Well after 15 years in Australia (1 in Adelaide, 14 in Brisbane) I finally made it and escaped the boring penal colony that is Australia.

I'm luckier than most in that I am setting up an office for my Australian employer so they are paying me and also contributing a large chunk of the rental for my home/office.

I'm originally from Plymouth so have based myself in Ivybridge which is about 10 miles north up the A38 towards Exeter. I have rented a four bedroom detached house in the Woodlands area, I absolutely love it here. It is a 15 minute walk to the centre of Ivybridge which has 6 pubs and enough shops to satisy most needs.

I can honestly say I am happier than I've been for years, the main reasons are as follows:

I feel at home and have a sense of identity, I am not nor never will be an Aussie, they're very different from us.
The Devon countryside and beaches are wonderful and I love being out and about (weather has been kind which I know makes a difference).
I keep bumping into family which is great, went with my younger brother and his son, my wife and son and my daughters Aussie boyfriend strawberry picking yesterday just outside Plymouth, and the only other people in the field were my mum and my eldest brother and his wife.
Everything is so close and there's loads to do, pubs are fantastic, shops are loads better and booze is cheaper (I'm pretty easy to please!).
People are much more laid back in country Devon, it's an absolute myth that Aussies are laid back, they're manic, greedy and totally self centred - Aussies friendships are often vehicles to see what they can get out of it.
My 8 year old son's school is fantastic, he was in Kimberley Park, Shailer Park in Brisbane 1,200 kids, huge classes and principal etc totally unapproachable. He now goes to a lovely quaint primary school in Ivybridge with 170 kids and 18 in his class, they treat kids like kids and the headmaster is a really nice bloke who takes the time out to greet the parents every morning. My lad now plays football every day and has more friends than he ever had in Australia, he loves going to school which really helps.
Society is nowhere near as pedantic in its application of petty rules, you can walk along the road with a beer, take kids in the pub, drive faster without being harrassed too much and there is definitely more freedom (however the net is closing in). I just hope the law makers/enforcers stop short of turning UK into a sterile, bland and controlling society as Australia.

Of course there are annoying things, if you believe the press every teenager is running around stabbing people, the place is packed full and every second person is an illegal (or legal) immigrant and the place is going to the dogs. The press also makes Australia out to be utopia where everyone is friendly, nobody works hard and life is easy - what a load of bollox! Also wish I could have a quid for every person who asks me 'why have you come back to this shithole' - it's certainly not that! people just don't appreciate what they've got, I've lived all over UK, in US, South Africa and Australia and can honestly say that South Devon is the best place in the world to live from my point of view.

i know its only six weeks and my experience is specific to me so may not be relelvant to others. IMO the UK has improved dramatically since I left and Australia has declined through arrogant complacency. For me and my family this is the best move we've ever made, my opinion may change over time but I'm living for the moment and am currently in bliss!

Will update you all again soon, for the moment I'm going walking on Dartmoor and then finding a pub for lunch.

What a fantastic post, I'm leaving Brisbane in about 4 weeks, have been here for a year. We are going back to Somerset and I look forward to going to Devon for the odd day trip!!!
Sounds like you are having a ball it's good to know that the Uk isn't as it's portrayed in the news and on here sometimes!!
Best of luck for the future.
Julie

Just turned a deep shade of green-I love Devon & Cornwall. Enjoy your pub lunch (sniff) & the lovely fresh air

Oh I wanna be there, living in the Otter valley, right now Not too much longer for me, I hope, until we'll be almost neighbours!

It sounds so wonderfully glorious, especially the bit about your little one settling in to his new school. That's obviously every parents worry, how their kids are going to cope.

I hope things continue working out so well for you and your family

I take it he got the job???

Well done. and many thanks for sharing your true stories.

Absolutely. Couldn’t agree with you more. Kiwis/Aussies they are so different from British. for me, not having people around who share the same cultural background is very wearing.

Good on ya. I'd be waiting your update.

Incidentally have you ever lived in Scotland?

personally I've never been to Devon so I can't tell. I assume it must be so expensive

Hi Tracey, have you sold your house yet? Prices here are tumbling and exchange rate is great. When are you planning to come over? Where are you going to live? What about work, what does your OH do?
If you need me to help from me just ask
Cheers
Stu

Incidentally have you ever lived in Scotland?
I was brought up in Helensburgh west of Glasgow until I was 12, Mum from Plymouth, Dad Glaswegian.

personally I've never been to Devon so I can't tell. I assume it must be so expensive.
Devon isn't expensive compared to the SE, you can get a reasonable 4 bed house for 200K

Great post - another vivid green with envy here!!!!

We are going home for a quick visit next month and DH thought he would like to visit Totnes - maybe I can persuade him to stay Devon really appeals to me!

Devon looks similar to Wellington coast line and houses on the hill

Whereabouts in Somerset? I'm from Wells

Oh wow! You sound so content.....long may it continue for you all.
Two weeks today, and I'm off this pile of rocks.....I've had to squash my excitement into a box otherwise I'd get nothing done!

Keep us updated...........

Never been to Australia, my whole knowledge of the country is what I read here and in the media.

However I have to agree about Devon, we lived in married quarters in Plymouth and of all the places we lived ultimately, the Devonians were the most friendly.

I was born & raised in the West End of Glasgow and left when I was 19. I would love to return to the west of Scotland to live, some day.

For the meantime, we're very lucky in that although we've lived here in Spain for some years, we still have our home in Hertfordshire, and are able to come and go freely when the mood takes us.

My mother and two of my brothers and families live in Totnes. I've been there several times, but just for short visits. It seems to be a nice town. Can't beat the scenery.

Most of Devon is VERY pretty.

Thanks for the post. I'm glad you're enjoying yourself.

So, so envious. Wish I could be there too!