Thought this might be a good place to start to share any tips for single people moving back after many years away, with limited support at the 'other end.' In my case 28 years away in an alienating and strange Australia.

I've booked to go back in July this year and I feel a bit daunted although my heart knows that the UK is where I want to live and that I must do it now and work through the inevitable struggles at first, or resign myself to waiting another 10 years till retirement somewhere I don't want to be. One of the main reasons is that, after so long away, I have pretty well lost touch with friends and family there (not all). So I won't have the support of others when I go. I will be staying in B&Bs.

I know that it's a challenge for all people especially people with families and children to make the move back, but I also feel as a single (older) individual it is not as easy as throwing a few clothes in a suitcase either! It is really the practical issues with finding accommodation, paperwork etc. that I know almost nothing about.

Very grateful, thank you

I'm not single, but didn't want to 'read and run'. Its natural that you're feeling a little scared, after 28 years I think I'd be scared...but excited. You've said that this is the right thing to do - now you're putting those plans in place to create a more satisfying future and I think that's absolutely brilliant.

If you go to the over 50's and 60's thread there are some fabulous people on there who've done exactly what you're planning to do. Some single like yourself, others with families, a few retired folk are on there too.

Personally, I wouldn't go down a B&B route as they're not that cheap and it can be an isolating experience staying somewhere so transient. I'd look for a last minute rental at a holiday park, in an area of the UK that appeals to you or a flat/house rental somewhere with a demographic that suits your needs.

Paperwork - British passport, enough funds to support yourself for a few months and if you plan to find work, cv and qualifications/reference details. If you plan to hire or buy a car, then you'll need your driving documents. If there are any health issues, a letter from your current practice detailing any problems would be advisable too.

HSBC can set up a bank account for you if there's one where you are and then just get them to transfer the account to a branch in the UK. If that isn't possible, Lloyd's Bank have a good reputation with returning ex-pats on here.

If you give more details about what you hope for once you return, others will help out with more information I'm sure.

I'm not returning to the UK as a single, but have travelled there extensively on my own in the last few years so have some knowledge of how daunting it can be to organize and try and get yourself around on your own. Even hauling suitcases around on your own can become wearying


What part are you heading back to? Do you have any job prospects lined up or are you going to start searching when you get there. Have you got your NI number or card?

July can be a busy time for B&B's, so maybe get yourself booked in in advance if you are planning on more than a few days. Are you planning to rent somewhere eventually, or is it all dependent on when you get a job?

Wish I could be of more help...

As Wub has said, you need to get yourself over to the "50's and 60's moving back to the UK" thread. Even if you are not of the right age group I am sure you will find lots of interesting information there plus it's good to read of people experiencing the same doubts and fears you are going through right now.

LOTS and LOTS of people are in your situation, in fact I was one of them last year. I won't go into boring details of why I had to come back to Oz, you will surely read all about it on there.

There is Peigi (EasternDawn), moved back to Scotland and her hubby is still in Canada, Anna (aes1) who has moved from the USA to Malta via England on her own, Eileen (relocateme) who moved from Canada on her own too.........

So...... make a nice cup of tea or pour a nice glass of wine, pull up your chair and be prepared for a BIG BIG read.

p.s. Whereabouts in Oz are you?

Are you kidding? 3,306 posts and counting ... that's at least a two-glasser!

OK make that a bottle of wine!!

Thank you all very much for your thoughts and kind replies. I have in fact posted a few times on the over 50's and 60's thread and find the people on there absolutely inspirational - I only didn't post on there about the single people issue because I'm only in my mid-40s (?) however, I'll stick to there from now on!

If Peigi and Anna & Eileen can do it so can I.

It's just the daunting feeling of leaving behind a life which, although it has not been where I wanted to be, still has all the attendant practicalities of house, garden, bits and bobs etc. Sometimes I think it is all too much trouble but I am determined to do it. I live in Canberra which is a bit like a nature reserve, it's easy to disassociate yourself from what real life is like after many years here, where it is affluent, dull, and easy to sit back and become really apathetic. Which is why I feel a bit nervous.

I am originally from North Wales but the other half of my family was from Oxford which is where I spent most of my life in the UK. However, having been back to the North and Scotland many times and loved it I would like to live in Yorkshire/Derbyshire where there is lots of walking to do so that's where I'll be heading for. I thought I'd just hire a car and stay at B&Bs till I had a chance to go to some local estate agents and look for a rental and then look for a job, but I see what you mean about this could be isolating. And the last thing I want is to not feel a sense of involvement with the local community, after all that is one of the reasons I am going back to the UK, for the great people! I will look on the Internet to see if there are longer stay places, thank you

See you on the over 50's thread soon.

my mum came back to the UK after my dad died, and now she has a better social life that i do. apparently, marital relations are so tentative in the UK that by her age (50s) there are very active social clubs for divorced people with many members who have had multiple ones.