16 months here, soo homesick, thinking of returning to UK

**phil&Sue** · 13-11-2011, 09:20 AM

I find it soo difficult when u av littlies, when u are over here.....
Sue

**Jennet** · 13-11-2011, 12:11 PM

Originally Posted by James

Hi I am a real loud mouth today but for our American friend leaving for Australia to escape economic woes, it is not all rosy here, my wife has been looking for work for 6 months, Adelaide is only 1 million people and no where else around it, that is not a lot of job opportunities and no where else to go if you can not find one. Also yes Australia is carried along by China but increasingly other countries own both the mines here and the farms so how secure is the Australian boom or abilty to feed itself in ten years time. It also has a lot of poor peole not so far away in Indonesia and when climate change kicks in they may need a lot of help and many of them to come here. I used to think you can escape the worlds problems in Canada or Australia but really they are here too just less intense or a different manifestation.

Likewise UK does I think have more social breakdown though there is some here but the Australian system is very tough and I think uncompassionate, homeless with children sleeping in Parklands, no help with your mortgage or much with your rent if you are unemployed. You may prefer it but it is not paradise here either, just a long way away which makes it easy to idealise,

you don't get help in the UK with the mortgage either, problems are every where in the world, all countries have their own problems. I don't understand how and why people think moving out of the UK to OZ is going to solve everything and give a paradise life its absolutely ridiculous. As adults we are suppose to have the intelligence to research deeply before we decide for a new fresh start in life 'hence fresh start' thats what moving to OZ is not paradise and we will all be better off, you still have to work and look and look for work even if its a case off moving in another area. sounds to me JAMES you are walking around SA looking to see what faults you can find and let them build on top of one another for an excuse to move back home why doesn't your wife get a different job until something she wants comes up, thats what we also have to do in the UK. Change is good and it doesn't hurt to change our routine for a while doesn't sound like you've done any of that, sounds to me you all want things handed on plate.

**James** · 14-11-2011, 04:47 AM

I agree all countries have problems and I think that was what I was trying to say, and that it is it is easy to idealise somewhere different and far away, which I did myself, but what I have learnt from this journey is that the world is all interconnected now. You can run but you cannot hide whereever you are! The global problems are just that global! Yes there are advantages to being here as there are to being in the UK.

You came for a fresh start good for you, best reason I am sure, I guess people come for many reasons. You are evidently positive and it has worked for you great.

I am sure you are right I could have done more research but sometimes you do not know what you do not know.

For instance I could have found out there is no state pension automatically just means tested, that is my stupidity

However what I have found out through my work the amount of asbestos in properties here more than ten years old and asbestos dumped around the city in creeks, under land etc, the use of residual pesticides that were banned 30 years ago in Europe etc, the contamination of land with toxic stuff etc, my Italian friend who worked at one of the mines who had some nasty side affects due to what he was dealing with, that is not something I would have thought of before I came. When you travel you discover good and bad.

I think it is good to compare and yes it may come across as whingeing but that can also make things change for the better by pointing out what could improve. People can choose to ignore me fine that is their choice. I just think when you are considering which country is best for the individual there is a lot to consider and this is a thread for people thinking of going back

As for finding jobs it is tough in England but it is not easy here too. I was lucky I found a job before I arrived and have worked since my second week, but I know that there are not a lot of jobs out there right now for a lot of applicants, if there are 1000 applicants for every job in the UK it is probably near 100 here, better but still not easy! On my own post someone says there are over 100 applicanst for admin work at the moment. And when I said about mortgage help I was referring to the fact in England they will pay yoour mortgage interest if you are without work ( re-introduced recently, I have a friend who has benefited from this for a year).

Personally I have worked here for two years, paid in tax, paid for schooling and health and asked for nothing from Australia so I do not feel I wanted it all for nothing.

Anyway I am not trying to undermine your success, I am really pleased if you like it and it has gone well for you. Maybe I will go back and then come back thinking it is better here in the end.

My comments are for those who are interested in another view that is all and I am sure no country is perfect

**James** · 14-11-2011, 09:08 AM

Quick final point, sometimes research can go out of date, it takes 2 years atleast to get a visa and in that time economic meltdowns occur, currency devalues 40 % as has happned to us, houses go up here etc. I think that is why a lot of people are disappointed as they can not realise the hope they had when they started due to fast changes, nothing isi as it was when they started,

I had a friend who came ten years ago and sold a small not owned outright cottage on egde of Wimbledon, not the best bit and bought a large house out right in Perth, not likely now or even within three years of him arriving!

