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

Good luck Renth, with whatever you decide :)
I've often thought about moving to somewhere like Bullsbrook or Chittering, in an ideal world I'd love to. But, I'd be worried that as Jad and Rich has said, that there wouldn't be many friends for them in the area and I'd end up driving them everywhere.
That's why, for us, being in Ellenbrook (well actually Morgan Fields, Henley Brook) is good for us. We have the rural lifestyle on our doorstep but live on an estate with loads of kids! I'm sure though that if we to be brave enough to do it, it would come out good.
Best of luck,
Tracey

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

Mate,

I hear you ...

Wife would go back tomorrow if I gave the say so. That said, she's not so unhappy to the point of being desperate to go back. It's just in the background always ...

If it came that she had to go, we will have to go.

I know of 3 friends going back for 'good' ...

3

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

Haven't been on here for a while and have just read this entire thread!

We're fortunate enough to be back in the UK for a 6 month stint - arrived in April and will be back in Perth in October. We have enjoyed being back here more than we expected and as a result have been going through the same thought process as Renth - i.e. house prices have peaked in Perth and the exchange rate is fantastic - is it a good time to move back?

For us, Perth feels like retirementville while the UK (London in particular) has an amazing buzz that has made us feel really alive again. There is no doubt that day to day things are a little tougher here but the rewards are greater. We heard a lot of negativity about the UK (Daily Mail again...) in the past year or so but actually we think it has improved in the 4 years since we left. Our friends are all very happy and despite the drifting economy they seem really positive!

Some observations: We find the cost of living slightly cheaper here than in Perth. Also, grocery prices have barely moved in 4 years. Petrol is a shocker but then we only do about a quarter the distance that we did in Perth. Jobs are tough to find at the moment with the economy slowing and the market reeling from the effects of the credit crunch. Salaries have dipped slightly but then again because of the boom of that last few years they have risen dramatically since 2003. House prices have come off a little (5-10%) and it has become a buyer's market. We think housing affordability is slightly better here than in Perth where prices are plainly out of whack. Yes, there are a lot of people here stuck with hefty mortgages but at least the mortgage rate (variable) is below 6%. The one thing that has surprised us is how much there is to do for young kids. Ours are not of school going age so can't comment on that, but in general the kids here don't seem any better or worse. Knife crime amongst teens seems to make the headlines here on a daily basis but crime in general seems pretty low. Here in London the authorities seems to be taking a tough stance on crime and anti-social behaviour - certainly tougher than before we left.

Good luck with the decision making Renth.

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

Bloody hell. You're making me want to go back now...

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

Question? One reads on this forum about how behind Australian schooling is to the UK. However if your child is to stay in Australia and compete with Australians for Uni's jobs-who cares.
I hear South Korea has amazing education-why not all go there?

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

Three cheers for logic-compare the largest city in the UK to the fourth largest in Australia-and come to the conlusion that London is a buzzier place.
(btw-I here New York is buzzier than cairns)

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

True though!

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

Seriously, what about Perth's vital statistics could have led a would be immigrant to expect it to be abuzz????
And why the suprise at London being buzzy, its been a financial capital of the world for over three hundred years.
Funnily, all 'buzz' really is is a bunch of people scrambling in one place to acheive the kind of lifestyle one achieved (once upon a time) in a place like perth without even trying. Each and every aspirational in London on acheiving wealth spends the rest of their life using their money to distance themselves from people and crowds.
I truly believe if people got over their illogical need for this 'buzz' they would in fact be happier.

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

I agree ..........a bit like an ant nest......I wouldn't want to live there again !

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

Not impressed by the assumption that larger means buzzier.

Leeds, Sheffield, Edinburgh, Bristol and Nottingham to name a few that I have experienced are all smaller than Perth and in my view (and probably most others if they have visited Perth) considerably more buzzier.

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

I know, the exception always makes the rule. Generally I would think it would be fair to say that a global financial capital would be buzzier than a backwater, albeit a cashed up one, in a desert miles from anywhere.
As for the cities you mentioned-If Bristol, Nottingham and Sheffield were vacated and bulldozed the world would be no worse for it.
Nottingham buzzy-I would say utterly tragic. Robin Hood would turn in his grave.

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

Well since i have lived in Leeds for 12 years, i can confirm that is true also. Some peole like "buzzy busy":);)

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

Anyway never said bigger means buzzy-just said don't be suprised if it is the case-suprised by the list of cities here mentioned in a positive kind of way-it appears buzzy too is highly subjective-I think utterly dreary would pretty much sum up all of them.

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

That is so true. Well said.

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

It's a case of whatever tickles your fancy hippy!!! ;)

Tickle me pink:D