to just not understand 'Wanted Down Under'

[AtYourCervix]

All these people wanting to move 'To improve the quality of life'

but every one has older children refusing to go, partners with 'major concerns' and extended families devastated at the thought of families so far away.

Why? I don't get how this could Improve their lives.

Enlighten me.....

I'm a,Kiwi who dragged my English wife and children to NZ for 'a better quality of life'. I've made some mistakes in my life but this one takes first prize!
Not only did I break my children's grandparents hearts but my wife simply found she pined for the UK for 2 years. The cost of living, a culture that only extends to rugby and house prices and a primary school system bent on teaching kids Maori (that most useful of languages), well, we simply had to come home to good old blighty.

Kiwis and Aussies LOVE their countries and bang on all the time about how lucky they are. COME ON BRITS! You have the Cotswolds, the Cornish coast, world class education, history, culture to die for and the NHS! Start shouting about how good this country is....its amazing!!!

Stayathomedaddy so you don't think learning the native language of New Zealand useful then? What a very colonial attitude you have!!!

I laugh at then wanting to move to Oz for the weather and outside lifestyle. The UV levels are terrifyingly high in places like Queensland and you learn pretty quickly that if you spend all your time outside your skin will start to suffer. Even here in a more Southern state I pretty much stay inside most of the summer and start to feel ill if I'm in the sun too long.

I've actually considered moving to the UK for better weather (for me). I dream of having a 'proper' winter

Perhaps you are correct Strongmummy. Perhaps there is some old Imperialist rattling around from a previous life deep in my subconscious somewhere.

Utopia lies in the eyes of the beholder...that was the point of my post really. That 'wanted down under' program totally misses on this point. But then I guess it makes good telly doesn't it?

The supposedly better work/home life balance intrigues me.....they make out that everyone in Australia clocks off at noon and heads to the beach every day. Surely that isn't the case? Is there is no overtime or need to bring work home there?

Yes Bluetounge, nothing beats deluging the kids in factor 50 three times a day or going for regular checks to the GP for potential skin cancer from a childhood spent under the ultra harsh NZ UV. There is snow predicted this week in London and the kids cant wait. Come on over and dive in, the weather is just fine!

It's put me off moving to Australia. I have never once watched it and thought, "oh what lovely people they are!".

I didn't realise it was scripted though, so maybe that's why they all come across as thick as shit?

I've worked and lived in Sydney and my birthplace of Auckland. DO NOT be fooled by thinking you will work any less! PLUS given these countries lack the public transport systems of the UK be prepared to sit in gridlock for hours each day.

I don't think a week long trip is enough to base a full blown move on ! We lived in NZ for 5 years and it was great whilst we had kids. However we had 2 babies close to each other whilst living there, the wages were low, there was zero maternity pay from the day I left work until I went back when my ( premature) ds was 5 months old and with no family support, a toddler and a poorly baby I ended up depressed and desperate to get home !! People need to think very carefully before leaving behind their whole support network. The grass isn't always greener.

I'm not bitter by the way, just removing the rose tinted sales job done by that programme.

Stay - I agree about the public transport !! When we lived in the suburbs of Auckland my shifts used to finish at 11pm and dh would have to get our baby out of his cot to come and pick me up as we couldn't afford to run 2 cars. It took him years to get into a normal sleep routine !!

Zombie thread!

This thread is 6 years old.

But good to see the Aussie stereotypes have stood the test of time.

But hasn't this thread been restarted because there is a new series?

Baby - we had similar issues living on the fringes of the city only being able to run one car. Talking to my wife took on a new life...over the phone whilst I crawled along the Northwestern Motorway in 1st gear. Might have been bearable if I could have had BBC 4 to listen to or even a bit of Absolute Radio :)

It made me laugh on last nights epsode when the guy was driving round looking at the business competition (gyms) going "oh, I never realized there was so much competition - there's one on every street corner" it then cut to him with his builder - and his already half-built fitness centre!
Er..shouldn't you have gone and checked that out beforehand??

You're right stayathomedaddy. I do love Blighty though!!

Haha, exactly what we said to each other. Mr Muscles wasn't the sharpest spade on his building site.

Nice to hear it Strongmummy. Good for you :)

I love this show but I'm not sure how realistic it is that OZ will give you a new life. I don't see why you wouldn't try and adjust your life in the UK first. Family is important and I don't know quite why you'd leave that behind for sweltering heat.

Simple and enlightened Msqueen...:)

I agree. What a lot of people don't realise is that Australians work long hours. I have family there and they say the main benefit is every weekend is like a holiday due to the weather and beaches etc. but they feel they work harder in the week.
I also don't know my nephews and nieces that live there as contrary to popular opinion, Skype is not like a real life relationship !! ps I'm not bitter...much!

They do realise that there's no NHS, don't they?

And that they'll have to pay for their children's education?

Family is important and I don't know quite why you'd leave that behind for sweltering heat.
Couldn't agree more!

Oh and there's more culture in a pot of yoghurt!