Originally Posted by ezzie

Thanks v.much Budawang, I was just reading through the posts and wondering whether I could be arsed to carry on...by the way, my son reckonds 'Budawang' is a mad name!

We hit the shops for Crimble shopping today...thus, I need a cup of tea and a good sit down before I write anymore. I might even go mad and have one of the Cherry B's I found in Asda (apparently they release at Christmas for the pensioners!)

Originally Posted by ezzie

We went shopping yesterday to Merry Hill - a huge Westfield's centre in Brierley Hill in Brum. Nothing too exciting happened there other than being amazed by the evidence of 'left hand not knowing what the right one's doing'....I'm sure that happens everywhere but we just kept running into it at every store yesterday. Perhaps it's the Christmas effect, new staff and long hours. I don't think I've ever been so frustrated during a shopping trip. I won't bore you with the details! One thing we did notice - being in the position of having to take a few items back, is the level of 'sticking to a rule blindly'. A couple of examples - we took back some pen thingos that we'd been told would work with touch ipods (they didn't, just Nintendos). To get a £6 refund we had to give our postcode, couldn't remember the one we're using here so gave our Aussie one, which the system couldn't cope with. I suggested they just put any old Merry Hill postcode in but this prompted scenes of near panic around the till and took around 10 minutes till a senior manager could be found who just pressed a button (presumably the magic one) and provided me with my £6! Then we went to Primark to swap a t-shirt for a smaller size. Didn't have receipt as hubby had flown off with it that day. They didn't have a smaller size on the rack so ds chose same shirt, different colour - nope! The rule is, if you've no receipt you can only swap for the same item and the blue t-shirt had a different code. Fortunately, after another long session a smaller yellow shirt was found, but if we hadn't been so lucky, the rule would have stood and I'd be left with a useless t-shirt. I think we've been spoiled with generous K-mart and Target returns policies in Oz. So if you're heading to the UK...hang onto those receipts!

Interestingly, our shopping trip seemed to sum up a lot about the UK. We experienced staff who knew little about their store or products and obviously had no interest in doing any more than the minimum (or less than), contrasted with staff who were so helpful, knowledgable and cheery that it was almost embarrassing. I find shopping in Sydney a more 'down the middle' experience. This is - and again generalising wildly - how we find the UK compared to Oz.

The UK has a massive variety of experiences, living standards and people, whereas we, personally, find life in Australia is more contained towards the middle ground. Experiences are more predictable, socialising is more standardised, to me there's more of a rubber stamp approach to life - one barbie with friends is similar to going to a barbie with other friends etc. Whereas in the UK, when we meet up with friends, we never quite know how the evening will go, who will turn up or where we'll even end up! The UK really is the good, the bad and the ugly of Europe....I guess that's why we love it so much, if it didn't have all those roller coaster experiences to throw at people, we'd be bored..... comfortable and safe....but bored!

I asked my son about the difference in talking with his English mates compared to Aussie chums - he said it's hard to keep up with the English ones as everything they say is funny and geared to humour. He also said it felt quite liberating to be with them as they say things to each other that would have kids at his school running for a teacher. He said that far from these 'insults' being hurtful, they were used almost as a cement in a friendship. Yes, he said the kids are rougher and tougher and 'into' stuff his friends back in Oz just wouldn't touch, but, they're definitely great company and he trusts them. Also, when they organised something, they all actually followed through - no one wimped out at the last moment preferring to sit and play computer games at home.

This is why we're looking at returning to the UK. In Sydney we have it all(the big house, pool, warm climate, good standard of living, income, affordable energy bills etc, etc.), but whilst we 'have it all', we don't have what we really want, which is that variety of experiences, the banter, the wit and a common pursuit in griping about the weather, fuel costs and Gordon Brown. Add the most glorious countryside and decent black pudding and there's not much holding me back now (ok, apart from jobs and somewhere to live!)

Right, today I'm attempting to look into topping up my UK pension, and re-activating our near empty bank account. I'll let you know how successful I am...

