Should we stay or go ...

**phil&Sue** · 12-01-2012, 12:07 PM

Hi Diane, know exactly where u r coming from, 20 months in now, i know what u mean about "before it is too late", i am agonising over decision, all the best in the decision making,,,,,

Se

**ian mc** · 12-01-2012, 12:28 PM

We have been here 14 year and still don't call here home we debate every year what we are going to do going back or will we stay for another year.Older children and grandkids hold us back.

**Barney Rubble** · 13-01-2012, 07:28 AM

Originally Posted by ian mc

We have been here 14 year and still don't call here home we debate every year what we are going to do going back or will we stay for another year.Older children and grandkids hold us back.

When i hear people debate this i always say "Paul Young"

Wot ?

"Where ever i lay my hat" (that's my home)

Song back in the 80's . . . . . .

So i'm told

**pauljoinoz** · 13-01-2012, 09:58 AM

Not sure if this helps or not, we were in the same situation as you always thinking about back home friends & family. We finally made the choice to come home after nearly 3 years at the end of September (two winters back to back :0/) I couldn't go thinking will we or won't we & just wanted to feel settled.

I can honestly say it is the best decision we ever made I get on with my life every day & I am not always thinking 'do we stay or go' life is just back to normal now & Australia was a wonderful life experience. I now appreciate so much more back home & all the stupid things that wound me up about the country don't seem to matter as I now know that 'nowhere' is perfect!

We came home on holiday first after 21 months & I knew within a week that I would come back, just bumping into familiar faces when you least expect it is lovely!!

The media seem to make the UK seem dreadful & i guess it depends where you are from we live in Essex & everyone we know is still working & getting on with life. My husband has found work easily & although the money isn't the same as Australia nor are our outgoings.

I really hope this helps just my personal experience we are all different.
Good luck

Jo

**Sachertorte** · 13-01-2012, 11:05 AM

Hi Jo...Maybe it might be worth taking the business advert off your signature.... since you are back to the UK

**snifter** · 13-01-2012, 11:12 AM

Originally Posted by Barney Rubble

When i hear people debate this i always say "Paul Young"

Wot ?

"Where ever i lay my hat" (that's my home)

Song back in the 80's . . . . . .

So i'm told

That's how hubby and I feel, perhaps him more than me. He's happy in the UK living, happy in Aus. Has positives and negatives to both, but things balance themselves out. I've yet to live in Aus long term but I'm more than happy to move there and call it home. Luckily we both like each others home countries so don't worry overly. TBH, we are pretty self sufficient in terms of company and so on and so could pretty much live anywhere so long as we were together.

**Barney Rubble** · 13-01-2012, 12:03 PM

Originally Posted by snifter

That's how hubby and I feel, perhaps him more than me. He's happy in the UK living, happy in Aus. Has positives and negatives to both, but things balance themselves out. I've yet to live in Aus long term but I'm more than happy to move there and call it home. Luckily we both like each others home countries so don't worry overly. TBH, we are pretty self sufficient in terms of company and so on and so could pretty much live anywhere so long as we were together.

pity we didn't catch up whilst i was over there a few months ago !

**Cornish Pasties** · 13-01-2012, 01:25 PM

Hi Lisa,

So very sad to hear that you are not settling as I remember your family so well from Phil Spencer Downunder. We were already very keen on the Hallet Cove Area so think I've watched that edition about 15 times!!! it's such a shame that you are still suffering from homesickness. I know that I've heard so many people say that you must give it a minimum of 2 years before you start thinking about making a decision as it's such a huge adjustment to your life. Certainly good advice from all above re getting your citizenship as then you have the option to return to Oz should you decide that the UK isn't as green as you thought. Also, yes this time of year does make us think of loved ones so if you need a trip back then do it....check it is still as you thought & what you want. It's very easy for me to say as I'm still in the UK but I'm sure it wasn't an easy task moving a family of 4 to Oz so please give it a good chance. We are still aiming for Hallet Cove early Jan 2013 so if all goes well hopefully I will be bumping into the Dancers in HC...wishing you the very best of luck whatever you decide is best for you & your family.
Zoe x

**Mo24** · 14-01-2012, 02:25 AM

Have read all the posts and agree that the pull of home can be very strong. I am a 'senior'. Have been here five years now and am married to an Aussie which has helped me on many levels. However, I am very aware of the cultural divide as my husband and I often find that in discussions we still have misunderstandings through different language usage... this can be most frustrating and at times I feel extremely isolated and foreign. Looking at pros and cons is a good idea and I feel very privileged to be living here and hope to get citizenship this year. Try and keep a foot in both camps if at all possible. My son and family emigrated to Perth, WA. two years ago. He went through an unsettled period but they both have good jobs in W.A. and as I was back in Scotland for five months in 2011, I was able to tell him that the economic situation in the U.K. is dire. His two kids are in High School in Perth and although they got a first class education in Scotland, I know that they have a good future here in Oz. Cheers

**Stephen Betteridge** · 28-02-2012, 04:54 AM

We have been here for 21 months now but I still get very very homesick, I miss my family and friends so much. Hubby is happy here but would go back if I wanted to, kids (ages 13, 11, 9 and 3) are settled but would also be happy to go back. We both have jobs here, have made friends and have bought our own house - my idea to help me settle (failed!) - but I just can't think of Adelaide as 'home'. I don't want to be sat here in 5 years time thinking we should of gone back before it was too late.