Originally Posted by cheers

Nobody commented on this the first time I posted.

I think this pertains to most of us. What gives?

Originally Posted by cheers

I appreciate those who have posted from the other side and are home now
because we could start another list called "After the novelty wears off"

Do we fully realize how fortunate and blessed we are because when I read on another forum the loops and expense that Americans go through to emigrate to the UK and then having all the tests and more money to become citizens of the UK. Do you know how hard it is to even get a visa even if your spouse is British? Wow! Now they are going to limit the number of imagrants coming in.
Something I read and I'm all for (politics) is a campaign for the UK to leave the EU. Can't be soon enough for me and a couple of million other people.

Originally Posted by Englishmum

What you read in the "Daily Telegraph" would almost certainly be pertaining to 'health tourists'; these would be British citizens who live permanently overseas, have no intention of residing again in the UK but have chosen to come over for health treatment because it is unavailable or too expensive in their country of residence.

I remember chatting with a Jamaican lady who sold coffee and newspapers at our local train station (in a New Jersey suburb). She told me that most of her relatives in Jamaica would go to England and stay with other relatives there for a few weeks, purely to get treatment on the NHS. I think there has been a tightening up of this kind of abuse of NHS resources, but I guess there are many whom still slip through the net.

It's been going on for many years - when my daughter was born 26 years ago a section of the ward at the maternity hospital had to be closed off and the patient treated in isolation; I still remember her name - a Mrs Bibi had just flown in from Pakistan a few days before delivery and it turned out that she had TB...

I should also imagine that NHS receptionists (at local doctors' surgeries, in health clinics, hospitals etc.) are loathe to ask for proof of permanent or temporary work or student-related residence in the UK - first of all it's not their job to be immigration officers and decipher what all the stamps actually mean on visas in their passports (even if they ask to see them) and secondly they don't want to be accused of racism.

Originally Posted by jasper123

Hello everyone,
I have not been able to get on line for almost a week cause now Im at my friends house living for my last week in US and its difficult cause his computor is in his room, so very hard for me to access our thread and talk to all my friends on here,
So Im off on plane in a couple of days on Tuesday flight leaves for Gatwick 4.30pm 30th,
So Im very excited/nervous but all bags packed and Im good to go, when I get to England I will be checking in with ya all after a couple of days when I get a little settled with my Mum,
Until then all my friends on here, ------ fight the good fight, and NEVER let go of your dreams, ---- and one day that special wonderful day will arrive when we will all be over there in UK --- and we will have that reunion and we will all meet. ---- WOW what a wonderful day that will be Huh !!!!
Take care everyone.
I will post again when I get to England,
(CHEERIO) for now,
Rodney.

Originally Posted by Easterndawn

Barb, congratulations on making the big decision and booking travel back home. You will be fine, you are worrying about all the same things that I worried about before I made the move.

Rodney, have a great flight home tomorrow and a wonderful renunion with your family. Wear the long johns though it is very cold and frosty here right now and they are saying it will last for a few weeks at least.

Went and got my TV yesterday from Curry's, decided to buy new at least that way I have warrenty. The price was good £249 for a 32" and it looks good on the mantle of the fireplace (it is a very sturdy mantle). Went down to one of my favourite charity shops and found a lovely little round table with four chairs for £25 and they delivered it today for £5.00. So now I am as cozy as a bug in a rug in my little flat and loving it more and more, so you see if I can do it anyone can.

Originally Posted by cheers

Is it possible to go by ship? I keep thinking of that option for myself.

Originally Posted by Celticspirit

No....I will definitely go home. My two beautiful kids in NYC back me all the way even though sadly, they like my husband. My OH is not a bad guy.......just financially incompetent and we are in serious debt. He is more influenced by his family of origin who do not care for me one bit.......wished he had married a Greek gal instead of a "white bred" as they call me which is why he spent Thanksgiving with them and not me.
Can't wait to have concrete plans. It will be a while to get it all together. We need to sell the house first as this a community property state and I paid off 50% when we purchased. Life can be soooooo complicated.
I just hope one day we can all have a "family reunion" in the UK and also with Rodney (ARE YOU LISTENING RODNEY?????)

Originally Posted by dontheturner

You think you would get redress via Paypal if your car needed extensive repairs a month after you bought it on Ebay? I doubt it unless from a dealer with a warrenty, just giving the benefit of someone who has knowledge of others buying vehicles on Ebay to hopefully help others be cautious, you obviously don't need any advice at all though

Originally Posted by Beedubya

Yes and if you get your skates on and book for February that will be 4 of us in the one month, that is a record I believe!!

Ah well we could come on here and have a whinge like I have done......there are lots of stories on this site, in the part called Moving Back To The UK that's where you will find all kinds of stories......plus I bet if you went to the Canada one you will find the ones who it didn't work out for..... and it doesn't for everybody, but I really can't see myself coming back here again to live unless I win the Lotto and can buy a place in both countries and have the money to fly back and forth visiting my daughter and her kids.....

You say Valerie has been back 3 times this year, did she stay for any length of time or was it just a quick visit? Yourself too? I know for me that flying quick visits to Australia are going to be out of the question........which is kind of how I came to be living back here.....mmmmm......

Originally Posted by canadageoff

Very quick visits mostly.
Sometimes only for a week, There are some good deals from Toronto to Manchester.

We have booked a trip for Feb 20th to March 8th 2011, Flying into Manchester.
Apart from visiting our grand daughter we will also look a little more seriously about where we might want to live. We are going over to Belfast for 5 days and have a look around there. I also have an older brother living in Leicester.

Yes, Ireland is having financial problems right now, but that won't affect us as we are going to Northern Ireland.


I'll be 62 next June, I've worked for the same company for 27 years and can take the company pension at no penalty.
I'm tired of working, I started work as an apprentice at 15. Seems to me that kids don't start work until they are in early 20's then want to retire at 55.