Amazulu

must......resist......urge......to......respond... ...must.......

I'm in enough trouble already

Dreamy

I'm impressed, Amazulu.

Seriously.

DeadVim

Oi! VinoVeritas, update us, have you decided to move to this 'bland country' or wot?

Don't just ask the masses then ]{}# off, I know 5 posts in a year is a lot of effort but give us some feedback so we can all sleep sound

VinoVeritas

You've been counting my posts! You love me, you really love me!

I did my best not to come across as whiny and whingy, without much success I think - the email looks pretty bad to me as well now.

Good points about not following her everywhere - she does asume that we will be going as well, and seems genuine! May be just a really good actress though.

I guess it's me being selfish - I want to be where my family is, and that currently comprises me (English), wife (South African), daughter (Citizen of the World), son-in-law (South African) and Grand-daughter (You work it out). We're all currently UK citizens.

Wife and daughter were happy in Briz, son-in-law would rather go to Cape Town, as would I, but daughter is worried about the violence. It's all a bit of a mix-up really, and maybe not so uncommon these days, as Wanted Down Under shows.

I guess it boils down to - assuming I go with them (and assuming they do actually go) - how do you combat homesickness? I know Aus has a history and I wouldn't seriously denigrate it - British history is pretty recent compared to Roman, Greek, Egyptian really, so we've no reason to feel smug.

Bernieboy

You married a saffer.go to Perth as penance

roaringmouse

Well that's a huge amount of pre-Celtic inhabitants of Britain wiped from archaeological findings.

Lucas_Dad

I've been in Aus for four months with my wife (Aussie) and now 1yo son (a Braussie!). Perhaps I haven't been here long enough to get homesick, and have been pretty busy as daddydaycare, but I have found that regular use of Skype has been invaluable. Also getting a VPN connection (something you do to your computer to make it look like it is in the UK) so that I can watch stuff like Match of the Day and other stuff on iPlayer, has been great.

Also I personally find that if I keep my mindset straight, that helps too. Yes of course I miss home from time to time - taking son to see his gran, Friday post-work pint with my step-dad, that kind of stuff - but I made a choice to move and so I focus on the positives of the move, whilst reminding my parents on a weekly basis that they WILL be coming to visit! And nagging my mum to quit smoking as the money she spends on that filthy sh!t is enough to pay for two flights!!

Oh, and of course not forgetting copious quantities of beer to blur out the current form of the Arsenal, that helps too I really miss UK proper beer, but I'm enjoying making my way around the Aussie efforts and their small measures. When our boxes arrived from the UK literally the first thing I unpacked was a pair of pint glasses! It makes those small bottles more acceptable

Laxor

Which specific part is bland. The beaches, Snow fields, rain forest, desert, first world cities? Insult the country then complain about pommy bashing. Oh lordy.

Jan4kids

I'd say stay, it won't be any different the second time around....do the holiday thing

quoll

How to cope with homesickness? Go home (or in your case, don't leave!). If it didn't float your boat the last time, chances are it will be worse the next time around.

VinoVeritas

OK, good stuff, thanks for the replies, even the rude ones! Skyping is good and the internet's a lot more advanced than when we were last there, although I don't want to hide in an imginary world.
Thinking about it, I guess the thing is to make friends, be involved, keep in touch and enjoy the beer and wine. Just like anywhere else really.
Cheers.

caronandrod

What are you going to do if your daughter changes her mind again after a few years. I live in rural NSW with my hubby. Oldest daughter is here, other two are int he UK with their dad (all adults). One is jetting off to Canada with his girlfriend to live in 2014.
Lots of good holiday opportunities Skype is a godsend

Cheetah7

I think you are making a huge mistake moving because your daughter is moving - honestly, you cant move around the world with her, you just cant.

Why not just stay where you are - are you going to apply for a visa to wherever she may move to, really?

Mr Grumpy

You are obviously one of those mentally disturbed clingy parents who obsess over their children even though they may be 50.

You need to grow up and let go!

eddie007

What, like My Grey Nomads?

Hang on... No, not like mine... I'm onlynin my forties.... PHEW