My OH is less settled than me too! Luckily our plan is to spend the winters in Cape town, where we are at the moment at 33deg heat and he is so very happy! Can you not do something like that! We save up all year to afford this but are lucky we have family accommodation! Once I am British we may very well buy something here and a lock up and go in England and do the swallow 6month thing! The amount of British and Germans we have come accross who are doing it in retirement is astounding!

Thanks but we've talked about it a lot and another 4 years works for both of us. We're a couple who would be happy together just about anywhere - he's not miserable by any means and we have a good life. He's just changed his mind about the UK being 'forever', whereas I was hoping it would be.

It's a bit unexpected when it happens, isn't it?! (you settling better than them). Spending winters, or part of them, somewhere warmer is definitely doable - the only thing stopping us from doing that at the moment is the old doggie (our golden retriever, not my husband)

So great that you have family to stay with in Cape Town and that you both enjoy your time there, sounds just ideal for you! Really glad that things have come together for you FB

I have learnt to accept that nothing is forever and that we survive far better in the world if we are mutable and expandable and can adapt to all situations. I no longer look to years in advance now only taking it a couple of years ahead rather. I was spending too much time planning and not living. Good on you both for trying all of this out! It means you have a lot of courage!

I am actually considering moving back home. I find New England just as depressing as Old England except back home I don't live in a constant sense of apprehension whether my employer will terminate my employment with a day's notice and royally screw me and my family over.

It's just a matter of fact. That is what I saw, that's my experience of reverse culture shock. Certainly not a reason not to go home. Home is where your heart is, warts and all.
Since I focused on the negatives, I guess it behooves me to mention some aspects of positive culture shock:
1. Food
From the supermarkets to the restaurants, the prices, quality and selection of food is superb and has improved a million percent since I left.
2. Public transport
Trains and buses are sleek, comfortable and on time. In the 70s trains were grimy and smelled awful. I do miss the windows that could be opened though. I'm sure Health and Safety had a hand in their demise
3. The Channel Tunnel
Brilliant. I remember taking both a ferry and a hovercraft over to France in the 70s. Both awful. The ease and speed of the Chunnel is a marvel. Doesn't hurt that a friend works for them and we can all go over with her for only one pound each way!
4. Festivals, fetes and just stuff to do in general.
There is always something of a cultural nature going on. I'm so happy to see wonderful landmarks being used in creative ways. I lived near Hampton Court Palace before I left and there were only 2 things one could do there: tour the state apartments and walk the gardens. Now it is home to an annual garden festival, a venue for concerts, a destination for river tours and so much more.
6. Bacon sandwiches.....the bacon has improved, now served on bakery baps instead of white bread......enough said

Mmmmm, take my money! Lol

It's a cruel thing to talk about bacon sandwiches when one your readers is trying to shed the excess pounds she's put on since landing in the UK. Excess pounds that are due in no small part to the excellence of the bacon sarnies here

Just give up the bread and stick with the bacon.

Ya big green meanie

What? If I've piled on weight and am trying to cut down, I'd keep the bacon and lose everything else. I can live without bread if I have to.

Ah, I see - thought you were winding me up Bacon's off my self-imposed list, I'm being stupidly strict with myself. I struggled into one of my favourite dresses a few weeks ago and bore a strange resemblance to an elephant in a tutu.

By the way, 'big green meanie' is quite a compliment in Australia

Chewing gum on the pavements on the Yookay was a surprise for me. The dog poo I had seen before but ubiquitous chewing gum was a new experience.


City centres full of misbehaving drunks. The weather. If you focussed on the negatives you would never come back !

I find the gum on pavements puzzling, because I don't see many people actually chewing gum and I've never seen anyone spitting gum onto the pavement.

I've never seen it either, not once. I'm very glad of that, I trod in enough in Australia. The sun would turn it into something resembling super glue - horrible stuff.