Re: Over 40's Moving Back and Catching Up
 

I enjoy it too, but I feel it's becoming a bit too Blue Peter-ish (Matt Baker: "Cor, can I have a go at driving that?")

I really like the presenter Adam though (he does the section caled "Adam's Farm"). He actually understands the country whereas a lot of these other presenters are (I think) hired for their good looks and trendy presenting style. Overall, though, it is a good program, I just wish the producers would remember it's watched primarily by adults, not 7-year-olds.

Re: Over 40's Moving Back and Catching Up
 

It was suggested a while back that we shoould have a separate forum on financial issues associated with MBTTUK, but I don't think there is enough action on that topic for it to have a separate forum (besides, it gets tedious having to bounce back and forth between too many forums).

However, I do think it would be very helpful to have a separate thread ("Money, money, money", maybe?) on retirement and pension and investment issues, as they can get lost in the middle of ths thread. Having started to systematicaly plan my own potential (early, or semi-) retirement, I have learned a lot just in the past couple of months but also have questions to ask and experiences to share.

Re: Over 40's Moving Back and Catching Up
 

I think it's a great idea.

Re: Over 40's Moving Back and Catching Up
 

I see you've started the Money thread - good for you - it will be very helpful to a lot of people. :thumbsup:

Re: Over 40's Moving Back and Catching Up
 

Thanks Dunroving, what a great idea. I'm sure it'll be of benefit to lots of people.

Re: Over 40's Moving Back and Catching Up
 

Thank you from me too....,40+ years here and now leaving with some (Whatever profits from our house sale divided by too) are. I don't get SS alone because I never really had to work here (please don't judge me for living a life of privilege. It's only what I knew). Now at 69......it is a really scary prospect for my future. I am terrified. I feel incredibly foolish for supporting my lawyer husband for 15+ years from my parents estate. It's a sad and scary future for me....

Re: Over 40's Moving Back and Catching Up
 

How soon can you leave?

Cheers

Re: Over 40's Moving Back and Catching Up
 

Please don't feel foolish. All of us have traveled a different path in life and none of us knows what we ourselves would have done given different circumstances. Many of us, I am sure, would have done the very same thing.

Now begins a different and new chapter in your life. It's all going to be okay :)

Re: Over 40's Moving Back and Catching Up
 

As soon as we sell the house...both of my children live in NY.NY and my daughter is getting married May 18.

Re: Over 40's Moving Back and Catching Up
 

Since you are getting SS based on your 2nd husband's SS, why don't you check and see if you can SS on your first husband's SS, since you are now divorced? You said 1st husband was a doctor, maybe you would get more. I don't know if you can switch, once you've started getting SS, but it would be worth looking into.

http://articles.latimes.com/1990-08-...ocial-security

Re: Over 40's Moving Back and Catching Up
 

Hey, lots of us have made those kinds of mistakes - waves hand in air.

Deep breath, brave hat on.... and CHARGE! You have friends here :)

Re: Over 40's Moving Back and Catching Up
 

Can anyone tell me the price of "good" pet food (dog and cat) in the UK? My pets eat Merricks human grade wet food (dog version $2.60 a can and cat version $1.40 a can in the USA). They also eat Royal Canin dried dog food and Natural Balance dried cat food. I wonder if these brands are available over there and at what price.

Re: Over 40's Moving Back and Catching Up
 

Has anyone had reverse culture shock when arriving back in the UK? I was thinking about this today with regard to the differences in the homes. Here in the USA most of us are used to pretty up-to-date kitchens, bathrooms, etc. and larger homes overall. Of course, I am unemployed at the moment and just "winging it" but nevertheless, my home is quite nice. I am anticipating when I return to the UK I will have a real shock in that I might feel claustrophobic in the small rooms in the houses there, perhaps kitchens not as modern as in the USA, etc. Of course, this might be merely my imagination but I thought I would ask if anyone has had a shock like this upon arrival in the UK or perhaps have had to lower their living standards.

I know the benefits of living in the beautiful UK outweigh all of these things but, nevertheless, it is still a mindset change that has to be made, I think.

I think I am haunted by the memory of when I visited Somerset 15 years ago and we stayed an extra day. My father wanted us to stay somewhere closer to him so we booked a room in a pub - a nice pub, too. However when we got up to the room with bathroom down the hall, we had a shock!!! The beds were old, sunken in the middle, etc. We ended up checking out and drove an hour back to the hotel where we had stayed the previous few nights. Maybe we just had a bad experience or perhaps we were too used to decent living in the USA. I don't know :(

I think I worry too much sometimes. After all, when I find a place to live, I can make it the way I want it - as finances dictate, of course.

Re: Over 40's Moving Back and Catching Up
 

No idea, sorry. Maybe have a surf around the online supermarkets and pet stores? There seems to be better quality dry food here in Canada than there was in the UK, but perhaps that's changed.

My pooch eats raw food, I hope to continue with that if we can find a good supplier.

Re: Over 40's Moving Back and Catching Up
 

It's a possibility! I remember thinking how big the toilets are in Canada when I first arrived. :o

I can't believe how many rentals don't have a dishwasher. It's barbaric! :confused: