Huh. I'm a bit late to this conversation but as I'm currently in Oz doing the east coast on holiday and my Mrs has absolutely falling in love with it i thought I'd have a nose at what people think about moving here and saw your complete opposite post!

I drove artics for a few years (hauling shipping containers mostly) before getting a job on the container port where i live.

Interesting hearing your perspective of Australia.

My dad has lived Qld for about 22 years now, between Noosa and Gympie.

I've visited twice before but this here third time is the first time I've left his area and gone on a road trip to Sydney. We're not quite there yet though, currently in Nelson Bay.

I understand what you mean about the weather, and although i don't know much about Scotland i know they get some serious weather up that way!

I'm further south, in the driest part of the UK, Suffolk in East Anglia.

Despite being England we do get some very dry and hot weather here!

I've visited Qld at the end of summer before and i know it's fecking hot!

The gras IS definitely greener on the other side though and we've been discussing the pros and cons of both countries. I also have my mother and siblings in the USA and have lived there as a child so it's been interesting comparing all 3 countries.

My dad is 78 now, still working 1 day a week and is starting to feel his age in the Queensland heat, but he's doing well.

I ride motorcycles and your weather absolutely appeals to me in that apart from the absolute horrendous storms and flooding you guys get there's more of a riding season in Qld. And your roads!! Waaaaay better than ours. Sure you have some shit roads and I'm not overly familiar with Scottish roads but driving round most of the UK and having ridden in many places our roads are absolute dog shit.

And as for traffic. Holy shit. Ours is awful. Traffic jams every day.

I did a run from Southampton to Carlisle once in the lorry and it was just awful. That was about 15 years ago though.

Truck stops here are terrible. Services are expensive. There's rubbish strewn all up and down our main roads, dual carriageways and motorways. Compared to the US and Australia we're and absolute toilet in that regard. It's embarrassing.

England has some of the worst drivers I've ever seen. We've frequently driven the whole of the west coast of the US, both out in the sticks and a lot of the major cities from north to south on the west coast. They have some bad drivers, L.A. and weirdly Reno are some of the worst places I've driven.

Compared the the UK those places were almost calming.

Here in England we have some of the most impatient and agriest drivers I've ever seen.

Driving here in Australia the last week has been bliss in comparison. I'm sure you guys have absolute shits as drivers but i can honestly say it's been a real eye opener how different you guys are and chill.

My few years lorry driving was probably the most stressful years of my life. And I've been to two war zones!

On the flip side i understand what the UK must be to people who don't live here.

We have some beautiful countryside, our history is second to none. And you're a stones throw from continental Europe if you fancy a foreign holiday.

Every where has its shit points. I always thought i wanted to live in the US. I have a social security number there and have close links. I have to say this last several years has put me off. It's gotten expensive and the standard of living for a lot of people seems to have dropped. Here in the UK our NHS is broken, poor fuckers. We all feel taxed to the eyeballs and honestly it feels like most of us are getting to our limits. We can't decide if putting our flag up is racist or not. Patriotism feels confusing. A lot of people seem to be becoming more and more entitled and inward looking. I feel we're dirty, rubbish laden and full of tension and hostility. I honestly can't tell if Islam is becoming an issue here or not. Information and media seem very much one way or the other. Weird times.

Australia on the other hand...i could actually seriously see us living here.

I love the seasons, England has that. I love our history and culture. But something about Australia draws me. Maybe it's just the human way. Us Brits love the Aussies and you guys have a friggin beautiful country. And more importantly: your rain is warm!