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 ;)

Re: First visit back to Blighty - discuss!
 

Arrived Australia 1964

First trip to UK (it isn't home any more) summer 1974 for three months - With a couple of kids to entertain three months was too long and I hated the cold.

Second trip christmas 1984 for a suprise 50th wedding anniversary party. The FIL nearly popped his clogs when he saw us. As it was christmas time I knew it was going to be cold and I was prepared :) We had a ball and six weeks wasn't long enough.

Third trip coming up at the end of April for 10 weeks. There's a lot of people over there who owe us a bed for a couple of nights but no firm plans made. I intend to go, see and do whatever I want to.

It will be interesting to see what things are really like over there and how things have changed over the years.

Yes, I'm looking forward to it and going with an open mind. (and a suitcase full of winter clothes)

Re: First visit back to Blighty - discuss!
 

Make sure you give us all a full report when you get back. I love hearing people's impressions of the UK after they've been out of the country for a long period of time. :)

Re: First visit back to Blighty - discuss!
 

...bus???...london accents???...at the same time???....does not compute!!

:p

Re: First visit back to Blighty - discuss!
 

Going back in 3 weeks time cant wait :thumbsup:

Re: First visit back to Blighty - discuss!
 

Haven't booked flights yet waiting for credit card to come so i can book them but have found flights with emirates direct to Birmingham so i am really excited we have been here for 2 years but i feel really guilty as i am going back without hubby just me and the little one he has lived here in Aus longer than he has lived in the UK. i haven't really been homesick i just miss my friends and family so i am going back for 6 weeks so i can visit everyone. for me and my son it is costing $3700 and i thought this was quite reasonable???? comments please

i feel selfish going and leaving hubby here but we can't afford for all of us to go plus he came out here 3 years ago for 7 weeks on his own so is the same but in reverse.


Poshrice:blink: