Re: Main reason for moving back?
 

This really p!sses me off, some people are actually getting quite angry with me about it too, I'm really going to loose it with someone soon, I told someone the other day to shut up as I've heard it all before and he sounds like a broken record, he doesn't talk to me much anymore, which suits me fine as he's a c0ck.
They keep saying "have you been to Fremantle", "Have you been to Rottnest", "have you been to Cotesloe" and when I answer Yes to all of them they keep asking if I've been here or been there and when they finally come up with somewhere I haven't been, it's always "Well you should go there, it'll change your mind". Yes, it will change my mind, I'll probably think less of the place once I've seen another over rated so-called "attraction"


Brits1, this is something I honestly believe also. It's a mixture of jealousy and not wanting to see another aquaintance leave and be left with a smaller circle of friends.

Re: Main reason for moving back?
 

I'll remember that...sure I can use it next time someone asks why I'm here ;)

Re: Main reason for moving back?
 

I'm serious!! Some of them laughed but others were p!ssed off. I knew the ones that laughed could take a joke (and I made friends with them) but the other ones...well...I kept making comments to them just to wind them up! :lol:
@ssholes, u get them on every continent and my function on this planet is to p!ss them off!

Re: Main reason for moving back?
 

I was asked many times "Have you been ...? have you seen..." and i always answer "Yes, took me 3,4,5 hours (or more)to get there, and there is pretty nothing between the "attraction" and my home, in Europe between my home and any point away 5 hours of driving I can see castles, palaces, museums, and more culture than in Oz" i ask "did you see public transport in Singapore, Kuala Lumpur or Hongkong? if not go there, see and compare with australian public transport 20 years behind rest of world"
and I say Aussies trying ot convince me how Oz is great: "have you been to any of middle east countries? 3rd world countries have more culture than Oz, go to Egypt, Jordan, Turkey and see and later we can dicuss"

Re: Main reason for moving back?
 

Ho-ho, Thom, you have a real bee in your bonnet!!
I know what you mean mate, complete lack of international awareness, people put the middle east down but there's a helluva lot to see there and a real historical aspect to it all, who cares if Iraq/Israel etc get a bad reputation, I've found that the "common man" is the same all over the world, he just wants to live his life without any grief & knock off work early on a Friday without his boss finding out, then go and enjoy himself!!
I'd pick the middle east over Oz any day of the week (I'd also pick it over China too!)

Re: Main reason for moving back?
 

I'm beginning to think this also. I have had more positive comments from ozzy friends than brits. Work that one out.

Re: Main reason for moving back?
 

Most Aussies that I've spoken to can fully appreciate that it's hard to live far away from your home and family. Since moving here I have often wondered if there is something lacking in me that I want to live close to my family - not on their doorstep but not 12,000 miles away either! I'm close to my lot and e-mail and phone are great but it's not quite the same as sitting down with someone in person over a cup of tea or a glass of wine for a realy good chat - in the same time zone.
The other comment that is always made is "but they can always visit". Well that's ok if they've got loads of money but most people don't want to spend a few thousand quid coming to live in my house over and over again when there's a whole world out there to explore. My parents would, but then you've got the 4 week all trapped in the same house thing going on which lets face can be a nightmare at times. I don't really want that to be what our relationship is for ever more.

Re: Main reason for moving back?
 

You only have to talk to Aussie youngsters and ask them what they are going to do when they leave school/uni - most of them will say "get out of this dump" or words to that effect! Many would kill their grandmothers to have dual citizenship but meanwhile they head off for their working holiday and hate having to come back again.

The other group which is more sympathetic to murmurings about going home are the ones like me who have been here for millions of years - the thought of growing old and dying here fills them with horror and if they had the dough they would be on the plane and going home tomorrow. I think it must be something about the 25 year mark of boredom and shallowness that makes people realize what they are missing.

As for the rest, I think they are still on holiday basically!

Re: Main reason for moving back?
 

My big problem is the '3 yr' rule. With my eldest at 15, my plan was to 'winter' in the UK over the Aussie holidays for a trial run. Then to return to Oz, sell house, wrap-up arrangements and get the kids in school for the following year. The eldest would go into Yr 12 which means he'd only have 2 yrs before uni. This would leave me having to pay a bloody fortune for uni which just isn't feasible.

What I want to know is why a British Citizen and real live Pom has to be resident for 3 years back in the UK whereas an EU (or Swiss) national can walk in and pay just domestic rates for uni education.

Anyone got any ideas of getting around this rule?

Re: Main reason for moving back?
 

Del, don't listen to them. We didn't go back when we should have because every man and his dog were telling us 'England's gone to the dogs' etc, etc. Wish I hadn't listened....because now I'd be enjoying the daffs coming-up, taking the kids fell walking and having a chat at the shops. Instead I'm stuck here, having a bit of a sob every day.
Mind you, I might also have been on these boards stuck in the UK moaning about 'yoof', demise of the NHS, Brown and the bleedin' cold weather!


