A good question that deserves a good answer. I came back to the UK four times in five years, the reason being to visit my very elderly mother. Last January (2009) my brother and I were at her bedside when she exited this world for the next. Neither of us will be returning again, for now we have nobody to return for, and our memories of the UK in the seventies are somewhat at odds with the UK we discovered in the new millennium.

I left England in 1976 and I made my first return visit in 2005. All my memories of Brighton had been kept in perfect condition, only the town (now a city) had changed. New Zealand is now my home and I have no shame in writing I am very proud to be a 'Kiwi' and very patriotic. We took NZ citizenship three years to the day from stepping off the flight at Auckland, a move that my entire family believe to be probably the best decision we have ever made.

Having written all that, I feel I must add we also love Australia. The country is so go ahead and alive, it's a joy to visit and my wife and I have our holidays there, usually three or four times a year … fabulous.

I have enjoyed both my trips back in the last 2 years. I also enjoyed my “OE” in the '60's for 3 years.  On all occasions I know we would be returning as, apart from a love of this country, all my family and most of my wife's are now here. Every country has it's pros and cons and one can only balance up what is important to you. I loved the history of Europe but I also love the freedom that I have had here which is largely because only 4 million people live here and the wide range of climates and scenery make for a different view on every weekend away. Like Robin I also love Australia. The contrasts between the two countries makes them all the more attractive to each other. Australia is geologically old. NZ is geologically young. They have scenic desert landscapes , we have steaming mud and geysers. Australia has snakes, we have earthquakes. A nice contrast don't you think?

The limitations of NZ come also from the small population. At any one time one eighth of the population is living and working overseas. They usually return but a 'small pool' is difficult for a potentially large fish. Hence people like Lord Rutherford, William Pickering of NASA, and a lot of high flyers that need a bigger scale.

Australia provides a somewhat bigger 'pool' for the fish to swim in and hence it's attractions. There are probably no two countries in the world who are so sympathetic to each other , despite a tense sporting rivalry.

Where there is hope there is glory, so don't give up hope

A place where you discover your inheritance, you have to fight -with words.

Perhaps the new Tory can bring back what Labour has destroyed in the last 13 years.

doreen said:

Perhaps the new Tory can bring back what Labour has destroyed in the last 13 years.

I hope you're right. I was going to say that things can't get any worse, but of course they can. I think we have had the good times and I think people need to get back to basics. It's not our God given right to have everything, you have to work and save for it like our grandparents did. They didn't have credit cards and yet they still put food on the table. The problem today is that people think it's against their human rights if they have not got a mobile phone or the latest iPod, and successive governments just seem to encourage them in that belief.

While you are right Doreen, people in this country are afraid. I know that sounds dramatic, but it's true. Christian nurses have been known to lose their jobs for talking about Christianity to dying patients. Christians are losing their jobs for wearing a St Christopher while it is okay for certain groups to wear masks in the street. I'm sure you understand what I'm saying.

Now I'd better stop before I get a little red flag and suddenly disappear in the middle of the night

doreen said:

If people want a religion, any religion, why not, but they shall keep it for themselves

and not try to brain wash others  with what they believe.

I believe in the “Big Bang” theory and how

the world developed over billions of years and that the monkeys are my cousins.

You're so right Doreen. I'm Christian, but I believe in Charles Darwin's theory on the Origin of Species.

You say the monkeys are your cousins. You must have met some of my brothers.

I think this is universal, Shazza. Even just looking back in time things have changed and  as they say, the only thing constant is change.