3 Years in Australia: What We Learned Returning to the UK (10 Things)

[@DavidCalvert-mh9sy]

Speaking from personal experience, after you have lived in Australia for 7 years, you are for all intents and purposes, an Aussie. Albeit with an English accent. I'm an Australian and a Canadian accent. I've been back to Canada and the United States, (I have family in both countries), and although it's great to catch up with relatives, and Canada is a spectacular country for scenery. I don't fit in there anymore. Don't get me wrong. I'm proud to be Canadian. But I'm also proud to be Australian. Canada is the country I come from. And Australia is the country I belong to.

[@annettewalter2273]

Well said!

[@Sydneysider1310]

You've summed that up so well, David.

[@DDDadToTheBone]

Good on ya cobber, the 2 greatest countries on earth

[@coralb3459]

Takes 30years to become a local in Tasmania.

[@robbworland2768]

​@@coralb3459I absolutely agree about Tassie

[@marklivingstone3710]

The other thing I noticed on visits back to the uk, you’d ring someone and say hi, I’m here , invariably the response was when are you coming to see me. I had travelled the first 12000km, I thought you could come the last 20km. The last trip I did, I didn’t bother telling anyone I was coming😊

[@oliveoyl6076]

I have heard this same thing from so many people. When we have a visitor here we pick them up from the airport. We ferry them around. Show them the sights. Put them up, feed them and return them to the airport. And it’s kind of expected because they are on holiday. When we go back to UK, we are on our own. We have to hire a car at the airport. We end up doing the visiting. And they’ll say ‘come see us again before you leave’…. 🤷🏼‍♀️ We often end up entertaining them. It’s like you just popped in from around the corner! Never going back if I can help it.

[@newgabe09]

that is such a good point, it happened to me too!

[@ScootyG]

Yes. Just this.

[@belindaberthaly6058]

@marklivingstone3710 Same here. Last time I didn’t even see my sister. One, out of five nieces/nephews made the effort to come and see me. Friends that had said “Let me know when you get here” suddenly didn’t reply to msgs. I’ve been in Australia a long time now, but I did expect a bit more effort from people I was once really close to.

[@c8Lorraine1]

Yeah I get it

[@marklivingstone3710]

As a teenager I went to the uk and lived with an Aunt and Uncle for six months. I visited several more times over the years. After my uncle died my Aunt who was 80 did her first overseas trip and came to visit….for 3 months. Sitting at the airport with her when she left, she said I’m pleased I came, I now understand you and why you’re are the way you are.😂

[@legoqueen2445]

That's so sweet!

[@serahmaxy8849]

Thats really sweet

[@The_Tinkering_Geek]

Australia is very lucky to have you. Thank you for you kind words about our country, we welcome you with open arms.

[@teresaearl5688]

I agree, the colours here are vibrant. We went back to the UK last July, shocked at the rubbish and weeds in the streets, not wanting to go back for a while. Makes you appreciate this beautiful country. ❤

[@robbiesheppard3280]

Try Melbourne the London of Australia…..🇦🇺

[@robbiesheppard3280]

P.S. The colours in Melbourne are similar to London….

[@keithad6485]

And seems almost every day is cloudy in England. Sun is quite shy in England though watching kids tv shows - Iggle Piggle, Upsidaisy and Makka Pakka with my son, the show gives the impression England has lovely sunny days every day.

[@RJS4287]

Having had a 5 year contract in the UK I will never complain about Medicare and our health system. Paying $20 co-payment to my GP when I can get an appointment in 24 hours is well worth it. Recently paid nothing for a 3 day hospital stay in a small hospital which hsd all the latest kit

[@dogsbollox2]

Myself and wife left Manchester 37 years ago, the inspiration your giving to your generation is admirable, we did it with no internet. So the help you give is fantastic.

[@marklivingstone3710]

Welcome back, you’re a brave person traveling that distance with two toddlers. I’m with you, was not impressed with Emirates, (for me, airline of choice is Singapore Airlines). It takes a while but you will reach a point where it’s great to go for a visit but you’re glad to get home. I was returning from a military deployment to the Middle East after 6 months. There were about 50 of us, we landed in Bahrain waiting for boarding on a Hercules. There was a massive window looking out over the airfield, as we were standing there, in the terminal, a Qantas 747 took off……I can assure 50 military personnel standing there with a tear in their eye……guess we didn’t realise how much we missed home. 😊

[@keithad6485]

Singapore is good, I agree.

[@keithad6485]

Travelled Qantas once UK to Australia. I was unimpressed. Older stewardess gave my 10 year old step son a hard time for no reason. I was disgusted. Complained and my wife was given $100 to spend from their shopping catalogue in an effort to stop the complaint becoming official. Never travelled Quaintarse again. Singapore Airlines, Thai, Malaysian - never had a problem.Thanks for reading my comment, from a retired Aussie armoured corps soldier.

[@barnowl.]

The LIGHT in Australia is different to that in the Northern Hemisphere. The early painters of Australian scenes could not correctly paint the colors of it because they were not understanding that the light was different. If you visit an art gallery and look at those early paintings you will understand.

[@anneloving8405]

My great grandad was a painter who got it right and made a very nice living from it. I am forever grateful my German ancestors took the risk.....

[@jessovenden]

Yes, the light is really different, also for some reason that I don’t understand, the sky is much bigger. Or maybe it’s just me. Yeah nah, the sky here looks much bigger. I love it.

[@McCRBen]

I use the terms Home for Australia and Back Home for Ireland and the UK.

[@freeman10000]

The light in Australia is magic. My Chinese born partner always comments on the quality of Aussie light.

[@testicool013]

It’s the red dirt

[@Swaggie61]

i married a girl from Gillingham Kent we had a baby and my mother in law decided to go back to England with my younger sister in law . it lasted 6 months and they were back.

