Originally Posted by Easterndawn

Yes was actually 13 when I moved and except for a four hour lay over at Heathrow on our way to Saudi, I had never been back home, not even for a holiday. It is not that I never wanted to and I actually almost did when I was 15, but I then needed my on passport, Canada Post went on strike and we thought I would not be allowed on the aircraft so I did not come back.
So that first few months here was certainly a culture shock for me, even though I thought I had done everything to get myself mentally prepared.

Have I ever felt like throwing in the towel, the answer is most definately!! Especially when I could not find work, but there was no option for me to go back as we just did not have the money to get me back home. I came with almost all our savings and since then I have sold almost all my jewellery except for a few pieces that mean to much to ever sell. It still is pay check to paycheck at this point but hopefully that will get better. I chose this path and so I must follow it through, good, bad or otherwise.

Originally Posted by jasper123

trotty,
As you know I will be moving in to my friend Arthur's house on the 22nd for my last week in the country, and he has a spare computer he said I can use so I will probably be able to get on here and say goodbye to everyone on the day before I leave, which will be the 29th, ---- but I promise I will post often when I get back home, Phew!!! my time is getting really close, and I am getting very excited/nervous.

Originally Posted by PAT M

Thank you all for the welcome and good wishes, not long now for Rodney, and I hope all goes smoothly for Don and Tim in February, good luck to you all. We retired to Italy in 2008 as our three sons were scattered around Italy, Belgium and Australia. We figured that we would always be able to exchange visits, but the reality feels very isolating and we don't see enough of our three grandchildren, our youngest son returning to London from Oz really clinched the decision, our sons are happy that we have decided to move back. We used to have day trips to Calais from Dover and meet up with our eldest son, dil and kids for lunch and shopping in Cite' Europe, they would drive up from Belgium and it was a great. We are all meeting up at Christmas in London for a few days. I hope this time next year we'll be home. That's it really, as lovely as it is here, it just isn't home.
I have been reading this delightful thread for a couple of months now. Glad to make your acquaintance at last.

Originally Posted by trottytrue

ED....Are you in for some sleepless nights........ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JDGFrp3lp7Ew

Charleygirl...Hope you manage to catch that plane. I never got your email. Very cold and windy at the moment and raining.

I shall have to do and update on the length of time you folks have been in your adopted countries.

Rodney... when will be the last time you will be on here before you leave

Beedubya...Good for you having a date to go home, now its time to get those fingers working and make all those beedy things so you can add to your bank balance

Originally Posted by bluenose123

Rod,
Don't forget to apply for your library card ASAP. You will need this before you
are allowed on a computer. At least that is the rule here. Best of luck.

Originally Posted by Beedubya

Wow George I never heard of this one, what is the connection like?

Oh and welcome I see this is your very first post!!! You must be in "our" category to have posted on here, so what's your story if you care to share?

Barb

Originally Posted by Georgew13

Hi Barb, Expatshield is a VPN in UK, the speed is just like any connection sometimes good sometime slow, I have had very good speed with it. but I just use it when I want to go on the BBC web site, I get all the news this way.
If you clink on the news channel (on BBC web site) and get all the news instead of 30 seconds

Originally Posted by jasper123

Barb you say that you are hoping to move home from Oz to UK again in July of next year, is this your mind made up, and will this be for good this time?
or did I read that wrong?

Take care,
Rodney.


Thats really great news Barb, I hope it all works out for you,

Originally Posted by Beedubya

Hi George I saw a review where it says it had annoying pop up ads, is this still the case?

I have watched NBC a few times when I logged onto the US server with Identity Cloaker so maybe this would be a better programme for some returning ex pats who would like to watch some US or Canadian shows they may miss.

Originally Posted by Georgew13

I don't get pop ups when I use it.
It works well for me. but again I only use it when I want to use iplayer or watch the news clips on BBC Web site

Try it,
George

Originally Posted by Englishmum

WOW - this thread is now 500 pages long - and almost 7500 posts!

(I bet this appears on page 501 LOL! )

Originally Posted by cheers

Rod,



I was checking on rents in Poole, Dorset and they are very high so I think that is a high rent district of Bournemouth.

Cheers

Originally Posted by HighTide

From what I have read Poole is one of the most expensive areas in the country and certain parts of it are considered the top real estate in the World. I think that is in the Sandbanks peninsula area of Poole. That whole area is really lovely. Just too bad it is so expensive. My grandparents used to own a small hotel in Bournemouth. Sold it for 13,000 pounds in the 60's. I know now it has been converted into about 12 flats.