Things to do list before leaving Uk for Canada
 

Hi,

Not too sure if anyone has done this but I though we could start a to do list for ppl leaving the Uk for Canada and things they should do before they leave. Or for anyone who has left Uk to canada and things they wished they would have done before they left.... my husband is leavingin the next month or so and is feeling overwhelmed and doesn't want to forget to do anything so he is starting a list. I thought it would be a good iddea to enlist in the help of BE and see if we can help add to his list to ease his anxiety... Thanks ALL you have been a great help to us both ... all the way!!!!

:)

Re: Things to do list before leaving Uk for Canada
 

Hi
Have a look at Wiki. I used this as a basis and customised....

Hope this helps

Susan

Re: Things to do list before leaving Uk for Canada
 

Thanks for the reply... umm whats Wikki though... lol:)

Re: Things to do list before leaving Uk for Canada
 

Its the BE version of Wikapeadia. Fourth button from the left on the top of the webpage, then go to Canada.

Susan

Re: Things to do list before leaving Uk for Canada
 

Thanks I'll take a peak but am still interested in hearing anyones advice or stories ..... thanks all!!!:)

Re: Things to do list before leaving Uk for Canada
 

OK
What I did (we were all moving together) was to start by looking at everyone (family of 5, youngest of which is 3 months plus 2 cats) and everything that needed to be moved or stuff that needed to be sold and put an item on the list relating to that thing e.g, Cats needed to be moved which generated a load of items:
1. Get quotes for moving cats
2. Accept quote once received
3. Pay for cats removal
4. Arrange cats injections
5. Arrange cats vet certs.

Then I made an entry in my diary for the date they had to taken to airport and also wrote it on the kitchen calender.
I followed the same approach for everything else then carried a pen and note pad wherever I went so I could add random thoughts like (1) get medical records from doctor (2) inform council of departure date for council tax purposes to the list when I got home.
You find you go through an initial stage when you add more things than you cross off then near the end you will be crossing off more.
You also reach blind panic stage when you are convinced you have forgotten some vital things.
If you have anymore questions, please get in touch as we have just done it reasonably successfully.
YOu also need packing lists (clothes/toiletries/documents) for each family member

Susan

Re: Things to do list before leaving Uk for Canada
 

wow thanks.. yeah I didnt know about the packing lists .. interesting thanks... I think yes he feels like he's going to miss doing something important. I'm sure like you siad the list will get longer before it gets shorter... I think this forum is a great way to share experiences to help out the next person... thats definitley something i plan on doing once this is all over with.. help the next guy with our experience.:)

Re: Things to do list before leaving Uk for Canada
 

We are hoping to leave the UK the first week in August and I am interested in lists too - Council Tax I had completely forgotten about so that's just been added to my list.

We have sold the house (waiting for that to all go thru) so I have added to my list

Book the leaving BBQ :)
Confirm date with movers
Set up Canadian bank account (should have done that ages ago)
Try to negotiate with bank to reduce mortgage penalty (can't blame a girl for trying!)
Torture myself again deciding which school we want to try for
Buy things I know are UK faves (which reminds me I want to ask AX for advice on this - and do you need anything bringing over?)
Get Medical Notes
Speak to DH's pension people
Try not to panic
Council Tax
Try not to panic
Call Life Insurance people to confirm we are keeping policy
Panic :blink: :blink: :blink:

Re: Things to do list before leaving Uk for Canada
 

Enjoy real beer in real country pubs while you still can

Visit as many country houses / castles / cathederals as possible while you still can

Go on a booze cruise while you still can.

Have an indian banquet while yo.....

Oh, this wasnt that thread, was it...

Re: Things to do list before leaving Uk for Canada
 

No I think that is just as important as the practical stuff............. keep going

Re: Things to do list before leaving Uk for Canada
 

Drive! Drive fast, enjoy watching other people follow a convention of lane discipline.

Re: Things to do list before leaving Uk for Canada
 

Great thread. THe list on the Wiki is a great starting point, and i have been surgically attacehd to mine the last few weeks.

Things i added to the list were:
sell stuff on ebay.
Pet Passports
Costco to stock up on Galaxy, tea bags, branston, bisto
Cancel gym membership/sky subscription/mobile phone subscription

Re: Things to do list before leaving Uk for Canada
 

The 'Things to Do list' is a great starting point.

I also used a notebook to list all the things I had to do/did that day. If I didn't manage to get something done I rewrote it in for the following day etc.

I also kept a note of all Account Numbers and contact details in there. Make a point of getting UK telephone numbers that DO NOT begin with 08## as these are premium rate from Canada - you know what I mean, the good old fashioned numbers that don't involve a call centre. I hand carried my 'movers bible' for weeks after I landed here and certainly needed it to call certain companies back in the UK chasing up things.

BT - Be careful when you cancel a BT account. For some reason their system tends to go by the date and not the month - I got cut off precisely one month earlier (and I have read of it happening to others too). It was a nightmare to get reconnected and still is regarding the bills for old and new account. Lets just say that unbeknown to us they informed a debt collecting agency for 48 GBP without us even receiving a bill despite them knowing our Canadian address. :mad:

Make a template letter on your PC for informing various companies of your move. Just tailor each letter accordingly with Account numbers, etc and save each letter separately for future reference.

Dont panic about your list. You will soon work your way through it. Hard work - yes, but you'll get there :D

Re: Things to do list before leaving Uk for Canada
 

Totally agree with you about the note book, i have one i am now attached to, and work thru the notes in it most days, and keep in it notes of all phone calls, account numbers, meter reading, etc. That book wont leave my side over teh next three weeks.

