Sad to say. We never did make it to Aus!
 

After 4 years and 10 months of dreaming about emmigrating to Aus, the reality of it not happening has dawned on me. The following factors

1. Well paid job in London earning more £ than I would earn $
2. Wife and Daughter madly into horse riding. Daughter has a pony
3. Schooling worries of 13 year old who is in grammar
4. Not enough savings to feel comfortable going without a job lined up

I know the above are no excuse to not having given it a shot, and believe you me, I would be gone tomorrow if it was just me, but the other 2 people in my life don't share the dream.

It is with a heavy heart that I write this. Not sure where the last 5 years have gone, since I checked the online application in April 2010 to find out my Class 175 PR had been granted. I went back to Perth in Jan 2014 for a 3 week windsurfing trip. The memories are still very fresh.

Gutted. But hey ho

Re: Sad to say. We never did make it to Aus!
 

You never know what tomorrow holds.

You may still qualify until you are 45, so maybe consider reapplying again at the last minute so you have until you are 50 to make the move.

I'm about to move at 53; never too late for a bit of an adventure, though fortunately hubby is equally enthusiastic and we have no kids to consider.

Re: Sad to say. We never did make it to Aus!
 

Sounds like a pragmatic decision to me - when you have it good why screw it up, I reckon. There are some things in life that you have to draw a line under and say yup, that's it, no point in dwelling on it and getting your knickers in a knot because you didn't do it. The Stars didn't align for you in this case but you've got a good life doing what you're doing and you can always head off for holidays! Onwards and upwards, hey, enjoy the rest of your days!

Re: Sad to say. We never did make it to Aus!
 

Just a personal theory - BUT -

I reckon the people who have it great in the country they are emigrating from are the people who have it best in the country they are emigrating to.

My $0.02

BB

Re: Sad to say. We never did make it to Aus!
 

Certainly, failures in one place often continue the trend!

Re: Sad to say. We never did make it to Aus!
 

But not necessarily. A sister and her family had been living in a council house and leading a nothing life in England, her husband riding a moped to work, but they decided to follow us to Australia.

Within months they began buying their own 3-bedroom home, and as time went on they acquired a swimming pool, caravan and a motor cruiser, as well as changing cars every couple of years.

They never thought about returning to England even for a holiday, and it was the same for another sister and her family who had also emigrated to Australia.

I could not have imagined any of them being successful in England, yet in Australia they achieved success.

Re: Sad to say. We never did make it to Aus!
 

On the contrary, they are perfectly legitimate reasons for staying in the UK. I think you deserve credit and respect for making a tough but sensible decision.

:)

Re: Sad to say. We never did make it to Aus!
 

Doesn't sound like a bad life to me and nobody can stop you going over on holiday again. You should be happy for what you have now and you can also go on windsurfing trips in Europe for less money. Portugal is just around the corner and many other places too.

Re: Sad to say. We never did make it to Aus!
 

Although the reality has dawned that we won't be in Aus when the visa expires I am still battling with myself over it. I keep thinking about the plus side for me going to Aus. The only ones that keep coming to mind are

1. The weather
2. The better windsurfing and more time to sail during the week

Aside from those 2 things there isn't anything else drawing me over. Like people have said, I can always go on holiday

Re: Sad to say. We never did make it to Aus!
 

Weather always seems to be a factor for so many, but when you're working long hours, you don't really have the time to enjoy it and would you really have that much time to sail during the week? Most Brits end up sitting in the shade all day, because the sun is so aggressive. There are plenty of options in the UK and if people don't like the weather, why not build a covered patio? Living in Europe you also have the advantage that you can fly to a different country in no time and it's cheap enough to have a nice long weekend somewhere. It would be a 5 hour flight from Sydney to Perth.

Re: Sad to say. We never did make it to Aus!
 

Agreed. I have been racking my brains for the plus points, but at the moment I am struggling to work them out.

Re: Sad to say. We never did make it to Aus!
 

I think you've pretty much answered your own questions/dilemma in your above post. There's very little driving your move to Australia (weather, windsurfing and a dream), and plenty of reasons to stay and be happy where you are.

Re: Sad to say. We never did make it to Aus!
 

We all have dreams and there are so many nice places to visit, but overall you can be happy with your life. Maybe you would have gone over and it would have been a nightmare, or the exact opposite (who knows). In reality, you probably did more during your 3 week visit, than many working people in OZ do in a year.

Re: Sad to say. We never did make it to Aus!
 

Driving 5500km from Perth up to Exmouth and then all the way down to Esperance. Cracking trip!

But conscious that I would not be able to do that all the time if I lived in WA

Re: Sad to say. We never did make it to Aus!
 

The weather does make a huge difference to one's life...However London is very vibrant and happening city especially if you are earning big $$$

Re: Sad to say. We never did make it to Aus!
 

Don't think of not being able to make the move as a negative; focus on what you have now and build on that. you have obviously had good times in Australia, so just remember them as that - good times.
I have dreamed of living in aus since I was about 13 (im 47 now) and since the late 90s when id had kids have tried to make the move ... several years ago I finally gave up trying to make that dream a reality when I realised that my then partner who said he wanted to move too actually had no intention of moving, and that life now ive dumped him is actually pretty good - I don't need Australia to make me happy, what I need is to be healthy, have healthy happy kids and have caring, loving people around me.
I should have made the move when I had the opportunity when I was young and single but life got in the way, I was too busy having a good time!!
but life really isn't so bad and you have to live for the here and now, not what might/could have been ...

;)

Re: Sad to say. We never did make it to Aus!
 

We first visited in 1986 when my sister and brother-in-law moved out. Thought about migrating then but had both just got promotion back in the UK and would have had to start all over again and as teachers do country service. Kids at a crucial time in schooling also. We left it until we retired in 2006, less to weigh up. We built a house but unfortunately never was a home, lasted four years and then came back. However we holiday there at least every two years for 4-6 weeks so have the best of both worlds. There is always time in the future ......

Re: Sad to say. We never did make it to Aus!
 

Having your dream not granted is just like a story untold. As what they say if someone really wants it they will find ways but if they will let the circumstances get in the way then there will be a lot of excuses just to have that dream go away. Why not discuss to them what you want and agree on whats best. Take a look on a bigger picture and not just the picture where you are right now. Life is not forever so live the life that you want IF YOU CAN. :decision::confused:;)