I dont want to go!!!!!!!

[trouble]

Hi all,:wave:

We are just finishing off the renos on our home that we have lived in for 3 years, and we have just brought a 10 acre block of land, and have been looking at homes to build on our block.

The plan was, to sell our home, and go caravaning around australia and visit close relatives we have, while our home was being built, then come back and live in a shed we would have put up, until the house is finished.

I have been soooooooo excited, Im just about to burst!!:smiliedance::smiliedance:

But when my DH was telling the boys at his work about his holidays, the big boss said, the same company is in germany, and spain and england, the man that owns these companies run the one in england,

Anyway, DH is the manager over here, and they suggested a swap, so the manager from england can work here for 6months, whilst DH works over there for 6 months.

I said it would be great for DH, a great experience, but he wont go if we dont go, and they wont pay for our accomodation and flights,

DH suggested, we store our things here, and rent a fully furnished home over there for 6 months, and do this instead of the caravaning/shed thing.

My parents and friends have said, they would come over for holidays, and we already have a cousin over there for the next 2 years, so Im not too worried about missing family.

But, I dont want to leave my pets for 6 months, and it is not long enough to fly them over to live with us,

I dont know anything about the place, except for my reading of jack the ripper! :laughing:( I love reading about him and all the ideas of who he really was!)

I was thinking of going for 3 months, and then comming home?

Then DH work can pay for his accomodation for the rest.

What do you guys think? What would you do? have any of you tried something simular?

[dreamtobeamummy]

That is an awesome offer, and a awesome opportunity. Id go if i was in your situation but that is just me :) good luck in your decisions! :D

[samsgirls]

LOL, go!!!:detective:

[gizmoduckus]

That is an awesome offer, and a awesome opportunity. Id go if i was in your situation but that is just me :) good luck in your decisions! :D

:iagree:

[Hector]

Definitely go to the UK! You are still young and plenty of time to go caravanning around Oz (a pastime dominated by grey nomads so PLENTY of time for you to get into it!). As you've had kids pretty young you may not have had the chance to do your big overseas adventure that so many other young people take - this is your chance! My sister and a mate travelled over to the UK in 2002 - it was the best experience of all our lives and I loved it so much I'm planning to head back next year with my little one.

On top of the adventure of being/doing something new, it's also the opportunity to experience a different culture. Europe is right on your doorstep and you'll be amazed how cheap it is to holiday over there - plenty of fanstastic opportunities for the kids to experience and for you to tell them about when they are older.

Perhaps you could do a house swap or some sort of house sitting where you end up minding someone else's pets anyway??? No idea how these work but it was just a thought!

You can book your return flights open ended so you set the date once you know when you want to head back - or it shouldn't cost too much to alter the return dates if you set it for 3months then realise you love it in the UK and want to stay the full 6 months (which you probably will :) :)

I hope you have a fantastic time - don't let yourself get stuck in the house all the time while your partner works - get out and take the chance to explore everything while you have the chance! There is a site similar to bubhub in the UK called netmums if youwant more advice from ppl living over there.

[jaq]

I'd be off like a shot, too. In fact, we have considered doing just that so we can build up our cash reserves a bit more ... the only reason we haven't is that we have just settled back in here after 6 years in the UK.

Where in England is the company based? London, especially outer London fringes, is great - the public transport system is so good you can get into town easily, and if you have a car, out into the countryside too. Even nicer if you can live in a village and hubby commute to work ... it can be an idyllic lifestyle for families.

The GREAT thing about being in London (or Manchester, for that matter) is the Eurostar (train) and cheap flights across to Europe. We used to go to Rome for weekends on a regular basis, and I spent every birthday for five years in Paris. Even Egypt is only six hours away!!!

If you are reluctant to give up your caravanning dream, why not turn it into a campervan dream and go through Europe after hubby's six months is up?

The final thing you have to ask yourself ... five years from now, are you going to regret NOT doing it? It might seem like a risk, but the rewards are awesome, both for you and your family.

[zenifa]

I agree with the others, its a great opportunity and GO FOR IT!!

Its only 6mths and would be a great experience for your DH, your kids and you!!

I have lived in the UK and for me it would always be my choice over caravanning here (which you can do another time).

I know its hard to leave your pets, but 6mths will fly by, esp if your family is coming to visit.

Good luck deciding what you want to do.

[hayleylea]

lol your in a similar situation to me only yours sounds a bit better (the uk bit that is). My partner has scored a job over in Puapa new guniea its great money and all accommodation and bills are paid for. Sounds great right?? well yeah maybe if it was in the uk but if we go it means ill be living in a compound and not able to do alot by ourselves.

I also dont like the idea of leaving my pets and we are only talking 3-4 months.

I would probably be more inclined to jump at going to the uk rather then PNG....im at a loss to what to do too!

[littlemissmoi]

I think the company should pay (at least partially) for your relocation. If they value your husband as an employee, and if they really believe that this 'swap' is beneficial to his career development, they will pay a little extra to keep him happy (i.e. by keeping you happy).

Also, this 'swap' should be equal - the manager from the UK is financially better off coming to Australia with the exchange rate (though not as great as it used to be, the mighty pound still wields a lot more buying power). Your husband needs to seek compensation to ensure that his Aussie Dollar can stretch far enough to accommodate him in the UK, not just you.

He MUST ensure he is getting paid in pounds, not Aussie dollars. He should also get a housing allowance.

The biggest mistake people make in these situations is allowing their job to cost them money. I'm sorry - we work to earn and save - not to spend our cash on our job.

Personally, I think there are plenty of opportunities to travel and work, and if you really want to go to the UK, your husband can probably negotiate to be a local hire over there, either with his firm or another. If you're a local hire, you will get paid local rates and the financial strain will be far easier.

As for being separate from your husband, think very hard about this. I know a lot of expat women (I'm an expat myself, not in the UK), who spend a lot of time away from their husbands because they can't stand it here. It makes the whole family miserable, basically, and work is not worth that.

Sorry to be a downer, but I live in an expat life daily in somewhere that is not as nice as the UK (though not as bad as PNG - although, I know a couple who lived there for 8 years and loved it) and I can tell you, the harsh realities set in very quickly once you've arrived.