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Thoughts about Perth and Returning to UK
Hi everyone, I have just discovered this board and thought I would introduce myself and talk about my feelings towards Oz and the UK.
I am 36, married with one child (2) and another due in October. My wife and I have been in Perth (Joondalup) since Nov 2002. We have a 2 bed flat in SE London which we are renting (I am so glad we did not sell it). We bought a 4-bed house in Joondalup for $350K last Nov, 10 mins walk from train station. I work in IT in the city, wife works as part-time secretary and kid goes to daycare 5 days a week. Sounds idyllic? Well, how come I am not happy? It is strange, we came to Perth for the usual wooly reasons, like "better quality of life" and "better for kids". But honestly, I am not sure that the quality of life is better here for me. I find the suburbs to be soulless and depressing. The landscape (bush) looks identical wherever you go. I miss the variety of Britain. The hills, mountains, lakes, fields, valleys. I miss the chance to go to Barcelona, Paris, Rome and all the other great European cities. I miss the culture and history of Britain. I like old buildings. I like the great radio and TV programmes in Britain. Try and find a radio station in Perth that doesn't sound like "Smashy and Nicey". I miss proper pubs. I never thought I'd say that, but I really do. Barbies are overrated. Public ones are covered in crap so you need to spend 10 mins cleaning it before using it. I would rather be indoors in the cool than standing sweating round a BBQ. As for the "laid back lifestyle" myth - baloney. My hours are 8:15 to 5:15, a 40-hours week. In UK it was 35 hours. The work is just as stressful. Deadlines have to be met like anywhere else. Why should Oz be more "laid back"? I also took a pay cut to come here, but on Oz wages things aren't cheaper, including houses. I honestly think I was having a better time living in London, especially as I find lying on beaches boring! I also don't buy the argument that Perth is better for kids. I know plenty of kids who spend all day indoors because it is too hot to play outside in the summer. I don't see why kids can't have a great time in the UK. It's up to the parents to ensure that they do! I feel that Perth also has other problems. The work environment is nepotistic and racism rears it's head in the attitudes of co-workers and the increase in racist graffiti. Aborigines are treated like scum. Isolation breeds intolerance and ignorance. Oh yes, and taxes are much higher than the UK! Anyway, what I will probably end up doing is staying until my two years are up so I can get an Ozzie passport and dual citizenship. My wife insists on this. After that I will have to try and persuade her to come back to the UK. Thanks for listening. Do you have any comments on my feelings? Martin |
Re: Thoughts about Perth and Returning to UK
Originally posted by MartinC Hi everyone, I have just discovered this board and thought I would introduce myself and talk about my feelings towards Oz and the UK. I am 36, married with one child (2) and another due in October. My wife and I have been in Perth (Joondalup) since Nov 2002. We have a 2 bed flat in SE London which we are renting (I am so glad we did not sell it). We bought a 4-bed house in Joondalup for $350K last Nov, 10 mins walk from train station. I work in IT in the city, wife works as part-time secretary and kid goes to daycare 5 days a week. Sounds idyllic? Well, how come I am not happy? It is strange, we came to Perth for the usual wooly reasons, like "better quality of life" and "better for kids". But honestly, I am not sure that the quality of life is better here for me. I find the suburbs to be soulless and depressing. The landscape (bush) looks identical wherever you go. I miss the variety of Britain. The hills, mountains, lakes, fields, valleys. I miss the chance to go to Barcelona, Paris, Rome and all the other great European cities. I miss the culture and history of Britain. I like old buildings. I like the great radio and TV programmes in Britain. Try and find a radio station in Perth that doesn't sound like "Smashy and Nicey". I miss proper pubs. I never thought I'd say that, but I really do. Barbies are overrated. Public ones are covered in crap so you need to spend 10 mins cleaning it before using it. I would rather be indoors in the cool than standing sweating round a BBQ. As for the "laid back lifestyle" myth - baloney. My hours are 8:15 to 5:15, a 40-hours week. In UK it was 35 hours. The work is just as stressful. Deadlines have to be met like anywhere else. Why should Oz be more "laid back"? I also took a pay cut to come here, but on Oz wages things aren't cheaper, including houses. I honestly think I was having a better time living in London, especially as I find lying on beaches boring! I also don't buy the argument that Perth is better for kids. I know plenty of kids who spend all day indoors because it is too hot to play outside in the summer. I don't see why kids can't have a great time in the UK. It's up to the parents to ensure that they do! I feel that Perth also has other problems. The work environment is nepotistic and racism rears it's head in the attitudes of co-workers and the increase in racist graffiti. Aborigines are treated like scum. Isolation breeds intolerance and ignorance. Oh yes, and taxes are much higher than the UK! Anyway, what I will probably end up doing is staying until my two years are up so I can get an Ozzie passport and dual citizenship. My wife insists on this. After that I will have to try and persuade her to come back to the UK. Thanks for listening. Do you have any comments on my feelings? Martin You don't actually say much about your FEELINGS so how exactly do you feel about all this? Not very long to go for 2 years, anyway. Would a 'better' part of Australia (Perth seems an odd choice to me given you can go anywhere) been any different? |
Re: Thoughts about Perth and Returning to UK
Originally posted by MartinC Thanks for listening. Do you have any comments on my feelings? Martin :D Seriously you have only found what so many before you found, the bit that worried me was you and the wife dont quite agree on it? Always a nightmare. What about a differnt part of OZ, east side has more employment, well Syd melb bris anyway, might cost a few more thousand:eek: but at least you would come back more sure if it was not for you. I always liked Melbourne but it had so many of the same problems as the UK I guess you would really have to check it out for yourself. |
Your views about Oz mirror my personal feelings after we had been there a few years, and we were living in Sydney. Its certainly not the best place for everyone and as someone who, like you, finds beaches pretty boring and sweating unappealing I certainly prefer life in the UK. Fortunately for me my wife felt the same things, but more so.
