Hi, Am in a mess and hoping someone with experience can offer some wisdom! We have 3 boys (6,4,1) and were living in Australia with them but decided to return to UK, mainly financial but also missing family as well.
Husband transferred back with his job, currently working in (A) where we thought we would live. So we're house/school hunting but not inspired to live there long term. Its a beautiful city but we can just afford a (large) flat which isnt ideal for growing boys, its too cold, schools are full and it's a long way from my family. At the moment I'm staying with his parents with the children, same part of UK but 3 hours away and in the middle of nowhere. Isnt ideal but DS1 is at school so we're staying put until we get our own place organised. our choice is to live in the centre of (A) or somewhere an hours commute in the (nice but remote) countryside. Alternatively we could change tack before its too late and move to the south coast near my family, we could afford a house, ok schools, and my husband can commute to the London office until an alternative job option comes up. The commute would be around 2 hours a day door to door. We've lived in London before and loved it but won't return now due to school admissions process.
So I guess am looking for advice where you'd live - near family (grandparents, cousins) in an area you're familiar with or other end of country, shorter commute but somewhere you're not so sure about.
Any advice welcome!
It took us a long time to decide to return and we don't want to move the children around now the eldest 2 are school age.