[@florence2095]

What a coincidence 😂 I was born in Strood, lived in Gillingham and went to school there. Where did your wife live in Gillingham ❓. We emigrated to Australia 1972.

[@EngJarvo]

@@florence2095 Wow, I currently live in Walderslade and we are hoping to come out to Aus, WA this year! Small world!!

[@florence2095]

@@EngJarvo it’s been quite hot over there recently in WA. You’ll love it. We emigrated to Australia in 1972. My first day at school I recognised a familiar voice. It was Brian Smart a boy I went to school with from Upbury Manor, Gillingham 😳 our families must have left England at the same time 🤣

[@lealand423]

​@@EngJarvo I'm 54, born and raised in WA. For about 70% of the year we have sunny weather. One more thing, there are no houses here to rent, research it before you come here it's really bad out there like I have never seen it before.

[@rosequartz7841]

From Walderslade. I'm travelling to see my son in NSW for the first time❤...1 wk x

[@fionamainey7686]

We had a Japanese exchange student in my teens. They kept taking photos of the sky because of how blue it looks.

[@R0d_1984]

30 30km out of cities, go to the blue mountains (one example), look up at the stars at night, even crazier in the outback.

[@c8Lorraine1]

I lived and worked in Japan for six years and I can tell you that each time I visited Oz this Aussie woman couldn’t stop looking at our very blue skies.

[@Cheepchipsable]

Go to the Great Australian Bight, and you will see the difference in the colour of the sky over the land and sea.

[@michaelboyce7079]

@@R0d_1984 "And he sees the vision splendid of the sunlit plains extended, And at night the wond'rous glory of the everlasting stars." Years ago I drove road trains in Queensland. I can remember stopping on the Landsborough Highway in the early hours of the morning to check my tyres and getting stopped in my tracks by the sight of the night sky. It looked like it was on fire with starlight, especially in winter, when the clarity of the air was so sharp and clear. I remember Japanese tourists, staring in wonderment at the heavens and saying, "Your sky is so high!"

[@R0d_1984]

@@michaelboyce7079 Stay safe and all the best mate.

[@stevep2430]

Finally a video where a woman is admitting to her husband that he is a big help, brought tears to my eyes.

[@fingerprint5511]

i tell my husband this every day. Is it rare???

[@zoeolsson5683]

Some husbands are helpful some are not

[@L0U1SE]

Here’s to helpful husbands ❤

[@Cheepchipsable]

@@zoeolsson5683Many are viewed and an extra child about the house. 😂

[@Jeni10]

Next holiday, pack up the four of you and head south, stopping at camping grounds at various towns along the coast. The weather will be a bit cooler and every town is different with lots of local treats and sights to see.

[@c8Lorraine1]

Great advice.

[@charlesemerson6763]

Not long back I looked at my old home town in Scotland on Google maps. It was depressing. Everything looked dull and rundown with dingy little $2 shops everywhere. Talking to an old mate, he remarked that I was lucky that we left when we did because he reckoned the Thatcher era was brutal and a lot of the UK's problems are from that era. Life here can be tough but I'd rather be here than there.

[@amandajb2024]

When my nieces were babies our family traveled on Gulf Air (based in Bahrain) as there was a ‘nanny’ service onboard. From memory there were a couple of qualified nannies available to help parents with children. It made flying with little ones so much easier!

[@looloo4029]

Sounds like a very worthwhile service.

[@GeeEee75]

Sounds like a great idea for airlines to make extra money! I can understand why the flight attendants don't see it as part of their job to help look after people's children.

[@stephaniebell4272]

It took my mother nearly 20 years to see Australia as “Home” after leaving Germany in 1960

[@davidlang1125]

Australia wasn’t so cosmopolitan back in the sixties and seventies.

[@frisky9]

Same with my mum. Emigrated in 1964 and always longed for the UK and was homesick. Went back in 89 for a visit and I think only then did she really settle. Australia was the home she made with her family so it was home.🏡

[@suekennedy1595]

My parents were ten pound poms in 1958 and they called England home for years. Australia has been so so good to them and I am super glad they stayed ,they got naturalized in 1990s as they were worried that Bob hawk was got to kick out all the not naturalised,because they were English they were able to vote from day one and my grandmother immigrated in 1963 aged 62 and got the pension from day one twice the British widows pension she was receiving .

[@Cheepchipsable]

Those endless nazi jokes no doubt...

[@sunitamaharaj2853]

When my husband and I make the move (hopefully within the next year), I have no plans on ever returning to Trinidad, not even to see family, there's facetime for that.

[@MzVixen05]

That's hilarious! I wish you safe passage and a beautiful life :)

[@serenepeacefulrelaxingmusi3874]

Home is where the heart is. Single mother of five. Not everyone copes the same, because we all have our own battles and conditions to deal with. Just because I made it through, doesn't mean it was easy. It was very difficult with multiple debilitating chronic illnesses on top. I still cooked good meals and snacks mostly from scratch. I washed and tidied more than cleaned regularly, but I still cleaned thoroughly. I sewed and mended. I helped with homework and then home-schooled for those who needed it. I did volunteer work regularly and yes, I was on a sole-parent pension at the time. Life has not been a picnic, but we made the best of it and we never felt like we missed out, because we had each other. Family is your treasure. Ozzie born and bred.

