I reckon go for what you can afford as long as it's clean and keeps the rain off your on a winner

You could be right. Hubby couldn't come with us and I missed him like crazy.

All these goodbyes each time really are gut-wrenching aren't they. It's so much easier to stay away and not have to go through all of that emotion time after time.

Talking of hubby; he's told me I should stop coming on BE as he reckons it unsettles me each time I read about like minded people. Maybe he's right. Maybe I should just leave this alone, put my blinkers on and try to enjoy my life here and concentrate on what we do have and not what we don't.

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

You know what Exile? You talk a lot of sense mate. When you rationalise all the reasons why we live here, it all makes sense doesn't it? It is a great place to raise kids. That's what I battle with all of the time. I know they are happy here and what right have I got ripping them from a country where they are happy to take them back to an uncertain future in the UK? Hence, constant confusion.

If only hubby felt the same as me, life would be so much easier. The decision to return would be a joint one and if it all went tits up over there, well, I wouldn't feel huge guilt for 'making' him return.

I think Tracey the problem is that we're dealing with unknowns that can't be rationalized. The future of our kids is uncertain here also.

It can look like a bed of roses when they go off happy to the undemanding primary school and come home to dive in the pool. It's easy to forget that bad things happen here too. And what makes the kids happy isn't always what's good for them in the long run. Mine are happy if they get some chocolate! But what kids need most of all is happy parents (sorry, rolling out the platitudes here!).

No pearls of wisdom I'm afraid, but it sounds like you need to work on a compromise with your husband. How about a move to Victoria, which sounds like it could be a bit more vibrant? Or back to the UK with lots of holidays in Spain or Italy for the sun-worshippers?

I think the kids will be fine as long as they are not at a difficult age yet and their parents are reasonably happy.

Right again oh wise one!

Hubby wants us to make a move over east when I finish uni. He thinks that may be the answer. Somehow, me thinks not.

Thanks for the advice...karma sent mate.

My kids are grown and we have done every thing we could for them including trying to make up for the things we have been acused of doing wrong,and after 22 yrs we've given up .you can't sacrifce for the kids all the time they will get to an age where they will do what they want, with no regard for your feelings. if you are unhappy it will rub off on the kids . don't get me wrong you should do your best for your kids, but living a lie isn't best for them

Thanks Tracey, just call me Deepthought

I just regurgitate stuff that I've read on this forum over the last couple of years. Lots of interesting and thought provoking stuff on this part of the forum (at least compared with the Oz forum).

I was also thinking of going east, but now think it would be just delaying the inevitable.

Some of those static caravans are quite nice aren't they? And if we could persuade the landlord of our local to pop it into a corner of the beer garden.... sorted

Again, you've hit the nail on the head. Are you psychic (or is that psychiatric?!!!)

that sounds like a good plan . you would probably end up doing fish'n'chips though. on the serious side there are a few of those sites now with perminent residents and they not bad .there's one in the gong that is for perms only . and I hear when I was in London on a job there is one in cornwall somewhere .

looks like another case of full bottle in front of me instead of the full frontal labotomy

I've already hit the Bailey's and it's only 7.00!!

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.

baileys a nice drop for 7am great on you coco pops