Finally...we have a date for going home!
Nov 10th 2010, 11:16 pm
#16
Forum Regular
Joined: Feb 2009
Location: Blackburn VIC
Posts: 44
Re: Finally...we have a date for going home!
Hi Gill
We are returning around the same time, house sold, movers booked etc... but we have the same issue with schools. We are moving back to SE Herts but every school seems to be full. We have been told the same thing buy the council contact us when you arrive and we will find a place for your children but cannot guarantee where! So I said tell me where there are places and we will move there, that is surely the logical process. So far no joy what is going on with schools in the UK why are they all so full.
Bit stressed
Pete
We are returning around the same time, house sold, movers booked etc... but we have the same issue with schools. We are moving back to SE Herts but every school seems to be full. We have been told the same thing buy the council contact us when you arrive and we will find a place for your children but cannot guarantee where! So I said tell me where there are places and we will move there, that is surely the logical process. So far no joy what is going on with schools in the UK why are they all so full.
Bit stressed
Pete
Our house sale has just gone unconditional so I can finally get the shipping and flights home booked! Am very happy but very nervous!
My parents arrive here on 9th December for a 5 weeks holiday and our house settlement goes through on 10th December, so I've booked us all into a holiday rental for our last few weeks in Oz.
We are using Kents for the shipping as they've been recommended to us by a few people and their rate was the best I got - $7225 for a 20ft container from Perth to UK.
I've booked our one way flights to the UK for 13th January.
We'll be moving in with my parents when we return for a few weeks while we try to sort out an unfurnished rental.
My biggest issue is going to be getting my 10 year old daughter a school place. I can't apply to the council for a school place until I get a rental in the catchment area and even if I get a rental in the catchment, it doesn't guarantee we get a school place as the area we will live in is over subscribed for schooling! It's a bit of a chicken and egg situation! Pointless getting a rental in a certain area if we can't get in the school. I just hope we get lucky!
We have a Toyota Tarago to sell before we go and will be having a garage sale as there is no way that the furniture we have here will fit in a UK house.
So lots to organize, but I'm so happy it's happening.
We came to live in Australia for an adventure and once we got the visa, we couldn't not try it. We assumed we would both get well paid jobs (as we had in the UK) and would enjoy a comfortable lifestyle here, but it hasn't happened. If I could press rewind and go back to the point we were at when we left the UK, I definitely would! I just hope we can put our life back together when we return. We might not earn as much as we used to, as the doom and gloom surrounding the UK at the moment might affect this, but having close friends and family close by will make all the difference.
I will update on our progress when we get back because I've enjoyed reading how other people have found it and hope someone is interested in our experiences!
My parents arrive here on 9th December for a 5 weeks holiday and our house settlement goes through on 10th December, so I've booked us all into a holiday rental for our last few weeks in Oz.
We are using Kents for the shipping as they've been recommended to us by a few people and their rate was the best I got - $7225 for a 20ft container from Perth to UK.
I've booked our one way flights to the UK for 13th January.
We'll be moving in with my parents when we return for a few weeks while we try to sort out an unfurnished rental.
My biggest issue is going to be getting my 10 year old daughter a school place. I can't apply to the council for a school place until I get a rental in the catchment area and even if I get a rental in the catchment, it doesn't guarantee we get a school place as the area we will live in is over subscribed for schooling! It's a bit of a chicken and egg situation! Pointless getting a rental in a certain area if we can't get in the school. I just hope we get lucky!
We have a Toyota Tarago to sell before we go and will be having a garage sale as there is no way that the furniture we have here will fit in a UK house.
So lots to organize, but I'm so happy it's happening.
We came to live in Australia for an adventure and once we got the visa, we couldn't not try it. We assumed we would both get well paid jobs (as we had in the UK) and would enjoy a comfortable lifestyle here, but it hasn't happened. If I could press rewind and go back to the point we were at when we left the UK, I definitely would! I just hope we can put our life back together when we return. We might not earn as much as we used to, as the doom and gloom surrounding the UK at the moment might affect this, but having close friends and family close by will make all the difference.
