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2 months back in UK - and......

2 months back in UK - and......

Old Jul 23rd 2008, 9:15 am
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Default Re: 2 months back in UK - and......

Originally Posted by horrigans
... on one of the boxes one of the shippers (who'd never met us) had scrawled "Pommie Git's".
Sarah
LOL! Clearly a very jealous person who knew what awaited you back in pommie git land and wished he/she could be there too!
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Old Jul 23rd 2008, 4:02 pm
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Talking Re: 2 months back in UK - and......

Originally Posted by Sherro
I know how everyone loves to read up on stories from people who have moved back to get a feel for how others have handled the transition.

I lived in Australia from April 1999 to April 2008 and have returned to the Uk for a varitey of reasons.

1. Family getting older
2. I felt like my life and lifestyle was "locked in" and wasnt ready for that just yet, not at 33.
3. Miss my friends
4. Everytime I went back to Uk I missed it even more.

So, I left in April did a bit of travel and am now settled back in London, near Crouch End and am so very delighted I did it, its fantastic to be surrounded by British people again. No offence, I love Australia but the people think, behave and live in a different mindset to me and I never really clicked in and felt I belonged.

Have had NO problems opening a bank account (walked into HSBC and out within an hour with account, overdraft and credit card). The job market is good, I sent my CV to 3 companies who specialised in events and incentives and 3 got back to me next day, I accepted one and was on final interview with the other. Cars are way cheaper here which is good. The only minor issue I have had is renting in london I had to have a guarantor on my part or pay 3 months rent as deposit (I did the latter) as no history in last 5 years.

I really appreciate Europe this time round after living so far away from everywhere.

For all those people who are agonising over what to do, just follow your heart, the majority of Brits know it is the media that trashes the country and people here have never been more patriotic. Yeah there is knife crime, but the reality is, its in places where I would wager 99% of expats would go near anyway, run down housing estates and trouble spots, its not in your face.

So absolutely no regrets, if I ever get a moment thinking its all a bit mad, I just remind myself of the sheer boredom I had to endure in melbourne, sitting night after night thinking, i am not settled...

Def the right move.

Great post, i done the same thing, returned after 18 years, and def no regrets about being back.
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Old Jul 23rd 2008, 4:10 pm
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Default Re: 2 months back in UK - and......

Welcome home!

Totally different bit of town to you, but I feel just the same.
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Old Jul 23rd 2008, 5:29 pm
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Default Re: 2 months back in UK - and......

Glad to hear that things are going well for you too Sarah - it's always nice to hear when people return to a much happier life!
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Old Jul 23rd 2008, 8:35 pm
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Smile Re: 2 months back in UK - and......

Originally Posted by smokin69
Great post, i done the same thing, returned after 18 years, and def no regrets about being back.
Wow!18yrs well done
Can i ask where you were living before you returned?

I have a bit of a dilema that i now have grandchildren here in NZ and the eldest is 3 and lives not far away he came to stay the other night and was telling me that his little mate had gone to live in Aus and then he said something that nearly made me cry...."Nona" you wont go and live a long way away and leave me will you.............Im thinking oh crikey Aus is now way near as far away as the UK.....

I have been here over 30yrs and because of divorce I have considered a return but its just such a hard thing to do and then again these little people will soon be all grown up and too busy with their mates to visit "nona" lol.....
Cheers
Cally
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Old Jul 23rd 2008, 9:09 pm
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Default Re: 2 months back in UK - and......

Originally Posted by horrigans
Totally stupid, huh? How stupid do you have to be not to think that the client is going to see what you've written about them when you write it on boxes that are being delivered to their house?!?!

If anyone's thinking of using Anglo Pacific / OSS... I'd really think twice about it. They don't seem to think much of their customers.

Sarah
HI Sarah

I am still here and I bet your inlaws pool houses still isnt finished. The house has been on the market now though for around a month and all in all we have probably had about 10 people through. We did do a editorial with the GC bullentin and if that doesnt work I dont know where we will be. It is looking highly likely that we will rent it out if nothing happens over the next month. running out of cash fast at the mo.

Anyway probably got another couple of months here max. "All I do each night is pray, hoping that I will be back in UK again some day" Glad to hear you sound so happy is Nick back in work and settled again now???

love nic
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Old Jul 24th 2008, 6:29 am
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Default Re: 2 months back in UK - and......

Originally Posted by Sherro
I know how everyone loves to read up on stories from people who have moved back to get a feel for how others have handled the transition.

