6-Week Report
 

Hi everyone,

We are currently having a big problem getting internet as apparently the cables have been cut through in another location, but looks like it could go on for even longer, in the meantime I am going to attempt a quick summary on my phone.

Overall subjective impressions

Feels 'right'. No longer an oddity. Belong and connect.

It's beautiful! Gorgeous countryside abounds, so many lovely old buildings, cool new architecture, 'gritty' parts of town can be visited without getting shot. Huge amount of regeneration going on. Big shopping centres, restaurants with large outdoor eating areas, vastly improved interior design.

Food and drink: out of this world!

Work

My husband already had a job lined up. I don't know how easy it would be to find one on spec.

Practicalities

We needed a lump sum of money to start up with, as generally our US credit rating was worthless. The exception was npower, a utility company. I think we would have had a big problem getting a rental, but fortunately the university where my husband works has some housing available to rent to staff. We have a broker looking into the mortgage situation but have not made an application so I don't know how that will go. Apparently they like 3 years' UK residence, but some will take deposit and income into account. Most will only allow a mortgage term going up to retirement age.

Registering with a GP was no problem. They just wanted something with our address on. Referral to a specialist is simple, you can choose from a list of appointments. The waiting time for mine was 5 weeks. I would imagine something urgent would be quicker.

Electoral roll is done online. NI number for my daughter, was done by telephoning the relevant number from gov.uk and they mailed it.

We had kept our bank account. The bank was a bit funny about giving my daughter an account without proof of address, but eventually they agreed to do it with passport.

Driving - roads in urban areas do seem narrow and roundabouts look daunting. I have let my husband do all the 'difficult driving' (ie almost everything) so far.

Personal

We left our son, a university senior, in California. He seems to be coping all right so far. He plans to take US citizenship, and consider his options once he's graduated. We'll see him at Christmas.

My daughter has to make the transition from Calabasas to Norwich. At the moment, she seems fine about it but is taking the view that she will go back. She and her boyfriend Skype every waking minute and he is coming over for Christmas too.

My husband is satisfied with his workplace; it's back where he used to be so he knows the 'warts and all'!

As an empty nester I have to define my role/fill my time, not such a bad problem to have :lol:

Re: 6-Week Report
 

Great to see an update from you and good to know things are going well :D

Good luck with the mortgage app and continuing house hunt (or have you found somewhere yet?) I've always found myself really excited/enthusiastic about looking at houses to start with, but then get really bored with it quite quickly :lol:

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Glad you are settling in. I hear you on the driving bit, it took me a while to get used to driving over here on the narrower roads. I am OK on the rural roads now, but think I will avoid city driving forever.

Re: 6-Week Report
 

Thanks rebs! We found a place which we think would suit us. Thought I'd better not put every single one on my 'railway line' thread :lol: We just have to sort out the mortgage before we can make an offer.

Thanks. Yes I just have to go for it. Mañana!

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Very happy to see that the move back has been a resounding success. It is very useful that the university has housing available for employees - I think we (academics) have it so much easier in many ways when it comes to the whole expat thing. I respect all of those expats that are prepared to step out into the void without the security blanket/s that we have (H1b visas, employers used to international hires, etc.)

A year or so ago I applied for a job at the same university (I think) as your husband is working (I'm using the Edgbaston address as a clue ... ), but I came second. If/when I retire early I may still look for some P-T or temp teaching there, which I think/hope may be a bit easier.

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Thanks dunroving!

Yes, it has some advantages although it was like pulling teeth to get the post finalised and accommodation sorted. If a real international hire had turned up at the house they would have run a mile, luckily we are not afraid to get our hands dirty - literally :lol:

Sorry you didn't get the job, that would have been a good fit for you. How cool if you do come here for some p/t stuff!

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Sounds like it's all going well. I'm sure you're not missing the 100 degree weather!! Good luck with everything. And I totally hear u on the driving issue. When I move back I will stick to buses and trains!

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Sally, I am so happy for you and your family. I hope all continues to go well.

Getting around even in the gritty areas without fear of being shot, is all I want out of life too :lol:....cracked me up.

Is there anything you have missed about the U.S so far?

Please continue to keep us updated.

Re: 6-Week Report
 

No joking, we were sitting outside at my friend's house in Chelmsford yesterday and it started to get too hot for me.
Thanks both of you for the good wishes.

I have not missed a single thing. Just need my son, daughter's b/f and N1cky to move over here :lol:

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:goodpost:
Sounds like it's all going pretty well.

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Fantastic!
You just need to get creative in luring your son and daughter's bf shouldn't be too difficult.

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Thanks Mummy. Hope you're all doing well too.
:thumbsup:

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I thought you had been in UK longer! Your posts just seem like you have been there for ages. Where is the place where you live? Sound marvellous..

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:thumbsup: Sounds like it is all falling into place for you both. Looking forward to more updates in the future

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Hi fulwood. We are living in Birmingham but that was an impressionistic view including other places we've visited - Norwich, Eastbourne, London and Chelmsford.

Re: 6-Week Report
 

Sally- lovely to read your updates. You must be thrilled to finally be back in the UK and I see that you've have even managed to visit London <sobs>.

Good luck with the house hunting and enjoy all your lovely free time now that your children are at University.

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Sally, must have missed something at some point as I thought you were going to Exeter :confused: Delighted that things are working out so well for you :thumbsup:

Re: 6-Week Report
 

Exeter was on the cards at one time but OH decided on the 'devil he knew'.

Thanks to you and Hartley for the good wishes :thumbsup:

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So glad for you and great to hear how happy you are! I will follow with interest especially about the mortgage part. I'm turning 50 in December (my wife is younger though) but still after another three years wait for residency, it seems like we might have a mortgage term issue if they won't allow a term past retirement age for me. We're now moving back in January (yippee!) due to my wife's transfer being needed sooner. We'll be down in Falmouth, Cornwall and she'll be commuting up to London for a few days a month here and there and working from home for the rest of the time. We want to buy sooner than later and were hoping to do that within a year or so but I don't know now if that will be a possibility.

All the best to you, Sally!

Re: 6-Week Report
 

Thanks MrMuffin, and good luck with your own plans!

I will report back on the mortgage. It has gone quiet from the broker :unsure:

Re: 6-Week Report
 

I nearly took offence, until I read past the full stop.

Glad things are going well matey.

Re: 6-Week Report
 

You made it bearable :)

Thanks babes.

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Stop it now. We're beginning to sound like those Facebook posts you hate so much.

I do miss you though :drinkingpals:

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:eek:

Me too :drinkingpals: <- I'm the one that falls over first.

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But continues drinking, even when you're on your back.

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Can't waste it.

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You'd have been mortified the other day, I sent a glass of wine back. Well actually, I had a drink and pulled a face and the server saw me. He quickly whisked it away and brought me something much nicer :thumbup:

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I unintentionally groped a waiter the other night, poor bloke was squeezing between the chairs while I had my hand there getting something out of my bag.

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Accidental? Right :nod:

Did you sneak a photo of him for your collection too?

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Serendipity :D

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:lol: For him or you?

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What they call a win:win :p

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:flirtyeyes:

Shameless hussey :flirtyeyes:

.....so then what happened? :wink_smile:

That's so funny

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I made a block booking on that table till Christmas :sneaky:

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And they always say the men are the naughty ones :)

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Yes, sorry! All part of the report though: I am happy to confirm that Britain's got talent :D

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Well - glad to see you are back and groping your way back into English culture. :p

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I know it. And we thought she was wicked bad when she was over here! We ain't seen nothin yet!

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Just taking a break from fossil cataloging! ;)

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Hallucigenia?