5 reasons why you want to come back to the UK - Part 2
 

Hi :)

I realise that my original thread on this subject got hijacked and was closed down by Sue, but I would still like to hear from some of you about your experiences/problems etc on this subject.

To recap, we were hoping to move to Canada, but have been refused on medical grounds (see Canadian Immigration forum). We now intend to move to rural Spain (or somewhere else warm and more relaxing, .....any other suggestions would be appreciated) sometime next year when our daughter has finished her schooling.

I would like to hear from some of you that have moved to Canada, Spain, Oz, NZ, or wherever it may be, with the main reasons why you have, or intend to move back to the UK.

We really do not want to make the same mistakes as some of you and want to try and cover all the pitfalls, potential problems etc that some of you "returnees" have experienced.

I do appreciate all of you that responded on my previous post and have taken on board your comments and advice, I just need a bit more! :D

For many, you must have wanted to leave the UK in the first place to make a better life for your family. What went wrong?

If you were to move abroad again, as a bit of advice for us still in the UK, what would you do differently, in order to make a success of a new life in your chosen country.

I would be interested to hear the 5 most important reasons (more the better really) why life in ?? was not for you.

Cheers
Graham :beer:

Re: 5 reasons why you want to come back to the UK - Part 2
 

I'll give you 5 reasons why we are coming back to the UK from Australia

1) Ageing family

2) locality to Europe for traveling

3) locality to the Americas for traveling

4) New found appreciation of History

5) We can and will come back to Australia

What is more important here is that we are only returning to the UK from Australia after 20 years and will in the fullness of time (at least 3 years I hope) return to our adopted country.

I guess we could be accepted as successful migrants. Here are 5 tips that might help you in your prospective country

1) Appreciate the new place you choose to go to for it's differences to the place you came from, do not criticise it publicly, after all you chose it and not visa versa.

2) Don't return home even for a visit too soon as a rule of thumb leave it for 5 years and let them come to you first. The people that return every 6-12 months rarely integrate well (we left it for 19 years).

3) Be in a good relationship with your life partner as they will be your best and possibly only real friend for a very long time, if things are bad before you leave they will be worse once the thrill of the move is over, the holiday does not last a life time.

4) If you come from a close family you must accept that you will miss them and they are very unlikely to follow you. In this case maybe going in the first place just because the weather is better is a bad idea.

5) There are very good reasons why people choose to live in the UK, after all Madonna could live anywhere you know and she chooses the UK

All the Best



Dave

Re: 5 reasons why you want to come back to the UK - Part 2
 

good post:)

Re: 5 reasons why you want to come back to the UK - Part 2
 

This is a very good post, thank you for taking the time to write it, I appreciate it.

The bit about Madonna, that exact same thought popped into my head today!

Re: 5 reasons why you want to come back to the UK - Part 2
 

Thanks for your sound advice. As you can no doubt appreciate, moving to another country is one of the biggest decisions anyone can possibly make.

Cheers

Graham

Re: 5 reasons why you want to come back to the UK - Part 2
 

She also has enough money to live in a mansion in the UK, send her kids to the best schools, holiday all over the world and therefore leave the crap weather when she chooses, has someone to do her shopping/cooking/cleaning/etc and also happens to be married to an Englishman so its not suprising she chooses here, she probably actually spends very little time living the life of an ordinary person from the UK.

Re: 5 reasons why you want to come back to the UK - Part 2
 

Madonna can well afford to live in the uk.
I think people are sick of high taxes and long working hours,
wet winter days and nights and extortionate house prices.
I think people are willing to escape the rat race for a simpler life abroad even if this means living in a smaller house and working fo less money.
Or am I just talking about myself ?
Let me Know,

Cheers, Remy

Re: 5 reasons why you want to come back to the UK - Part 2
 

I 100% agree.
The Uk is great if your minted, but for the rest of us we can only dream.

