Thread: Phone calls from "home"?

Hello all.

I've been stewing on this for a few weeks now and thought I'd share it to see if anyone else is in the same boat.

We have been in Oz now for 13 glorious weeks and love it. What is getting my back up is that everyone back "home" that we wanted to have our phone numbers (mobile and house) has it.

We have in all this time been phoned twice. 1 each from 2 friends. Not another call from anyone. It's always us that have to phone. I've said no more. I've not phoned anyone for 4 weeks now. The wife has made a couple, but knows how I feel and agrees to a certain extent.

These have been family and friends for years and they can't be bothered ringing, it's always us. As far as I'm concerned, stuff 'em. We are making a good new life and having a great time doing it. We are making friends over here and "home" will end up being a distant memory.

When we've metioned by email or phone about coming over, you never get a straight answer, it's always "oh well you know" or "maybe in a few years" etc.

OK rant over.

Frank

Welcome to our world all the years we have lived away my side of the family never phone us, never phoned my mum even though they have always been able to.

My husband's family phone though completely different.

Out of sight out of mind I believe.

snap, i find the same, always me phoning, it gets you down and feel ah well they are not that interested. Still also finding it really hard to make friends, mind you i am shy initialy but now getting so lonely

We are due to move over to NZ in October roughly. I am going to join the gym and other local groups (especially the ones that involve vineyards ha ha ha) to make friends. Plus with my son going to Intermediate school - I am hoping to meet other parents. I have also written 3 internet phone number (2p a minute) for back home. I am getting Skype straight away and I already have a webcam :)
This is something I have thought a lot about ha ha ha - as you can tell!!
Becks :)

Originally Posted by tuckerfa

Hello all.

I've been stewing on this for a few weeks now and thought I'd share it to see if anyone else is in the same boat.

We have been in Oz now for 13 glorious weeks and love it. What is getting my back up is that everyone back "home" that we wanted to have our phone numbers (mobile and house) has it.

We have in all this time been phoned twice. 1 each from 2 friends. Not another call from anyone. It's always us that have to phone. I've said no more. I've not phoned anyone for 4 weeks now. The wife has made a couple, but knows how I feel and agrees to a certain extent.

These have been family and friends for years and they can't be bothered ringing, it's always us. As far as I'm concerned, stuff 'em. We are making a good new life and having a great time doing it. We are making friends over here and "home" will end up being a distant memory.

When we've metioned by email or phone about coming over, you never get a straight answer, it's always "oh well you know" or "maybe in a few years" etc.

OK rant over.

Frank

High Fank.
I have, unfortunatly, seen this situation arise time and time again over the years. It is usualy the siblin/friend who is the 'giving one' (ie they who always initiate meeting, phone calls excetera, baby sit at a moments notice, help out whenever possible) that are often the ones that are (for some unfathomable reason) forgot about when not in contact, the same conciderations/offers never reciprocated, out of sight out of mind, absolutely infuriating no doubt, unfortunatly there is very little you can do about it.
You could vent your spleen and let the people who have hurt you know how you feel but they will only register the fact that you have "spat your dummy out" and assume it's not working out for you in Australia!
My advice would be to embrace your new life in Australia, embrace your new friends, live your life to the full and forget about the people who appear to have forgot about you.

Believe me, life IS too short.
I still feel young but the mirror tells me otherwise :cry:
You have ONE life, it's yours, do with it as you please.

Toodle Pip.

Getting a Skype phone definitely helps although some of my contact comes through email. I phone my Mum once a week (same as when I was at University!) and although it doesn't cost her much to phone me I don't mind being the one to call 'cos when she answers the phone I can hear here voice really brighten and I feel great that I called.
I guess that's why I don't mind phoning - friends sound pleased to hear from me and I have had a few calls back. I know the time difference scares most of them - they can never remember which way round it is!
We got here last October and we've got our first visitors staying in September - we've bascially offered our place up as a free hotel for their holidays but I know everyone in the UK is feeling the pinch and flights are not cheap anymore.
I often found in England some friends do the phoning, some don't so it doesn't seem that different now we're here. They do make an effort to see us if we visit the UK though.
It's tough when you think people don't bother but it's worth putting the effort in to keep some friendships going.