I will update on our progress when we get back because I've enjoyed reading how other people have found it and hope someone is interested in our experiences!
Nov 11th 2010, 1:14 am
#17
Forum Regular
Thread Starter
Joined: Jul 2008
Location: Currently Burns Beach, moving to NE UK Jan 2011
Posts: 70
Re: Finally...we have a date for going home!
Fly back Fiday evening from Brisbane (tomorrow) and land back in UK Saturday afternoon. Furniture has been packed and gone. Slept on airbeds for couple of nights and left bare essentials to manage. Sleep at friends for our last night tonight. Stressing about luggage at moment as we are over. Only allowed 20kg with Malyasian airlines. Just have to pay excess if they want to be strict but aircraft looks half empty when I checked in online.
Nov 11th 2010, 1:19 am
#18
Forum Regular
Thread Starter
Joined: Jul 2008
Location: Currently Burns Beach, moving to NE UK Jan 2011
Posts: 70
Re: Finally...we have a date for going home!
Hi Gill
We are returning around the same time, house sold, movers booked etc... but we have the same issue with schools. We are moving back to SE Herts but every school seems to be full. We have been told the same thing buy the council contact us when you arrive and we will find a place for your children but cannot guarantee where! So I said tell me where there are places and we will move there, that is surely the logical process. So far no joy what is going on with schools in the UK why are they all so full.
Bit stressed
Pete
We are returning around the same time, house sold, movers booked etc... but we have the same issue with schools. We are moving back to SE Herts but every school seems to be full. We have been told the same thing buy the council contact us when you arrive and we will find a place for your children but cannot guarantee where! So I said tell me where there are places and we will move there, that is surely the logical process. So far no joy what is going on with schools in the UK why are they all so full.
Bit stressed
Pete
Schooling is causing me the biggest stress. As you say, the council are not much use. In our area in NE, they keep building 4 bed homes but don't build any additional schools, so the schools become oversubscribed and have waiting lists. So many children end up having to go to schools in areas outside where they live and I really want to avoid that. I even know someone who's house backs onto a school playing field, but they can't get a school place there - the children have to get a bus to a school 10 miles away!
I guess we just have to hope we have luck on our side and there just happens to be a place in the schools we are looking at.
Best of luck with it all
Gill
Nov 11th 2010, 7:45 am
#19
BE Forum Addict
Joined: May 2007
Location: England
Posts: 4,213
Re: Finally...we have a date for going home!
Our house sale has just gone unconditional so I can finally get the shipping and flights home booked! Am very happy but very nervous!
My parents arrive here on 9th December for a 5 weeks holiday and our house settlement goes through on 10th December, so I've booked us all into a holiday rental for our last few weeks in Oz.
We are using Kents for the shipping as they've been recommended to us by a few people and their rate was the best I got - $7225 for a 20ft container from Perth to UK.
I've booked our one way flights to the UK for 13th January.
We'll be moving in with my parents when we return for a few weeks while we try to sort out an unfurnished rental.
My biggest issue is going to be getting my 10 year old daughter a school place. I can't apply to the council for a school place until I get a rental in the catchment area and even if I get a rental in the catchment, it doesn't guarantee we get a school place as the area we will live in is over subscribed for schooling! It's a bit of a chicken and egg situation! Pointless getting a rental in a certain area if we can't get in the school. I just hope we get lucky!
We have a Toyota Tarago to sell before we go and will be having a garage sale as there is no way that the furniture we have here will fit in a UK house.
So lots to organize, but I'm so happy it's happening.
We came to live in Australia for an adventure and once we got the visa, we couldn't not try it. We assumed we would both get well paid jobs (as we had in the UK) and would enjoy a comfortable lifestyle here, but it hasn't happened. If I could press rewind and go back to the point we were at when we left the UK, I definitely would! I just hope we can put our life back together when we return. We might not earn as much as we used to, as the doom and gloom surrounding the UK at the moment might affect this, but having close friends and family close by will make all the difference.
