This one is just for those who are definately heading back to UK, or have already done so. It might provide some help though to those who are still struggling to make up their minds, as I was until recently.

Sorry if this one has been done before, but I have recently finally made up my mind to move back to UK after many years of being very indecisive due to lots of complicated reasons, and it got me wondering what it was that caused everyone else on here to make that final decision that they DEFINATELY want to go home.

For me it has been a number of factors recently including
- The fact on my recent visits to UK I have found more good things about it than bad, which negates a lot of the stuff I had worried about thanks to the negative press and even negative things my own family and friends had said!

- The fact my grandparents are getting very old now and I really want to spend some time with them if possible so I can no longer put that off

- The fact I have now achieved all the things in Australia that I wanted to such as getting a good job, buying and selling property etc

- The fact I now have a girlfriend who is willing to make the move with me

- The fact my family in UK have not been as negative (trying to put me off going back) recently as they have before

- The fact that the near to mid term future is not looking as positive here as it previously was (mainly due to economic downturn) so I sort of figure that if things are going that way anyway, I may as well make the move now, it also means houses in UK are getting cheaper so will hopefully be a good time to buy one in next few years.

- Even reading a lot more positive stuff on this forum!

In other words for me it's not been just one thing but lots that has finally persuaded me! What about everyone else?

That's cool! When do you fly back?
For me, it's:
- my kids that are the number one reason I'm going back
- the financial situation here is too bad
- my hub will move (even though we have got to apply for visas and things once I'm back settled over there, so it will mean time apart again )
- my family
- better work / education opportunities
- NHS (I need dental work so badly, my sodding wisdom teeth! :curse

and then all the little things, like
- Better TV
- better food / quality standards
- humour

Emma M- am in the same situation regarding being apart from my better half while she's running the gauntlet of UK imigration stuff- I think its going to be hardest on her, because I'll at least be living with either my mum or dad, and will be where we both want to be, but its going to be tough, so good luck, and keep your spirits up- its only a small part of your lives together, and will be fleeting!

What did it for me was a whole number of things- appalling ly degrading and incompetently managed immigration which resulted in BIG credit card debt, job sucks, paying too much rent for what we can afford, constantly getting hit with medical bills for things that were supposed to be covered by insurance, beers not to my liking, neither is the food, put on tons of weight due to a general malise caused by weather being awful- either snow and ice or heat and humidity in conjunction with all of the above, not finding people I relate to here, so constantly having to watch my step with what I say or how I say it, blah blah blah...

On top of all that was a general over-riding feeling that we'd sort of made a bit of a silly decision- we both really like the UK, and have no real idea why we thought the states would be a good place to start marriage together, and I think a lot of our issues stemmed from there

Final straw that broke me was the cost of tickets home- I was looking to get home for my birthday, couldn't as tickets cost too much, then started looking into tickets for november for my dad's 60th, and couldn't due to cost, and just thought "sod this, I'm not getting stuck here!" and after an EXTREMELY hectic weekend of discussion with wife about returning, worked out an action plan and bought myself a one way for september 19th!

Hurrah!

Only 2 responses so far but like mine, they also state that it was a whole combination of everything that made the decision final, not just one or two things.

I think for those still finding it hard to make up their minds, this might be the key. Once you reach a point where most, or all things in life are pointing you in the direction of home, that's when you can finally find it easier to make that decision, or at least that's what I think!

I made my mind up 2 years ago to go back. It was going to take a miracle to change that.
Our expectations weren't met coming here, so in the end we all decided 'what's the point in staying'...that's not to say we don't like it here.

But 2 main reasons for us to go back are
1. My daughter returned to UK last year, so we feel the urge to be with her as she is only 16.
2. My mum has cancer and quality time spent with her means more than living here.

It's as simple as that.

Just wanting to feel "at home" after 10 years in Aus giving it a go...maybe for all the same reasons as replies on here....good times here but still not the same......home is home simple as that.....(although not a "simple decision!!!..I've got eye bags to die for at the moment!!!)

A combination of things, including a death in my extended family and another tearful farewell which I swore was the last.

No sooner have I booked my one way ticket when I find out my best friend from home has cancer.

So I want to be there and spend time with her, to go to my parents 60th and my friends wedding in England next year....the list goes on.

You just can't put a price on that stuff, or ever get it back again.

And for me just having sunny summer days and a bigger house are not valid reasons to stay in exile.

That's the key though isnt it. At the end of the day its the same process as any other serious decision. Do I take this job? Do we move to Hampshire?

