Just thought I'd stop by and say hello, as obviously haven't been around for a while Hope you are all well and happy, and those who have plans, are ploughing ahead with them.

Well we have been back in Blighty for 4 weeks tomorrow and I must say it is rather lovely to be home. Flight home was truly appalling and can only console myself with the fact that I NEVER intend to do it again Got in to terminal 4 at Heathrow at 5.40am - unfortunately my parents were at terminal 3! Anyway they found us eventually and off we headed back to sunny Northampton. As soon as we drove up the A45 it felt like we'd only been on a fortnights holiday - quite bizarre! The greenness of everything was truly overwhelming and with the exception of a few showers (just showers not full on days of downpour!) the weather has been glorious

Only real downside (and it's a biggy!) is the job front. OH phoned every contact he had the day after we got home and I just watched his face gradually fall during that day. We are now both applying for anything and everything, he has had a couple of interviews and one in particular is sounding very promising, but won't know until this week, so The work situation, although we knew was bad, is much worse than we realised and that is a real worry.

Obviously, because of this we are not in a position to househunt at the moment, so are currently living with my parents, which I can only describe as 'not ideal'. Although everyone is trying hard, it really is exactly that - trying!

On a brighter note, Ruby is so much happier and has her social life firmly back in place, lol! She has started a new school, which she is really enjoying and we are really pleased with (unlike her Aus school, which was a huge concern to us). Her teachers are kind and caring, yet very 'on the ball' and she is finally doing some 'real work' again! This is really when I know we've done the right thing.

I can honestly say also that we have not had anyone ask us why on earth we would want to come back, or say that we're mad - people have just been genuinely pleased to see us (and who wouldn't be really?!?! ) and after a year of doing bugger all generally, I now really need to buy a diary so I can keep track of where I'm supposed to be!

Anyway, enough rambling for now, will update further soon and let you know how the job front goes - All the best to you all!

Good to read your update. I am sure that you have made the right move by returning to the UK, even though your situation is not ideal on the housing and work front.
I wish you all the best with that -it's good that at least your partner is getting to the interview stage, which is promising.

I am returning to the UK for a 3 month trial period in July and am hoping I can find some work so that I can stay longer and possibly resettle there.

Good Luck

Thanks for the update,was only speaking about you to my OH wondering how you where getting on !!!!
do hope that you both find work quickly,as I am sure you will..
all the very best on your return.
cheers I.G.

hope a job turns up soon.....that is the only thing stopping our return finding work.....so we are plodding away here where we have jobs and saving as much as we can.....

Thanks for the update, and sorry to hear about the employment situation. Getting knocked back in the job-hunting process can be very disheartening and can shake your confidence. Re: not being able to buy a house, if it's any consolation, at least we are not in a ramapnt housing market so you won't be looking at a 10% premium on the price if you wait a year (though I'm sure you want out of your current situation!)

Good luck with the jobs.

Glad to hear from you and hope the work situation picks up. Keep your chin up!

on the job front.
It's good to be home isn't it.

Welcome home !!

Hope everythings goes well for you and your hubby finds a job soon

Fingers crossed for you Sarah Keep at it. It will all come right eventually.
Do you have a hangover from last night?

Fingers crossed for you on the job front but great to hear that everything else is sort of falling into place!

Hi Sarah
Welcome home. We stayed with my parents when we got back too, it is a struggle staying with anyone, but stay positive and keep at it. Things will be just fine. You are home.
Job wise is a problem, i have been looking for ages and heard nothing back. But just keep looking, something will crop up, it did for me and i now work full-time. I only wanted part-time because of the kids, but i didn't want to look ungrateful
We have been back 5 months and feel so happy. Full of life!

Give it time, it's early days and will be a struggle, but you are where you belong.

Good to hear from you. Glad to hear you are enjoying yourself and fingers crossed on the job front. It'll all be worth it in the end.

Thanks Nicki, no hangover though, but was bloody lovely to be in a proper pub!

Cheers Rach, that means a lot, feel better now! Will keep you posted, promise and glad things are going well for you x


I'm sure it will, where are you now? Still on for the ex-ex-pats meet later in the year?

Still in Sydney, need to make sure my operation goes OK (when they decide to do it!) and will wait for Mrs Triboy's exam results before making any firm moving date, but should be on for a meet up in late 09.

Hi guys, just another quick update:

Well OH has been lucky enough to secure a job doing what he did before, but for slightly more money, lol! He has been working for about a month now and seems happy enough. I have been offered a job in a school so should start in September, but still on the look out (don't want to miss anything!).

We have bought a house We had absolutely no prblem getting a mortgage, contrary to current reports, even though OH has only just gained employment, but we did still have the proceeds of our house sale from before we moved to Aus, so I think the hefty deposit swayed it for us! We have been very lucky time-wise with regard to selling and buying again. The house we sold before moving to Aus has lost about $30 (judging by asking prices in that area now) and the one we're buying has dropped about $40K from the peak so we're actually ending up with a better house than we started with - bonus!!! should be moving within the next few weeks and really can't wait to have our own place again.

Ruby has been offered a place back at her old school from September, which we are ecstatic about and she can't wait to return, so that really is good news. Her social life appears to be never ending (as does mine to be fair!). In a whole year in Australia, the only birthday party she went to was her own! Since being back (3 months) she's been to 5 and has two more currently lined up! I really had forgotten how busy our lives were, but I'm enjoying it.

I do still have days where I wonder if things could have been different, if we came home too soon and I really do miss a lot of things about Aus (not to mention some truly wonderful friends made) and it does make me a bit sad that it didn't work for us. But OH and Ruby are so happy and settled again that I know it's the right thing for us in my heart - just taking a little while to adjust.

So anyway, in general we're certainly getting there and it can only be onwards and upwards from here!