Moving back: An online diary!
 

I'm starting this thread for my own benefit, but it may be of interest to people who are in a similar situation.
I'll update this regularly every time something happens or when I have a few thoughts that are worth sharing.

INTRO:

I'm 59 years old. I left the UK in 1987.
I moved to the USA, then to Mexico and finally, for the last 18 years I've been living in Thailand.
I'm moving back to the UK on November 4th for good.

Re: Moving back: An online diary!
 

Update: September 2nd, 2019

I don't really want to go back, but due to circumstances created entirely by me, I am.
(I'll explain that gobble-de-gook when I'm on safer ground in November!)

Scared and Excited!

I've had a great run of adventure and excitement, but I want to get back to the Isle of Wight and see out 'the back nine' in familiar and safer surroundings.
I'm single and in good health but even so, I imagine securing regular work on 'The Island' isn't going to be all that easy.
(I'm just looking for something that pays the rent.)
I will have some savings and I have some temporary lodgings to go to.

Practicalities.

Yesterday I applied online for inclusion on the electoral roll.
I also applied online and paid for an updated provisional driver's license.
I'm using the address of my temporary lodgings in the UK.
I'll update on the progress of those two events.

When I get home:

I need to open a 'Basic Bank Account' as I don't have any credit.
After some research, I've decided that Barclay's Bank seems like the best option.

I need to register with a doctor, too.
Research has indicated that this is a very easy process, although it has to be done in person.

In order, after that... buy transport, find a job, find a flat neat the job!
Easy, eh?

Re: Moving back: An online diary!
 

Someone is coming to look at my car tomorrow.
It's a 2001 Mazda 2.
In the UK it would probably fetch about £500.
In Thailand, the resale value of cars is very high so I could get over £4,000.

We'll see. I'll be sorry to say goodbye to the car.
I bought it new at our local Mazda shop. :(

Re: Moving back: An online diary!
 

Re: Moving back: An online diary!
 

Thanks, Durham Lad!

Just finished cleaning the car to attempt to make it look worth £4,000!

Re: Moving back: An online diary!
 

I just opened an account with Barclays and I had the account open in 30 minutes, Received a debit card and PIN number in 3 days. even got online banking set up.

It was very easy and painless.

Re: Moving back: An online diary!
 

We were out of the UK for a similar period to yourself, 1987 to 2017. Once we had sold our car, and moved out of our place in Texas we spent several days in a hotel, with a hire car after selling ours, just tidying up our affairs, and from the hotel managed the transfer of money to our lawyer handling the purchase of our house. On arrival at Manchester Airport, standing on the platform waiting for the train, we received the phone call saying that our house purchase was completing that day. We already had a rented house established and after getting off the train, and taxi home, we walked down to the estate agents at 4pm to collect our keys.

Pretty frantic at the time, but good memories to look back on now. Hopefully your move will go as well.

Re: Moving back: An online diary!
 

I moved to Texas for a few years. Most of the time in Irving. Also lived in New Orleans, too.
Loved both places for very different reasons.

Cheers... yaw'll!

Re: Moving back: An online diary!
 

Preparations:

I'm not leaving for another two months, but there are still things that can be done.

I've applied for a free SIM card which is being mailed to my brother.
He'll activate it, send me the number and top it up with a fiver of credit.

Also, you can apply for the Barclay's Basic Bank Account online... but you need a mobile number complete the application, hence the SIM card request.

Re: Moving back: An online diary!
 

Did you do it online or at a branch?

Re: Moving back: An online diary!
 

Update:

I'm on the electoral role already! That was quick!

https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/british...5c0c7a9652.png
Voter!

Re: Moving back: An online diary!
 

Update:

Sold the car for about £4,200 (155,000 baht)

I think I could have waited a few weeks and got more, but frankly, I didn't want the stress of waiting till the last minute to get this sorted out.
So, I willingly took the hit just for my peace of mind.
I'll get the paperwork sorted out tomorrow and organize a hire car for a few weeks.

https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/british...eba835f156.png

Re: Moving back: An online diary!
 

Update:

Email confirmation that my SIM card is on its way. Yay!

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/british...58ae99f551.png

Re: Moving back: An online diary!
 

Re: Moving back: An online diary!
 

There's a thought! Funny thing, though...
When I did my research, the government website specifically said that electoral rolls weren't updated in October or November.
Yet here I am, already registered! Strange... but good!

Re: Moving back: An online diary!
 

Re: Moving back: An online diary!
 

17th September: UPDATE!

Not really much to update. Everything so far is going as planned and without a hitch.
My new provisional driver's license has arrived along with my new UK mobile SIM card.