Originally Posted by St.Georges Girl

That's reminds me of when I had to take some 'fresh' fish back to Woolies. As soon as I opened it I knew it wasn't fresh, the stench was appalling, so I immediately phoned them and all they said was, "bring it back when you're next coming in"! I left it in the fridge (well wrapped) and popped it back the next day. I opened the bag I'd sealed it in so they could smell just how bad it was and the woman behind the 'customer service' counter snatched it off me and told a young guy to take it away. No apology, just the cash placed on the counter. I wasn't even asked if I would like a replacement, needless to say I never bought 'fresh' fish there again. I've since discovered that all there fish and chicken breasts come in frozen.

Have you had no problems without a receipt C? I have taken stuff back without one, although rarely, and been given a credit voucher. Now Target have changed there returns rule and if you don't return goods within 3 weeks, whether you have a receipt or not, you will only get a credit voucher with a use buy date on it.

John Lewis's was like that. Most of the stuff in our house back home was from there as the customer service was so good.

Originally Posted by LouiseD

We've been back now almost two years now and I can honestly say that every day I thank God I came home

Originally Posted by St.Georges Girl

Oh believe it because it is true, by choice mainly.

I am in Perth, WA.

Originally Posted by northernbird

I am a receipt hoarder so I have never had to go back without one. Please also get the terminology correct G, its a DOCKET

Originally Posted by bramblebush

So nice to hear you say that

Originally Posted by Jules Europe

Are you thinking of returning to the UK or happy staying in Perth?

Originally Posted by St.Georges Girl

Oh yes, a shop-a-docket.

I thought that too.

I have been here almost 12 years and I am definitely ready to go home, so hopefully next year it will happen.

Originally Posted by happy4

Hi everyone,

Enjoying reading the thread, especially as I am sitting in my home in Kings Heath, Birmingham! Ezzie, it has brought a smile to my face as I obviously recognise all of the places you have mentioned. For those of you who don't know me, I lived in Australia for nearly 2 years, we went with my OH's job and our children, then 3 and 1. I returned this year with my children (soon to ex husband still lives in Sydney, it's a long story) and these are my experiences of Birmingham....

I generally find the people here very friendly.

My son's School is quite amazing, a small Roman Catholic School with lovely children and parents, a real Community spirit. His reading and writing is amazing already and I am looking forward to his nativity tomorrow night.

My daughter's nursery is situated near a Council Estate, Allen's croft Children's Centre and quite simply it 'saved us' when we returned. The staff are amzing, many have been there for years, lots of mum's as Volunteers. The head of the centre has recently been awarded 'Headteacher' of the year, she was presented this award by Jeremy Vine (from Radio 2), a huge achievement for the centre which I now work at 2 days a week.

I go to College, studying for an a level in Law, lots of kind and helpful people there.

Last weekend we went to The Botanical Garden's for a Christmas Fair and had a beautiful day there, sunshine and father Christmas, a gorgeous day.
My son (now 5) has been chosen, after a trial to join a Swimming Club, based at Kings Edward's School on the Bristol Road. He will hopefully progress onto competitions if he wants to.

I have been to Zurich to visit an old friend and absolutely loved it!

The Lickey Hills are on my doorstep, we love it there.

I think my aunt and uncle are prob a good example to tell you all about, if you don't mind. Live in Cotteridge, (one of those inner city places, like me!!). Their eldest daughter is about to complete a maths degree in Cardiff, their son is taking a Law degree at B'ham Uni, their other son has played for the U16's Englad Rugby Team and now goes to Bromsgrove School (he is sponsored for the Rugby) and their other daughter attends a secondary school, Bishop Challoner in Kings Heath where the Head has recently been awarded an OBE for her work at the School.

I love living in Birmingham and so do my kids. I felt very alone in Oz, just like I didn't fit really. I think LouiseD kind of thinks the same as me. When sitting with my kids on Saturday, putting the finishing touches to our tree, I thought there is no other place I would rather be. I think huge opportunities exist here for my children. They are happy, we have a lovely home and we could be anywhere when we're at home, happiness comes from within the home.

