Former British Olympic bronze medallist Tony Jeffries has announced he will no longer be living in Australia. The 45-year-old moved to Melbourne three years ago from California, hoping for great weather and better company. However, in a Facebook post, Jeffries criticised Australia, blaming the Aussies, Melbourne's weather, and working conditions due to time zone differences.
Reasons for departure
Jeffries cited the weather and time zones as part of his reasons for leaving. He expressed disappointment that Melbourne did not provide the California-style sunshine he expected, noting that the city receives more rainfall annually than his hometown of Sunderland. He also suffers from Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), which he attributes to living in California for ten years.
Isolation and lack of connections
In his post, Jeffries said he felt isolated despite working online. 'The time zones alone have been rough, my YouTube videos get published at like 2am this time zone... I haven't made a single connection here either,' he wrote. He added that outside his immediate family, he has not been around five people much, making it a lonely experience.
Positive words and future plans
Despite the negativity, Jeffries acknowledged Australia has great things and is an amazing place to visit. He speculated that living in the Gold Coast or Brisbane might have been different. Jeffries is excited to return to America but has not decided where to settle. He is considering Austin, Miami, and Boca Raton, and plans to visit all three next month. 'Looking forward to this new chapter,' he concluded.
