Were back pzzzzzzzzzzzzzz, thats the sound of it like a tyre deflating, then a dull thud when we crashed back to this side of the planet

Seeing the family was wonderful, really wonderful, almost 2 years since they had seen the kids, everyone so amazed at how they have changed, ones got real lanky and grown long hair in that time and everyone was so shocked, photos really dont show stuff like height what a laugh, never seen so many people so happy at that moment they first saw them. Parents not as good as we hoped, had some health probs we knew about but also some we didnt they didnt want to worry us, by mother had been in hospital and we didnt even know, brings that distance right home, as in their words "what could you do" anyway.

Trip, awful really awful, the more you do the fllight the worse it gets?

Sorry this is not in order just as it comes to mind.

Shops, first thing that strikes is the quality, the made in china rubbish is in the markets, shops sell decent stuff at decent prices and decent choices. Wonderful, didnt like the sales tho, too busy not surprised tho found stuff with 90% off. Very competitive pricing all round.

Food, settled that one in my mind with one grocery shop, most of the basics you buy way cheaper, only found a few things dearer, steaks and roast beef and cheese was dearer if you compared it to the tasty home brand, not cheaper if you compared it to say cracker barrel etc. And soap powder seemed dearer, perhaps thats cause it cleans (forum complaint) never had a prob with the aussie stuff myself tho. Apart from that aus is expensive not the UK, things change dont they.

Houses, has there been a downturn? still looked bloody expensive to us, size for size wise anyway, aus wins on size.

Schools/Education, dont read this if your easily upset, 3 kids covered most grades in OZ and I will repeat they are well behind, if we went back now we would have serious issues, I mean well serious issues, our kids would be way behind withour any shred of a doubt. Very major area of concern.

Newspapers, they over do it a bit dont they, saw a story of a small girl taken from home, all over TV front page, everywhere. Yet just weeks before in Sydney the same had happened and it never got to more than a small news item. Same with hold ups, womans in car held up, all over papers etc, same attack 3 times in Sydney with syringes only made minor news.

Travel, we only got around england, plenty of gob smacking deals to be read about tho, friends and rellies confirm prices may have a bit of tax but genuine enough. Saw a bit of UK, stayed with former expats in London amazed at kids go free in so many places, buses all over london, free entry all over the place. Thanks to ozzieeagle who put us onto all over the UK 26 pound hotel rooms, we got family rooms for 10 pound!!, special deal at the time, thanks so much. Found a 2 pound curry place too, and 2 pound spuds so even eating out in the capital not that bad.

One thing thats dearer, petrol 86p a L, cars are half the size tho and diesel is popular, did read in paper average fuel use in britain is 20 pound a week per car, convert that to dollars and way way less than we need to use here.

TV, loved it at first, NO ADS SHOUTING AT YOU EVERY MINUTES and could often find 2/3 things to watch at same time, unreal compared to here, come january tho TV went downhill, I cannot stand reality shows, I just dont care about big brothers house or whatever its called cannot think of anything on the planet more boring, especially in a country with so much to do and see, but they seemed to be endless. Which brings me onto the weather, is all this crap on TV because its january, because

The weather just isnt that bad there were days of cold, frosty stuff, light snow even, but this was being called the coldest winter in 20 years, so what, its hardly moscow is it? Rain in a month consisted of about one tenth of what weve had in Brisbane in last 2 days. Bit of sun most days, not bring out the chemical barrier protection strength, get inside in 6 minutes stuff, stuff you didnt have to worry about. Not that bad.

Leaving, the hardest thing weve ever done, due to health probs in family, this could be the last time we see one member, physically sick at leaving, still shaking hours later, absolutely the worst thing ever, worse than when we emigrated with lots of come and visit bravarady

Edit, lots more I could write but kids want to go on MSN might do a bit more later.

Sorry to hear about your relative that was one of the things that nagged at me with regard to staying in US or returning. Our family were OK but I knew I'd never be able to deal with them being really old & infirm at that distance. Hope they last a long time yet.

You are definitely right on the property front. I think that explains why people think Brits are up tight, we never have enough space of our own to just be.

Newspapers/TV Yes the papers are depressingly alarmist as is the news. You should have seen the fuss about bird flu before you got here. The press has a way of emphasising how bad things are when in reality for most people life is much better than reported. I think that could be why there is so much reality TV people just want to compare lives and attitudes. Between reality TV and soaps there doesn't seem to be much on but the comedy is good and there really are some quality programmesout there if you look out for them. I love the BBC even if you do have to pay the license fee.

