Don't tell DP but I'm seriously thinking about emigrating to Australia again.....

[katierocket]

He's going to tell me I'm being ridiculous and that we made our decision last year (not to move to Oz but to move to Wales!) but it's nagging at me that it's chance of a lifetime.

I know Oliveoil is going through the process, is there anyone else?
what made you make the final leap?

(I should mention that my sis lives in Melbourne)

I think a child with ASD who can cope with ms school would probably pass the criteria though, whereas ds1 is 9 and non-verbal (therefore in most professional opinion unlikely to ever speak) and in SLD/PMLD. I suspect they'll find him a bit pricey (he already costs the UK quite a bit iyswim).If he was younger and looking high functioning...... but I suspect we're a bit late.....

KR- I've heard that about Oz too.

So dare I ask why you prefer the UK chisigirl.....

Hi, I am in Canada, moved here two years ago. We love it here.

OP if you want to go and your sister is already in Aus, just do it.. bet your mum will follow.

gbiyyjj, why the UK? lots of reasons I suppose: have always (even as a child) felt this is more "home" than Canada, beautiful countryside (prefer the Peaks and Snowdonia over the Rockies), British sense of humour, the sense of a long history, architecture, newspapers, local accents, jaffa cakes, stone walls, sheep, London, etc, etc. Oh, and not having to trudge to work when it's minus 35 outside! The only real downside of being here in the UK is that my parents aren't here. But I am very lucky in that we still see them 3-4 times a year.

I can see the attractions of Canada. Life is "easier" there in many ways. By that I mean that the cost of living is lower, people have more space, roads are less crowded, houses are generally bigger. If, one day, DH wants to live back there I'd be all right with that.

Getbackinyouryurt - have you looked into getting a job first then applying for PR when you're there? Canada, especially Alberta and BC are really booming right now and with the Alberta oil sands and BC's links to Asia this is a trend that looks set to continue. Both provinces are crying out for workers in all manner of trades and professions. Check out britishexpats.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=56 for more info, especially the Wiki section.

Hellish - where abouts are you?

I just wonder if I've got the guts to do it.

I've lived in Australia and I've lived in Wales and I am really wondering how the one can be seen as a substitute for the other!!

That sounded flip but what i mean is, what are you wanting to move FOR?

We are moving back to Oz (from Wales) at the end of this year.

It might be good to list out why you're not happy with your move to Wales? As honestly as you can. And to see whether most of them are Wales-specific or whether they are the result purely of having moved, if you know what I mean.

Moving countries can be a fantastic experience (I moved a lot growing up) but sometimes there's a danger of the grass being greener on the other side.

oh chisigril is putting it much more nicely than I did

where in Wales are you, KR?

Callisto - I'm 35mins outside Ottawa
It's great, pretty much perfect in fact, only thing missing is family and friends.
But still glad to be here

Aus is very specific - if you have a condition that is going to be a drain on the public purse through requiring serious health care or services then they will probably knock you back. We got dd1 in as she was aussie by descent through me even though she was born in the UK.

I know it sounds bizarre PHD, it was just kind of circumstance (won't bore everyone with it here). We're in Powys, nearish to Welshpool. Where are you PHD? Are you an aussie then?

chisigirl - I think listing the reasons why unhappy against why want to move is a very good idea, will do it and post it up in a tick.

Hellish - did you get there via the PR route and what made you decide on Ottawa?

DP and I are off to Alberta/BC for a fortnight in Sept, we're hoping to have some interviews lined up and get in via work permit and PNP. PR is taking around 5 years now.

"PR route" ?

Just realised that thread title makes it look as though I'm planning to emigrate without telling DP .

Sorry, so used to all of the acronyms on BE . PR is permanent residency, which gives you the right to live and work in Canada; it takes around 5 years to complete the process. PNP is the province nominee programme - a way to try and fast-track skilled workers through the PR process

KatieRocket - BE really is worth a look if you haven't found it already. There is so much info about the various routes into Oz and how to find work when you're there, plus advice on where to live etc. There are lots of people going through the process in the forums.

Katierocket that's a good point to consider about parents that aren't getting any younger. If you read the homesickness threads on here you can see it is a big factor for people. For me and my husband, we live in neither of our own countries. We could only do this as my husband's parents have both died. If they were still alive we would have been their only family support and care. My parents on the other hand have three of my siblings with a zillion grandkids living very close which is reassuring for me and great for them as they are big family people. I keep in touch with very frequent calls and daily emails in between rare visits. This balance is working for us. Depending if you have any other siblings, if you go to Oz, that might be all the pull your Mum needs? I know lots of friends who have moved (mainly to Oz) and the parents followed - especially when grandchildren were invovled!

We moved to Sydney from the UK a year ago and it's the best thing we have ever done, we love it and the kids are thriving. BUT I'm not sure if I could have done it if my mum was still alive, even though I hadn't lived in the same country as her for 13 years before she died it was close enough to go home 3/4 times a year. I feel very guilty about my dad who is elderly and lives alone, 200 miles away from my sister, but because of our age it really was "now or never" for us when we made the decision. Talk to your mum (and your DH too of course ).

I'm still so tempted. Do you miss anything about the UK sunnyd? Were you nervous when you came to crunch and you were leaving? what age are your kids?

I miss English pubs and the fact that you can't get cheap flights to Europe for the weekend I assume you're thinking of heading to Melbourne as your sister is there and it's supposed to have more of a "European feel" than Sydney. Of course I miss friends, but I have been surprised at how easy it is to meet people here if you're willing to make a bit of an effort. We definitely socialise more as a family here - it's much easier to invite a whole gang of people over when you have a pool for the kids to play in! DH also works shorter hours, has a shorter commute and doesn't travel overseas now for work which all helps.

I don't think I was nervous, I was looking at it as a big adventure and luckily 2/3 kids felt the same and the other (middle child) soon came round. They were 13, 8 and 4 when we came. The education system here happens to suit my kids better and they are all really happy in the same school (one school makes my life much easier as well).

I hope it all works out for you.

well sister is over at the moment and it's really reviving my wish to give it a go. Just don't know if I'd ever have the balls.

Well, it is worth remembering that you would be an immigrant rather than a refugee. You would have the option to leave. If you go and hate it, it is only a 24-hour flight to get back home.

good point and I would prob feel more OK with that if it was going to impact on the children too (well the oldest anyway).

I mean, I would feel more confident if I felt that a decision to move wouldn't impact on the children, but of course it will, to a certain extent.

Katierocket I moved to Sydney from the UK 9 months ago and I also love it and wish I had done it sooner. We have a much higher standard of living here, in terms of not having a commute to work (we used to commute over an hour a day), cheaper living costs etc.

But on top of that we love the lifestyle. We are both outdoorsy people and almost every weekend we head out of the city to a national park and go walking, or even just go for a walk on the beach. And even now, in winter the weather is lovely - chilly but sunny.

I would say Oz suits people who are pretty laid back, love the outdoors and if you feel like you won't miss family or friends too much. My parents live abroad in the winter too and we have always been quite a "long distance" family (although close, we are not the type who go for sunday lunch every week).

If you love amazing shops, feeling like you have to be "first" for things like theatre, books or restaurants, you would probably like it less. It does feel a long way from things but much less so with the internet and skype etc.

I didn't hate the UK or anything but I LOVE my life out here, everything about it. And we have made lots of nice friends as well, both Ozzies and ex pats like us, it was easier than I expected actually.