[@keithad6485]

As an Aussie living in UK almost twenty years ago, one thing I noticed was no one on the Motorways cares about the speed limit. Several times on the London Orbital M25, I was keeping up with the traffic, looked at the speedo - 100mph (160 kmh). I was very surprised. Speed limit signs said 70 mph. Can't remember seeing any highway cops the whole time I was living there, only the cops who look after you if your car is broken down on the motorway - yellow and blue squares all over their car. usually a volvo or range rover back then. Got to know an English lawyer, who told me with the last fifty infringement fines he had defended for clients in court, the result was not guilty every time! - he simply looked for the mistakes made by the prosecutors. He said, every time he examined their 'full disclosure' he always found mistakes fatal to the prosecutor's case. In the UK every speed camera was required by law to be signed to warn drivers approaching the speed detector. Not here in Australia. Cops are much more pleasant in the UK, probably cos the average bobby is not armed and on a more equal footing with the public - though I do recall Transport police (at rail stations) were armed with assault rifles - H&K G36 rifles at Victoria and Waterloo Stations. Regular traffic jambs on the motorways were tiresome. We in Australia measure a country journey in hours. Not in the UK. For instance, a drive from London to Portsmouth might take you say 1 hour or might take two hours depending on traffic. A drive of 25 miles in England is considered a big day out for a Pom! Not in Australia. Poms don't seem to have taken on Aussie drive through grog shops, though, I noticed petrol stations in the UK sometimes sell grog. Walked down the grog aisle of a UK supermarket, long aisle with one side wine all from Australia, the other side, wine from the rest of the world! Made me feel proud!

[@happyuk06]

I recently did a drive from Cairns to Sydney via the Bruce Highway / A1/ M1 etc. Overall it seemed pretty laid back, you still need your wits about you obviously, particularly on the single-lane roads with big trucks blasting past. It's only as I approached Sydney I really noticed people driving like pricks again. But I actually like the idea of tall poppies on the roads being cut down like this. Many British drivers have this selfish entitlement where they think motorway speed limits don't apply to them. I guess a lot of the frustration on British roads stems from the fact we're a small island with too many people and too many cars.

[@keithad6485]

@@happyuk06 Best part about big cities is seeing them in the rear vision mirror.

[@TonyZoster]

Left continental Europe when I was 23 to move to AUS. Didn't know too much about the place but also didn't have great expectations. I twas meant to be an adventure. 56 years later I am still here. After a few years I recognised that Australia was a land of opportunities. I concluded that in AUS I could get twice as far with half the effort required in my country of birth. I managed to achieve the important goals I set myself. Australia is far from perfect but it suited me and what I was looking for in life. I have traveled to all continents and have seen many countries but I am always pleased to come back to my home here. I guess the fact that a married a local woman made adjusting to life here much easier. My country of birth I visit every 17 or so years but I have never had any regrets that I had moved on. I never compare because I know that I made the best choice I could have made. I think the circumstances in AUS allowed me to develop myself better than it would have been the case where I was born. Life was not just plain sailing and had its challenges , I am a widower now. It doesn't matter where you live, life is sequence of up and downs and one has to manage in good and not so good times. My advice to anyone who thinks of moving here is do not come with unrealistic expectations and you will not be disappointed.

[@Sydneysider1310]

Enjoyed the video, thanks. But I would have liked to hear more about Sam's observations, especially those that had changed, about the UK now that she's had a 3 year space to be objective. Also more about how she may now even view Australia differently. Travelling with little kids isn't easy, I'll give you that but I didn't expect it to be (what felt like) 90% of the video. Cheers.

[@oliveoyl6076]

I agree.

[@suku420]

Second this for Sam

[@emmacox1782]

I dont mean to be rude i am just calling it as i see it. Sam appears to be very flippant about not receiving help with her kids. I agree its not easy for anyone with little ones but hey they are your kids sort them out yourself and stop moaning about how hard everything is with them.

[@robbiedavies2171]

Loved this video, thank you very much for making it! Great to hear how Sam managed so well and also I found it encouraging that she's still very content living in Australia after going back and staying in the UK again. Makes me feel like when it's my turn to move to Australia, it'll be the right decision! Thanks for the vids Ross!

[@ChrisFanning-e9r]

Really interesting video. We have lived here all our lives and had no family support, building up friendships that you can have reciprocal help with baby sitting makes so much difference. Having family as you know, doesn’t always mean there is help.

[@jenniferharrison8915]

Absolutely true, you cannot count on the family support you had when you were all younger, it's unrealistic!

[@davidjohnpaul333]

That was very interesting; thank you. Congratulations mate - she came back for you 😁😁

[@hellagood67]

Hi Ross and Sam. That was a great video. I’m Australian born and bred, so I watch your videos for a totally different perspective. I was really interested to hear Sam’s thoughts about her trip. Wow, what a journey. You did well 👏👏👏. Adding to your thoughts about “home”, I wonder if things might change once you get your Australian passport. It’s just a thought. Anyway, thanks again and stay cool. I’m in Central Queensland, so I totally get the heat (and the humidity, ugh.) I come from Canberra and normally live in the Blue Mountains. I miss the cold weather too.

[@GreenDistantStar]

This 'not knowing where home is' is very prevalent. I got it bad after travelling for a long time, I felt homesick for places that weren't home. It's weird, hard to explain. But it doesn't take that long to adjust.

[@wendyelainedonald]

I totally agree. Confusion about where home is means it is time to decide and stay there. My Australian aunt told me "Know where you belong" She lived in Germany and London for many decades.

[@JoshAnderson-fn5yp]

Such an honest and candid insight into your travels back to the UK. Thanks for sharing 😊

[@supremacy2040]

I was a “single mother” for a few years as my husband was away for work 90% of the time and the thing I learned was it’s hard, there was NO “me time” when you’re playing 2 ppl. I had all my family in another state just had a few friends who had their own work to do so pretty much no support for years. If I needed help, I had to ask, people can’t read minds, they do want to help they just don’t want to impose themselves. So the worse that can happen is they say no and then you know. I just had to make peace with it or I’d lose my mind. It is what it is, no matter how hard it is, the more I sat in the drama the worse I was as a mother. Once I let go and just took on the whole situation, I was able to say, it is what it is, “me time” won’t exist for a few years. Best to get on with it.