I saw 'rough' parts in Oz, of course there are places I wouldn't venture into here in Birmingham but I have seen little of this 'yob' culture that Ezzie describes, my neighbours children are very polite and well mannered and most of them go to St Paul's in Edgbaston, a highly regarded School. A few go to Kings Edwards, Camp Hill in Kings Heath, an amazing School too.

I love Birmingham! It's our home! Ezzie, I hope you can all reach a decision that you are all happy with. axx

Originally Posted by happy4

Hi everyone,

Enjoying reading the thread, especially as I am sitting in my home in Kings Heath, Birmingham! Ezzie, it has brought a smile to my face as I obviously recognise all of the places you have mentioned. For those of you who don't know me, I lived in Australia for nearly 2 years, we went with my OH's job and our children, then 3 and 1. I returned this year with my children (soon to ex husband still lives in Sydney, it's a long story) and these are my experiences of Birmingham....

I generally find the people here very friendly.

My son's School is quite amazing, a small Roman Catholic School with lovely children and parents, a real Community spirit. His reading and writing is amazing already and I am looking forward to his nativity tomorrow night.

My daughter's nursery is situated near a Council Estate, Allen's croft Children's Centre and quite simply it 'saved us' when we returned. The staff are amzing, many have been there for years, lots of mum's as Volunteers. The head of the centre has recently been awarded 'Headteacher' of the year, she was presented this award by Jeremy Vine (from Radio 2), a huge achievement for the centre which I now work at 2 days a week.

I go to College, studying for an a level in Law, lots of kind and helpful people there.

Last weekend we went to The Botanical Garden's for a Christmas Fair and had a beautiful day there, sunshine and father Christmas, a gorgeous day.
My son (now 5) has been chosen, after a trial to join a Swimming Club, based at Kings Edward's School on the Bristol Road. He will hopefully progress onto competitions if he wants to.

I have been to Zurich to visit an old friend and absolutely loved it!

The Lickey Hills are on my doorstep, we love it there.

I think my aunt and uncle are prob a good example to tell you all about, if you don't mind. Live in Cotteridge, (one of those inner city places, like me!!). Their eldest daughter is about to complete a maths degree in Cardiff, their son is taking a Law degree at B'ham Uni, their other son has played for the U16's Englad Rugby Team and now goes to Bromsgrove School (he is sponsored for the Rugby) and their other daughter attends a secondary school, Bishop Challoner in Kings Heath where the Head has recently been awarded an OBE for her work at the School.

I love living in Birmingham and so do my kids. I felt very alone in Oz, just like I didn't fit really. I think LouiseD kind of thinks the same as me. When sitting with my kids on Saturday, putting the finishing touches to our tree, I thought there is no other place I would rather be. I think huge opportunities exist here for my children. They are happy, we have a lovely home and we could be anywhere when we're at home, happiness comes from within the home.

I saw 'rough' parts in Oz, of course there are places I wouldn't venture into here in Birmingham but I have seen little of this 'yob' culture that Ezzie describes, my neighbours children are very polite and well mannered and most of them go to St Paul's in Edgbaston, a highly regarded School. A few go to Kings Edwards, Camp Hill in Kings Heath, an amazing School too.

I love Birmingham! It's our home! Ezzie, I hope you can all reach a decision that you are all happy with. axx

Originally Posted by sans

That was a lovely read "Thankyou" Its great to here how happy you and your kids are being back in the Uk....You have given me a very different feel for birmingham, its nice to hear a different side.....Good Luck with your A level

Originally Posted by cricket1

It was actually nice to get up to and read. I've read it twice over coffee. Sometimes you've got to go deep beneath the surface to find all the richness and magic instead of just skimming the top. The poster obviously lives in a lovely world of her own making. I imagine she would do this wherever she was and that she would remain unaffected by whatever went on beyond her world.
So inspiring.

