The regrets begin


My eldest son went to Queensland to see what it was like and whether he was going to want to come eventually.  He took off on a plane and disappeared for a few months.On arrival back in September 2011 it appeared that he had carried over some exams and that he had missed a vital chance in finishing his degree.  Had he remained in Scotland and my wish for all things Australian not been so great I think he may have passed. He appealed his course but eventually was told he could not rejoin and after three years was asked to leave. But who knows? He may have failed anyway even if he had been there for the resit.


My husband's son had gone into hiding and refused to visit us from his mother's house in England and only communicated intermittently. Only surfacing every so often to tell us that "He didn't like the heat."


My husband's daughter cried every time we saw her while her boyfriend tried to console her.


My mother was determined to come to Australia so that she wouldn't be on her own and promptly put her house up for sale against all our advice.


Friends tried to hide their disappointment at the thought of never seeing us again.  Crushing their plans of retiring together and going off for the weekend was disappearing. 


But it would be okay - we were going to Australia the Land of Opportunity and the weather would be fantastic and see us through everything.


My husband's parents were stoic and told us that we were doing the right thing.


We continued packing, clearing, painting, repairing  through all of this.  Never quite committing to anything as we were going to be off soon.


In reality - two years had passed and some of our life had been put on hold so that we could follow our dream.


We both were stuck in a rut in our jobs and so we thought this would be the Holy Grail.


Finally we were granted our visa. We were so relieved, we could leave and start the next phase of our lives at 51 and 53. When the time came to give my notice - I thought I would be ecstatic - in truth, I was unsure, depressed about having to start again and leaving a familiar routine.  But I still said I would be leaving.  


Our world came crashing in a few weeks later when our daughter was diagnosed with a life threatening kidney disease which brought all of us to our knees.  We couldn't understand any of it - it was genetic - our parents were still living.  My mum was just about to celebrate her 80th birthday.  Stuart's parents were both going strong at 76 and 78.  It got worse we were told that we were the carriers and that in all likelihood one of us also had the kidney disease which eventually means your kidneys fails when transplant is the only option.


We had already given our notice to our employers, the container was booked and job confirmed.  The next few weeks were a round of hospital appointments with our daughter, her blood pressure was sky high.  Our daughter, the fit swimmer and runner was now too tired to get up the stairs.    

In the beginning

In September 2010 a new job offer for my husband came from across the Ocean.  It was a no-brainer.  Change rainy, dark Scotland for a sunny climate and the chance to start again, swim in the Ocean - change it all for a new life in Australia.  The job offer was good with the opportunity to grow the company and gain a lot of experience and I of course would get a job as a teacher. Easy  We would live happily every after.  So far so good.


We sent off our application for a working visa which enabled us to stay permanently.  We told friends and family and they were excited for us. We put the house up for sale.  Christmas came and went, no visa.  Some six months later we received an email for Immigration.  We were almost too excited to open it up.  But excitement turned to disappointment when we were told we had to withdraw our application as we had not included a skills assessment and the employer's sponsorship had expired.  Winter was bleak and the outlook looked grim.  The company withdrew their offer and we of course were disappointed.  No new life Down Under.  


A month or so later Stuart contacted them to see what their position was and after some discussion they decided to offer the job again, if Stuart was still interested.  Why wouldn't we be?  A new exciting life Down Under awaited.  This time we sent off our Temporary Visa Application (March 2011) we were told this would be quicker.  So again we told friends and family, who were again excited for us.  "Yes go, we will be sorry to see you leave" "How exciting, the kids will love it".  


Our preparations began in earnest: tidy the house, clear cupboards, live and eat daily, carry on with working, tidy the house, clear cupboards.  "What will we take?"  "Will we need this?"  Go to work.


In the meantime some of our children were telling us they couldn't/wouldn't come as they had commitments at University, College, Work.  That's okay we thought.  We still have one child to take with us.