I will update on our progress when we get back because I've enjoyed reading how other people have found it and hope someone is interested in our experiences!
My parents arrive here on 9th December for a 5 weeks holiday and our house settlement goes through on 10th December, so I've booked us all into a holiday rental for our last few weeks in Oz.
We are using Kents for the shipping as they've been recommended to us by a few people and their rate was the best I got - $7225 for a 20ft container from Perth to UK.
I've booked our one way flights to the UK for 13th January.
We'll be moving in with my parents when we return for a few weeks while we try to sort out an unfurnished rental.
My biggest issue is going to be getting my 10 year old daughter a school place. I can't apply to the council for a school place until I get a rental in the catchment area and even if I get a rental in the catchment, it doesn't guarantee we get a school place as the area we will live in is over subscribed for schooling! It's a bit of a chicken and egg situation! Pointless getting a rental in a certain area if we can't get in the school. I just hope we get lucky!
We have a Toyota Tarago to sell before we go and will be having a garage sale as there is no way that the furniture we have here will fit in a UK house.
So lots to organize, but I'm so happy it's happening.
We came to live in Australia for an adventure and once we got the visa, we couldn't not try it. We assumed we would both get well paid jobs (as we had in the UK) and would enjoy a comfortable lifestyle here, but it hasn't happened. If I could press rewind and go back to the point we were at when we left the UK, I definitely would! I just hope we can put our life back together when we return. We might not earn as much as we used to, as the doom and gloom surrounding the UK at the moment might affect this, but having close friends and family close by will make all the difference.
I will update on our progress when we get back because I've enjoyed reading how other people have found it and hope someone is interested in our experiences!
Nov 15th 2010, 5:34 pm
#20
Just Joined
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 6
Re: Finally...we have a date for going home!
Hi,
Am reading with interest this thread with regards to schools admission in the UK.
We are moving back in Feb and trying to get 3 children into 'mid-term' transfer; 2 into primary and 1 into secondary.
At the moment...if one primary has space for the 4 year old, it doesn't have space for the 8 year old or vice versa.
The primaries nearest the secondary are full.
Like previous posters have said; you have to be in situ in order to apply. There is not much we can do I suppose. Wait and see; I plan to try and live nearest the secondary school so my daughter can get home quickly and safely alone even if I have to travel a distance to collect the 2 younger ones - hopefully from the same school!
Am reading with interest this thread with regards to schools admission in the UK.
We are moving back in Feb and trying to get 3 children into 'mid-term' transfer; 2 into primary and 1 into secondary.
At the moment...if one primary has space for the 4 year old, it doesn't have space for the 8 year old or vice versa.
The primaries nearest the secondary are full.
Like previous posters have said; you have to be in situ in order to apply. There is not much we can do I suppose. Wait and see; I plan to try and live nearest the secondary school so my daughter can get home quickly and safely alone even if I have to travel a distance to collect the 2 younger ones - hopefully from the same school!
Nov 15th 2010, 8:45 pm
#21
Forum Regular
Joined: Dec 2009
Location: managed to escape
Posts: 76
Re: Finally...we have a date for going home!
Awesome!!! Well done for making the decision. We moved back in September and absolutely loving being HOME! Long may it continue. Broke now but I'm in the right place for us now. I fit into my life here pretty well. I could never see WA being long term for me and had to make that move before I became trapped by it all, investing too many years there would have made it harder to leave.
Good luck with the packing. Enjoy Xmas
Good luck with the packing. Enjoy Xmas
We now have a fab Christmas to look forward to, there's so much amazing food already & can't wait to give some of it a try....
Nov 15th 2010, 8:46 pm
#22
Forum Regular
Joined: Dec 2009
Location: managed to escape
Posts: 76
Re: Finally...we have a date for going home!
