The thing I like most about living in Aus is:

[eidsvold]

the weather ( even though it poured all last week).



Just curious to see what the rest of you think.

[eidsvold]

there are lots more things I could put...

[arfishy]

Oooh. I don't even know where to start.

The people
The weather
The outdoorsy-ness
The enthusiasm for sport and healthy living (not because I'm a sports nut but because it's so refreshing to hear enthusiasm instead of sitting in a fug of fag-smoke with a pint whingeing about everything)
The 'mateness' as outlined in the new citizenship test
The food
The flora/fauna
OMG The Hunter Vally. Have just come back from a weekend and am in love. Wineries, spas, restarurants, horse-riding, 40'.

It's just great here. DD is going to go to an amazing school, with heaps of facilities, will have lots of opportunity for sport as well as arts and languages. I still can't believe how lucky we are to be here.

[robinpud]

the sunshine
the beaches
the barbeques
the number of free pools
clean toilets
free showers
beaches with free car parking
general lack of litter (compared with the UK)
the fact that the weather encourages more people to do more stuff
Gloria Jeans
The Royal National Park

[arfishy]

& those free barbeques on the beach and in the parks. Genius!

[Harrogatemum]

did the rain make any difference to the dam Eids?

[DCsnatchsunhill]

The fact there's a playground on every corner
The seasons in Melbourne
The fact that it was 25 degrees today in WINTER
The open spaces, the fact I never feel claustrophobic
The really good-value prices of property in Melbourne
The way my bus drivers chat to me every day and they are really interested about my day

[DCsnatchsunhill]

And the way that simply playing in your back garden feels really special, because the weather lets us turn it into BBQ's, socials etc at the drop of a hat

[eidsvold]

a bit - so far it has put off level 6 water restrictions for a couple of months. Hopefully more groundwater etc will keep seeping in to dams. Haven't been out to our local dam to check it out.

Noosaville on Sunshine Coast got flooded.

[robinpud]

the way they pack your shopping for you when you go grocery shopping

plenty of good value local shops selling bread, fruit and veg etc

[arfishy]

Oh joy! It's going to be 27' in Sydney today. In winter

One of the surprise hits for me has been toasted banana bread. I'm addicted to it. Yum.

I also love pumpkin and never really ate it at home. Ditto Turkish bread.

If a gigantic M&S dropped down in the middle of Sydney then life would be complete in every way .

[arfishy]

Oh joy! It's going to be 27' in Sydney today. In winter

One of the surprise hits for me has been toasted banana bread. I'm addicted to it. Yum.

I also love pumpkin and never really ate it at home. Ditto Turkish bread.

If a gigantic M&S dropped down in the middle of Sydney then life would be complete in every way .

[robinpud]

well, today it has been 27 and I have been enjoying the Harbour wearing my brand new M and S bra! So, pretty perfect!

btw photobook arrived and is pretty good! thanks again- still working on ds's

[superloopy]

I know you said thing but I have a list of things....
Food shopping - green grocers, butchers, bakery. I am loving getting eveything separately.
So many types of Tim tams!
(can you tell I'm preg and eating loads??)
Wide open spaces.
Loads of playgrounds.
People are so friendly.
Wide smooth footpaths with no dog shit.
Space between houses so you can hear the neighbours watching TV.
BBQ's.
The beach.
Wide parking spaces so you can get the doors open.
Glorious heat and sunshine in winter in Melb!
My house has no stairs, a laundry room and double garage with access to the house.
Seeing my daughter happily playing in the garden with her puppy which she couldn't have done in our tiny London garden!

[sandcastles]

Can't really add much to what has been said.

I hated beaches before I came here. They were always over crowded in the UK & I hated having to fight for space. Here, even on the hottest days the beaches are never overly busy.

The fact that we have no more then a 10 minute drive to get to a decent beach.

The shopping malls aren't as packed as in the UK. Even the pre Christmas shopping days are a pleasure to shop in.

The fact that yesturday, in winter dd was happily playing in the mud in the garden.

Also for me, is my sense of belonging to a family. My IL's are wonderful people & make me feel very at home here.

[Jackaroo]

This is lovely to read; although I've been psyching myself up for this move for 5 years, I'm still dreading alot of it... this has made such a difference!!

J
xx

[arfishy]

Sorry Sittingbull, it must be hard coming from Australia to other countries. Certainly all the other Aussies I've met in the UK have arrived, done the London/Quaint Country Cottage/Castle thing and then fled back home as fast as their round-the-world ticket would carry them. I certainly understand why none of them have ever stayed since I got here .

Jackaroo - Do it!! Australia is fantastic. The biggest problem we have as expats is missing family and the huge cost of returning to the UK to see people. Lifestyle-wise, I really can't think of anywhere to beat it.

[ghosty]

It is no wonder that most Aussies come home is it?
When we lived in NZ I used to feel a bit Anti Aussies because I used to feel that the attitude was a bit 'Well, why would anyone want to live anywhere in the world BUT Australia?' and being very protective of my lovely kiwis I didn't like that attitude (the kiwis are just grateful that you choose to move there rather than Aus - lol)
BUT having spent 4 and a bit months here (blimey, is that all??) I can completely and utterly understand why the Aussies feel that way about their country.
It really is a phenomenal place ... NOT being disloyal to NZ, it is still where my heart is ... but
I love the fact that today, in midwinter, I had to cream DD up with sunscreen and put a hat on her head ... it was 25 degrees today ... stunning!

[arfishy]

LOL Nice to see you've come over to the other side Ghosty.

PS - let's not mention your patented Ghosty-Belt to the 'thinking about its' eh?

[ghosty]

he he lol

[Jackaroo]

britishexpats.com/articles/australia/6-weeks-back-in-england/ I've just found this, and it summarises my doubts perfectly, which stops me feeling made for thinking like that... but also makes me more positive iyswim.

[Jackaroo]

that should read "feeling mad" ;)

[sherbert]

I am Australian, and have been in the UK for many years. I have finally decided to move back mostly because of house prices, weather and family BUT i do object Arfyfish to the concept that most australians flee back as soon as possible. Have none of you heard of the Australian Diaspora, mmmm I wonder what thats about?????

[sherbert]

But, having read this thread makes me feel a bit more positive about going back, so thanks Eidsvold

[arfishy]

Well, yes, there are a few of you out there.



But you all come home again