Tooanfrom

This is the most truthful statement that has ever caught my eye!

This little gem should be in 6ft letters outside every Wharefare/ Red Shed in the country.

suziq_41

Yes I agree. We have been here 7 years now and are planning to return to the UK at the end of 2009 (after my son has finished NCEA level 3). But we have decided to keep our house here for the time being and plan, at the moment, to return to NZ after 2 years in UK. I can't wait as I am the one who has had the most trouble settling down here. Warm house is a biggy especially in winter - oh for radiators and insulation. I really miss my family and Marks and Sparks.

I always feel more homesick at this time of year especially if, like this year, we have no rellies coming out to see us. It is sooo hard to get into the Christmas mood when you can't see the lights on the tree until 10pm

Anyway good luck guys and follow your heart.

brits1

Jo, Can I ask why are you returning in 2 years time?
Jackie

Josie68

Hi Jackie,

I'm not coming back to NZ it's Suziq thats coming back....I hope to settle happily back home in Yaarkshire!

Jo

jaffacake

Hi, this is my first post and I am returning to England next year and going through the PETS process, etc. I was interested to know how you can get a mortgage approved without living and working in England? It would certainly make life so much easier if this could be arranged before leaving Australia. Do you have any tips?

brits1

Must take more water with it!! sorry!! know what you mean about 2 weeks away though, we were home this April-May and we even managed a holiday in Cyprus it was really cheap we could'nt believe it!! anway on the plane back to Manchester (after a fantastic holiday) I was not down as I usually am about coming back to Perth...I was just so glad to be going home and having family to meet and greet at the Airport instead of having noboby here in Perth to do that for us really. I have just taken my son (16) to the International Airport his team is playing in K.L against the under 17 and then the U18's it's the first time we have not been away with him on one of these trips or as a family holiday and I thought I would be okay...well I am not...I even watched his plane take off (we were going to go but just could not afford it!!!) I came home with my youngest son (my husband has just started to work on the mines for the first time for extra money to take back home..he hates it and so do we!!!but needs must and it's only temp!!!) but coming home to an empty house...no mum,dad sisters or family to cheer you up etc...it just brings it home just how far we are away from everyone we hold dear and just what would life be like when our boys do eventually leave home (hopefully not for years!!!) my husband just phoned and he said there is nothing to keep us here really and thats the crunch of it...we have nicer weather (although we did have a glorious 9 weeks in April-May...I know it changed soon after!! but when we do have nice weather it's wonderful...) we may all have larger homes but for some of us that's not everything....we have had some nice friends here but we are lonely for our "family" we are not sure if we had some here anyway that it would make a difference...nothing against Aus....but at this moment in our lives it's not for us.....we have our Aus Passports but my husband said if we wanted more sun he would move (later on in our lives) to nearer home ie Europe...and as time goes on I agree...we just seem to far from everything we love....Sainsburys breakfast's....Morrisons Lemon Donuts and Bakery Section.....Tesco's clothes are really good value...honest...I bought some really good quality "tops" and people here comment and ask where I bought them from....and all were under 12.00 pounds!!!! we miss Christmas Parties with both friends/family and even work..every year we really try and make it really Christmassy but to tell you the truth we are just getting a little tired of keep trying....
Anyway have to go because I promised my younger son I would watch the Simpsons movies (woo wee!!! not a great simpsons fan I must admit) but all the while thinking about what we would be doing right now on that flight with our son and his team.....just onto my 2nd or maybe 3rd Baileys...for some reason I enjoy that drink at this time of year.......
Have a nice evening everyone....
Jackie in Perth.....

brits1

We were in Yorkshire this year...visited Scarborough....York and went to the Races at (cor blimey I forgot....sounded like a cockney then...help!!) we had a great time, weather lovely, people friendly...well nearly as friendly as "us Lancashire" folk!!!! our oldest said (we have a friend here in Perth from a village near Middlesborough and is very homesick...wants to go home but hubbie is enjoying his time up in the mines while she is at home with 3 children under 7) why would anyone want to leave such a lovely area...and he is a real "city" boy!!!!.....anyway great place...loads to see and do...once had a great holiday on a heaven leisure site...forget where....see my memory is going.....with a few other friends and their children on a long weekend break...we had such a laugh...those were the days......
Jackie

brits1

Sorry I have not got a clue about the PETS system....I was told you could not have a mortgage unless you had work etc in the U.K but what I wanted to know was...can you buy a house from Aus if you are working here...and are British Citizens? you know like when investors from overseas by investment homes here....do they all have the cash or do they have mortgages? if so then there must be loads of rich British people as there are a few new homes in the area I live and they were bought by British people who have not and will not be coming here to live, they are just for investments......sorry I cannot help more but I do have a name and number of a guy who is a mortgage broker in England (from down south) he is the brother of a lady who owns a well know company here in Perth who deals with mortgages and investments and she can work miracles, her brother in the U.K is the same apparently....we have used this lady ourselves, she is excellent and very clever and all "legal"
Good luck
Jackie

suziq_41

Hi Jackie

The reason we have decided to come back to NZ after 2 years is that we believe deep down that this is a lovely country to live in. Although not sure how I will feel once we are back in UK. We still have elderly parents there so really depends on how they are.

I think my husband is worried that I will change my mind and want to stay in UK. He loves it in NZ always has but I have taken a long time to settle. We will have to cross that bridge if we come to it

We are planning on Christmas 08 in Uk as well just to sus things out. When we do return we would like to live in Derbyshire/Cheshire area. We are originally from Bournemouth, Dorset.

brits1

Lovely areas, we spent some time in Derbyshire (we live on the borders of lancs,cheshire and Derbyshire!! so we have the best of both worlds..being near a City and never far from countryside) we visited Bakewell...I always wanted to taste a real Bakewell tart and it is devine...not great for the hips but you only live once!!..Glossop has some lovely areas as does Hayfield (the use to have a Jazz festival..not sure if they still do) and they were just wonderful...they call Hayfield the "little Venice"!! because there are a few old stone bridges over little rivers etc... lots of lovely little villages in both counties....Buxton is nice and very victorian...and cheshire...is a lovely county softer in "outlook" but just as pretty...we are looking to live in Marple or Strines...(just have to win the lottery first!!) but then there are areas around Chester and you are not far from Liverpool which is having loads of money spent on the centre I think they are building the "biggest" (at the moment Manchesters Trafford Centre is) shopping centre in Europe..so again the best of both worlds....
We do not dislike Aus...it is a good place to live but after over 9 years and still missing family and friends (my mum died unexpectedly while we were over here....a couple of years ago and only 68...I resented the fact I was "robbed" of my time with her and we don't want that to happen with our remaining parents....)and it has never really felt like home..but like I say..you never know where you will end up...we now try and not look to far into the future unless you have to...as we have learnt...life brings things into the mix and you could end up somewhere you never thought....
Anyway have to go...tea to make and I am enjoying a windy and wet Perth this afternoon....it's very rare we get weather like this....and we find it Bliss...!!!
Take Care
Jackie

phil01

Good luck to everyone going back.