Moving to Oz - how did you rationalise moving so far from family and friends?

[Buda]

As some of you know we are currently in Budapest and planning on relocating back to UK in 2 years or so. But. But. But.

I keep thinking of Oz. Perth to be precise. DH would go in a heartbeat but thinks I would struggle hugely with distance. I have lived away from my family in Dublin for years but for the last 8 years have been close enough to go back 3/4 times a year. We are popping back this weekend for my Dad's 70th in fact.

I have 3 younger sisters all with children. DS is an only and loves his cousins. DH has no family ties to anywhere or anyone.

We have just sat and tried to logically work out pros and cons and give various aspects of living in either UK or Oz points but we are stuck on just how much the proximity to Dublin should be weighted (DH is a very logical accountant!!).

If you have done it how did you decide? And how do you feel now? How bad is the journey to an from? (Have been to Oz twice but both times from Asia so travel/cost less of an issue.) How often do you get back? How much do you miss people? Is it really worth it?

I may not get back on again tonight but will be on in the morning. Looking forward to lots of helpful replies from you Oz lot! Thanks!

Oh goody.... off to ferret! Love to spend time looking at houses I suspect I can't afford

I don't know your budget but here goes....

Milverton is a pretty village. Gorgeous countryside. Not too far from Taunton

Too cottagey? Goathurst is lovely. Might be too quiet though

Lyng

I like

Ah. forgot to mention we want detached!

The Milverton ones have been on for ages. Almost sold once and then fell through.

Can't get the Goathurst one up.

The Lyng one is ok. Nothing special.

DH reckons traffic from Trull is hard getting to Taunton School.

Budget up to 800.

I can get the Goathurst one OK....

I am surprised at Trull being bad. I thought it would be ideal for Taunton school but then I realised I was thinking of Queens College So.....Kingston St mary would be ideal sort of location, or Cheddon.

Hi Buda
Glad to have been of some informative help; now I will add in the positives of where we are.
We are 1.5 hours north of Sydney (just above Central Coast region, which is not so great and has water restrictions), which is near enough for going places, and far enough that the prices aren't extortionate (unless you want lakeside property ).

We are on the edge of Lake Macquarie (nowhere near Port Macquarie, he was a busy man, old Macquarie, there are loads of places/things named after him ).

We are 45 mins from the HUnter Valley wine region and about the same from the Watagan mountains.

The beach is within half an hour's drive in almost any direction, but we are also currently staying MIL's house which is lakeside and has its own jetty. Watching pelicans fly by in the morning is very special.

Where we are is possibly not great for city working, but for semi-retirement it would be fine and the schools are considered to be pretty good, so I've heard.

Most of all, and (despite DH being Aussie) the biggest reason for us being here is for DS - for his childhood to be the best we can offer him; and both of us think that is here, with the outdoor opportunities he will have here. DH had such a great childhood he can't contemplate what it would be like without all the sea access!

Might not be helping.. but still there is the issue of distance and family. Am still waiting for someone to invent a real transporter machine a la Star Trek...

I did read the Somerset bits btw, just wanted to add in my bit anyway!

Brent Knoll

Goathurst again

Found an amazingly gothic looking place at Stockland Bristol but couldn't link it.

I guess you are familiar with the GTH website though.

Orm - DH hasn't actually lived in Somerset for about 25 years! He reckons that traffic gets snarled up if you have to got past the station so we have been focusing on west of Taunton.

thumbwitch - I have just been looking at Sydney property porn in Northern Beaches or Hunter Valley. OMG! Some nice houses!

Ah... I can't compare with that thumb I guess I shall have to look and dream for my own enjoyment....

Orm I really like this but it is right on main road. From Google earth it seems to be just plonked in the middle bit of the edge of farmland just along from the garage at the round-about! Agent tells me it would be closer to 800K if it was in a nicer area. That is basically what I am looking for!

Most of Norton Fitzwarren is on a main road TBH.

