now your back !!!!
 

for all those who have made the return journey to the uk. have you made the right choice in returning? would you do anything different? have you any regrets about returning?
i hope this brings out a good insight into the "moving back" scenerio.


scratchey

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Would I do anything different - Yes not move back in the first place - after the first flush of seeing everyone you realise no-one really gives a toss !
We are booked to return to Oz on 3rd Nov 8 weeks and counting.

Returning has made me realise a few things - I WANT to live in Australia and enjoy everything I can whilst living there. I thought I missed choice in the supermarkets but now realise despite the choice my trolley contents probably doesn't change from week to week -I hate Tescos, Next and M&S - I will not be a slave to supermarkets.The only people that matter to me are my husband and children - family and friends will always exist but my familys happiness are what matter :thumbsup:

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great reply:thumbup: this is the kind of insight i want to provoke. good solid honest stuff. good luck with your return, return. lol

scratchey

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Regrets about moving back? No, I guess as I hadn't lived here in the UK since I left college, so its been good for me to be working over here, wanted my USC hubby to know what its really like to live in the UK, and its been good that my kids have spent time with the grandparents. Looks like we are going back to the US soon, so in a way seems like a waste of time but it wasn't, saw and experienced lots. I feel bad that it will break my parents hearts for us to leave (and mine), but they will have had two years with the grand kids that if we hadn't have tried this, they wouldn't have had. We weren't losing anything by leaving the US at the time, and we only rented our house out. Dread all the hassle of moving again, just after I finally have felt "settled"...

I guess my only regret is that hubby doesn't love the place as much as me, so leaving is going to be so hard! :unsure:

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No regrets whatsoever. Well maybe one - that I didn't come home sooner. I dithered for about 6 months wondering if I was being stupid to leave the beautiful sunshine, pristine beaches and amazing city of Melbourne.

I can honestly say hand on heart that wild horses wouldn't drag me back to Australia. While some may love it, it's not for me or my family. Give me England any day - the leafy lanes, country pubs, historic buildings, hilarious humour and the unpredictable, crappy weather any day :thumbsup:

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After a year back, no regrets at all. Do I miss certain things about the US, definitely (particularly my OH but hopefully not for too much longer), but I missed more things here. Life does seem as though it was a little easier in the US - wider roads, bigger houses, great shopping, but I've also realised how much money I continually spent there just trying to fill up holes in my heart. I've become a lot more frugal here, but mainly because I don't feel this intense urge to constantly go out and shop (well, that, and I'm now a student and don't have any money). Now I take long walks on my way home from the station - went along the canal last week and saw mayflies, ate blackberries off the hedgerows, etc., I see friends for a meal for an hour instead of planning weeklong vacations three months in advance, and I'm happy to grab a cup of coffee and go sit by the canal for an hour with a good book.

I think as an expat that there are bound to be tugs on the heartstrings of all the places you live, but ultimately you have to make a decision. If my OH can make the move permanent once he decides to come, then the UK will definitely be where I want to grow old. I feel for SCBrit, as I may well be in the position that she is in a few years down the line. Hopefully my OH will be able to make the move, but if not then I'll be back in the States but always with this little bit of yearning to be home.

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Now this is interesting and quite contrary to most peoples view on returning. I think it is a refreshing and honest view. I respect it and admire your reaction to the UK of going back to Oz.

I think that people who are glad to be back have an equally valid reaction when they are overjoyed to be there.

However what you have shown is that returning to the UK is not a guarantee of happiness.

Well done and good luck.

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Yep I have huge regrets in coming back and agree with Reading fan - I loved oz, I always have done right from my first holiday there 14 years ago. I only really came back here as it was too damn hard out there on my own with no family support. I also wanted a social life -that's not really happening here either. I have some great mates in oz and i miss them terribly. I can't say a bad thing about the place actually. But I've got to get on with life here and I will look forward to my long holiday next year.

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Been back nearly 2 years - no regrets. Wouldn't go back to Aus, sometimes think about maybe retiring in France or a Greek island when I'm much older but see myself being here for the next 20 years or so. My only regret is that we spent 2 years dithering too and we should have come back much sooner.

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Definately would sync. accomodation with military precision, living with relatives even for a short space of time is a no no!

Poss. may move away again, no doubt to the sun, but when the kids are older and I don't have to take them!

