Originally Posted by Ian12

Just to share the good news, I begin a part time supply job the week after next. Have one on me.

Originally Posted by SCOTTISH MARK 2

Fantastic news

Originally Posted by Mercedes

Originally Posted by Ian12

My family and I have been in Australia for 18 months now. We have never felt settled but put it down to difficulties with "in -laws", then getting schooling sorted out for our kids. However because we were finding it difficult to find a suitable rental and because we were lucky enough to have the funds, we decided to buy. In my mind it was to MAKE us commit at least for two or three years. So far thats the plan but it has been HARRRRRRRRRRRRD! Unemployment hit both my partner and I - Accountant and Psychotherapist. No jokes about "go heal thyself" thanks. We wanted out of London beacuse of the noise and the pollution and I wanted a place in the sun. We have the sun and I think the weather is just perfect. I love it. We also left London because we were fed up with the lack of spontaneity. If you wanted to see friends we had to book them three weeks ahead. (Hmmm -- it did seem as if it was us that had the empty spaces in the diary not sure why) People say that London can be a lonely city. Most of the time I was happy - good colleagues and friends but I have no close family (other than my partner and two children) - a couple of cousins I used to see every month or so. Friends - sometimes once a month or three times a year. So yes for us at times London could be a bit lonely. When we first arrived in Australia is was not so much loneliness that hit us as isolation - not knowing anyone. Gradually you get to know people and so a social life evolves. Maybe I am expecting too much after all, 18 months is not long, but we don't have that many friends here or see many people socially and yet we are sociable.

After spending months sending out c.v.'s and spending hours with phones stuck to our ears, the job situation is as dire as ever. We have lived off savings since we arrived. Even when my partner was working for 8 months, it was not enough to cover major bills such as car repairs, pool repairs and getting a gas supply put into the house. I think (naturally?) one starts to think about going back to the London. I was never unemployed but sometimes it was stressful not knowing whether the work was going to dry up or not. It never did but I guess it's common with those of us who are self-employed.

We had a bit better social life in London but not soooooooo much better. We did have money which was kinda nice! We did not have the pool or the house backing onto the national park. Neither did we have two cars, but we did not need them. Would be be happier going back? I keep asking myself that question. At the moment unemployment is talking its toll. if we were both employed we would be happier.

So it leaves us where I started this thread. You can move countries but in the end you are the same person and the chances are that what made you unhappy in the UK will make you unhappy in Australia too.

If you have read this far well done!