Flights booked etc...
 

Hi,

Not long before I will be having to take a "forced" break from Expats...(some I should imagine will be jumping for joy at that news...lol) in the last few days we have booked the Shipping Company...we went "shared" container which I never thought we would but a great deal and works a lot better for us at the moment....booked our dog's accm. (4 weeks) and Fly's into Manchester, all at a very good price and with a lovely company. Booked a stopover (so my OH could spend some time with us before he has to head back to Aus for a few months :( )....and also had to book accm. for a few weeks in Perth before leaving:eek:did not want to do this but alas have last min. things to "sort out"....so we arrive in Manchester on the 12/5/10 with BA no less..very patriotic..lol and this is after leaving the rental we are in at the moment on the 12/4/10.....so a lot of twoing and froing so to speak but now it's all "sorted" hopefully I can sleep better...lol...the arranging of this has been at times horrible and I just wanted to give up...but thats the easy way out....just wanted you to know that if I can do this and mostly on my own...thats a miracle in itself..lol....so please don't give up...there is a light at the end of the tunnel...sometimes a very dim light..lol...but it's there....it's taken us over two years of having all kinds of ups and downs.....and a lot of expense...but you only live once...good luck to everyone and just a big thank you...you've all been great....:thumbsup:going out for a drink now with my Oh... I need to when I look at our bank balance or lack of it...lol....

Re: Flights booked etc...
 

Well done you:thumbsup:
How did you manage to get a flight for the dog straight to manchester? i could only manage Heathrow.
Anyway at last you are homeward bound. Hope you didn't get flushed away with all that rain you had in Perth.

Re: Flights booked etc...
 

:thumbsup: Great to hear you are ready, well done. I'm sure we will all lift a glass as you have your drink with your OH and wish you well, good luck& best wishes.
Chris :thumbsup:

Re: Flights booked etc...
 

:thumbsup::thumbsup: Fantastic news! That light is certainly getting brighter by the minute. When you get to counting down the days the time will just fly by!!!! You have certainly done the hard yards.

Re: Flights booked etc...
 

Congratulations Brits1! That's brilliant news and I'm chuffed to bits for you.

What are your plans when you return? And how difficult has it been over there for you and yours?

Maybe your story will help others on here to come to a sometimes difficult but necessary decision.

All the very best to you.

Re: Flights booked etc...
 

:thumbsup:

Well done Brits, it's a great feeling knowing it's all booked. Not too long for you to wait, try to enjoy the last few weeks.

Re: Flights booked etc...
 

Congratulations, so jealous and wish you all the best.

You're going to be moving back right into spring too... how nice.

Re: Flights booked etc...
 

good luck Brits with the move bring the sun with you we seem to have early April showers at the moment!:rofl:

Re: Flights booked etc...
 

Thank you for the wishes.....yes I/we certainly feel "better" now everything is "booked".....I found that and the weeks leading up to booking everything the hardest...I kind of knew it would be like that as having been on this site for a long while not many of us find that part easy....I wish...lol..but if anything it now feels 'right".....I do wish we were just going straight away but we do have loose ends to arrange and just wanted to stay a few more weeks to spend with my OH...if anything I have found that somethings just do not come easy but you can always work things out if you really want to...our computer is being packed and shipped and a new laptop is being bought in the UK so will have to rely on may be internet cafes in between times...feel quite trendy using an internet cafe computer...lol....we are staying in the City (Perth)for 3 weeks with my OH joining us for the last few days then we are all off to Hong Kong.....it cost excatly the same if we were going straight to Manchester so thought what the heck...we are flying to Hong Kong via Tiger:eek:but soooo cheap....then on the long journery to the UK we are with BA...Oh returns to Perth which is going to be hard on both him and us but no other choice.....it will not be for long:fingerscrossed: Thank you once again...honestly you've all kept me sane...lol....now just where is my padded jacket......

Re: Flights booked etc...
 

Good luck Brits1

You certainly deserve a wee break after doing the hard yards.

Like you, it seems that I am having to do the lions share of getting our house on the market and sorting out all the details.
And I am only at the start of the process and am having days of wondering if the stress is all worth it in the end.

But I am determined to get us back to the UK. I miss it too much to spend years out here in NZ. NZ will always be here when we want to retire (if we choose). Although I can't see that happening.

The bad day that I was having the other day was boosted by your thread, and so I picked myself up, brushed myself off and told myself to stop feeling sorry for myself and just do it.


