Re: Would you do it all again?
 

For a lifestyle you prefer Aus to UK then?

Re: Would you do it all again?
 

Any chance of a loan LOL!! :rofl::rofl::rofl:

Re: Would you do it all again?
 

Difficult to say. For leisure time I prefer Australia hands down but for work the UK. Having spent the last 10 years in investment banking IT 5 in London then 5 in Australia the UK way of working wins hands down. There is a much higher level of competence and shorter working weeks in the City.

Re: Would you do it all again?
 

If I had it probably not.

Re: Would you do it all again?
 

Mmmmm...!

Probably not if I could have seen into the crystal ball. Things have changed so much out here, house prices, cost of living etc, awful pound to dollar rate that all the plans we had of taking it a bit easier and seeing a bit of Oz have all gone out the window at the moment. Worse off and working harder than ever before! To qualify, that it is because of being self-employed and getting a new business off the ground but it could have been a whole lot easier if we had got the 2.48 to the pound when we moved out instead of 1.80 when we finally sold up in the UK and decided to buy here - and now we feel lucky to have got that!

Had I known it was going to be a lot harder financially, I think we would have thought twice, done what we are doing now in the UK and then gone travelling during the winter. I just get a bit frustrated that we've moved all this way and rarely get out of the house let alone circumnavigate Australia, there is a whole country waiting to be photographed!

I do miss people, the folks are getting older and all the problems that will bring one day, friends don't visit because it's too far and say they don't have the time (we used to come for 2 weeks so that's no excuse in my book!) to do a big trip plus of course Oz is now flipping expensive to visit. With the time difference it's hard to just pick up the phone when you have a few spare minutes as it's the middle of the night there or vice versa.

I guess things just haven't turned out as I planned and dreamed all those years ago sitting doing my 9 to 5 and has just have taken the shine of it all. So I would say to those coming out, don't plan too much and be open minded!

I know things are not great in the UK and I wish I could view the alternative life to see what would have happened to us if we'd stayed. One other plan was to have worked a few more years and then taken early retirement to Spain, but then that would have backfired too with the pound plummeting. We always just seem to miss the boat!

Having said all that, I guess without the big move things would have just trundled on so it has stretched us and got us out of our comfort zone so I try and say that it's all good characted building! Mr KK has settled fine and is quite happy, I have struggled at times with the situation and being sent to Melbourne rather than Sydney (long story). However, I think maybe some of this affects us girls more than the guys. There was a lot going on in the UK when we left so there was all this stuff that didn't really help me settle at first. Anyway, we now have our own house, two new shiney pussy cats and slowly, slowly I'm getting there.

Re: Would you do it all again?
 

2000 - 2002. Qld was booming, we moved up here from a brief winter in melb. Just fell on the feet, right time right place nowt else, just luck, well and the right skills.

Totally totally different country now. I can still remember buying land for 50k and roast lamb for $3 a kilo:lol:, land round here now 350k and lamb in coles yesterday $14 a kilo thats price increases of around an average 6x in 10 years. :eek:

10 years doesnt sound long, but I guess it is, I mean my cute blondie 3 year old then is now 6' 2 :lol: Time move on:(.

Re: Would you do it all again?
 

I think there is a two to three year honeymoon period when you arrive in Oz -beaches, weather, wildlife. At the end of this period the urge to contact Dignitas kicks in.

Re: Would you do it all again?
 

2 or 3 YEARS!!! Noooo I was screaming for parole after 2 or 3 MONTHS!

Re: Would you do it all again?
 

You get less of a sentence for murder these days. Back in jail again are you?

Re: Would you do it all again?
 

Yep, back in jail, my next parole is due in mid September :thumbup:

Re: Would you do it all again?
 

I'm out on parole. First day in London. Fantastic! Watching a robin and a couple of squirrels in the garden and wolfing tesco finest cheese.

Re: Would you do it all again?
 

Bloody UK immi will let anyone in :p

Re: Would you do it all again?
 

Are ya startin'?

Re: Would you do it all again?
 

you asking ;)?

Re: Would you do it all again?
 

Get yer stilletoes off R2D2. Handbags on the dance floor. Just settling on the sofa for an hour of Jezza Kyle. TV at it's finest....