Is it a crazy idea?

[gunsnroses]

jimbo it depends where you go in phuket, it's a shithole if you are in the patong beach area, not so if you go away from that to the other side of the island, then it's a paradise.

[MASTER-OF-HK]

That's what i say about ladyboys.

I admire your honesty.

[Mat]

Mat

I wouldn't exactly call Phuket a paradise, It's a sleazy craphole

Well if you compare to Lai Chi Kok.....

[Mat]

I think the critical time for most new parents is the first few months after birth - that is when everything is new, that's when sleep deprivation hits hardest and that is the point of maximum stress.

By the time the baby has reached 6 months they are likely to be sleeping through the night, settled into a routine and everything is considerably more relaxed.

I wouldn't think combining a country move, having a partially absentee partner and looking after your first newborn is a great idea. Getting settled in a few months before birth, or moving after 6 months would be much better options.

A mate moved from HK to Mexico with a 1,5 months old, not easy but a few months in and they are doing fine.

But it must be well prepared. That is all I am saying.

[TheBrit]

A mate moved from HK to Mexico with a 1,5 months old, not easy but a few months in and they are doing fine.

Two parents though, right? It makes a huge difference at the start. I think it's something you have to go through to know what you're talking about, no offence.

[bryant.english]

A couple I know, Scottish FWIW, spent the first year of their daughter's life in Azerbaijan and then spent three years in Colombia. He is 'in oil'. Admittedly they lived relatively privileged expat lives inside secure compounds, but, in the end she couldn't stand it. He was away most of the time working and she was mostly stuck in the apartment.....part of the problem was no other people had kids..

Also, Vicky is a highly educated professional in her own right so life as a trailing wife might not have worked out for her anyway.....

Anyway, they are back in Banchory now!!

[MovingIn07]

For what it's worth, my "read" of your opening post is that you want to go. (you call it a paradise island.. if you didn't want to go you'd have called it something else). If you want to go, go. Have fun. I'm sure you can find helpers even if not full time. Spend some quality time alone with your new baby. Sure, it'll be tough but if you are happy it'll work. And if you REALLY hate it - come back. THailand is not that far away; one of my team lives there and commutes to HK every other week!

[Maracas Bay]

Thanks everyone for the responses. I would imagine it is tough being a trailing wife in a new place plus a new baby minus the husband being there. MovingIn07, you are right, I would love to live there, have been wanting to get out of HK for a while now. But moving and being a semi single mother might be too much stress during a time of a major change. Ah decisions decisions! Thing is I've moved so many times, tired of moving again and again, would like to avoid moving to 'paradise' and then moving back to HK again!

Anyways, thanks again all for your input. Good to hear different opinions.

[wtbhotia]

If its an island in Thailand, whats stopping you from hiring a local as a nanny + house keeper, cheap as peanuts, well lot cheaper than HK I reckon.

[Maracas Bay]

Not sure if anyone is interested in an update but considering the new 15% tax slapped on properties here, now seems the ideal time to make the move to somewhere with a bit more reasonable cost of living (and less people and no pollution). Ahh, I can almost feel the sand between my toes!!! So long HK!