I lived in Australia from April 1999 to April 2008 and have returned to the Uk for a varitey of reasons.

1. Family getting older
2. I felt like my life and lifestyle was "locked in" and wasnt ready for that just yet, not at 33.
3. Miss my friends
4. Everytime I went back to Uk I missed it even more.

So, I left in April did a bit of travel and am now settled back in London, near Crouch End and am so very delighted I did it, its fantastic to be surrounded by British people again. No offence, I love Australia but the people think, behave and live in a different mindset to me and I never really clicked in and felt I belonged.

Have had NO problems opening a bank account (walked into HSBC and out within an hour with account, overdraft and credit card). The job market is good, I sent my CV to 3 companies who specialised in events and incentives and 3 got back to me next day, I accepted one and was on final interview with the other. Cars are way cheaper here which is good. The only minor issue I have had is renting in london I had to have a guarantor on my part or pay 3 months rent as deposit (I did the latter) as no history in last 5 years.

I really appreciate Europe this time round after living so far away from everywhere.

For all those people who are agonising over what to do, just follow your heart, the majority of Brits know it is the media that trashes the country and people here have never been more patriotic. Yeah there is knife crime, but the reality is, its in places where I would wager 99% of expats would go near anyway, run down housing estates and trouble spots, its not in your face.

So absolutely no regrets, if I ever get a moment thinking its all a bit mad, I just remind myself of the sheer boredom I had to endure in melbourne, sitting night after night thinking, i am not settled...

Def the right move.
Fantastic post - thank you for letting us know!

"Locked in" - what a fabulous way to describe it!! Exactly what I feel like!!
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Old Jul 24th 2008, 6:31 am
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Default Re: 2 months back in UK - and......

Originally Posted by horrigans
Ditto from me too. We've been back in the UK since the end of April and things are gradually sorting themselves out. No regrets about being here even if we've had a bit an up and down emotional rollercoaster about it all (hubs wants to be in Oz... I don't). Our stuff arrived back at the end of last week... on one of the boxes one of the shippers (who'd never met us) had scrawled "Pommie Git's".

I'm glad we're not there anymore.

Sarah
Come on,this is where the British sense of humour should kick in.

I think it's quite funny,but the laugh is on them being stuck in that boring old mundane dried up desert..Or maybe they're jealous!!
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Old Jul 24th 2008, 7:00 am
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Default Re: 2 months back in UK - and......

Originally Posted by Sherro
I know how everyone loves to read up on stories from people who have moved back to get a feel for how others have handled the transition.

I lived in Australia from April 1999 to April 2008 and have returned to the Uk for a varitey of reasons.

1. Family getting older
2. I felt like my life and lifestyle was "locked in" and wasnt ready for that just yet, not at 33.
3. Miss my friends
4. Everytime I went back to Uk I missed it even more.

So, I left in April did a bit of travel and am now settled back in London, near Crouch End and am so very delighted I did it, its fantastic to be surrounded by British people again. No offence, I love Australia but the people think, behave and live in a different mindset to me and I never really clicked in and felt I belonged.

Have had NO problems opening a bank account (walked into HSBC and out within an hour with account, overdraft and credit card). The job market is good, I sent my CV to 3 companies who specialised in events and incentives and 3 got back to me next day, I accepted one and was on final interview with the other. Cars are way cheaper here which is good. The only minor issue I have had is renting in london I had to have a guarantor on my part or pay 3 months rent as deposit (I did the latter) as no history in last 5 years.

I really appreciate Europe this time round after living so far away from everywhere.

For all those people who are agonising over what to do, just follow your heart, the majority of Brits know it is the media that trashes the country and people here have never been more patriotic. Yeah there is knife crime, but the reality is, its in places where I would wager 99% of expats would go near anyway, run down housing estates and trouble spots, its not in your face.

So absolutely no regrets, if I ever get a moment thinking its all a bit mad, I just remind myself of the sheer boredom I had to endure in melbourne, sitting night after night thinking, i am not settled...

Def the right move.
Congratulations on succesfully moving back to the UK.

I hope to be in the same boat very soon.

It's all so very refreshing to hear that all the myths and horrors about the UK are also largely unfounded.

Hope you continue to enjoy your new life.
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Old Jul 25th 2008, 12:53 am
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Default Re: 2 months back in UK - and......

Originally Posted by nicola411
HI Sarah

I am still here and I bet your inlaws pool houses still isnt finished. The house has been on the market now though for around a month and all in all we have probably had about 10 people through. We did do a editorial with the GC bullentin and if that doesnt work I dont know where we will be. It is looking highly likely that we will rent it out if nothing happens over the next month. running out of cash fast at the mo.

