Decisions & feedback
Feb 25th 2013 | 7:47 am
#16
Thread Starter
Forum Regular
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 166
From: Auckland
Re: Decisions & feedback
Hi,
Well we left the midlands in 2006 for NZ. We had never been and felt it would be an adventure and surely better than England.
We finally managed to leave NZ at the end of 2012. We have picked a totally new area and are now in North Yorkshire.
We found a house on Rightmove, I contacted the agent and secured the rental without paying 6 months in advance.
Your right about looking at the views there, and the weather is fantastic there at the moment but they dont pay the bills or make the schooling better.
It is cold here, but we have heating. Things have changed, we had never afforded to visit before we returned. Hand on heart the day I left NZ I was no longer scared of the flight ahead cause I realised I was going home and I love it.
Home is where the heart is and we are glad to be back.
Carole
Well we left the midlands in 2006 for NZ. We had never been and felt it would be an adventure and surely better than England.
We finally managed to leave NZ at the end of 2012. We have picked a totally new area and are now in North Yorkshire.
We found a house on Rightmove, I contacted the agent and secured the rental without paying 6 months in advance.
Your right about looking at the views there, and the weather is fantastic there at the moment but they dont pay the bills or make the schooling better.
It is cold here, but we have heating. Things have changed, we had never afforded to visit before we returned. Hand on heart the day I left NZ I was no longer scared of the flight ahead cause I realised I was going home and I love it.
Home is where the heart is and we are glad to be back.
Carole
Thank you so much for your post and were the same we can't afford to go back from here to visit it's an all or nothing move! So glad you have settled in back home and very true re the views they don't make me happy long term or pay bills etc!
Feb 25th 2013 | 7:56 am
#17
Thread Starter
Forum Regular
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 166
From: Auckland
Re: Decisions & feedback
Thank you all for your input!!!
We made the choice last night after I spoke with my Dad and we just want to be happy so moving back end of this year
I feel like a dark cloud has finally been lifted!!!
We made the choice last night after I spoke with my Dad and we just want to be happy so moving back end of this year
I feel like a dark cloud has finally been lifted!!!
Feb 25th 2013 | 9:09 am
#18
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Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 2,285
Re: Decisions & feedback
The worst thing was waiting for the containers and cars to arrive. We did end up in a new part of the UK and bought a new property.
The one thing I still haven't done is convert my driving licence back to a UK one. The helpline advised me that they still had my old records on the computer system so it would be simply filling in a form and posting it off.
Bureacracy not been an issue at all really but I have done as much as possible on internet.
Don't believe the doom and gloom mongers unless you always hated the UK (I did not).
Feb 25th 2013 | 8:44 pm
#19
Practical Paramedic
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 931
From: The Beautiful South, UK
Re: Decisions & feedback
life is far too short to be unhappy!
Last edited by MissBetty; Feb 25th 2013 at 8:47 pm.
Feb 26th 2013 | 3:11 pm
#20
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Joined: May 2012
Posts: 991
From: Nebraska by the Sea
Re: Decisions & feedback
Hi NZ4Now, I left the UK in 2003 for NZ, then spent approx 3 years in between in Oz. I keep looking at the lovely view from my window in East Auckland as we are near the beach, especially on a day like today and ask myself do I really want to leave this. But in the end, I want the British work ethic, chance to make real friends and to visit the historic places I have missed. I know the weather will be awful and bitterly cold, but I have put on 4 stone in 10 years here so its not healthy for me. Like I said though, the salaries are really worrying.
I can relate. I live in a very seemingly beautiful town/city. Weather is almost perfect but if you read some of my earlier posts I sound quite miserable on a day to day basis. Now I have the opportunity to make the jump, ticked off the job box, but somehow everything seems more worrying now. I'm sure its just fear and nerves but it didn't quite feel this way going the other way, perhaps youth plays a natural and larger role than we give it credit for. Now my decision making seems couched in rationale processes and 'what ifs'. The first time I left the UK I pretty much just went within 2 months once I had news of a job. Ironically it might be the same time frame on the return - a pretty quick turnaround. I just have these moments where I envision myself sat back in the UK going what have I done
Lets hope thats not the case...