I know we still have to make the best of it but it has changed things and this is why many recent people find it so hard

**Jennet** · 15-11-2011, 08:12 PM

Originally Posted by James

Quick final point, sometimes research can go out of date, it takes 2 years atleast to get a visa and in that time economic meltdowns occur, currency devalues 40 % as has happned to us, houses go up here etc. I think that is why a lot of people are disappointed as they can not realise the hope they had when they started due to fast changes, nothing isi as it was when they started,

I had a friend who came ten years ago and sold a small not owned outright cottage on egde of Wimbledon, not the best bit and bought a large house out right in Perth, not likely now or even within three years of him arriving!

I know we still have to make the best of it but it has changed things and this is why many recent people find it so hard

yep i agree, it is harder now in OZ than it was years ago, that's because its a growing state and thats why thorough research is so important more so now than before and before anyone makes the move. yep you have to pay for school, health etc and we don't get help from the state either, unless your a citizen. I know people who moved out just over a year ago and her husband is already setting up his own business. it does depend on the individual families and what they want and i wouldn't advise any one to make the move if they were still hesitant. it is tough and hard work to set back up you everyone needs to be positive, i wouldn't go back to the UK i would research further and if i had to move to another state that's what i would do. I wouldn't want to waste my time, money and effort for nothing.

**trevorpayne** · 15-11-2011, 09:56 PM

I think I would go back for a month 1st just to see how dark and glum it is for the next 4 months.
Everyone crammed in like sardines ,Hidden behind the curtains watching TV because the weather dictates what you can and cant do.
I cant think of anything worse than being stuck in rush hour traffic on a cold and wet morning or night.

Each to there own though good luck with what ever you decide at least you tried it and had a go.

**Sol** · 21-01-2012, 10:31 PM

Originally Posted by James

Hi I am a real loud mouth today but for our American friend leaving for Australia to escape economic woes, it is not all rosy here, my wife has been looking for work for 6 months, Adelaide is only 1 million people and no where else around it, that is not a lot of job opportunities and no where else to go if you can not find one. Also yes Australia is carried along by China but increasingly other countries own both the mines here and the farms so how secure is the Australian boom or abilty to feed itself in ten years time. It also has a lot of poor peole not so far away in Indonesia and when climate change kicks in they may need a lot of help and many of them to come here. I used to think you can escape the worlds problems in Canada or Australia but really they are here too just less intense or a different manifestation.

Likewise UK does I think have more social breakdown though there is some here but the Australian system is very tough and I think uncompassionate, homeless with children sleeping in Parklands, no help with your mortgage or much with your rent if you are unemployed. You may prefer it but it is not paradise here either, just a long way away which makes it easy to idealise,

Yes you are absolutely correct and I agree with what you're saying. I don't see Oz being immune from the world's problems, nor do I see it as paradise. (That would be a laugh) But I do think that it is in a better position than the US or UK to ride out the coming global economic collapse.

The UK is a financial basket case. Those freebies and social benefits that you see people getting will have to come to an end sooner rather than later.

As for the US, well it will become somewhat of a dystopian society with all the crazed paranoia and everyone being scrutinized as suspect terrorists. Yet, the US has hope if it stopped all the ridiculous wars (which ironically is causing the mess to begin with) and stopped bailing out giant firms and invested in its people instead.

**Yates's** · 25-02-2012, 01:57 PM

It's a tough one. I left Oz in Feb 2010 after living in Adelaide for 3 years, mega homesickness. After two years back in UK I have now re-newed visas and am coming back down under as I now miss it too. When I got home I found that UK family and friends that I missed so much when in Oz, were busy with their own routines and lives that, for the few times I actually managed to get together I wonder why it was worth moving back to the UK to be close to them. It is nice to know they are a drive away though, worth leaving Oz for? Don't think so!

For anyone thinking of moving back to the UK. The country is in major recession that will take years to recover. Increasing unemployment and the future for several years to come is bleak, especially for the younger generation trying to find jobs. It really is not a great place to be at the moment, and I never thought I would say that as I love the UK so much. I won't go on as the UK papers say it all.

**Jennet** · 26-02-2012, 08:40 AM

Originally Posted by Yates's

It's a tough one. I left Oz in Feb 2010 after living in Adelaide for 3 years, mega homesickness. After two years back in UK I have now re-newed visas and am coming back down under as I now miss it too. When I got home I found that UK family and friends that I missed so much when in Oz, were busy with their own routines and lives that, for the few times I actually managed to get together I wonder why it was worth moving back to the UK to be close to them. It is nice to know they are a drive away though, worth leaving Oz for? Don't think so!

For anyone thinking of moving back to the UK. The country is in major recession that will take years to recover. Increasing unemployment and the future for several years to come is bleak, especially for the younger generation trying to find jobs. It really is not a great place to be at the moment, and I never thought I would say that as I love the UK so much. I won't go on as the UK papers say it all.

when i took my dog for her Rabies Vacc even the VET commented about me moving to OZ, he said you couldn't of timed it any better.