Hi

After spending the last year and a bit being totally excited and focused on everything OZ, crying with joy when all six of us got visas, spending hours researching places, properties, lifestyle etc, checking flights...
whats happening???? Suddenly I have second thoughts. Everything I hated here before doesn't seem quite as bad, including the wet Irish weather or the small town narrow mindedness. The friends I have and thought' oh well, they will visit us in OZ' have taken on a new importance . My positive thinking :' our eldest grown up boys will join us at least some time in the future' has turned into doubt and fear that maybe we are about to break up our family, take the children away from their friends and everything they know so well.

Is this normal???? I've gone from one extreme to the other. The adrenaline rush has turned into something resembling dread . I still want to give it a go, but its the permanence of the whole thing which is so scary. Don't want to turn into a Ping Ponger....
On the other hand I know that , should we decide not to even try it, the Irish rain would feel wetter again and I'd find loads to complain about.

I could picture myself in OZ, doing all the everyyday stuff, and now its gone and I want it back!!!!
Anyone else with experience of a ' split' mind ??

Mrs Ozbaz

I think it is.
In the years that I have been on this forum, that is one of the most common things that appears to happens shortly before the big day.

Yes. I felt exactly the same and although not as bad now I still have days that I think what the hell have I done. I have been here 6 months now. The recent holiday period hasn't helped either. Many people I have met have said it can take 2 years to properly feel settled.

Good luck with your move. I am sure it is just fear of all things new!

Your hesitation seems normal, cautious and healthy.

That sort of happened to us as well - just days before our visas were granted. Fear of the unknown and a few other considerations caused us to put our plans on ice. But like you we feel that it's something we have to do - and the sooner the better, before our lives and those of our sons become too attached to the UK.

Good luck, whatever you decide

Bless you're heart - thats how I felt when we had packed everything up - all of a sudden though everything in my body shouted no don't do it, I started seeing everything here as rose coloured and missed everything before we even left......
We moved out there and due to other circumstances came back to the UK and in fact reality hit HARD and FAST within hours of being back here !!!
Our families weren't the family that I missed, I missed the ideal of how I wanted them to be, I missed the ideal of everything here, but i'm more miserable here in the UK than I was in Oz.

I think you need to try to find a way to focus on the bad things you're not going to miss here, to remember the terrible weather. An as awful as you WILL probably feel those first few months I've been reassured once you're settled in a rental with furniture and have a job or kids in school get chatting to a few people and get yourself busy things get better, you iwll probably have the occasional wobble but trust me I have had wobbles of missing Australia since we cam back here, I never thought I would when we left

I was exactly the same, couldnt get bk to the UK quick enough, now where almost ready to come bk to OZ (soon as house is rented out) and I feel very nervous again, its all the what ifs that go thru your mind, you can easily talk yourself out of anything, getting out of your comfort zone is really tough, but very rewarding!!! be brave

Bluekipper

Mrs. Ozbaz I feel exactly the same.
We're just normal.

Either that - or we're all abnormal together

Sshhh! I think I'm doing a good cover up job here!

Hi,

Just had to reply to this, cos im so pleased im not the only one who is going through these emotions, its the unknown thats scary, taking the plunge, but i have now come to the conclusion im treating it as an adventure and taking one step at a time, i keep saying its better to regret the things you have done in life than the things
you didn't.

Nicky

It is just like the pre-wedding jitters.
Although I never had serious doubts, and I feel settled here after 16 months, there are times when you think "What have I done?" - I miss stupid things like chocolate and gammon, but I've made new friends, DD is doing really well and is much happier, and OH, although working harder is also happier. The only time it seems a long way away is when something happens to the family, but you cannot put your life on hold for them or you end up having a limbo existance.
You are having perfectly normal feelings- treat it as an exciting holiday/adventure, and once you are here the number of times you have doubts will fade. I still feel slightly on holiday, mainly as I haven't worked here yet.

IT's a huge step & perfectly normal to have last minute doubts & worries.
The move only needs to be as permanent as you choose to make it.
Lots of luck

Madam,

Might I suggest you take a holiday under the shade of a coolibah tree? Perhaps a months constant southern summer sun sunshine downpour will renew your reverence for a more gentle rain.

Not sure how many people really end up living in Breakaways WB!

And heaving masses live on sodden sod in Ireland.

Why?