awildsmith Posted October 17, 2012 Report Share Posted October 17, 2012 Hi there We have been in Perth now for about 22 months. Before that we were in an Essex village back in the Uk and even before that we here here in Perth for almost 9 years. Basically we have been one of those ping pong poms or whatever some people call us! Here to stay now though! I just thought I would voice what I am sure we all feel sometimes. Don't get me wrong I love perth. I love our outdoorsy lifestyle, seeing my kids do things that they wouldn't be doing back in the Uk and the opportunities that being here has given all of us. I love riding my bike to work in the (very nearly always) sunshine and looking out through my window whilst cooking at the pool in the garden. I love the free concerts and outdoor movies. I love a bottle of wine for $5.00 and all the variety of lovely fresh food. I wouldn't change any of our choices to move for the world even though it has done us in financially doing it twice. BUT I still sometimes long to see my best friends at home, have a laugh and share things with my 2 sisters, go to the pub where I used to work and where everybody knows me and a whole load of other things. You still have bad days when you want what you don't have anymore and when skype or facebook just aren't enough. Today was certainly one of those! So its both isn't it? Most of the time I love being here and all that gorgeous Perth has to offer, I feel so lucky and privilleged. But today is just one of those days when I would love just a little bit of the UK. Roll on tomw then. Like we are always telling the kids 'tomorrow is a new day, everything will look different'. I know that I will be back to loving it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TDK43 Posted October 17, 2012 Report Share Posted October 17, 2012 Hopefully you will wake up in love with Perth tomorrow morning! Its the family and friends, and familiarity that we miss, x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redrobbersdog Posted October 17, 2012 Report Share Posted October 17, 2012 I'm loving being here in Perth and I really do not miss the uk, it's just the people. I spend most of the time being ok but have noticed it seems to be a couple of days every 3 months where I just want to jump on a plane and go and give everyone a big hug have a drink In the pub before getting back on a plane back to Perth! Silly I know! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jackboots Posted October 18, 2012 Report Share Posted October 18, 2012 I get the same . Yesterday was my devil on my shoulder day I miss family , friends and yes even lifestyle at times ... it always amazes me that some people don't get like it at all . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nicolac34 Posted October 18, 2012 Report Share Posted October 18, 2012 Hmm it is interesting. Can't say I've had one of those days yet... been here 16 months and haven't had the urge to return, in fact I had to go back 10 months after arriving for a wedding and we are heading back again in 2 months time, and I actually don't want to go! Maybe when I don't have a date when I'll be seeing everyone again I'll feel differently. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Levi Posted October 18, 2012 Report Share Posted October 18, 2012 I'm still in Europe, thinking about (and researching) my migration options and currently I think that I wouldn't have the urge to return either. Different people, different personalities I guess. Also I think that FIFO would suit me perfectly, as I'm without wife and kids. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
awildsmith Posted October 18, 2012 Author Report Share Posted October 18, 2012 Hmm it is interesting. Can't say I've had one of those days yet... been here 16 months and haven't had the urge to return, in fact I had to go back 10 months after arriving for a wedding and we are heading back again in 2 months time, and I actually don't want to go! Maybe when I don't have a date when I'll be seeing everyone again I'll feel differently. Do you know what. You may have hit the nail on the head. It may be comforting to know that you have a holiday planned even if far in the future. Or that somebody is coming to visit you. I think for me, I seem to be able to reach the year mark and then sometimes hit a bit of a hump. Its like a rollercaoaster though, the ups and the downs. I can normally push through it though and all gets better with the world again quite quickly. As much as I would love to be able to teleport back to the village pub on a friday night I can still remember dreary wet and windy coastal Essex October days. Suddenly not quite so tempting when out of the office window is beautiful sunshine and the summer about to start. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elfie Posted October 18, 2012 Report Share Posted October 18, 2012 I miss traipsing round the country watching british superbikes wondering if the rain will stay away making sure we have our army issue ponchos in rucksack just in case. I miss watching moto gp on eurosport listening to jules and tobys commentary. I do miss our small circle of friends I miss moto gp Sundays with the gang watching the racing I miss my local Indian for a dam good curry, I miss my bmw I miss my holidays in Greece, I miss my pets, I miss Yorkshire tea bags I miss gravy browning. Most of all I miss the astronomical rent money from my bank account eatch monthI dont miss the weather and am happy here for now ) whew ........................................ so glad I got that off my chest. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
linda@no9 Posted October 18, 2012 Report Share Posted October 18, 2012 I miss my son, that's it. We are back to uk next year when he graduates uni, but other than that, i'd rather pay for him to come here than us go there! I do have 'funny' days that I can't put my finger on, but apart from that I do love it here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest themanns Posted October 18, 2012 Report Share Posted October 18, 2012 I think this is a complicated one to answer as every person has different likes and dislikes..But for me Australia seems hard to get that bond with because of the size and blandness of the place..England is so small with lots on your doorstep and all sorts of weathers and things going on and family there too.. It is so old that you feel there is life in the walls of buildings! I truely believe that for a child there is much more to look forward to in the course of a year than these Aussie kids get..and when mummy and daddy need a change of scene or weather we have a holiday! I foresee Australia dipping when mining takes a hit and with all the prices so high our children wouldn't get much opportunity and certainly couldn't afford a car! I think people leave UK for sunnier outlooks and ping pong coz Aus ain't it either... I think having the choice is what keep us going in life and because Aus is sooo remote you feel penned in..also takes ages to travel round Aus on hols or day trips so you might not bother then feel bit trapped. Us humans probably don't like being told we can't do something and with the distance between England and Aus being so great we can't just grab that plane.