Re: Thinking of going home
 

Too right mate and King kong wherever you are good luck mate and to the rest of you on the way back:thumbup:

Re: Thinking of going home
 

everything happened so fast for us, got a job, bought a house bought another 2 and rented them out. had family out for 2 lots of 6 weeks, then everything sort of got boring, there's nothing exciting happening unless a Theme thing like Haloween (Canadians seem to be macabre where that's concerned) then Christmas parade then Canada Day... there isn't the buzz like in UK.
Shops are all the same in any town/city with limited choices in food and clothes in fact anything. bored with white loo paper and white bathrooms and beige garden furniture BORRRING colours in Canada - USA and UK's better.
parents are ailing and we're missing them after a few years. We've got dual citizenship and were hoping to sponsor them out, but splitting them from theire other children and grandchildren isn't worth it, so we're returning to the UK Hooray

Re: Thinking of going home
 

:thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup: :thumbsup:

Re: Thinking of going home
 

Get real folks. These new countries are just brasher versions of the real thing without the sophistication .Ok for some people it's a size thing eg My massive 4 bedroom blah blah! pool blah blah!!

I think they are fine for people escaping Britain's inner cities or as a place to off load material bores.;)

Re: Thinking of going home
 

totally agree, we wish we'd just moved to a nicer area of the UK instead of all this way around the world, it's too far away and the culture's too alien

Re: Thinking of going home
 

I remember my husband saying "when we're in Ontario, we'll only be 7 or 8 hours away from family" NOT SO, in the winter we have to get a connecting flight from Toronto to Heathrow to Manchester and then you have to be at the airport 3 hours before then collect luggage at the other end ... and there could be delays cos of snow etc. Not worth it, we're heading back after experiencing a different lifestyle not a better one by any means. Who the hell recommended Canada?

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I refuse to believe there is a point of no return. Tell me it isn't so! :unsure:

Re: Thinking of going home
 

Ezzie... I know what you mean I wish I could see the beauty,I feel like I have something wrong with me,when I look at the scenery and see the trees and plants dying !!! I don't see beauty I just feel sad, that they are all dying.I am hopring that with winter around the corner,we will get a lot of rain.

I have just been to Alice Springs some people love it. hopefullyI never ever
have to go again....:eek:

Re: Thinking of going home
 

I think there is, sadly. Financially it can be hard for someone to move from Aus to UK if they have been here for aeons - no UK pension you see (unless they have worked in UK for some years and been canny enough to pay backpayments) and you have to be resident in Aus to get the Aus centrelink aged benefits so unless your private super is super dooper then you are stymied.

Also I think it becomes harder if your kids are Aus residents and likely to remain so and once the grandkids come along then there are all sorts of emotional ties to bind you here.

And, the longer you stay the bigger the risk that one of you (in a couple) will feel differently about moving back and whereas they may have gone when they had the capacity to earn a crust they now find themselves a bit too old for recruitment (usually over 50 it gets tough) and have security where they are in employment.

Of course if you are both of the same mind and have a few years up your sleeve then you are fine. I am 61(next week:eek:) and I could do it if the DH would do it but he is Aussie and wont go - our super is OK (especially on current exchange rates!) and indexed, we have kids on both sides of the world so grandkids are going to be a world away no matter which way we look at it and theoretically we are retired and dont need to work but it is just his sheer and undadulterated stubborn Australianness which keeps me here.

Re: Thinking of going home
 

Oops ... so can someone tell me how long you have to work in the UK to qualify for any pension? Is there a part-pension arrangement? I do not want to get old in Australia and still have at least 20 years' work in me ... thanks! :)

Re: Thinking of going home
 

You need 30 years for a full pension, anything less gets you a pension pro rated, so 15 years is a half pension.
I think you can still pay and top up a few years.

Re: Thinking of going home
 

30 years isnt it for a full pension? and you can buy back payments apparently

Re: Thinking of going home
 

Sorry if I misunderstand or this has been talked about on another thread, but what is buying back payments? I left the UK at 18 before I had a job. Cheers:)

Re: Thinking of going home
 

That would be a lot of back payments I think they allow 6 years at a time, it's something like £23 a week or something.
I can add my US contributions, not really sure how it works I have about 15 years paid here.

Re: Thinking of going home
 

Thanks indeed, I appreciate it, I should hurry up and get out of here :D

Re: Thinking of going home
 

I agree with Quoll, though it is always possible to go back, there seems to come a time when you seem to get beyond it. Family, fiances etc, even just the energy to deal with the immensity of moving. I've been here 19 years and for us (partner and 12 year old daughter, both Australian) this is the year WE GO HOME. The only advice I can give is don't leave it too late... it just gets harder and more complicated the longer you leave it.