We came back to London a year ago. Probably the best consolation you can have is that you are not a freak for feeling like this, plenty do. I don't have any problem with telling people who have never been to Oz and think its paradise that its not for everyone. The latest incident for me was just this week in fact. I had tonsilitis and went to the doctors. He was asking me for previous addresses and when he discovered I had been in Sydney for 3 years he asked me all about it as emigrating had crossed his mind before now. He then started chellenging me fairly aggressively on why I came back and before I knew it I was trying to justify my decision to a total stranger who had never been to Australia in his life. His arguments were pretty standard "its got to be better than the UK - people have big houses, pools, a laid back lifestyle and the climate is great" and he inisisted on trying to get me to admit that "leaving was difficult" and kept on saying "you must have at least seriously considered staying for good" etc. The debate made him late for his next appointment and I left him in a somewhat puzzled state of mind. |
Re: Thoughts about Perth and Returning to UK
Originally posted by MartinC Anyway, what I will probably end up doing is staying until my two years are up so I can get an Ozzie passport and dual citizenship. My wife insists on this. After that I will have to try and persuade her to come back to the UK. Thanks for listening. Do you have any comments on my feelings? Martin As far as your views on Perth and Oz are concerned, you get a big 'ditto' from us. As dotty indicates, Sydney and Melb are better...a bit. They are not as parochial as Perth, Adelaide, Brisbane etc. As you've seen for yourself, there is so much rubbish talked about Oz (eg along the lines of "it makes heaven look second-rate" - to continue the religious theme) This is not aimed at you, but I understand why aborigines refer to the Dreaming - that's just what too many people do before they go to Oz. It is worth hanging out for citizenship, if only to keep your wife happy. Hang on in there! I hope you can get your wife to see sense. And concentrate on other really important things. Like cheering England on against France :) |
We had a Doctor out to my Dad at 4am, he sorted out the medical emergency then stayed 35 minutes to challenge my views on climate, job opportunites, ie rural would be best cause there is a doctor on every city corner because you pay for everything medical, beachside housing costs he simply would not believe a house with a beach view could quite easily be between 2 and 10 million, then he found it totally hard to believe stuff like food was the same price or more, or that airfares could be double for the same thing from the UK, by the time he got on to trying to convince ME that airconditiong was standard we almost had to push him out the door in case the next emergency dropped dead while he was debating with me in my jamies.
I get challenged almost daily but coming from a Doctor it was hard to believe that someone so intelligent/educated could also fall for the entire OZ spin thing. I'm getting so sick of it now I would love to host a quiz show :D take 10 brits ask them their opinion on say what Perth or Brisbane etc would be like, ask them questions, like house price, wages, temp in summer, temp in winter, food prices, dental costs, klms needed to drive each week etc etc etc then get them answered by an someone actually living in OZ. Can you see it, picture of beachside mansion in Sydney, nice harbour view, me how much, contestant 250,000 dollars:D me wrong again! correct answer is 7 million. Show a piccy of glue sniffers on the gold coast but give them a clue by putting a surfboard next to the glue. Smiling blonde freckled kid, with braces - how much. See if they can name the 23 shot dead Melbourne underworld gangsters. We could add some props too put real wild koala in pen, enter fellow brit for a cuddle, see how long contestant goes without being ripped to death by koala claws and teeth. Prizes could be aus themed, suped up magna for your 16 year old, matching nylon spf 2000 outfits for the entire family, 3 bbq's a weekend for the next 10 years:D Or aus's version of a new car a 15 year old camray. My next enterprise :D wonder if the beeb is up for it.:scared: Edited for animal activists :D I totally respect wild koalas and no way would I really put one in with a OZ struck brit . |
Originally posted by dotty See if they can name the 23 shot dead Melbourne underworld gangsters. |
Re: Thoughts about Perth and Returning to UK
Originally posted by MartinC Thanks for listening. Do you have any comments on my feelings? Martin I'd say it's definitely worth waiting to apply for your citizenship - and make sure that you do the same for your (soon to be two) children - the one yet to be born might be Australian by birth, of course. They might well thank you for that in the future! There's nothing to be lost. Anyway, if you do return to the UK to live, you can at least say that you gave this a good go - if you hadn't, you might have spent the rest of your life wondering if you should have. Whatever happens, you'll probably find that your life has been enriched by the experience - even negative experiences, or not wholly positive ones, can have their benefits later. PS: I have always thought that eating out of doors is a greatly over-rated past-time! |
Re: Thoughts about Perth and Returning to UK
Originally posted by MartinC Hi everyone, I have just discovered this board and thought I would introduce myself and talk about my feelings towards Oz and the UK. I am 36, married with one child (2) and another due in October. My wife and I have been in Perth (Joondalup) since Nov 2002. We have a 2 bed flat in SE London which we are renting (I am so glad we did not sell it). We bought a 4-bed house in Joondalup for $350K last Nov, 10 mins walk from train station. I work in IT in the city, wife works as part-time secretary and kid goes to daycare 5 days a week. Sounds idyllic? Well, how come I am not happy? It is strange, we came to Perth for the usual wooly reasons, like "better quality of life" and "better for kids". But honestly, I am not sure that the quality of life is better here for me. I find the suburbs to be soulless and depressing. The landscape (bush) looks identical wherever you go. I miss the variety of Britain. The hills, mountains, lakes, fields, valleys. I miss the chance to go to Barcelona, Paris, Rome and all the other great European cities. I miss the culture and history of Britain. I like old buildings. I like the great radio and TV programmes in Britain. Try and find a radio station in Perth that doesn't sound like "Smashy and Nicey". I miss proper pubs. I never thought I'd say that, but I really do. Barbies are overrated. Public ones are covered in crap so you need to spend 10 mins cleaning it before using it. I would rather be indoors in the cool than standing sweating round a BBQ. As for the "laid back lifestyle" myth - baloney. My hours are 8:15 to 5:15, a 40-hours week. In UK it was 35 hours. The work is just as stressful. Deadlines have to be met like anywhere else. Why should Oz be more "laid back"? I also took a pay cut to come here, but on Oz wages things aren't cheaper, including houses. I honestly think I was having a better time living in London, especially as I find lying on beaches boring! I also don't buy the argument that Perth is better for kids. I know plenty of kids who spend all day indoors because it is too hot to play outside in the summer. I don't see why kids can't have a great time in the UK. It's up to the parents to ensure that they do! I feel that Perth also has other problems. The work environment is nepotistic and racism rears it's head in the attitudes of co-workers and the increase in racist graffiti. Aborigines are treated like scum. Isolation breeds intolerance and ignorance. Oh yes, and taxes are much higher than the UK! Anyway, what I will probably end up doing is staying until my two years are up so I can get an Ozzie passport and dual citizenship. My wife insists on this. After that I will have to try and persuade her to come back to the UK. Thanks for listening. Do you have any comments on my feelings? Martin |
Thanks for all your replies, many valid points raised.
