Originally Posted by Heljinder

Top of my list is, belonging.

After that, and in no particular order: soft green grass, hills, woodland that you can walk in without the threat of being bitten, stung etc., listening to Radio 5 Live at the right time of day, British newspapers, 24 hour shopping, Amazon UK, Ebay UK, being able to drive somewhere different without it taking more than 5 hours, going into a shop without being jumped on by an assistant saying "hi, how ya going today", the NHS, decent TV, Stephen Fry, decent radio, good clothes shops, good education, houses that are built to last, history, culture, smell of chimney smoke, smell of the air after rain, blackbirds, bluetits, robins, thrushes, bluebells, snowdrops, daffodils, tulips, roses, conkers, blossom, Peak District, National Trust, Stately Homes, villages, windy roads, courtesy on roads ie., letting people out at a junction, belonging.

Yes, I'm going home in July after only 7 months!

Got to say it, I'll miss my swimming pool, the parrots, sun, sea, vivid blue sky, seeing the moon 24/7, cheap petrol, my two friends.

Originally Posted by HimnHer

I think carpets and heating would be the main thing for most,but until you dont have it you dont miss it.So how have you found life back there after 4 years,do you appreciate things more now?

Originally Posted by stickystickman

Just reading this thread with interest but very curious about people missing carpet and central heating. Now this may be a naive (did I spell that right?) of me but can you not get carpets in Oz? Surely you must be able to get hold of them if you really want them or are they cripplingly expensive? Or more worryingly do carpet provide a home for some rather nasty creepy crawley?

Also, I know Oz/Spain is much warmer than the UK but I've heard it can get cold in winter. Do you not have central heating then or does a gas fire suffice? Of is the only form of heating in a modern home the 'heat' option on your a/c?

I know this all sounds pretty dumb but just curious about it.

p.s. It was nice to be all snug n warm here in Yorkshire the other week when it was minus 5 outside on a night with snow all around.

Originally Posted by stickystickman

Just reading this thread with interest but very curious about people missing carpet and central heating. Now this may be a naive (did I spell that right?) of me but can you not get carpets in Oz? Surely you must be able to get hold of them if you really want them or are they cripplingly expensive? Or more worryingly do carpet provide a home for some rather nasty creepy crawley?

Also, I know Oz/Spain is much warmer than the UK but I've heard it can get cold in winter. Do you not have central heating then or does a gas fire suffice? Of is the only form of heating in a modern home the 'heat' option on your a/c?

I know this all sounds pretty dumb but just curious about it.

p.s. It was nice to be all snug n warm here in Yorkshire the other week when it was minus 5 outside on a night with snow all around.

Originally Posted by stm1971

Have to admit, carpets don't bother me too much as I have wood floors and if I ever get back to England I would probably have them there too. Carpets here for some reason (maybe just me) get so dirty really quickly, I have to get the carpet cleaning guys in twice a year! Think it is the sand and dust that is just part of West Aussie life.

Houses in Oz are not built to withstand the heat or the cold as they are mostly quite open plan and have no double glazing or wall insulation. So even if you have heating you have to have it running constantly in the cold weather.

I have ducted aircon/heating but as soon as you turn it off the house it hot/freezing again within 10 minutes!

I remember in England having to turn my heating off in winter as the house got so warm, couldn't do that here in Oz.

Originally Posted by stickystickman

Just reading this thread with interest but very curious about people missing carpet and central heating. Now this may be a naive (did I spell that right?) of me but can you not get carpets in Oz? Surely you must be able to get hold of them if you really want them or are they cripplingly expensive? Or more worryingly do carpet provide a home for some rather nasty creepy crawley?

Also, I know Oz/Spain is much warmer than the UK but I've heard it can get cold in winter. Do you not have central heating then or does a gas fire suffice? Of is the only form of heating in a modern home the 'heat' option on your a/c?

I know this all sounds pretty dumb but just curious about it.

p.s. It was nice to be all snug n warm here in Yorkshire the other week when it was minus 5 outside on a night with snow all around.

Originally Posted by jem4

apprecaite cadbury's chocolate even more now back in Uk!

Originally Posted by stickystickman

Interesting. What are the building regs like over there? I know here we have to have minimum levels of insulation etc. Do they not have that over there? If you insulated your house it would keep the warm in but also would it keep the cold from the a/c in during summer?

If that would work I can't believe they don't do it as a matter of course and maybe it's a business opportunity

I'm still gloating from having my house insulated last spring (loft and walls) and having had a warm house all winter and a much reduced heating bill

Originally Posted by Pollyana

Most Aussie houses have neither cc=entral heating nor insulation, thats just the way they have been built. Likewise many Aussies dislike carpet and have wooden and tiled floors.

Originally Posted by Jules Europe

But aren`t modern houses there built with central heating included?

Originally Posted by Heljinder

I've never understood why the houses here aren't built with adequate insulation and central heating. This country is certainly not hot all year round!

An Australian friend said that the cold houses don't bother her, she just "rugs up" when the chill hits. Bothers me though!

Originally Posted by Chi_town

I miss the sense of belonging, having the right accent so people don't look at you and ask where you are from all the time.

.

Originally Posted by Heljinder

I've never understood why the houses here aren't built with adequate insulation and central heating. This country is certainly not hot all year round!

An Australian friend said that the cold houses don't bother her, she just "rugs up" when the chill hits. Bothers me though!

Originally Posted by stickystickman

Interesting. What are the building regs like over there? I know here we have to have minimum levels of insulation etc. Do they not have that over there? If you insulated your house it would keep the warm in but also would it keep the cold from the a/c in during summer?