Just wanted to say good luck to all those on this thread who are in the process of packing up & moving back, and also those who have just moved.... you'll all be alright
Nov 17th 2010, 1:20 am
#23
Forum Regular
Joined: Sep 2005
Location: Perth
Posts: 109
Re: Finally...we have a date for going home!
Hi,
Just wanted to second Obewan.
Good luck to everyone that has made the best decision for them - and hope everything goes well !
Just wanted to second Obewan.
Good luck to everyone that has made the best decision for them - and hope everything goes well !
Nov 17th 2010, 2:15 am
#24
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 1,048
Re: Finally...we have a date for going home!
Our house sale has just gone unconditional so I can finally get the shipping and flights home booked! Am very happy but very nervous!
My parents arrive here on 9th December for a 5 weeks holiday and our house settlement goes through on 10th December, so I've booked us all into a holiday rental for our last few weeks in Oz.
We are using Kents for the shipping as they've been recommended to us by a few people and their rate was the best I got - $7225 for a 20ft container from Perth to UK.
I've booked our one way flights to the UK for 13th January.
We'll be moving in with my parents when we return for a few weeks while we try to sort out an unfurnished rental.
My biggest issue is going to be getting my 10 year old daughter a school place. I can't apply to the council for a school place until I get a rental in the catchment area and even if I get a rental in the catchment, it doesn't guarantee we get a school place as the area we will live in is over subscribed for schooling! It's a bit of a chicken and egg situation! Pointless getting a rental in a certain area if we can't get in the school. I just hope we get lucky!
We have a Toyota Tarago to sell before we go and will be having a garage sale as there is no way that the furniture we have here will fit in a UK house.
So lots to organize, but I'm so happy it's happening.
We came to live in Australia for an adventure and once we got the visa, we couldn't not try it. We assumed we would both get well paid jobs (as we had in the UK) and would enjoy a comfortable lifestyle here, but it hasn't happened. If I could press rewind and go back to the point we were at when we left the UK, I definitely would! I just hope we can put our life back together when we return. We might not earn as much as we used to, as the doom and gloom surrounding the UK at the moment might affect this, but having close friends and family close by will make all the difference.
I will update on our progress when we get back because I've enjoyed reading how other people have found it and hope someone is interested in our experiences!
My parents arrive here on 9th December for a 5 weeks holiday and our house settlement goes through on 10th December, so I've booked us all into a holiday rental for our last few weeks in Oz.
We are using Kents for the shipping as they've been recommended to us by a few people and their rate was the best I got - $7225 for a 20ft container from Perth to UK.
I've booked our one way flights to the UK for 13th January.
We'll be moving in with my parents when we return for a few weeks while we try to sort out an unfurnished rental.
My biggest issue is going to be getting my 10 year old daughter a school place. I can't apply to the council for a school place until I get a rental in the catchment area and even if I get a rental in the catchment, it doesn't guarantee we get a school place as the area we will live in is over subscribed for schooling! It's a bit of a chicken and egg situation! Pointless getting a rental in a certain area if we can't get in the school. I just hope we get lucky!
We have a Toyota Tarago to sell before we go and will be having a garage sale as there is no way that the furniture we have here will fit in a UK house.
So lots to organize, but I'm so happy it's happening.
We came to live in Australia for an adventure and once we got the visa, we couldn't not try it. We assumed we would both get well paid jobs (as we had in the UK) and would enjoy a comfortable lifestyle here, but it hasn't happened. If I could press rewind and go back to the point we were at when we left the UK, I definitely would! I just hope we can put our life back together when we return. We might not earn as much as we used to, as the doom and gloom surrounding the UK at the moment might affect this, but having close friends and family close by will make all the difference.
I will update on our progress when we get back because I've enjoyed reading how other people have found it and hope someone is interested in our experiences!
