Home after 11 years.
Nov 4th 2012, 11:38 am
#31
Banned
Joined: Feb 2012
Location: Purgatory (PU, USA)
Posts: 860
Re: Home after 11 years.
I thought it was time to let you all know how things are going with us after our move to England.
Firstly Australia is a beautiful place and can offer many a great life, the same of course applies to this country. I have been told I obviously hate Australia and amazing that I must have been 'very unhappy' there LOL.
We arrived back around 1 month ago and almost immediately felt at home. We havent seen the piles of dog poo and rubbish we were warned we would see. People seem to be happy, helpful and cheerful in complete contrast to the miserable depressed people we were again told we would encounter everywhere.
This country has many problems as does the country we left behind and I am not blind to them in either place.
We have found most thinghs to be at least comparable price wise with most food being cheaper/much cheaper.
Originally we had planned on living in the Somerset area until we discovered Herefordshire totally by chance, we wanted a quiet, village life and that life is still easy to achieve.
Our 2 10 year old boys love being here and from speaking to them the only thing they miss are their friends. We asked them what they miss and they reeled off their friends names, when pushed they said there wasnt anything else they missed. To be fair they arent sporty kids and like their friends spend most of the their time indoors.
We have seen an incredible amount of wildlife since being here, as we are all animal lovers that has been fantastic.
Overall it has been a very good move FOR US, that doesnt mean that living in Australia is bad for everyone or indeed living in the UK is good for everyone.
We have so far only had 2 people ask why the hell we have come back. LOL.
Firstly Australia is a beautiful place and can offer many a great life, the same of course applies to this country. I have been told I obviously hate Australia and amazing that I must have been 'very unhappy' there LOL.
We arrived back around 1 month ago and almost immediately felt at home. We havent seen the piles of dog poo and rubbish we were warned we would see. People seem to be happy, helpful and cheerful in complete contrast to the miserable depressed people we were again told we would encounter everywhere.
This country has many problems as does the country we left behind and I am not blind to them in either place.
We have found most thinghs to be at least comparable price wise with most food being cheaper/much cheaper.
Originally we had planned on living in the Somerset area until we discovered Herefordshire totally by chance, we wanted a quiet, village life and that life is still easy to achieve.
Our 2 10 year old boys love being here and from speaking to them the only thing they miss are their friends. We asked them what they miss and they reeled off their friends names, when pushed they said there wasnt anything else they missed. To be fair they arent sporty kids and like their friends spend most of the their time indoors.
We have seen an incredible amount of wildlife since being here, as we are all animal lovers that has been fantastic.
Overall it has been a very good move FOR US, that doesnt mean that living in Australia is bad for everyone or indeed living in the UK is good for everyone.
We have so far only had 2 people ask why the hell we have come back. LOL.
I've been gone for almost as long as you have, so I would like to know specifically how the UK may have changed or not. I lived in Hertfordshire when I was a nipper (near Harpenden), so I have fond memories of the place. Did you experience any reverse culture shock?
Anyway glad you made it home. I can't say that I'd particularly want to try living in Australia. I'm an "old world" kind of guy.
Nov 4th 2012, 12:24 pm
#32
Forum Regular
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 47
Re: Home after 11 years.
Ive been back in the UK for 3 years now after nine years in Australia.
I like the fact that (if you like walking) you are never far from a good country walk or footpath or canal in Britain, found that hard to do in Oz....unless you live close to the beach maybe but even then you are restricted.
I like old England, found that many people over-rate Australia...it's good but not as good as they sell the place.
I like the fact that (if you like walking) you are never far from a good country walk or footpath or canal in Britain, found that hard to do in Oz....unless you live close to the beach maybe but even then you are restricted.
I like old England, found that many people over-rate Australia...it's good but not as good as they sell the place.
Nov 4th 2012, 12:27 pm
#33
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Jan 2011
Location: Tunbridge Wells KENT
Posts: 2,914
Re: Home after 11 years.
Congrats on being back home. It sounds like it was the right decision for you and your family.
I've been gone for almost as long as you have, so I would like to know specifically how the UK may have changed or not. I lived in Hertfordshire when I was a nipper (near Harpenden), so I have fond memories of the place. Did you experience any reverse culture shock?
Anyway glad you made it home. I can't say that I'd particularly want to try living in Australia. I'm an "old world" kind of guy.
I've been gone for almost as long as you have, so I would like to know specifically how the UK may have changed or not. I lived in Hertfordshire when I was a nipper (near Harpenden), so I have fond memories of the place. Did you experience any reverse culture shock?
Anyway glad you made it home. I can't say that I'd particularly want to try living in Australia. I'm an "old world" kind of guy.
Nov 4th 2012, 12:30 pm
#34
Banned
Joined: Feb 2012
Location: Purgatory (PU, USA)
Posts: 860
Re: Home after 11 years.
Ive been back in the UK for 3 years now after nine years in Australia.
I like the fact that (if you like walking) you are never far from a good country walk or footpath or canal in Britain, found that hard to do in Oz....unless you live close to the beach maybe but even then you are restricted.
I like old England, found that many people over-rate Australia...it's good but not as good as they sell the place.
I like the fact that (if you like walking) you are never far from a good country walk or footpath or canal in Britain, found that hard to do in Oz....unless you live close to the beach maybe but even then you are restricted.
I like old England, found that many people over-rate Australia...it's good but not as good as they sell the place.
