Ha...they had a 'party' for all the rellies to meet the kids - they put all these photos up of the kids around the house for the party. Then took them down the next day. Very important to at least 'look' like doting grandparents you know!

Good news about the job situation. So sad it all ended like this for you. Will you wait till next week to see if this UK work comes off?

I can't believe how badly Brum has come off in the recession.

We're still in turmoil - our life here in Sydney is exceptionally comfortable, but feels totally without soul. I want to be walking the country lanes and hills of Britain...and want to do it before my poor arthritic feet give up on me completely. lol!

Wish I'd been the one to get that big Lotto win the other day Dave, I'd have sent you enough to keep you afloat awhile!

Sorry to hear of your predicament OP.

Here is my angle on your situation. Myself and my husband are both Midlanders born and brought up. He is a Brummie and I am from Dudley. We were teenagers during Maggie's recession and times were very tough. We both went away to study and never went back to the Midlands. This was a matter of choice as the Midlands at that time offered us no prospects and we could see family and friends struggling due to the economy. We lived in a fair number of major cities in the UK and some were a vast improvement on the Midlands. Eventually we ended up in Cardiff which is a small city and the quality of our life improved dramatically again. This improvement can be attributed in part to the economic recovery but in the main to our location. Big cities / conurbations have higher crime and are dirtier and more congested.

It is my personal opinion that many of the large conurbations including the Midlands will never recover their economic glory. I would say that leaving the Midlands is essential for you to find some level of contentment. Your skills will never again be in high demand there. I don't know enough about what work is available where, but you need to do some serious research and decide if somewhere in the UK is more suitable or if Oz is the sustainable future. Or as a previous poster has suggested, retrain. It might be cheaper to pay for that than to emigrate???

To be totally blunt about your inlaws, they don't sound great, don't give up your future for them. Do what is right for your family's survival. Your own parents may wish to move to where ever you are at some point in the not so distant future, so don't think you are permanently denying your children their grandparents either.

Good luck

How come you flew away from the lovely Cardiff then Fly Away?

Dave...as I said before, my stepdad left Brum and found work (in the 80's recession) in lovely small towns of Wiltshire and Dorset, whereas he'd found nothing in Brum, not a snifter of work ...and this was with all his Brummy contacts and being very well respected there.

Throw your net a little wider afield before you make that big move.

We still love Cardiff but wanted to try Australia as it was out last chance visa wise due to our ages. We can return to Cardiff if we wanted to, as we still have property there. Loving Australia at the moment. I have to say the economy is better here than the UK at the moment - which helps a lot. We also have a safety net in place which helps us to feel that we are still in control of our destiny. I think this recession has removed a lot of people's safety nets and that means they can't just 'go and try' somewhere else so moves must be carefully considered.

This is true, there have been no kids outside in our street the whole summer. It has been too hot and humid.

I wanted to throw in my thoughts.

The first priority I think is a job.

But just as important is to re-train. Get some qualifications so that you can make you more employable. No-one wants to be unemployed and although Certificates /Degrees don't guarantee a good job or career, it really does help.

While you are on benefits, you would be entitled to courses (I think).

I have been seriously considering doing a degree to "better myself" and because I am getting a bit older and at the moment don't work. You can't rely on good lucks and personality anymore!!

I am looking at the Open University and they have a section about benefits. So before you secure a job (either in the UK or Australia) perhaps you could check out and see what they offer.

All the best..

I know having a job is central to surviving and it's a clear message here, people return home for many varied reasons, but seem to pong (or is it ping) back to Oz for one reason alone...and that's income. All the other reasons seem to be forgotten. Just had a friend who returned to the UK say they're coming back. The comment was 'green fields and country lanes can't pay the bills'. But they must be on a very, very decent income so if they're not coping financially, who is?

They also would be caught out by the dreaded 3 year residency rule for their daughter. She's got some fabulous offers for medicine but only as an o/s student. Non of the uni's will allow her a place as a home fee std...not even the one her mum works at!

Although money will and for many, will always be a driving force behind many things we do, having the reassurance of secure employment for at least 10 years is having a huge bearing on us returning. I have found even getting a job hard to come by back in the UK and even if I did land one, in these current economic times who's to say how long it'd last and we'd be back to square one?

As for the re-training, going back to college is something I'll be doing regardless or where we live.

Had a shipping agent round and it's a lot less than we'd thought, got another coming round Wednesday so we'll see what kind of deal we can land.

Dave,
Just wanted to wish you good luck with your move back. Sadly, the same thing happened to us in 95. Six months and all my OH could get was a crap "contract" with no benefits, involved travelling up and down the country, sometimes 4 hrs each way and he only got paid the 8 hours he was at his "destination" actually doing the job. Despite several applications, he was offred nothing else. Then he was offered a permanent position back in South Africa where we'e come from. It didn't take much thought for us to come back, we'd had the same disappointments in the UK with relations and friends. We've been fine here, just dont look back with what ifs and you'll be OK. WE will be going back to England to relocate in the next 12 months or so as we're retired now and the NHS is a big pull as is the more secure lifestyle, crime is exceptionall high here now and the last thing we want is to be old and vulnerable. Having said that we love South Africa this second time around. Just know there are lots of people have been in the same boat and done well at the end of the day. Really hope you and your family get happily settled and again good luck.

Many thanks for your post, we've had a couple of shipping agents round now and checked out possible flights, areas to live etc and are now quite excited about the return down under. There's still the odd doubt but we had that the first time around.
All's in place for the job in Brissy so just got to get there now!

Good Luck.

We have done the same, and I have been back in Melbourne since September. For skills like yours, we are always looking, so if your job doesn't work out, drop me a pm.


Peter

Hi Peter,
Many thanks for the offer and I'll be sure to drop you a line should things go awry in Brissy.
How's it been 2nd time around for you returning? Easier or harder to move again?

ATB,
Dave

Generally easier.

There is much less shock to the system, and some Australian things actually feel sensible 2nd time round, whereas everything took a slightly negative view on the first time.

You are more prepared for the homesick feelings etc.

Good luck, no regrets from us. No plans for forever, just trying to get to citizenship, then will see after that.

Peter

It's great that you have work back in Aus and know what you're taking on this time. We're mainly going back to the UK because of work (I'm a teacher so they are always in short supply). Life isn't good anywhere if you don't have any coin to enjoy it eh?!

Lots of luck, I'm sure it'll work out well for you and your family.

Totally agree. Come back to the sunshine mate!!!