I feel claustrophobic just looking at the kitchen in the Brent Knoll one. Have seen that other one but it doesn't do anything for me. I know I am really fussy.

We live in an amazing house here with huge high ceilings so I really can't see myself coping with low ceilings.

I just had a look at Warner's Bay - a popular suburb of the Lake Macquarie area - some great stuff and some cheaper stuff - but you have to remember that looks aren't always everything; sometimes the outside photos really don't do the Aussie properties any justice at all (and yet sometimes they do of course!)

There are more and more two storey, English-style houses being built around here, I've noticed - probably to cater for the English immigrant population, which is quite high in this area!

DId I mention our house has its own pool...?
[smug emoticon]

North-slightly east of Taunton but a good road in

www.chestertonhumberts.com/details.dtx?propertyid=F3C6BF93-84B8-4E2E-BBF8-A7015EF659A5

I am just enjoying myself now. Feel free to ignore...

thumbwitch - no you didn't mention you had a pool - !!!

Orm - I love that north-slightly east one but had discounted it as being on wrong side. Is it really a good road? Can you convince DH? Can I have the weather in the photos too??? I love the hallway in that one. I like that I could live with the kitchen but would ultimately do it up and for the first time ever in over 20 years have a SAY in what goes in and what goes where.

The Bishops Lydeard one is nice but the water scares me.

Actually Orm - found IT! THE house. The DREAM house. here. Sigh.

Buda wakes up and realises that it was but a dream.

Damn. It's under offer. The north-slightly esat one.

ROFL at your 'dreams' buda They are much wilder than mine!

The road comes in to Taunton on the Glastonbury road and then joins the A38 - you can avoid going through Taunton by going round to the North (Staplegrove I think) and then into Taunton towards Taunton School. It's not ideal but you aren't having to cross the town at rushhour.

I will look for some more Kingston and Cheddon way.

Holford is gorgeous. Probably too remote and cottagey though. I would love it

On a road but set back a bit

www.homesandproperty.co.uk/sale/south-west-england/somerset/spaxton/5-bedroom-detached-house-sale/14 815-2792739.html

www.homesandproperty.co.uk/sale/south-west-england/somerset/nether-stowey/6-bedroom-detached-house-s ale/14815-4056474.html

probably a bit further from taunton that you wanted but Stowey might tick some of those boxes.

Well I am having fun

That last one I have been lusting over for a while. In all honesty it is possibly too much house for us really.

The other don't really do anything for me.

Oh well I give up then

Actually that is not quite right. The other Nether Stowey one is nice but attached. We really want detached. Have had nightmare neighbours in the past!

None of the others tick right boxes. Told you I am fussy!

We may have to think about building our own. We have almost 2 years before we move so it should be doable. How are you on finding bits of land??

I think it's good advice to go where the schools are good, so that is one major worry you don't have (take it from me, that makes a difference to your quality of life).

I'd also want decent health care having seen my dp's battle with cancer and the thankfully brilliant care they received.

I see you have a hankering for a quiet place but I wonder if you wouldn't go nuts after a couple of years settling into a very quiet place. You've travelled a lot and will be very cosmopolitan. Adelaide might be nice generally but you want things to do, don't you? More than perhaps driving to a local vinyard with dh or into the mountains with dh etc. Unless you and dh have more to say to each other than dh and I do! I'd need places to go, want to have a bit of fun and feel a bit young and alive as well really. Not sure if there is that kind of feel to Adelaide or are you just old and settled at 40ish there?

Can't help thinking once your ds is at secondary, his school friendships will take over wherever he is but you might get bored. My sister took a long time to settle in Oz (initially Sydney, then Canberra) with a dh from Canberra. She's a nice, chatty person, easy going, well travelled, very funny but she found it hard meeting people on her wave-length before she had dc tbh. Now I don't know for sure, it's just her life, she has 3 girls at school, a big home, a nice income. I don't think she questions it anymore.

If I were to move to Oz, I think I would look at Melbourne - more mediterranean I thought.

Aha! Well I could have another look......