Basil Brush

Plus those shows don't mention any of the negative aspects like the expensive cost of living for example in Aus and sooooo many other things that you only become aware of once you actually have to live your daily life here.

pompeyblonde

Yeah, I guess it wouldnt have been much of a show if there were all these hurdles...its about living the dream...I heard Jeremy hardy on the radio (podcast) call it temperature based colonialism!! hehe!

I cannot believe how much getting sick worries me here,,,,no sick leave no free care...i feel fine but what if? so glad my dad had the NHS...what a worry it would have been to wait for those bills....

Debbie2NZ

I now realise the phrase 'living the dream' is actually not very grown up. Please don't be offended by that if you don't agree. I'm also aware (now) of a bit of an, 'I'm a better expat than you' going on, even if if it's not meant that way. Basically, I'm happy what's your problem ? I've realised there are 'fantastic expats' where everything is fantastic. So, every day for the last four years has been fantastic on a daily basis ? Say no more. I wondered where people would have had to come from in Britian to make NZ look good. I wondered that before we left and got a few clues. Now I know. I also wondered what sort of 'back against the wall' motivation people had for leaving Britain. Reading other threads and also sometimes getting a PM, I'm understanding more of this. I've also read on BE that those who had it good in Britain but fancied a change might not stay but those escaping from a broken relationship, money problems, personal issues and could do with a change of direction probably stay. Nobody needs to take offence at the above, it's just a personal observation.

pompeyblonde

It would be good to research some of this.... who stays who goes etc. I came for adventure and now having spent everything wish I could go back! I cant stand people slagging off the UK! but also stand up for Oz now too! Im destined to be confused!!

Maybe its about identity? Ill always be an English woman...even though Im an Australian citizen... thats just me! and as has been said I dont believe really that theres a dream destination...its horses for courses....

Basil Brush

Well we came to Aus in August 2001 because my OH was offered a job in Melbourne at the end of June 2001 and we were given just 7 days to make a decision!!! At the time we had just bought a lovely old semi in a place that I'd always wanted to live, had a good social life, were debt-free (except the mortgage) and our 7 y/o son was doing really well in school. To be honest I wasn't that struck on making the move to Aus, however we didn't want to regret not trying it out and decided that we would give it a go. I didn't want to come to Australia permanently and that has never really changed for me, whereas my OH talked about staying forever in the first few years and has gradually become bored / disillusioned with Aus as the years went by. I think that because we had such a good thing going before we left and because we had nothing to "escape from" over there combined with the fact that it was never meant to be a permanent move we have never truly settled here.

You sound like me PompeyBlonde - I'm a true English woman too and do get a bit sick of the Aussies constantly slagging off the UK. I work in retail and meet new faces all the time (mainly Aussies but quite a few Brits too in our area) & I have discovered that there seems to be 3 different categories of Aussies: -

The well-travelled Aussie - has been to the UK & Europe at least once and whilst they love Australia, they tend to be very complimentary about the UK and marvel at it's history, architecture, landscape & country pubs, etc.

The well-travelled / patriotic Aussie - as above but insists that while the UK has some nice features it doesn't compare to Aus because Aus has everything and is "the best country in the world".

The ignorant Aussie - has rarely/never been out of Aus & has no intention of ever setting foot in the UK because it's "a dump and is full of poms".

In my personal experience I would say that the last category tends to tip the scales slightly and I've encountered many a rude Aussie who will put down the UK at every opportunity (including my own work colleagues who are all Australian and most of whom have never really travelled).

In the last 2 weeks alone I have had one Aussie say to me "You poor thing" when I said I was returning to the UK after 10 years (I made sure that I kept smiling and told him that I can't wait to get back because there's so much about the UK that I love & miss), then another Aussie said that "Poms can't speak English properly" - he was referring to our dialects and in particular about a UK programme he had watched where a little girl talked about having a 'eater in her bedroom and not a heater (again I kept smiling and told him that the Aussies are as bad as they drop plenty of letters too (think 'Stralia rather than Australia)) and another Aussie said to me yesterday that I have a "nasty accent" because I'm British (I didn't smile at this customer cos I thought he was pretty rude - I just carried on writing his order and told him that I rather like my accent). I just turn the other cheek now but I have to admit that it does get tedious after 10 years of it.

brits1

Yes, I did have a lovely time...more's the point so did the "Fathers".....my Dad now raves about Frankie and Benny's..lol...at nearly 83...that's so cute...lol...