It's just when you're talking half way round the world, the distance, finance, legailites and in fact everything is that much more critical. But it is still the same weighed up process.

My decision was extremely hard in that it entailed the place or my OH. But with regard to where I wanted to be the options abroad compared to what I had had at home, just didn't cut it. Didn't come anywhere near close. Had they been different options, it may have been a different story, but who knows now eh?

I am happy at home, with a good standard of living and a much higher quality of life so I am done with chasing rainbows, be it for me or anyone else.

Good. I hope I can say the same soon!

I have to sell my land first though!

We may be UK resident by January 2009, if not January 2010, although we will still keep and visit our home in Spain.

Like other people have said:

Want to feel 'at home'.

Wouldn't mind a part-time job before it's too late (I'm 58. I hope to get one in a place where you can have 'Benidorm Leave' - Asa, B&Q etc. There is nothing here out here in the sticks in Spain, even for Spaniards, let alone a foreigner with only pidgin Spanish!).

Need wisdom teeth doing (hospital job) and although the Spanish NHS is excellent and we are covered for it, I personally fancy familiar surroundings.

Want to live near a city again.

Several things really.

We're lucky in that we'll be able to travel between the two homes, but the UK will be our main home.

You bought a one way ticket?
Do you know they are more expensive than a return?
Well anyway, good luck to you and yours, hope that you are happy and settled back in good old Blighty soon!

Well, I grew up in the UK but I've lived in South Africa for a long time. My wife went back to Scotland a couple of years ago, and wanted me to go and visit her there but, frankly, I wasn't too keen on the idea. I should probably say that I was pretty keen to see her, but not so enthusiastic about going to the UK!

Anyway, I went for a few weeks in May. First visit in nearly 20 years, and I enjoyed it despite the cold and the cost of living. I've been seriously thinking about going back myself, and the timing is right, but my wife has decided that she's had enough and wants to come "home" now. Can't win.

Hi there.
Yep, I am joining the Back To Britain club. There is no one reason why I have decided I need to go back, it has taken a while, been a progression of different things.

- My daughter had her first child and I am missing his growing up years.

- My other daughter has finally found someone whom it appears she may settle down with and I don't want to miss another daughters wedding plans.

- When I go back for visits I no longer want to return the the US because England doesn't feel like my home. Now America doesn't feel like my home. It's odd because at one time I felt more at home here in the States than I ever did in England. It just felt so right. But as I have got older I have done a complete turn around and now my life in America doesn't feel 'real'. I feel like, I don't know, that it's a sham and, just not real to me.

- I am tired of just being 'different' and not having anything at all in common with my coworkers and people in general.

- I am worried about dying in America, I want to be on home soil when I pop my clogs.
-I have nieces and nephews who I don't even know.

-I miss my brothers. It's only taken 53 years, I knew I'd get to miss them one day. Kidding, but I do really miss them, and the older we get the more I realize how important family and family history really are.

- I miss Brit tv and Brit tv adverts, which is saying something as I HATE tv adverts.

- I miss seeing how other countries do at the Olympics. I am not the slightest bit interested in Beach Volleball. Since when did Beach Volleyball become an Olypmic sport? I must be getting older than I thought. I prefer gymnastics, diving, swimming, yes, even synchronized swimming and the good old fashioned stuff. Beach Volleyball and stuff like that is not a sport to me, it's a game to be played.

And a million other little silly things, that have all added up to be too big to ignore.

- I miss seeing how other countries do at the Olympics. I am not the slightest bit interested in Beach Volleball. Since when did Beach Volleyball become an Olypmic sport? I must be getting older than I thought. I prefer gymnastics, diving, swimming, yes, even synchronized swimming and the good old fashioned stuff. Beach Volleyball and stuff like that is not a sport to me, it's a game to be played.

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Yes, my thoughts exactly, beach volleyball FFS...............I turn off the TV every time it comes on. What a bore I love the Olympics, but come on, beach volleyball............

I am so excited that the track and field events have begun, but I also miss seeing what everyone else in the world does aswell as the US

We've been back 6 months and still smiling even though having to manage the 3 children on my own till hub comes back as well...would look after 10 children on my own rather than return!!

main reasons for us in order

children's education
children's future opportunities
lack of diversity+++++ and feeling of ....well this is it!!
good humour and ability to have a banter
seasons
history and culture


on the more superficial front

TV!!!!!!!!
shopping!!!!!!!

and not needing to compare size of house, car or esky!!!!

As I say 6 months back and never been happier, children never been happier and dare I say it Aussie husband sounding pretty happy too...oh and well travelled dog happy!