CPW - good point about the soon-to-be-born. He will be born in Oz, that makes him an Oz citizen. I wonder if he is a British citizen as well, considering we (his family) are all British citizens? I must do more research :) Moving elsewhere in Oz. I would consider it. The thing is that my in-laws live in Perth and it is handy to have them around to help with the kids, but I guess that shouldn't hold us back from moving on! Anyway, if you do return to the UK to live, you can at least say that you gave this a good go - if you hadn't, you might have spent the rest of your life wondering if you should have. Whatever happens, you'll probably find that your life has been enriched by the experience - even negative experiences, or not wholly positive ones, can have their benefits later. Mr Mover - very crass statement my friend. I am from Northern Ireland and know all too well about bombs and shootings, believe me. I don't intend to "flee" anywhere. Getting a dual passport is simply commonsense considering I only have to wait another 6 months. It means that my kids have the opportunity to come to Oz when they are older, and who knows, they may like it! And yes, it means my wife and I keep our options open. And there's nothing wrong with that. |
Re: Thoughts about Perth and Returning to UK
Hi Martin, you are very brave to write what you really think about Perth/Oz, I wish more people would so that those who are in the same situation dont feel so isolated.
Trust your instincts & do what is right for you, its your life so dont be unhappy with it, make things happen!! :) |
Originally posted by MartinC ... the soon-to-be-born. He will be born in Oz, that makes him an Oz citizen. I wonder if he is a British citizen as well, considering we (his family) are all British citizens? I must do more research :) |
Originally posted by mr mover Sorry martin , did not meen to sound CRASS, but after 22yrs of importing poms in to AUST , for that reason. It wears a bit thin. AND b4 the go back brigade , get on the band wagon , you will be surprised how many of your , CEO,s and company directors ,of british companys have , AUST , or US citzenship...............:D :beer: MM You may like to spend some of your next 22 years looking up the word 'apostrophe'. If you think that Oz is relatively isolated from terrorism, epecially the extreme Islamic kind, you're living in a fool's paradise. Is your memory so short that you have forgotten the horrors of the Bali bombing - sometimes referred to as "Australia's September 11th" - where Aussies were deliberately targeted? And Australia's nearest neighbour - Indonesia - just off the north coast of Oz has a population of 200 million - who are mainly Muslim. |
What's posted below is completely correct. Child will be an Australian citizen by birth. For information on British citizenship for non-UK born children visit:
http://www.ind.homeoffice.gov.uk/default.asp?PageId=38 and download leaflet BN4. This gives a fairly good overview of the law, except it doesn't mention the registration options for children of British fathers who are not married to (non-British) mothers. It doesn't sound like that applies in this case. Martin - staying to get citizenship is a good idea. I know of a number of cases where families have abandoned their PR and gone back to the UK, with one of their children having been born in Australia (and hence Australian). One day they may have to explain to their other children why they've not got the same freedom to go back to Australia as their sibling has. You need to stay settled in Australia until you're sworn in - you can freely change your mind after that. Your older child needs to be added to one of your citizenship applications. Before you finally decide to go back, you may want to consider somewhere like Melbourne that may be more to your liking. Australian citizens can also live freely in New Zealand. As your Australia born child's birth certificate won't be proof of citizenship, you may want to spend AUD55 and fill out form 119 (from the DIMIA site) to get a Certificate of evidence of Australian citizenship for him or her, as well as an Australian passport. Jeremy Originally posted by CPW Your child soon to be born in Australia will be British by descent, assuming that either you or your wife are British otherwise than by descent (i.e. one of you either was born in the UK or is a naturalised UK citizen). As long as you are permanent residents of Australia, the child born in Australia will be Australian by birth. (Not sure that you will be citizens by the time of the birth?) Therefore, the child is likely to be a dual national from birth - both British by descent and Australian. (Don't forget about naturalising your first child, though - therein would lie the possibility of future sibling disharmony!) |
Thanks Jeremy, that's very helpful.
