Originally Posted by St.Georges Girl

Doesn't that long haul get you down? I loathe it, especially the return journey when I am an emotional wreck for the first leg, then an exhausted one for the second. It's a pity you both don't go back together as you could no doubt enjoy your time there more. I know I can when I'm with my OH and son.

By the way, the phone charges from the UK to Oz are cheaper than in reverse can you believe. I think the phone card I have here charges 2½cents a minute + the local connection call. My family pay 0.65p with the card they use back home. Cheap as chips..........no, cheaper.

PS. Where is 'home' for you Quoll?

Originally Posted by jojosan

Sorry for dipping in to this - but have you any idea what/where this card is from? My Dad reckons he cannot find anything particularly cheap, so I always phone him! Or is he just on to a winner - sneaky thing!

Originally Posted by lorids

I have already posted on here that it was fairly immediate that I realised I wouldn't want to live here but like Jackie when you hear and see loads of people settling and loving it you think there must be something you are missing and that the UK is as awful as they portray. This then makes you rethink.

Undeterred however I decided this morning to get two quotes for removal in February. I had to laugh when both consultants (one south african and one londoner both weren't happy in Perth but the SA couldn't go back to SA and had family here and the Londoner had been here 21 years!!!) He wishes in hindsight he had been brave enough to make the move back to the UK years ago and thinks we are doing the right thing!!

I know it is only 2 peoples stories but it makes you realise it's not just you!!
Also having gone through the removal chat etc it is nowhere near as complicated or daunting moving back as it was moving here....no need to jeyes fluid the bikes and golf clubs!

Anyway Jackie, don't stop posting we all need to keep each other sane and on track!

LDS

Originally Posted by jojosan

Sorry for dipping in to this - but have you any idea what/where this card is from? My Dad reckons he cannot find anything particularly cheap, so I always phone him! Or is he just on to a winner - sneaky thing!

Originally Posted by guest5234

This is because some people probably did not have such a good home or life back in the UK and Oz seems heaven, other people had a good life and home back in the UK and soon realise the grass is not always greener, I appriciate where I live now so much in the Cotswolds, I even leave the pocket radio at home when I take the dogs for a walk just to hear the birds sing and the sound of silence.....bliss. and I do not miss my 17 metre boat and micro glider one bit.

Originally Posted by guest5234

This is because some people probably did not have such a good home or life back in the UK and Oz seems heaven, other people had a good life and home back in the UK and soon realise the grass is not always greener, I appriciate where I live now so much in the Cotswolds, I even leave the pocket radio at home when I take the dogs for a walk just to hear the birds sing and the sound of silence.....bliss. and I do not miss my 17 metre boat and micro glider one bit.

Originally Posted by jojosan

SO agree with this - boy I wish I was back in the UK now; either with my old life or a new one. Who cares, I'd be home - where my heart is

Originally Posted by oz1967

Hiya everyone.Just wondering when did you realise that aus/nz/us wasn't the place for you?We've been here in Brissie for 7mths now,and looking at returning to uk feb 08.Although we like aus we prefer our life in uk,we had more time together as a family in uk.I'm a welder and i find most jobs seem to be long hours upto and above 60 hrs a week,cost of shopping/clothes/food etc dearer than uk.Although i love the sunshine coast and its beaches and the kiddies playgrounds(we have a 5 year old daughter),i just find the place boring.In the uk i worked in the aircraft industry only worked for 36 hours a week plenty spare time for enjoying ourselves,holidays 2or3 times a year.I find it here all work and no play and hardly any chance to enjoy the beaches/lifestyle we came out for.I can get my old job back early next-year,my daughter who misses her grandparents/cousins/friends can get to grow up around the family and my wife can get to do all the things she misses about home,simple things like going down to her moms for a cuppa or days out to london/chester etc.Don't get me wrong i don't hate aus we just feel our lifestyle and standard of living was higher in uk and there seemed alot more to see and do.Look forwrd to the replies.Cheers.

