Back in Scotland
#1
Forum Regular
Thread Starter
Joined: Oct 2016
Location: Scotland
Posts: 200
Back in Scotland
We’ve been back in Scotland for 18 days and thought I would give an update on how things are going.
Absolutely delighted to be back in my homeland. It’s quite strange when your long-cherished dream becomes a reality. It’s taking me some time to process that I will never have this yearning again as I’m now back.
The flat we are in in Musselburgh is super. We had no idea it was going to be so well-equipped. In addition to being furnished it had all the bedding and towels (all new) and all the cleaning supplies. We are the first renters and the owners bought the property in April. We are right beside the beach and a 2-minute walk from the harbour. The weather has been very good and we’ve enjoyed hours of walking. Fortunately my DHs knees, after his 2 surgeries, are doing well.
Things we’ve accomplished: registered with a doctor, registered to vote, bought a car (Kia Picanto automatic) which we collect next week, got a bus pass, joined Historic Scotland, got a Sparks card for M&S, bought a TV license (I’d forgotten you needed one) although I haven’t watched any TV yet. We tried Hertz rent-to-buy manual Hyundai i10 and decided that we were going to buy an automatic!
Fun things we’ve done: multiple bus trips into Edinburgh, day in North Berwick walking along beaches, trip to Innerleithen in the Borders watching our youngest son play football, trip to Hampden to watch our son’s team play (although he didn’t play that day), lots of trips to M&S, spent lots of time with my brother-in-law and sister-in-law, seen my cousin twice and we went on the Ferris Wheel on Princes Street Gardens and acted like teenagers.
Our 2 crates arrived on Friday and the contents are now in a storage unit. No damages and I am very pleased with the service we got from UPakWeShip. Storage units are not as common over here and much more expensive.
Thrilled to bits with how well things are going. Thank you again for all your support on this forum.
Absolutely delighted to be back in my homeland. It’s quite strange when your long-cherished dream becomes a reality. It’s taking me some time to process that I will never have this yearning again as I’m now back.
The flat we are in in Musselburgh is super. We had no idea it was going to be so well-equipped. In addition to being furnished it had all the bedding and towels (all new) and all the cleaning supplies. We are the first renters and the owners bought the property in April. We are right beside the beach and a 2-minute walk from the harbour. The weather has been very good and we’ve enjoyed hours of walking. Fortunately my DHs knees, after his 2 surgeries, are doing well.
Things we’ve accomplished: registered with a doctor, registered to vote, bought a car (Kia Picanto automatic) which we collect next week, got a bus pass, joined Historic Scotland, got a Sparks card for M&S, bought a TV license (I’d forgotten you needed one) although I haven’t watched any TV yet. We tried Hertz rent-to-buy manual Hyundai i10 and decided that we were going to buy an automatic!
Fun things we’ve done: multiple bus trips into Edinburgh, day in North Berwick walking along beaches, trip to Innerleithen in the Borders watching our youngest son play football, trip to Hampden to watch our son’s team play (although he didn’t play that day), lots of trips to M&S, spent lots of time with my brother-in-law and sister-in-law, seen my cousin twice and we went on the Ferris Wheel on Princes Street Gardens and acted like teenagers.
Our 2 crates arrived on Friday and the contents are now in a storage unit. No damages and I am very pleased with the service we got from UPakWeShip. Storage units are not as common over here and much more expensive.
Thrilled to bits with how well things are going. Thank you again for all your support on this forum.
#6
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Nov 2012
Location: bute
Posts: 9,740
Re: Back in Scotland
"Overtourism" in our Capital ?
https://bellacaledonia.org.uk/2018/0...and-edinburgh/
https://bellacaledonia.org.uk/2018/0...and-edinburgh/
Last edited by scot47; Aug 13th 2018 at 6:58 pm.
#7
Just Joined
Joined: Jun 2018
Posts: 10
Re: Back in Scotland
Caroline, I’m so happy for you and love reading your updates. You described perfectly that yearning feeling (in a previous post) which I can totally relate to. I’m in Colorado and have been for 11 years, and we (DH & 3 kids), will start our journey back to the homeland (England) one day. Your posts give me inspiration. Thank you!
Enjoy your new discoveries and adventures.
Enjoy your new discoveries and adventures.
#8
Forum Regular
Thread Starter
Joined: Oct 2016
Location: Scotland
Posts: 200
Re: Back in Scotland
rockymountains - thank you for your kind words. As happy as I am to be back in Scotland I’m glad we waited until our boys were grown. Two of our 3 sons were heavily involved in sports at high school and college level (one with soccer and one with gymnastics.) It wasn’t until 2016 that we first thought about moving back. It was a tough journey for me with my homesickness which grew over the years. However, I stuck with it and am really glad that I did. Good luck with your journey.
#11
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 1,197
Re: Back in Scotland
Hi Caroline, welcome back to Britain! You don't know me, I was a frequent poster years ago (especially on the Over 40s thread), before moving back to the UK in 2014. What you've said here reminds me of myself, living in USA with homesickness growing, not fading, as the years went by. We too had children very involved in school activities and sport etc, and my USC husband was the main breadwinner....so, much as I yearned more and more to return, it wasn't feasible. Then for my DH's last three years of work we lived in France, a lovely way of transitioning back to Europe...and after he retired we came to the UK in 2014. Children by that time full-fledged adults in their 20s/early thirties! And two of the three have ended up living in Europe (not UK but still way closer than USA!!) as well. That is so nice for us.
I am still glad every single day that I am here!
Good luck with everything, enjoy being back home!
I am still glad every single day that I am here!
Good luck with everything, enjoy being back home!
#12
Re: Back in Scotland
Just wondering what the financial requirements for your husband were in order to live in Europe?My husband would love to move away from the the U.S. he is a U.S citizen though. I am a U.K citizen but would not be able to meet the financial requirements for him to move to the U.K.
#14
Re: Back in Scotland
Would be curious to hear how the new car works out for you; Brits traditionally have shunned automatics but I think today's automatics are very smart indeed and there's simply no point any longer buying a manual ('stick'). I'm going to be renting a car in UK next month and really want to get an automatic so there's one less thing to think about when driving over there ...
#15
Re: Back in Scotland
Would be curious to hear how the new car works out for you; Brits traditionally have shunned automatics but I think today's automatics are very smart indeed and there's simply no point any longer buying a manual ('stick'). I'm going to be renting a car in UK next month and really want to get an automatic so there's one less thing to think about when driving over there ...
I do find the rental for an automatic is a bit more, and they need to be booked in advance the companies don’t seem to have many spare. That is my experience at Manchester Airport.