Feb 26th 2013 | 3:41 pm
#21
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Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 402
From: Wirral, UK
Re: Decisions & feedback
Hello Kat,
I can relate. I live in a very seemingly beautiful town/city. Weather is almost perfect but if you read some of my earlier posts I sound quite miserable on a day to day basis. Now I have the opportunity to make the jump, ticked off the job box, but somehow everything seems more worrying now. I'm sure its just fear and nerves but it didn't quite feel this way going the other way, perhaps youth plays a natural and larger role than we give it credit for. Now my decision making seems couched in rationale processes and 'what ifs'. The first time I left the UK I pretty much just went within 2 months once I had news of a job. Ironically it might be the same time frame on the return - a pretty quick turnaround. I just have these moments where I envision myself sat back in the UK going what have I done Lets hope thats not the case...
I can relate. I live in a very seemingly beautiful town/city. Weather is almost perfect but if you read some of my earlier posts I sound quite miserable on a day to day basis. Now I have the opportunity to make the jump, ticked off the job box, but somehow everything seems more worrying now. I'm sure its just fear and nerves but it didn't quite feel this way going the other way, perhaps youth plays a natural and larger role than we give it credit for. Now my decision making seems couched in rationale processes and 'what ifs'. The first time I left the UK I pretty much just went within 2 months once I had news of a job. Ironically it might be the same time frame on the return - a pretty quick turnaround. I just have these moments where I envision myself sat back in the UK going what have I done
Lets hope thats not the case...I'm sure there'll be times when we say 'oh god what have we done' but in the 17 years of living here it's always been our goal to move back, we've never faltered from that.
I also think to myself that moving here I didn't seem to have the same panicky feelings, but we surely must have. . . perhaps the time has caused them to fade or something, but they have to have been present.
If someone were to say now "you're not going back to live in UK, you have to stay the rest of your life in USA" I'd be devastated, so I know it's what we want to do. However, I don't think you can live somewhere for such a long time and not miss at least some part of it when you leave, so I will also be sad to leave the last 17 very enjoyable years of my life behind
Last edited by ElizabethK; Feb 26th 2013 at 3:44 pm.
Feb 26th 2013 | 11:30 pm
#22
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Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 1,358
From: The sunshine state
Re: Decisions & feedback
It is grey, it is miserable, the people are grey and miserable. You will get sick to death of people asking you why you left paradise to come back here, you will get sick to death of asking yourselves why you left paradise to come back to this. Your tans will rapidly fade to a faint shade of grey. The only thing not grey will be the black moods and of course the inevitable black dog in the corner
On the plus side you will be back home, you will get to see friends of old on odd occasions etc
Of course on a beautiful sunny day there are few finer places in the world
On the plus side you will be back home, you will get to see friends of old on odd occasions etc
Of course on a beautiful sunny day there are few finer places in the world
Feb 27th 2013 | 11:38 am
#23
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Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 1,324
From: Near Kingston, Ontario
Re: Decisions & feedback
my main concern is being able to find work...
Feb 27th 2013 | 1:55 pm
#24
Just Joined
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 22
From: Auckland, NZ
Re: Decisions & feedback
Me too shelly. I think its better to be there, at least for NHS jobs so that you can attend the informal visits etc. I am finding that unless you are a nurse, doctor etc, its near on impossible to get an interview from overseas. I have started to put down my parents address and will fly back if I get an interview (I have to go back anyway so no additional cost).
Feb 27th 2013 | 7:51 pm
#25
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Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 744
From: Torbay, North Shore
Re: Decisions & feedback
I just kept on trying, I also worked in the NHS for 20 years prior to moving to NZ as an accountant, some gave me telephone interviews some didn't I trust gave me 24 hours notice for an interview to attend I emailed back and asked for a telephone interview and got one. I now work for a University all I can say is keep trying!
If its any help I had a wide search area (anywhere south of Brum except central London) When we moved back in 2010 without a job I struggled even though I was flexible on salary and location, the longer you are out of work here the less you seem to be attractive for an interview! after 7 months I returned to NZ to work
If its any help I had a wide search area (anywhere south of Brum except central London) When we moved back in 2010 without a job I struggled even though I was flexible on salary and location, the longer you are out of work here the less you seem to be attractive for an interview! after 7 months I returned to NZ to work
Feb 28th 2013 | 1:02 pm
#26
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 402
From: Wirral, UK
Re: Decisions & feedback
I just kept on trying, I also worked in the NHS for 20 years prior to moving to NZ as an accountant, some gave me telephone interviews some didn't I trust gave me 24 hours notice for an interview to attend I emailed back and asked for a telephone interview and got one. I now work for a University all I can say is keep trying!