Re: 5 reasons why you want to come back to the UK - Part 2
 

I agree, I have returned from Oz where we were living a simple, carefree, life in a lovely home, good jobs, gave it all up to join the rat race here in the UK, it has only taken 6 months but i am willing to return to a smaller home and less pay back in Oz again - i really had some thick rose tinted specs on whilst away:o

Re: 5 reasons why you want to come back to the UK - Part 2
 

Some excellent retorts and all good points, but very few if any of those negative things change for an ordinary person when you move apart from maybe the crap weather.

Moving country really is a good idea, we don't regret a single moment we had very little when we landed in Australia and time over we would do it again.

Including Madonna as an example was inviting trouble, i'll do that again too :D


Dave

Re: 5 reasons why you want to come back to the UK - Part 2
 

Trying to be as objective as possible here:

Reasons it hasn't worked out are.....

1. Lack of lasting friendships with which to deal with everyday stuff.
2. There is no catch-net for the rough times, ...was unemployed once for 1/2 year and NO govt. assistance at all. You are totally ($) on your own here.....
3. The working atmosphere is ridiculous - you are owned and abused by companies, blue/white collar - it makes no difference....."working for the Yankee Dollar" is a myth.
4. Health Insurance is an expensive trap for the ordinary working people, it ties you to an employer. Its something which is going to get worse before it gets better too. God help you if you have a family and no insurance.
5. Generally, the US lifestyle revolves around money and flashy excitement.

BTW, heard the mean US household income is now $40,000 p/a. WTF??? When we earned that little (for 2 years), we never did anything......how can they do that now????:eek:

Re: 5 reasons why you want to come back to the UK - Part 2
 

It's great for me:)

Re: 5 reasons why you want to come back to the UK - Part 2
 

I bought an apartment in Goa 2 years ago and the only thing that keeps me sane at times is the thought of escaping to it whenever I can.
The life style there is really carefree and chilled out, the people are so friendly and the weather is fab. I bought it with the view to retiring there someday and hopefully eventually be able to spend 6 months there and the remainder here.

I think the fact that Hot countries have a fabulous outdoor lifestyle means a lot and is essential for good moral. There is more to do without having to spend a fortune to do it.

Remy.

Re: 5 reasons why you want to come back to the UK - Part 2
 

Are you going to Australia?......same shit...different bucket:rolleyes:

Re: 5 reasons why you want to come back to the UK - Part 2
 

Fantastic post :)

Re: 5 reasons why you want to come back to the UK - Part 2
 

Its not all bad I agree, but it can become very mondane and we do have a longer working week than anywhere else in Europe. I have talked to so many people now who are up to their eyes in debt through just trying to keep a roof over their head and pay bills whilst knocking their pan in every week at work. I think part of the problem is materialism and comfort buying. I think we need to get back to basics and be more content with a simpler way of life. With next generation mortgages and higher taxes i wonder were we are going to be in another 5 years especially if and when interest rates rise. I think this is why so many people are opting out of the uk for cheaper property and living costs abroad.

Remy

Re: 5 reasons why you want to come back to the UK - Part 2
 

Still fine for me:)

No mortgage...no need to work ....live in a nice place....don't mind paying tax...what am I missing?:confused:

Re: 5 reasons why you want to come back to the UK - Part 2
 

No, im not going to OZ. Not yet anyway but have done a bit of travelling and spend a lot of time in Goa. Yes the people there are a lot poorer than us and yet seem far happier and content, why is this do you think?

Re: 5 reasons why you want to come back to the UK - Part 2
 

Grayling, what is your beef with Australia? I dont think i've ever heard you say anything positive about the place. Why do you hate it so much, you dont even live there?:rolleyes:

Re: 5 reasons why you want to come back to the UK - Part 2
 

I'm content:) .....


....but then, I have managed to succeed in the UK ....unlike a lot of malcontents:)

Re: 5 reasons why you want to come back to the UK - Part 2
 

No beef at all...I am moving there soon.:)

I have never said anything negative about Australia.

I am simply fed up with those who fail in the UK blaming the country for all their problems:rolleyes:

Same shit....different bucket:)

Re: 5 reasons why you want to come back to the UK - Part 2
 

I am not just speaking about my situation or yours but a majority of people in the uk are getting a rough ride, i am happy for you that your not one of them.