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest1337 Posted October 18, 2012 Report Share Posted October 18, 2012 I miss traipsing round the country watching british superbikes wondering if the rain will stay away making sure we have our army issue ponchos in rucksack just in case. I miss watching moto gp on eurosport listening to jules and tobys commentary. I do miss our small circle of friends I miss moto gp Sundays with the gang watching the racing I miss my local Indian for a dam good curry, I miss my bmw I miss my holidays in Greece, I miss my pets, I miss Yorkshire tea bags I miss gravy browning. Most of all I miss the astronomical rent money from my bank account eatch monthI dont miss the weather and am happy here for now ) whew ........................................ so glad I got that off my chest. Just FYI, You can watch Moto gp on one hd, you can watch British superbikes on foxtel, or head to Barbagello for live motorbike racing! :-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StraighttothePoint Posted October 18, 2012 Report Share Posted October 18, 2012 Perhaps the problem these days is that emigrating to the other side of the world is not the same as it was. Nowadays we have the internet, better communications, the opportunity to travel back and forward more easily, the option to go back and so on. Back in the day people came out and had to make it work because they either only had a single ticket or had to make it work because they had no money to return so they battled on, stayed and got through it all. I think they were also a bit tougher mentally and probably brought up with a lot more tough love than the majority nowadays. I am lucky because I can live between both Perth and Scotland so very rarely get homesick because I always have something to look forward to regradless of where I am. I think that point is made above whereby people can be comforted knowing that they have a trip booked. Everyone is different and all of us have different options and/or opportunities. I have always said if you do not like it leave - where ever you are. If you leave and you gave it a go, gave it your best shot and you do not like it then go back to where you want to be and be happy again. If you like it stay and enjoy it. There is no right or wrong answer. The great thing as I say though is that having the option to give it a go and go back is something that we probably have more of than those before us who came here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StraighttothePoint Posted October 18, 2012 Report Share Posted October 18, 2012 Just FYI, You can watch Moto gp on one hd, you can watch British superbikes on foxtel, or head to Barbagello for live motorbike racing! :-) Or just go down to Leech Highway through the night and watch it there Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elfie Posted October 18, 2012 Report Share Posted October 18, 2012 i watch moto gp on channel one on free view cat but its the banter between toby and jules i miss they like a double act and im not paying the astronomical price to watch american rubbish tv just to get bsb for a couple of weeks a year on foxtel but heading to sepang next year for gp yeahhhhhhhhhhhhh Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elfie Posted October 18, 2012 Report Share Posted October 18, 2012 I think this is a complicated one to answer as every person has different likes and dislikes..But for me Australia seems hard to get that bond with because of the size and blandness of the place..England is so small with lots on your doorstep and all sorts of weathers and things going on and family there too.. It is so old that you feel there is life in the walls of buildings! I truely believe that for a child there is much more to look forward to in the course of a year than these Aussie kids get..and when mummy and daddy need a change of scene or weather we have a holiday! I foresee Australia dipping when mining takes a hit and with all the prices so high our children wouldn't get much opportunity and certainly couldn't afford a car! I think people leave UK for sunnier outlooks and ping pong coz Aus ain't it either... I think having the choice is what keep us going in life and because Aus is sooo remote you feel penned in..also takes ages to travel round Aus on hols or day trips so you might not bother then feel bit trapped. Us humans probably don't like being told we can't do something and with the distance between England and Aus being so great we can't just grab that plane.. oh so true can relate to that ............... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elfie Posted October 18, 2012 Report Share Posted October 18, 2012 Perhaps the problem these days is that emigrating to the other side of the world is not the same as it was. Nowadays we have the internet, better communications, the opportunity to travel back and forward more easily, the option to go back and so on. Back in the day people came out and had to make it work because they either only had a single ticket or had to make it work because they had no money to return so they battled on, stayed and got through it all. I think they were also a bit tougher mentally and probably brought up with a lot more tough love than the majority nowadays. I am lucky because I can live between both Perth and Scotland so very rarely get homesick because I always have something to look forward to regradless of where I am. I think that point is made above whereby people can be comforted knowing that they have a trip booked. Everyone is different and all of us have different options and/or opportunities. I have always said if you do not like it leave - where ever you are. If you leave and you gave it a go, gave it your best shot and you do not like it then go back to where you want to be and be happy again. If you like it stay and enjoy it. There is no right or wrong answer. The great thing as I say though is that having the option to give it a go and go back is something that we probably have more of than those before us who came here. I think you hit the nail on the head there ........ for us our life is not here permanently we are here for 4 years. It is an experience we would not have had and count ourselves lucky. If we were here permanently perhaps we would be different. We had an opportunity and took it opportunities do not come knocking at ones door so have to make the most of them. I still have my homes in the UK to go back to for that we count our lucky stars. Maybe when we do go home we will wish we could have stayed who knows. One cannot predict the future. But for now home is Perth WA and I do not dislike, but it is not the b all and end all of our life. For now we have a base we can travel about and see more of Australia I hope and happy memories later in life ........... wow so deep for me hehehehe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest themanns Posted October 18, 2012 Report Share Posted October 18, 2012 I also think that Australia has that 'holiday' temporary feel....the new builds like hotels and new shopping malls and some of the restuarants when you look around inside look like they have just rented the space! Lots of it geared round newbies making a life for themselves..Maybe we crave the realism of the UK Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jackboots Posted October 19, 2012 Report Share Posted October 19, 2012 I love both for different reasons ... but when people sickness as I call it kicks in , it kicks hard Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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