Omega Owners Forum

Chat Area => General Discussion Area => Topic started by: smoothomega on 09 April 2008, 21:30:51

Title: Should i stay or should i go ??
Post by: smoothomega on 09 April 2008, 21:30:51
As some of you know, my brother lives out in Perth, Australia and has been there for ten years now. He has been on at me for a long time now to move out there and live but i have always put it out of the question, however the more i see of this country the more i become disappointed and disillusioned. Australia is crying out for plumbers and sparkys, both of which i am, i am also an accomplished painter and decorator as well as tiler and plasterer. Anyway, i have been giving the idea some deep thought over the last few months and i am seriously considering it. The main problem is i have two children and i would have to leave them behind which would break my heart although i realise at some point they will go off and build there own life. At 42 years old i have a couple of years to make up my mind before emigration becomes more difficult as th ozzys have a 45 years of age cut off point, after which it becomes a lot more difficult.
I would be very interested in what others think and what they would do
Cheers, a very confussed Jez  :-/
Title: Re: Should i stay or should i go ??
Post by: Lazydocker on 09 April 2008, 21:36:39
I think it's something only you can decide. But if it was me I'd be off! Sad to leave this country and the friends and family behind but you've got to in with the best life for yourself!

The wife and I have talked about it but she wont leave her parents! :( :( :( :(
Title: Re: Should i stay or should i go ??
Post by: Entwood on 09 April 2008, 21:38:47
The ONLY person who can decide is YOU .. don't base the rest of your life on the inane ramblings of others ....

Having said that .. a few inane ramblings ....

My bro-in-law emigrated to Oz 5 years ago, at the time his "trade" was accepted AND he was sponsored .. so was accepted fine. The company sponsoring him went broke, and he couldn't get a job in the same line of work, although he did get a job. They have tried to throw him out  several times, but he has kept on and 3 months ago, finally got the paperwork that allows him to stay !!! It has been a major struggle through layers of bureaucracy. That said ... he loves it. When out-of-work things got pretty bad as the level of social support appears very different to "hand it out UK", we had to send him money to keep him going.

Whatever decision you make you MUST stick with it .. no point in being half-hearted and backing out early....  IMHO
Title: Re: Should i stay or should i go ??
Post by: Vamps on 09 April 2008, 21:39:24
If I was younger and fitter I would go, you can always come back. Depends on your personal situation, but they have their social problems as well, the grass is not always greener, but got to be worth a look. :) :) :)
How much is their VED???  ;D
Title: Re: Should i stay or should i go ??
Post by: kris9128 on 09 April 2008, 21:44:20
only you can decide mate. it is a big life changing decision and 1 thats not easily put right IF things go wrong. personaly tho i would jump at the chance of getting out of this country. me and the missus are currently giving canada some serious consideration. good luck with which ever choice you decide.  :) :)
Title: Re: Should i stay or should i go ??
Post by: smoothomega on 09 April 2008, 21:46:04
I realise it can be my and only my decision, just wondered what others thought, i also know the grass can be brown and dead (and probbably is) on the other side but the more i see of this country the more i dilike the carp that goes off here. I do think that we have a wonderfull island, it's just that it's slowly sinking and i don't want to drown just yet  :-?
Title: Re: Should i stay or should i go ??
Post by: Richie London on 09 April 2008, 21:47:12
i had it all set up a couple of yrs ago but my x wouldnt come or let me take kids. im 47 now and still get letters from them about going over. nothing here for our kids, i worry for there future. ive m8s over there in perth doing real well.
have a good think about it, i would, how do you see your future here, or even there, your families???  

richie
Title: Re: Should i stay or should i go ??
Post by: kris9128 on 09 April 2008, 21:49:14
just do it mate. you'll only spend the rest of time wondering "what if" what have you got to lose. as for the kids, return tickets to oz from heathrow around £800. and as mentioned before, you can always come back
Title: Re: Should i stay or should i go ??
Post by: smoothomega on 09 April 2008, 21:51:58
Quote
i had it all set up a couple of yrs ago but my x wouldnt come or let me take kids. im 47 now and still get letters from them about going over. nothing here for our kids, i worry for there future. ive m8s over there in perth doing real well.
have a good think about it, i would, how do you see your future here, or even there, your families???  

