 

Nearly six years since we left and we visit every year. I've never missed it; we go for our families more than us. Home is where we live.

I love my family, we are close and chat on IM most days, call at least once a fortnight, but I find it all really stressful (sister with psych problems, never know how she will be when we are there). We stay the minimum time we can get away with - 3 days with each family and 3 days in a hotel in the middle, seeing friends and shopping. I'm always longing for my own bed.

My family won't/can't travel, the in-laws have all visited and the oldies didn't cope very well with the heat so we see it as a duty to visit them. My folks are mid-70s and won't be around forever.

The first visit, we were a novelty, we took lots of chinoiserie goodies and saw lots of people. Subsequent trips, you run out of present ideas and only see your closest friends and family.

I think, as an expat (permanent or otherwise), knowing that one day there will be a phone call which means we need to get there fast - or it's too late - is one of the hardest things.

Re: First visit back to Blighty - discuss!
 

Went back for xmas.
Had great fun but missed Aus terribly. Glad to be back.
Travelled around the world, got to Glasgow to pick up a hire car and it wasnt there. Woman at couters response: "Aye well THAT doesnae surprise me!" followed by a shrug...WTF???
On the way back:
Flight from Glasgow to heathrow delayed by ever 3hrs! Wait another 30mins for baggage....Miss my connetion spend 24hours waiting for a flight the next day...
The usual UK organisational chaos then!
Dont do it!

Re: First visit back to Blighty - discuss!
 

Too late, they went yesterday :lol:

Re: First visit back to Blighty - discuss!
 

Went back after a year here to see the MIL.

She died 3 hours before we landed.

Well, you *did* ask!

Re: First visit back to Blighty - discuss!
 

We're heading back for a big trip in 6 weeks. First time back for me in almost 4.5 years. $10,000 all up for 4 of us. The sort of thing we will all do every 10 years. Chief will take the kids (1 or more) more often.

We're going to stay in California for 3 weeks, South America for 2 weeks, and the Uk for 2. This is the holiday I have accrued so far. Luckily we're being put up by family.

I'm looking forward to seeing how the UK has gone. I'm most looking forward to going into Tesco or Sainsbury to see for myself all the fuss as when I was living there 2000-2001 I never really used or took advantage of even a quarter of the stuff on sale(!) So now I'm going to take my time. I'm going to look at all the Aussie wine on sale and see how that works. I want to repatriate my aging CD collection - finally(!) - and see the restoration work my brother has done on a car I've never seen...

Looking forward to seeing rural England & Wales (my old dear lives on a farm in N Wales) and for that matter seeing SW London from the taxi(!) -although I have a feeling the initial excitement will give way to disappointment eventually. We might even get the bus so we can be back in English life, listening to London accents(!)

All in all it will be great, especially for the kids. I love California for visiting.

Re: First visit back to Blighty - discuss!
 

If it’s anything like going home to Ireland from here (London) then I don’t think we’ll be doing it too often, or at least not for any length of time. When we go now, it’s all a big novelty for a day, everyone wants to go for dinner and catch up etc. Then it’s like you never went away, everyone’s whinging at you about drivel, I'm packed off to see the mad relations that everyone else ignores coz apparently they’re ‘dying’ to see me (i.e. I'm performing that weeks duty visit) and I get schlepped around the shops 9 times a day in case there’s anything new in.

Luckily we have family in Scotland and friends in London so I think if we are over, it’ll be a few days in each and then we’re off again. Might make it all a less painful!!

Therese ;)