[@jenniferharrison8915]

Motherhood is an unselfish job, but it's not forever, and it's well worth it!

[@andreajenkins2545]

Well done Sam really enjoyed hearing all about your trip .

[@space787870]

I've watched you guys on KZbin for about a year now today I pressed the subscribe button 😊 as an Aussie born I truly believe in multicultural Australia and you and your family are a shining example of what it's all about , living your best in Australia 🦘 keep the videos coming . Cheers from North West Tasmania

[@GeeEee75]

Multicultural = two white British people? 😂😂😂😂😂

[@livingonthecoasttv]

KMART has really stepped up their game now. They used to be crap but lately it has really improved and I rarely have to return anything whereas before I was always returning things.

[@NaGromOne]

KMART and Target are in the process of merging.

[@wendy5290]

Same group...

[@judileeming1589]

We went back to the UK last year to visit my 89 year old sister-in-law. We found driving the narrow streets particularly unnerving with the confident local drivers not giving way and driving at speed weaving in and out because of parked cars. We were honked at quite often by drivers behind us for giving way on the narrow streets to cars where cars were half and even totally parked on the footpaths, some even parked on the opposite side of the street facing oncoming traffic, weird to us but totally legal in the UK. The mega gyros/gyratory system (roundabouts not food) were terrifying because the route numbers were painted on the lane surface but required a fresh coat of paint. We ended up going around these gyros a few times in order to change lanes to enter or exit the correct road. I was disappointed with the kids selections at M&S Summer 2023 and didn’t buy any clothes for my grandchildren, for the first time!

[@suku420]

Love the sincerity of this video. So much respect for both countries presented in a honest fashion. Will be over soon 😊

[@c8Lorraine1]

Great interview Ross. Sam it was lovely to hear about your experience. I was a single parent for 14 years, so I do agree with you that it is exhausting

[@mikehzz9848]

My wife was in Brisbane last weekend and couldn't stand the heat and humidity. We live in the Blue Mountains in NSW so are used to it being a little cooler. When we first went to the UK and Europe we really noticed how filtered the light was compared to Australia. It was like there was a dimmer switch.

[@looloo4029]

That’s very interesting about the Australian sky and light compared to Europe. I would like to know more if you are willing to explain more about it. (I’m a sixth generation Aussie and have never been to Europe)

[@mikehzz9848]

@@looloo4029 There's not much to explain really, the sun just seems softer compared to the brilliance we get a lot of the time here. It's interesting to note that the latitude of Monte Carlo, the summer playground in France is near the same north of the equator as Hobart in Tasmania is south of the equator, (43.77 against 42.88 degrees), making Monte Carlo further away from the equator than Hobart. Imagine thinking of Hobart as a summer playground. 😀 This would mean that the latitude of the northern European countries is way down in the Southern Ocean. That sort of blew my mind when I found that out.

[@melisand8295]

The humidity is particularly bad this year! And honestly I would avoid Brisbane at the best of times!😁😁😁

[@R0d_1984]

@@melisand8295Nah just summer; I've lived in (born in NSW, lived in many places) NSW, Vic,Taz, NSW,QLD,NSW and QLD ATM all were amazing; Want to see SA/WA and NT before the end...

[@alekk6956]

I had a German colleague (in Brisbane) who said he described the sky in Australia to family back home as "blue like you've never seen blue sky before!"

[@thevintageemu9746]

When it comes to having other kids over, most times it’s a lot easier because they go and play, rather than siblings trying to kill each other. That’s what it was like in my house growing up & I had 5 younger sisters, the youngest 3, triplets, we each had our own friends over & most times all at the same time. I found the same with my 3 kids too, it was easier to deal with 6 kids of playing happily than just my 3 on their own arguing.

[@paulinetonkin357]

Welcome home Sam!!!! Great to see you again and you had a great time, well done for traveling such great distance with 2 kids.

[@rosemarywoolley8394]

It's strange I lived in New Zealand for 10 years. Lovely country and people. Had two children there. But I badly needed to come home. It wasn't so much because I missed family as the fact that it felt so isolated. I came home and never regretted it. I felt alive again and in the thick of everything. Now one of my children lives there so I do vist which is great but after a while of being there I remember why I wanted to leave.

[@JulieLowrie]

A very honest account. I admire you.

[@warner72]

@2:55 sorry to hear about the poor immigration and Emirates experiences. I'm Aus-born with a UK Passport by descent. I didn't realise the UK document lists my 'Mount Gambier' birthplace. It may be troublesome if an infant's birthplace is that of a town/locality/suburb name found in both Aus and the UK!

[@annak7598]

I have dual citizenship with aus and Uk. A requirement of dual citizenship is that you exit and enter the country with the citizenship of that country. Aka you need to exit and enter Australia on the Australian passport. And exit and leave the Uk on the Uk passport. It’s a legal requirement. It’s why they didn’t like her leavint Australia without the Australian one.

[@GeeEee75]

That's nonsense. I have dual citizenship and I haven't had a UK passport for years. During that time I travelled to the UK and back several times using my Australian passport only. In that passport it states that I was born in London, yet immigration at neither end has ever said anything.

[@Ben_3113]

@@GeeEee75 I've had the same experience. Entering the UK on my AUS passport has never been an issue. I've never tried entering AUS on my UK passport though.