richie

Pretty shit TBH with what i see around me and the way in which the country is heading  :(
Title: Re: Should i stay or should i go ??
Post by: Richie London on 09 April 2008, 21:53:44
Quote
just do it mate. you'll only spend the rest of time wondering "what if" what have you got to lose. as for the kids, return tickets to oz from heathrow around £800. and as mentioned before, you can always come back


like i do. couldnt go without my kids  
Title: Re: Should i stay or should i go ??
Post by: HolyCount on 09 April 2008, 21:55:19
Seems to me the only real sticking point is the kids -- how old are they?  ( I take it they live apart from you ).

As has been said before -- the price of a ticket is getting cheaper all the time -- and think of the summer holidays they could have.

If t'were me - I wouldn't leave my kids, but that has to be your decision --- however, this country IS going to the dogs !!!
Title: Re: Should i stay or should i go ??
Post by: Albatross on 09 April 2008, 22:00:19
One word....











[size=22]HOLDEN[/size] :y








Title: Re: Should i stay or should i go ??
Post by: smoothomega on 09 April 2008, 22:01:53
Yep they do live apart unfortunatly, Daughter is 18 and son of 12  :-/
Title: Re: Should i stay or should i go ??
Post by: HolyCount on 09 April 2008, 22:03:19
Quote
Yep they do live apart unfortunatly, Daughter is 18 and son of 12  :-/

I would say old enough to understand -- and to appreciate the holidays in Oz
Title: Re: Should i stay or should i go ??
Post by: waspy on 09 April 2008, 22:11:48
I say go, why? Because if you don't you will allways have """what if""".
Ok you've two kids, but you're not gone for ever. They'll love the hols you can provide & it's not like they're very young.
Talk to them & see what they say.
Title: Re: Should i stay or should i go ??
Post by: Olympia5776 on 09 April 2008, 22:14:02
After a divorce I took up an offer of a transfer with the company I worked with from Scotland to Beds. I had to leave my daughter with the X and to be frank it was the hardest thing I have EVER done. There is no denying it I had to hold myself back from driving up that M6 every friday night. But I did and now 18 years later life has taken me to places and presented me with opportunities that I just wouldn't have had had I stayed. I spent 35 years in Control and Instrumentation rising to a middle management level ,now I'm a builder in Ireland and I love it . ;D
So what I'm trying to say to you is it's a big wide world out there and it can be very interesting going forward ,kids grow up ,mine have and they have their own life now and we see and speak regularily.I'm 54 and feel thirty ,have a new wife and family and although it was tough making those decisions have absolutley no regrets .
Live life....... :y
Title: Re: Should i stay or should i go ??
Post by: HolyCount on 09 April 2008, 22:17:42
Quote
I say go, why? Because if you don't you will allways have """what if""".
Ok you've two kids, but you're not gone for ever. They'll love the hols you can provide & it's not like they're very young.
Talk to them & see what they say.

Excellent bit of advice from Sir Waspy --- see what they think.
Title: Re: Should i stay or should i go ??
Post by: Lazydocker on 09 April 2008, 23:05:39
The 18 year old may think it's such a good idea she wants to come too!

I'd definitely go if it wasn't for her parents... Unfortunately they're the stumbling block as it's a very close family.  
Title: Re: Should i stay or should i go ??
Post by: zippo on 09 April 2008, 23:14:28
ive family in Townsville, been there about 15 years don't regret leaving the UK at all.Ive been saying for years I'll go over to see them (now that the v8s are racing their i might have to go  :D :D :D)
Title: Re: Should i stay or should i go ??
Post by: cantangulon on 10 April 2008, 03:12:05
At the end of the day the decision must be yours but if I could stay I definitely would. My kids are now grown up and have their own lives. No need for Dad anymore. They are happy and settled. My own life went on hold while they were growing up (don't get me wrong I wouldn't have missed a moment) taking crappy jobs just for the pay. I am too old to stay in Oz now (although I am still trying) having reached 50 this year. I wish I had had the foresight to look at Oz earlier. I have lived in France, Spain and Oz but Oz is by far the best for Brits in my opinion. Talk to the kids and see what they think, mine just said "as long as you are happy Dad do what you think is right for you" and i do still see them on visits.
It looks as though I might have another few months here after all. The immigration agent is working his socks off for me so...fingers crossed.
Title: Re: Should i stay or should i go ??
Post by: bob.dent on 10 April 2008, 10:02:48
To be honest Jez, if I had the chance I'd be off like a shot. Sadly, this country is becoming a worse place to live for people that were born and raised here due the inept government, cost of living, PC brigade, lack of discipline, violence etc. etc.