I sold my car for over four thousand quid and the money has been transferred back to the UK.
Have 'borrowed' a friend's car for the next few weeks so I can get to work and back, etc.

Sold the contents of my house for a thousand quid! They have already started shifting some of the stuff out.
(It's worth a lot more, but frankly, I'm just glad that it's one less worry.)

I have already booked an appointment with Barclay's Bank to open an account in my name.
I'm seeing someone on the 6th of November, in the morning.

I'm in talks to sell my house. It will be interesting to see how those progress.
Frankly, I don't mind if nothing comes of that. Just happy to let the bank have it back.

On a personal note, the time is now starting to drag.
Still 48 days to go and they are going rather slowly.
Even though I'm being paid for October, the schools are on holiday for most of that month.
I'll take that opportunity to say some personal goodbyes to friends and places.

I miss my car, though. It's very strange - after ten years - to see a different car parked in the garage!

Re: Moving back: An online diary!
 

20th October UPDATE!

It's been over a month since my last post and here's what's happened...
Well, not much!

The good news is that I have a car and a job waiting for me when I get home.
The car was easy but the job was more work as the economy on the Isle of Wight dips during the winter months!
So I'll be hitting the ground running!

I made a mistake by agreeing to work this last month. I should have left at the end of October, NOT November.
The school is out till the end of the month and they kindly agreed to pay me even though they didn't have to.
But it's been a boring month for me and I just want to get back home and get my new life up and running.
But the extra months' salary is nice, despite much of it going on one more mortgage payment, some utility bills and the lease of a car for another month!

The house is sold!
YAY! I didn't make much money from the sale and I'm passing on any extra cash along to my ex-girlfriend who has been very cool to me for the last ten years.

My brother is picking up my new car.
I'll either keep it and spend a small fortune getting it clean and perfect, or sell it on and buy something that is already clean and perfect!
I have a feeling that this one is a keeper, though.
I'll post some pics and details when I get home next month.

My start date for work isn't nailed down and I still have to have a 'live' interview with my new employers to iron out the details.
As things are confirmed I'll post a few details about that, too.
But, if it works out, I'll have a pretty sweet job for life... or until I retire!
I have enclosed a copy of the letter of introduction that I wrote.
It's important because it's this that seems to have caught my employer's attention and clinched the deal for me.
(It may be of use to others who are in a similar situation to me, too.
I've deleted some details and made up some names!)

https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/british...b83c2d8a1a.png

Re: Moving back: An online diary!
 

I have a car!
500 quid and a real beauty, too.
2005 Renault 1.6 Automatic Megane!

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/british...4ddc6bb26a.jpg
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/british...5b7a35599e.jpg
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/british...64ed807af8.jpg

Re: Moving back: An online diary!
 

Its been interesting reading your posts. I have been thinking about moving back to the uk for a while now and found plenty of useful info in the posts. Thank you.

Re: Moving back: An online diary!
 

Thank you for thinking to update. I do read this .

Re: Moving back: An online diary!
 

There are many things you can do online, which makes it easier to get ready for the move...
Buying car insurance isn't one of them!
I suppose I could use a VPN...

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/british...41d3119fb4.png

Re: Moving back: An online diary!
 

28th October UPDATE!

With less than a week to go before the move home, I find myself worrying over nothing!
In the back of my mind, I am certain that everything will unfold as I have planned it and even if it doesn't, it's not the end of the world and I can adjust to make changes on the fly to fix things...

...nevertheless, I have a mild 'fear' of the unknown!

Even if you are well organized and diligent, there's always something that you haven't thought of or something that will stand in your way!
My brother has been a great help, but I'm sure his goodwill will start to wear thin soon! LOL

It's sad to be doing things for the last time. I'm a creature of habit so I go to the same places for the same reasons.
Today I went to my lovely Thai barber for the last time.
She's been cutting my hair for almost ten years... but today was the last time.
I didn't tell her, and I'm sure she wouldn't care either way, but it's been one of those little rituals that I have enjoyed for a long time.

Less than a week to go now!

The car is now taxed and insured and waiting for me to drive away... both jobs were done online.

Re: Moving back: An online diary!
 

Re: Moving back: An online diary!
 

31st October UPDATE!

Today was my last drive to work. Sadness at leaving.
My employers have been awesome and we'll stay in touch after I have left Thailand.

I'm in the process of applying for a small flat on the seafront of Totland, on the Isle of Wight.
We'll see how that goes. I will view it when I get back. (495 PCM)
It's just 5 miles from where I will likely working, so that's a plus for me.

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/british...b03cca86f3.png
Flat

Re: Moving back: An online diary!
 

Re: Moving back: An online diary!