Would you move back to the UK?

[Clinya]

I am just wondering if i am the only weirdo that wants to move back?

I miss my family and friends moreso now since i had my daughter (in April). My parents came over for a couple of months after she was born but they want to see her so much and my brother is going to be a daddy for the first time soon.

So would you all move back to the UK? If not why not?

We are planning on moving back in a couple of years max but it seems like it will be so hard to do and afford to find somewhere to live etc.

Has anyone done this, moved back that is? Was it a difficult process?

thanks

[AquaDevil78]

I have thought about going back, many times. In all honesty my mum dragged me (lol) out here when i was 14. I love Aus, but i miss UK and my friends, family etc.

Its a tough choice, some days i think maybe instead of thinking about it so much to just do it, but then i chicken out.

So i also would love to see other peoples opinions/experiances.:o

[*Sparkles*]

I have been in Oz for 13 years now and I have no family here. I miss my family very much at the moment as I am PG with my first.
My DH comes from a large family and whilst they are all lovely and excited about the bub, they are not overly supportive so far and I know it would be very different if I had my mum and sister here to share my pregnancy and baby with.

Having said that, I wouln't want to move back to the UK. I love living in Oz and I think I can give our child a much better lifestyle over here.

I suppose the best of both worlds would be if my family moved out here lol.

My parents will come out here after the birth and I know it will be hard saying goodbye to them. However, they are hoping to come out every year in early january which means they will be here for bub's birthday each time. :)

[Manxie]

Hi Clinya :wave:

I dont think you are weird at all. I get really, really homesick and even more so now I have DD, I think its natural to want to be with your family when you have a family of your own. I get really upset when I think about my family missing out on DD and I dont want all her influences to be from DH's family IYKWIM.

I dont think we will move back though for a number of reasons. DH is Australian and quite happy to be back home. We have both done a fair bit of travelling and are getting on and need to be sensible about pensions etc. We could not afford to up sticks and move to the other side of the world again. We also would only be able to afford a shoebox if we did. I think the only way we could possibly do it was if DH had a job lined up and they helped with relocation. This is not likely to happen at all in the current climate :(

Another member here CarolineF recently did the move back home, have a search for her profile and send her a pm she is lovely and I'm sure would be happy to chat to you about the practicalities of it all.

Look forward to chatting with you

[Pixie]

I don't miss it at all the weather that is, but it looks like we might be going for work next year for max 5 years we'll see I have just started my 2nd business so I am hoping I can make enough money to keep us here to a life we can become accustomed to lol

I am dreading the move but as someone Mentioned Caroline moved back and she gave me some great advice so I feel better about things I just love Australia, but hmm!

[CarolineF]

Golly, my ears are burning!!!!!!:laughing:

Yep, i moved back almost 5 weeks ago now. don't regret it for a second at the moment. I am back at work and settling relatively quickly. DD loves it....she has lost 4 teeth since we got back and the tooth fairy has been very generous!!!!!:p

It was not cheap to do, cost about $16,000 in all incl flights and 40' container etc, and we know we shall have some serious saving to do for another house deposit....but, youknow..........i'm glad we did it at the moment. I was unhappy in oz and i am a big believer in having to be emotionally settled in order to have a happy and fulfilled life.

Its a priorities issue for me. Our families helped us financially to move back and we are currently living with my sister until we find an appropriate rental. Its not easy, but i feel far better than i did...and that has made it all worth it for us!!

HTH
Feel free to pm me anyone if you need to xxxxxx:hugs:

[flowerpot21]

hi

i moved here last november when i was 6 months pregnant. i hadnt seen my bloke for 4 months as he had already moved to start work. i had to stay behind, sell the house (nightmare), empty the house of all furniture, work full time, look after his mum, sort all the bills, organise everything.. blah blah. i have wanted to live here since i was 9. i am made up to be here. some may say that i am in the honeymoon stage but thats not easy when you have a newborn, a partner working crappy shifts, no one here to help, first baby, no experience of babies, having to make new friends, find your way round etc etc. we have done this as we both think it is a better environment for our child. this is very personal of course. i think i found it easier as i had lived away (ok, only 4 hours drive away) from friends and family from when i was 20, and have always been independant (to a fault, and sometimes i would chop my nose off to spite my face on how independant i was, lol).

i miss my friends of course, and my family heaps. but they have their own lives to lead, i wouldnt expect them to make decisions on their life based on me, nor my friends. i miss people i worked with, but again, they wouldnt think twice of me in important decisions. people move on (maybe its just me they are happy not to see anymore:laughing: !)


anyway, home to me is where i sleep, where my bub and OH is and where the sun will shine... :smiliedance: and lucky for me that is now australia. i actually feel very priviledged.