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We have been back in the Uk for about 10 wks............Definitly Know regrets other then leaving here in the first place:eek:

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We moved back on July 14th and so far no regrets:thumbup: The best thing right now is having family around especially as my OH works overseas for weeks and months at a time so it's great to have help with the kids.

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Sounds like you are ready to return..are you returning to the same place in OZ? or have you deceided to go to a different city this time around ?:)

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We've been back for about a year and a half. Now we're going to start the process of returning to US. My hubby has already started packing while I'm still coming to terms with it. I know it's the best thing for us but it's not easy. It's been pretty tough over the last year but I'm not sure I regret it. I regret having to spend the money and now struggle to find the money to return. I'm not sure if it's even going to be possible. I'm glad we came back though. If we hadn't, I'd always be wondering but now I know we just can't afford to live in England, as sad as it sounds. I'm glad that my kids have come to know my family and are at an age where they'll remember. It'll be really difficult leaving everyone but I think it has to be done.

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lol, only been back a week, so I don't think I qualify to give my opinion on this thread, but you're going to have it anyway, so there :p
I am glad to be back. I have come back with a "fresh" pair of eyes, grown up a lot, and I can see the UK as it really is, not as people like to portray it.
Where people see "bloody illegals", I see wonderful diversity. Where people see "sodding rain again", I see an opportunity to splash in puddles with my son.
I love being so close to my family again. Literally everyone in my family is within 2 miles of me, apart from my wonderful husband who is in the US, I'm glad he is actually, his dad is in very poor health and we're worried about him. :unsure: I told him last night that we have forever to be together, but his priority right now is his dad. It's weird the way things happen, but it's like he was meant to be there for his dad right now.
Bacon is wonderful, as are Galaxy bars, and despite me making up for lost time with food, I have lost 7 pounds in weight this week, just shows what sort of crap I must have exposed myself to in the US!
I am a lot more outspoken than I used to be, but in a direct way instead of a nasty way. A lot of people have commented on that I seem more sure of myself now. All in all, it did me good, but I'm glad to be home :)

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I could have written every word of that!! :) In exactly the same boat! I am still trying to get my head around going back, even though I loved it there too!

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Same here. We left the USA last Christmas and turned right around and came back again. I too wonder how hard it will be to afford a decent lifestyle back home. We don't expect to live the high life, just a decent life where we can pay our way.

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How are you settling back in? How long did you come back for?

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I suppose it depends on your income etc but we find we can't have a life, it's just all work to pay the bills. I work in the evenings and weekends so we don't need childcare but that means I miss out on a lot of my family life. I rarely even get to eat dinner with them. I know if we move back to USA we'll have more time together.

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I think that's the hardest part of it. It breaks my heart to even think about it. I daren't even tell my dad we're leaving. But, I keep trying to tell myself that I need to put my kids first and I do think we can give them a better life in USA.

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Could you not explain to your Dad that perhaps they can visit you and the children, and perhaps that way it won't seem to him that he won't see his Grandchildren.

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He did visit when we were there before but has since had colon cancer. Thankfully, he's ok now but doesn't like to travel too far. I'll have to try and get back this way more often.

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This sort of comment irritates me.

Why are this persons comments any more HONEST than anyone elses? Are you saying that those who are happy on their return and say so are not honest?
Beats me why anyone would come on here and not post their honest thoughts! Be they good or bad.

As for me, definitely happier back in UK.... honest!!! :lol:
I feel safer, and far more content within myself.

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Ah I now understand while you are dreading telling him... good luck with it all, you have to do what you think is right for your little ones.
All the very best on your return.

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The only reason we are worse off being back in the Uk, is the fact we now dont have our own home and are having to rent. Before we moved to Canada, we had been in the housing market for years and had a very low morgage and a very nice home.
But then we knew that we was risking all that before we upped sticks:frown:

For us being back home, in a place where we feel relaxed and a dam site more confident, surrounded by everything we know and trust is more important.

Canada was not the land of milk and honey for us, we was alot worse off in every way. We also found out to our dismay:eek: it is a foreign Country:blink:

We are all so very different and want and need different things, and its such ashame it takes some of us to lose, most of what we have worked for all our lives before we realise it was on the door step all the time.:)

Its a very hard decision, but one we can only make for ourselves and i wish you all........ the very best of luck in whatever one you make.

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Hullo!

I've been back from Canada (Vancouver) since late June - so far, so good! I can relate to the comment about seeing home with a fresh pair of eyes.