[@dennisorawe835]

I traveled once with my 14-year-old daughter on an Emerites flight, being 14 years old I paid for an adult airfare , they wanted to feed her a child's meal. I told them she was intitled to an adult meal.After a long discussion they gave her an adults meal. Tight bastards,

[@brentonbish]

I love visiting the UK, I do it often, I usually travel with quatar and decided to go with Qantas once which was disappointing, my best experience was with American Airlines, they were the friendliest

[@NauiByeolEge]

The best airlines for parents (both or alone) travelling with children in my experience over the years (between UK and Oz) were JAL and Singapore Airlines, who seem to take the children away from their parents once they reach cruising height and stash them away in the crew sleeping quarters with crew acting as babysitters. They return the child for feeding, but otherwise allow the parents to relax on the flight.

[@PeteV.53]

Some years back my wife and I decided we wanted to spend at least one christmas with her mother in the UK ... so off we went with our two teenage children. Well, I cannot describe how depressing it was. The sky was the expected grey and cloudy with drizzly rain. The most depressing thing in the town was the dirty brown snow. No winter wonderland! The people were neither friendly nor helpful. There was rubbish everywhere. My wife only goes back to the UK see her mum and almost collapses with joy when her feet touch Aussie soil.

[@ianmatlock1]

Must be where you visited. I live in Shropshire and people are friendly and there's generally no rubbish lying around. That was also true when we lived in Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire. I must admit it is different in big cities, and when we lived in central Birmingham for a year, you saw more rubbish lying around. However, that is partly population density and wind blowing rubbish put outside for the bin men. There's also a some dumping of rubbish by a small minority of idiots with no public spirit. Where my son lived there were no wheelie bins and a very narrow window where you were allowed to put you bins out.

[@rosemarywoolley8394]

You went at Christmas and expected lovely weather. Come on you can't be that stupid.

[@valeriedavidson2785]

You must know that the winter in England is not bright and sunny. However Christmas in a sunny climate is not Christmas (,I spent three years in East Africa). On a beautiful sunny day there is NOWHERE like England. It is a beautiful country with so much history. The searing heat and being cut off from the rest of the world would kill me. I would hate Australia. We are all different.

[@PeteV.53]

@@valeriedavidson2785 “hate” is a very strong word/emotion and something that unnecessarily consumes too much energy. I didn’t hate our experience .. i was disappointed. On the other hand. the Cotswolds, the Lakes District , the Yorkshire Downs, Wales, the Scottish Highlands were all spectacular and more than met expectations. Your climatic perception of Australia is a stereotype. Yes, Christmas can be hot beach weather but depending on where you are it can also be a tropical downpour or freezing cold. We are not “all different” ; we have all adapted to our respective environments.

[@valeriedavidson2785]

@@PeteV.53 We are all entitled to our opinion. I have a friend, 92 years old who has lived in Australia since the 1970's. She is now widowed and for various reasons never could get back to England permanently. I phone her occasionally and she is still dreaming of coming back to England which will not be possible now because of poor health and would have to leave her only son there. She has never taken out Australian nationality. I feel so sad for her. I thank god that I am so lucky to have been born English. As a footnote: I live right on the edge of the Cotswolds. There is nothing in modern Australia to compare with that.

[@lornamoore5432]

We flew with emirates here and they were absolutely shocking!!! No one was remotely interested in providing customer service of any type and at one point they lost my baby’s bottle which they’d taken to put in a jug of hot water for 20 minutes! By the time I got it back from them it was literally scalding hot. I was furious and they couldn’t have cared less. Never again!

[@newmageo9179]

Why the hell would you be expecting the aircrew to be asking you if you need help looking after your children. That's not why they are there.

[@BarbaraMacDonald-bq1lb]

Go away

[@rosequartz7841]

No need to be rude!

[@pressonnailsbypauline]

We came out to Australia at the same time as you guys and we went back for the first time last April and I also found it so grey!!!

[@ThatJohnstonLife]

The sun really isn't the same

[@AUmarcus]

Australia is much closer to the equator that's why....the further south you go the more like the UK it gets. But, even Tasmania is closer to the equator than the UK by about 1500km.

[@andrewvolf2916]

Sounds like you were being a dad. I would to head home to Czechia but kids have other things that come first. Born and raised in Aus but I lived there when I was 16. They are both homes, It's not weird the Mrs referring to U.K and Aus as home.

[@nancykeating6514]

Listening to both of you! was quite funny as I live in New Zealand both off us are English and I have 3 children. I went back to England with three small children oldest being 5. What a nightmare it was went by United no one helped me. I felt for you big time! Also we went at Christmas big mistake it rained everyday we were there plus I felt it was dirty grey and miserable. Not been back I have now lived in New Zealand for 30 years and it's beautiful . Been to Aus quite a few times love it and now one of my children lives in Melbourne. Take care 🌻

[@carina-jaipaul1342]

When I fly internationally I will only ever fly with Air New Zealand.. You can’t pay me enough to fly with any one else.. Air New Zealand are absolutely amazing..

[@claireb9430]

66 yrs after coming to Australia I still call the UK 'Back home" and when I go back for visits, I say 'Back home" referring to Australia. Its fabulous to catch up with family and friends in the UK but Australia is my home and I wouldn't live anywhere else. UK is great for a holiday though.

[@eclecticapoetica]

Welcome back Sam and the Johnston sprigs! I’ve kinda missed your contributions to the talks. How many immigrants did you recruit? 😂😂😂

[@realityflyer3155]

Really enjoyred the vid.. Had a few giggles, too.. Like, how to alienate the family by telling htem they all sound rough ;-) And, Australia could use a Lidl? Nah mate.. better off with a Waitrose and maybe a Sparkies.

[@rebeccaw9656]

Sam, before you know it both your girls will be in School, and you’ll finally get your time. But in the meantime, I hope you’re getting at least some me-time on the weekends where you can have a date with yourself. Important for mental health😊

[@Gail-r9p]

I’m an Aussie living on the Gold Coast and I think our summers go on longer and it’s hotter. Feels like summer is six months long. Bring on some cooler weather. 🥵

[@dragonfly9209]

Same here in Texas--long very hot summers. You are about to come out of it--we are about to head into it.

