Over 40's Moving Back and Catching Up
Aug 31st 2013, 10:40 pm
#8356
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Aug 2009
Location: Back home now in my home town in England U.K. after 36 years in U.S. now retired and loving it,
Posts: 3,208
Re: Over 40's Moving Back and Catching Up
I remember now that you said you were half Welsh! Do you speak it at all? I am trying to learn a few phrases here and there. It's the pronunciation I seem to have the most trouble with, but I am enjoying the challenge.
Apart from that we are watching movies and TV shows about Wales obsessively - so much so that it is soaking into our skin. And the more we learn the more we are falling in love.
We will be back 2015, so 2 more years to go. DD will graduate with her nursing degree in May and we will be on that plane by September
Apart from that we are watching movies and TV shows about Wales obsessively - so much so that it is soaking into our skin. And the more we learn the more we are falling in love.
We will be back 2015, so 2 more years to go. DD will graduate with her nursing degree in May and we will be on that plane by September
and you have lived in US for 30 years, its a long time, I had 36 years there myself, I would not have changed anything in my life, I have no regrets at all, I was happy in America,
But all of a sudden I turned 65 and I just did not want to be there anymore, something like forest gump who suddenly didn't want to run anymore so he turned around and went home!!!!! and I was fearful of the prospect of growing old with only medicare to help me pay my medical bills, what if I got really ill, and needed very expensive care, and I could only afford to have basic average medicare premiums of $140 each month deducted from my S.S.
I was also thinking about coming home a year before I finally made the big leap across the pond, many doubts passed through my mind in that year, even after I booked my flight, my fears were of how will it be like now in the UK after a lifetime away, how hard will it be to settle in to a new life, and a country that I really dont know anymore, after all two generations have emerged since I left,
Well I can tell you and many others on here can tell you that when you first come home of course its not all peaches and cream, but its well worth it if you stick it out, and always stay positive, dont listen at all to the grumpy people complaining about everything they can think of, turn a deaf ear to all that negativity (not everyone are like that) but some are, and try not to read the daily mail and you should be alright
Now Ive been home for almost three years and Im feeling good about my life, I love looking after my Mum, and love being here with her, and we now get on great, it did take quite a while but suddenly we hit it off, and now were fine and happy. we have been for quite some time now
You asked me if I spoke Welsh, No I dont, When my Dad left Wales to come to England before the War he met and married my Mum and we only spoke English in our household,
Sep 1st 2013, 2:28 am
#8357
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 862
Re: Over 40's Moving Back and Catching Up
Great news that you will be home in two years, it will fly by!!!!
and you have lived in US for 30 years, its a long time, I had 36 years there myself, I would not have changed anything in my life, I have no regrets at all, I was happy in America,
But all of a sudden I turned 65 and I just did not want to be there anymore, something like forest gump who suddenly didn't want to run anymore so he turned around and went home!!!!! and I was fearful of the prospect of growing old with only medicare to help me pay my medical bills, what if I got really ill, and needed very expensive care, and I could only afford to have basic average medicare premiums of $140 each month deducted from my S.S.
I was also thinking about coming home a year before I finally made the big leap across the pond, many doubts passed through my mind in that year, even after I booked my flight, my fears were of how will it be like now in the UK after a lifetime away, how hard will it be to settle in to a new life, and a country that I really dont know anymore, after all two generations have emerged since I left,
Well I can tell you and many others on here can tell you that when you first come home of course its not all peaches and cream, but its well worth it if you stick it out, and always stay positive, dont listen at all to the grumpy people complaining about everything they can think of, turn a deaf ear to all that negativity (not everyone are like that) but some are, and try not to read the daily mail and you should be alright
Now Ive been home for almost three years and Im feeling good about my life, I love looking after my Mum, and love being here with her, and we now get on great, it did take quite a while but suddenly we hit it off, and now were fine and happy. we have been for quite some time now
You asked me if I spoke Welsh, No I dont, When my Dad left Wales to come to England before the War he met and married my Mum and we only spoke English in our household,
and you have lived in US for 30 years, its a long time, I had 36 years there myself, I would not have changed anything in my life, I have no regrets at all, I was happy in America,
But all of a sudden I turned 65 and I just did not want to be there anymore, something like forest gump who suddenly didn't want to run anymore so he turned around and went home!!!!! and I was fearful of the prospect of growing old with only medicare to help me pay my medical bills, what if I got really ill, and needed very expensive care, and I could only afford to have basic average medicare premiums of $140 each month deducted from my S.S.
