Originally Posted by jasper123

Hello everyone,
I wonder if anyone has advice on this subject for me, Im going back home for good November 30th after living in US for 36 years, I have just looked at my British Passport and realized that it is only valid till January 2011,
So what do you think should I renew it here in US before I leave (I do have another 4 months before I leave) so I do have time to get the new one back, ---- or should I wait and renew it when I get to England, I will only have 2 months to get that done though if I do it when I get back home,
Not quite sure if its cheaper in England for the renewal fee? or more expensive
Thanks for any help,
Rodney.

Originally Posted by jasper123

Hi trottytrue,
Well I kept a partial list of people who have moved back already,

(high speed grandma) who is in Hong kong for 6 months then on to UK,
---- and (salopian) they left July 15th, --- and (Lazy) went back to manchester on June 10th, ---- and (relocateme) returned from Canada to UK on April 5th, --- and of course (DDL Denise) her & UK hubby leaving on July 8 on the QE2 LUCKY THINGS and Magistrate has been home since September 2009, ---- and of course our Ed has been back in Scotland from Canada since September 25th 2009 ---- (and Barb Beedubya) left UK after one year and moved back to Australia on April 1st 2010 family reasons,
And of course Anna who left US for Malta on April 22nd 2010, she is from the North of England and she may eventually move back to UK, --- and (Katy70) leaving real soon, good luck to her,
Those are the only people that I have written down, but I know there are many more,
Has anyone heard how mr & mrs Pastry are doing? havent heard from them in a while,
OK take care trotty,
Rodney.

Originally Posted by jasper123

Hello everyone,
I wonder if anyone has advice on this subject for me, Im going back home for good November 30th after living in US for 36 years, I have just looked at my British Passport and realized that it is only valid till January 2011,
So what do you think should I renew it here in US before I leave (I do have another 4 months before I leave) so I do have time to get the new one back, ---- or should I wait and renew it when I get to England, I will only have 2 months to get that done though if I do it when I get back home,
Not quite sure if its cheaper in England for the renewal fee? or more expensive
Thanks for any help,
Rodney.

Originally Posted by trottytrue

Sallysimmons...It's never easy but in the end you really have to think 'what do I want' if you stay are you not also settling for less. How does he feel about that. I think most women have this built in thing where they are always ready to give-in for the betterment of the other person. But there does come a time when you have to decide what you really want. Perhaps you would be happier here in the US but if not staying longer would change that. It just gets worse and harder to make that move. One thing I did notice from your posting Sallysimmons..You kept say 'he' where is the 'we'.

You say he is only willing to consider so he hasnt really said he would go back. I think before you go any further you need to get that sorted will he or wont he. Then you can move on.

Relocateme....Many people make the mistake of running away from their problems only to find that they took them with them. If they think things are going to be better in other countries at this time, they are sadly mistaken, money is tight everywhere, jobs are not easy to find and no matter what country they are moving to they will find problems. The atmosphere in most companies is a case of dog eat dog so if you are a newcomer you are at the bottom of the totam pole or as my son often says last in first out. Those who seem to make it the best are those who are going to good paying jobs have moved to a community not unlike the one they left in the UK and dont really have a big pull with family or ties in the UK and a big plus taking plenty of money with them. And that can go pretty quickly. I hope they have done there homework. Now is not the best time but they will find that out when they move.

Derrygal...I do find the British obsession with sun and tans to be strange. I live in NH and when I go outside I do everything to cover up and slap on that sunscreen stick a hat on my head and stay in the shade as much as possible. They seem to spend a fortune to go abroad only to sit on a beach and get a tan. I would find that really boring. I can stand sitting on the beach for about 5minutes then I need to get up and take a walk. Perhaps they havnt heard of skin cancer or think it will never happen to them. Yes and people often ask me where my tan and how come I look so white. Have they ever seen what happens to people who are constantly in the sun. Their skin begins to look like leather when they get older it just so dried out and no amount of skin cream can put the oil back. Who wants that.

Rodney....Thankyou for the list I shall soon be adding your name to it.

Easterndawn..You really made me laugh I am sure it was not funny at the time but all those catastrophies one after the other just put me in mind of 'Fawlty Towers'. You need a medal. Your manager seems to be a nit-wit. Hope things go better this week.

DDL. Thankyou for the list I have also copied it for future reference. Thats if I shall ever need it. Trying my best to keep my spirits up.

For all those back home and feeling depressed don't lose sight of the reason you went back home in the first place and if you think about what your life was like before you left and how unhappy you where that should keep you going. Sometimes I know you must feel like throwing the towel in but it will get better. You just have to persevere. Whats the alternative to return whence you came and start on that merry go around all over again.
I would happily exchange my days of sunshine and boredom for a walk in the rain and friends and relatives to exchange chatter with and not only that just to be able to walk down a street and pop into a shop for a cup of tea and a toast teacake just on my own. That would be a joy. Its those little things that make life worthwhile.
I take my dog for a walk down our road and no one says hello thats if anyone is around, its hot and humid the horse fly's are all around you and at night you have mosquito's to contend with so you can take a walk in the evening unless you want to get bitten to death.

Originally Posted by charleygirl

Lovely posts ladies, i was feeling a little worried about whether the picture in my mind was as it really is. remember JJ went back recently, he posted on another thread, I asked him to come and post here, i guess all is not quite as the thought but it is really early for them, they only went in June. I hope he comes here to update, he posted in the "is the UK as you remembered it thread" or something like that. Gave me a bit of concern..... but Trotty and Anna, you have put it back in perspective, I mean I live with a UK "hater" my husband...... every time I mention anything UK he has a negative reply, i avoid all chat of UK now if I can. Its horrible to live with some one who has such a blinkered view, you know we have been here 13 years now, owe more on our house than it is worth, have no savings.......no holidays....... I drive a car with no AC and I think it is frowned on in our neighbourhood........ might be described as a piece of junk!
We can not afford a loan for a newer model for me...........and this was the land of plenty according to my husband 13 years ago, i had a better car in the UK, not that I am basing everything on a vehicle, just using that as an example......sorry feeling like ranting today........i wanna go home

Originally Posted by aes1

I WANNA GO HOME - You said it all in 4 words. So now squeeze your eyes tight shut and SEE it happening.

Originally Posted by trottytrue

Denise I had a big clear out over the past week and when my sons came I had a box full of some of their stuff, things my Mother had sent them over the years and books and stuffed animals, they turned their noses up at the lot and the only interest was in items they thought they could sell on ebay. So keeping all the sentimental stuff is a waste of time and space. On saying that I do have all the cards sent to me when I had my children and birthday cards sent to them. I have decided to decoupage some boxes with the cards and I am in the middle of making myself scrapbooks of all the the school stuff and sentimental items I just cannot throw away.
I took a hardbacked binder and put all the letter I have recieved over the 30years I have been away. They are so interesting to read. Many of those writing the letter have died so its a way of being able to keep a piece of them with me.