As for the weather its just not very extreme. It seems that in other parts of the globe the weather wants to make an impact but here its happy to stay in a narrow background range and not impose too much. I'd always take a little more sun but have to say I've not been as down this winter as I expected to be.

great post Very informative, sorry you feel deflated now
interesting what you said about the school system......

great post to read....sorry I am losing the plot is the education system bad here or in Oz..couldn't work that out...early in morning and brain not fully engaged!!

Sounds like you got some great deals in London...any info on that please can you let me know as would love to take Miss Pants up for the day and see some places.

Sorry to hear about you relative that must have been so hard to see.

Anyway enjoy being back and best of luck with everything.

What a way to fill ones life up with emotion and turmoil.... A trip back to the UK, Sounds like you had a great but emotionally testing time. I personally wasn't expecting My first trip to the UK in 16 years to be such a throughly satisfying experience. It took me a good 3 months to feel half normal again, and I/we really checked out the possibilities of moving back there to enhance our financial situation and try to realise our dream (well mine mostly) of retiring to both countries. The wife vetoed me in the end, she didn't want our kids spread out around the world, as our youngest is 7 at present she does have a good point.

Sounds like it will take you both longer to get over this, than it did me. Best of luck and thanks for the recognition re the hotels...


For anyone reading its the Travelodge group, they have family rooms and have very cheap midweek and off peak rates.

Oh No! I wish I hadn't read that bit!
My two kids are doing really well at School In England and seem to be both one of the best in their class (not just bragging!). The school they go to is really excellent and that has been one of the main barriers which we thought we had overcome in our thoughts about moving to Oz.
Is schooling in Oz that bad?

Cheers

Jo

Yeah have to agree that bit has worried me too

Can anyone shed any light on this matter?

Outcomes Based Education......that's what it's all about over here at the moment. It's causing no end of problems in schools, especially in secondary ones.

There was another article in the papers today about how it is being inaccurately taught, how teachers aren't prepared enough in their session planning, how some teachers are on anti-depressants trying to re-learn this whole new way of teaching. (And I'm training to become a teacher...der...why? I do ask myself!)

You see, with OBE there are no guidelines on what you are supposed to teach. There are just "Overarching Outcomes" statements set down by the Curriculum Framework. It's very open ended. I believe this is where the problems arise: there's not enough structure focusing on what should be taught, it's all geared towards how it should be taught.

As a mother of two children, 6 & 4, I have nothing to compare the Australian education system to, they were never involved in the UK education system. All I can say is my kids have lots of fun in school and are becoming incredibly confident kids. Although I do worry when my 6 year old comes home and when I ask what he did that day he says "I painted and played outside!"

Jad n Rich: glad you had a fab time back home. Sorry to hear you have some family health problems

As for your kids fitting into the UK education system, have you thought about extra tuition in Oz to bring them up to scratch? They would slot in a lot easier if you chose to go back.

So guys was this a reckie trip or an innocent trip home for Christmas? We are hoping to return Aug this year and found your post very interesting - esp the school bit. Our daughter is just 13 and our son 4 - not due to go to school here until he is 6!!! :scared: I am wondering whether holding them back a year is something that you can do in the UK - they seem to do it here alot. Are you now tempted to go back?

Education is a tricky one for us considering emigrating (to NZ though as hubbie is a kiwi) as both our girls (5 & 4) are bright - ie reading & simple maths before starting school. Only one is in school, the youngest goes this year. BUT I do also think young children should have a lot of fun at school, ie the teaching and environment should be fun and exciting - not necessarily all play. However from what I have seen so far, schools appear to be capable of either one or the other and sadly not both. Also confidence shouldn't be underestimated as it is a key driver in ultimate success/failure/happiness in life for many people.

So to offer a contrast to your childrens' experience perhaps, my 5 year old says she doesn't have much fun at school (I asked her only the other day about what she did that day at school and was it fun - no it was cursive writing sheets, a maths sheet and goodness knows what else). She is at what can only be described as a very academic school in the UK with results in the top 5% (ie A* across the board for anyone who reads Ofsted reports), and is well ahead in reading, writing, spelling & maths. However she doesn't have much fun, but is very happy to go to school and does enjoy it enough. I don't want anyone to think she's sad & depressed or anything only being in Year 1, although I would love her to be bubbling over with excitement at things she has done that day in school when I pick her up. Anyone have this?