Re: Thinking of going home
 

The problem with backpaying the UK pension is that you're only paying towards Part A (I think) which provides just part of the pension. Part B is calculated from a percentage of your earnings and provides the bulk of the pension. Therefore, you can backpay pension contributions but only the part A, so you'd be receiving a small amount compared to everyone else.

Re: Thinking of going home
 

Hi King Kong,

We exchanged a few posts in Sept last year and I haven't really been on BE much since then. Just wondering how your first few months back in blighty have been & what has been the hardest thing to adjust to over there (I expect that would be the weather).

Would love to hear a short summary of what it's been like to return after so many years in Aus.

Best wishes,
BB :)

Re: Thinking of going home
 

Gotta agree with this, having a citizenship also gives your kids access to HECS-HELP so they can get free education (if they leave Australia or make less then 50k they never have to pay it back). Unfortunately rules were changed last year and this is scheme is no longer available to PRs.

Re: Thinking of going home
 

We are Citizens and we certainly dont get free education....so I would check with that.....and HECS etc you do have to pay it back.....and you do not always get HECS.......getting C/Ship can be great but everyone is different and sometimes if you "just have to go" then you should.....

Re: Thinking of going home
 

When I say "free" I mean that according to the current rules which can be found on the HECS website you do not have to pay this back if you leave
the country OR do not make more than 50k a year. Even then it's indexed to inflation and there is no interest.

Re: Thinking of going home
 

Well I am unsure you have made your decision yet or not!? However, I lived in Australia and various places in the world I have come to the conclusion that the grass is always greener on the other side! What you don't have there you will have here, etc, etc.
18 months is enough time to settle in but not really enough time to upheavel yourselves and head straight back to the U.K because your bored.
Go back to the U.K for a holiday so that you get a feel of home, after all you are bound to miss your own country & cultural connections.

I also found Oz bland but the land itself is something to be marvelled at.

I live abroad and am thinking of maybe returning to back to Europe, hopefully it will not be the U.K as I left for a reason. Unfortunately where I am now lacks opportunities and there is the ever hovering fear of conflict, language barrier even though I'm fluent. I came here for my spouse as opposed to seeking some sunshine BUT at the same time, life is more comfortable than the U.K as everything is weather permitting.

Good luck with whatever you decide.

Re: Thinking of going home
 

Hello everyone,
I live in South Dakota USA. Have done for 21 years. Had a green card then became a citizen in 1995. I was only going to stay for a couple of years but suddenly it is 21 years later.
I am 61 and have some disabilities. On Social Security.
I want to move to Herefor to be close to my two granddaugters. I was back there in 2003 when my son, their father, was killed in a horrific car crash. Haven't been back since.
I feel the need to return, to be close to my granddaughters, have missed out on so much of their lives.
I understand that to get benefits there is a long wait. I will get my SS sent to me, but it won't be much once it is changed into pounds. And finding somewhere to rent and having money to live on will take what little I have.
Any ideas??
Liz

Re: Thinking of going home
 

If you click on "Search" and drag to Advanced Search ... then search for "benefits" and specify this forum (MBTTUK), you'll find a lot of threads on claiming benefits. It will save you time waiting for individual answers to your questions. The wait may not be as long as you think.

Also, read the thread on the over 50's and 60's, it will tell you more than you ever need to know about the experience of moving back. Put the kettle on - it's a very long thread!

Re: Thinking of going home
 

We family of 6 moved back to the Uk from NZ in 2007, no regrets whatsoever.:)

Re: Thinking of going home
 

To everyone...
Yes, I am in South Dakota...and it snowed for two days this week!
Won't miss the mountains of snow we have here, that's for sure. And for those giving advice on benefits I have looked into everything, through the Hereford CAB, council and so on. I am sure I will be okay. As for housing, I will have to go private, will have to wait a very long time for council accommodation, but that's ok too.
I am planning to re-publish my book over there aswell. Had published through an internet publisher, but when they sent my copy I noticed some typo errors. I contacted them and said I had corrected them on another copy and would send it to them (there were only a few) but they said they would do it and it would cost me $100 every half hour! I paid $4000 to have it published by them. Yet when it was still on their site it began to sell. Mostly English and Liverpool people from US, Canada, Australia, and so on. So if you are writing a book, be careful of the shysters out there!
Warm regards everyone,
Liz

Re: Thinking of going home
 

Hyton Liz, on moving back, I read somewhere that to get any benefits other than the paid in NIC for state pension, that there is a six month waiting period to show habitual residency - does that hold true?

On private housing versus social housing, will the local council still not pay housing benefits if one is unable to have enough minimum income?