Martin |
Re: Thoughts about Perth and Returning to UK
Originally posted by MartinC Hi everyone, I have just discovered this board and thought I would introduce myself and talk about my feelings towards Oz and the UK. I am 36, married with one child (2) and another due in October. My wife and I have been in Perth (Joondalup) since Nov 2002. We have a 2 bed flat in SE London which we are renting (I am so glad we did not sell it). We bought a 4-bed house in Joondalup for $350K last Nov, 10 mins walk from train station. I work in IT in the city, wife works as part-time secretary and kid goes to daycare 5 days a week. Sounds idyllic? Well, how come I am not happy? It is strange, we came to Perth for the usual wooly reasons, like "better quality of life" and "better for kids". But honestly, I am not sure that the quality of life is better here for me. I find the suburbs to be soulless and depressing. The landscape (bush) looks identical wherever you go. I miss the variety of Britain. The hills, mountains, lakes, fields, valleys. I miss the chance to go to Barcelona, Paris, Rome and all the other great European cities. I miss the culture and history of Britain. I like old buildings. I like the great radio and TV programmes in Britain. Try and find a radio station in Perth that doesn't sound like "Smashy and Nicey". I miss proper pubs. I never thought I'd say that, but I really do. Barbies are overrated. Public ones are covered in crap so you need to spend 10 mins cleaning it before using it. I would rather be indoors in the cool than standing sweating round a BBQ. As for the "laid back lifestyle" myth - baloney. My hours are 8:15 to 5:15, a 40-hours week. In UK it was 35 hours. The work is just as stressful. Deadlines have to be met like anywhere else. Why should Oz be more "laid back"? I also took a pay cut to come here, but on Oz wages things aren't cheaper, including houses. I honestly think I was having a better time living in London, especially as I find lying on beaches boring! I also don't buy the argument that Perth is better for kids. I know plenty of kids who spend all day indoors because it is too hot to play outside in the summer. I don't see why kids can't have a great time in the UK. It's up to the parents to ensure that they do! I feel that Perth also has other problems. The work environment is nepotistic and racism rears it's head in the attitudes of co-workers and the increase in racist graffiti. Aborigines are treated like scum. Isolation breeds intolerance and ignorance. Oh yes, and taxes are much higher than the UK! Anyway, what I will probably end up doing is staying until my two years are up so I can get an Ozzie passport and dual citizenship. My wife insists on this. After that I will have to try and persuade her to come back to the UK. Thanks for listening. Do you have any comments on my feelings? Martin You hit on the nail some of the thing I also missed whilst spending 12 years in Australia,. I'm now back in Europe and many times I also missed certain aspects of Australia. But now I wonder if I could in honesty iive back there, I moved on from England after leaving so I wonder If again I've changed that what I wanted when I lived there then would be the same now. I now live in Spain and I have the weather and here they are laid back, I have, the culture of other countries at hand when I get the desire to travel. I also have my Australian citzenship so I know I can go back. When I went to Australia, my wages were three times what I earned in England and I felt safer intially. Now my wages are three times what I earned in Australia and now living in Spain I feel safer and I like the fact it is still a family community spirit here. I liked England when I left, liked Australia when I left and now after a while I like Spain, once I stopped comparing it to everywhere else. We are as people always changing and life experiences also change us. Stay and get your citsenship if that is important to you, then go back to Uk or try another country if it suits. My ex-husband wouldn't have lived back in England as he hated the cold, but nowadays there are other alternatives in warmer countries nearer to home, so you can get the best of all worlds. Talk to your wife and see why she doesn't want to leave, if she doesn't want to go back to England, find a country that may suit all of you nearer to England.and commute if need be.. You can still work in England and live somewhere else. I'm a director on two british based companies and live in Spain.and I commute for meetings.if need be. and I'm near family as well which is what I wanted to be. I get the best of all worlds at the moment. One day I may go back to live in Australia, but there again maybe I won't. I have a nice detached house with orchard and sea and valley views and my partner flies over every couple of weeks to spend time with me.. So at the moment the situation is good for me, when it isn't I''ll change it.. You are in a good position of owning two properties it will help give you more flexibility. Life is too short to be unhappy so do what is right for all of you. No where is ever perfect you just have to make some changes to have some form of happiness. If you stay the next 2 years, utilise that time in trying to enjoy it as much as you can.you may be surprised that the time will then go so much quicker and you will go back with some good memories. So get off that computer and go and have some fun with your family.:) |
Originally posted by MikeStanton Mr Mover, You may like to spend some of your next 22 years looking up the word 'apostrophe'. If you think that Oz is relatively isolated from terrorism, epecially the extreme Islamic kind, you're living in a fool's paradise. Is your memory so short that you have forgotten the horrors of the Bali bombing - sometimes referred to as "Australia's September 11th" - where Aussies were deliberately targeted? And Australia's nearest neighbour - Indonesia - just off the north coast of Oz has a population of 200 million - who are mainly Muslim. |
Originally posted by mr mover how are they going to get here mike, canoes..........?????:D :beer: MM They were visiting the Gulf of Carpentaria and islands like the Pellews and Groote Eylandt in canoes long before European settlement. So, mover dude from Adeliaide, your guess is spot on. |
Originally posted by Ulujain Indonesians? They were visiting the Gulf of Carpentaria and islands like the Pellews and Groote Eylandt in canoes long before European settlement. So, mover dude from Adeliaide, your guess is spot on. |
Re: Thoughts about Perth and Returning to UK
Martin, (response from Romford, Essex)