The good news for us personally is that in NZ she would go into Year 2 at the end of this month (ie 6 months early) with our youngest only spending 1 term in reception and then going into Year 1. Plus my husband is the product of a (good) NZ state education who left with an A bursary and a place at London School of Economics. So you never know what may happen in the long term and which particular experiences we have as a child that shape us into the adult we ultimately become.

Good luck to everyone considering or making big changes.

I have a friend who was educated in Australia who has told me that children only move up to the next class/year at school if they are ready, ie they can 'hold kids back' as you mentioned. It is not usual to do that with children in the British state education, everything is done by their birthday. So it is also not allowed to move bright kids ahead. (My sister was ahead at an overseas school and had to move back into her 'correct' class when we returned to the UK as kids).

However, I know there is more flexibility in the private sector, then again the standards are also likely to be higher to start with so keeping someone back a year in a private school could potentially be even harder for them academically than putting them into their correct class in the state system. Depends on the location and specific schools as to how high standards are and thus how your children will ultimately cope.

I would have thought your 4 year old would be absolutely fine, but depending on when your 13 year old turns 14, she could be choosing 'options' for the 2 year GCSE study period (ie for exams taken the year they turn 16) this year. It could be very hard for a child to catch up at any point during this 2 year study period, although in reality it depends on so many different variables - one of which being their thoughts on moving back to the UK and ease with which they make friends.

Good luck whatever you decide.

The pull that can generate between family and yourselves can be huge. I know the pull we had towards our daughter who didn't go with us to Oz was very strong and we felt a sense of loss during our time there.

I hope that you decide what you want and what is important to you and the family soon, it can be traumatic when you are over the other side of the world.

Our son's education did suffer and he found it took a few months to get back into the swing of things here again but the school were great and helped alot.
Don't worry, with your help they would cope.

Mandy

Sounds like you prefer the UK. When are you moving back there?

Lots of questions so will start with the most important, education, remember this is my experience but it does cover 3 kids, 6 years, and between them we have covered all grades except 2.

School in Oz is easy, relaxed, fun, a bloody great time had by all experience and to be honest I think the one classed as 'gifted' (like so many UK kids this alone has to be a giveaway! ) starting grade 5 today realises school is about work it really is that easy. They are happy happy happy, dont get me wrong there. They realise its a doddle and love that!

This time we took their Aus books to the UK with us, to get to the bottom of it, unfortunately getting the time out of a school to look at it was as we feared difficult, school hols not helping of course. Determined we found a friends brothers wife, an experienced Head of department maths teacher willing to spend 2 hours with us, we made it quite clear one child has mild dyslexia and one is classed as 'gifted' in OZ, nothing hidden, but the general view was our kids are around 2 years behind UK standards, bit of a concern given one should have started high school in September 05.

If my kids were younger, and been here a year obviously this would not be such a dramatic fall in them getting behind, most expats on this board have been here months not in thier 6th year so that must be taken into account.

Further our Aussie 'gifted' son would appear to be more highly intelligent than gifted and our son with dyslexia would be eliglble for education support, unlike in OZ where its been a marathon battle to get half an hour a week which has now been dropped due to funding. One of the points raised was why a maths workbook with 136 pages had only 39 pages taught, we raised that question in OZ had got the answer the teacher had been stressed that year and perhaps we could finish it in the school hols, laid back alright! but it clearly shocked the UK teacher that standards could be so slap dash.

I would say we dont know the answer, should we continue now what we have started, the Oz system where this level of work ranks one as a mini genius and even the one with mild dyslexia as above average.

The other option at this stage is clealy terrifiying because of what our kids would have to go through to catch up, would it even be possible to catch up??

Again please remember this is us, over a 6 years, what applies to us may not apply to other people, its not a UK V AUS or AUS V UK battle we have lived too long in both to think either is perfect.

Off to battle the several thousand cars gridlock (mostly 4WD's ) now that will be back at school (raining too) traffic, Joy deep joy, now thats one things thats exactly the same!

More later.

It seems to depend where you live, as where we are the schooling is fine. Yes, my daughter finds the maths easy but that is her forte and in the state sysytem in the UK she was placed on the special needs register for gifted children (we would only class her as intelligent really, not gifted), hence a move to private school as the state sysytem offered her no extension work or anything. At least here she is given extension work and also work specifically set for her. She is in her age appropriate class and the school do all they can for her. In fact when we arrived she was behind in I.T so had some catching up to do there, which she did no problem. She loves school here and achievements are praised making her want to achieve. This of course is only our experience.