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It's a 4 bed, 2 bath, with a garage, detached, a nice sized garden, in a really nice area and fast internet speeds. It isn't in Sunderland where the property is, I am just staying in Sunderland due to it being cheap for the time I needed to be in a hotel long term.

I moved back to England because after 24 years of living in Australia it never felt like home and I was depressed, I felt so out of place as well. I wanted to go to places that just didn't exist in Australia, since being back I have been able to tick so many things off already and theres so much more to see and do. I also wanted to be closer to my remaining family members. The weather over here has actually been pretty darn good.

It's a big ask but I am determined to make it work, I'm sure I will have more fun and make more friends once I am settled in my own place. I have come this far and I am determined to make it work :)

Thanks! I think the big part of why I am in pain is due to my living conditions, before I done any of this I never had ear problems but I bet having no fresh air in my room doesn't help, I have a window in my room but they have prevented it from opening. Thankfully I only have a week left here before I will be on my way to another place in a nicer spot and I know the windows can open :)

@ You will feel better then .

Thanks for your questions Hamish, I will go over this in a future video once I am all setup as currently it is still on going. Work wise I plan on working globally so just having an income in England won't be the main thing of course this comes with another level of challenges. How I am about to fund my venture is using savings, I wish I got a payout when I had my fall 8 years ago. The time I moved I wasn't in the position I wanted to be in with work, I wanted to be earning money first from my work and support myself when on the road. Family caused me to make the move sooner, this has now put me in a very challenging position but theres many ways I can earn money once I get a place. It is also good to be curious and investigate by asking questions, I don't see it as a rant in any form :) Money is certainly going out very quickly! Hotels per week is roughly £800-900 per week or $1600-1800AU due to the current exchange rate, eating I try to budget a small amount each day but once every 2 days I have a meal somewhere, theres only so many hours you can deal with hunger pain. I could keep going but I will go over this in a future video. I have taken a screenshot of your comment for me to bring up in that video as it is a very good one!

Happy New Year as well Hamish 🥳

I am glad you're enjoying my journey and my ramblings along the way 🙂 Happy New Year to you as well David!! 🥳

Thanks Mike 🤠 You're certainly not wrong about the last four months, I have learn't a lot and it has tested me in ways I never thought it would. I also got over my fear of flying, I thought I was going to be a nervous wreck on that but I done a much better job. Everything that I have been dealing with I have just broken down into smaller tasks which has helped massively, I have also started going more with the flow and this has reduced the amount of panic attacks I would have.

Oh I hear you so much on that Sarah! What I have experienced so far of England since being back is so small, When I drove up from the south of England to the north it was dark so I couldn't see anything, I can only imagine the beauty I drove past.

Thank you Stuart for the encouragement!!

Well everything as it stands it has all been in writing and theres a paper trail, I did say to the agents about drawing up a contract for the works but they said that isn't needed as the works will get done. The place is in a liveable standard and theres no mould to worry about that will cause breathing problems. My main concern is the windows planes falling out as some are loose but if that happens I know how to seal up the openings until new glass is fitted. If I need to I'm sure I have connections that will help me out. I think the landlord is in America, I do wonder if I know them or if they know me, I am sure as time passes we will connect.

@simonphillipsphoto You’ve got this:-) You are on the right track, and you’re skilled at fixing things.

Hey Mike I have actually thought of doing this leading forward, it would be nice to make improvements to the place either myself or with hired in labor. I am sure the landlord would like that so long as they are kept updated in detail on what is happening. But what I could do is when I start earning really good money, I could offer to buy the place and use the bad points as a way to negotiate a price. I could spend £5k on the place but that could push the value up. I can certainly do a lot myself, I know how to build a house and fit it out. I know how to make windows, doors, cabinets and so much more, all learn't from jobs I have done over the years and training in different fields.

I think that it would be imperative that you clarify the time-line for your repairs. If you made a landlord very happy with your completed work, you have a very good reference for future potential jobs. Everyone contracting out work asks for references from prior projects. If you made several renters very happy, then you're golden - it's incredibly hard to find honest contractors - we are all searching for one - we ask our friends for leads in finding one! You seem to be a dedicated person who can be a bit demanding for quality - just the type of person everyone is trying to locate for projects. You could earn money for your personal qualities - honesty, eye for details, and hard working. Cheers, my friend.