[Manxie]

:wave: :wave: CarolineF

Have been wondering how you are getting on. Glad that the move went well and that you are settling in o.k.

The cost of your move is actually cheaper than I thought it would be....maybe I need to have a quiet word with DH:cool:

[CarolineF]

:wave: :wave: CarolineF

Have been wondering how you are getting on. Glad that the move went well and that you are settling in o.k.

The cost of your move is actually cheaper than I thought it would be....maybe I need to have a quiet word with DH:cool:

The cost really depends upon the removers you use etc, the cost varies dramatically.

That cost did not include breaking the lease, final bills and setting up again at this end and was quite reasonable, but i know that few people have $16000 hanging around. We will have to pay for the car to be sorted at this end as well. but, its still good value.


i'm well....large and bulky and feeling like a hippo etc but still good. Its nice to see i have not been forgotten.

take care all.

caroline xx:wave:

[HollyHotLips]

Glad to hear things are working out for you Caroline :)

Personally I dont want to go back ever, even for a visit! although no doubt we will at some point in the future, but nothing planned as yet. I do miss my friends and family, but I speak to my parents every week via webcam which helps, and both sets of parents have already visited this year and planning another visit next year.

I have a website for expats if any of you are interested, expatsinwa.com which has been a big help and I've made many friends through it.

We've been here 10 months, certainly over the honeymoon period but so far happy with our lives in most respects (trying to get DH a career change but that's a loooooooooooong story!) :thumbsup:

[Pixie]

I too thought the cost would be more.

[Pinky Pig]

It's an interesting question. Personally I moved out here 2.5 years ago as a single woman fed up with the London grind, looking for something different. 2.5 years later I have a gorgeous Aussie husband and am 38 weeks pregnant with our first.

I have only been back to the UK for 5 days since leaving (to get my visa!) and now find myself thinking a lot about the future. We're in Melbourne which is lovely and DH is from QLD so no real childhood friends to speak of for either of us. I just find myself thinking 'is Melbourne IT...?' I just don't think I've seen enough of the world.

We are planning a 4 week trip to the UK in March; it will be my DH's first visit to Europe. I am hoping a trip back will help clarify my feelings. DH is excited about living in the UK / Europe for a while at least.

What I miss mostly living over here is the chance to do something different. Here in Australia it's Australia or nothing else really, which is nice if that's all you want and are ready for the status quo. I also get depressed about the lack of decent state schools here (Melbourne is terrible for lack of choice) and resent feeling forced to send my kids to expensive private schools. Can't help feeling it's really not so expensive in the UK...

Pinky

[Clinya]

Thanks for your replies ladies, I am glad you all dont think i am weird wanting to go back.

I have been living in Australia for 2.5 years and my DF is Australian so it would be hard for one of us living on the other side of the world from our family BUT DF has been very independent from a young age and only has his dad as the close family member. He has aunts, uncles, cousins etc but no brothers or sisters. Just thought i would give you all a bit of background to the situation.

[Pinky Pig]

Clinya - your situation sounds a little like ours. DH moved to VIC from QLD and he's happy to only see his family / old mates a couple of times a year.

I would go if I were you - you can always come back and at least you will know better how you both/all feel about the UK.

Good Luck

[Pixie]

Pinky Pig I agree with the school situation I am in Sydney and yeah there are heaps of schools but to be honest they are cr@p!! It's the expensive schools that are the best but the cost is crazy + most of them are selective, which is why we are also considering schooling our children in the UK we'll see we're doing a lot of research on London schools and Sydney schools.

[Incy Wincy]

Yes, I would move back. I enjoy living in both the UK and Oz but for me personally I prefer the UK.

[CarolineF]

we have been back in the uk for 7 weeks now, and i'm so glad we returned. i feel more settled even though our circumstances are still difficult.

the grass really is not greener you know, but i'm glad we tried Oz out cos otherwise we would have spent our lives going "what if......?"