Originally Posted by oz1967

Hiya everyone.Just wondering when did you realise that aus/nz/us wasn't the place for you?We've been here in Brissie for 7mths now,and looking at returning to uk feb 08.Although we like aus we prefer our life in uk,we had more time together as a family in uk.I'm a welder and i find most jobs seem to be long hours upto and above 60 hrs a week,cost of shopping/clothes/food etc dearer than uk.Although i love the sunshine coast and its beaches and the kiddies playgrounds(we have a 5 year old daughter),i just find the place boring.In the uk i worked in the aircraft industry only worked for 36 hours a week plenty spare time for enjoying ourselves,holidays 2or3 times a year.I find it here all work and no play and hardly any chance to enjoy the beaches/lifestyle we came out for.I can get my old job back early next-year,my daughter who misses her grandparents/cousins/friends can get to grow up around the family and my wife can get to do all the things she misses about home,simple things like going down to her moms for a cuppa or days out to london/chester etc.Don't get me wrong i don't hate aus we just feel our lifestyle and standard of living was higher in uk and there seemed alot more to see and do.Look forwrd to the replies.Cheers.

Originally Posted by Eric Hitchmo

Not having a go Caroline, but personally I think it is. You could say "I'll give it another year", then waste another year being lonely and miserable when you could have moved back and been happier. I mean, how long do you go on for hoping it will get better? Some people might not want to spend years waiting to settle like you did, when they could move back and be settled straight away. They may see those as just wasted years. There's people posted on this board who've been in Aus for a decade or more and still aren't happy. I guess everyone's different but I'd advise people to just go with their instincts, and if you feel you aren't settled, then unless you're prepared to do something radically different to improve your situation, then I think 12 months is enough time to make a call on it.

Cheers.

Originally Posted by fitz

totally agree,i knew after 4 months that i would never settle in perth and that after adding up the pros and cons i would be much happier in the uk,
unfortunately i gave it two years and by then was even more miserable than
i was at 4 months.
i once heard perth being described as a suburb in the desert and can't say i disagree with this,i found it extremely bland and could never see myself living the rest of my life there, my life back in the uk was more fulfilling,hence why i returned.

Originally Posted by brits1

We have been in Perth nearly 10 years and you have hit te nail right on the head.....we have stayed because we kept thinking it would get better...and family at home and some friends here kept saying we were mad.....but the friends here are not so happy....they live a life around their old lives in the U.K.....and most of them stay because they like their homes....and weather but not much else.....then our family come and stay with us but they are on holiday and if it was so great why have they not come out to live?...we went back home for our first visit in 7 years and again last year and we just loved it....it was home....and did not even think about anything back in Perth......so we are coming home......we still have some family who have never been here and say why leave paradise....but for us it's not....for some it is......we have just needed more than W.A can give us.....our family....and culture and easy travel to Europe.....
Thanks for the post as it does help when you know that somebody else has been through what we are going through.......
Jackie

Originally Posted by The Reid Family

I know exactly what you mean we have been here since June 2007 and we are saving like mad to go home this September and I can't wait to get back. Miss my family and friends like mad, the kids were a lot happier at home and had a lot more friends. My husband needs to work longer hours to make decent wages and the cost of living here seems more than at home in Scotland. I have no regrets coming here and trying it but looking forward to getting back home.

Cheers

Originally Posted by gsxrmad

we have only been in perth since aug 07!!!! everyone in england keeps saying ' you have not given it enough time' etc....but we feel we had a much better standard of living in uk than we will ever have here!! it honestly feels like we have been here 6 years not 6 months, however if we go back now we have experienced the lifestyle without getting too attached! we have made some lovely friends and the children have experianced life with children from all over the world (hopefully will keep in touch) However we miss our family and friends and that community feel!! so fly back 31/1/08 and cant wait.
Some peolple love it here but we just like it!!!!!!!

Originally Posted by amzng grace

hi i was certain i was doing the right thing last friday when i booked my fare back to the uk,i have been in oz 38 years the day i got off the boat i wanted to go back but i gave it a shot oz has been good to me but my family came over last year and i have been depressed ever since even went therapy to make sure i wasnt mad lol so i know im sane and its time to rejoin my family