B*gger, who got that bit then, and what exactly did I get I think I'm now officially depressed - I blame ALL of Australia

I'm sure she is Pen I'm sure she is. I just hate shopping
Congratulations on the year, may the next be as good as the first.
You'll have to describe your parallel universe in intricate detail just remember no sweeping generalisations

Yeah, me too. Bloody Austrlalia.

Ex-SAS on the ironing front.. that would be Sheets and Shirts.

Back for another try.. have I been to the Blue Mountains, No. I have headed South and West from the Gong and not found much.. All I ever hear is 'magnificent scenery' but scenery is just the background to the play, and its the play that I find lacking. Its the lack of people, bustle, life, that I find 'dull'. I have said this before on another thread, but its still valid.. If I face West from here its over 2,000 miles to the next city with not much in between. If I faced East from my home in the UK, in those same 2,000 miles there would have been 300million people, a hundred of the Worlds greatest cities, countless towns and more history and culture than you could hope to see in a dozen lifetimes.
Its dark here now and if I was to walk around the area for the next hour I would be lucky to see a single soul... That's the difference.

Never fear, every sentence will either start or end with "in my experience"

You should come up. It's a quick train trip for you. There's more to the mountains than just scenery... If you seriously ever come up, let me know and I'll arrange your itinery.
I could have said that about my village in Bucks. It's dark here now, but if I get off my arse and go up to the Clarendon, I can get some drinks and some decent live music. I guess that's the difference... ... for me.

I might take you up on that... and its the lack of a decent pub nearby that's a real killer. I spent all my life in the UK in major cities, Manchester and Bristol, and this place is like a retirement home by comparison.. moving isn't an option because of the job.

We've only been in Australia just over 3 months. I really like Klemzig, but OH wanted to be near the sea so we bought land down in Noarlunga Downs. It's really convenient for the freeway and shopping centre, which is nice. I'm hoping to get a job at either Noarlunga hospital or maybe Flinders Medical Centre once we move. Which ever one has an eye clinic, as I've done ophthalmology for 18 years.
On the job front, the first resume he sent out this morning got a phone call 5 minutes after and an interview tomorrow. It's not the job he wants, but it will at least help with the $$ situation for the time being.
Thank you everyone for your kind karma messages. It's nice to see positive things being said once in a while.

As the thread says: 'What did you expect??? Really.....'

But, actually, that hits the nail on the head - that's one of the reasons we came - the space...we have no bustle in our little village, but we do have a pub with real ale, live bands and a dart board and a couple of nice restaurants. If I need some bustle, I hop onto the train to the city - suits us fine at the moment.

Sure thing. I would suggest the Orient in Springwood if you want a nice pub up here. There's a nice side like a UK pub and a feral side too if you're brave...
The Clarendon gets some excellent acts ... and there's some great places to eat out up here too... And the iMax movie cinema is excellent ...
But yes, if you're used to Manchester, it makes things slower, for sure.

Yes Badge, as I say 'one of my biggest regrets' but they say we learn by our mistakes.
My drive to my home was down a private track. To the front of the house was the land and then the most beautiful woods, and to the back was the beach about 1/2 mile.
What an idiot I have been!

Thanks Soapy

I don't think you have been an idiot at all. You tried something and it didn't work. There are no guarantees in life and you took a chance on something. It is a whole lot more than most people do and I think you should be lauded for trying in the first place. I hope you and all the going back people find what they're looking for back home.

There have been some really good posts on this thread so K has been spread where the system has let me!!

In response to the OP we expected nothing more than the opportunity to enjoy a different part of the world.

Our decision to end up in Australia was arrived at by discussing 'where we would be in 5 years from now'. (I like a 5-year plan - if I have one I can make decisions which move me closer to my/our goals).

We discussed moving from Hertfordshire to some coastal town in the UK but decided that when the weather is good daytrippers would probably irritate me!

We then talked of France, Italy, Canada and America but all were discarded for various reasons, so we were left with Australia whichwould also give us the opportunity to travel more easily to Asia and the Pacific Islands as well as New Zealand (especially for the skiing)

Like keebs we have been lucky enough to live as close to Brisbane as we like (35mins in the car or an hour by train) and have a nice house, boat and cars.

We have settled well and the Brisbane area did seem like home after a surprisingly short time. If in the future we become unhappy here due to unforseen circumstances, then we would return to the UK. although that seems very unlikely at this stage.

We were never unhappy in the UK and if we were we would probably have tried another town, village, or area before taking the step of moving abroad.

It seems to me that wherever you live, you have to be happy with who you are and with whom you live to make a success of things.

As an optimist, my glass is 3/4 full BTW - although I am told I can be a cynical & difficult git to live with at times - but I don't see it that way!!

Ramble over....