Originally Posted by ElizabethK

And yet, if you read the job requirements on the vacancies for Nationwide (as I often do whilst perusing jobsites), they "pride themselves on their excellent customer service".

It would seem the branch you've visited does not adhere to such excellence!

Originally Posted by happyglow

Just a quickie update, it's still early days to give much feedback but not once have I questioned whether I made the right decision to come back, and I hardly think about Canada at all. Weird! Anyway, in a nutshell:

Staying with family has turned out way more fun than I imagined. We're all more relaxed with departure not looming.

It is flipping FREEZING considering it's almost May!

Little dog having the time of his life

After much hunting, bought an absolutely gorgeous old BMW and am enjoying cruising round the twisty roads listening to radio 3 (old gitdom has its merits!)

Parking spaces are tiny

Driving licence was renewed with no questions asked, though it expired quite a while ago. It took ages to come back though! Because of this it's been a long drag opening a bank account without other ID, but just waiting for cards etc now.

Looked at a rental today that would suit us down to the ground - tiny village up on a hill, great neighbours, cute little stone cottage with scope for a veggie garden, and fantastic walks. Will be applying to the agents on monday.

Oh yeah - apparently my boxes of stuff have arrive safely and cleared customs, and will be delivered on tuesday - more on that later but woohoo!

That's all I can think of just now - it's *&^&^#^#($ good to be here!

Originally Posted by happyglow

Just a quickie update, it's still early days to give much feedback but not once have I questioned whether I made the right decision to come back, and I hardly think about Canada at all. Weird! Anyway, in a nutshell:

Staying with family has turned out way more fun than I imagined. We're all more relaxed with departure not looming.

It is flipping FREEZING considering it's almost May!

Little dog having the time of his life

After much hunting, bought an absolutely gorgeous old BMW and am enjoying cruising round the twisty roads listening to radio 3 (old gitdom has its merits!)

Parking spaces are tiny

Driving licence was renewed with no questions asked, though it expired quite a while ago. It took ages to come back though! Because of this it's been a long drag opening a bank account without other ID, but just waiting for cards etc now.

Looked at a rental today that would suit us down to the ground - tiny village up on a hill, great neighbours, cute little stone cottage with scope for a veggie garden, and fantastic walks. Will be applying to the agents on monday.

Oh yeah - apparently my boxes of stuff have arrive safely and cleared customs, and will be delivered on tuesday - more on that later but woohoo!

That's all I can think of just now - it's *&^&^#^#($ good to be here!

Originally Posted by curleytops

I can second this happyglow, Lloyds were fine for me too - I opened mine in Kent so there's feedback from two different parts of the country.

Originally Posted by happyglow

Thanks both! Finally got hold of a businesslike, helpful person at Nat West, so at least I have a debit card on the way. I reckon some petty-minded people like to punish us for being a bit different cos they're jealous

Originally Posted by gailc

So pleased to hear you are happy and well (puppydog, too).
We have a Lloyds International 'Dollar' account for years, as well as a Sterling account.
Has the weather warmed up enough for you now? LOL
Take care!

Originally Posted by happyglow

Thanks Gail! Thunder and lightning today, love it but little pooch does not - he's at the moment.

When are you planning on returning?

Originally Posted by gailc

Love rainy days - as long as I don't have to go out in them -especially driving
Living in Florida, we get used to thunder and lightening.

Hopefully, we will make it one day, although with all the new regs. don't know if we will. Hope they come up with something to make it a bit easier for people like us - we seem to have been forgotten.
Anyway, I am really pleased to hear you are happy. Nice to hear from you
ps - have a plate of fish and chips and think of me

Originally Posted by happyglow

Will keep fingers crossed for you too! Will chips and mushy peas do? There may be a national shortage soon, the way I've been munching through them

Originally Posted by gailc

No - no mushy peas - hate them
Just cod and chips and maybe a nice slice of crusty bread with butter
There may be a national shortage of cod with our without you one of these days. They had about it on our news not too long ago. Cost has gone up, I know that. I remember walking up the road with them wrapped up in newspaper. That was many moons ago
I wasn't buying them then either!
I almost put a 'pps' after the last post, but thought that was be a bit much.
Sausages - proper English sausages (the old fashioned ones - not spicy).
Fish and chips, proper sausages and the bread - still trying to find decent bread after all this time. I find some and then they either stop making it or else half the time we can't get it, because they sold out, and God forbid they make more!
I could go on - but wont.
Well, HappyGlow - that's my order for now - Thank you

Originally Posted by gailc

How did you feel after being gone so long from home and returning?
I left in 1966 as well - have regretted it ever since

Originally Posted by curleytops

It's funny, I felt like I'd only been gone on some sort of a long holiday and now everything was "back to normal". I felt and still do feel much more relaxed and at peace because I can just be the real me again. I never ever realised the extent of the facade I'd been putting on for all those years and just how emotionally draining it had been until I didn't have to do it anymore. I hardly ever think of Canada any more, only the family I left there. It's just some place I lived for awhile.

Originally Posted by happyglow

I feel the same way to some extent about Canada - I suppose I was constantly "on my best behaviour", conscious that I was a "guest" there even though I had PR, and feeling I had to be super polite. It was all so superficial. I hardly ever think of it either - there are three friends I miss but that's about it.