Pomster

Sadky we were close and speak a lot on the phone (but I always make the calls) but having been away 10 years, I realise that we have all changed a lot. Just because people are related by blood does not make them good friends.

However we have seen lots of various friends who are keen to make the most of us being here...and that is great.

Strangely my sister asked how we cope in Aus for babysitters- ummm- pretty much like here.....we take daughter or just don't go out, as we don't have any babysitters.

ozzieeagle

LOL.... my youngest daughter will be the right age when you get back Turned 16 last August.

Pomster

Ace.
Now that's what I call good planning!

elice_in_oz

I find it sad reading posts about family feuds and uncaring relatives. I have to say it's something I've never encountered in my own family.

My parents have been over here almost once a year since we moved here and whenever we go back to France, my sister comes down from Germany, and a lot of my friends and relatives (uncles/aunts/cousins) come for a visit at my parents', even if only for an overnighter.

We're very lucky that my parents can afford to visit and that they have a large enough house in France to accommodate visitors, but I also know that people would make the effort to come and visit even if they had to stay in a tent in the garden (it's happened before!)

It's not quite the same story with my OH's family though and I feel sorry for him at times. His mother is happy enough to visit but we have to pay for her flights as she can't afford them (which seriously limits how often she an come) and his brother couldn't give a rat's arse as to whether we never saw him again for the next 50 years. As for visiting them, the drive from Heathrow to Cornwall straight off the plane nearly killed us last time, it pissed it down for the whole week we were there in a 1 and a half bed semi-detached with a toddler, a baby, the MIL and her dog And the petrol costs and the bill from Hertz at the end nearly cost us our entire life savings

So now, my parents come over once a year, we go to France every couple of years, the MIL comes to visit in France when we're there and the plan is to have her over for a few months this year Wish me luck!

ozzieeagle

What part of France Elice, as thats I want to base any future trip to see relations myself.

I'm planning on around Lille for Eurostar

elice_in_oz

Take Lille, draw a pretty straight line down to almost Spain and you will find my hometown

I was born and raised in Carcassonne and my parents still live there. In true French southerner fashion, I would not live anywhere north of the Garonne if you paid me Ryan Air fly direct to Stansted from Carcassonne and many other regional cities in the south. Easyjet do too of course. I would rather live in the south of France and endure Ryan Air or Easyjet than live anywhere north of Paris

To be really honest, I do not know Lille and its region very well, although I know my sister enjoyed living there for a year as a student. AFAIK, Lille is a great vibrant city, but the impression of the North I have is of a quite flat and bleak region with a climate that makes Cornwall look positively tropical

Bernieboy

Lille is the spot mate

ozzieeagle

Hopefully have you been there Bernie ? I'm anticipating it to be slightly cheaper for accom than the UK, with enough different foods to make the wife forget she's back near the relations.

Elice.... are there any decent French restaurants that you would recommend in Melbourne. ? Theres one in Sydney Rd, Brunswick that seems to be the go... name escapes me at present. I want to tempt the wife.

Ahhh this one... have you heard of it ?

http://www.metropolis-eating-house.c...se_menu.html##

Bernieboy

I began my life adventure there at the tender age of 17.Lovely little bustling town,very friendly locals and food n wine to die for

moneypenny20

Doesn't sound very French This dessert made me gag ever so slightly: White chocolate aero bar, caramelised banana, mashed avocado The rest of the menu looks good though

ozzieeagle

Funny how Women go for the dessert Menu, and blokes generally always go for the Entree

The youngest daughter last two Birthday cakes have been huge White Chocolate Grenache with Strawberry filling Cafe Cakes.... talk about Sickly. Put me off anything to do with White Chocolate for eternity I reckon.

Workees...... nite nite.

RedT

Yep, I know exactly where you're coming from! We're only in London and we always kinda thought people would be attracted to coming to London for a weekend, even if we weren't a draw in itself!! But no, my sister has been over a few times but other than that, very little. My brother stayed for a long weekend on his way to Ireland from Sydney last May and that was wonderful, he's the only member of my family I genuinely like though haha!

So I'm not expecting a massive influx of visitors in Oz (despite all the promises of everyone coming!) and I won't be putting up with the guilt trip phonecalls about not going home every year either. It has to work both ways, it's not my 'fault' for leaving...

Tx

Pomster

...that's one thing this 5 month (so far) trip back has helped with. Our future holidays will not be completely taken up with guilt trips to UK. If people can't be bothered to see us when we are here, we will not worry about spending $1000s and hours flying over here, when we can go to Europe/Asia/wherever we feel.

Oh the freedom!

Beedubya

Did you go back JUST for the family or are there other things that have not worked out as well as you expected?

Pomster

no there were several reasons, but family wanting to spend more time with our small daughter was supposedly the icing on the cake. They were pretty enthusiastic before we arrived and have faded away since.

Still we are catching up with some lovely friends and experiencing as much as we can while we are here. We have even been to a panto this week.