BTW, our plan to return back will be between now and hopefully 2012

Re: Thinking of going home
 

Hi Penury,
I believe for any benefits it is 4 to 6 weeks.
Not too sure about the pension. I don't think it is six months though.
I will be 62 in July.
I did not work very much when I was in England as I was married at one point, 40 years ago, did have a couple of jobs after we split up but I don't think I have enough stamps, or paid in, or whatever it is. I was always back and forth from the states and there. Regretable now that I think of it.
Liz

Re: Thinking of going home
 

Liz for those who like myself that left the UK and have lived away for a very long time, I am thinking the return re-adjustment may be a tough one.

Not that I am scared to move back and readjust myself - but 40 odd years after leaving it my be the best medicine to live the rest of my life out.

How long will it take to readjust to the culture - who knows

How long will it take to get over the small annoyances -who knows

But it is home, even after being away a very very long time

The older I get, the wiser I am that the things in life that were important 30 years ago are no longer important

One day at a time even in your 60's

Re: Thinking of going home
 

Penury,
Just noticed that you are from Prescot!:D
As kids, we used to walk there from Huyton!!!
Small world, eh?
What part of England are you going back to, Prescot?
I was living here in the 70s then went back to Liverpool in 1981
Back then I was always comparing the US and England. I was in my early 30s.
The culture shock was awful for me. But now that I am older, I believe I can handle it better as we do most things when we are more mature:)
I will visit Liverpool from time to time, but my heart is set on Hereford.
Liz

Re: Thinking of going home
 

Liz, we lived down Scotchbarn lane & I went to the old Whiston infants & primary schools around the corner from us in the 50's.

re-quoting myself, I think its far easier as one gets older to make the choices.

no place chosen yet - Wales would be nice as would somewhere warm & dry - small village life if possible

Re: Thinking of going home
 

That's why I liKe Hereford, it is small,and has all those wonderful villages not too far away. I like that part of the country.
When are you thinking of going?
Liz

Re: Thinking of going home
 

Why I turn 65, sometime on or around spring 2012, which seems so far away

It could be sooner than that.

A lot of thought has gone into if, and or why to return after 40 odd years.

From the social economic reasons to the leaving the children behind.

Having gotten over the kids part - we think one workable solution as long as health keeps up is to do the 6/6 mths here & there. Ok, so I know its not a clean break, it may sound indecisive to some - but hey, these are one of the options available

We could do six months UK, six months wherever forever as gypsies. It all depends on health & state of mind & finances

The only family that I have left in the UK is my elder sister & her kids whom I do not know very well

Re: Thinking of going home
 

At least you won't be going on your own. You will be able to lean on each other, complain to each other, laugh with each other and so on. It will make your move so much more tolerable.
It will be little more stressful for me, I think, but no matter. If I think about it too much I will lose my nerve. Can't have that happening, after all, I'm a scouser:D Come on Liverpool wake up and score those goals:thumbsup:
Liz:)

Re: Thinking of going home
 

Penury,
Prescot is in parts of my novel.
It is a hisorical novel set in Livepool from 1914-1941. I wanted the family to be close to Liverpool durning the bombings, but not to far away.
So I chose Prescot.
Liz

Re: Thinking of going home
 

I have been in Australia for almost 4 years and from my experience after a while you do get bored. However the great thing is you live in a place more than twice the size of western europe. There are many options, I was in Melbourne for 3 months and realised it wasn't for me very quickly. Spent two fantastic years in Sydney where I really found my niche. Decided to give Melbourne ago and realised that I didnt like the city but love country victoria. I will be heading home in 2011 however I know if I ever move back where to head to.

You will find your niche but also remember no point in forcing things either...

Re: Thinking of going home
 

lol... dont you go picking on the war time folks at the Pescot munition & wire works (BICC)

BTW, in the war the Germans were so bad at accuracy (I guess due to no radar etc- just line of sight), that Liverpool could have gotten worse, with the surrounding towns like Hyton &Prescot just got hammered

Re: Thinking of going home
 

Penury,
My dad was in the Royal Navy during the war, and worked at the BICC after the war.
We used to go to the Christmas parties there in the 50s and early 60s.
Now don't get your knickers in a twist, I just said that I used Prescot as it was close to Liverpool. The countryside. I know how bad the Blitz was. My mum worked in a munitions factory in Kirkby. End of story.
Liz

Re: Thinking of going home
 

oops - forgive me

OK, Prescot is a nice place to use in a story - agree

Re: Thinking of going home
 

Thank you!:)
No hard feelings.
My novel is a historical one and includes what happened in Prescot. The family in the story go to a large private house there in the countryside and take in evaccuee's.
I've always has a fondness for Prescot. Though I don't want to live there.
As I said before, in the early 60s we used to walk there from Huyton then turn around and walk back, I guess we were very fit ...or stupid!!!:ohmy:
Liz