so its 6 days until I head back to good ole Blighty. After 2 years thinking about it its all starting to feel very real now and that mixture of anxiety and excitement is at its peak. A few things that I have learnt so far:

1. You can never start organizing too early - I've been sorting an organizing for the past 3 months, still things to do but its definitely manageable at this point because I started early. Movers are coming on monday and I'm still able to find time to relax, go to the gym, and take time to say goodbye to people without feeling frantic.
2. Space Bags are the best invention ever!! Buy them in bulk if you can. So easy to store clothing, bedding etc and cuts down on the space needed.
3. Lists and calendars are a must! my to do list actually went onto a calendar that I posted on my fridge. I knew each day what I needed to do and it made sure I stayed on schedule and didn't forget anything.
4. Don't lose sleep over the DEFRA paperwork. This caused me a great deal of stress as I needed to make sure I got it right and the timing was perfect. Call your local APHIS office they are very helpful. They send you the forms along with a clear example of how to complete it. They also answered email questions very quickly. Mailed the paperwork wednesday at 11am, had them back in my hands signed and complete by 10am on Friday. Take the chance with express mail if you don't live close. Saved me a 3 hour drive.
5. If in doubt throw it out. I accumulated so much stuff and this was finally the best opportunity to sort things out. Its liberating to get rid of the clutter.
6. Keep the routine for your dog. My dog knows there is something going on but in order to reduce her stress she is sticking to the same routine each day.

Will post more over the next few days as the countdown continues

Couldn't agree with you more re No.1. Re No.2, I discovered space bags when I moved back here and I love them. I use them for for my down jackets and duvets and they are brilliant.

Wishing you all the best for your move. You do sound very organised. Hope your dog has a low stress move.

It has indeed come around quickly!! I can understand the excitement.

What is the APHIS office?

Windsong, APHIS is the official state vet that needs to sign off on the paperwork for your dogs once your regular vet has completed it. Without their approval your dogs can't fly.

Thank you. I knew the state vet had to sign the paperwork but wasn't aware it was called APHIS.

Good luck on your return, May is a lovely time to arrive home, everywhere is in flower, birds a singing (started outside my bedroom window at just after 4.30am this morning!!!!!!!!!!!!) light nights etc. Our "Aussie" dog settled in very quickly and loves the outdoors in all weathers lol. Good luck

Glad to hear that you were able to Post your documents. When we left last week we had to travel down to USDA in Los Angeles to get the health certificate endorsed. The first time we went the vet had forgot to sign the annex II page,so we had to go home and go back to the vet to get it signed and go back the next day, as they close at 11am. And don't forget the custom c5 from the airline, no one told us about that and luckily I had contacted James cargo in Heathrow as I wanted to know their opening hours, and when we got their the vet had only put the manufacture of the rabies and not the product so we were delayed five hours until the vet in US signed off on the product so make sure the information is all correct before you leave.

What is the c5?

You sound well organized! Your move is more complicated than mine as you have a dog...I only have a husband!! But, even though things are going well here in preparation for our move at the end of the month, it is still overwhelming. I am also stressed with all that will have to be done when we get to the UK! And with no internet for awhile. These days, everything is done over the internet. I am sure it will all fall into place in a few weeks. Good luck with your relocation!

Movers are here! All feeling very real at this point!

C5 is the customs form. Virgin airlines emailed me all the forms I needed when I booked with them.

Virgin sent you all the necessary DEFRA forms, too?

Trust me I hovered over my vet watching her complete the forms then I checked them 300 times before mailing. Will be doing the same when I take her for the tapeworm treatment on Wednesday. I had also emailed the forms and the instructions to my vet a few weeks before the appointments so she could get familiar with the process. One important thing to remember for those flying pets is that your vet must be USDA accredited in order to complete the international certificate. Check with your vet early because if they ate not you will have to find a vet who is. Not all vets are USDA accredited.

Yes

This is one of my biggest concerns. I don't want to get to the airport and find out we can't fly because the paperwork is incorrect or incomplete. What is the process exactly? Is it -

• Download paperwork from DEFRA site (or obtain from Virgin if you use Virgin - not sure if BA supplies paperwork)
• Take pets for rabies shots and EU microchips at least three weeks before departure and give paperwork to the vet
• Three or four days before departure, take pets to vet for tapeworm treatment
• At time of tapeworm treatment, vet completes all paperwork and either gives it to me to take to USDA state vet office
• Receive signed paperwork from USDA state vet prior to departure

If airline doesn't supply it, where do you get the C5 customs form and who fills it in?