What a brilliant message! I thought that your honesty was absolutely wonderful. Life in England at the moment is not great! I live in Romford, Essex and am totally fed up. First of all (what a brilliant idea to keep a property over here in England), the best thing you ever did. Let me start by telling you that property prices have gone through the roof over here. I pay £1,200 a month mortgage and cannot afford to have another child if I stay in this country!! I work full time and so does my partner. The stress of the underground and working in London is unbelievable. The weather is awful and the streets are littered with rubbish. The NHS is overrun with illness/disease from asylum seekers (TB) from everywhere. The Nigerian population are running scams and taking people's money especially on the property market. Schools are suffering and so is everything else. Council tax rates are extremely high and children can't play outside. (All our council taxes are going on interpreters and golf lessons for asylum seekers). The risk of heavy traffic and abduction are a constant threat. The whole place is grey and depressing and it constantly rains. I really think that you should hang on and make sure you are there for the 2 years. Please don't rush back here, unless you are desperately missing family members. I would like to keep a property rented over here and move to Australia. Perhaps Perth might be a bit to remote for you if you are used to London. What about moving to the Gold Coast? Your children will have a better life over there I should imagine. It is really not the end of the World since you have your property in England. I wish you all the success.. you deserve it. Archie :) |
Re: Thoughts about Perth and Returning to UK
Originally Posted by Archie70
Martin, (response from Romford, Essex)
What a brilliant message! I thought that your honesty was absolutely wonderful. Life in England at the moment is not great! I live in Romford, Essex and am totally fed up. First of all (what a brilliant idea to keep a property over here in England), the best thing you ever did. Let me start by telling you that property prices have gone through the roof over here. I pay £1,200 a month mortgage and cannot afford to have another child if I stay in this country!! I work full time and so does my partner. The stress of the underground and working in London is unbelievable. The weather is awful and the streets are littered with rubbish. The NHS is overrun with illness/disease from asylum seekers (TB) from everywhere. The Nigerian population are running scams and taking people's money especially on the property market. Schools are suffering and so is everything else. Council tax rates are extremely high and children can't play outside. (All our council taxes are going on interpreters and golf lessons for asylum seekers). The risk of heavy traffic and abduction are a constant threat. The whole place is grey and depressing and it constantly rains. I really think that you should hang on and make sure you are there for the 2 years. Please don't rush back here, unless you are desperately missing family members. I would like to keep a property rented over here and move to Australia. Perhaps Perth might be a bit to remote for you if you are used to London. What about moving to the Gold Coast? Your children will have a better life over there I should imagine. It is really not the end of the World since you have your property in England. I wish you all the success.. you deserve it. Archie :) I moved out of London for a lot of the reasons you mention but remember that the whole of England is not like this. Have you considered moving out of London? |
Re: Thoughts about Perth and Returning to UK
I don't really understand why so many people suggest to move elsewhere in Australia.
If you don't like it here and are homesick, if you don't like the BBQ mentality, if you get bored by the beach/surfie mentality, what difference would it make moving elsewhere. Personally I would find it a waste of money and time. How many people who were unhappy in one place in Australia found the ultimate happiness by moving within in Australia? I would be interested to know. I am not happy here either, but somewhat stuck here because of my Aussie husband who I would never leave. But we have travelled and stayed in every major city in Australia and New Zealand and I don't think that moving within Australia would make me any happier. The things I dislike about Australia like the isolation, low salaries, lack of job opportunities, boring bush where ever you go, huge distances, BBQ culture, etc. are everywhere in Australia. In some places worse than in others, but in the end it is the same. Australian mentality is Australian mentality, Australian wages are Australian wages, Australian bush is Australian bush, BBQ is BBQ, suburbian life is the same in Melbourne as in Perth etc etc. If you don't like Perth don't waste anymore money buy thinking it MIGHT be better in Sydney and moving there. Just move back to where you KNOW you will be happier and it sounds like that will be in the UK. |
Re: Thoughts about Perth and Returning to UK
We lived in the suburb of Kingsley, My wife was employed at the Joondalup hospital. We took our children to "junglegym" in Joondalup every weekend.
I am sure things would have been better if we had family for support .... :confused: .... maybe not !!! Like you - I knew Perth was not a long term option within a few months of migrating, thats despite 2 years of research and travelling to Oz three times before processing for migration. The good wife and the children were quite happy to stay, mother's and baby group were very supportive for them. I did make a number of good friends and mates through work and the gym, I still miss one or two of them. Like you, we stayed the two years and completed the citizenship ceremony ( Joondalup civic hall ), after the ceremony I was ready to move again and started to actively seek employment overseas and sell off property investments. It took a further three years of planning - we arrived back in UK last year. We do not regret the move back, then again we landed on our feet on our return and forced others to see that "in our case" - moving back was the right thing to do. It took us a while to realise for every 100 or so who want to migrate - less than one or two will jump the hoops and red tape and actually do it, lots of interest but very little intent to follow through in my experience. The children, and the good wife rarely even mention Oz these days, people no longer quiz our move back - life moves on and we seek new challenges to occupy us. I continue to have a relationship with the internet and all things relating to expats, hence this thread. If you can handle Ireland and the "troubles" , Perth and its redneck flavour should pose little problem. Melbourne + Sydney have a different mindset, Melbourne reminds me of Bath or Oxford and Sydney reminds me of LA without the "buzz" odaat
Originally Posted by MartinC
Hi everyone, I have just discovered this board and thought I would introduce myself and talk about my feelings towards Oz and the UK.
