DDL

Wowza. Now that really WILL be nice! Lucky you!

From the videos we've looked at it, it definitely looks like "smart casual" during the day which we are relieved about. Your formal nights will be awesome because of your cabin class - you'll be dining in the best-of-the-best restaurants! What fun!

Hope you have a superb trip and look forward to hearing about it when you get a chance to drop us all a line.

Best wishes upon your return!

Englishmum

To: rebs, DDL and Calle

How did you book your sailings on the QM2 - did you do it via a travel agency or did you book directly with Cunard?

I won't be moving out of New Jersey for at least another year or two, but the idea of sailing across is *very* tempting...

Rebs - I'm flying out of JFK on July 6th on Singapore Airlines.

Will be thinking of you (and will wave if I see the ship as we go by lol!)

rebs

I'll wave back from the deck Englishmum

I booked mine through our own lovely Cindy

If you can take the time, I really can't see any negatives to the boat option - no luggage restrictions, no jet lag, no disruption due to the volcano, depending on where you are returning to it might be more convenient in the UK - we live in Dorset so just a 45 minute drive from Southampton.

jasper123

WOW what a lovely way to go home Denise, QM2,

The last cruise I took was in 1969 when I left Australia to go home to UK after living in Oz for four years, I took the SS Malaysia cruise ship, I think that was the name, I departed from Sydney to Singapore it was I believe a 12 or maybe was it a 18 day voyage, I do remember we had several ports of call on the way, Port Moresby New Guinea was the first stop and then Indonesia, and maybe another port --- cant remember, and to the destination port ---- Singapore, that was a very nice cruise, the food was fantastic too,
Then I made my way down to Penang and took a passenger and cargo ship to Madras India, bought a ticket on a truck that took about 10 passengers all sitting in the back of the truck up to Kathmandoo in Nepal, stayed there for 5 weeks living in a very large room with about 15 other hippies, Girls & Guys then took buses & trains all through the countries --- Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iran, then to Istanbul Turkey, and then took the Orient express train from Istanbul to France, 3 days & nights, and then I took the ferry over to Folkstone I think it was? and then a train to Portsmouth
I planned the trip well and the Journey took six months from the time I left Sydney to the time I arrived in UK and home to Portsmouth,

It was a very nice experience and really opened my eyes to the way people in other countries live,
And I dont mind telling you though that when I finally got home I really felt so good, and I didn't take life in England for granted any more after doing that trip, I was very thankful that I was born in England,

But alas after 5 years of being back home and working there my wanderlust took over and in 1974 I found myself Emigrating to Canada, stayed there 3 years and then 1977 came to the States --- been here ever since, sometimes I wonder if I have any Gypsy blood in me from my ancestors ---- but shortly I will be going back home again after all these years, and I am really so looking forward to it too,
I know its a huge step for all of us to decide to go back to our roots, but we all thought about it a lot before we made the decision, and like a lot of people on here this is the right time for me, I am certain of it,

I have loved living over here in the USA and also get on well with Americans and I do like them, and my life has been as good as I could have made it I suppose, I have no regrets whatsoever, when I leave the US this year in November to go home I would be lying if I said that I would not miss the US,
I think most of us will miss our adopted country wherever it is,
After all its been our home for so long hasn't it,

But for all the people who have already left and to all the people who are getting ready to leave I wish you all the very best,
Im sure that when we are all over there in UK and we have gradually settled into our new life over there that we will all be very happy and that we will have ---- Just like the Shirley Bassey song says --- (NO REGRETS)
Rodney.

DDL

I booked directly with Cunard on the phone, but I did some research first. I found cheaper rates on various websites (including VacationsToGo.com) so when I called Cunard I pointed that out and they "miraculously" had a "flash special" going on that day that gave me the very same rates, so do not necessarily rely on the rates that you see advertised on the Cunard website.

Plus, with cruising, you can request to be considered for a complimentary upgrade, which is what we did. If most of the "cheaper" rooms have been filled, but they still have people wanting to book those rooms, they upgrade people who already have made their reservations in the "cheaper" rooms - but only if you ask to be considered.

Cookie

Sounds like it's the right card then. I only moved overseas 3 years ago and I have never had an NI card - after working 33 years it is embedded in my brain forever

Easterndawn

I recieved my NI card, it is similiar to SIN card in Canada, same size, colour red and blue, withname and number inprinted on it

callé

Hi Englishmum,
I booked directly with Cunard. We rang them up mainly to discuss the pet situation (I was taking 2 dogs and a cat), and they were really wonderful. They took the time to discuss it all with us, and managed to put OH, myself and 2 teens into a Quad cabin and all three pets into very roomy kennel accomodation. Cant remember now the price I would have to look back on my own threads or find my booking slips. Anyway, it was WAY lower than any flights we could have booked, so it saved us quite a bit. And the luxury was all included. Cant beat it really. We dressed smart casual during the day and night, except night dining, we dressed it up a bit. Nothing drastic, just suit for hubby and son, and evening dresses for daughter and I. Its not unusual to see quite casual either, as people dress more casual for sitting in the sun on the deck, and of course there is swimming and the gym which calls for really casual

DDL

Rodney, Wow. What a life you have had! I loved reading about all your travel experiences. See, now those are the types of things a person can look back on in their life one day and smile about and say to themselves, ‘Yep, I’m a pretty cool cat.’ Do you have pictures from those days? I hope so!



