Thought I'd stop by and say hello, any old guard still on here from 20 years ago? Any sparing partners that have changed their minds and dislike it here as much as I still do?

Polly is still around, but back in UK.

Not sure who else.

It would be interesting to know how many people I used to 'debate' with that argued for living in Australia have now ended up back home. I know there has been a few.

A fair few

i always intended to come home in the end & finally made it last March. Best decision ever!!

How is life treating you these days?

We retired to Australia 21 years ago, thought we would live here for a few years and never left, absolutely made the best decision. Two of our children followed us here, wasn’t easy for any of us to get visas, but we are all citizens now, and none of us have any intention of leaving.

Hello Polly, long time no speak. All well here in Sydney, still living the life as an inmate to Gods waiting room but other than that great. My boy is nearly 19 now and wanting to travel and work abroad so
hopefully the ties that bind me here are loosening. I'm planning to live half the year here and the other half in the UK. Although with WW3 looming it might be safer here!

One trip back was enough. I prefer it here in God’s country.

We have been back in the uk now since 2010 and have not missed life in Aus at all, we are currently touring around north east Spain an 1.38hr flight from Manchester, we just love being able to do that especially as we are now both 60 have always loved to travel, although we traveled around Aus and nearby countries but it cost a mortgage to do so and we were also fed up of being on a plane for long periods to do so bunch each to their own.

I'm still here and still hating it. Literally just returned from 5 weeks in UK - where I still belong!!! People were great, on my wavelength, the colours were eye waveringly beautiful, the history ...... omg, The History!!!!! I was in tears a few times because it was all so "right". I was in tears when I had to leave (again). It truly is a beautiful place and if you can get away from the larger conurbations it is wonderful. I cant imagine why anyone would actually want to leave - OK friends were whingeing about the weather but it was nothing that a brolly and a second jumper wouldnt fix and I did have some lovely days.

Sounds like you might be able to make a break for it soon then! Once the boy has flown the nest you can take stock properly of where you want to be!

The weather here is sooo much more tolerable than Brisbane was. If its cold or wet, out the right clothes on. However if its hot and humid there's little you can do except sit and melt.
It is such a beautiful country. I travel by coach over to the Welsh coast every couple of months and the way the landscape changes all around at every step of the way is just phenomenal. I haven't yet ceased to marvel at the number of different shades of green in the fields and hedges either!

I hope one day Quoll you will be able to feel “home” no matter where that may be as I know the feeling of not belonging somewhere. The history here and in Europe is fab always somewhere new to explore. In August we are having a short break and seeing Warwick castle and “Shakespeare country”. This green and pleasant land is a joy.

Hello to all,

I'm still here. Love it. Went back to UK last month, nice to see friends and family but couldn't live there.

Australia is going downhill fast though.

Good to hear from you - and glad you still love it

I have not been active on here for about 8 years.
I was surprised to see how many people have departed. We are planning our return for next year after 20 years here. Life in Aus holds very little attraction now. We have definitely grown out of it and are looking forward to seeing friends, going to weddings etc and visiting Europe.