TruBrit

so you'll be a good lancashire lass then...my son was born in southport

i have fond memories of those sandhills at ainsdale

Bob

depending on where abouts in the US, citizenship can happen pretty quickly, don't know about that quickly though...but it'll help so you don't have to go through that whole greencard process ever if you want to get back to the states if you end up not liking the UK, or if the kids ever decide to move back to the US in the future etc.

As for moving companies, there's been a few threads on that subject, nothing that recent though, but you might be able to find them and get some recommendations and the like (also search through the USA forums)

Rascal

My MIL is in Thornton-Cleveleys.
My nephew has just moved to Keighley from Skipton.
I am a Lancs lass too..

franki

not sure what you mean about your lifestyle...bigger certainly is not always better

I totally agree that bigger is not always better. By lifestyle, I really didn't mean material things. I really don't care about having a big house, the one we have here isn't very big, it's more the memories that it's filled with and knowing how much my kids love it. The thought of somebody else living here really upsets me. I do keep telling myself that it's just a house, and the kids will be just as happy in another house eventually. The ease of things here too will be missed, getting into the car through the garage and not having to get wet etc. I'm sure when we get to England, we won't be able to afford a car so it'll be buses. I think I've become a bit spoiled so it'll take some getting used to.

franki

Small world! I've heard Thornton-Cleveleys is a nice place, one of the places we're looking at, although it may be a bit pricey for us.

Rascal

I was amazed at how cheap it was in comparison.
Do you wanna buy my MIL house so we can get our half share now?
Stunning gardens she has. Like summat out of a gardeners world mag!

TruBrit

hiya lancashire lass.....i've heard all about those Pendle Witches

Scout

Hi franki. It's perfectly normal to be stressed right now. You have a lot on your plate with such a big move but you'll manage to muddle through somehow. Just remember a house is just a house....you and your family are what make it a 'home'. So having your family around you and making new memories will soon make your new place a home as well.

I am a USC, married to a Brit and I have no regrets that we moved back to the UK. We no longer have to worry about paying huge insurance premiums for health care. We have a lovely home, work just a couple of miles from home and no longer sit in huge traffic jams. People here are friendly and welcoming and I love it.

If I have any advice it's to avoid the big cities. Pretty much big cities anywhere in the world are expensive and impersonal. I prefer life in a village. Much less stressful.

As for Rinkens. We used them. We had no problems with them and they gave me the best deal of about a dozen companies I researched. They weren't the cheapest or the most expensive, but for the money they seemed to offer the best deal. I dealt with Christoph in California for our move from Atlanta to South Wales. He took me through it all step by step.

dunroving

I used Rinkens in July, and I'd agree with Scout that Christoph was very good with making sure the logistics go well BUT ... (and it's a big but), the local company they sub-sub-contracted to (yes, that was two "sub's") were absolutely downright crappy, and my stuff arrived having fallen all over the container - it was leaning on the walls, fallen upside down, everything. The local (in Wales) shippers were absolutely dumbfounded when they unloaded, they seemed to spend half the morning just shaking their heads in disbelief at what a poor job the NC packing company had done. Miraculously, the overall amount of damage didn't amount to much, financially, but mostly because there were so many niggling things (shoes crushed, journals all folded up, scuffs, etc.) that were not easily quantifiable.

I also received an abusive email from the owner of the local NC company (I was actually cc'd - he had emailed me, Rinkens, and some other company, trying to find out who "hadn't paid") - it seemed they hadn't received payment yet from the company who sub-contracted them, and who were in turn sub-contracted by Rinkens. Having paid my $7,000 to Rinkens, I was a bit pissed off to receive this email.

You have to remember that these international shipping companies are really just a huge conglomerate of independent, locally contracted companies and on occasions the actual hands-on people have almost nothing to do with the company you are actually paying.

Bottom line is that if I were to do it again (and I have NO intention of ever going transAtlantic again!), I'd definitely ask for references for the local (US) company. Bottom line is, though, that Rinkens dropped the ball in their quality-control of the companies they were sub-contracting to.

Brync

Hi there,

I hope the move back goes well now that you have made your mind up. You said that most of your family and friends are in the Burnley and Barnoldwick area. If it's any help I have just moved to the States from the Rossendale valley which is about 12 to 15 miles from both and about a 35 minute drive to Bispham.. You get a lot more house for your money in this area (there are several estate agents in Rawtenstal. In addition to this there are plenty of places to rent whilst you get settled. If you're not bothered about apartments, check out Ilex Mill in Rawtenstall.The place is a grade 2 listed building and really secure. If you want to look at house prices in the area, the one of the main estate agents is Weal & Hitchen and they are on the web (I sold my house throughthem before I came to the states). ln addition there are good commuter links with Manchester, Preston and Burnley where there is plenty of employment.

I hoe this is of some help, and good luck.

Brync

franki

Southport is a really nice place. My dad sings in a hotel there quite often. I can't remember the name of it. I'm looking forward to going there though.

franki

I sit for sale? I'm afraid I'd kill off her gardens. That's what happened to the house I'm in now. I don't exactly have green thumbs!

franki

So where are you from? We used to go up Pendle Hill every Halloween and scare ourselves to death. It's so good talking about these things. It reminds me that I really do want to go back.

franki

ust remember a house is just a house....you and your family are what make it a 'home'. So having your family around you and making new memories will soon make your new place a home as well.

Very well put. Thankyou. That's what I've been forgetting. It's nice to hear the positive stories.

I've heard good things about Rinkens before and Christoph does sound very competent. Like :dunroving: said, I think it's the local companies they hire that's the problem.

How long have you been back?

franki

Thanks for the info. I will definitely check them out. We need to find my hubby a job then decide where to live from there. Hopefully it wont take too long as I don't want to enroll my daughter in school just to move her again if he gets a job in a different area. I'm just hoping that everything will fall into place.