Tag: living in the UK

Now, normally I drank when I was thirsty and ate when I was hungry. And yet every day in a London office when the offer of a ‘brew’ was thrown up, I found myself gleefully handing over my mug.

Seeing the beauty of Australia through the eyes of a tourist, or the naivety and innocence of a Darryl Kerrigan, is just one of the many great lessons you learn from living overseas.

You have recently arrived in London and have gotten crook but have been too busy enjoying yourself to sort out your medical affairs. There's no need to reach for the panic button just yet,. There are plenty of ways to seek medical advice in the UK that won’t leave you ...

If you have ever rented a bedroom, or even just a share of a bedroom in London, you know exactly what I'm talking about.

Life and death matters: here's a snapshot of what it's like if you are born in and live in the UK rather than Australia. It may surprise you.

So you are coming to live in London. How do you find a place to live, find a job, get a UK mobile phone, open a bank account, register with a doctor and make new friends?

The supper-eating, loo-going, sofa-sitting Brits do not eat 'dessert', only 'pudding'. And certainly never, ever say 'pardon'.

Yes, we understand that in the eyes of many Brits we all come from a land of sun, surf, sea and sand. So, why would we ever choose to live in the cold and wet? We love you! Please be nice...

Life in the UK doesn’t always mean a series of problems to be solved. Here’s how ladies should see the silver lining on London’s grey autumnal clouds.

Stepping past the Tube barriers at Richmond is like walking into that delightful English village of your imagination.

Too often in London expats find themselves clinging to home, often materialised in yet another night getting wasted in the same bar with the same people. This is nice, sometimes. But how is it possible to grow?

Aussie expats looking for law jobs in London can find themselves at the back of the pack in a crowded field.

Career isn't everything and why be rich when you can travel and have the time of your life?

Forget about Brexit, Wimbledon, and even the football World Cup; instead for the next three months it will be all about the heatwaves.

Believe it or not, Australians are not the only expats in London. We aren’t the only ones who like to make a bit of homegrown noise every now and then, so there's no need to be embarrassed about it.

Every Australian who has lived in the UK has experienced the delights and horrors of sharehouse living; particularly when it comes to overseas guests. You need t work out a policy early with housemates to ensure your expat sanctuary doesn’t become a 24/7 motel.

Had I finally found where I was meant to exist in the world? Did I belong in the UK more than I belong in Australia?

Home is beckoning and you are ready to pack up and leave London. Before you do, think about all the things you're going to miss about the city and make the most of the time you have left. Or if you are long gone, here's some reminiscing.

They are the pompous type that treat Aussies and Kiwis as though we are Neanderthals with little to no knowledge of history and culture.

When you make the big jump for a stint in the UK, there's a lot in your life that is going to change and you will need to adjust in a major way. Here's some top advice on how, from someone who has taken the leap.

Is it really worth the effort of making new friends with other travellers if they are only about to wave goodbye?

With fireworks set to explode around Britain, Paul Bleakley explores the magic and meaning of Guy Fawkes and Bonfire Night for the uninitiated Aussie and wonders what became of our own fabled Cracker Night.

THE EXPAT MIND: If you have come to London to develop your career and establish a new life, making progress socially or professionally can be tough at first. Living here is rarely boring, though.

What Aussies in London really like are also the things they’re too ashamed to admit to friends and family back home, or things they just won't get.. like Primark, Jeremy Kyle and Snakebites.

This can be a complicated area and landlords are often surprised at the expenditure that can and cannot be claimed.

Thinking of moving to the UK? Is it best to live where other expat Australians have gone before or would you prefer to trailblaze further afield and leave old London town behind? Find some answers, here...

The newly amended UK Family Migration rules should be a positive change for families and spouses.

Don’t remember what happened last night, or the night before? Or the night before that? Drinking in London is a nightly affair rather than a weekend pastime, which makes attempts to sober up even more difficult.

Finding a room, flat or house to rent in London is mayhem. It doesn't matter who you are, what you offer, or how much you are willing to pay, the entire process sucks.

Having witnessed it happen to many others before me, I decided to prepare well in advance for my return to Australia. But you get lost in the London life and suddenly months become weeks and the last-minute panic sets in.

THE EXPAT MIND: If you fall in love with someone from overseas and the relationship becomes serious, it may create a real dilemma about your future. Why and what should you do about it?

THE EXPAT MIND: Do Aussies who venture overseas to live do so because they don't feel entirely at home in Australia. Are they are looking for something or somewhere different - a place where they feel that they might actually belong?

Do you need to know how you can ensure a smooth application for a new visa to live and work in the United Kingdom?

You might know what flip flops are, but do you know what they call undies? LAURENCE DRISCOLL helps us traverse those first few months in the UK when you come from the land down under.

'Culture shock' is the term usually used for an immigrant or tourist becoming disorientated when experiencing an unfamiliar way of life. But could it apply in reverse when you are trying to integrate your way back into life after returning home?

LONDON'S 10 TOP GREEN SPACES: The concept of ‘going to the park’ in Australia conjures up images of children’s birthday parties and unruly teenagers looking for a place to drink after dark. In London, the park stands for something completely different.

Why have they given me a fork? Kebabs aren’t meant to be civilised!

There are a number of reasons why you might need to complete a Self Assessment tax return if you earn British income.

A simple trip on the bus makes an Aussie expat question her perceptions of what common courtesy is. Are Aussies more polite than Brits?

Most Aussies coming to London aren’t making a permanent move, so finding affordable options to fit out their new home is a must. There's markets, and then there's Argos...

EU nationals who currently qualify to apply for UK Permanent Residence should do so without delay, say immigration specialists.

It took a chance encounter with a barfly and his dog at the pub down the road for this Aussie expat to discover he was a London local.

But don't just think the expat affliction of acquiring an English accent is necessarily about contracting posh, clipped tones and a habit of saying yo-gurt, instead of yogurt.

Teasing is just as prevalent in the Australian workplace – and of course it depends on the job – but the British sense of humour is a particularly subtle and deadly weapon.

To any Aussie expat experiencing any kind of culture shock or longing for home, remember that you’re not alone. But don’t lose your patriotism, and don’t lose heart.

2016 will be remembered as the year ‘diversity-angst’ came out the closet with a bang! Social documentary photographer, Tanya Houghton's recent exhibition suggests that a powerful way to dissolve such fear is through food.

One of the terms that one often encounters in the UK immigration rules is the so-called ‘right of abode.' But, what is this so-called ‘right of abode’?

The idea of making money off your home while you are away, is not a particularly new concept but sometimes the logistics of letting out your house over the holidays puts you off the process altogether and the effort outweighs the gain.

If your New Year’s plans include possibly moving to the UK, then there is a lot you’ll want to consider before making your final decision.

Is it inevitable that you live with fellow so-called 'Antipodeans'? Is this really such a bad thing?