I was also thinking about coming home a year before I finally made the big leap across the pond, many doubts passed through my mind in that year, even after I booked my flight, my fears were of how will it be like now in the UK after a lifetime away, how hard will it be to settle in to a new life, and a country that I really dont know anymore, after all two generations have emerged since I left,
Well I can tell you and many others on here can tell you that when you first come home of course its not all peaches and cream, but its well worth it if you stick it out, and always stay positive, dont listen at all to the grumpy people complaining about everything they can think of, turn a deaf ear to all that negativity (not everyone are like that) but some are, and try not to read the daily mail and you should be alright
Now Ive been home for almost three years and Im feeling good about my life, I love looking after my Mum, and love being here with her, and we now get on great, it did take quite a while but suddenly we hit it off, and now were fine and happy. we have been for quite some time now
You asked me if I spoke Welsh, No I dont, When my Dad left Wales to come to England before the War he met and married my Mum and we only spoke English in our household,
Sep 1st 2013, 5:43 am
#8358
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 1,139
Re: Over 40's Moving Back and Catching Up
I went out for a day trip and here are the photos:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/islandw...7635312849553/
and
http://www.flickr.com/photos/islandw...7634557937989/
I visited Topsham previously and posted photos too, so the newest ones are at the end of the ones you may already have seen - just scroll down.
I am being a tourist now as I think the pull of friends in Frome is too strong to resist for much longer - I have been offered a flat on the southern outskirts of town, overlooking the Mendip hills, and will go to see the area next week - it is set in nice grounds with fields for neighbours, but still on the bus line to Bath.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/islandw...7635312849553/
and
http://www.flickr.com/photos/islandw...7634557937989/
I visited Topsham previously and posted photos too, so the newest ones are at the end of the ones you may already have seen - just scroll down.
I am being a tourist now as I think the pull of friends in Frome is too strong to resist for much longer - I have been offered a flat on the southern outskirts of town, overlooking the Mendip hills, and will go to see the area next week - it is set in nice grounds with fields for neighbours, but still on the bus line to Bath.
Sep 1st 2013, 12:05 pm
#8359
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Nov 2012
Location: Back in the UK!
Posts: 2,404
Re: Over 40's Moving Back and Catching Up
Have you looked at the BBC Learn Welsh site?
http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/learning/learnwelsh/
http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/learning/learnwelsh/
Been watching a lot of BBC stuff like Weatherman Walking and The Story of Wales. It's so exciting to think we will be there before too long.
Best of luck to you on your voyage back
Sep 1st 2013, 12:10 pm
#8360
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Nov 2012
Location: Back in the UK!
Posts: 2,404
Re: Over 40's Moving Back and Catching Up
Great news that you will be home in two years, it will fly by!!!!
and you have lived in US for 30 years, its a long time, I had 36 years there myself, I would not have changed anything in my life, I have no regrets at all, I was happy in America,
But all of a sudden I turned 65 and I just did not want to be there anymore, something like forest gump who suddenly didn't want to run anymore so he turned around and went home!!!!! and I was fearful of the prospect of growing old with only medicare to help me pay my medical bills, what if I got really ill, and needed very expensive care, and I could only afford to have basic average medicare premiums of $140 each month deducted from my S.S.
I was also thinking about coming home a year before I finally made the big leap across the pond, many doubts passed through my mind in that year, even after I booked my flight, my fears were of how will it be like now in the UK after a lifetime away, how hard will it be to settle in to a new life, and a country that I really dont know anymore, after all two generations have emerged since I left,
Well I can tell you and many others on here can tell you that when you first come home of course its not all peaches and cream, but its well worth it if you stick it out, and always stay positive, dont listen at all to the grumpy people complaining about everything they can think of, turn a deaf ear to all that negativity (not everyone are like that) but some are, and try not to read the daily mail and you should be alright
Now Ive been home for almost three years and Im feeling good about my life, I love looking after my Mum, and love being here with her, and we now get on great, it did take quite a while but suddenly we hit it off, and now were fine and happy. we have been for quite some time now
You asked me if I spoke Welsh, No I dont, When my Dad left Wales to come to England before the War he met and married my Mum and we only spoke English in our household,
and you have lived in US for 30 years, its a long time, I had 36 years there myself, I would not have changed anything in my life, I have no regrets at all, I was happy in America,
But all of a sudden I turned 65 and I just did not want to be there anymore, something like forest gump who suddenly didn't want to run anymore so he turned around and went home!!!!! and I was fearful of the prospect of growing old with only medicare to help me pay my medical bills, what if I got really ill, and needed very expensive care, and I could only afford to have basic average medicare premiums of $140 each month deducted from my S.S.
