Originally Posted by dunroving (Post 7723411)

I have never really felt any desire to even visit Oz, and after several years of reading posts on here, have even less desire to visit.

Originally Posted by Tricia (Post 7715326)

I know of some people who can't seem to find 'contentment' and have come to the sad conclusion that the reason they (the ones that I know) can't find it is simply because they have forgotten some important life ground rules:

1) Joy comes from the simplest things
2) Don't waste time or energy on things you cannot change
3) Money brings you security, people bring you happiness

I look at many of my parent's generation who say they would not trade places with my children's and probably not mine, I pondered this seriously as they are the only ones who have seen the positives and negatives of all 3 generations. Why were they so content when their lives were so much harder, the answer to that one can be found in the points above and maybe the key is 'choice', it's great to have but too much can divert us on to lengthy crusades to experience more/achieve more/earn more but there is almost always sacrifices to be made and we end up with the constant questioning, what's next / was it worth it / which is best..........STOP......go back to 1,2, 3 and uncomplicate your life :thumbup:

Originally Posted by Kiwi-Irish (Post 7723851)

Hi, I'm normally in the NZ forum, but thought I'd pitch in.

The UK Media play a really large part in giving people the wrong ideas about NZ/Aus, specially Aus. Programmes like "Wanted down under" etc. make Aus sound like a utopia, the land of milk and honey, and if you can just get in there your life will be transformed. I hear Australia is expensive now, well NZ has always been expensive. I'm from NZ and trust me, most people live hand-to-mouth, week-by-week, unless you're from old money ... so I imagine similar is true of Australia. The English soooo dont realise this, in fact often they're under the illusion that its cheaper out there!!!, my god, if only that were true. Because you're isolated EVERYTHING has to be imported, and you just don't have the consumer choices. For example, silly things like furniture - 90% of the population will have the same sideboards/wardrobes/tables and chairs as you. The same carpet. Everyone who built a house in the late nineties for example in NZ has blue carpet (more-or-less, okay there are exceptions, but I'm talking by-and-large), because thats what was shipped out there, and therefore what people could afford. The Australian males are quite macho as well, even to NZers. They have a bad attitude towards the english ... countless references to "winging poms", and "prisoners of mother england" etc. etc. The Australians really are a piece of work.

Originally Posted by leoline (Post 7723981)

I think Tricia's, '1,2 3 and uncomplicate your life', sums it up for me!

Originally Posted by Kiwilass (Post 7724007)

IT's pretty much what I live by (learnt the hard way). I'm glad to have left NZ because it just never did it for me, but I always harboured a desire to go back and live in Europe even though I love Vancouver. But when I think about it, I realise there's things about Europe that would bug me too -like the class system, ancient hatreds, all that kind of shizz. So between the two it's a wash - neither continent makes me perfectly happy, and the older I get the less likely it is we'll move back to Europe, so I'm starting to let it go. You just have to choose one or the other and stick with it, I suspect.

Originally Posted by ann m (Post 7723949)

I agree - you lot have put me off ! :eek::rofl:

Originally Posted by Kiwi-Irish (Post 7723851)

Hi, I'm normally in the NZ forum, but thought I'd pitch in.

The UK Media play a really large part in giving people the wrong ideas about NZ/Aus, specially Aus. Programmes like "Wanted down under" etc. make Aus sound like a utopia, the land of milk and honey, and if you can just get in there your life will be transformed. I hear Australia is expensive now, well NZ has always been expensive. I'm from NZ and trust me, most people live hand-to-mouth, week-by-week, unless you're from old money ... so I imagine similar is true of Australia. The English soooo dont realise this, in fact often they're under the illusion that its cheaper out there!!!, my god, if only that were true. Because you're isolated EVERYTHING has to be imported, and you just don't have the consumer choices. For example, silly things like furniture - 90% of the population will have the same sideboards/wardrobes/tables and chairs as you. The same carpet. Everyone who built a house in the late nineties for example in NZ has blue carpet (more-or-less, okay there are exceptions, but I'm talking by-and-large), because thats what was shipped out there, and therefore what people could afford. The Australian males are quite macho as well, even to NZers. They have a bad attitude towards the english ... countless references to "winging poms", and "prisoners of mother england" etc. etc. The Australians really are a piece of work.

Originally Posted by leoline (Post 7723981)

I have found this thread interesting to read as 'we' are all scattered and by the sound of it not too happy. My husband and I now find ourselves caught up again in this situation. It is all our own doing and we have no one to 'blame' but ourselves. We returned to Canada against our better judgement thinking that this time would be different. Why did we come? Like many others - the lure of space, the outdoors, affordability etc. But as Tricia said it has complicated things all the more and nearly made us sick both mentally and physically. We are now considering returning to the UK but as one or two others have said we are that bit older and not sure how easy or hard it is going to be to find work. We have spent thousands like many toing and froing. Are we content?... not really. I think Tricia's, '1,2 3 and uncomplicate your life', sums it up for me!

Originally Posted by leoline (Post 7745276)

It sounds like we have similar stories.

Would like to chat but not too sure how I do this so the reply goes to you only? Leo

Originally Posted by leoline (Post 7745276)

It sounds like we have similar stories.

Would like to chat but not too sure how I do this so the reply goes to you only? Leo

Originally Posted by mcmorrow1 (Post 7817443)

Perth sucks!!!!! been here nearly 4 years,feels like Groundhog day,being shut off from the rest of the world.I was quite relieved the day i asked my wife what she thought of it over here,and she turned round and said she,d never been keen on the place,and have now set the wheels in motion for moving to southern france instead of the U.K ,GOD it is going to be so good living in europe once more ,home is where the heart is and it definatly isn,t over here in OZ.