I am 36, married with one child (2) and another due in October. My wife and I have been in Perth (Joondalup) since Nov 2002. We have a 2 bed flat in SE London which we are renting (I am so glad we did not sell it). We bought a 4-bed house in Joondalup for $350K last Nov, 10 mins walk from train station. I work in IT in the city, wife works as part-time secretary and kid goes to daycare 5 days a week. Sounds idyllic? Well, how come I am not happy? It is strange, we came to Perth for the usual wooly reasons, like "better quality of life" and "better for kids". But honestly, I am not sure that the quality of life is better here for me. I find the suburbs to be soulless and depressing. The landscape (bush) looks identical wherever you go. I miss the variety of Britain. The hills, mountains, lakes, fields, valleys. I miss the chance to go to Barcelona, Paris, Rome and all the other great European cities. I miss the culture and history of Britain. I like old buildings. I like the great radio and TV programmes in Britain. Try and find a radio station in Perth that doesn't sound like "Smashy and Nicey". I miss proper pubs. I never thought I'd say that, but I really do. Barbies are overrated. Public ones are covered in crap so you need to spend 10 mins cleaning it before using it. I would rather be indoors in the cool than standing sweating round a BBQ. As for the "laid back lifestyle" myth - baloney. My hours are 8:15 to 5:15, a 40-hours week. In UK it was 35 hours. The work is just as stressful. Deadlines have to be met like anywhere else. Why should Oz be more "laid back"? I also took a pay cut to come here, but on Oz wages things aren't cheaper, including houses. I honestly think I was having a better time living in London, especially as I find lying on beaches boring! I also don't buy the argument that Perth is better for kids. I know plenty of kids who spend all day indoors because it is too hot to play outside in the summer. I don't see why kids can't have a great time in the UK. It's up to the parents to ensure that they do! I feel that Perth also has other problems. The work environment is nepotistic and racism rears it's head in the attitudes of co-workers and the increase in racist graffiti. Aborigines are treated like scum. Isolation breeds intolerance and ignorance. Oh yes, and taxes are much higher than the UK! Anyway, what I will probably end up doing is staying until my two years are up so I can get an Ozzie passport and dual citizenship. My wife insists on this. After that I will have to try and persuade her to come back to the UK. Thanks for listening. Do you have any comments on my feelings? Martin |
Re: Thoughts about Perth and Returning to UK
Originally Posted by MartinC
Hi everyone, I have just discovered this board and thought I would introduce myself and talk about my feelings towards Oz and the UK.
I am 36, married with one child (2) and another due in October. My wife and I have been in Perth (Joondalup) since Nov 2002. We have a 2 bed flat in SE London which we are renting (I am so glad we did not sell it). We bought a 4-bed house in Joondalup for $350K last Nov, 10 mins walk from train station. I work in IT in the city, wife works as part-time secretary and kid goes to daycare 5 days a week. Sounds idyllic? Well, how come I am not happy? It is strange, we came to Perth for the usual wooly reasons, like "better quality of life" and "better for kids". But honestly, I am not sure that the quality of life is better here for me. I find the suburbs to be soulless and depressing. The landscape (bush) looks identical wherever you go. I miss the variety of Britain. The hills, mountains, lakes, fields, valleys. I miss the chance to go to Barcelona, Paris, Rome and all the other great European cities. I miss the culture and history of Britain. I like old buildings. I like the great radio and TV programmes in Britain. Try and find a radio station in Perth that doesn't sound like "Smashy and Nicey". I miss proper pubs. I never thought I'd say that, but I really do. Barbies are overrated. Public ones are covered in crap so you need to spend 10 mins cleaning it before using it. I would rather be indoors in the cool than standing sweating round a BBQ. As for the "laid back lifestyle" myth - baloney. My hours are 8:15 to 5:15, a 40-hours week. In UK it was 35 hours. The work is just as stressful. Deadlines have to be met like anywhere else. Why should Oz be more "laid back"? I also took a pay cut to come here, but on Oz wages things aren't cheaper, including houses. I honestly think I was having a better time living in London, especially as I find lying on beaches boring! I also don't buy the argument that Perth is better for kids. I know plenty of kids who spend all day indoors because it is too hot to play outside in the summer. I don't see why kids can't have a great time in the UK. It's up to the parents to ensure that they do! I feel that Perth also has other problems. The work environment is nepotistic and racism rears it's head in the attitudes of co-workers and the increase in racist graffiti. Aborigines are treated like scum. Isolation breeds intolerance and ignorance. Oh yes, and taxes are much higher than the UK! Anyway, what I will probably end up doing is staying until my two years are up so I can get an Ozzie passport and dual citizenship. My wife insists on this. After that I will have to try and persuade her to come back to the UK. Thanks for listening. Do you have any comments on my feelings? Martin I find the suburbs to be soulless and depressing. The landscape (bush) looks identical wherever you go. I miss the variety of Britain. The hills, mountains, lakes, fields, valleys. I miss the chance to go to Barcelona, Paris, Rome and all the other great European cities. I miss the culture and history of Britain. I like old buildings. I like the great radio and TV programmes in Britain. Try and find a radio station in Perth that doesn't sound like "Smashy and Nicey". I miss proper pubs. I never thought I'd say that, but I really do. Barbies are overrated. Public ones are covered in crap so you need to spend 10 mins cleaning it before using it. I would rather be indoors in the cool than standing sweating round a BBQ. As for the "laid back lifestyle" myth - baloney. My hours are 8:15 to 5:15, a 40-hours week. In UK it was 35 hours. The work is just as stressful. Deadlines have to be met like anywhere else. Why should Oz be more "laid back"? I also took a pay cut to come here, but on Oz wages things aren't cheaper, including houses. I honestly think I was having a better time living in London, especially as I find lying on beaches boring! I also don't buy the argument that Perth is better for kids. I know plenty of kids who spend all day indoors because it is too hot to play outside in the summer. I don't see why kids can't have a great time in the UK. It's up to the parents to ensure that they do! . Sounds to me that you rushed a bit into it...all this is a reason for me not to go to places like OZ or New Zealand. I just love Europe with its culture and history. Hope you will be happy again soon ;) |
Re: Thoughts about Perth and Returning to UK
Originally Posted by eurotramp
Sorry I don't want to sound rude.....but all this you did not know before?? :confused:
Sounds to me that you rushed a bit into it...all this is a reason for me not to go to places like OZ or New Zealand. I just love Europe with its culture and history. Hope you will be happy again soon ;) Your lucky that you appreciate what is on your doorstep many dont until its too late. :) |
Re: Thoughts about Perth and Returning to UK
Originally Posted by MartinC
Hi everyone, I have just discovered this board and thought I would introduce myself and talk about my feelings towards Oz and the UK.
