Englishmaple

Yep I can look it up!
I'll pass on IcelandAir though - I really don't travel well so I'm not adding that layover to the mix.

One thing I did see in one of the forums was someone talking about an open ended ticket where the return date wasn't specified? I've been wondering whether can do that altho' I'm not sure how to do that online as the software tends to demand details of the return date. Something I need to look into soon.

Still no news on the taxes - hoping I get them back this week or next at the latest.

I've bought the largest suitcase I can get on an Air Canada flight though so going to see whether I can get everything into 1 suitcase and hand luggage this week as it would be nice to avoid the additional charge of a second suitcase.

Englishmaple

No I'm not expecting to live like a Canadian in the UK - I'm going from my own rented apartment to a tiny rented room for starters!

The thing I'm hoping I will reconnect with more is not the material - it's community. Like you, all my friends have mostly been immigrants or Canadians who are open to immigrants and people from other areas of Canada but it's been hard living in the city I've been living in - it's very parochial and quite insular.

That said, since I made the decision to return to the UK I've realised that there are things I am really going to miss about Canada - and in a way that's not surprising having been here over 12 years. And whether I completely settle in the UK again - I'm not sure. I'm less certain than I was. But, at this moment in my life I know that going back feels the right thing for me to do in my heart. And if I ever do go back to Canada, it would not be to the city I have spent all my time living in here - it's too hard on outsiders.

But hopefully, after a few bumps, I'm hoping I will find a 'home' in the UK and a job and some community ... that's all I really want. Not material stuff (especially after getting rid of so much stuff for the move!).

Englishmaple

Okay - quick update.

Accountant is on holiday but have heard from his staff that my 2013 taxes are done and that everything will be wrapped up by end of March - so I can definitely fly back in April as planned.

The room I have booked to rent in Hampshire is available April 21st - Easter Monday.

I've not looked at flights yet but am thinking of flying out on Good Friday (April 18th) which would give me Saturday to buy a mobile phone in London and Sunday to rest before trekking to Hampshire on Monday ...

Have been looking at UK hotel prices in London for Friday 18th - checking out Monday 21st - oh my, lots of money.

If anyone on this board can recommend a reasonably priced central London hotel, let me know ... I'd like to pay around 100 - 130 a night (UK pounds) - but everything I look at is very expensive - or if cheaper, has rotten reviews ... for those who have done this before me, any advice appreciated!

One other option would be to spend 1 night in London and then trek to Hampshire and spend 2 nights somewhere else until my room is available - but I thought it would be nice to spend a couple of days in London if I can afford it ...

Editha

Try the Penn Club. They tend to be booked up a way in advance, but you might be lucky.

Dashie

Easter weekend. You will pay a premium for flights and hotel. Premier Inn tend to be among the cheapest and still decent quality. but not sure if you'll find anything 'good' for your budget on those dates. Our mutual friend here has travelled a lot, he would definitely be worth asking.

Englishmaple

Editha - thanks a million for that link - I've emailed them and am keeping my fingers crossed as it's exactly the kind of quiet place I'm looking for!

Since I wrote my post I have heard back from another B and B which is 70 pounds a night and I might go with that if the Penn Club don't have any rooms available. But keeping my fingers crossed that the Penn Club have something.

I've booked my flight!!!!!! So no going back now - have been having a case of the jitters recently because I made the mistake of listening to a podcast of BBC Womans Hour and they had a piece on it about how difficult it is for women in their 50's to find work .... have since decided I am just not going to listen to Womans Hour!

Have spent the last few days compiling an employment history list for application forms so that I have all the information together when I start to apply for jobs and complete said forms - should make it easier. A lot of the jobs I'm looking at don't accept resumes/cv's.

I'm hoping all the contract work I've done won't count against me ... I remember when I was looking for work early on in my career how it was always emphasised that you shouldn't have too many job changes but given the contract work culture now I'm hoping employers won't look at my list and bin it ... because most of what I've done since I've been in Canada has been self employment or multiple little p/t contracts.

Englishmaple

I'll look up this - thanks Dashie

--- and I did and they are booked up and the prices of the ones left are expensive because, as you say, it's Easter. There are a few cheaper places I've been looking at but going to wait and see whether the Penn Clubb comes through before looking and booking for anything else.

Englishmaple

Editha does the Penn Clubb have locks on the bedroom doors? Just read this on tripadvisor:

"I was travelling alone and felt safe in the area and in the hotel. I was a bit concerned that I could leave my luggage during the day, but it wasn't locked up. But, it was fine. Be aware if you are leaving anything really valuable you might want to pay at a left-luggage facility somewhere."

Wanted to check because I will have luggage with me ...

Dashie

Our London friend suggests Isis.

Englishmaple

Got a link? Because all sorts of crap is coming up in google when I try Isis!

Englishmaple

does he mean ibis?

rebeccajo

Parkwood Hotel

Luna and Simone

Editha

Locks on the doors as far as I remember. Better ask them.

quiltman

englishmaple,
Excuse me butting in but I've just spent an hour reading this thread 'cos I got hooked on it!
Bravo to you for taking the plunge, even if physically you end up worse off, your mental health has already improved as we can see from your postings.
For London hotels try using booking.com - I've just looked for April 4th - 7th for example and they have rooms within your price range. Sort it by Budget , Economy etc.Left hand side of home page "additional filters". I've used them for years with no problems. you can usually cancel at no charge and except for very cheap deals you only pay on leaving.
We've booked our hotel in Hawaii next week through them and it was cheaper than booking via the hotel website.
Regarding jobs. We left UK last July to come live in the Philippines and it was very difficult in the UK for anyone over 50 to get what might be called "career" jobs. Having said that however, with your qualifications you should be lucky finding something in Social Services as there is a shortage of Social workers all over the UK. Suggest you look on County Council websites - Hampshire, Wiltshire ? etc as they often post vacancies on there. you could well get a job providing maternity cover which gets you into the system.
you will have no problem finding part time work as you suggested and UK employers like mature people - they do tend to come to work on time without the "world owes me a living" baggage!
Seems you may be OK with accommodation and presumably the council tax of 70 pounds is 50% of your prospective landlords tax? If he is currently the only person shown to be living in the property then he currently gets a 25% reduction. This seems quite cheap to me as we lived in a market town in Lincolnshire and our council tax was 140 pounds a month. I would have thought Hampshire was more expensive. Again you can check it on the local (Alton) council website. also ask him if he will provide you with a "short term Tenancy" agreement as this gives you some protection against being asked to leave at short notice.
Mind you, you could rent a 3 bed semi where we lived for that rent!

good on you girl! hope it all works out for you. Feel free to PM me if you have any other questions.

Dashie

Yes he does, not sure if my phone corrected that or I typed it wrong - sorry!