I got to the stage where i just felt that my brain was so full of thinsg to do, that i couldnt fit any more in, so started writing them down when they occured to me so wouldn't forget. :huh:

Re: Things to do list before leaving Uk for Canada
 

We had a policy with Prudential, which they only allowed us to keep running for 24mths after leaving the UK - worth checking with your own LI company what their policy is for when you move abroad.

Re: Things to do list before leaving Uk for Canada
 

Hi
Also with Sky you need to give 28 days notice but can call about a week before the 28 days and give advance notice.
Get transcript of driving record from DVLA (we did not do but is recommended)
Get no claims letter from insurer (they will usually only do this on cancellation of insurance)
Buy travel adaptors (laptop and mobile chargers are 220/110 so you only need an adaptor but the phone charges very slowly)
Doctors records take a few days so don't leave for last minute
Type up template letters for utility companies with blank spots for meter readings, get envelopes stamped so you can take meter readings and post on way to airport
Get school records from kids school
If you have a baby stock up on scented nappy sacks as the only place we have found that sells them is Walmart
Get dvd player unlocked if you are taking it (people sell discs/remotes on eBay)
Get mobiles unblocked (I have a Nokia 6680 and the market guys couldn't do it so Vodaphone got me the code for 20 pounds but ask early as it takes up to 28 days and they ended up having to email it to me)

If I think of more I will add to this


Susan

Re: Things to do list before leaving Uk for Canada
 

To those who have provided information here .......

If the items you have mentioned in this thread are not in the BE Wiki article, there would be merit in adding them to that list.

If you mention them here, they soon will sink out of sight, but if you add them to the Wiki they'll be available in the longer term.

Re: Things to do list before leaving Uk for Canada
 

What do you need to get 'Doctors records' for? Are these essential if you are fit and healthy?

Re: Things to do list before leaving Uk for Canada
 

To give your new doctor an idea of your past medical treatment, results of lab tests, etc.

No.

Re: Things to do list before leaving Uk for Canada
 

They are useful especially when it comes to keeping track of children's immunisations.

My doctors surgery printed off a sheet for each of us listing immunisations, and any medical procedures carried out at the hospital since childhood.

Can I add that women should take a copy of the results of your latest smear test. I was for my medical a couple of days ago and would have had to undergo another one but for the fact that I had brought proof of a 'normal' result from June 06.

Re: Things to do list before leaving Uk for Canada
 

Thanks Judy, didnt occur to me to add to someone elses work in the Wiki! :o

Re: Things to do list before leaving Uk for Canada
 

Make a spreadsheet of all correspondence. O2 decided that we hadn't cancelled our UK mobiles so baliffs etc were called in for 48 GBP. As soon as letter was sent listing dates of all correspondence then they backed down.

English tea bags and Cadburys chocolate are a must. We make all our visitors from the UK bring LOTS of suppiles!

Apparently you can transfer over your UK non-claims discount for car insurance, but best to find out exactly what the Canadian Insurer wants to know / included in the letter from UK insurer.

Thanks for the tip about the smear test results for medicals.

Def good idea to work backwards on dates to do things and write on calender on fridge. Also keep notebook next to bed so when you wake up in the middle of the night worrying about something, you can write it down!

Also work out what you'll need in hand luggage over hold luggage and make a list. Such as proof of finances t oshow immigration officer at boarder.

I also did birthday cards for everyone for the year, and left them with my dear dad to post at the appropriate time. I wrote the date to be posted where the stamp would go! Saved international postage and risk I would forget or they wouldn't get there in time.

On that note, Mother's Day is later in Canada than it is in UK so impossible to get cards in March to send home. This year I just used blank ones with flowers on the front, but we bought Mother's Day cards when it was here and are saving them for next March!

FINALLY MAKE A LIST OF ALL YOUR LISTS!

Re: Things to do list before leaving Uk for Canada
 

Go see castles etc
Watch Shakesphere in Stratford
Shop in Oxford St
Lunch in Oxford
Drive a GTsomething-or-other fast, doing lots of overtaking..dropping down a gear.
Visit your Great Aunt and stay for a cup of tea
Look and really see all the beauty that surrounds you..Hedges that are older than most of the Provinces, Trees that are older than Canada, brooks and streams that will still be babbling long after all around you, have forgotten you.
Lay in a meadow and listen to the English birds singing and watch the puffy English clouds flouting across the English Summer sky.
But above all remember to pack..Your Great Adventure begins:thumbsup:
I hear another 'Growers' beckoning me..

Re: Things to do list before leaving Uk for Canada
 

This thread is making me feel quite homesick and I haven't even left yet :D

Lisa

Re: Things to do list before leaving Uk for Canada
 

Hi,

From the opposite angle, all the info i've collated over the months/years about ANYTHING to do with the Province/area we're going to live, be it recreation, government info, taxes, forms to fill in etc etc i have a big pink notebook and i have listed contact details, web addresses etc. so once landed i have everything in one big book and hopefully will feel a little bit more in control once there??!!:confused:

Tina :)

Re: Things to do list before leaving Uk for Canada
 

I went experienced that too but it's easier for me here in the UK as I can buy the card for my Canadian mum in March (at the same time as OH mums card) and post it off in May (I think its May?) in time for Canadian Mother's Day. Plan on doing the same thing once we arrive in Canada next spring (buy a Mother's Day card in May and save it to post the following March UK Mothers day) so long as it doesnt get lost in the paperwork *lol* :D

Re: Things to do list before leaving Uk for Canada
 

Just make sure you don't lose your pink notebook:ohmy::ohmy:

That would be a disaster:ohmy: