Gill123

Hi All

We arrived in cold, dark, rainy Heathrow on Thursday morning having spent 20 hours in the air. Having not left Australia for the 2 and a half years we were there, we totally forgot just how far away it is from the UK!

All went okay - flew with Qantas, flights were on time and all our suitcases arrived.

It has been great so far to be back but obviously we have a lot to do.

Our eldest daughter started school today in her old class and has slotted straight back in. Getting the school place was one of my biggest concerns so this has been a huge relief.

Getting a rental seems to be difficult in our area at the moment - Ingleby Barwick, North East UK. I was told by one estate agents this morning that they have rented out 15 properties in our area since 3rd Jan! Our container arrives on 23rd Jan at the port, so I really want a rental sorted this week.

We do have an appointment to view a house on Wednesday which has just come on the rental market, so hopefully we will get this. Because we are not in employment yet, we have been told we will need to pay 6 months rent in advance.

We've bought a car and having phoned lots of the major insurance companies, I can recommend using Budget Insurance as they are one of the few who will accept a foreign proof of no claims - saving me about GBP500 from what other companies are quoting.

Our next major hurdle is getting jobs. My husband plans to be self employed again and I'll be looking for a managerial/admin type job. We are lucky that our childminder who looked after my eldest daughter from being 1 year old to us leaving the UK when she was 7, has a space for my 3 year old.

So, so far so good. I couldn't believe the variety of foods available in Tesco having got used to Coles and Woolworths! I've found some fruit to be more expensive than in Australia, but almost everything else is much cheaper!

Fingers crossed that things fall into place over the next few months.......

Mummy in the foothills

It does sounds like it's all slotting into place

cockneysparra

Good for you, Gill123! All sounds good thus far. I'm stuck with the decision to take my family back after 5 years in Melbourne, or just carry on as normal & hope the very strong feelings of missing our family die down again. We've been talking it over with our dearest friends in Oz, and the thought of leaving them is quite torturous, but we regain all our family & friends of old. Hubby isn't convinced moving back is a wise idea, but will make the move if that is my decision. It's all so hard!! Good luck to you though

scrubbedexpat055

Well done with the school, that must be a big relief.

On rentals, we have had similar issue and have paid 5 months up front even though I have a job starting 1st February.

Good luck in your search.

Peter
(My container arrives in the UK next week )

Cumbrian Lass

we have been away 10yrs and are looking to go back,when the house sells.We are so scared of making the wrong choice,but know we dont want to live here in Alberta any longer.One day we are going back the next we are moving to a different part........just cant decide.But so glad the school is sorted etc let us know how it all goes.
good luck

confusedenglishrose

Ah life. As you arrived I just left the same area after 3 months. Have to return for a finite period. But my mind is made up. I'm writing from a beach location about 75F. Still wish I was going up Roseberry Topping today whatever the weather. I even changed my ticket last week to give me extra days in the UK just did not want to come back

Wish you success.

quoll

Good heavens, you did say 4 days and not 4 weeks! You certainly dont let the grass grow under your feet do you? It still looks as if getting a rental is a darned sight easier than it is here!

Hope the work thing takes off successfully too!

quoll

Wow Peter, I must have missed your pingpongpingpong! I hope you have found somewhere wonderful that all of you can enjoy now.

betsyboob

Things WILL fall into place, give it time. You will have times when you'll question being back but I'm sure you had a good reason for coming back from Oz - we did!

lauralollipop

Hi Gill

very interesting post, I lived in Ingleby barwick before I moved to Aus, Ive been gone around 6 years now and with a baby on the way 'feeling curious' about what it would be like to live back there (although hubby wont) So is it still the same as it was when you left? I will be following your post with interest so please keep me updated, best of luck with everything

Gill123

Hi

Ingleby is basically the same - lots of houses and not much space between them! There are a lot more apartments and semi-detached houses too to make it more affordable for first home buyers.

Having lived in WA for more than two years, the houses look very "old fashioned" compared to Australia - even though they are not really! Our new build house in Ingleby Barwick which we sold when we emigrated is only 8 years old, but when we drove past it this week, it looks 25 years old!

It still feels good to be back!

If I can help you with anything from here, let me know!

lauralollipop

Hi Gill,
I know what you mean about the houses being so close, I could not imagine living back in our 2 bed terrace after living here, its so interesting to hear how its all going. I would love a Friar tucks though, is that still there?

Did you get the rental? cant wait to hear your next instalment

Cumbrian Lass

well we are still deciding to move back to the uk or not to move back to the uk.We probably will be like this up until the day we have to move out of our home lol.Ten years is a long time to be away and is so scarey to go back to.What do you find the most challenging and changed thing so far about the uk?

Gill123

After 2 and a half years away, we had forgotten the variety of shopping that's available here - far more than there was in WA.

We'd also forgotten how small the roads are and how muddy everything is! We built our house on sand and rarely saw mud.

Where we lived in oz, the roads and paths were new - so very smooth. Here the roads and paths are in desperate need of repair. It's just a small thing that makes no real difference to every day life, just something we've noticed!

We'd forgotten how friendly everyone is though! We got such a lovely welcome from everyone when we returned to my daughter's school. We expected people to be depressed and miserable here, but we haven't found that at all. There is a general feeling that people are worried about their finances and job security, but they are just getting on with it and not letting it get to them.

Cumbrian Lass

oh thats good to know there is only a few minor things.
I find the Brits very friendly people compared to other nations.That is one thing me and my OH miss so much about the UK.He would say "it takes me hours to cut the grass" and it was because everyone going by would stop and talk.Here no one even gives a nod never mind 5 mins of their time to chat.That is some thing we are looking forward to so much ,a good laugh with the Brits