Well to be honest we have been back since the 20th Dec but hey better late than never.

Previously LIBBY now JLKK. No reason for the change, just felt like it.

Oh and to PANTS, Hi thanks for your PM, and please dont stop posting, it just would not be the same with out you!!

Well as I said we are back. We landed at Heathrow on the morning of the 20th and it was chuffin cold. minus one and still in shorts. Did I get laughed at!! Anyway, soon got used to the weather with help from Tog 24 triple thick coats...snuggley.

Are we glad to be back, now after a couple of months. Yes and No. I think because we have had 3 winters and only a small amount of Adeliade Sun (Bad winter and spring of rain) it is taking its toll on us.

Glad to be back because of the usual familarity stuff but on the other hand Oz still is in my heart somewhere. Would we go back, who knows in a couple of years, but not to Adelaide, thats a definate no. But Queensland, maybe.

We did come back because of emotional stuff from family, but now the excitement of us been back has sudsided, back to normal I am afraid. One thing I have learned, dont come back for family. If you were tempted back with promises of things been different and family seeing the children more ect, then dont hold your breath. Friends on the other hand have been great and made it lovely for us.

Oh I do go on dont I, sorry. I suppose what I am trying to say is if you are considering coming back, then do it because you want to. Dont give in to emotional blackmail. My Brother told me that my Mum, who I do love hugely, said to him....Dont ring her or text, then she will miss us and come home. She never rang me for 8 months......Well I am here so she won....for now!!!!

Hope everyone else is OK and happy,

Libs XXXX

Good luck Libby. The family thing is a weird one. We hardly hear from ours out here at all. The time difference does make it hard but there's no excuse for no letters etc. Friends on the other hand are different. They are the family that you choose.

I hope everything works out for you. We went back to UK for Christmas and I agree with the fact that it is exciting to see people at first but then everything returns to normal. This made my 11 yr old daughter realise that she would rather be in Australia as her life is so much better there.
We live in Queensland and I would certainly recommend it as a place to live if you do return.

All the best

Amanda

Hi Libby
Great to see you are home safe and sound.

I grimaced when I read the bit about Oz being in your heart still!!! That's exactly how we've been feeling for 2 years!! We've tried so many times to put it on the back burner and focus on life in the UK but in truth, it has never been far from our minds. (Don't get me wrong, we are happy in the UK, but there is something niggling there.....most likely the fear of losing the visas in May 07 and not having options after that. Also family in Oz.) I feel we left Oz prematurely (although circumstances brought us home rather than burning desire to live in UK).

I hope you settle back OK or at least reach some conclusions about life, where you want to be, what makes you happy, etc!!

Maybe you'll be like me...still posting here two years after returning to UK :scared:

Good luck and hope you settle down ok.

Hope you don't mind me asking but why did you not like Adelaide,was it the weather,or lack of employment? Hope if you do return to OZ you will find a place where you can settle . Make the most of your time in the U.K.

You don't have an indefinite amount of time to make up your minds, once your visas are expired the door is normally closed to such a choice. Unless you qualify to migrate again under the rules in place at the time.

Thanks for all your responses, really appreciated.

JAJ, we do still have until 2010 to make up our minds, but having said that, we have got STNI for South Australia so if we can not change it to a 136 then we would have to apply again. I have emailed the dimia to see where we stand just in case we do want to go back.

Irish Guiness.....We thought Adelaide was OK but not for us. Other people love it and I would not like to put the place down. each to there own. It did not live up to the dream for us.

Libs.

You can't change it to a 136, as far as I know.

Why do you think you can't go back because it's an STNI visa?

Hi,

We know we can go back to Adelaide, but not to Queensland as its a sponsered visa and we still have a year to go on it. Thats what I was lead to believe anyway. Please correct me if I am wrong.

Thankyou JAJ

Libs

Hello there Libby

Nice read but sad also....the bit about what your mum said. As for Oz being in your heart, join the club.....but difference being I will have to re-apply if I ever go back, that or go back in the next 3 yrs for approx 18mnths to get my citizenship..!!! Hubby thinks stuff it I can re-apply but then he would say that being an Aussie..alright for him.!!!

Keep in touch Libs and I hope you settle a bit more once the months pass...

karma sent..

xx

Arrrr thanks Pants for the karma, you are so lovely.....Will keep in touch matey.

Libby. (Decided I dont like being called Libs).

Keep us posted and I hope things get much better....it's
still early days and summer's not far away

STNI is a permanent visa, not a sponsored one.

With STNI visas you are supposed to live in the sponsoring state, however if you make a genuine effort to settle there and find it's not for you, you do have right to move elsewhere.

If you want to get some professional advice in the UK, talk to Ian Harrop - http://www.ianharrop.co.uk (you'll have to pay something, but it ought to set your minds at rest).

However if you let your visa expire, then the door is closed.

If you've got a permanent visa and you are married to an Australian citizen, you should try for a Resident Return Visa before thinking about a spouse visa.
http://www.immi.gov.au/allforms/pdf/968i.pdf

Hi Jeremy

Thanks

My PR is for 5yrs as far as I know looking in my passport and I thought after that time I will be stuffed so to speak as a RRV won't apply will it?

I can't see us going back for some years.....!!!