I am 36, married with one child (2) and another due in October. My wife and I have been in Perth (Joondalup) since Nov 2002. We have a 2 bed flat in SE London which we are renting (I am so glad we did not sell it). We bought a 4-bed house in Joondalup for $350K last Nov, 10 mins walk from train station. I work in IT in the city, wife works as part-time secretary and kid goes to daycare 5 days a week. Sounds idyllic? Well, how come I am not happy? It is strange, we came to Perth for the usual wooly reasons, like "better quality of life" and "better for kids". But honestly, I am not sure that the quality of life is better here for me. I find the suburbs to be soulless and depressing. The landscape (bush) looks identical wherever you go. I miss the variety of Britain. The hills, mountains, lakes, fields, valleys. I miss the chance to go to Barcelona, Paris, Rome and all the other great European cities. I miss the culture and history of Britain. I like old buildings. I like the great radio and TV programmes in Britain. Try and find a radio station in Perth that doesn't sound like "Smashy and Nicey". I miss proper pubs. I never thought I'd say that, but I really do. Barbies are overrated. Public ones are covered in crap so you need to spend 10 mins cleaning it before using it. I would rather be indoors in the cool than standing sweating round a BBQ. As for the "laid back lifestyle" myth - baloney. My hours are 8:15 to 5:15, a 40-hours week. In UK it was 35 hours. The work is just as stressful. Deadlines have to be met like anywhere else. Why should Oz be more "laid back"? I also took a pay cut to come here, but on Oz wages things aren't cheaper, including houses. I honestly think I was having a better time living in London, especially as I find lying on beaches boring! I also don't buy the argument that Perth is better for kids. I know plenty of kids who spend all day indoors because it is too hot to play outside in the summer. I don't see why kids can't have a great time in the UK. It's up to the parents to ensure that they do! I feel that Perth also has other problems. The work environment is nepotistic and racism rears it's head in the attitudes of co-workers and the increase in racist graffiti. Aborigines are treated like scum. Isolation breeds intolerance and ignorance. Oh yes, and taxes are much higher than the UK! Anyway, what I will probably end up doing is staying until my two years are up so I can get an Ozzie passport and dual citizenship. My wife insists on this. After that I will have to try and persuade her to come back to the UK. Thanks for listening. Do you have any comments on my feelings? Martin Perthites SERIOUSLY BELIEVE its the best place on earth. let them go on believing their myth. It is probably the most unfriendly, arrogant, pretentious, materialistic, superficial society on planet earth. It's life Jim , but not as we know it :scared: |
Re: Thoughts about Perth and Returning to UK
Originally Posted by kiwichild
Mate, as a Kiwi having lived in different parts of OZ and currently in Perth due to study commitments, my advice is as soon as you get your citizenship: GET THE HELL OUT OF THERE AND GO LIVE WHERE LIFE EXISTS !!!
Perthites SERIOUSLY BELIEVE its the best place on earth. let them go on believing their myth. It is probably the most unfriendly, arrogant, pretentious, materialistic, superficial society on planet earth. It's life Jim , but not as we know it :scared: |
Re: Thoughts about Perth and Returning to UK
Originally Posted by mr mover
Yeah so you can collect afew extra dole checks , at aussies expense. .... :beer: mm
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Re: Thoughts about Perth and Returning to UK
Originally Posted by kiwichild
Mate, as a Kiwi having lived in different parts of OZ and currently in Perth due to study commitments, my advice is as soon as you get your citizenship: GET THE HELL OUT OF THERE AND GO LIVE WHERE LIFE EXISTS !!!
Perthites SERIOUSLY BELIEVE its the best place on earth. let them go on believing their myth. It is probably the most unfriendly, arrogant, pretentious, materialistic, superficial society on planet earth. It's life Jim , but not as we know it :scared: |
Re: Thoughts about Perth and Returning to UK
Originally Posted by kiwichild
Have to so I can afford to drink imported beer as the local stuff is shite as they say :beer: :p
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Re: Thoughts about Perth and Returning to UK
Originally Posted by mr mover
You must be the first honest "south sea pom " i have ever had the opertunity of speaking to :D BUT have you tried COOPERS sparkling Ale , 6,9 alc and most kiwis i have worked with, luv it............. :beer: :beer: mm
Actually to be quite honest, there are some very good Aussie beers such as james squire pilsner and matilda bay pils (love my pils n lagers), but the standard beers such as Vb and Fosters are pretty crappy and tasteless. Am quite fond of English BASS beer but find it hard to get hold of :( |
Re: Thoughts about Perth and Returning to UK
Originally Posted by cyclemark
Got to agree with some elements of this. Perth is like living in a vacuum. It's incredibly superficial and detached from real life. There is definitely something missing here.
Not sure why it is this way, but to be honest I really don't care. As soon as I'm finished my degree I'm off to the Uk to live. At least people know how to socialise in a friendly, open and relaxed way there, and are welcoming to new faces I found last time I was there. The indifference of people here will eat at your soul if you stay here too long. :eek: |
Re: Thoughts about Perth and Returning to UK
Originally Posted by odaat
-
We do not regret the move back, then again we landed on our feet on our return and forced others to see that "in our case" - moving back was the right thing to do. The children, and the good wife rarely even mention Oz these days, people no longer quiz our move back - life moves on and we seek new challenges to occupy us. odaat I thought it was only us that like being back in the UK..I'm glad you are happy about coming back. I hardly ever think about Oz either and our daughter never mentions it. It's funny how things turn out but we are better off now than before we left, we have better jobs a bigger house (more mortgage but hey so what) and we couldn't be happier...oh sorry, happier if we won the lottery of course :D |
Re: Thoughts about Perth and Returning to UK
Originally Posted by MartinC
Hi everyone, I have just discovered this board and thought I would introduce myself and talk about my feelings towards Oz and the UK.