Cheers Owen! It will be so good next year, everything I have been through over the years it feels like it is all coming together and I can live the life I want :)

Hahaha Mika I certainly feel this place is rubbing off on me, I don't think I will sound like a norther anytime soon but I am noticing certain words I am pronouncing in a different tone. Maybe one day I will speak like the king in the way once I have finished speaking my mouth keeps moving hahaha

That’s a great place to start and gives you more time to find a great place and the car you want! Where about are you living? I am certain things will work out for both of us and more so, just keep pushing forward despite it feeling impossible some days... are you doing this alone as well?

@SimonPhillipsPhoto no mate coming back to the uk with my wife , will be saying in liverpool until we find somewhere

@@peterconnor4193 Nice stuff! all the best with your move back Peter when you do it, England is lovely despite what so many people say, sure theres problems but theres no perfect place out there.

Thanks Sarah! I am sure it will go smoothly and I will get the place :) I had one agent that was really bad and despite really liking some of their properties I had to walk away. The one I am going through have got an excellent reputation and I am sure the more I deal with them over time the better working relationship will have. I might even buy the property off of them in a few years time if I like living there. I am so looking forward to having a normal routine and being able to live fully.

I did think of doing this but where I was I didn't have a dark bag, I also exposed a few sections of film to the light when trying to work things out then I realised I messed up. I hadn't seen a negative in a while so I forgot what it looked like. I will certainly do this in the future, I have a dark bag now :)

Thanks for the suggestion. I have just had a look into the app on the App Store and it seems very similar to the app I use called Viewfinder, it works a treat the only time I got it wrong is when I forgot to change my settings on my camera or in the app. I would like to get a light meter that you'd use in a studio you know with the white dome, I had one on my Leica R4 and that was always accurate.

Hi Jane thank you for long and detailed comment sharing your experiences. There certainly is a lot of people living here, as an outsider to the country who hasn't lived here for a long time I haven't been able to see the changes. In the north it is certainly busy but once you get out of the cities and towns it is peaceful. I will see if I can bring over my no claims from Australia to England as I haven't made a claim in years and I have done advanced driver training over the years. A income shouldn't be an issue for me once I get some of my plans in motion, to cover my rent, bills and expenses I need a really good income specially since I am single.

Thanks Mel you're so right! it is very challenging and certainly testing, theres moments you just want to sit down in a corner and have a bit of a cry. A thing I keep thinking when I get in that place is I am in a better place than I was a month ago, giving up would mean everything I have done would have been for nothing.

@@SimonPhillipsPhoto I understand. Having a cry is so good for us, it’s a healthy release. Ive had a challenging time this year. We’re all vulnerable at times and also we’re stronger than we think. You can do this Simon 😊

That's a really good range you get on a tank and cheap tax and insurance!

A bit has changed on this channel in this past year, crazy how things have gone in a good way. That is wicked you're moving back to the UK, where about are you looking to live? Having no income is certainly scary but it is only short term but still scary when you see money leave your account and nothing coming back in. With the car don't get a diesel these will be more expensive to keep on the road with the taxes, you're better off getting a petrol with a better mpg rating which is what I will do. I was looking at the Mini Cooper Works but they are expensive and are costly to maintain. I think now I am looking at a standard one with a great mpg rating but has at least a 1.6L engine so it will use less revs when on the motorways and a but more go. Do you have family over in England?

@SimonPhillipsPhoto not sure yet but definitely no city's, I just got rid of my 1999 mercedes sl500 v8 , my main concern now is mpg, cost of insurance and road tax , Jesus where has the fun gone 😫

@SimonPhillipsPhoto ford focus 1.5 tdci is cheap tax , there going up but so is the tax on everything else plus over 50mpg. Jesus there's my fun gone again 😫

Hey Peter it really is sucking the fun out of things if you don't have much money, I will have to make sure I get a car with a really good mpg otherwise the government will screw me even more haha. One day I will get my dream petrol hyper car I wonder how much one of those would cost to keep on the roads... ooh dear hahaha

It really is crazy but no where near as bad as Australia it is on a whole other level over there, property prices are predicted to go up a further 20% for Perth, WA which is insane. I felt I have to be honest for things to also make sense, theres some things I forgot to mention but I will go over those at some point in the new year. I was looking at smaller properties but they just wouldn't work for me, what I am looking to pay isn't actually that bad. Staying in hotel rooms that are small i am looking forward to having space afterwards. I try and keep as focused as possible, I certainly feel this experience has changed me in a good way. I really can't wait to get out and take photos again and meet up with people and connect with companies and businesses.

