Long time since i posted on here so quick update, finally sold our house which took over 3 years to build frown: and we are now in a position to either buy here or go back to the uk to our home town and be mortgage free. Not sure what to do at the moment so going back will hopefully enlighten us to which way go. Still feel the same as when i last posted and probably feel more inclined to go back to england permantely . Will post again after our trip .

I read your other post's and think you need to go back for a visit. I think it will make your mind up either way. Good luck

Good luck.
We have the same opportunity to come. We can sell now and be mortgage free in UK but need to wait till the middle child finishes high school. I'm on count down.
I got back last week from 6 weeks in UK, I had no qualms about wanting to be there, to me it's still the same. But I lived in a small village.

Good luck and have a great time!

You dont need to go back to your home town - have a look and see if there is anywhere else in UK that floats your boat just in case a return to the mundane isnt what you fancy. Good on you though, to be mortgage free in this environment is a definite plus! Have a good trip.

Am now back in wet and windy Perth after our 3 week break in the uk . The day we landed it was 30c and beautifull sunshine ,after that weather not so good but still pleasant.It was nice to drive on proper roads at proper speeds from the airport while looking at the lovely countryside on our way , mind you we did crawl around the M25 (roadworks)for 45 mins but after that plain sailing in fact the roads seemed rather quiet and it was around 5.30pm.
Was great to see all our families again who were all waitng for us at a get together at my wifes sisters which was were we stayed, nice warm evening sat outside catching up.
The rest of the holiday was spent doing the usuall stuff catching up with everyone , few days out and drinking far too much proper beer .

Observations
If theres a reaccession happening it cant be that bad , lots of new cars on the roads, none of our friends and family out of work (some people seem to choose not too work as they are better of on benefits), supermarkets busy and people still going on holidays.

Weather still hit and miss but having worked outside all my working life never bothered me anyway.

Housing a lot cheaper .

Children act a lot older than there age , compared to Perth kids who seem to retain the childhood longer.

Clothes food and more importantly beer so much cheaper and more choice too , mind you although the supermarkets have more to offer than aussie ones the shelves are packed with junk food hence the obiesty problem in the uk.

Socialising seems to be more done around peoples houses now than meeting up in the pub.

Lots of european workers mostly polish who seem to have doubled the population of the town i come from .

No were near as tidy and clean as Perth.

The general friendlieness and politiness of people , example letting people out of junctions is usually followed by a handwave to say thanks.

So now the delimas or choices we face.

1 :Go back to our home town in the uk , be mortgage free and be close to family. (wifes choice)

2 :Go back to the uk and live down south and have a smaller mortgage.(my choice)

3 :Stay in Perth take on bigger mortgage. (possible choice)

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Good update Shane.

Seeing as one of choices is still Perth has the trip back not convinced you entirely that you want to be in the UK then?

Hi there stm1971 , not entirely convinced we want to return yet , although all the signs seem to be pointing in that direction. We are going to enjoy our life here for now and try not to think too much about it until after xmas. Although that will be easier said than done as it regularly comes up in conversation and seems to be always at the back of my mind.

So what causes the obesity problem in Australia?

polish- I normally use that to clean my shoes.

Probably the same as the UK , lots of fast food outlets and cheap junk food . Lots of people on this forum have commented on how much choice there is in UK supermarkets compared to aussie ones , from what i have seen this is true but they mostly seem to be full of quick and easy junk food, ie various crisps ,biscuits , microwave meals which are mostly proccessed foods and cheap and laced with sugar or salt.

swings and roundabouts then.

Aussies prefer to eat crap in fast food places.....Brits eat it at home....same result.

I have also found a lot more choice of healthy food in the UK than here in Brisbane.

That's basically what we found when we went home. As for food, spot on again. We saw that junk food was cheap and plentiful in the supermarkets. Vegies and fruit were hardly inspiring although we were there during the winter.

We were there for summer, the fruits and veg were plentiful and delicious in all the supermarkets. It must have been seasonal for you Ezzie. We actually got fed up of Strawberries, now I never thought I'd hear myself say that

hi
my mate and family moved to perth early 1990 stayed for sixteen years his wife thought okay we have had enough (not much work then )as they landed at heathrow she said what have we done, any way to cut a long story short
they split up she went with someone else, after five years back in uk him and his daugther have gone back to perth, and hes loveing it,
i might be gpoing back to nz after xmas as you cant seem to make any money thses days as always working thats when we have work