I left Sunderland 30 years ago. I've lived in so many, many places since then. I left because of work, no other reason. I have family and friends still back home (cousins whom I love very much, but not immediate family) who I visit as and when I can. And when I do, I make sure I get to see a home game. I'm just wondering how many expats, given half a chance, seriously, would really up-root, sell up, and head back home to the north-east?
Was back in UK in 2010 after 8 years away and taking all into consideration, especially cost and way of life, would choose to remain NZ. Thanks to tinternet the world is now such a smaller place and keeping in touch with friends and family world wide is brilliant. Two of my kids moved here befor we did and the other lives in France, grandkids are grown up and carving a life for themselves so we are pretty much redundant. If anything I am envious of them as one is currently in India and another in Canada on holidays, both backpackers. First time I went abroad was to Nairobi and it took near 18 hours with two refuelling stops. Wife and me just seeing out our days and currently in Bali spending their inheritance!
I don't really know. It is something i have thought about on many occasions. Guess the only way i would really consider it, would be if i was going to start my own business. I have mentioned on here a few times, that i fancy the idea of opening a classy authentic Thai resturant in Sunderland, where the food and service would all be done by Thai nationals. But that idea would cost a severe amount of money. Then there is the actual move, and where to live, as there are only a few area's that i would want to live. It's a tricky question.
Left in 1970 after living in Sunderland for 35 years, I have visited often but not for one second have I thought of moving back permanently
I don't have any plans to return, love coming back for visits ( like I am now for the Man Utd game) but not sure if I could live here any more
Left the UK in 2008, came back to sort things out for permanent move 3 months later, took 1 look and decided we'd made the right choice to go, will go/have gone back on a regular basis but no plans to move back
We've talked about this and we'd happily move back. Our lass is from Mansfield and she loves the NE, from Durham to the borders, in all honesty it's wonderful. People who live there don't realise how lucky they are which is often the case. I left the NE when I was 8 years old but it's still home. I'll guarantee that when people come to the end of their life it'll be 'home' they think about, not the place they've moved to.
I emigrated to Oz in the late 70's and came back to Sunderland in 1998 because my wife missed her parasitic family. I can honestly say that the only thing I missed was the football and I have wanted to go back to Oz ever since, the people there actually live their lives instead of just existing day to day as we do over here. Have been back to Oz for work and holidays many many times and I can't wait to get back there permanently within the next two years, hopefully our team will win something before then. I would still come back if they got to Wembley again, wouldn't miss it for the world.
Been away 10 years now, 3 different locations during that time. I missed family and mates a lot, plus some of the culture ( decent pubs) , some banter and the footie. I was back in the Uk with a new start-up at end 2007 for 4 months, and thought it could have been the stat of moving back. but to be honest I didn't see people anywhere near as much as I thought I would and after the first month, the novelty of pubs wore off. My lifestyle has changed, for the better, since being away and given that I get back to the uk to see those closest to me , get a game in and a few jars 4 times a year that's kinda my fill. At least for now. I suspect my circumstances will change a few times in the next decade and we'll see what happens. We have our first kid on the way, and a big question is where is best place for the Bairn to be educated? In the UK or in Finners which has one of the best education systems in the world. They also encourage sports very early on, which is something I'm very keen on. I'd love to be a bit nomadic, so I can switch locations at will/ seasonally. Would I go back to the north east? I just don't see it happening in the next 10 years.....
Congrats on the kid mate, must have been after that drunken night in the taxi They put a whole different slant on any thoughts of moving.
Moved away from South Shields gradually - Manchester, Southampton, Paris and now North Carolina(for the past 17 years) but still think of Shields as my home. Hate the summers here and I find myself wishing for the sea-fret on the beach when it's in the 90's and so humid here. I would love to get to some more football matches, but my life is here now and can't see myself ever moving back.