[@reezy6677]

Maybe you should think about moving south if you don't like the summers in Qld. In Victoria you'll get a proper winter (by our standards😉) where you'll definitely need jackets & hats. We've got beautiful beaches, summer's totally bearable, snow resorts in winter, autumn is stunning. Just a thought 😊

[@barnowl.]

I'm a Victorian and cannot cope with the heat and particularly the humidity of Northern Australia. I enjoy the varied weather here, even that of of 'four seasons in one day.'

[@ChristopherJewels]

Or up in elevation to Toowoomba, Warwick or Stanthorpe. Mind you it gets cold up there in winter. Snow is not unheard of. But the wineries around Stanthorpe and fresh apples and stone fruits are nice. And the trees in Autumn turn red and gold.

[@maciejgronowski]

If yoi look at your daughters UK passport, it has not come from the UK. It was issued by the British consulate in Australia 😉 The airport people lied to you about the pram - you could have checked it in together with other baggage (2 pieces of baby equipment are FREE btw - buggy AND car seat). Or you could have driven her in her buggy all the way to the plane and they would have taken it in just before you sitting boarding.

[@sandramariegray7894]

Well done you. My son's first flight was from Sydney to Perth at 8 days old. I also had a 3-and-a-half-year-old daughter with me. Yes, it is a little traumatizing. Especially the first flight. Moved to the Middle East for ten years and had many, many flights. Both into the UK and Europe and back to Australia. I become fastidious with a child routine. Onto the plane into your seat. You can watch the in-flight entertainment until the meal. Then you go to the toilet, settle back into your seat, blanket on, and sleep. When you are awake you can in flight entertain yourself again. They always told me they didn't sleep, yeah right amazing what a dose of drugs with your meal can do. Always take the aisle seat for you. Lessens the chance of an escapee. Sorry about your experience with Emirates we always found them fantastic.

[@ZootZinBootZ]

I totally understand that motorway feeling. It made me laugh because i noticed that excact sense on a trip from Australia to Preston in the 1990s.

[@coralbyrnes8897]

My neighbours who originally from uk went back one xmas and liked it. So they cameback to Australia and suddenly sold their house and moved back. We said just rent the house out, but they sold it. Then they bought a house in uk. But during the year no one came to visit cause they all had jobs and lived in different parts of uk. So they decided to comeback to australia but they had not become permanent residents and had a lot of trouble trying to get back in. Then in the interval australian house prices had gone up.

[@Sydneysider1310]

What an impulsive thing to do!

[@GeeEee75]

The grass is almost certainly not greener.

[@kenexx]

So dangerous to put a child to sleep on the floor of an aircraft. Imagine unexpected clear air turbulence, the child could easily be very seriously injured or killed. The flight attendant may have worded it better but was correct. They ARE there for your safety. Ask the passengers on the JAL A350 at Haneda recently.

[@GeeEee75]

Yes, or stepped on, or had something dropped on them. Parents become very different, quite entitled, people when they get on airplanes.

[@lujayn3]

The airport staff arnt mind readers either and there are people who get right nasty if you try to help them without them asking you too especially when it envolves kids, had this happen a few times to me in retail you try to help someone cause you can see them struggling and they turn around and bite your head off, usually starts with the classic sentence "did I ask for your help no I didnt if I wanted help I'd have asked for it" so now I dont bother even if I can see them struggling, most people are more than willing to help if they know its wanted (including me) and the staff were clearly willing to help once you did

[@robella758]

a lot of this hits home. I'm in the UK and in the process of understanding visas etc. I got an "urgent" appointment with a specialist for March 2025..apparently thats the earliest date they can do in a 60 mile radius (and I can't go somewhere else in the country for some reason..not that im sure it would make any difference). The NHS is totally screwed and one of the big factors thats triggered me looking at doing something that gives us a better life.

[@ThatJohnstonLife]

Thanks for your insight. Sounds like the problems aren't getting any better

[@sharronward1234]

Surprised with the vibrant colours as, when I travelled to NZ from Brisbane years ago, I felt the same. Wonder if you went there (Christchurch) you would notice?

[@adambaxendale3654]

I've lived in Australia for 4 years now and there's definitely a lot of things I miss about the UK. The weather is definitely better here, as are wages. Fish and chips in Australia is crap though, but the main thing for me is I find people rude and not particularly smart. The driving here is awful, no one says thank you or shows any regard for other people, everyone is arrogant and they can't seem to think for themselves. Back in the UK people will say good morning or let you out when you're driving and show various forms of common courtesy, they're aware of the world around them and pretty open minded. The best people I've met over here seem to be in the country, but I just find city folk incredibly rude and arrogant.

[@Wayne-fn1sw]

Australians are originally from England and Ireland most can trace Thier history back to the UK pommes and convicts .

[@jdxx59]

It could be the particular area where you are living. Move to Darwin - everyone is friendly up here!

[@adambaxendale3654]

@jdxx59 good point. I must say we just did a trip up cape york for a month or so and met a lot of friendly people. Seems the best place to be is away from the city and up north.

[@meganelliott5748]

I thought you were describing the English when you said bad drivers and rude! I live in the city in the south, most people are not pleasant and manners and common courtesy have disappeared, it’s city life, people are in a rush and don’t have time for others. I would like to live somewhere more rural to get away from this lifestyle, maybe you should as well!

[@jenniclark1064]

My advice is if you’re not happy, go back. Having said that, remember immigrating and adjusting to your new country takes time so you do need to give it time. Well done Sam on travelling on your own with the girls, not easy. but you did it 💪

[@R0d_1984]

It seems to take 5 years (depending how many bad experiences...).

