I currently live in Texas. I am divorced mum of 3 teenagers. I have been trying to get back to England for years, but now that my children are older and almost finished with school it is becoming more of a reality. It has been nearly 23yrs since I have stepped on English soil. I had planned to move back during that time, but due to family issues I had to come back to the US. Now things are sorted and there is nothing holding me back. Actually I think I am in a better situation as I have obtained more skills. Oh..my ex has no say so in regards to the children so that is not a problem taking them with me.

I work as a nurse in a major hospital and plan to get teaching certification because I would like to teach nursing clinicals. I keep hearing horror stories about how nurses being laid of all over the UK, but I also will have my teaching to fall back on, but I hope it will be enough for British schools.

I have still maintained my British passport so I am hoping despite being gone so long, I won't have a problem getting back in. I am looking at buying a modest property and fixing it up due to costs and also it will take a bit of time to make the final move. I would have my grown children stay there and monitor everything. The US economy is still horrible and I would have to maintain 2 homes until I can sell the one in the US. So that is also going to be a stretch.

Now..I have been looking everywhere outside of London because there is no way I would be able to go from the low cost of living of Texas to that city. I am looking at Wales, northern England and even Scotland. I have family all over northern England (Birmingham, Yorkshire, Sheffield) so at least I do know what that area is like, but Wales and Scotland look very affordable and growing. I just need to get around the Welsh language and spelling.

Now my BIGGEST issue is bringing my pets. I have a mini zoo of dogs and birds. I know I won't be able to take all of them, but I do plan to take some. Has anyone made the trip back from another place with pets and how expensive was it?

I am new to the forum and looking forward to learning about life adjustments out of the UK and people who also have to drive to go back. I have been all over the country and have had my fill. Sometimes you just have to make a leap and hope for the best. I have been complaining so long that I am just going to do it once and for all.

Good Luck to you- there are some useful links under "Wiki" at the top about info re pets.....

I am in a similar situation and also new to the expats website,-.. I still don't see how to private message someone, (someone said to go to the top right of page ) which I did,but could not work out how to send someone a private message..I must have got thick!! I did/do not want to put my email out on the forum for spam collectors to get hold of!
Your post interested me as I am in the same situation..and wondering where the heck we can afford in UK coming from low cost real estate Nova Scotia, Canada! Maybe we can keep in touch and compare notes!?? Must be more of us in the sameboat..private message me if you know how or would like to! (and maybe let me know how you do it!!)cheers

Andrew - Hi

If you click on the username of the person you would like to send a private message to (literally, hold your cursor over their name on the thread you are reading), a little box unfolds under their name, and there is an option to "Send private message" to that person. Click on that line and another text box opens up - just like the one you use to reply to this thread - and away you go. Next time that person logs on, or comes onto the forum, a little message pops up for them, telling them they have a private message.

Hope that helps

Thanks. I did find that I will have to do the PETS thing and get the blood tests for my dogs.
I am just starting to year getting my head how to do this successfully.

If you want to private message someone, just click on their name in their post and a drop down menu will appear.....one of the options is to send a pm to them.

Bizzy, if you are considering moving to Wales.......hardly anyone in the southern parts of Wales actually speaks Welsh........so you may want to consider the Cardiff or Swansea areas.

As Shelley said, there are some useful links in the Wiki section. There's a thread I made several years ago that pretty much lays down all the steps you will need to take in order to bring your pets over.

Thanks, Scout. I am definitely going to have a look at Cardiff and Swansea. I was also told that area is very good for technical jobs. My son is a computer graphic artist. I don't think I will have much problem finding work, but I also have to consider my children.

In the North of Wales where I was born raised and became a Nurse, without Welsh of some sort they won't even hire you (NHS) Closer to England they will, so nearer to Chester is better for English only nursing opportunities, not sure about South Wales.
Good luck with the move, going back with teaching creds is a brilliant idea, they may still have you do the foreign nurse conversion thingy.
http://www.nmc-uk.org/
http://www.jobs.nhs.uk/
http://www.nhsemployers.org/Pages/home.aspx
http://www.nhsprofessionals.nhs.uk/

Couple questions.