Many people I know that emigrated years ago have achieved a great deal out there and have a very comfortable lifestyle and would NEVER come back. Sad, but true.

Go for it Jez!! :y
Title: Re: Should i stay or should i go ??
Post by: Paulus on 10 April 2008, 12:15:11
I've looked in to moving to Aus. I'd jump at the chance. It's a big scary step, but I am convinced that I will one day. I'm a Mechanical Design Engineer and in demand around the world  :)
Title: Re: Should i stay or should i go ??
Post by: Phil on 10 April 2008, 12:41:14
It will cost you quite a bit of money, and you have to have a certain amount of financial support behind you to go.

I passed the 'points' scoring system and can  now apply for  full migration BUT just the paperwork for this costs betweem £3000 and £5000 depending on who you speak to and what they need to do.

As a word of warning if you do go and decide its not for you when you get back you will have to get back on the propery ladder, which as we all know is very difficult as you will in effect be a 'first time buyer'

Quite a few years ago someone who worked for my grandad went to Auustralia to start a new life as it is great over there, and 14 months later my grandad received a letter begging for him to lend the money so they could fly back because they couldnt get any work out there and were potless!!

As they say grass always looks greener.

Your choice at the end of the day
Title: Re: Should i stay or should i go ??
Post by: Varche on 10 April 2008, 14:49:04
Some good advice.

Have you actually been out to visit your brother for say six weeks?  That would give you a feel for work opportunities, commuting, house prices, cost of living, health care, climate( go when it is the HOTTEST) and so on. I have a relative in Perth. Very happy and settled but like everywhere it does have its problems.

On balance, I would also say go for it. If you don't you will always regret it and wonder what if.........

varche
Title: Re: Should i stay or should i go ??
Post by: smoothomega on 10 April 2008, 14:56:46
Quote
It will cost you quite a bit of money, and you have to have a certain amount of financial support behind you to go.

I passed the 'points' scoring system and can  now apply for  full migration BUT just the paperwork for this costs betweem £3000 and £5000 depending on who you speak to and what they need to do.

As a word of warning if you do go and decide its not for you when you get back you will have to get back on the propery ladder, which as we all know is very difficult as you will in effect be a 'first time buyer'

Quite a few years ago someone who worked for my grandad went to Auustralia to start a new life as it is great over there, and 14 months later my grandad received a letter begging for him to lend the money so they could fly back because they couldnt get any work out there and were potless!!

As they say grass always looks greener.

Your choice at the end of the day

It should cost you no where near that if you do the footwork yourself and go through the Australian Embassy, it will cost you though if you use one of the services that many companys offer to see if you are eligable!!!! You do need a bond though of around £12000 iirc for your first years visa. As for the property ladder, i have a couple of property interests in this country and would keep one of them "just in case".
It is interesting to hear other peoples views on the subject and my opinion is that most are brassed off with the way the country is run and the state it is in. Bob, i think you summed it up in your last post  :(
Title: Re: Should i stay or should i go ??
Post by: dene wakefield lad on 10 April 2008, 15:03:40
if it was up2 me,ide go.my other half is a wpc.she could get job out there no probs,been in force 18yrs.but we have 2 daughters 18yrs at collage/14yrs,wont ever leave them,im full qal welder,now driving hgvs and i think ide miss my girls.hard to choose when it comes to family(or ya miggy).only u can make your mind up. :y
Title: Re: Should i stay or should i go ??
Post by: davlad22 on 11 April 2008, 16:29:16
Do it! Fed up of this sh$tty weather!  ;D