If its any help I had a wide search area (anywhere south of Brum except central London) When we moved back in 2010 without a job I struggled even though I was flexible on salary and location, the longer you are out of work here the less you seem to be attractive for an interview! after 7 months I returned to NZ to work
If its any help I had a wide search area (anywhere south of Brum except central London) When we moved back in 2010 without a job I struggled even though I was flexible on salary and location, the longer you are out of work here the less you seem to be attractive for an interview! after 7 months I returned to NZ to work
Feb 28th 2013 | 1:11 pm
#27
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Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 402
From: Wirral, UK
Re: Decisions & feedback
Mine too, I've been in banking in USA for 14 years so I'm signed up to receive all kinds of job alerts from building societies and banks in England. I read the requirements and qualifications needed and the jobs on offer fit me to a tee. I've applied for a few from here to just test the waters so to speak, and so far have had all rejected with the explanation that my criteria does not match exactly or that other applicants have matched better (or words to that effect) I'm hoping that the criteria they speak of is my address as I use my USA one on the applications.
I know I can't expect to get a job straight away, but I'm at least getting practice filling in the laborious task known as application forms!
Don't you just hate the "why do you think you'd be good for the position" or "what can you bring to the job that would make you stand out from other applicants"
I wish I could answer simply, "because I want to earn money, I can string a sentence together, oh and I'll show up on time everyday".
It'll take time I suppose and I think it will be a job in itself just finding employment
I know I can't expect to get a job straight away, but I'm at least getting practice filling in the laborious task known as application forms!
Don't you just hate the "why do you think you'd be good for the position" or "what can you bring to the job that would make you stand out from other applicants"
I wish I could answer simply, "because I want to earn money, I can string a sentence together, oh and I'll show up on time everyday".
It'll take time I suppose and I think it will be a job in itself just finding employment
Feb 28th 2013 | 4:54 pm
#28
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Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 744
From: Torbay, North Shore
Re: Decisions & feedback
I ping ponged We went to Wellington 2008 hated it returned to Uk 2010 could not find a job returned to Auckland late 2010 and now returned to UK this time with a job set up
12 months earlier than planned but job too good to turn down
12 months earlier than planned but job too good to turn down
Mar 31st 2013 | 2:29 pm
#29
Just Joined
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 14
From: Australia
Re: Decisions & feedback
We moved back after 22 years away and have loved every minute of being back. Yes, the sky is grey sometimes but that doesn't make you miserable unless you let it. We had an absolute blast last summer while everyone else was moaning about the weather. We just took raincoats and wellies and went off exploring every weekend. Lots of time the weather ended up being nice but when it didn't, we just put on our coats and got on with it.
We found a landlord who was perfectly willing to accept us without 6 months rent in advance. We just had to provide an accountant's reference (we're self-employed).
It is hard to do some things at first just as it is when you enter any country - buying a car on credit for example is always tough when you have no local credit history. But you haven't been away as long as us, so that may not be an issue for you. You just have to come in prepared for that stuff and deal with it just as you must have dealt with it in NZ.
We've has absolutely no problem accessing the NHS - they've been fantastic actually. We set up a bank account with HSBC before we even arrived and that made all the difference in terms of being able to use debit and credit cards.
It's been lovely to be back in a place where you can strike up funny little conversations with perfect strangers, and have a good laugh with people you'll never see again. Makes life so much more worth living.
Life is what you make it - come over with a positive outlook, a well thought-out plan, and enough savings to tide you over for a little while and you'll be fine.
We found a landlord who was perfectly willing to accept us without 6 months rent in advance. We just had to provide an accountant's reference (we're self-employed).
It is hard to do some things at first just as it is when you enter any country - buying a car on credit for example is always tough when you have no local credit history. But you haven't been away as long as us, so that may not be an issue for you. You just have to come in prepared for that stuff and deal with it just as you must have dealt with it in NZ.
We've has absolutely no problem accessing the NHS - they've been fantastic actually. We set up a bank account with HSBC before we even arrived and that made all the difference in terms of being able to use debit and credit cards.
It's been lovely to be back in a place where you can strike up funny little conversations with perfect strangers, and have a good laugh with people you'll never see again. Makes life so much more worth living.
Life is what you make it - come over with a positive outlook, a well thought-out plan, and enough savings to tide you over for a little while and you'll be fine.
