OK,

I've finally exchanged on the flat this morning and booked the removal company and checked out the flights for the 31st July. But a few questions:

I've been given an insurance form that I have to fill out. OK, it's easy for the big stuff that's going but do I really have to count every piece of clothing (down to every last sock)? Also, at this stage I haven't figured out what is going with me and what isn't, clothes wise.

Also, I seem to recall that I have to give CUSTOMS a list of things I've brought with me, in addition to the Goods to Follow. Again, do you have to itemise everything down to your toothpaste?

Whoops! I've forgotten if it's item(ise) or item(ize) in Canada?

I did not go into that much detail - "miscellaneous clothing items" and similar terminology was accepted. It is the value they are looking at. To be honest, they will be more interested in your Returning Residents Permit (if you are indeed a retuning resident) than anything else.

I was very detailed, but then that is typical of me!

I put for example Box 1 and listed everything inside it. We had no trouble/delays at customs so perhaps it did help. It helped us too though as we knew exactly what was in each box when we got them. We didn't bring much over at all though so the job wasn't that big really.

JJ

Sorry, just picked this up as I only for internet Mon-Fri.

Has anyone had any gardening things shipped? I've got a wooden patio table and chairs and a shovel, fork and rake, oh and my solar garden lights. They seem to be pretty particular due to foot and mouth. Anybody, had any experience in this area?

You don't have to put down every exact detail on what you're shipping.

Even Canadian officials will understand that solar garden lights probably will have no effect on foot and mouth, unless you put a sheep in the same crate! :lecture:

Shipped out all my garden tools including the petrol mower. The removal company insisted that I scrub all the tools and give the mower a good clean.

Thanks. I just wasn't sure if customs saw these items on the list if they would automatically open up the shipment for investigation. I've been so calm up until now but with 2 weeks to go I've got myself into a panic here despite all the lists I keep making.

I also think that the packing list also said miscellaneous tools, rather than garden tools. These where packed near the end and tended to be wrapped up and shoved into other boxes to cut down on space.

Good luck with your move. I wouldn't panic too much though, we where pretty much the same, but the removal company where great.

I just read the following thing and thought I'd do the dishonourable thing and copy and paste it here:

Clearing Customs
You can do this the Hard Way or the Easy Way:
The Hard Way: When you go to Customs in your nearest Canadian city to obtain final clearance of your shipment once it has arrived in Canada (you will most likely have to do this) you break every logical preparation rule:
You didn't prepare your paperwork neatly, clearly, and completely.
You are bringing in lots of suspect stuff - alcohol, cigarettes, a car, lots of persian rugs, etc.
You are dressed poorly - or too fancily.
You haven't showered that day - or shaved.
You don't take off your sunglasses when you go up to the Customs counter.
You go to customs at 4:00pm, when the employees are tired and want to go home.
You don't like Customs, the Customs officer you go up to and their offices - and tell them so.
As a result of your choice of the hard way, you will have to submit your shipment to a search. This causes delays, charges (you have to pay for Customs to inspect your shipment!), damage during inspection, and probably impoundment and possible permanent loss of some of your goods if they decide to send some of your things to Ottawa for x-ray or further investigation. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!
Hint: Choose the easy way.
The Easy Way: When you go to Customs to get final clearance on your shipment, do the following:
If available, bring a child with you. Have them smile and be friendly to the Customs officer. Make sure they say how exciting it is to be back in Canada and how they are looking forward to getting all their toys out again after the long move.
Second choice: Bring your spouse.
Make sure your paperwork is impeccable.
Don't bring in anything that will cause the Customs officer to look twice at your paperwork.
Dress cleanly and neatly but not too fancily. You want to project an innocent and wholesome appearance. Too fancily will imply that you are a drug dealer and that there are 300kg of cocaine in your shipment .
Be nice to the Customs officer. Take off your sunglasses and be courteous and pleasant with them. An easy customer is a customer who gets their paperwork stamped "Cleared" with no search or other hassle. Instant release of your goods is what you are aiming for.
YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED! Horror stories abound - real ones I have heard personally from returned expats who actually went through the hard way (their goods were searched) So take the easy way! There is no guaranteed way to make sure your goods won't be searched, just ways of dramatically lowering the risk that they will be.

This is from a Canadian returning to Canada after 7 years. He has many other hints which might be handy to the Brit expat as well as the returning Canadian repat as there's tips on shipping, finances, culture shock etc. http://www.kurucz.ca/expatrepat/