Originally Posted by Celticspirit

I'm for sure taking mine although not sure how yet.

Originally Posted by windsong

I am thinking if we take the QM2 and can take on all those extra bags, we can put them in there but I am just wondering how intensive any inspections may be. I don't think ashes are a health hazard so it should be okay.

Originally Posted by Fish n Chips 56

Im not a big fan of Semi's in either country, I just want to get past them or stay way behind, Size is all relative in my opinion.

Originally Posted by trottytrue

To all who have wished me goodluck for tomorrow thankyou. Must admit I feel pretty lousy at the moment. Hot then cold. Didnt help I had to be outside putting up Christmas lights and decorations.
I dont know about the rest of you but Christmas is the hardest for me I have always been torn between my family here and my family back in the UK. Not only that it just so differrent. Even the tele is different in the Uk they do mention Christmas and they sing carols but here they seem only to celebrate the selling side of the season and calling it a holiday and a holiday tree. I watched as show on BBC the other day it was a cooking show and they said
I think we all have fears about going back home will it work or wont it. But till we try we will never find out.

Originally Posted by cheers

I swiped this from another forum and thought some of you would like to read it

I am likely moving back to the states in 2011, and though I'm excited to go "home," there is a lot I'll miss. I've read every page, and I may be repeating some things, but here are mine.

The national obsession with toast for breakfast
Roundabouts
The Christmas Number One
Delicious, amazing, vegetarian food everywhere
You buy something online and it arrives the next morning, because the country's so small
Castles and towers
Indian food. Especially Sunday buffets.
There are no city blocks. The roads wind everywhere.
Long maternity leave
Small, fuel-efficient cars (it's not all about the biggest and newest here)
NCT groups and wonderful things for parents and kids
No one thinks twice about having a beer at lunch
Having tea with my elderly neighbors and listening to them talk about days in the RAF
Mail slots
English breakfasts
Dog love. You can take them off-leash anywhere and no one cares
Power showers and towel warmers
Just walking around and seeing things that have been around since before the USA was even a country
M&S
Box sandwiches
DVDs seem much cheaper here
Lovely parks nestled right in the middle of the city
Hedgehogs
The NHS
The Tube
Nandos
High streets
Even the conservatives here are fairly liberal by US standards
Meeting people from all over the world
The cars are all manual, and I feel like a race car driver
Buying all my socks at Primark
Gok Wan
British newspapers
Proximity to Europe. I've gone to Italy for a last-minute weekend trip before.
British sense of humor
Biscuits
My Boots rewards card
Cool accents
Everything seems more local in supermarkets
Amazing sparkling water (Highland Spring is my fave...it's so fizzy)
People aren't as competitive at work
Sweet popcorn and Pick N Mix at cinemas
Pubs, specifically Sunday Roasts

I'm sure there's loads more, but that's what I have off the top of my head.

Originally Posted by Mummy in the foothills

Home owners pay it, I think it's what rates used to be, it covers the bin men and street lights etc etc. I don't know if renters pay it seperate or if the landlord would pay it, good question.


I think it's £50 for the two I'd have to check. but food is defiantly cheaper, she cooks from scratch except for biscuits and stuff like that. But rarely has prepared meats and eats lots of fresh veg. She eats very well, has a deep freezer and gets the bread when it's buy one get one free and shops that way for meat, sandwich meat, etc etc. Tesco and Adsa always have good sales, and she occasionally goes to Morrisons.
Oh she did tell me you can live very comfortably on £1000 a month with no or a small mortgage so long as you aren't vacationing three times a year and buying new cars every 5 years etc.
We've been living so cheaply here due to high prices I think it would be easy for us to continue to live that way in the UK.

Originally Posted by windsong

Do they have squirrels in the gardens in the UK? I can't remember.

(Strange question, I know, but I am just sitting here asking myself if I would miss anything from the U.S. Squirrels came to mind first.)

Originally Posted by windsong

If I buy a car over there, I will keep it until it falls apart. Hopefully, long over five years.

I won't be vacationing three times a year but if I could squeeze in one two-week vacation in the summer and a one-week vacation in the winter to Spain or somewhere like that, I will be happy. Maybe even just one vacation and a few weekend trips in the UK.

I just wonder if I can get a small mortgage. I hope so. I should have the income to pay it, it seems. How much is a small mortgage payment, I wonder.

Originally Posted by windsong

I wonder if I could take back to the UK the ashes of my deceased pets. I still have them. Do you think that would be allowed?

Originally Posted by Beedubya

I will be having all my holidays in England until I am fed up of no sun. I want to see all those places I was going to this year, just a short delay then......

Originally Posted by Beedubya

Yes of course, you would just have to declare them, the same as when people take human ashes.

Just found this on a google search:

"Forgot to say make sure you have a copy of your certificate of cremation with you if you are bringing them as hand luggage or attached to the container/box if they are coming with your house hold items."

Originally Posted by windsong

I don't believe my pets ashes came with certificates of cremation. Unless they are in the boxes themselves. (My pets ashes are still in the cardboard mailing cartons. I only opened one of them and there was no certificate that I could see).

Originally Posted by Beedubya

That was from another forum. Doesn't look like anybody on the BE forum bothered with paperwork:


http://britishexpats.com/forum/showthread.php?t=465182

Originally Posted by Beedubya

I am here at the airport (busy working away ) lots of travellers heading home for Christmas and like TT I have always found this the hardest time of the year, it wasn't too bad when the grand-kids were little at least you could kind of get into the mood but these days it's bah humbug for me here in Australia...........so here I am with the Christmas Trees all lined up at the airport and Bing Crosby singing "I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas" whilst the sun beats down on the flags outside and I have the AC on..........

This really will be my last hot Christmas.