Has anyone returned to the UK from their choosen destination and regretted this and if so why?

Yes 'Ian and Sharon' did. Manchester- Auckland-Manchester-Christchurch-Brisbane..anyway something like that..search 'got a story to tell' for the full low down. They only spent a few weeks in the UK upon their return from NZ the first time.

I didnt regret it necessarily but I lived in Aus from 99-08 and started getting really homesick in 2006 and in 2008 decided to head back for a year to see what it was like and bond with family..

Moved to London, man it was hard, London is fantastic to visit but living there was challenging...

I had changed, my friends had changed, I got used to the lifestyle in Melbourne and missed it badly.

So I came back and havent looked back. I didnt leave the UK in 99 to emigrate, i just went to backpack and settled here so i have no grip on either side of the pond, just prefer Melbourne and needed 8 months back in london to realise WHY.

I haven't returned yet so I can't say but this is one of my main worries.

I have been here nearly 9 years and have never felt I belonged. I want to return but worry that I won't belong in the UK either leaving me in limbo land.

I suppose you can only use the analogy that is used when coming to OZ. If you don't do it, you'll never know and will forever think what if??

Why did you find London so challenging Sherro?? Only interested as it is my home town, although it's not where we would move back to, but I do love the place.

Gnesis, I cannot seem to find 'Got a Story to Tell'.

Here you are Miss Sunshine

http://britishexpats.com/forum/showthread.php?t=483618

This is also one of my worries after just 8 months.I 'm not sure I want to be here but when I think about my old life not sure about that either, I feel the same today as I did when I arrived. I have joined a club, am very positive but it's just not happening. I do miss family and friends but more my old life. This place is draining me fiancially and emotionally.I work, work and work here for less money than the U.K and have no time at all.I have no fun anymore and just exist here. People say give it time but what will change. We have a good few friends here already and that is not what bothers me.

I was going to go back next April but I am thinking this June / July but I feel it is probably too soon, any thoughts?

Sorry to ramble on feel sorry for myself but need to get it off my chest. I am so unhappy here and really try to be but it only lasts a week or so and I feel the same.

I am sorry that you are feeling so unhappy. It sounds to me like you have tried hard to settle. If it is not for you, it's not for you, don't run yourself into the ground trying to make right what simply is not right for you.
Best wishes. I think you know what you need to do!

Ian and Sharon, Without giving too much away how long did it take you to reach the decision you are at today?

By the way brillant thread - very open, honest and at times funny - it has got me hooked.

You should never regret anything in life. Why? because what happens happens. You cant change the past but learn from the past.

Hi Funky Monkey,

We are a family of four 2 adults and 2 children and we each voted on whether we wished to stay or not - needless to say it was 2 for and 2 against. I must admit when the subject of returning comes up I do feel really happy and excited at the prospect of returning to the UK but wonder what will happen once we have said our hellos and touched base with everything and everyone - I guess only time will tell. I think it costs so much to relocate to a far away destination and with all the money spent you think why am I not happy? If I would spent this in the UK I would have been able to do such and such. We are due to return mid August. I was one of the 2 for staying but must admit to a degree at happiness to be returning - will it last, time will tell.

Thats it. I wanted it so bad and I cannot believe I am unhappy. I wonder how many people actually stay back in the U.K. I am sure there are lot's but you obviously do not here from them on here. Also the amount of people who actually move back and forth more than once that must be a real mind bender.

Hey Funky Monkey, how you doing!!?? Been a while.

I really believe there are times in your life when doing certain things is the right thing to do. You do it, you gain or lose from it and eventually you do something else.

I say this because I have been to Oz three times in total. First time I left Oz to return to the Uk was in 2000 but I couldn't wait to get back out there. Uk life seemed dull in comparison. When I got back to Oz, I realised how lonely and alone I actually felt out there, quite often infact and couldn't wait to get back to the Uk! So, I came back to the Uk again, and met my now husband. All went swimmingly well until I got ill in 2004.
When I recouped, I decided I wanted to give Oz one last try, this time with someone else - my husband. We got PR and moved to Melbourne in 2007. I started feeling something wasn't right quite soon after arriving - maybe around 3 months. Felt obstacles were always in our way, like we weren't meant to settle there. It was pritty torturous at times. We tried to buy a house and house hunted every weekend over 13 months there. We went to the auctions and almost got a house but quite glad we were pipped to the post as we'd have been up to eyes in a huge mortgage. At that point though, we were so desperate to have our own place to try and help us settle down more. My work turned into a nightmare and with ongoing health concerns I felt very much alone once again out there. I found it much harder to deal with my health issues there. It was more "in my face" than I liked, possibly due to more frequent check-up's over there. The costs of this were huge and we did struggle with regular medical bills. My husband worked more and got treated quite badly. It was hard, and was definately one of the main reasons we came back.
We decided to move back to the Uk - not to the same place we left, but to a new area ( York ) and since arriving in March 2009 we have practically fallen on our feet - compared to oz that is. We have bought a house and should be moving in around 6 weeks time. Life feels easier now. I am familiar with the system here, the health service, the work ethics etc. It is a joy to be back. I love the weekends here which I feel are better spent compared to in oz and I do feel my travelling days are now well and truly over.
I'm not saying I'll never move again ( certainly not outwith the Uk ) , just that I'm happy to be back in the Uk where I do feel - is truly my home.

I've well and truly "done" Oz and don't intend on returning there unless it's to go see friends we met there.

No regrets. It would have been nice to have found what I was looking for out of life a little sooner, but it's all part of life and our experiences and time spent within that life. I will say though - especially to FM, that life is too short to spend time being unhappy. You know where I'm coming from. Do what would make you happiest and go for it. There's nothing to lose.

*pearly*

Not regretted coming back to UK at all, the only thing i regret is leaving it in the first place

Not regretted it at all either

In fact, told the reporter from The Times that the other day Think by doing an interview for an article in a posh paper I'll get famous? Mmmm...maybe I should've got me boobs out or sumfink to aid the process eh?