Today I told my OH that I was going to ring our preferrred real estate agent and get them to come around the house just after easter and his comment was a simple, great.


So all the best in your journey, and remember us struggling to get to that point.
Let us know what life is like on the other side won't you.;)

Re: Flights booked etc...
 

Oh BLE you will get there..I found the hardest parts was having people round the first time...ie Shipping Companies...Estate Agents..but I found after the first person had come around.....the others (we always try and get 3 quotes then choose) were a lot easier....the first Shipping Company guy who came around was great...originally from London and was so helpful...he said they have never been as busy with returnees....and he wished he'd have the nerve to have gone back years ago but they backed out as it all seemed to much....he says they are "stuck" here now with grandchildren etc but truly is struggling at the thought of staying in Aus forever...that spurred me on and also by the fact the he also said...loads of women were doing the move home on their "own" with either no partners or partners who were away working etc or back in the UK etc...and also lots with young babies...so I did feel a real softie....I have two strapping sons to help me....and at least my OH is in the same country....good luck...that first step can be the hardest...but it does get a bit easier as you go along.....

Re: Flights booked etc...
 

Thats Brits1

Right now I am up and down like a yo yo and I am only at the first stage.

I guess there is the guilt invovled as well, of taking the kids from my family (although my family all travel a lot - which is often not the case across here) so they do stay when we are in the UK.
And the guilt as I am pushing for this.
But my OH, although a hat hung and he's home kind of guy (I read that on here somewhere and thought that I would have to steal it for my OH as it fits him too a tee!:rofl:) - says that we are only doing this because I want too.
So seeing as I want to - then I need to do it all.:eek:



Thank you for that boast.

I must go back and sort out the kids toy boxes now, ready for the estate agent in a couple of weeks.


Anyone know what the penalty is if you look your three messy children in the garden shed for a couple of months? Only way the house will stay tidy I reckon.

Re: Flights booked etc...
 

[QUOTE=ble;8449123]Thats Brits1

Right now I am up and down like a yo yo and I am only at the first stage.

I guess there is the guilt invovled as well, of taking the kids from my family (although my family all travel a lot - which is often not the case across here) so they do stay when we are in the UK.
And the guilt as I am pushing for this.
But my OH, although a hat hung and he's home kind of guy (I read that on here somewhere and thought that I would have to steal it for my OH as it fits him too a tee!:rofl:) - says that we are only doing this because I want too.
So seeing as I want to - then I need to do it all.:eek:

Someone has to start the move...and it's you, so don't feel guilty....your Oh seems to be the typical Male..lol...where home is where the wife and family are...could be in outer Mongolia but as long as they come home to you guys thats fine....there is nothing wrong with wanting to do something that means a lot to you as wives and mothers we tend to put ourselves last (well most of us anyway)...life is way to short to keep trying to make things "good" and in time it wears on you then the family feel that as well.......your OH might come round to helping you if not give him something to organize....make him do something....if not then do it on your own...I have had really no choice as my Oh works away from home and sometimes out of State or overseas....its not great but hey hoe...if you want to do this then go for it...a happy Mum = a happy home....good luck....you'll be fine....and when times get you down and you feel you cannot do the move..sit back and picture how your life will pan out where you are now...if you think you can stick with that life then do so....but try and be honest with yourself....hard I know...

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This one I definately agree with - a happy wife is a happy life - is another that my OH has been told.
And so I am going to take your advice (thank you for that) and stop feeling guilty about this.

But it is a decision that most of NZ will try and make me feel guilty about. (its a lot like the flack that you get from oz lovers - just insert nz - you get the picture).
Oh - but they will always add -and we don't have nasty creepy crawlies here like across the ditch do.


If I am honest I could stay here for another how ever many years. But it would be settling for a second best. And not a close second best. It would be making do. And I don't want to be trapped into being unable to move as my kids are starting high school. Right now my eldest is only 7 and keen to go back. So great.

My OH is helping on the outside. Does that make sense. Tidying the place up iwth the list of jobs to be done.

Just not so much help with the actual decisions.
ie - What sort of price do you want for the house - well I want this (insert figure a good 100k higher than the value of the home).
I counter that I was thinking of asking for this (a much more realistic value compared to his). Answer - whatever, you are the one making all the decision.

If that had been true we would have been home 3 years ago:rofl:

Re: Flights booked etc...
 

Hi .....chuck :D Just wanted to wish you well, hope you have a great trip HOME...Dont go worrying about your hair...theirs every colour you can think of here ;).....including bright orange and lime green :rofl: