Hi all
I havent posted in a while but I did find loads of useful info and views on here when I first started to think of moving back to the UK so I wanted to share this experience for all who are moving back.
We left Sydney yesterday after living there 20 years was very stressful , sold the house packed all our stuff including car,into the 40ft container and UK here we come. Our dog is coming too in a few days time the last few weeks have been amazingly busy and emotionally draining but all came together in the end , up to this point anyway. We are in HKg now for three days and get back on Monday, all of us are very excited we are treating this is a new adventure.

The shall or shant we go back decision was making us crazy and in the end we decided to do it the most important factor in all this became spending time with the family especially grandparents whilst they are still around. Who knows if it will be a permanent move but we made the decision to give it a go last year after a holiday and looking at schools etc but it has taken a year to make the move including putting the house on the market twice.
I really didnt want to stay here another 20yrs and regret that we never gave the Uk a try and then end up hating life in Australia. We had a lovely time there , had lots of friends nice house etc but there was always something missing and in the end the feeling of not really belonging becomes quite hard to deal with. The sunshine, and the beach etc wore a bit thin and we felt very isolated a family of three. I will really miss the friends I have made and that was making me very sad over the last month . Lots of people thought we were crazy or brave depending on your point of view.

I fully expect to have plenty of wobbles as I already have and especially in the last month felt like cancelling the whole thing as I think we all underestimated how hard this was going to be , anyway its on now we are on the way so bring it on and if I will keep you posted as to how we go good and bad. When we all begin this journey of migration I am sure we have no idea of the impact on our lives there are amazing highs and lows but its certainly an adventure. I would still do it anyway as why not we only get one chance at life

I think when people are thinking about emigrating in the first place, and weighing up the pros and cons, the ‘feeling of belonging’ is not usually given much thought. I don’t think it’s possible to know how important this is for someone until they’ve actually spent some time living in the new country. For some people, it isn’t a problem, and for others it can become the main reason for wanting to leave, and how can we know until we've actually made the move?

My daughter has spent nearly half her life living in Asia (we left England when she was 7), and now we’re going back to England, I wonder how it will be for her – if she will feel like she’s ‘coming home’ – or if she will end up feeling that nowhere is truly home, and spend the rest of her life searching for that feeling of belonging.

Anyway, I hope you have a safe journey home and I wish you all the best in your new adventure

Hi there,

Wishing you lots of luck for your return.

I can fully empathise with you when you say the decision whether to go back or not made you crazy. I feel exactly the same. Although we have pretty much decided we are going back after 9 years here in Oz (trip booked next year to check out places to live), the actual mechanics of the move seem almost overwhelming. I don't know why but it seems such a bigger move to go home than it did to come to Australia in the first place.

I think a lot of people who return have wobbles when they first get there as the thought of setting up again is quite daunting but I do feel ultimately it will be the right move for us.

I think we are all crazy and brave for moving half way round the world in the first place let alone moving back!!

It's funny, the decision to move to another country from your home country seems to come easier than the decision to move back "home" I've no idea why and it makes me crazy.
I have made my decision to move it's getting poor Dh motivated to start clearing stuff out and get ready to sell that's hard, although we have a long plan, waiting for Ds (15) to finish high school first.
Dh is probably hoping either I'll do all the work for him, or forget the whole idea and just go with the flow here. He's dreaming!

I am in utter admiration! Good for you guys, I hope it all goes perfectly for you and that your belongingness index hits an all time max!

I hope it works out perfectly for you.

Bev

You never know unless you try - as you say, you expect some "wobbles" (very realistic), so you're going into it with the right mindset. Almost everyone has the "What have we done?" moment(s) at some point (regardless of which direction we're talking about), and only time will tell if the UK is a permanent thing. In the meantime, make the most of the "journey" (metaphorically speaking). Wish you all the best of luck!

Good luck & keep us posted

Wish you all the best!!!

You have a fine attitude. Good luck

Good luck & very best wishes in all areas of your life

Thanks for all the good wishes, arrive in UK tommorow and feeling excited now