[@belindaberthaly6058]

@@R0d_1984 True, I remember feeling in limbo for five years. It was only when I had children that I began to settle in.

[@03dwang]

Fly with China Eastern next time if you can!! I flew as a single mother with 2 boys, 6yo and a 2yo from London to Shanghai, the crew was beyond fantastic! Helped me in every way they could!

[@ThatJohnstonLife]

Glad you had a good experience, will take a look next time

[@espedairsystems]

Move to AU in 2000, went back for the first time in 15 years in July. It was very green and overgrown, wet, grey, good to get to the pubs and into the countryside, things cost more and exchange rates are not in our favour. By the end I wanted to get back home to AU. Coming from Perth, the UK looks dirty, run down, too much traffic, too narrow roads, parts look a total dump. A lot of shops have shut.

[@crackers562]

Great insights guys... I am sure this is good info for people considering an international move 🙂

[@Brightangel55]

I'm with Sam - I hate the heat in Summer. I'd never be happy with that. I'm fom south coast NSW and moved north to Lismore but after 2 years came back down south again...nice place but the heat was too much. I love the cool Winter and day trips to the southern highlands - Bowral etc I have heard that Towoomba in QLD has a nicer mild climate. Do you think that the heat and humidity makes it hard for Sam to really be happy ?

[@florence2095]

I lived in Manly, NSW for 23 years. We moved to Victoria in 2005. Because I couldn’t handle the heat & humidity any longer. I love the weather down here & experiencing 4 seasons in one day.

[@HenriHattar]

I fly internationally a lot , never seen any airline vounteer assistance, but seen it given when its needed. They aint a child minding business.

[@emmacox1782]

I have to agree i thought the same thing. Kiddie help is not an entitlement.

[@GeeEee75]

Agree. If you are going to travel overseas as a lone adult with small children, then you shouldn't expect that there will be assistance along the way. People may offer out of kindness but that's an added bonus.

[@helenbalabanoff1409]

Sam you’re such a natural… we do like to see more of you! Lovely to hear you’re living your best lives in Oz! I started following you guys since you stepped on that plane! ✈️ thanks for sharing!

[@alexlanning712]

Home is where the heart is

[@herenow6953]

TBH expecting the world to drop everything because you chose to travel with two very small children on a major long haul flight is a bit optimistic. You are responsible for them - not the crew, not other passengers. As a single mum I appreciate it's difficult sometimes but would not have done the travel I did with my son from the age of 4 had I had two. Because I could not have looked after more than one in an emergency. And that is what you need to think about. You are responsible in an emergency. And BTW you'd be bonkers to move back to the UK from Australia. I know Australia has many of the same problems the UK does re globalist agendas etc, but AU has SPACE - loads of it. And more sunshine.

[@MrPhoebe28]

i emigrated in 1974 with my husband two children age 7 and 9, and 4 months pregnant. No TV on the back off seats. been back to the uk 5 times. i live on the Gold Coast.👍🇦🇺🇦🇺😍

[@Sarky39]

Fly Singapore and they smash into you if you have an aisle seat and throw the food at you for good measure. Trying to chill on Singapore Airlines is like trying to relax in a cage full of Lions.

[@kieronhollier8825]

1st thing Sam actually said when we met up in the uk "why would you want to live here" haha Not even a hello. I mean I totally agree.

[@Sydneysider1310]

I wish she had spoken more about her experiences like this, since she's always been on the fence about living out here. I would have been really interested to have heard more along these lines!

[@kieronhollier8825]

@@Sydneysider1310 I'm surprised there wasn't more mention of how bad the UK coffee is in comparison. Has become accustomed to the higher quality!

[@pcoppleman]

Just pop down to Tassie for the seasons. I found the same in QLD with basically wet & dry season.

[@lynettemahoney1710]

Now you have been back do you think you will go again sooner rather than later?

[@happytoday333]

The colours and what you are saying there have a terminology. Australia is a big sky country. That is what the first wave of European, the convicts, said. Poetic, isn't it. Apparently, in England and Europe, the sky feels quite close.

[@GeeEee75]

That is exactly right. The sky is bigger in Australia.

[@Annoir50]

As a single mother with two preschool children, I always travelled and brought up my children on my own without anyone ever patting me on the back for coping alone. I am surprised these days to hear a parent being praised for even taking a child to a birthday party on their own.

[@markanderson3006]

Love watching you videos

[@debkendall]

I recommend 'taking shape' nice quality not cheap but last.

[@stevenq3840]

The shop shelves are empty because of the dire truck driver shortage in the UK, some say it’s recovering, depends whose report you read.

[@R0d_1984]

Lets not consider the millions of ''refugees'' ...

[@libatalklieb5793]

Why don't you import some more Indians? over here in Australia the Indians are taking up trucking jobs.

[@Sophie-dk5td]

Not a comment on this video as it was a great watch, but I can't help feel irked when expats talk about the UK as if it is the worst place on earth. There are loads of beautiful places in this country, as there are in Aus (I went last year and loved it). Yes, we don't always get the weather, but it does also rain in Aus! What I'm saying is there are pros and cons to both

[@ThatJohnstonLife]

You're absolutely right, and we enjoyed our lives in the UK too. If anything it's more disappointing that basic things are deteriorating and frustrating that we had to move to the other side of the world to get a better quality of life

[@Sophie-dk5td]

​@ThatJohnstonLife absolutely. I have nothing but admiration for people who make the move ❤have you noticed any big issues in Aus? We found it so expensive, but we were in the touristy places so not surprising really! 😊

[@ProcyonAlpha]

Yes it rains in both places , but when it's not raining in UK it's mostly grey , drab and depressing with no sunshine.

