Originally Posted by aglassofwinehelps (Post 8492220)

...and I don't know why?

I can't quite put my finger on it. I have been here almost 6 months so you would think I would have decided by now whether I like it or not but I can't decide. I have regular dreadful dreams about my life back home where I am back and am so relieved. I wake up and obviously I am still here. I actually feel sick when I wake up and realise I'm not home. Yet I think it is a better lifestyle here, I like where I live? I miss my friends so much though, I miss the familiarity of 'home' but that's about all. Maybe that is a lot to miss? I have days when I am so angry at being here almost to the point of being childish, complaining loudly in supermarkets about things that cost a fraction of the price in the UK, you know, the sort of person that you'd want to hit.
I think being back in work will make a difference, I am trying. This has been the longest period of time I have been out of work in 28 years. I have always earned my own money and I do worry that we won't get back to the financial stage we were at before we left. Our rent is 3 times the cost of our mortgage. I knew this before we came but in our case the economy spiralled downwards pretty fast and because of our circumstances it was now or never. My husband has a better job earning more, my 19yr old has a fantastic appenticeship for the next 4 years (although plans to return once he is qualified), my daughter loves school and has settled well.
So why am I so fed up about it all?

Originally Posted by aglassofwinehelps (Post 8494798)

Thanks for your replies-Karma sent.

I was wallowng in self-pity when I posted and had had a glass or two.:drinkwine: I normally try not to be so downbeat. I'm sure things will get better in time. x

Originally Posted by aglassofwinehelps (Post 8493990)

Can you change your username? Mine would now be Abottleortwooffwinehelps :)

Originally Posted by quoll (Post 8494167)

I think you know quite early on whether you belong or not. It is possible still to live with the not belongingness but that gets more difficult over time and resentment can easily set in.

I've been here 31 years (plus almost 1 month) and can honestly say that I have never felt Australian, always living in that weird logical/emotional limbo in which my head tells me that I am home here but my heart tells me that I am home in UK. To all appearances I am a died in the wool Aussie (many of my acquaintance had no idea that this wasnt true as I hid my real identity as one did 30 years ago, in order to assimilate) but this is not and will never be where I belong and my only regret is not escaping when I could have (OK so that is the moral to this story! I dont think continually banging your head against a brick wall is going to do anything to get rid of a chronic headache:rofl:)

Give yourself a time frame and set a decision day, enjoy every moment that you can and then make a choice about where you want to be once you have arrived at your decision day and act upon it if you possibly can.

Originally Posted by brissybee (Post 8497157)

Quoll, I was comforted to read your post. I couldn't have articulated my own views any better myself. Do you think you'll ever escape?

Originally Posted by aglassofwinehelps (Post 8502941)

You must love him very much :wub: I can't imagine being unhappy in a place for 31 yrs (and 1 month) otherwise.

Originally Posted by quoll (Post 8503716)

Yup, slow learner or what?:rofl: Nah, I only married him because it means I always get a holiday on my birthday:rofl: Actually the first 10yrs werent that bad, the second 10 were ho hum and the last 10 have been "get me out of here!!!!"

Originally Posted by stuckinblighty (Post 8504009)

Blimey thats a scarey post :blink:

Originally Posted by aglassofwinehelps (Post 8492220)

...and I don't know why?

I can't quite put my finger on it. I have been here almost 6 months so you would think I would have decided by now whether I like it or not but I can't decide. I have regular dreadful dreams about my life back home where I am back and am so relieved. I wake up and obviously I am still here. I actually feel sick when I wake up and realise I'm not home. Yet I think it is a better lifestyle here, I like where I live? I miss my friends so much though, I miss the familiarity of 'home' but that's about all. Maybe that is a lot to miss? I have days when I am so angry at being here almost to the point of being childish, complaining loudly in supermarkets about things that cost a fraction of the price in the UK, you know, the sort of person that you'd want to hit.
I think being back in work will make a difference, I am trying. This has been the longest period of time I have been out of work in 28 years. I have always earned my own money and I do worry that we won't get back to the financial stage we were at before we left. Our rent is 3 times the cost of our mortgage. I knew this before we came but in our case the economy spiralled downwards pretty fast and because of our circumstances it was now or never. My husband has a better job earning more, my 19yr old has a fantastic appenticeship for the next 4 years (although plans to return once he is qualified), my daughter loves school and has settled well.
So why am I so fed up about it all?

Originally Posted by angdownunder (Post 8509926)

I know how you feel, its a very tricky situation to be in. We moved out here in July 2008 and I am still terribly homesick and in all honesty would move home tomorrow! I feel exactly the same as you in that I like Perth, the lifestyle etc but something is missing and I'm guessing thats life long friends and family on your doorstep! Sometimes I feel so selfish for feeling like this as I know people back home that would give their right arm for a chance like this. My husband is so happy here and cant see him wanting to leave and feel that if we did go back he would spend the rest of his life resenting me! My wee boy seems happy enough but often asks when are we going home to Scotland! I think that was another let down, him having to go back to pre-primary having did Primary 1 and I honestly think the education is nowhere near as good as it is in the UK. I feel the schools concentrate more on making the kids outgoing and way too confident(in my opinion) and sports! I do love that my son spends a lot of time outside and is learning sports he probably wouldnt learn back home but I would rather he was academic than being a sportstar! The aussies do like their sport. :)