You say your "ex has no say" in the children. Is this just by 'fact' or is it by 'law', i.e. do you have legal custody of the children by a court order or are you just relating to us the 'general understanding' you have? Because if it is the latter, you'll find the government doesn't give full weight to handshake agreements, especially when it comes to custody and overseas moves. You might want to formalize this (if you haven't already).

The second question is did you get US citizenship? I know it is probably the last thing on your mind, but consider it a 'back up plan'. Many who are on the verge of returning are often advised to go ahead and get the citizenship, just in case. There have been more than a few people 'ping pong' back after only a few months in the UK, despite feeling probably exactly the same as you do right now about returning.

Good luck with the move.

Very valid points. It is the law and on paper. My ex was abusive and the courts cut him off from the children. My youngest is 15 and my other two are 18 and nearly 20. He has had no contact since 2000 so they don't even know who he is apart from the bad bits and the law here in the states is that after the age of 13 a child can decide where they want to live, but in my case it is moot since it is already decided by the courts.

Also, I do have my US citizenship as well as my British. I made sure that I am dual because of the legality of living here for so long on just a alien card and I couldn't get into law enforcement without it. I was a police officer for a few years before I got into nursing. I always want the option to return if I really had to, but my family especially my brothers are hoping that I do move back so that they will have somewhere to stay when they visit. They also have voiced that they would like to move back, but they all have American wives and they (the wives) would not want to leave their families which is understandable.

Hi bizzy,

First let me say sorry to hear about your situation with you X and glad you finally got yourself sorted with you and your children.

I Don't know much about the other area's you was looking to move to but...

Myself is from cardiff and i've got to say its like a mini London except it don't cost as much, good central location to travel back and forth to visit your family in England.
Now most people who are from cardiff Don't speak welsh, so i don't really think that would be a factor in the job hunting, but speaking welsh for certain jobs is a plus.
Im not sure how the jobs are with nurses/teaches there, but i do know my cuz is a teacher now but she went on a agency then finally got a full time place..maybe a bit of luck but still.
I notice you said you was in the police force in the us, have you thought of maybe doing the same in the uk? with your background it could be a plus..
Just a thought....

House prices....hmmm if your a buyer then as you know it's a buyers market still...and some real good bargains around....cardiff also...
check out.....but this all depends on your budget.

http://www.peteralan.co.uk/buying/se...d_y=11&lang=EN

Your children is at a good age, where they can get into the swing of things again in cardiff, with good uni, colleges, and not to mention the nightlife ..lol...

Anyways...if there is anything else you want to know about cardiff, im ya man...pm if you need..

Good Luck..

Hi
I'm a nurse from South Wales originally and can confirm quite catagorically having worked in a lot of hospitals in South wales that you do not need to speak or write in welsh. Welsh speakers are most definately active in North and perhaps West Wales but in South Wales while there are many welsh activists who support the use of the welsh language ( which is good to maintain our heritage) you do not need it for employment as a nurse, so good luck in your search
Terese

terese677

Have you ever worked in the CRI in Cardiff? & if so what year?
Reason why i ask is my mum was a landlady there in the CRI social club..late 90s.

Excuse my ignorance, but what does the part in bold mean? Would this be a hospital position, or were you thinking of trying to work in a nurse education programme at a university? If the latter, experience is definitely an advantage, but it is becoming increasingly difficult to teach at a college or university without a postgraduate degree these days.

I taught nurse trainees at a university in S. Wales for a few months when I first came back in July 2006. PM me if you want further details or have questions.

Forgot to mention: Keeping a dog in the UK is a different kettle of fish to the US (especially if you live on your own). In the US, I would let Suzy outside first thing in the morning, after her walk, and let her back in in the evening (after our evening walk). Didn't matter what time I left for/returned from work, it worked out.

Here, leaving dogs in the "yard" (back garden) is rarely done - weather is bad, gardens are small, and in most gardens, dogs can see diddly squat (no chain-link fences) and end up being very bored. So I have had to deal with a string of dog-walkers, dog-sitters, etc., and it's never been a perfect situation.

Just something else to consider - amazing how many little things are different and take adjusting to.