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hondygirl's latest comments
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6th Feb 2019hondygirl commented on:
MOVING HOME ALONE ......AND TO A NEW PART OF THE COUNTRYThanks ozziegirl for your words of encouragement. I was surprised to see someone else from Australia on here. I am still doing research at the moment. I am also considering going back to my roots in Nottinghamshire, I do have a brother there, although not close and a cousin, and might be able to contact a few old friends. I have found there seem to be some nice villages around Newark and Southwell and its not too far from Derbyshire for walks and I do know the area a little bit. Also still trying to work out the finances.ViewDate:
1st Feb 2019hondygirl commented on:
How much income do you think you need for a modest or comfortable retirement?Thanks for taking the time to reply patcaf, that's really useful. I would have my own home. That's roughly what I worked out, but it's good to get some confirmation.ViewDate:
30th Jan 2019hondygirl commented on:
Retirement Homes & FeesHello RSZara. I am sorry I can't give any definitive answers but I came across your post in a google search. I would also be interested in this topic as I am considering returning to the UK from abroad on my own in the future (see my long post in the friendship section) and was thinking a retirement/lifestyle village would be good as I will not know anyone. From my research however, the general consensus seems to be that they are bad value for money, much more expensive per square meter than a normal house. Also generally quite small. There has been bad press about the ground rent and the ongoing management fees, Also they do not seem to hold their value well and the resale value for the family has often been below the original purchase price, especially if you originally bought a new property and the fees still have to be paid till the property is sold. On the plus side however, if you can afford it you may not care about all this as I can see the advantages of a retirement village with ready made company and lots going on plus security and not having to worry too much about maintenance, I was hoping you might have had some replies by now, but maybe those who are living in a retirement village are all too busy having a great time to be members of Silversurfers!ViewDate:
30th Jan 2019hondygirl commented on:
MOVING HOME ALONE ......AND TO A NEW PART OF THE COUNTRYI am new here and this is my first post so please be kind! I am currently in Australia having emigrated here with my husband to be with my daughter and family. It’s a long story but things didn’t work out as we hoped and daughter and family now live on the other side of Australia due to work. Two years ago my husband was diagnosed with cancer and is now terminal. We moved where we are as I have a brother here and the grand plan was for all the family to be here but this obviously hasn’t worked out. I have never really felt that this is my home and came to Australia as at the time both my children were going to be here but my son now lives in Amsterdam. As I said it’s a long story. I have always been a little homesick and miss the culture and countryside of England. I have been thinking a lot about what I should do once I am on my own. With hindsight it was probably not a good idea to come here and I feel a bit cheated that my family have now moved away. My instinct is to go home although I would not be able to return to where we lived in Cheshire England as it would be too expensive, plus people I know have moved on. I do have a brother in England still but we are very different people and I would not want to live where he is. I have been thinking about Yorkshire quite a lot as I really like it and feel at home there, in particular North Yorkshire. We used to go walking regularly in the Yorkshire Dales and loved the North York Moors and the east coast. My dilemma is whether to go back to England, where I probably would not see much of my daughter and grandchildren here in Australia or stay here, where I would at least be able to see them sometimes. I do have some sort of life here, and have joined a group of women who meet for coffee etc but they are more acquaintances than real friends. My brother and family are here of course but they have their own lives and still work so we don’t really get to see that much of them. I am just wondering how others have managed the practicalities of moving alone? I am now 68 and the thought of starting over on my own in a new place is very scary, especially moving back from here. I thought about a retirement community but understand they are bad value, the ongoing costs can be high and the resale and exit fees not good and I don’t know whether I could afford it. I have seen a few ladies on here from Yorkshire. Does anyone have any advice on suitable places to live. Maybe a market town with a bit going for it and plenty to do for our age group and not too far from the Yorkshire Dales/Moors? I have done some research and Wetherby sounds nice, but too expensive I think, also Knaresborough? They say you shouldn’t make any decisions for at least a year, but I have known for over 2 years what is coming and so have had plenty of time to think about it. I just feel that Australia is not my home but don’t know if I can manage such a huge undertaking alone at my age. Sorry for such a long post,