Why do people have to be so negative??!

[methuselah]

It's often underestimated how much those left behind do actually grieve for their 'lost' families. Our family came out in August 2007 on the understanding that Mum & Dad would follow. Their contributory visa was within a month of being issued when we had a visit home during which it became clear that they really didn't want to go - they were only going because of us. They were in their late 70's and a move would have been a massive upheaval - leaving the house they'd lived in for 30+ years and their UK pension would have been frozen too. So we came home last January. And I'm so glad we did as my beloved Mum died last month, unexpectedly. At least we had 10 months of all being together again. With the benefit of a crystal ball we would never have gone. But we're glad to be back home, even the weather is a welcome change! There is a lot we weren't prepared for when we came back - your credit rating goes down since you haven't had any recent credit in this country (they don't count any you had in Oz), a UK employer will rarely give you a telephone interview so we came home jobless, and we had to stay with relatives for a while as no landlord would rent to a family newly-arrived in the UK and with no recent job history here. Banks won't lend for a mortgage unless you can give 3 years' continuous past UK addresses (there are a few exceptions). And there is the possibility of your children having to pay to go to college if they've been out of the country, so it's not all straight forward. Anyway, please don't underestimate how relatives at home feel, their apparent support and bright goodbyes are probably masking an awful lot.

[Dave Mulliner]

Hi all, talking as a parent who`s daughter decided to take her family to Australia 6 years ago, as a parent it does break your heart, I just said to Donna (our daughter) if thats what you want then by all means go and give it a go. We have visited her 4 times now and miss them and Australia every time we come, but now we are on the first rung of the ladder in going to live there ourselves. People do have different ways of dealing with it, one bit of advice if you like was to say don`t forget your roots, by the way they have been Australians for 4 years now, on the bottom of her emails and such is "Were loving it loving it" and I don`t blame her.

[methuselah]

I said the same to ours. One is going to Perth in July with his new wife to try it for a year and if they like it they might stay, it will be hard but if they will be happy there, it's their life. Our girls (who were there with us and now back home) are in their teens and one reckons she's heading back as soon as she can, again, so long as she's happy & keeps in touch. But I acknowledge that many parents left behind find it all very hard indeed. I suppose the thing to remember is that the world is getting smaller in terms of travel and we're probably not far away from much shorter plane journeys than we have at present. Don't you just wish you could throw a rope round Oz and drag it a bit closer though? Or better still throw one round us and get us a bit closer to them for the weather!

[gingermelon22]

hey lucy,

really sorry to hear that cause i know how it feels!. im going to perth in april on my own and i have had such a mixed reaction from everyone close to me.my friends say that im doing the right thing cause life is 2 short to have regrets so i should do what makes me happy, my family on the other hand believe that i am crazy to just pack up and move to the other side of the world.i know in my heart that they are just concerned about me but i really wish that they would be a liitle more supportive considering that that they know how anxious i am about it.

the way i look at it you only get one life and you should live it to the full.if you truly believe in ure heart that this is the right thing to do for you and ure family then you should just do it and try ure best to ignore all the negativity from other people.

i wish you all the best with it and heres to 2012 and to a great ne start in sunny wa.

all the best,
tracey x

[Lucy G]

I couldn't agree more and thank you. Lets just hope once we are there and they see that we are doing ok and are really happy they will change their mind - if not hey ho as long we are happy as you say.

All the best for April to you too - where abouts are you headed for?
Lucy x

[gingermelon22]

im heading to perth.i was there in 2007 for 4 months and i loved it.its a fab city so much to see and do.when i was there the last time i was on a working holiday visa and now im going out on my second.the thing is that immigration will only approve a second year if ure under 31 and as i turn 31 in may this year this really is my last shot at it.i spent a lot of time weighing it up and considering whether now was the right time for me to go but if i dont il never get the oppertunity again and i just know that i would regret that later on down the line.i figure that i can only try and if it dosent work out well then at least i can say that i gave it a go.

thats all anyone can do.youl be fine out there just remember that!
hopefully wel cross paths once there:)

[Lucy G]

Good for you! We are totally the same although we have never been and have 3kids to consider but the principal is the same. We have to do it now while the boys are young and so are we! We have dreamed of this for so long and have spent such a long time in the visa process etc we wouldn't have done all that we weren't 100% sure this was right for us. As you say, if it doesn't work out we will return but we will give it our best shot and at least we won't in 15yrs time be saying to each other 'what if'! We had a dream and we battled hard for it & if it works out will be the best thing we could ever have done for our boys! If it doesn't then at least we gave it a go.
You never know we may bump into each lol! Good luck x

[gingermelon22]

exactly,

what date in april are ye going?

[Lucy G]

we land on the 17th x

[gingermelon22]

oh really i land on the 18th! any idea as to where abouts ure gona get accomadation?