@SimonPhillipsPhoto New Year, new opportunities, new horizon, new zest for success you will reach those goals. Thanks for sharing your journey and thoughts Simon. I wish you well.

Thank you Clive! Tomorrow is a new day and new possibilities :)

Thanks mate that sounds good! where in England are you?

@SimonPhillipsPhoto I'm south but I have a van so I can travel

Cool. Soon I hope I can travel as well once I get a place then I’ll be travelling all around England.

@@SimonPhillipsPhoto I mean as in I can come to you if you like ✌🏻 make it easier

It was like Christmas morning! I can't wait to get more use out of it. I have so many ideas for it and I will get the stronger motor eventually.

@simonphillipsphoto Christmas morning’s are fun!! You’ll have fun with your slider. I’m keen to see what you create 😊 Was the slider an early Christmas pressie? 🎁

This Christmas didn't go the way I planned due to an ear infection but theres always next year. Yes this slider was a early Christmas gift to myself, I do seem to know what I like haha

@simonphilipsphoto I hope you’re ear infection has cleared up and you’re feeling better Simon! Yes it’s always nice when you know what you want!😊

That explains a lot since the only place that sells them is Wex, thanks for clearing that up for me! I do have some old mags in storage so when I get access to my stuff again I will have to look through them, they date back to the early 2000's.

It really is! it is a weapon even compared to my 5d4.

Me too! just super fast and always reliable.

I'm glad to hear you found it useful and to this day I can't think of anything else from Canon I would want to use as my main camera. I hope you're enjoying the camera if you already have one, that is some list as well. I would hate to list all the cameras I have ever owned and used as it would be quite a list.

Thank you so much! The music was the hardest part to choose. It was also wonderful at each of those sites, one day I will get up in the air myself for some aerial photography.

That explains it. Thank you for clearing that up for me as I was really confused. I haven’t seen a tripod such as this before but it could be a rebrand just as you say others do it as well.

I am so glad you enjoyed it, there's nothing better than to see people enjoy my work and the places I have been.

@simonphillipsphoto I do enjoy your wonderful work Simon, and I really appreciate your creativity😊

Thank you ever so much! it was a tricky video to bring together, it was fun to do and nice as well seeing parts of my life as a photographer in this manner.

Thank you! I felt I had to address this tripod, it really isn't that far off my Sirui tripod that's 3 times the cost, If I could replace the spikes in the legs then there really isn't much of a reason why I wouldn't do that. I am actually gutted just because of how good it is as it is great value for your money. I wish more places would sell this tripod.

You’re welcome:-) It’s just great to find a tripod that ticks the boxes for what you need, good quality and is well priced.

You can send me a pity holiday card to my hotel :'(

They are great cameras! I didn't know about not being able to update the firmware yourself that is an odd one, I guess because it is classified as a cinema camera they are being extra careful with it. Mine still has the 1.3.9 version. I can't fault the camera though, it would be nice to have a touch screen like my other cameras haha. I am surprised the RJ45 port doesn't seem to want to work, I take it you need it for high volume work? I wonder if it is a driver issue with your computer since the camera is more than 10 years old now and certain tech doesn't work like it used to.

@SimonPhillipsPhoto maybe i don't understand right what write in manual to camera. But by wi-fi i can work with camera my phone. And i found master who upgraded firmware to 1.4.2. Hi did it by usb port from his house in 600 kilometers from my house! He is very good ingener and author of programm TornadoEOS. Now he make such program for Sony cameras.

Just odd, maybe the port got damaged or something. I should use one of my contacts to get the firmware so I can update my camera, it is odd how it’s a service item that you can’t do yourself.

It really is crazy! I feel most of the agents I have dealt with are good people, theres been a small hand full which I feel couldn't give a rats, this is made apparent pretty quickly and I cut my ties with them almost immediately even if theres a property that would be perfect. The more and more I do the better I get at this and I will put my foot down now where before when I started I would get walked over.

​@@SimonPhillipsPhotoonwards and upwards! Just know it's a rental crisis - not yourself that is the problem. I've been there so I know how it can eat away at your soul. Thank you for sharing your story so openly.