I was also thinking about coming home a year before I finally made the big leap across the pond, many doubts passed through my mind in that year, even after I booked my flight, my fears were of how will it be like now in the UK after a lifetime away, how hard will it be to settle in to a new life, and a country that I really dont know anymore, after all two generations have emerged since I left,
Well I can tell you and many others on here can tell you that when you first come home of course its not all peaches and cream, but its well worth it if you stick it out, and always stay positive, dont listen at all to the grumpy people complaining about everything they can think of, turn a deaf ear to all that negativity (not everyone are like that) but some are, and try not to read the daily mail and you should be alright
Now Ive been home for almost three years and Im feeling good about my life, I love looking after my Mum, and love being here with her, and we now get on great, it did take quite a while but suddenly we hit it off, and now were fine and happy. we have been for quite some time now
You asked me if I spoke Welsh, No I dont, When my Dad left Wales to come to England before the War he met and married my Mum and we only spoke English in our household,
Sep 1st 2013, 1:10 pm
#8361
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Oct 2011
Location: UK
Posts: 745
Re: Over 40's Moving Back and Catching Up
John, I am not from there - from London - but have done exhaustive research, which I am wont to do Did that with the franchise business we bought 16 years ago and it turned out rather well. After investigating all the practicalities, it has to come down to gut instinct. We also bought our house that way back then and are still here.
We are in the process of learning Welsh, although I am told we will probably not need it in S. Wales. But if/when we move further north later on, it may become more necessary to know at least the basics. Regardless, it's something we believe is our responsibility as newcomers, and are actually really enjoying our lessons.
As for the problem of being English - it is not as much a problem as it was when the English were buying holiday homes in rural and artificially driving up the prices. Cardiff is very cosmopolitan, so that hardly presents a problem either. And if nothing else, after 30 years here, I have lost my accent - so as far as anyone will know, we are Americans
Did that with the franchise business we bought 16 years ago and it turned out rather well. After investigating all the practicalities, it has to come down to gut instinct. We also bought our house that way back then and are still here.We are in the process of learning Welsh, although I am told we will probably not need it in S. Wales. But if/when we move further north later on, it may become more necessary to know at least the basics. Regardless, it's something we believe is our responsibility as newcomers, and are actually really enjoying our lessons.
As for the problem of being English - it is not as much a problem as it was when the English were buying holiday homes in rural and artificially driving up the prices. Cardiff is very cosmopolitan, so that hardly presents a problem either. And if nothing else, after 30 years here, I have lost my accent - so as far as anyone will know, we are Americans
Sep 1st 2013, 1:20 pm
#8362
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Oct 2011
Location: UK
Posts: 745
Re: Over 40's Moving Back and Catching Up
.... Extract
What I do now each year is I just use the free e-file service on line from the main irs.gov site that takes you to the turbo tax free e-file, and just feel out all my details and bobs your uncle!!!! and if someone has a more complicated return that involves more then just a simple 1040 form the turbo tax charges you $40 so thats not bad is it, Ive heard that most Americans living in the U.K. use turbo tax or another reputable on line U.S. tax filing firm, and e-filing is nice and easy, and gets to the IRS in seconds, and within a few minutes they send from the IRS to turbo tax a confirmation date and time and a reference # and saying that the IRS has received and accepted your return, and turbo tax puts it on your screen and you can just print the whole return out for your records!!!
What I do now each year is I just use the free e-file service on line from the main irs.gov site that takes you to the turbo tax free e-file, and just feel out all my details and bobs your uncle!!!! and if someone has a more complicated return that involves more then just a simple 1040 form the turbo tax charges you $40 so thats not bad is it, Ive heard that most Americans living in the U.K. use turbo tax or another reputable on line U.S. tax filing firm, and e-filing is nice and easy, and gets to the IRS in seconds, and within a few minutes they send from the IRS to turbo tax a confirmation date and time and a reference # and saying that the IRS has received and accepted your return, and turbo tax puts it on your screen and you can just print the whole return out for your records!!!
Now that I am not working I ought to try again for I was quite happy with TT in the USA.