[quote=del k;6200388]Husband out last night and his brother told him he thinks we are stupid to be heading back. "Think of the opportunities for the kids". Why do people find it necessary to force their opinions on us? I wouldn't dream of forcing my views on someone else even though I can fully accept and appreciate their reasons for living here and wanting to make it home.

Re: Main reason for moving back?
 

Could be worse. Sat in a corner of a NHS nursing home smelling of piss and cabage waiting to die!!!

Angela

Re: Main reason for moving back?
 

That's just what is happening to my MIL in Ballarat - stares at the wall and developed the institutionalized shuffle within moments of entering. Ghastly situation, poor woman.

Re: Main reason for moving back?
 

I agree with what you are saying Del....some people find it okay to be so far away, for us it never seemed "natural" not to have our family around us...as per life we took our family (we all live a "nice" drive or walk away from each other) for granted and the "oh they will come over to visit"....a lot have but after 10 years here that is "dying off"...mainly through the "the have seen it all and nothing has changed" and ofcourse the money and the holidays the "take up" and don't have any left for the rest of their time back in the U.K and we FULLY understand how they feel......and to ThomB..your spot on with your views and again we took for granted what we had on our "doorstep" in the U.K.....some people don't mind the lack of culture and even love the countryside here in W.A......we have "seen" all the atractions here and even after the first time (I can be honest now) we ue to think "what the hell are they talking about"...but never said anything as we soon learnt if you really say what you thought your dropped like a bomb...does not bother us anymore and even a suggestion to go to Freo comes with a groan and a no....and thats from our sons!!! and to be even more honest we don't class a holiday a holiday unless we are on a plane flying off this Island.......

Re: Main reason for moving back?
 

Not particularly missing family or 'friends' in the UK but can't see us staying here (Brisbane) indefinitely. Starting to think about heading back once/if we decide to go for citizenship

Reasons (in no specific order):

-Dark nights all year round & lack of activity after dark - we spend more time indoors now than we did in the UK! What is it with the Aussie hermits?

-The Media - cheesy at best but looks great on a 60" plasma

-Lack of sophistication/culture/class - lost your shoes mate? Love those white-framed sunnies <inserts w anker gif>

-Lack of culture - hotels - say no more. Southbank? :lol:

-The wannabee American mentality - talking, spelling, TV :curse:

-*My* inability to relate to the Aussie rules/rugby culture and having no appreciation for Australian sporting legends

-Fozzies (fake ozzies) - poms who have been here 5 minutes and all of a sudden are ending their sentences in a raised-tone fashion and parading around Dan Murphy's in thongs and boardies before going home to settle down for their nightly episode of 'The Biggest Loser' or 'Big Brother' or who have suddenly become Bronco's/Lions season ticket holders and enthuse about the joys of sport despite never having attended as much as a school relay race in the UK and not knowing the tune to Match of The Day

-The eyesore of the urban environment - graffiti, cables. 5hithole as Liam Gallagher would say, but looks better with the sun on it

-Cowboy mentality - and that's just the police

-*My* belief that the whole country is corrupt from top to bottom - law and order is a sham and everybody is on the make - out of you!!

-Lack of road safety - we were nearly ploughed into by a RACQ car last night as it took a bend on 2 wheels

-Complete lack of faith and distrust of anyone in a position of power be it government, work or school

-Constant suspicion that you are being ripped off - tax, tax, tax.

-Feeling as though you have to be 'on guard' all the time

-Lack of variety in anything apart from fast food

-Being able to jump on a plane and experience a different way of life and being able to 'get away from it' for a while. I crave the greenery and freshness of The Lake District and the differing cultures within Europe - all an hour or two's drive/flight from our former home in the UK.

-Despite being fortunate enough to have (what some people would class as) an extremely generous income, home ownership and the possible need to have a fairly large mortgage (on what I class as overpriced property) is a constant source of worry and soul searching. It's hard, for the first time in my life, having to contemplate the thought of not owing one's home in order to 'live the Aussie Dream'. My end goal changes daily.

-Obsession with money and financial worth - we came here to get away from that (see above)

-Hidden costs of everything - You can have the simple life but it's gonna cost 'ya somewhere along the line.

-Living in a 'City' populated with country bumpkins

-Feeling trapped in a place where, for some reason, development and progression are crippled

-Brisbane (Bligh) - bigging up Brisbane and making out it's a rival to places like NYC, London etc when in reality, it's soooo behind the times in countless ways


There are many, many things I like about Brisbane and Australia but the things above, however trivial they may seem to others, *I've learned* are the things that matter to me

Re: Main reason for moving back?
 

Oh they do that here too once they havent enough strength to pull a pokie machine arm (and you'd be lucky to see any cabbage)