Nov 17th 2010, 3:20 am
#25
Forum Regular
Thread Starter
Joined: Jul 2008
Location: Currently Burns Beach, moving to NE UK Jan 2011
Posts: 70
Re: Finally...we have a date for going home!
Our current permanent residency visa expires April 2013. If we are still pondering on where to live or don't want to rule out Australia completely, I will apply for a residents return visa, so we will have another 5 years to decide. If anyone knows of a reason that this won't work, I'd like to know about it!
I always think you can never say never about returning, but I'd be amazed if we had a change of heart about living here.
Nov 17th 2010, 4:53 am
#26
Gutter Gob!!
Joined: Feb 2005
Location: Perth
Posts: 13,098
Re: Finally...we have a date for going home!
We aren't citizens and I just can't wait another 2+ years for this to happen.
Our current permanent residency visa expires April 2013. If we are still pondering on where to live or don't want to rule out Australia completely, I will apply for a residents return visa, so we will have another 5 years to decide. If anyone knows of a reason that this won't work, I'd like to know about it!
I always think you can never say never about returning, but I'd be amazed if we had a change of heart about living here.
Our current permanent residency visa expires April 2013. If we are still pondering on where to live or don't want to rule out Australia completely, I will apply for a residents return visa, so we will have another 5 years to decide. If anyone knows of a reason that this won't work, I'd like to know about it!
I always think you can never say never about returning, but I'd be amazed if we had a change of heart about living here.
http://www.immi.gov.au/migrants/resi...ligibility.htm
If you have sold up and having nothing left here you may not qualify.
Nov 17th 2010, 5:38 am
#27
Forum Regular
Thread Starter
Joined: Jul 2008
Location: Currently Burns Beach, moving to NE UK Jan 2011
Posts: 70
Re: Finally...we have a date for going home!
You have to prove significant ties with Australia to qualify for a RRV if I recall correctly.
http://www.immi.gov.au/migrants/resi...ligibility.htm
If you have sold up and having nothing left here you may not qualify.
http://www.immi.gov.au/migrants/resi...ligibility.htm
If you have sold up and having nothing left here you may not qualify.
I will check this with immigration though as I don't want to assume.
Nov 17th 2010, 6:19 am
#28
Bitter and twisted
Joined: Dec 2003
Location: Upmarket
Posts: 17,503
Re: Finally...we have a date for going home!
I think that because we will have been here for 2 years out of the last 5 (at the point of our PR visa expiring) we can apply. The other conditions of getting the RRV show the above condition, then "or" significant ties to Australia.
I will check this with immigration though as I don't want to assume.
I will check this with immigration though as I don't want to assume.
Nov 17th 2010, 7:55 pm
#29
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 1,048
Re: Finally...we have a date for going home!
We aren't citizens and I just can't wait another 2+ years for this to happen.
Our current permanent residency visa expires April 2013. If we are still pondering on where to live or don't want to rule out Australia completely, I will apply for a residents return visa, so we will have another 5 years to decide. If anyone knows of a reason that this won't work, I'd like to know about it!
I always think you can never say never about returning, but I'd be amazed if we had a change of heart about living here.
Our current permanent residency visa expires April 2013. If we are still pondering on where to live or don't want to rule out Australia completely, I will apply for a residents return visa, so we will have another 5 years to decide. If anyone knows of a reason that this won't work, I'd like to know about it!
I always think you can never say never about returning, but I'd be amazed if we had a change of heart about living here.
Nov 18th 2010, 9:48 am
#30
BE Forum Addict
Joined: May 2007
Location: England
Posts: 4,213
Re: Finally...we have a date for going home!
What I am enjoying is popping into our local coffee shop and seeing the "christmas" specials...ie different christmas themed drinks....cakes etc...does not sound much I know and we also had this kind of thing at our Local Gloria Jeans in Perth but for some reason..maybe the hot weather etc..it just was not the same as here...that and our local Christmas lights are being swiched on next Friday...with Carol singers, local produce markets this time with a christmas theme...bliss....