Shame must be hard for you all, we have two boys, 17 and 10, waiting for eldest to finish his A- levels before we make final decision. Left South Africa 8 years ago with one year in Oz, had to come back due to our visas but have been granted permanent residence and have until 2012 to return.
Must be so hard knowing what is the best to do, but hope it all works out for the best.

I take it you know you'll have to pay full whack for your 17 yr old to go to uni in the UK? Is he in AS year or A's? Out of interest, which A's is he doing....far broader education here in Oz (more subjects studied...sensible!) so makes English A's a big leap in difficulty.

He doing English,Biology, Sociology and PE, yes crazy to think how much it would cost here. We still need to found out what A level results he would require to enter an Australian uni but he hasn't really made up his mind what he wants to study. If you came back here to the UK would your kids go to private school?

No, couldn't afford private...have 3 kids.
I got confused there...thought you were over here doing the A levels. At least he can do a gap year there and avoid paying o's fees.

No probs getting into Aussie uni on A levels, they have some equation for converting them into a UAI.

Sounds like you're pretty determined to leave the UK...why?

See by your other thread you have found it difficult to "fit in" in Oz. We have had the same problem here in the UK . All our friends are South Africans. We live in a village and people can be very snobby. After living in OZ we found the Australians have a very much more friendly and positive attitude. Sick and tired of having a chat with people during the day and all we ever dicuss is the weather!! To us Oz feels a lot more like home, so know how you feel when you say you want to come back here. We used to the sun, bigger homes, nice restaurants and living a more outdoor life. We love the seasons here but when the clocks change and we are stuck inside for months on end it does get depressing. I also think our children will have more opportunity in Oz. Just very confusing as to know what is best for all!!

Know what you mean about snobbyness. A while after we came out here, my dh was entertaining some big-wigs from BT. We put a huge effort into entertaining them, took them to an 'Australian' show down the Rocks, Aussie songs, a sheep sheared, didgeredoo played, that sort of stuff. They sat there ridgid and the one guy (the underling) actually said that he was insulted that we'd taken him to 'working class entertainment'. All he'd done through the night was talk of how he lived in Margaret Thatcher's constituency! We were so glad then to be Aussies (sort of) and I'm sure it's confronting these sort of attitudes will be what drives us back. We find Aussies incredibly friendly too..we just find they don't take it to the next step and develop friendships of great depth with us. We can't stand the lack of 'dropping-in for a cuppa'. But yes, Oz does have that feeling of 'you can do anything' about it whereas you're more entrenched in your roots in the UK I think. Am I talking drivel...didn't have much sleep last night!!!!

We were surprised by your program that you only had a small group of friends back here and not much family. Most people want to move back to their homeland because of family and they always put major guilt on one to move back. It would be so much easier if we could put our lives on pause and try what we think would be better and if not just rewind press play again. So what are you next plans, hows the rest of you fam coping?

My mum is here in Oz(!!!!) DH's family refused to be part of the program. They've also said point blank that they'll give us no assistance whatsoever if we decide to return. So as you can see, family is definitely not the reason we're returning!!!!

Small group of friends...yes, our friends are scattered from Penzance to Aberdeen, plus we've been away for 24 years remember!

A remote control for life...now that'd be nice!

Well hope it all works out, will keep in contact. My son is now over my shoulder wanting the computer, so cheers 4 now!!

That is so true Ezzie.

I used to and still do find much more snobiness in the U.K. Yes there is materialism here in Oz but no one seems to be bothered about material things like they are in the U.K, so many are up their own arse in the U.K
Oh well you can't have it all