Re: Is it a good time to move back to the UK?
 

Do you know my mate Battletank? He's a huge CPFC fan and I'm sure he runs or used to run their fan web site.

Re: Is it a good time to move back to the UK?
 

I'm going to have to impress on her in the strongest possible terms that she is going to have to get a job.

Re: Is it a good time to move back to the UK?
 

London may seem expensive but I can't see that many areas of London are more expesive than where I have just moved to in Brisbane.......many of the houses in this neighbourhood are in the million+ bracket.

G

Re: Is it a good time to move back to the UK?
 

May also want to consider your pension situation - I am guessing that you have had 5 years of Unisuper contributions, which would be a fair amount. If you moved back, then you wouldn't be able to continue contributing to that, unless you did so out of you post tax income. It would be a shame not to continue topping that up. Otherwise it will sit and you will gain less benefit from it when you retire. Moving countries is rarely pension friendly...

So if you impress on your wife that she may have to work, also impress on her the fact that she may have to work until later in life too...


S

Re: Is it a good time to move back to the UK?
 

Not a hope in hell surviving on that (I reckon) !

Re: Is it a good time to move back to the UK?
 

The pension/super (whatever you call it) system in Australia is far, far superior to what they have in the UK too IMO.

Re: Is it a good time to move back to the UK?
 

I really feel for you, it was me who wanted to return bk to the UK and I wish I had`nt:(

Your wife is hearing how great her mates are getting on and their kids, but do you think they are happy 100% of the time, bet they wish they had a bit of what you have, sun, sea etc

Your kids have roots in OZ now, its a shame to take them away from that now, I`d get some help for your wife, as sometimes the reality is, your not missing anything, you dont realise this until you get bk here!

Good luck with your decision
bluekipper

Re: Is it a good time to move back to the UK?
 

You have my sympathies Renth. My OH and son hate it here and want to leave.

I want to give it a go here but it's not easy when someone is ramming negatives down your throat 24/7.

Re: Is it a good time to move back to the UK?
 

True, 5 years of good contributions including a 17% employer contribution.

I won't get that back in good 'ol Blighty.

At least when I retire I can come back to Oz and sponge off the means tested old people's pension.

Re: Is it a good time to move back to the UK?
 

Yeah, it's crap isn't it? very stressful.

Re: Is it a good time to move back to the UK?
 

and many are not worth it. I still remember the shock of walking into a house in Brisbane valued at 500,000 and finding it had no kitchen. Literally no kitchen. There was a room in the middle of the house with bare floorboards (not even polished!), bare vj walls, no shelves or units or even a bench or sink. The only indicator that this room was the designated kitchen was the end of a copper pipe poking through the wall. The rest of the house was typical of a Queenslander that had not seen a paintbrush or hammer since the 70's. This was in 2004. Shudder to think what they would try and sell it for now.

Re: Is it a good time to move back to the UK?
 

Thanks, it's not going to help that we are going back for a holiday next month. Doubtless it will be sunny and everyone will be happy to see us and a great time will be had by all, reinforcing the pull back to the UK.

Re: Is it a good time to move back to the UK?
 

Yes, we went back March/April for 6 weeks and it was unusually sunny. Needless to say, they have returned here 100 times worse than they were before.

I've never argued so much before in all my years. I hate what it's doing to my marriage but feel like I'm being blackmailed.

Re: Is it a good time to move back to the UK?
 

I love it here and although I have no axe to grind with the UK (I didn't leave because I didn't like it there) I really cannot see us living there again. I know Sussex is a nice place to live but the rat race commuting, the traffic, the wanker pommy kids etc would just get me down. I think the future for average, middle class families is much brighter in Australia than it is in the UK and I can't see this changing in the forseeable future.

Re: Is it a good time to move back to the UK?
 

I agree with you 100% maybe it would be easier if I were to just slash my wrists now and be done with it?