Nov 4th 2012, 12:34 pm
#36
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Jan 2011
Location: Tunbridge Wells KENT
Posts: 2,914
Nov 4th 2012, 12:45 pm
#37
Banned
Thread Starter
Joined: Jan 2011
Location: The REAL Utopia.
Posts: 9,910
Re: Home after 11 years.
Congrats on being back home. It sounds like it was the right decision for you and your family.
I've been gone for almost as long as you have, so I would like to know specifically how the UK may have changed or not. I lived in Hertfordshire when I was a nipper (near Harpenden), so I have fond memories of the place. Did you experience any reverse culture shock?
Anyway glad you made it home. I can't say that I'd particularly want to try living in Australia. I'm an "old world" kind of guy.
I've been gone for almost as long as you have, so I would like to know specifically how the UK may have changed or not. I lived in Hertfordshire when I was a nipper (near Harpenden), so I have fond memories of the place. Did you experience any reverse culture shock?
Anyway glad you made it home. I can't say that I'd particularly want to try living in Australia. I'm an "old world" kind of guy.
I have found the UK has predictably changed just like everywhere else, nothing has changed noticeably for the worse. We are in a very rural setting and to be honest we dont notice the population of the country overall anymore than we did where we used to live.
No reverse culture shock at all, it takes a little time to get used to a few things but nothing major.
I have to be careful not to be too positive as some arent in the same position as us which is weird as we are all different. Cant really say too much negative as almost all our experiences have been positive.
Good luck with your move, all I can say is FOR US it is proving to be a wonderful move.
Nov 4th 2012, 4:33 pm
#38
BE Forum Addict
Joined: May 2012
Location: South Bucks
Posts: 1,654
Re: Home after 11 years.
Nice to read your post from the beginning Chris, I never read it before! Your village sounds like Utopia!
Nov 4th 2012, 6:08 pm
#39
Banned
Thread Starter
Joined: Jan 2011
Location: The REAL Utopia.
Posts: 9,910
Nov 7th 2012, 9:47 pm
#40
Yo
Joined: Nov 2012
Location: UK
Posts: 24,474
Re: Home after 11 years.
You have to ignore the silly comments, it is just a knee jerk reaction for Brits to assume anywhere else is better than here even if they have never stepped foot out of the country.
I love Australia, I grew up there but it doesnt offer us what we want and hate the over the top parochial attitude.
I love Australia, I grew up there but it doesnt offer us what we want and hate the over the top parochial attitude.
Nov 8th 2012, 7:12 pm
#41
Banned
Thread Starter
Joined: Jan 2011
Location: The REAL Utopia.
Posts: 9,910
Re: Home after 11 years.
The Aussie is best attitude is OK up to a point but when all you hear day in day out is 'world best, 'world class', 'best in the world' etc etc it just gets a little tiring and is actually counter productive as you sort of start to tune out to it. The ideal situation would be a country that was half way between Australia and the UK, have pride but dont force it down peoples throats constantly. Im not so sure about happy go lucky, there are generally as stressed out by everyday things as anyone really.
Nov 8th 2012, 7:31 pm
#42
BE Enthusiast
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 312
Re: Home after 11 years.
Bearing in mind I grew up in Australia and have been an Aussie citizen for close to 25 years so Im not some disgruntled 'failed' migrant The Aussie is best attitude is OK up to a point but when all you hear day in day out is 'world best, 'world class', 'best in the world' etc etc it just gets a little tiring and is actually counter productive as you sort of start to tune out to it. The ideal situation would be a country that was half way between Australia and the UK, have pride but dont force it down peoples throats constantly. Im not so sure about happy go lucky, there are generally as stressed out by everyday things as anyone really.
The Aussie is best attitude is OK up to a point but when all you hear day in day out is 'world best, 'world class', 'best in the world' etc etc it just gets a little tiring and is actually counter productive as you sort of start to tune out to it. The ideal situation would be a country that was half way between Australia and the UK, have pride but dont force it down peoples throats constantly. Im not so sure about happy go lucky, there are generally as stressed out by everyday things as anyone really.
Nov 8th 2012, 7:38 pm
#43
Yo
Joined: Nov 2012
Location: UK
Posts: 24,474
Re: Home after 11 years.
Thanks Chris, interesting observation.
I think it is one of the good things about Britain that (apart from the chronic whingers) there are contented Brits who very proud of the country but do not feel the need to shout it from the rooftops. Indeed, there's almost a national self-deprecation that goes on, and that's a kind of maturity.
I think it is one of the good things about Britain that (apart from the chronic whingers) there are contented Brits who very proud of the country but do not feel the need to shout it from the rooftops. Indeed, there's almost a national self-deprecation that goes on, and that's a kind of maturity.
Nov 9th 2012, 8:57 am
#44
Banned
Thread Starter
Joined: Jan 2011
Location: The REAL Utopia.
Posts: 9,910
Re: Home after 11 years.
Thanks Chris, interesting observation.
I think it is one of the good things about Britain that (apart from the chronic whingers) there are contented Brits who very proud of the country but do not feel the need to shout it from the rooftops. Indeed, there's almost a national self-deprecation that goes on, and that's a kind of maturity.
I think it is one of the good things about Britain that (apart from the chronic whingers) there are contented Brits who very proud of the country but do not feel the need to shout it from the rooftops. Indeed, there's almost a national self-deprecation that goes on, and that's a kind of maturity.
Nov 9th 2012, 9:49 am
#45
Forum Regular
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 47
Re: Home after 11 years.
Yes, I think think insecure is a good way to describe Australians with their "constant" over the top patriotism.