That is very true and some lords don’t care, the property I tried to get is still available and has been listed with another agent. I wonder if they are looking for people to offer more than what they are asking. It is strange that’s for sure. I’ll get there though :)

@@SimonPhillipsPhoto that's the spirit! Maybe something iffy going on behind the scenes there...? Here it is illegal to offer more then fixed asking price although people still will, out of desperation. Government is trying to crack down on the practice.

I have no idea what was wrong with them and even the agents were shocked by it. I hear you now about not doing up a place, since releasing and making this video I have changed my outlook and I would rather get a place that I don't need to do anything to plus it is not my responsibility to do so and a waste of money. I wouldn't mind painting a wall of a few but completely redoing a house is out of the question now for me to do.

@SimonPhillipsPhoto I think that is wise!

I really hope my new approach to this that I am taking since I got kicked back will better my chances. Someone will have to be crazy now to turn down 12 months of guaranteed income for their rental property. I need to make myself stand out from the rest and that is my only real difference, it has mean't I have had to tighten my budget as I couldn't afford 12 months rent for some of my previous properties I looked at.

Haha oh I know, well maybe not a shit hole but it certainly is dead. Perth is a mining city and if you remove the mines Perth would disappear.

You're so right there but I think as well as you got toward the end you have been hearing some lies. I thought it would be like this with all the immigrants and England would be loosing itself but I can tell you this much England is still England. Those coming over from other countries for the most part start to get engrossed in the English ways I see it daily when I go out. The north is just stunning and the people are super friendly and I can connect really well with them where in Australia I felt like an outsider because I was different. As I site here in my hotel room on this cold wet afternoon as the sun has set not to long along, theres so much to do in such a small area. I can walk down the one of many high streets, theres even a big shopping centre. You don't have to travel as far and it is so dense with different cultures and history which I love, it is really comforting hearing others open up and share their stories and accept you. Certainly don't give England the big Red Cross to not go over to visit and explore, I think it is the best place to live personally because of what there is and easy access to other countries. I will be back to Australia for trips and adventures in the future as it is an incredible place but I wouldn't look to live there again.

Oh man you have no idea how much I wanted to do this in the first place. When I first set out on doing this I planned on buying a van or car and travelling around in that for 3-6 months all around England. Then I would look to rent a place. Sadly you can't drive a car on the roads without a residential address and you wouldn't be able to get insurance cover. I was gutted when I found this out.

@@SimonPhillipsPhoto Use your Air bnb addy to set up then look at a po box or something, lets face it they just want your cash & most things can be managed electronically these days, or just say your on a travelling holiday

Sadly I looked into that as well and that isn't enough, they want proof you're living at a place. I think it has a lot to do with Brexit and things getting ever so tight. With the holiday part they want to see your return ticket date and booking, it really is crazy.

​@@SimonPhillipsPhotowow! That's such a shame. How do vanlife folks get around this?

@Ali-iqq1z I would really love to know this as well.

Like where the moon?

Theres no such place that exists on this rotating planet that is perfect. I heard the weather is good on the sun but it does get a little warm in spring...

Wonderful! you will really enjoy the camera! You might find that you'll use the 5D more and just keep the 6D as your second camera as a back up. It is certainly handy having a back up. I have back ups for my back ups now... Oh dear I am in trouble haha

Haha I hear that for Australia!! It is insane what is happening over there and for Perth house prices will go up a further 20% in the next year, I can't compete with that. In England yes properties are expensive if you are on minimum wage, but if you look at the cost of the properties here and do the conversion it wouldn't even buy you a house in Australia. For £200k in the north you could get a nice place, in the south you might get a nice corner of a room haha.

Yorkshire. God’s county.

I do wish I was able to look further afield to be honest now, I am just limited due to my removalists that I used as I can only go within a certain radius of Newcastle, other wise the costs quickly go up which I can't afford. I think what I will do is find a place more connected where I can set myself up and then in a years time I can move further out, I was looking at properties in the countryside as that would be nice later on. This has certainly taken its toll on me, but I am getting there. I just keep imagining a life that I want one day as a way of driving me forward.

Thanks, it's really great to have the support! It isn't easy but I feel my place is coming soon. I have sent a couple of requests in on rightmove to view 2 properties, I have also lowered my budget to something more manageable.

@@SimonPhillipsPhoto - sounds good Simon. The right place will turn up ! for sure 💯👌🧡