Originally Posted by neverland

People always told us, that we should try a different part of Australia... I had worked as a tour guide in Australia (so had seen every city more than once) and had lived in QLD for a year as a teenager and there was not one place in Australia where I could see myself truly happy. In the end it is still the same mentality (you either connect or you don't), it is still Australia (on the other side of the planet), you are still no closer to your friends and family, still the same suburbs with endless same same looking homes and nobody on the street etc. Anyway, I still listened to those people, flew to different cities, tried to picture myself living there, even applied for jobs... Waste of time really. But at least I can say: I have really tried EVERYTHING. Great I don't even want to think about all the money we have wasted...

I have not missed Australia for one day since we left. I don't regret our decision and I don't think I ever will. When we left I really thought I would miss Australia and maybe even regret our decision. Not the case. The more time passes the happier I am that we have left.

Originally Posted by Exile

Attitudes are very contagious, and that's probably very good advice if you ever want to really settle here.

Personally, I've tried it. Didn't work.

I stayed off BE for a while (I work at home on the computer all day, so not easy to stay away). I tried to focus on what we have (nice house, pool, Indian Ocean just down the road, nice scenery and climate, sunsets, happy kids, easy life). There are certainly worse places to live than here.

It seems to work for a while, but I always come back to stuff that seems to matter more. And each time I come back to that inevitable conclusion, the feeling of certainty increases.

Sorry, not much help. I think you will have to put everyone on this part of the forum on ignore

Originally Posted by LouiseD

LOL - Brilliant!

Am soooo jealous - can't wait until it's my turn. Wish I was going to Torquay though - beautiful.

Originally Posted by LouiseD

Keep it, keep it and keep it again!!

We sold up and have lost loadsamoney.

Originally Posted by RooksieJ

going home is the best high ive ever experienced and im including gas and air in labour here!!!!

Originally Posted by gardnma

I'm not in Oz, I'm in the US. The things you are talking about apply just as equally over here also. I've moved twice across this also huge country now only to find out what I didn't know I was looking for doesn't exist here (if that makes sense).
I don't know about you lot in Oz, but there is very little here in the states reminiscent of England, culturally or otherwise. We have to make our own "little Englands", keeping the customs and habits. I really enjoy instilling in my kids an understanding of things which they would never know of otherwise: Boxing Day, Shrove Tuesday, English foods (Toad in the hole, Bubble'n'squeek, etc) rented DVD's and language.

Nice to read your posts from "downunder", you seem to lead mirrored lives to us "surrounded by septics".

Originally Posted by toandfro

we found what it was we where looking for and foolishly left it again to realise what it was. now we have to work hard to get it back again

Originally Posted by gardnma

I've moved twice across this also huge country now only to find out what I didn't know I was looking for doesn't exist here (if that makes sense).

Originally Posted by neverland

People always told us, that we should try a different part of Australia... I had worked as a tour guide in Australia (so had seen every city more than once) and had lived in QLD for a year as a teenager and there was not one place in Australia where I could see myself truly happy. In the end it is still the same mentality (you either connect or you don't), it is still Australia (on the other side of the planet), you are still no closer to your friends and family, still the same suburbs with endless same same looking homes and nobody on the street etc. Anyway, I still listened to those people, flew to different cities, tried to picture myself living there, even applied for jobs... Waste of time really. But at least I can say: I have really tried EVERYTHING. Great I don't even want to think about all the money we have wasted...

I have not missed Australia for one day since we left. I don't regret our decision and I don't think I ever will. When we left I really thought I would miss Australia and maybe even regret our decision. Not the case. The more time passes the happier I am that we have left.

Originally Posted by gardnma

Please would you expand, cuz I'd go back in a heartbeat were it not for the kids, mortgage, wife, cat, cost of housing, etc, etc, etc.

Originally Posted by Irish Guinness

you are so so right neverland......I like you, have lived and worked in most parts of OZ and it's all the same.But as they say some love it others hate it.
what part of the U.K. did you return to?

Originally Posted by Rosie Cheeks

I find it almost kind of sad in a way to skim through the Australia threads written by those who are excitedly arranging their new and better life in Australia. Having been in that position yourself, you know some of them will fail to prove that the Aussie hype is correct and find the whole thing a huge disapointment. It takes an awful lot of effort to organise moving to Australia in the first place, I feel like screaming at them "stop, don't do it!". But they would probably tell you that you don't know what you are talking about, and to get lost.

There are so many coming and going, what a money spinner that must be for somebody, and we know it isn't us - the ones in the middle of it all.

Originally Posted by toandfro

what it we miss is the feeling of belonging we are English and belong in the UK .all the things we miss are simptoms of that core fact we are and always will be english .I could fill every server on the web with likes dislikes reasons and the like but it is as simple as we belong at home warts and all

Originally Posted by toandfro

i think we should be given a refund when we leave

Originally Posted by gardnma

Hmmmm.

A question:
Do you "belong" where your responsibilities lie and where you can best serve those whom you love (family),
or:
Do you belong where you are comfortable and at ease and no longer think about "belonging".

Its allways a personal decision in the end, its just nice to hear others' views...