You truly are an inspiration to me and all of us here. You just keep on keeping on, Rodney – your trip home will be here before you know it.



This is such a great group of people. I don’t know what I would do without all of you – the encouragement, the support, the generous help and guidance, all the sharing that goes on. Each of our situations is unique to us but we share a common thread. We’re all mad.



No, really that common thread is the desire to follow our heart – and the courage to actually do it.



There is a quote that I just love:


I used to want the words "She tried" on my tombstone. Now I want "She did it."


Now that it’s t-minus 6 weeks and counting, we put together a calendar last night of all the final tasks (with due dates) that have to be accomplished before the move. As much organization and work we’ve put into the move, we were surprised at the amount of work still remaining – things that you really can’t do until the final days/hours.



We’ll be turning in our notices at work 2 weeks from today. That gives our employer 4 weeks notice, and I think we’re going to take the following week as annual leave which will allow us to remain covered under our US health insurance policy for those 5 days onboard the ship and until we set foot in the UK.



Have a great week-end, everyone! We’re having our third (and hopefully, final) Yard Sale tomorrow. Everyone keeps asking me “What could you possibly have left to sell?” but it’s amazing what a second and third “sweep” of drawers and closets can produce!

aes1

You got it right the first time................Yes, we are all mad!!!!!!!! In the best way possible of course

Just wanted to report in..............but first, a BON VOYAGE for the next wave of home travelers, seems there are quite a few in July! Good luck to everyone of you, and don't forget to leave that seat open for Trottytrue (who always manages to go with everyone!!!

Malta is still amazing. Now I have to fit in two volunteer jobs (training for both in July, one working in the hospital the other with chidren in a public school) and my part-time job at the hotel around the corner. Well of course it is, you know everything here for me is just around the corner This is the one where I had the interview way back when and we just laughed...........well, it seems I am now officially working for them, doing some marketing on the internet, about 20 hours a week - which suits me just fine. Money??? what money you ask!!!! Doesn't seem to exist in Malta, not until mañana!!! My TEFL course starts Monday, nose to the grindstone then. I still live in the NOW as you can tell, still having too much fun to be true!!! Love, love Malta!!! Now committing myself to staying here a year, see how it goes. But for sure, I am checking in here to see what my expat family is up to, as often as I can, and am still hoping to see some of your faces here or when I visit the UK. Or maybe we can meet in Sicily - had a wonderful trip there this week on the catamaran. Nice to see grass and green foliage!!!! Not a lot of that in Malta, too dry. Can't have everything though! Not being greedy, wouldn't change a thing. Well........let me rethink that..........nope, won't do it, I wouldn't change a thing.

ciao4now till the next time............Wishing everyone's dreams coming true...........

Easterndawn

Questions for those who have or those who are going to use the QE2 to come back to UK. Does your dogs have to be crated or do you walk them on. Are they checked on ship when you dock in UK. What was the price you paid to take them.

Was talking with husband and mentioned that this would be a nice way to travel for him and the dogs. Not so stressful for hubby and he would feel better being able to visit the girls.

jasper123

Hi Denise,
Thanks so much for those kind words, yes I do have pictures of those traveling days of mine, they are all black & white photos, I took them with my Kodak Brownie camera, My Aunt bought it for my Birthday before I left to emigrate to Oz as a ten pound pom in 1965, do you know that I still have that camara still in its little canvas casecameraa strap that goes over your kneck or shoulder, it is in mint condineckbecause I only used it a few times in Sydney taking pics before I left and from the ship sailing away from Sydney harbour,
And also used it taking pics in Kathmandoo and India and through out the journey through all the countries through the far east and middle east,
It may be worth a bit of money now to a collector, dont know, but I dont think that you can buy the kind of film that you would need for a camara like that any more,
Well you cameraare Denise,
Rodney.

jasper123

well that was weird, when I finished that post to you Denise I clicked on the submit reply button and a lot of the words got really screwed up,
But when I signed off It was supposed to have said --- Well you take care Denise,
Rodney, somehow the word camera got in there too,

Beedubya

Re the madness!!

I have a little saying I have saved and will get made into some kind of wall art when I have a job and some dosh!


THOSE WHO DANCED WERE THOUGHT TO BE QUITE INSANE BY THOSE THAT COULD NOT HEAR THE MUSIC.


I think that pretty much sums up this whole group, don't you think?

DDL

Absolutely brilliant! That one's going in my commonplace book!