Originally Posted by cricket1

It was actually nice to get up to and read. I've read it twice over coffee. Sometimes you've got to go deep beneath the surface to find all the richness and magic instead of just skimming the top. The poster obviously lives in a lovely world of her own making. I imagine she would do this wherever she was and that she would remain unaffected by whatever went on beyond her world.
So inspiring.

Originally Posted by sans

That was a lovely read "Thankyou" Its great to here how happy you and your kids are being back in the Uk....You have given me a very different feel for birmingham, its nice to hear a different side.....Good Luck with your A level

Originally Posted by ezzie

We went shopping yesterday to Merry Hill - a huge Westfield's centre in Brierley Hill in Brum. Nothing too exciting happened there other than being amazed by the evidence of 'left hand not knowing what the right one's doing'....I'm sure that happens everywhere but we just kept running into it at every store yesterday. Perhaps it's the Christmas effect, new staff and long hours. I don't think I've ever been so frustrated during a shopping trip. I won't bore you with the details! One thing we did notice - being in the position of having to take a few items back, is the level of 'sticking to a rule blindly'. A couple of examples - we took back some pen thingos that we'd been told would work with touch ipods (they didn't, just Nintendos). To get a £6 refund we had to give our postcode, couldn't remember the one we're using here so gave our Aussie one, which the system couldn't cope with. I suggested they just put any old Merry Hill postcode in but this prompted scenes of near panic around the till and took around 10 minutes till a senior manager could be found who just pressed a button (presumably the magic one) and provided me with my £6! Then we went to Primark to swap a t-shirt for a smaller size. Didn't have receipt as hubby had flown off with it that day. They didn't have a smaller size on the rack so ds chose same shirt, different colour - nope! The rule is, if you've no receipt you can only swap for the same item and the blue t-shirt had a different code. Fortunately, after another long session a smaller yellow shirt was found, but if we hadn't been so lucky, the rule would have stood and I'd be left with a useless t-shirt. I think we've been spoiled with generous K-mart and Target returns policies in Oz. So if you're heading to the UK...hang onto those receipts!

Interestingly, our shopping trip seemed to sum up a lot about the UK. We experienced staff who knew little about their store or products and obviously had no interest in doing any more than the minimum (or less than), contrasted with staff who were so helpful, knowledgable and cheery that it was almost embarrassing. I find shopping in Sydney a more 'down the middle' experience. This is - and again generalising wildly - how we find the UK compared to Oz.

The UK has a massive variety of experiences, living standards and people, whereas we, personally, find life in Australia is more contained towards the middle ground. Experiences are more predictable, socialising is more standardised, to me there's more of a rubber stamp approach to life - one barbie with friends is similar to going to a barbie with other friends etc. Whereas in the UK, when we meet up with friends, we never quite know how the evening will go, who will turn up or where we'll even end up! The UK really is the good, the bad and the ugly of Europe....I guess that's why we love it so much, if it didn't have all those roller coaster experiences to throw at people, we'd be bored..... comfortable and safe....but bored!

I asked my son about the difference in talking with his English mates compared to Aussie chums - he said it's hard to keep up with the English ones as everything they say is funny and geared to humour. He also said it felt quite liberating to be with them as they say things to each other that would have kids at his school running for a teacher. He said that far from these 'insults' being hurtful, they were used almost as a cement in a friendship. Yes, he said the kids are rougher and tougher and 'into' stuff his friends back in Oz just wouldn't touch, but, they're definitely great company and he trusts them. Also, when they organised something, they all actually followed through - no one wimped out at the last moment preferring to sit and play computer games at home.

This is why we're looking at returning to the UK. In Sydney we have it all(the big house, pool, warm climate, good standard of living, income, affordable energy bills etc, etc.), but whilst we 'have it all', we don't have what we really want, which is that variety of experiences, the banter, the wit and a common pursuit in griping about the weather, fuel costs and Gordon Brown. Add the most glorious countryside and decent black pudding and there's not much holding me back now (ok, apart from jobs and somewhere to live!)

Right, today I'm attempting to look into topping up my UK pension, and re-activating our near empty bank account. I'll let you know how successful I am...