Surely you can admit that cheaper properties and lifestyles and better weather is a damn good reason to think about moving.

Remy

Re: 5 reasons why you want to come back to the UK - Part 2
 

Coming from Ireland must have something to do with the appreciation for hot weather, I was brought up in County Antrim;) Since coming back to the UK and not being able to take the kids out without it costing an absolute fortune has made me realise how important having an outdoor lifestyle (and most of it free) actually is!

Re: 5 reasons why you want to come back to the UK - Part 2
 

Seems like a pretty short sighted reason to me:)

I don't care what things cost. I would rather live somewhere expensive and interesting than in a cheap sterile desert.

It is VERY expensive to live anywhere interesting in countries like Australia.

Still....not a problem for me:)

Re: 5 reasons why you want to come back to the UK - Part 2
 

Let me know how you get on and best of luck.

Remy

Re: 5 reasons why you want to come back to the UK - Part 2
 

The fact that you are not the norm. :rolleyes: ;)

Re: 5 reasons why you want to come back to the UK - Part 2
 

Horray for you.

Re: 5 reasons why you want to come back to the UK - Part 2
 

Do you want to trade 25 years of your life?

Re: 5 reasons why you want to come back to the UK - Part 2
 

Right over my head. Translation?

Re: 5 reasons why you want to come back to the UK - Part 2
 

Yeah it does rain here a lot. The kids go back to school tomorrow and because it has rained here all day we have decided to take them to the cinema tonight to see A night at the Museum.

But guess what by the time you pay for popcorn etc I will be 40 quid lighter in the pocket at least.

Remy.

Re: 5 reasons why you want to come back to the UK - Part 2
 

I am now retired (early)....I actually had to work for what I have...it did not come easily but I managed it in the UK.

When I was young I struggled....but I did not blame the country....I got on with it.

Would you swap several years of your life to be well off?

Re: 5 reasons why you want to come back to the UK - Part 2
 

:confused:


I didn't realise you are so badly off in Ireland that you can not afford raincoats

Re: 5 reasons why you want to come back to the UK - Part 2
 

yea and i busted my balls for 5 yrs building my own contracting company. No dont blame this country, I do blame the gov'mnt for making it soooooo bloody hard and taxing the ass of anyone who trys to better themselves only to thow the money at any lazy bast' who cant get off their bone idle backside and thinks the world owes them a living. Oh i forgot your a labour voter arn't you.:rolleyes:

Re: 5 reasons why you want to come back to the UK - Part 2
 

I am indeed:)

Re: 5 reasons why you want to come back to the UK - Part 2
 

Ill treat tis one with what it deserves.......contempt!!!

Re: 5 reasons why you want to come back to the UK - Part 2
 

So why can't you go out in the rain?:confused:

Re: 5 reasons why you want to come back to the UK - Part 2
 

BTW I am Irish:)

Re: 5 reasons why you want to come back to the UK - Part 2
 

[QUOTE=tony_russell;4257327] I do blame the gov'mnt for making it soooooo bloody hard and taxing the ass of anyone who trys to better themselves only to thow the money at any lazy bast' who cant get off their bone idle backside and thinks the world owes them a living. /QUOTE]

Here! Here!

I am sick of hearing what people in the UK get paid in child tax credit, working tax credit, unemployment benefit, etc. All we get is the priviledge of my husband working hard and getting X% of his salary taken off him for it:mad: I have always worked and studied hard to better myself and now that i choose to stay home and raise my children I am not entitled to anything because our income is too high, perhaps we should never have bothered and just let the government pay us:mad:

Sorry, rant over:o

Re: 5 reasons why you want to come back to the UK - Part 2
 

Dont think they cant afford raincoats if they are paying to take the kids to the cinema, you need to re-mortgage the house for that:)

Re: 5 reasons why you want to come back to the UK - Part 2
 

Is it really that black and white (i.e., swapping 25 years of your life for being well off)? Do you think that you wasted those 25 years (is that why you describe it as "swapping" them for being well off?) I guess I'm still not getting it.