[@Sophie-dk5td]

@ProcyonAlpha see, that doesn't really bother me, but then I can't stand anything hotter than 21 😂 different strokes and all that :)

[@Cobra1-d8j]

Very interesting comment about feeling at home!! I moved to wales 40 years ago, and I feel the same!! Strange!!😊

[@annakawaowska8842]

It’s interesting that you mention colours being more bright and saturated in Australia. My impression is just the opposite. Eucalyptus trees are gray and don’t give this lush impression as trees in Europe. After travelling a few times between Sydney and Melbourne this impression of dull, grayish landscape only grew. You can of course find numerous breathtaking views, especially along the coast, but I wouldn’t say that the colours are more intensive than in Italy, south of France or even Austria. Maybe it’s time to visit Brisbane😉

[@reezy6677]

But that's one of the things that makes Australia special. I'm in Melbourne & it's very green, but it's a different green to Queensland. All the states & territories are very different. I love visiting Queensland because I love the brighter greens & vibrancy of Queensland. Some of the most beautiful landscape in Australia, in my opinion, is in the NT. Thr tropical greens against the red dirt is stunning.

[@thevocalcrone]

you haven't been tot he right places or at the right time. Try Caves road Western Australia going toward dusk.. and the trees will shimmer at you (all gum trees) shades of pink, blue and gray. Magickal. if you want to see beauty you need to have your eyes open. Drive slow and take lots of breaks so you can enjoy the scenery. Then go to the places like coral bay or Esperance, pink lakes, and white sands, and blue blue oceans. Try Karijini national park.. if you don't see the brilliance of colour.. you just haven't been to the right places. The fact you are calling them eucalypts is a good indicator, they are gums, red gum, blue gum, ironbark gum, paperbark gum, salmon gum (the pink gum tree).

[@thevocalcrone]

@@reezy6677 I love the NT and the top end, i grew up in the Pilbara, when you are travelling from the city you can see the soil colours change from the browny dirt colour through to a pinky colour then red and at different places a deep red/blue type of purple colour. Melbourne is dull and gray, but its a city. When we do distance drives (and Melbourne to Sydney is a short drive) there is variations in the landscape. Best to dot he longhaul, do the nullarbor or go to the NT up the gunbarrel i say.

[@reezy6677]

@thevocalcrone I know what you're talking about. I've been to all those places & more, & fully intend going back to all. I didn't get to spend nearly enough time in Karijini. The colour palette of this country is amazing.

[@barnowl.]

The LIGHT is very different.

[@kvkv7423]

Can’t believe you did that without your husband or that he didn’t go with you! Emirates are terrible for service - completely agree. When we travelled with our kids the same age with Emirates, we were surprised and grateful for the kindness of strangers on the flights.

[@andrewbristoe1833]

Feeling of space especially in regional aussie uk Asia Europe dont really feel that

[@PhotogNT]

I went to England in 1984 with my mum to meet my grandad in Chesterfield, I was surprised by the accents I could understand everyone with no problems, however, they couldn’t understand my Australian accent and found myself either having repeat myself or mum had to interpret for me. 😃

[@ThatJohnstonLife]

Might have changed a bit since then

[@KenAndrew-f9j]

What a great couple. Thoroughly enjoyed this story. I'd love to have you as my neighbors.

[@sallyhodgkinson4920]

Brilliant video guys, well done sam you have amazing endurance and not just bing married to ross. 😆 been out here now for 2 years do not miss the u.k but only family due to go out soon. not looking forward to that flight. they seem to be going up in price all the time. al thethings you said about rubbish, everything on top of you, cars to close to many on the roads i totally agree with. i worry with britain being a little island its got so many people living there it might sink. 🤦‍♀. benwatching you guys for years now Aurora 5 and the Sierra now walking where did that time go? i too am very greatful for the health service over here in aus and how quick you can get a scan x-ray, dentist. The shops and shopping centres are spacious, open and so clean. I'm loving independent sellers and markets the quality is often worth maying for and they are more enviromnetally friendly and ethically sourced where back home it cheap and cheerful. Also i havent felt the need to go on holiday abd we have beauiful beaches and things to do on our door step.

[@barnowl.]

I watched a report that claimed that some of England will sink. There is encroachment by the sea in some places. Much of the area has been mined/tunnelled under and sink holes occur.

[@LiamSmith-e3p]

I loved that. Thank you guys. True brisbanites with an English twang I would say 😂❤

[@ashleymyrrh1756]

Your description is 100%. I get it!

[@garryellis3085]

I feel sorry for the Hubby. But the idea the missus is complaining because she's travelling with toddlers. Why couldn't you wait until she grew up a bit and actually had an Aussie passport. She won't remember the trip . Sorry but a real stupid move imo.

[@patriciakelly2714]

Although your journey was difficult, you seemed to have done soo much. I’m a grandma and I never like to impose, but I’m up to help if I’m asked. Well done hope you enjoy your life in Australia. Xxx

[@ThatJohnstonLife]

Thanks Patricia

[@vickispong1371]

Very sad about the lack of help, how shameful. You did great with your girls. Good on you 👏 👍

[@MrLordSandwich]

As a Tasmanian, I completely understand why you struggle in Queensland Summer. I went there at Christmas time one year, Its not for me either. My Partner is from QLD and we are both expecting our first Child soon, so we will be travelling with Childern in the near future, even though it won't be as far nor as much of a headache, I'm really interested in some "Travelling with Childern" Advice including the facebook group you mentioned. Cheers.

[@Phiyedough]

I can understand that these days people can be reticent about offering to help with kids because of the cultural changes regarding litigation. Nobody wants to do anything that can be construed as child molestation so kids can end up being treated like they are carrying some contagious disease. I know a man who is a woodwork teacher in UK and he says he is not even allowed to position a kids finders to the correct places for holding a saw or a chisel.

[@ThatJohnstonLife]

Fair point