Good to be back!!
 

Hi Everyone

It's been a while so I thought it was about time I wrote a note to say how nice it is to be back in the UK.

The weather could be better but I can't expect everything to be perfect!

We have a new baby boy called Harris Coen who was born 15th Feb.
Life couldn't be better...we definitely made the right choice in coming back.

Happy to be home... Debi:thumbsup:

Re: Good to be back!!
 

Hi DebiE,

congratulations on many fronts....a new life in more ways than one eh? Oh to be back in Blighty, even with the cooler weather.

How long were you away? and have you noticed any great changes?

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Thank you Luckyone

Altogether we were away 2 years - New Zealand then Australia. I haven't noticed any great changes, but I was surprised how easy it was to slip back into UK life. Life just seems to be sooo easy here...I don't know the reason behind it, maybe it's just a simple case of 'better the devil you know'.

What I have noticed, food seems to be cheaper than it was before we left. I can feed my family of four (baby not included) for under £100 a week. It may sound a lot $ to £ but my husband can earn more here,so we are better off.

Debi

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Glad to hear you are happy that you have moved back. We have the same decision to make at the moment, one day we want to the next we don't. Did you get your citizenship in Australia?

Lisa.

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Congratulations on the baby :thumbsup:

And glad it's all working out so well for you back there. Long may it continue.

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Congratulations on the munchkin Deb!!!

Good to hear that your move home has been successful - despite the weather! It must be great to be moving into Spring now!!!

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I noticed how much the food seemed cheaper when i was back. 10p for a tin of beans:eek:

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I think they would drop dead with shock here if they were that price in Coles.

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Congratulations on your new baby:D

Yes must admit I can feed 5 of us for a lot cheaper than in oz and at least the kids have a good choice for packing up lol..... stil lots of BOGOF i filled my trolley the other day and only spent 50 quid couldnt even get it all in the freezer lol. Must admit been a bit disappointed with the ready made meals, our taste buds must have changed cos they dont taste as good, except for Tescos Finest lasagne crickey its cheaper to buy than make and lovely :lol:

Asda is great at mo, have you seen their lovely bikinis for 3 pounds!!! gonna get a few and send to friends in oz for the summer ........

Kath

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Bikini for 3 quid???????? Wow its cheaper there than I remembered....

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Raedy made meals:sneaky: get cooking proper food woman:D

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good move cute little baby and all the nice baby shops in uk. and proper care etc i wish you great luck and happiness

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are beans expensive here, can't say I have every bought any.

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Can't remember how much they are, i only buy 1 tin every fornight. Not a bean person really.

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Heinz are about $1.20 per can from memory.

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$1.20 for a tin of beans that is 10p back home. Crikey.

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...in the UK 4 cans for 1.99 pounds on the Tesco web site. Not sure where the 10p cans are? Tesco's own brand 'value' beans are shown as 20p, if you like that sort of thing!

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I don't think the Heinz ones are 10p back home though! So it's not comparing like for like. I have no idea what the Heinz are there?!

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Yeah so 50p a tin, that works out about the same as here. And no, I don't like the cheapy beans ;):p

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Oh OK, I see. i don't buy tinned food (other than tomatoes!) so have no idea of costings either here or there.

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I sense a good cook in our midsts ;):D

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I like to cook and I like to know what food I am feeding my family. I know you can never escape additives and the like but I know when I make a lasagne, curry, chilli or whatever I know exactly what I put in.

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;)Yum sounds lovely! I'm usually like that myself, so the kids get a really good diet, though I do tend to keep it simple: fresh meat on bbq, salad and rice or potatoes. Lately I just haven't had it in me, you know how you go through phases where you are just sick of cooking and food shopping? Well I'm going through one of those! Beans on toast anyone?! ;)

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I feel like that all the time. I love cooking but hate thinking and planning what to cook. Was even harder when I worked full time as then you have the time constraints too. I am sure it would have been easier for me to throw a ready meal in the oven half the time but I just can't bring myself to do it.

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Oh god yeah, when you work full time it's horrible! You have to battle round the supermarket during the weekend, pick stuff up in your lunchbreak during the week (cause you always forget something), it's the last ruddy thing you want to think about when you get home when you have kids to chuck in the bath, homework etc and you are worn out. I'm sure that's what turned me to drink :lol: Seriously though, I think that lifestyle is horrible for everyone - parents and kids.

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Marks and Spencers beans are the best.

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Well I dont profess to be a cook, so im afraid my cooking skills are very basic, not everyones got time to cook from cook books and even if i have done them in the past they never look the same.

Aah well i cant be a great lover and great cook now can I:D;)

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No need for anything other than basic skills to mash some potatoes, or boil some pasta, or chop some veggies. Cooking from scratch every night doesn't mean making something that looks like it came from a book. I agree it takes time to figure out what goes with what in the beginning but you only have to build up a collection of 10-15 quick meals and you are done.

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I know!! Im not that bad:blink::D

Anyway you have to start from scratch in oz as theres nothing interesting in the blimmin shops except tuna, tuna or more tuna.....oh and I forgot rice cakes !!!!!:zzz:

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Great news on baby love the name....I buy Heinz English style beans (for our Sunday Big Breakfast) and they cost $1.47!!!! daylight robbery......we certainly found it a lot cheaper (and better quality) for clothes and food then here in Perth......it seemed cheaper than when we left 10 years ago...but that's just our luck!!!!
All the Best....and nice weather and light nights will soon by on there way.....

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Thats everyday for me Rapsody. I so miss my ready meals in Tescos Finest section eg Beef Wellington or Steak Diane or Mousakka.

I detest cooking and living in Oz has been particularly difficult from that point of view as I cant cook very well. The choice is not really there and everything is so expensive. Please dont get me started on the quality of the meat. I only buy and eat organic. Its not that much dearer but gosh can you taste the difference.

Finally I have already booked my hubby in to make my favourite tea when we get back. Tuna steak with finely chopped chillis and onions , mash potatoes and mange touts.

yummmy

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Heinz Baked Beans ------------> $4 :eek: in Wellington


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