It's so nice to be able to have a life again, without needing a car! I never thought I'd say this but *yay* for London transport!

Having experienced the rush hour crush on the Vancouver skytrain, but with no 'alternative route' to take when it breaks down, I'm loving the sheer amount of tube lines and bus routes that we have. :D

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Funny you lost weight - I always lose weight when I go home to visit family (still in the US), not because I eat crap in the US, but the fact everything is laden with sugars and large portions.
Glad you're enjoying being back home....I'm hoping to do the move next year, after being in California for 19 years!
Deborah

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hi clangers, welcome to BE....nice part of the states you're in...my son is in la jolla, works in san diego and is enjoying life but methinks that's mainly down to the female he's with ;)

good luck with your plans.....:)

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it is funny for me to read these because i feel alot the of the same things but in a reverse way.

I immigrated to Canada when i was little and i grew up in canada.

We, as a new family, me as the mom....moved to the uk for a new start new life and adventure. After 6 years in the UK, lots of trials, tribulations and some successes, i convinced hubby life was better in canada, and that i would be happier back "home" in canada.

Now we are in the process of going back to the UK....I realize that we fit better over there.

So as you can see i am a little backwards in this situation.

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How long were you over there? We did 7 years in North Van.

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I know what you mean about canada I dont like it here myself I want to leave but dont want to go back to the UK. its hard here to make friends and the work is stepping backwards. You know you have to have a degree to get in and once ur here they do not take it what shit is that.

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I think that this is the most important point. If you are moving back for family and friends, really understand what the day to day will be like. when you are on holiday it's different, as everyone wants to spend some time with you before you go back and it's all busy. It needs to be understood when you get back into the day to day routine, it's not that holiday spirit anymore and people need time for their own lives too.

What I will say is, is that if you understand this, and have a good understanding of what it will be like and you still want to do it, definitely go for it.

Of course, then there are those that just love the country itself and want to go back. This is an easier situation and you know, can go for a holiday and trial run the situation.

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Its even worse when you do go back and hate it even more than when you left.

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[F]I know what you mean but I dont hate the UK just dont want to be there but I am getting to a point where I do hate calgary and the culture here. Since we have been here the crime rate is going up and the cost of living keeps going up to.

I know I can find work back in the UK, the old company that I use to work for would have me back even after 3 years and I have another job offer to but like I have said I just dont fancy going back to the UK I dont miss anything about the UK other then the beer and the cost of traveling abroad which is so expensive from here.

I am looking at asia but at my age I dont know if I would be able to find work and I used all my money coming here, and you know the winter is just around the corner which can drop down to -50 not so nice

any way have a good pint of british beer for me
Firefox

[/FONT]

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Hi all have been back about 7 weeks now and its been a very challenging time:eek: But despite all the challenges it most definately has been the right decision.

Hopefully next week things may be a little more settled and will have enough time to post an update..........................:rofl:

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Been back since Feb..so so happy..kids x3 so happy and getting so much more out of school, sport, friends etc. Didn't realise at the time of moving out what we were giving up, attracted by the materialistic opportunity of bigger house better car, weather and the misconception that Aus is the dream lifestyle...oh how wrong we were. In all honesty I got so fed up with the weather in Perth and was desperate for some 'fresh' air..(you certainly get that in Scotland!)

Aussie husband home for good in 3 days, giving up a very good job but has secured just as good as one to come home to. Happy to have tried the lifestyle but oh so much happier to be back and so more appreciative of what living, working and being educated in Scotland has to offer.
So in all absolutely delighted to be back and glad we didn't dither and procrastinate..knew in our hearts it wasn't best in the long term..great for holidays but could never have hacked Perth for life...and for us far better opportunities for the children here. Look forward to a holiday over there in a year or two but definitely this time on a return ticket!

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Hi Lorids, great to hear things are going well for you in Scotland, I am heading back next year.
When you get time would you be able to post a new thread on your life in Scotland please? There are quite a few of us heading back that way soon.
Cheers

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So glad you guys are enjoying life back home :thumbsup:

Hope I'll be saying that in a week!

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OMG is it really only a week!! Are you crazy excited yet:eek:

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My God Tracy you are going back next week,that time just seems to have flow bye !!!!!!

I bet you are getting excited now,please kept in touch when you get settled in.

All the very best on your return home.

Cheers I.G. :thumbsup::thumbsup: