in Melbourne i met local Aussies, they've never been out of Victoria, never had passports and they can tell you " Why should I go anywhere if Melbourne is the best place to live?" hmmmmm, i saw many couties and I can say my second passport was full of stamps and visas I had to apply for new one due to lack of blank pages and I don't say I was everywhere just only few continents visited, now I have third passport, and still I didn't see all main world attractions, only few main

australia doesn't need skilled people, this is a bulls*it they need us, they need our money only to support economy, without money from immigrants this country would be very very poor

I know an Aussie, (40+) who was born in Zillmere. The only time in her life she has been to Brisbane was to visit the Expo in 1988. None of her children have been South of Zillmere, or North of Morayfield.

Another Aussie, (35+), who is always angling for her kids to have sleepovers with us, (which we don't do), told me that her husband said I couldn't take one of her sons into the Science Centre at the Museum because is was too far away and too dangerous!!

Another friend's (Aussie) partner (50+!), proudly says that he was born on the Peninsula, (Redcliffe), and can't remember the last time he left it!

We live 25 Kms north of the city, but these guys might as well live on the moon!

M

My god - that far!! They would die if they knew how many countries us poms had visited!!

I'm currently waiting on my permanent residency, and have been living in Brisbane for the past three years. I moved out here when I was 22 to be with an Aussie, but things didn't work out. Although I love the country and have many great friends, I am now considering a move back to the UK for the following reasons:

FAMILY: I have no family in Australia and Skype just doesn't cut it anymore! No one in my family is in the position to consider a trip out here so it is always my responsibility to go back the UK which a) is expensive and b) uses up all of my annual leave.
ACCESSABILITY: People back in the UK are under the illusion that everyone in Australia lives near a beach. Brisbane is an hour's drive away from the coast, and public transport to rural areas is non existant. If you're fond of escaping to the country and walking through lush green meadows along footpaths and bi-ways, Australia is not the country for you! Apart from busy parks and bush trails, the 'countryside' really isn't accessible and very rarely can you get away from it all.
CLIMATE: Balmy evenings are great and are one of the many things I'd miss if I was to go back home. The ability to sit out in a T-shirt at 11pm shouldn't be taken for granted! But the weather in QLD isn't practical - the days are too hot to do anything mildly strenuous (hence I have packed on the pounds), and I have spent many a sleepless night feeling all hot and bothered!

I would definitely recommend coming out here, but commit yourself to at least 18 months whether they prove to be rough or smooth sailing - it takes that long to start to feel settled. Good luck with everything and I hope you enjoy your time out here, even if only temporary!

p.s On a another note, I find myself getting increasingly frustrated with family and friends back in the UK telling me how lucky I am to be living here and how crap it is back in the UK... does anyone else get that??? Are we all suffering from 'grass is greener' syndrome???

[QUOTE=
australia doesn't need skilled people, this is a bulls*it they need us, they need our money only to support economy, without money from immigrants this country would be very very poor[/QUOTE]

Iron ore (and other resources) may have just a TINY part to play in the Aussie economy too, not much but it does make a bit of difference.

It's all the "media" hype they have on t.v about how wonderful life is "Down Under"...we wnet home after 7 years here in Aus.....we loved being home as soon as we landed.....(my heart fell as we had tried to settle in after 7 years!!!! we knew then we would never really settle and home was home) anyway a tv programme was on and it was about a family going to Aus to live...well it did make Aus sound/look/lifestyle fab....then they showed the home this couple had just "rented" with a view to buy if they decided to stay and we recongnised the State and Area.....and boy oh boy you would not like there unless you were desperate.....and that's how they do it......it's not real life for normal people the "Beach/Boats" etc .......wish it was.....

The worry is how can the support the population as well?....in W.A our water is low....we can only grow so much "food" in the Wheatbelt area as it is now....let aone with more migrants coming in.....money talks!!!!

Happens to us all the time... I find myself having to justify wanting to go back to England.
I think we all suffered from 'the grass is greener' at some point, I dare say thats why most of us made the leap in the first place. Its just that we are now in possession of the facts and realities of living here...

Paul.

Haha - so true! I saw similar programmes when I was back in the UK. Of course I was only 21 at the time and suffering from a severe case of 'rose tinted glasses'! Thought I might pick up a bronzed surfer - little did I know they were all boardie toting bogans with brains the size of peanuts!... hmmm, a discussion for another time perhaps???

Will you go back? Or are you eternally condemned to a life on the red island?

not at all, we have a thread for exactly that topic!!!!
http://britishexpats.com/forum/showt...40#post6339440

Australia's not too bad , it's just full of boring one eyed jingoistic Aussies, oh and the sun goes down too quick in the summer here.

How many times do you hear the word "Aussie" used in a day ? did we bang on about England and the UK all day everyday back home...don't think so.

Hopefully not! Provided we sell the house, we're off as soon as possible!

Paul

Unfortunately it's not just the "Boadie" brigade!!!! ha ha...how long have you been in Aus?

No I didn't bang on about England when back home.....but I do now!