I am 36, married with one child (2) and another due in October. My wife and I have been in Perth (Joondalup) since Nov 2002. We have a 2 bed flat in SE London which we are renting (I am so glad we did not sell it). We bought a 4-bed house in Joondalup for $350K last Nov, 10 mins walk from train station. I work in IT in the city, wife works as part-time secretary and kid goes to daycare 5 days a week. Sounds idyllic? Well, how come I am not happy? It is strange, we came to Perth for the usual wooly reasons, like "better quality of life" and "better for kids". But honestly, I am not sure that the quality of life is better here for me. I find the suburbs to be soulless and depressing. The landscape (bush) looks identical wherever you go. I miss the variety of Britain. The hills, mountains, lakes, fields, valleys. I miss the chance to go to Barcelona, Paris, Rome and all the other great European cities. I miss the culture and history of Britain. I like old buildings. I like the great radio and TV programmes in Britain. Try and find a radio station in Perth that doesn't sound like "Smashy and Nicey". I miss proper pubs. I never thought I'd say that, but I really do. Barbies are overrated. Public ones are covered in crap so you need to spend 10 mins cleaning it before using it. I would rather be indoors in the cool than standing sweating round a BBQ. As for the "laid back lifestyle" myth - baloney. My hours are 8:15 to 5:15, a 40-hours week. In UK it was 35 hours. The work is just as stressful. Deadlines have to be met like anywhere else. Why should Oz be more "laid back"? I also took a pay cut to come here, but on Oz wages things aren't cheaper, including houses. I honestly think I was having a better time living in London, especially as I find lying on beaches boring! I also don't buy the argument that Perth is better for kids. I know plenty of kids who spend all day indoors because it is too hot to play outside in the summer. I don't see why kids can't have a great time in the UK. It's up to the parents to ensure that they do! I feel that Perth also has other problems. The work environment is nepotistic and racism rears it's head in the attitudes of co-workers and the increase in racist graffiti. Aborigines are treated like scum. Isolation breeds intolerance and ignorance. Oh yes, and taxes are much higher than the UK! Anyway, what I will probably end up doing is staying until my two years are up so I can get an Ozzie passport and dual citizenship. My wife insists on this. After that I will have to try and persuade her to come back to the UK. Thanks for listening. Do you have any comments on my feelings? Martin CRAP CRAP CRAP CRAP CRAP ! Apart from the suburbs (well the new ones such as joondalup and surrounds) there I agree with you. But if you live (as I do) in an "established" suburb they are not at all soulless. You want hills - go to kalamunda/lesmurdie, or roleystone/Araluen (very english feeling) Lakes - mundaring or serpentine ? Fields - try serpentine, wandi or mundajong. valleys - chittering ? Regarding workplace .... salaries, yep I too took a pay cut (of about 25%) when I got here but my lifesytyle is about 50% better than I had in Kent. racism, well in the place I work, out of 70 workers 3 are aboriginal (or part aboriginal) and havent noticed any racism to them - TBH I probably get more than they do with the Pommy comments, but its all good fun and I give as good as I get ;) Lucky you to have only worked 35 hours in UK. Mine were about 45 a week plus about 20 a week traveling. taxes, - there you have me, they are higher in OZ than I was paying in UK but I am still able to save money each week so its not all bad regarding travel ..... instead of going to barcelona or Rome or Athens, how about going to bali, or Singapore ? Hong Kong ? Shanghia ? All of these places have lots of architecture and old buildings. Max a couple of hours flight time difference but 100% different experience and not substantially more cost-wise. Kids I cant comment on cos mine are all grown up and still living in kent, but apart from that your expereinces and mine are totally different. Maybe its all down to attitude! |
Re: Thoughts about Perth and Returning to UK
PS, when I lived in kent if I want to swim with dolphins I had to drive for 10 hours up to the north of scotland, here I drive for less than 1 hour. If I wanted to go wine tasting I had to drive for 4+ hours to France, here I drive for less than 30 mins.
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Re: Thoughts about Perth and Returning to UK
Q) How do you know when a plane load of Pommie migrants has landed at Perth airport ?
A) The engine has stopped but you can still hear the Whining! :D |
Re: Thoughts about Perth and Returning to UK
Originally Posted by wombat42
WHINGE, WHINGE, WHINGE, WHINGE, WHINGE, WHINGE, WHINGE, WHINGE, WHINGE, WHINGE, WHINGE, WHINGE, WHINGE, WHINGE, WHINGE, WHINGE, WHINGE, WHINGE, WHINGE, WHINGE, WHINGE, WHINGE, WHINGE, WHINGE,
WHINGE, WHINGE, WHINGE, WHINGE, WHINGE, WHINGE, WHINGE, WHINGE, WHINGE, WHINGE, WHINGE, WHINGE, WHINGE, WHINGE, WHINGE, WHINGE. I assume this is the "right" area to do that, the returning expats bit of the Forum. I think you are needed back on the Australia Forum :D |
Re: Thoughts about Perth and Returning to UK
Originally Posted by MikeStanton
And concentrate on other really important things. Like cheering England on against France :)
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Re: Thoughts about Perth and Returning to UK
Originally Posted by mr mover
Why , do you want an Aussie passport , Martin ??. SO when the muslims, make life so unbearable in europe and the UK, with their bombings , and unpredictable killings, you have some were to flee...............:D :beer: MM
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Re: Thoughts about Perth and Returning to UK
Originally Posted by Lathlain
Spot on. Yeah when the homocide bombers sweep into the UK even more, but then Australia is a target by the nutters up in Indonesia.
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