Sep 1st 2013, 4:36 pm
#8363
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 603
Re: Over 40's Moving Back and Catching Up
I went out for a day trip and here are the photos:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/islandw...7635312849553/
and
http://www.flickr.com/photos/islandw...7634557937989/
I visited Topsham previously and posted photos too, so the newest ones are at the end of the ones you may already have seen - just scroll down.
I am being a tourist now as I think the pull of friends in Frome is too strong to resist for much longer - I have been offered a flat on the southern outskirts of town, overlooking the Mendip hills, and will go to see the area next week - it is set in nice grounds with fields for neighbours, but still on the bus line to Bath.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/islandw...7635312849553/
and
http://www.flickr.com/photos/islandw...7634557937989/
I visited Topsham previously and posted photos too, so the newest ones are at the end of the ones you may already have seen - just scroll down.
I am being a tourist now as I think the pull of friends in Frome is too strong to resist for much longer - I have been offered a flat on the southern outskirts of town, overlooking the Mendip hills, and will go to see the area next week - it is set in nice grounds with fields for neighbours, but still on the bus line to Bath.
Fingers crossed for the flat, sounds like it might be just what you need, close to friends but not in the middle of a "rowdy" area plus public transport to Bath. Let us know how it goes.
Sep 1st 2013, 7:34 pm
#8364
The Kwisatz Haderach
Joined: Aug 2008
Location: North Wales
Posts: 8,080
Re: Over 40's Moving Back and Catching Up
or 
?
Sep 1st 2013, 7:35 pm
#8365
The Kwisatz Haderach
Joined: Aug 2008
Location: North Wales
Posts: 8,080
Re: Over 40's Moving Back and Catching Up
I went out for a day trip and here are the photos:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/islandw...7635312849553/
and
http://www.flickr.com/photos/islandw...7634557937989/
I visited Topsham previously and posted photos too, so the newest ones are at the end of the ones you may already have seen - just scroll down.
I am being a tourist now as I think the pull of friends in Frome is too strong to resist for much longer - I have been offered a flat on the southern outskirts of town, overlooking the Mendip hills, and will go to see the area next week - it is set in nice grounds with fields for neighbours, but still on the bus line to Bath.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/islandw...7635312849553/
and
http://www.flickr.com/photos/islandw...7634557937989/
I visited Topsham previously and posted photos too, so the newest ones are at the end of the ones you may already have seen - just scroll down.
I am being a tourist now as I think the pull of friends in Frome is too strong to resist for much longer - I have been offered a flat on the southern outskirts of town, overlooking the Mendip hills, and will go to see the area next week - it is set in nice grounds with fields for neighbours, but still on the bus line to Bath.
Sep 1st 2013, 9:34 pm
#8366
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Aug 2009
Location: Back home now in my home town in England U.K. after 36 years in U.S. now retired and loving it,
Posts: 3,208
Re: Over 40's Moving Back and Catching Up
they pick it up so fast, so to your question on how you should feel when she starts her first day at school ---- I think it will be a ----- and a
Last edited by jasper123; Sep 1st 2013 at 9:39 pm.
Sep 1st 2013, 10:45 pm
#8367
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Nov 2012
Location: Back in the UK!
Posts: 2,404
Sep 2nd 2013, 2:35 am
#8368
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 1,610
Re: Over 40's Moving Back and Catching Up
British Expats May Soon Get Access to NHS....This was posted on the BE forums homepage I just couldnt understand what they were saying. Did anyone else have a hard time understanding it. It seems to me every Ex-Pat I know never had a problem getting healthcare on their return home.
Sallysimmons...Loved your pictures and I hope you love the flat you are going to look at I shall keep my fingers crossed for you.
Sallysimmons...Loved your pictures and I hope you love the flat you are going to look at I shall keep my fingers crossed for you.
Sep 2nd 2013, 9:16 am
#8370
Ping-ponger
Joined: Jul 2002
Location: Dreich Alba
Posts: 12,005
Re: Over 40's Moving Back and Catching Up
British Expats May Soon Get Access to NHS....This was posted on the BE forums homepage I just couldnt understand what they were saying. Did anyone else have a hard time understanding it. It seems to me every Ex-Pat I know never had a problem getting healthcare on their return home.
Sallysimmons...Loved your pictures and I hope you love the flat you are going to look at I shall keep my fingers crossed for you.
Sallysimmons...Loved your pictures and I hope you love the flat you are going to look at I shall keep my fingers crossed for you.