brummie61

thanks

Nyz

I spoke to a recruitment agent in the UK recently and he said that things are starting to pick up, even just over the last month he's seeing more vacancies, so hopefully that will continue (this was for accounting jobs)

brummie61

I had a email from a friend who moved to UK about 10yrs ago from SA. They doing well and he seems to think economy is good with jobs available & opportunities. So we will see!

kevin747

I sure am . I think being positive helps. I have to thank Australia for that at least but alas I'll not be going back-too dull,too many flies and to many ocker Aussies

Scottish Family

Hi good to hear your update experiences. We came back to the UK (Glasgow) in January 2010, so 1 year and 8 months now; we returned from North Island of New Zealand. We had some lovely friends over there both kiwi and ex-pat and my husband just loved it. We became worried about the level of care available in the health service there after my own health scare landed me in the emergency room and also we stressed about the standards of the high school level education for our kids, who were getting to that level. We said we'd give it 2 years over there and we'd spent 2 years and 2 months before coming back. Definitely feel less guilty now that I don't have to leave my mum who sadly is now chronically ill and great to catch up with my sister and old friends here in the UK. Our kids are now in a very very good high school. It was odd coming back at first because even though you keep in touch with UK friends via emails and facebook etc. inevitably they have moved on and you find yourself connecting with fewer folk than you expected. We still feel a little unsettled and a lot poorer financially, having to start again on the housing ladder, we're still renting for the sake of the school catchment area. I know it was the right thing for us to do for the sake of the kids education but I know my OH still hankers to go back. I can see us turning into 'ping pong poms' in a few years after the kids start University. So here's hoping we feel more settled as time goes on.

nifty1

Hi all. First timer here and it's good to read about your experiences. Thanks for sharing them.
I had 20 years in Australia with many highs and lows. I have now been back for 4 years and only wish Australia was where France is situated! (Although that would mean France would need to be moved, a place I like). I gained some great friends over in Oz and my best mate was (and is) an Aussie. I found that those Aussies (and Kiwis) from interstate and had travelled to Europe, were the easier to get on with.
Now that I've been back I have re-kindled old friendships here in the UK. However, a few have moved on and there is not the common bond that we enjoyed in the past (including family). It's understandable.
I reckon living in Australia makes you so resilient and optimistic towards life. This has been a great asset since I've been back. The 'have a go' culture over there, is missed here in the UK. Although work has been hard to find lately, I have made sure I try to better myself through study and going out for walks of discovery. Because we mainly live in the suburbs in Australia, I find the variety of scenery that is accessible in the UK is a big bonus.
I miss the chance to play the variety of organised sports that I participated in when I lived in Australia. I find that many people here in the UK are more concerned with wealth (including others) instead of life.
I must comment on the press and media in general here. I was shocked at the 'gutter' level of journalism when I first arrived in Oz. Not long after the Lindy Chamberlain/ dingo /baby story. But it is now even worse here (guess it's a guy called Murdoch?). I remember first arriving back to my Mum talking about 'doom and gloom'. I have since persuaded her to ditch the Daily Mail and the Daily Express who target the vulnerable OAPs with negativity. I don't buy a newspaper and avoid the TV news....'ah...ignorance is bliss'.
I'm very happy I moved over to Australia. I'm only back because of my Dad passing away after a long illness. He loved coming over to visit Australia with my Mum. My Mum needed support and I realised that I then didn't have any ties in Australia.
I can see myself going back though. There's a lot to say for dual nationality. How lucky are we?

sirscotsalot

I love reading about people's experiences since I plan on moving back to Scotland next Spring. It's going to be a big change in my life, some good some bad but hoping for the best. I know when I go back things will have changed after 24 years away. I go back every year on holiday but reading peoples posts on here gives me some inkling of what to expect..

brits1

Hi, your coming home well prepaired, I think if you think life picks up where you left it (in some ways it does) then you might have a bit of a shock, we came back home with the same thoughts as you and have settled in very well. Spring is a lovely time to return home. All the best.

MissBetty

Hey

Just wanted to say how much I enjoyed reading your post! I am from the UK, grew up in Oz, returned to the UK at 14 and came back nearly 4 years ago.
At the time I swore I would never go back to England but now I have totally changed my mind! I'm over it here, have been down skilled in my job (I'm a paramedic) I'm sick of the humidity where I am and everything is so damn expensive!!!! I came here on my own and I am really missing my friends and family like crazy even though I have made some lovely friends here. Just have to wait a few more months til I can get my citizenship and then I can return to the UK. I have been so depressed about everything, feeling like a failure and stressing out about what to do for the best but after reading some of the posts on here, including yours, I feel so much better! Hope you continue to enjoy your new life in the UK - me? 7 months and counting..................... lol!

Beedubya

Hang around here you will find out you are far from alone. Such a relief when you find British Expats.

MissBetty

Thank you! Yes its nice to know you are not as alone as you think. All I am getting atm from my mates are "Wtf? Why do you want to come back here?" but none of them have ever lived overseas away from their family! My Aussie mates have been pretty good and are already planning their UK trips lol! I'm looking forward to being able to have nice holidays again, I did a UK trip a few months ago and it was exhausting, what with the traveling and trying to see everyone then all the tears at the airport!!!!!!

Beedubya

Oh I get that all the time "What the hell did you come back here for?" though never from anybody who knows me because they know how I feel.

It's usually from strangers who have probably never moved further than the next town.

Cumbrian Lass

Yes we find that all the time.....people saying "what the hell did you come back here for?" but i found the people that say that havent set foot outside of Britain....so HOW DARE THEY judge!!!! they dont know any thing,they havent done it nor got the t-shirt........so just say to them "well why dont you give it and try and you will know what its like?" they soon shut up.
Been back 5months now after 10yrs in Alberta and really settling in well.This dump as some call it,is beautiful,has tons to offer,reasonably cheap compairing to some places,including Alberta,offers great cheap travel and the list just goes on.So glad to be HOME

DigitalGhost

Those types of people always seem to have this image that the grass is truly greener but never bother to smell that said grass for themselves.