At the risk of starting another s**tstorm ... how is anyone actually trapped in this day and age? Surely if you want to be in the UK that much you can be (even if you have zero cash) ... yeh, sacrifices will have to be made (emotional and financial) but if you have to follow your instinct then so be it ...

S**tstorm? On this forum? Think you must have the wrong place mate

Seriously though I can answer this from my personal experience. Have two kids, 11 and 8, born in UK, moved here with (now ex) Aussie husband seven years ago, split after one year. Have been advised by the finest legal powers in Brisbane that absolutely best case scenario 25% chance of getting back and cost of going to court is $20k+. Ex will not allow me to take kids back to UK (and I can see his point) which means staying another 8 years til youngest is 16. Other alternatives - returning without the kids, I don't think so! In this situation (and there's plenty similar out there), I can't think of any other word that better describes it than trapped. Hence the resulting frustration, anger and depression (some might call whingeing) can sometimes come across in posts on here.

Having said that, I haven't been feeling homesick for the past couple of weeks so I'm hoping it will last for the next 8 years!

I see ... I sometimes have a total failure to imagine other people's perfectly understandable situations ... Hope you last the next 8 without shooting anyone ... well, anyone important anyway

(edit) Awright, apart from personal situations such as these, lack of cash cannot be a factor if you REALLY want to go back can it?

having read lots of stuff on this forum and having frequented the mbuk bit, believe me peoples circumstances are unique and its not as easy as it seems, i have read fatlokes story too and my heart goes out to him

for me, am a bit homesick , still settling its early days for me

'
hi DebiE
we've been here in brisbane 5 years now and are thinking of moving back to the uk. It's the family and friends thing....with a couple of children it's hard for them not to know their grandparents. The state of the uk worries me though...(crime,immigration,chavs) i think we all know the problems i'm talking about! I would hate to get back there and feel like i have taken away a great opportunity for my children. We are thinking about moving to Chichester.....can you sell it to me? Were any of these problems reason for you to move here?

Yupp, kids and missus love it here and would not return to the UK for anything ever.
I am trapped.

Chichester...hmmm...I heard it's a hotbed of crime, immigration and chavs.

ok thanks for the info....

i'm heading for L A then.

Well said

Maybe it is just best to be aware that it might happen and in true girl guide/boy scout fashion 'be prepared' (was never a girl guide, or prepared for that matter..). Having said that - how do people cope?

Anyone prepared to share what worked for them?

Sam

That is the key. My Mrs is like that, but unfortunately I always want to be where I happen not to be instead of where I am. It's the nomadic gene.

Yup, I also have the nomad gene!! Nothing wrong with that. I think it's your right to move freely where you choose and to sample as much or as little of the world as you like! If your homesick, then like Margaret3 my heart goes out to you a zillion percent.

I can't stand any of the "if you don't like it, don't stay" responses. That doesn't help anyone except the poster who just comes across as smug and narrow minded in their near perfect "new life downunder".
Well, the perfect life doesn't happen for everyone no matter how much research or planning they've put into a move and there's no shame in that.

This life is too damn short and precious to have to listen to some of the t*ssers on this forum who spout short sharp replies and then run away and watch from the sidelines! Shame on you!

Homesickness - try to go with it folks when it hits bad. Take the good times with the bad and decide whenever the time feels right whether you'll try and live with it and manage it or to return to the place that makes you feel happiest and settled. Make the most of everything and don't waste too much time feeling unhappy.
Anyone would think I knew something about this sorta stuff. ;o)

Ok, I've said my peace about the homesickness debate and feel a helluva lot better for it. My work is done! No idiots need reply!

*pearly*

Thats me buggered then.

Can i reply?

Well said my dear. Just what the doctor ordered.

cuts out quite a lot of folk, including me. good post pearly, I often engage fingers before gob.

so no sign of brain being engaged
sorry i couldn't resist
yes, i hold my hand up and say i'm one of the idiots
but agree with the gist of your post pearly