I felt the same about reading Expats when planning our return...I did say that once we were "back home" I would drop a "line" the get on with my life.....lol...I have "got on with my life" but now and again I visit expats just because I remember how I felt when wanting extra reasurrance etc....not really that just a bit of a "help" when having a day at work etc that sounds a bit like yours did the the other day...(I read your other quote..lol...your a saint to put up with the comments!!) it's like reading Quols common sense replies...priceless...I suppose it's all down to being happy where your really happy...large homes, hot weather etc are all very,very nice but don't always do the trick.....spent yesterday with my MIL shopping and what a laugh we had....cannot buy those moments...

vauxhallmonterey

Some advice from an old man....short version.
I spent 10yrs in Kent/London, loved it!
Being poor in the UK is not on, a decent salary and choosing where to live - Sevenoaks/Tonbridge Wells/Crowborough/Matfield - good schools, lovely areas.
Been back in SA 4 yrs, Zuma/Malema/corruption and the grandkids future insist the future lies elswhere.
My only resevation is you say you miss your job and the London highlife, please don't shortchange your kids futures for what you want, make it a balanced decision.
I came back to SA for the sake of others, always meaning to retire back near London, And now can't because of illness -a great personal sadness.
So, whilst being careful about your decision, and how it will affect your family, do follow your heart, you've only one life to live.

Alfresco

Busking or pickpocket?

Beedubya

Are you on some kind of visa and is that the reason why you don't get free healthcare? Just wondering as that was never a concern of mine in Australia, but then again I was a permanent resident for almost 30 years.

Definitely agree that these TV shows have a lot to answer for, all that fun in the sun..........

chris955

Isn't it interesting that I have read elsewhere how people have never met an Aussie that wasn't wonderful and helpful unfortunately this country is still very insecure and they feel the need to put down every other country at every opportunity regardless of whether they have been outside this country or not. Heaven help you if you are critical about Straya though, it's one way traffic only

Beedubya

Now that would be very Un-Australian!!

Alfresco

Can't say that I've experienced that at all. As a foreigner to both the UK and Oz, I have found the Ozzies very helpful and friendly just about everywhere I've been.

diana97

I'll put my 2 cents worth in. My parents are British and i was raised in Canada and also lived in the U.S. I moved to London 17 years ago for a relationship and because I had the passport. My relationship broke down then I met an Australian and we are now married. I visit Australia with my eyes wide open. On my first visit, it struck me how similar it is to Canada, albeit with different trees/landscape. I don't care for the cities at all, with the exception of Sydney because of its harbour. I love the countryside in Australia but I wouldn't want to live there. My parents always dumped on the UK when I was growing up but then the UK was a different place when they were youjng. It was a different place when I moved here in the early 90s. We DO go to Europe all the time: Athens, Istanbul, Amalfi Coast, Morocco, Andalucia - each place as different and as exotic as the next. Australia is a mono-culture. Even my husband agrees. There is nothing like arriving in Paris off the Eurostar in London from the beautiful St Pancras. I always intended to move back to Canada. My mom is still there. I visit once a year and again, i keep my eyes wide open. As much as I love Canada, I adore London more. This city has it all and I never stop telling people that. It is beautiful, leafy and civilised. Sure, people are pushy on the Tube but my London rule is to move one street north or south and the crowds disappear. The night before the Royal Wedding, I wandered down the Mall and talked to some Canadians on holiday. I truly pitied them for not living here. I work in Mayfair and sometimes, in the summer, I love nothing more than to walk home to Hammersmith through Hyde Park as the sun sets. I live in a nice apartment (we DON'T have a lot of money) and I cook most evenings. This city is so charming, it kills me sometimes. I find it easy to live here. Sure, there's crime but hand on heart, I experienced and saw more crime in Canada than i have the entire time I have lived in London. Don't believe everything the Daily Mail says.

Maddyjvn

oh no sex worker for sure!! Brixton tube here I come.

chris955

Something else that is a big problem on another forum is people who have never even lived in Australia giving people advise about life here and telling them how much things cost and how great everything is