Anyway probably got another couple of months here max. "All I do each night is pray, hoping that I will be back in UK again some day" Glad to hear you sound so happy is Nick back in work and settled again now???

love nic
Same here for me in Perth.....the thing the really get's me is that our life seems to be on "hold"...you dn't really want to plan to much and being still I don't really want to commit to "get togethers" sports occassions etc that people are planning for future months etc....that's the horrible park..it's lovely to hear Sarah happy to be back home and have that "belonging"....hopefully that will all be us soon.....
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Old Jul 25th 2008, 2:18 pm
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Default Re: 2 months back in UK - and......

Originally Posted by brits1
Same here for me in Perth.....the thing the really get's me is that our life seems to be on "hold"...you dn't really want to plan to much and being still I don't really want to commit to "get togethers" sports occassions etc that people are planning for future months etc....that's the horrible park..it's lovely to hear Sarah happy to be back home and have that "belonging"....hopefully that will all be us soon.....
Ahh Sherro

Just popped in.
So glad to hear you're loving being back in UK. Its great isnt it. You sound very settled. Good one.
I headed back 10 months ago and am SOOOOOOO glad I did, for many reasons. I like being here lots.
Been working in Italy a bit too which has been fantsatic, 2 hours and you're in Siena - quite mind blowing after the isolation of Oz.
Keep enjoying yourself
Tanya


T
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Old Jul 25th 2008, 7:59 pm
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Default Re: 2 months back in UK - and......

Originally Posted by nicola411
HI Sarah

I am still here and I bet your inlaws pool houses still isnt finished. The house has been on the market now though for around a month and all in all we have probably had about 10 people through. We did do a editorial with the GC bullentin and if that doesnt work I dont know where we will be. It is looking highly likely that we will rent it out if nothing happens over the next month. running out of cash fast at the mo.
Sounds like you guys are having it hard at the moment. Have you had to get a job to keep the money coming in? And is the market deader than a dead thing there now?

Originally Posted by nicola411
Anyway probably got another couple of months here max. "All I do each night is pray, hoping that I will be back in UK again some day"
At least you're both working towards the same thing. You'll get through this bit... and not at each other's throats like Nick and I were!

Originally Posted by nicola411


Glad to hear you sound so happy is Nick back in work and settled again now???

love nic
Well... kind of the other way round! I just got a job at Nottingham Trent Uni - and it's my absolute perfect job - so he's going to be full-time Dad and look after the kids. He's definitely not as miserable as he was a few weeks ago which is brilliant. That was really dragging us down.

Not an easy road... but I have absolutely no regrets about us coming back. There's no way I'd have got the type of job I've just been offered in Oz... or for anywhere like the money even if it had been around as an option. I'm soooooooooo relieved to be back, even if we are going to have to move again because of my job. I don't care!

Keep your eyes on the prize, honey. You'll be back home and not watching shouty shouty Aussie ads on the TV in no time!

Sarah
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Old Jul 27th 2008, 1:34 am
  #28  
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Default Re: 2 months back in UK - and......

Thanks for the post, and thanks Sarah for updating us on your situation.

Like everyone's been saying, it does reassure those of us that are in line behind you to know that it's not a "hellhole." Not that we think it is, but you hear so much bullshit!

Sarah
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Old Jul 28th 2008, 4:14 pm
  #29  
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Default Re: 2 months back in UK - and......

I have to say, this is the nicest and most helfpul post I have seen in a long time. Thanks so much for sharing. We are close to jumping ship over here and returning to London from Canada - so your positive post is really encouraging.
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Old Aug 6th 2008, 1:37 pm
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Default Re: 2 months back in UK - and......

I am glad some people have found some comfort/relevance to my post. It is all true and the more I am here the more excited I am and pleased to be back. Its so hard to explain but I knew all along that being a people person it was going to be paramount to my decision and I love british people, London a total explosion of the senses, so many different people and accents etc.

I live in Stroud Green and no I am not loaded, lol as am renting, hopefully not for long though. I work in Herts and its 45 minute drive, 20 to get out of london then through wheat fields and backlanes, thatched cottages, country pubs etc, just how I wanted it, hehe.

Britain like it or not IS more European now than ever and so you kind of feel part of Europe more than you used too, that planning a long weekend in Barcelona is no different to driving down to Devon, so my whole world has opened up in that respect.

SO yeah, cant big it up enough...
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