British Expats - depressed!

British Expats (https://britishexpats.com/forum/)

- Moving back or to the UK (https://britishexpats.com/forum/moving-back-uk-61/)

- - depressed! (https://britishexpats.com/forum/moving-back-uk-61/depressed-522925/)

So far some time in December, January and February. Not November and October, so not a full winter yet.

We are on the lowlands just below Vejer. Sometimes in the midwinter mornings you will find ice on water left out overnight, and the wind can blow cold.

There are some amazing cold mornings when the mists condense on the trees, and the dripping is so intense it sounds like rain. Prior to that I never realised just how much water can be harvested from fog and mists.

I am perfectly aware that there are cold grey days there. I'm not stupid. The huge difference is this.

In Andalusia, the vast majority of days are sunny, while in the UK, the vast majority of days are cloudy.

That means that when it is cloudy in Spain, it doesn't depress me. I shrug, because I know that soon I will have weeks of unbroken sun.

It also means that when the sun shines in the UK, I know damn well that it will soon be covered in clouds, so it can still be depressing even on a sunny day.

how are you feeling today? Angelsey is a beautiful place to live:) I'm, well my family, are in Wrexham.not quite as nice! I'm moving back from Istanbul after having been here 14 months, but before that I was travelling so it's been two years I've been away.

Quote:

Originally Posted by bil (Post 6093659)

Succeed or fail, doesn't make things in the UK any better. I'd always say, have a go. At least that way when the stay at home envious types start at you, you can say 'It's better to have tried and failed than to never have tried.'

Sitting in the Tesco car park today, rain p*ssing down to create the 'perfect' English weather we all love, and I suddenly realised what the UK weather is perfect for.

It's perfect for encouraging emigration!

Bil, what exactly is it that you are posting in this section of the forum for?

People in here have minds of their own and have been away to wherever for long enough to know the score. I rarely see people claiming the UK's perfect, far from it .. You appear to be the one with a bee in your bonnet, so what's your problem? You of course have every right to say what you want, where you want, I just dont get it when people like yourself come in MBTTUK and start spouting. Strikes me as odd. *shrug*

And by the by, returning does not equate to failure anymore than staying away does to success. Oh, and the British climate compared to some available out there really is preferable.

To the OP - good luck with your plan to return.

Never said returning meant failure. I merely quoted the old saying in case anyone did accuse it of that.

The Australian climate is better than some out there too. BFHD.

Oddly I thought anyone was free to post anywhere, unless of course someone died and made you god of this forum? No? There you go then.

Y'all have a super day now?

I never refuted your right to post here, I believe I stated it in fact, my question was why do you choose to post here?

Oh, and who said anything about Australia??

Quote:

Originally Posted by bil (Post 6094340)

But many of us dont have our happiness dictated by the weather!

Quote:

Originally Posted by wobbler (Post 6086029)

Thanks everyone, glad to know it's not just me feeling like this! I know things will get better, but just having a particularly bad day today! I know it's difficult for people to understand how we feel because it was OUR dream and OUR experience, how could they possibly understand? And because most of the people in the area couldn't understand in the first place why we went, it just re-affirms their reasoning on our return. I've not worked out how to multi quote etc so will try to answer your questions like this!!

handbags - we are in lovely Anglesey. lovely part of the country but ever so slightly lacking in jobs and opportunities! Where are you, and where are you coming from?

Bil - the biscuit tin is down! I've given myself a good talking to, and told myself not to be so silly! We've not really lost anything, we came back with roughly the same amount of money we went with, had a great experience etc, and I had more time with my daughter as she would have been at school here, but wasn't old enough to start over there!

Sherro - think you are right, think we have done this part of our lives and should maybe have settled elsewhere, but guess we needed a bit of familiarity when we returned. Trouble now is that we have our daughter settled back in her old school and she's ecstatic! Having said that, if we decided to move again,we would, she's get used to it. It's all for her good anyway, everything we do is for the kids innit!!!

We are working towards a plan to return, needs to be quick though, our ages are slightly against us! I'm 40 in may and hubby is 47! Frustrating thing is, is that if we had listened to ourselves in 2000 when we first visited NZ, and retrained we would possibly be there and settled by now, but life overtook us - travelling, family (phuh!) and then my daughter appeared!! Never mind, if we really want it, it will happen eh!

Thanks again for the advice, its good to talk, feel better already!
x

Hi Wobbler,

If you've got the nerve get yourselves back over here (or at least hubby), job hunt like mad, secure yourselves a workpermit and worry about residency later.
By that time you may have found a business that suits or a great job opportunity.
We came here in Nov 06 as visitors and never left.

Good luck, let me know if i can help you at all from here.

Carole

I think you will find that for a lot of us happiness is affected by the weather. SAD affects a lot of people, and being in the position we find ourselves, for me the weather is an important thing. So much bad weather and depressing delays for us mean that a good sunny day really lifts my spirits.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tootsie Frickensprinkles (Post 6101930)

I never refuted your right to post here, I believe I stated it in fact, my question was why do you choose to post here?

Oh, and who said anything about Australia??

OP did.

Quote:

Originally Posted by wobbler (Post 6083862)

If I had trained as a hairdresser for example, I could get back there - or OZ!

Wobbler, I hope you find some way of getting back down south. Would it be worth checking with an agent to see if there's a way to go?

I choose to post here because I seek to learn all I can about moving to another country. I pay especial attention to why people come back so I can do my best to avoid that fate.

A life changing action requires serious research.

Quote:

Originally Posted by moneypen20 (Post 6103827)

OP did.

The OP was was talking about experiences in NZ, which is why I questioned whether Bil was making reference to myself .. and I certainly said nothing about Australia, an entirely different climate ball.

Quote:

Originally Posted by bil (Post 6103966)

Might I suggest a little less of an antagonistic approach in here then?

I give what I get. What you give me you will get in return.

When I made the reckless move of suggesting that if you moved abroad with rose tinted specs on, it might be wise to remove them before looking at returning to the UK, I was immediately jumped on, which is to me the sure sign that I had hit a nerve.

Why the sprinkles btw?

Hi Wobbler - your post really hit home with me. I've done the returning home for family thing too only to be very disappointed.

I hope you find a way to get back to NZ quickly. I'm sure that if you are determined then you will succeed.

Thanks everyone for your comments. I'm feeling slightly better now, must be all the chocolate thats lifted my spirits!!:lol: (I'm not 'wobbler' for no good reason!!!!!!!)

We are currently pondering our options, and coming round to the idea of retraining etc, but we're both pushing on a bit so it'll have to be some sort of intensive programme!

As for family, well, what can I say, you live and learn eh! At least WHEN we go again, the pressure of my guilt will be removed!

Thanks again, and good luck in whatever your plans are.
x

Quote:

Originally Posted by bil (Post 6103966)

Serious research, did it all but it does not make up for the actual experience once you set down in a country! The things that the internet and books do not tell you, be wise:)